Looking forward, not back
By Jacob Levy, editor and publisher
Irvine has been an economically vibrant and growing community since its birth in 1971. Many of us, if not most, came from some place else to live here. Or our parents did.
A recent OC Register story said that some 45,000 more people have moved to Irvine since 2010. “Irvine is morphing into one of the county’s most diverse economic engines,” the story said. “Its population grew by 21.2 percent, according to the census figures. That’s like sprouting a new Brea in just a few years.”
“Sprouting a Brea” sounds like something one goes to the doctor for, but we get it: Irvine is a great place to live and work. Which is why we’re all here in the first place.
The election season is now well underway, as readers can tell from our front page. As we learn more about the candidates and make our decisions, we think it’s also wise to reflect upon past elections.
In 2014, all of the candidates for mayor combined received a total of 40,411 votes. That’s fewer votes than the number of new residents who have moved here since 2010. And the city council race was decided by only 2,409 votes.
So here’s my point: most of those 45,000 new arrivals to the city know little and care less about the nuances of certain old, divisive issues in Irvine.
“Politicians, like generals, have a tendency to fight the last war,” is a quote candidates might take to heart.
Voters should be informed, certainly. But on some hot button issues from the past, maybe we should all do like Disney’s Queen Elsa of Arrendell, and just “let it go.”
A recent OC Register story said that some 45,000 more people have moved to Irvine since 2010. “Irvine is morphing into one of the county’s most diverse economic engines,” the story said. “Its population grew by 21.2 percent, according to the census figures. That’s like sprouting a new Brea in just a few years.”
“Sprouting a Brea” sounds like something one goes to the doctor for, but we get it: Irvine is a great place to live and work. Which is why we’re all here in the first place.
The election season is now well underway, as readers can tell from our front page. As we learn more about the candidates and make our decisions, we think it’s also wise to reflect upon past elections.
In 2014, all of the candidates for mayor combined received a total of 40,411 votes. That’s fewer votes than the number of new residents who have moved here since 2010. And the city council race was decided by only 2,409 votes.
So here’s my point: most of those 45,000 new arrivals to the city know little and care less about the nuances of certain old, divisive issues in Irvine.
“Politicians, like generals, have a tendency to fight the last war,” is a quote candidates might take to heart.
Voters should be informed, certainly. But on some hot button issues from the past, maybe we should all do like Disney’s Queen Elsa of Arrendell, and just “let it go.”
