Lesson Learned?

Something that many people in the Rehab/Sober Living Home issue learned late in their battle.

The only people that can create/change/alter ordinances are the Seven City Council Members.

Yes, City Attorneys and City Managers can have lots of input, but when it comes down to the final whistle, all one needs to do is count to 4 to get the ordinance passed or overturned.

Take in consideration this Newport Beach Brewery's lawsuit against the City, the City Council, and 5 Councilmembers (Ed Selich, Nancy Gardner, Leslie Daigle, Keith Curry, and Michael Henn) individually.

The vote was 5-1 (Mayor Rosansky dissenting and Councilman Webb absent) in overturning the Planning Commission's decision to essentially do nothing against the Newport Beach Brewery.

In reading this article in today's Daily Pilot, I saw why the those 5 overturned the Planning Commission's ruling:

"The recent troubles over the Brewing Co. began in January 2006, when a small group of residents in the neighboring Cannery Village Lofts complex complained to the city about unruly behavior of patrons at the restaurant. The Planning Commission held a series of hearings on the matter and the Brewing Co. agreed to make some minor operational changes, but Kevin Weeda, the developer of Cannery Village Lofts, appealed the commission’s ruling."

You see, the Planning Commission are appointed by the City Council, but are largely independent and, unless they are running for the City Council, do not "play" the political game and solicit campaign contributions.

So their decisions are typically "pure" and free of "influence." Especially with this group of Planning Commissioners.

But not the City Council and when I saw the name Kevin Weeda, I could have predicted what was to happen.

In running for City Council, many names of "influential" businessmen and residents are thrown out and Kevin Weeda's name is one of those.

If you look here, here, here, and here, you can find that Kevin Weeda and his CWI Development, Inc are regular contributors to the 2006 City Council campaigns, especially those who voted in favor of his appeal (I couldn't find any contributions to Mayor Rosansky's or Councilwoman Gardner's campaign from Kevin Weeda nor CWI Development). And although he doesn't max out ($500) to their campaigns, he was still active.

And if I know him as an influential business owner, you'd better believe that the City Council knows him as such too.

Is there a connection? Maybe, maybe not.

But when a City Council overturns their Planning Commission's ruling, brought upon by complaints by a "small group of residents" of newer and expensive lofts, specifically appealed by an influential donor, specially targeting one bar in the midst of 4-5 other similar establishments (within 1-2 miles mind you), one has to wonder...

Perhaps this should be a lesson learned to other business owners in the City (wink, wink goes to Todd Carson of Rudy's Pub).

If you want to operate hassle free in Newport Beach, make sure you donate to the right City Councilmembers...