Newport Beach activists hope community song competition strikes a chord with voters

Newport Beach-based activist group Still Protecting Our Newport, which has been behind the recent battle with City Hall to put three citizen-led ballot measures before local voters in November, aims to keep residents in the loop on local government decisions. Last week, the group announced a creative way to enhance its mission.

On Sept. 10 the organization posted a “Community Song Competition” to its social media accounts as a means of keeping the community engaged and involved leading up to the November election.

“SPON has worked for more than five decades to protect the environmental, residential and community qualities that make Newport Beach special,” said Susan De Santis, SPON director, in an email interview. “A central part of that mission is holding local government accountable — not by opposing every proposal or criticizing every decision, but by asking whether decisions are transparent, responsible and made with meaningful public participation.”

The competition consists of 12 songs in three categories: Turn on the Light, Save the Park and Pave Over Paradise, and Responsible Growth.

“Turn on the Light” circles around transparency, accountability and public access to information. “Save the Park and Pave Over Paradise” takes on environmental issues facing the Civic Center Park as officials propose to utilize the space for a new police headquarters, which SPON states will result in a loss of public space and access, as well as disrupting wildlife and “environmental value.”

Lastly, songs in the “Responsible Growth” category speak on housing and development, asking the question, “What are we building? Who will be able to afford it?” and “Were residents given a meaningful voice?”

SPON encourages residents to listen carefully to all 12 of the songs and cast their votes by Friday, Sept. 18, when all votes will be tallied and prizes will be awarded.

“City planning, zoning and governance can feel technical or intimidating,” DeSantis said. “Music gives people another way to understand what is happening and why it matter. By asking residents to listen, choose a favorite and explain their choice, SPON is turning passive listening into active civic participation.”

On Friday, the Newport Beach City Council, following a court order issued by Orange County Superior Court Judge Julianne Bancroft, scheduled a mail-in only election centered solely on the three SPON-backed measures to run concurrent with the general Nov. 3 election. Because the election was not scheduled by the county registrar’s August deadline for ballot materials, the city is on the hook to pay for it at an estimated price tag of between $1 million and $1.5 million.

City officials did not reply to requests for comments about the SPON song competition or the upcoming election.

De Santis, says that while the competition may be fun, she hopes the lyrics of the songs and overarching themes make residents think as they approach the November election.

“The themes raised by the songs — transparency, accountability, responsible growth, protection of open space and meaningful public participation — are directly connected to the choices residents will face in November,” she said. “Voting is essential, but so are attending meetings, following agendas, asking questions and holding elected officials accountable after the ballots are counted. An informed community is an engaged community— and an engaged community is the strongest protection Newport Beach has.”

For residents looking to learn more about SPON, the organization is holding a free community meeting at the new Witte Hall on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be provided to attendees, but the organization asks that residents RSVP to the meeting beforehand.

— Carroll is a Daily Pilot contributing writer.