Thursday, October 11, 2007

Concerned Citizens of Newport Beach INC.

I may need to change my email address...

Got this today. This group is now A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION.

Below is their Progress Update

October 10, 2007

To: Concerned Citizens of Newport Beach & Friends

Subject: PROGRESS UPDATE- City and Ordinances to Regulate Over-Concentration of “Group Homes” in Newport Beach

Dear Concerned Citizens and Friends:

As you know, the neighbors have complained for over 5 years about the dramatically increasing number of drug and alcohol treatment businesses in Newport (now over 115 known), particularly in our coastal communities. We have been working hard to pressure the City into regulating these “Group Home” uses, which is clearly in the public’s best interest.

Recent progress:

- Concerned Citizens of Newport Beach has now been established as a Non-Profit Corporation (CA).

- Due to concerted efforts of citizens and our attorneys, the City removed City Attorney (Robin Clauson) and former outside counsel from the Group Homes Ordinance matter, replacing them with an outside Special Counsel, reporting directly to the City Council. We are optimistic that this will remove obstructions we have faced in working with the City thus far.

- More neighbors are joining our fight: West Newport, Balboa Peninsula, The Point, Lido, and Corona Del Mar, are all on board. Newport Heights and Bayshores recently joined us.

- A Petition demanding that the City immediately enact ordinances with specific provisions to eliminate Over-Concentration of these uses is being circulated (over 1,000 signatures thus far), to be submitted to City Council prior to 10-17 hearing.

- On 10-09-07, a formal tort Demand Letter was presented by our attorneys to the City Council, giving 45 days to enact satisfactory ordinances, demanding disclosure and elimination of City officials and staff conflicts of interest and asserting damages of over $250 million dollars.

- Conflicts of Interest concerning City Council and staff; including other City officials is currently being investigated and will be reported when confirmed.

NEXT STEPS AND IMPORTANT DATES:

- In response to citizen’s demands, the City enacted and renewed an urgent Moratorium on “Group Homes”. The Moratorium is due to expire on Nov. 8th.

We need the right Moratorium in place so the revised ordinances can be completed. Citizen’s position: extend Moratorium only until Ordinances are completed; eliminate current Moratorium loopholes.

WE NEED YOUR VOICE! Important meetings to attend and speak up:

Nov. 17th: 7:00 pm – Hearing to Extend Moratorium

Nov. 21st: 7:00 pm- City Council meeting.

If you cannot attend, email or call your Council representative to express your position: Demand that:

1. Conflict disclosures and ethical walls are immediately enacted.

Remove City representatives with conflicts from “Group Homes” work.

2. The City Council immediately enacts revised ordinances to regulate and eliminate Over-Concentration of “Group Home” uses, which are institutionalizing our dense, residential neighborhoods.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

1. Please support our continued, aggressive legal effort of this community advocacy group to push the right ordinances through, and ensure that they are implemented in a timely manner. Your quality of life and home value is at stake.

2. Tell your neighbors: this is a City problem impacting all of us.

Call Concerned Citizens Team Leaders for additional information, and to offer support.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

Sincerely,

Denys H. Oberman, for

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NEWPORT BEACH


4:40pm UPDATE:

Dates were wrong. So much for a strong start...

Here's the correct dates.

INCORRECT DATES WHERE TRANSMITTED IN THE LAST CONCERNED CITIZENS UPDATE:

OCTOBER 17TH: 7: 00p.m. HEARING TO EXTEND MORATORIUM

OCTOBER 23RD 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL

THESE WILL BE IMPORTANT HEARINGS IN REGARDS TO THE GROUP HOME ISSUE, PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND AND PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGY FOR THE MIX UP.

THANKS AGAIN

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NEWPORT BEACH

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