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  Venezia: Old grudges behind opposition to ‘Evelyn Hart’ senior center? Sept. 2,2010 By BARBARA VENEZIA CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST Just when I thought I’d finally written a warm and fuzzy column, I inadvertently light a match of controversy. Geez, I really have to get a better at this! My July 30 article suggested Evelyn Hart be honored for her body of work regarding the city of Newport Beach by adding her name to the title of the newly opening Oasis Senior Center, calling it the “Evelyn Hart Oasis Senior Center.” Some didn’t like that. Before the article hit, my phone started ringing. I’d never been asked to go “off the record “as much as with this one. Though I won’t say who called, I can tell you they all wanted me to “reconsider,” suggesting the controversy this story would ignite would make Evelyn uncomfortable. Huh? Those questioning the appropriateness of honoring her in this way should be the ones uncomfortable, not Evelyn! Red Flag Alert: calling me with this kind of stuff only piques my interest in peeling back the ugliness of the politics behind the issue. Here’s the deal: Evelyn Hart spent 16 years on the Newport City Council (twice as mayor), was honored as Citizen of the Year and Woman of the Year and is a driving force in the AirFair organization that is fighting growth at John Wayne Airport. The Oasis Senior Center would have never gotten off the ground in 1977 if not for her efforts. And a new facility wouldn’t be opening this month if not for her efforts a second time. Evelyn couldn’t have accomplished any of this if she wasn’t one tough cookie. Women in politics in the 1970s had to make inroads into the political good ol’ boys network. Some feel this dying, close-minded breed still lingers in the shadows today. Did she step on toes? And might some of those toes have long memories? You bet. Success in politics also breeds jealousy. Could these be key reasons some don’t want her name on the building? Certainly, no one wants to talk openly about it. Oops! Like Evelyn, I guess I “just don’t know my place.” There’s a rift growing between those who favor calling it “The Evelyn Hart Oasis Senior Center” and those who feel a room named after her would do. How about a tree? According to the city, demographics in favor of naming the building for her are 25 percent male and 75 percent female. Those who are against it are split 50-50 among gender lines. Send e-mails and people forward them. Some against Evelyn made it into my inbox, too. I won’t quote them here, but you can find out who they are at the Parks Beaches & Recreation meeting Sept. 7. Debra Allen, Marian Bergeson, Marilyn Brewer, Peter & Sharyn Buffa, Keith & Pam Curry, Rush Hill, Ed & Lynn Selich and Jean Watt are just a few of the high-profile folks supporting Evelyn. Bringing the issue forward is Councilwoman Nancy Gardner, saying, “Evelyn’s done – and continues to do – a great deal for the city. She’s an inspiration and role model for women, particularly as an example of how to stay relevant over the course.” Evelyn remains an amazing women and role model for our daughters, who these days look up to train wrecks like Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton. And, no woman’s name graces any municipal park or building in Newport to date. Barbara Venezia's opinion column appears online each Thursday and in The Current every Friday. Email BV at bvontv@earthlink.net
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