Note intended nothing untoward

Due to the recent claims made in the Pilot by Councilwoman Linda

Dixon, I feel it is necessary to set the record straight (“Dixon

alleges violation of law,” Saturday).

A note was passed to me as has been done by many council members

in the past. This one was from Councilman Eric Bever. It simply

indicated that we should get past the issue at hand.

I glanced at the note and realized the intent was simply to move

the meeting along. I dismissed it as irrelevant, set it down and

later threw it away.

I am sorry if anyone felt any ill intent. There was no attempt to

gain consensus on anything, only an attempt out of frustration to

move the meeting forward.

It probably would have been better if Bever had made his point

verbally, rather than writing a note.

However, a few days later Dixon told Bever she felt that he had

not done anything wrong and had not acted with ill intent.

I was there, and I clearly heard her comments. It appears that

Dixon is really upset with me, and I accept that.

Perhaps she finds my vocal opposition to use of taxpayer dollars

to fund art so upsetting that she is looking for any type of smoking

gun, even one that squirts water. There is no way I could support her

motion that evening to force someone to fund art in public places.

As much as I like art, I will not use public funds to pay for it.

Ironically, Bever and Dixon did support the motion to have Ikea put

in public art, and as such, Dixon’s allegations ring hollow.

Clearly, Dixon and I have very different views on some issues that

are important to each of us.

It is also clear to me that the three men on the dais have more

conservative views than the two women. I am sure this is frustrating

to them when some of the votes come down.

But the fact is that there have been at least a couple of

important votes that broke down as Mansoor, Bever, Dixon versus

Councilmembers Gary Monahan and Katrina Foley.

One of our biggest issues was the overlay zone, which was a 5-0

vote in support.

The votes over the past few months show that all of us have voted

with different council members on many important issues. The vote

breakdown demonstrates that there is no discernible pattern. This

makes it clear that the council is working as a group.

I am confident that we have all learned from this experience and I

anticipate that the council will continue to work productively for

the city.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Allan Mansoor is the mayor of Costa Mesa.