Daily Pilot:  05.25.03

This letter to the editor appeared in the Daily Pilot, Sunday May 25th, 2003:

Group Not Just Young and Restless

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a few misconceptions. First of all, we at FreeNewport! are not "fighting the city's moves to curb crime."  We are not pro-riot, pro-crime, pro-urinating-in-public, for that matter.  We are not even pro-party-all-the-time! Furthermore, we are not all young male renters, either.

So what are we then? We are simply a group of West Newport residents (young and old) who are tired of being overlooked by our City Council.  Our supporters come in all ages, dwellings, and income brackets.

This whole Fourth of July ordinance process is a good example of how we are overlooked. Let's review:

1) They formed a Fourth of July committee that they didn't promote (unless you include their bulletin board).

2) The committee only included one resident below the age of 45.

3) With this survey, they also included a very slanted letter by Homer Bludau, our city manager, that basically stated that it's only a matter of time before a riot breaks out, so what are you going to do about it?

4) They sent the survey to all registered voters in the area, not necessarily all residents.

5) They refused to provide us the results of their Fourth of July survey before they voted.

6) Our own West Newport councilman, Gary Proctor, misrepresented these results before they voted.

7) They disregarded our petition, which contained more than 1,000 signatures of residents.

Overall, they made no real attempt to consider the interests or thoughts of the majority of people who actually live in their "Safety Enhancement Zone".  For the record, our Fourth of July ideas are posted on our Web site at freenewport.com.

But this is bigger than the Fourth of July ordinance.  Memories are long here, and resentment runs deep among locals.

It wasn't too long ago that they ran out the old Cannery, EmeraldForest, the Giggling Marlin, Windows on the Bay, Thunderbird, Warehouse and Buzz. More recently, they continued their assault with no beer with our Hotties Pizza, no late-night Chronic Tacos and no dancing at El Ranchito. Legislatively, they gave us our latest noise ordinance, our new Fourth of July ordinance, the upcoming alcohol storage ordinance.  Where does this end? Who is representing us?

From this representation void, FreeNewport! has emerged, and no one can dispute the fact that our following has grown exponentially. I believe that this attraction to FreeNewport! and our Web site, freenewport.com, serves as evidence that many people do feel overlooked. Thus, we are basically serving as a message board and gathering point for these people to get organized.

Wouldn't it be great if someday everyone felt like their opinions actually mattered? Ironically then, FreeNewport! would fade away, a victim of its own success.

Bryan Clarkson

FreeNewport! spokesman