Mike Wilson recently announced that he is stepping aside as president of the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association. After four years of taking the fight to City Hall in support of the neighborhood, Wilson said it was time to let some of the younger set pick up the cause. Still, he says he plans to stay on the board and be active in the neighborhood. The following is his outgoing comminique to the neighborhood as president:
Presidents Message
View from My Corner,
As this is my last message after four years as president of the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association, I hope our Dear Editor will indulge me in being a little longer winded than usual.
First let me say that it has been a privilege and an honor to have been involved with such a wonderful group of individuals who make up ABNA. To know that we have had a positive impact on our community and our city will be something I will always look back on with pride. We have indeed come a long way in these last years and there are so many people to thank. I am sure I will forget to mention someone here, but I will never forget them.
Suja Lowenthal and Broc Coward deserve a grade of A for the effort they have made to make ABNA a better and safer place to live. We have not always agreed, but I have always known that their hearts were in the right place and on our side. George Romo, together with his life partner Jim, have been a pillar of strength for me. George has always supported and encouraged me, even when I know he didn't always approve of my methods. Chris Hogan and Layne Johnson, (who finally tied the knot last year!), have long been a positive force in our neighborhood. Even while Layne was struggling with health issues he has always been ready to do what he could, and Chris has continued his long history of service to his neighbors as well. Richard Orozco, who through his outreach program for the needy has brought hope and comfort to our neighbors in distress, has still made time to participate in meetings and other ABNA activities. Don Wagner often drives fifty minutes in traffic after work to attend meetings because he cares about his neighbors. Ron Janus can always be seen at our monthly meetings greeting newcomers or asking salient questions from our guest speakers. Greg Mattson, together with his lovely wife Judy, was always my rock and my go-to guy for advice. Although he has passed, the improvements he stewarded in Alamitos Beach will live on. But it is to my long-suffering wife, Dionne, that I owe the greatest debt of gratitude. Dionne quietly suffered through the late night phone calls and endless meetings. She was the one to calm me down when I was upset, who had to witness me doing the "Donald Duck" in the living room over the latest outrage, who silently rolled her eyes while I wrote yet another Letter to the Editor.
Through it all I feel we in ABNA accomplished much for our neighborhood, in ways both big and small. We were able to serve notice that ABNA would not tolerate becoming a Mecca for predators of any kind. We stopped slum landlords from depreciating our quality of life. We made our neighborhood unsafe for drug dealers and gang members. We increased parking, added crosswalks and stop signs. We encouraged neighbors to make their voices heard at City Hall and to work through their government for change. Most importantly, in my humble opinion, we let it be known that ABNA would not be pushed without pushing back.
We have much left to do. Our Governor will soon be releasing thousands of prisoners into our neighborhoods. Drug houses, posing as medical clinics, seem to be the newest avenue to fast money for the unscrupulous. Noise pollution is increasing and our alleys are in a terrible state of disrepair. Thankfully ABNA has new members with new ideas and new energy. Lois Ledger brings a deep understanding of politics; Sara Michael, Christine Petit, Kim Spanzuto, Elisa McConnehea, Laura Greco, Peg Thompson and Kelly Gust have brought new perspectives and new and innovative ways of communicating with neighbors. And I can't forget Samuel Plambeck who has taken on the Herculean task of organizing and printing our Newsletter. Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association remains in good hands!
I remain so grateful for the learning opportunity this service has afforded me. I know I have made mistakes, and I ask forgiveness from anyone I have offended. I hope you know that I did my best.
Respectfully,
Mike Wilson
President
Alamitos Beach
