Gains & losses

GAINS

CITY CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN

The city offered a frightfully good time this Halloween. Residents

trick-or-treated at the Huntington Beach Mall. They attended a haunted

house at the old Wells Fargo building on Edinger Avenue. And the first

three blocks of Main Street were a weekend home to a small Ferris wheel,

pony ride and petting zoo. Across town at the Oak View police substation,

police and volunteers gave away candy, coloring books and Junior Police

badges to about 500 children.

BOEING, UNION OK CONTRACT

The Boeing Co. reached a tentative agreement with one of its unions

Tuesday evening, narrowly averting a strike. The deal offers union

members -- about 1,500 of whom work at Boeing’s headquarters near Bolsa

Chica Street and Bolsa Avenue -- more job security, better pension and

medical benefits and higher bonuses.

1999’S JUNIOR KAHUNAS

The Independent recognized 95 of the area’s top youths, many of them

involved in volunteer activities ranging from beach cleanups to helping

senior citizens. It wasn’t easy picking just 95. Many are involved in

sports, in addition to excelling in the classroom. But what really sets

them apart from their peers is their attitude, their desire to help

others, their willingness to go the extra mile.

LOSSES

WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

The girlfriend and daughter of a man killed by a Huntington Beach police

officer are seeking more than $80 million from the city. The claim

alleges that on April 22, Officer Aaron Smith panicked and shot David

Blackman at “point-blank range” outside his apartment, even though

Blackman was unarmed and posed no threat. Police say the 43-year-old man

stepped forward and challenged the officer, who was responding to a

domestic violence call.

SOME LEERY OF HIGHWAY PLAN

With cars already zooming down Pacific Coast Highway, the city’s plan to

add more lanes is driving some nearby residents nuts. The danger will

increase for beach-goers who jaywalk across the highway, residents say.

The city proposal will add a car lane and a bike lane in each direction

between Beach Boulevard and Goldenwest Street, but the road will not be

widened, city engineer Bob Eichblatt said.

BAD SCENTS IN PLANT EXPANSION

Residents living near the sewage treatment plant in Huntington Beach

think the Orange County Sanitation District’s proposal to expand its

capacity stinks -- literally. The district plans to spend $1.5 billion

over the next 20 years upgrading equipment and increasing the capacity of

its plants, including the one at Pacific Coast Highway and Brookhurst

Street. But members of the Southeast Huntington Beach Neighborhood Assn.

say the district needs to give greater consideration to the air quality

impact of more waste treatment.