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t,1 1t11I1: ~°~' ~t1 C:I~~ ~ ~,', ~l ~., -: - ~ C. ..:' ~,.r.C;o ~: ~ o .~ <br />Point 5 is for ci fficials t c - - Its f ci oererance® <br />As city officials fancy themselves as planners and social engineers who will remake their cities and <br />transform the folks who live there, they increasingly forget their basic responsibilities. Santa Ana ought to be <br />renamed Pothole City, even as the council promotes its Arts District. Huntington Beach City Council <br />members embraced environmental politics, yet ignored their crumbling sewers until the district attorney filed <br />criminal charges against them. Officials love to dabble in "redevelopment," but are notoriously bad at dealing <br />with the less-glamorous aspects of city governance that the citizenry depends upon. A new city agenda <br />should be focused on providing the best services in the most efficient and customer-friendly manner, not in <br />building senior centers, fancy pools and new downtowns. <br />Cities need to keep fees and taxes low. City staff should be helpful to customers. Hey, why not schedule <br />office hours at times that suit those customers, not that suit city workers? Yet cities are increasingly closing <br />their offices Fridays so that workers have another day off. Cities need to look at privatization and at <br />shedding unnecessary departments -Sandy Springs, Ga., privatized the entire city (with the exception of <br />public safety services) and is far better run and more efficient than neighboring cities. This new urban <br />agenda also would end subsidies and special privileges for politically well-connected businesses, with a goal <br />of treating all businesses - from a taco stand to a big corporate player - in the same fair, respectful manner. <br />Next time a potential city council candidate comes to your door to ask for support, don`t ask if the candidate <br />is a Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. At the city level, those distinctions mean little. Ask if the <br />candidate supports a new, freedom-friendly urban agenda before pledging your support. <br />Contact the writer: ~: R ~ E s or 714-796-7823 <br />What's your opinion? <br />Want to comment on what you've just read? Fill in the form below. <br />Your comments will be considered for publication online or as a <br />letter to the editor in The Orange County Register. <br />NAME: CITY OF RESIDENCE: E-MALI. ADDRESS: <br />SUBJECT: <br />COMMENT: <br />http:l/www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/columns/article_l 781120.php 7130/2007 <br />