Week in review
Local police officials said last week that they do not believe razor
blade discoveries in South County parks are linked to similar incidents
that shocked this community last spring, but they aren’t entirely ruling
out the possibility. Between March 23 and May 30, 2001, 13 incidents were
reported in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach parks and playgrounds. In most
cases, razor blades and sharp glass pieces were either planted on
playground equipment or buried in the sand.
The latest finding locally was reported in October, when razor blades
were found in Heller Park in Costa Mesa. Investigators said they did not
know if any of those incidents could be linked and that they believed
some could have been “copycats.”
The findings over the last few weeks in Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel
and Mission Viejo don’t appear to be connected to the Newport-Mesa
incidents, but both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach officials said they are
still investigating the cases.
In other news, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police departments
received $25,000 and $76,160 respectively as part of Gov. Gray Davis’
$30.3 million traffic safety grants. Newport Beach plans to use the money
to pay overtime for DUI officers, especially during holidays and weekends
while Costa Mesa will install a crosswalk safety light at the
intersection of Placentia Avenue and and 20th Street that will alert
motorists when people are crossing the road.
The Newport Beach Public Works Department, which received $50,000,
will start updating its computerized traffic accident records system to
help identify trends in traffic accidents.
* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .
Parents take library campaign online
A group of parents has jumped on the information superhighway to share
their concerns about children interacting with the public at a proposed
joint-use library at Mariners Park in Newport Beach.
The group is concerned that pedophiles have easy access to
pornographic material on library computers.
Every time you go to Fashion Island, you should thank Daniel Donahue
and Thomas Schriber for turning it into a shopper’s paradise.
On Tuesday, the UC Irvine Graduate School of Management thanked the
two real-estate moguls with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The two, who
own Donahue Schriber in Costa Mesa, were honored for their work
redesigning Fashion Island and developing and managing other shopping
centers throughout the county.
* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .
Checking for the budget’s pulse
Costa Mesa opened its collective mouth and said “ahhh,” as city
financial gurus examined various vital signs and finally announced a
“healthy” fiscal budget.
Last week, City Manager Allan Roeder presented the City Council with a
$101.8-million budget for fiscal year 2002-03. The 500-plus page document
outlines the city’s economic condition for the upcoming fiscal year,
which starts July 1.
The favorable prognosis is credited to the city’s strong sale and use
tax revenue, which has been able to keep Costa Mesa in good shape despite
a nationwide economic downturn.
The 2002-03 budget presents a $7.2-million increase -- or 7.64% --
over the 2001-02 budget. No programs are scheduled to be cut and the city
has even added a few more police and fire department positions.
Sales tax and use are, again, anticipated as the largest revenue
source in 2002-03 at $36 million. Property taxes are expected to go up 3%
and tourist driven revenues are to be up 5.8%, the report states.* Lolita
Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by
e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .
Growth needs to grow, mayor says
Economic growth remains the name of the game for Newport Beach Mayor
Tod Ridgeway. In his “State of the City” speech at a Newport Beach
Chamber of Commerce meeting, the mayor emphasized his position that some
growth is necessary and good for the city.
City Council members are getting their first crack at the city’s
budget -- a $142.1 million spending plan that foreshadows a lean 2002-03
fiscal year, but contains not spending cutbacks.
Cable subscribers will have a chance to chime in at a series of city
workshops. The meetings are designed to get residents’ input on what
programming and other changes they want to see when the city renews its
contracts for cable service.
* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .
The not-so friendly skies
Meetings between Newport Beach leaders and two environmental groups
continue to pave the way for extending flight restrictions at John Wayne
Airport. The groups may work together with the Federal Aviation
Administration to avert some airlines’ threat that they will sue if the
restrictions are extended.
And the Costa Mesa City Council refused last week to join in a lawsuit
against the anti-El Toro Measure W, stating the city’s resources are
better spent fighting the expansion of John Wayne.
* Daily Pilot staff. To contact the newsroom, call (949) 642-5680 or
by e-mail at o7 dailypilot@latimes.comf7 .
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