Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Last night, the Newport Beach City Council banned jetpacks in the harbor, with only Mayor Kevin Muldoon supporting the free market and voting against the idea. Who brought this incredibly anti-free-market item to the table? District 1 Councilperson Diane Dixon, who has repeatedly attacked small businesses in the area with the force of government, and was the ringleader in setting up city ordinances to tax the small jetpack business into closure to begin with.
But it gets worse: Recently, Dixon has been leading another effort: Using your taxpayer dollars to set up a government-run business to offer “free” rides on the peninsula. There is only one slight problem with her proposal to socialise businesses: We already have plenty of ride options on the peninsula– and we have free ride options, too. In addition to driving, walking, biking, Uber, Lyft, Taxis, County Busses, limos, shuttles, and Private Party Busses, we also have a service called the Downtowner, which gives people rides throughout the peninsula area and is even looking to expand to Balboa Island area.
In fact, since their launch just a year and a half ago, they have provided 20,000 FREE rides to 50,000 people in the area (remember to tip your drivers, though!)
The program being proposed will cost taxpayers at least $224,430 of their own money to create a business that competes with one which already exists in the free market.
Think this is a bad idea? A good idea? There will be a meeting held today at 4pm at Marina Park where Dixon will be discussing her wonderful idea. If you have any opinions on it– or if you want to simply save another local business from being shut down thanks to the force of government– then please show up and voice your concerns at that time. This may be the last chance they have to keep their business afloat.
