COSTA MESA Shortened track approved for CenterLine...

COSTA MESA

Shortened track approved

for CenterLine plan

Light rail will go on after the Orange County transportation

Authority approved a shortened route Monday. The truncated route will

now run from the transportation depot in Santa Ana, through Costa

Mesa’s South Coast Metro area, to John Wayne Airport. County

officials decided to revise the route after Irvine voters rejected

the route through their city in June.

* A narrow council majority voted against restricting day laborers

at the Job Center to Costa Mesa residents-only. Councilman Allan

Mansoor felt that the restriction would make it more likely that

Costa Mesa residents could find jobs and reduce solicitation on the

street.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.

POLITICS

Congressman Issa opens Costa Mesa campaign office

Now that Gov. Gray Davis’ opponents -- a group growing daily --

have qualified their initiative for a fall ballot, one potential

replacement is stepping up his effort locally to win. Rep. Darrell

Issa (R-Vista), who sunk $1.7 million in to the signature-gathering

effort, is running his campaign for governor from a Costa Mesa office

near John Wayne Airport.

Issa moved into the digs in May.

The Republican congressman said the office provides him a central

location and access to an army of GOP volunteers.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

BUSINESS

What’s Cooking closes

after failing to pay rent

Longtime Newport Beach eatery What’s Cooking Bistro served its

final plate of pasta Saturday, before closing for good.

The restaurant’s operators, the Luhan family, and the Irvine Co.

had mutually agreed to shutter the eatery, which was in the Newport

Hill Center.

What’s Cooking opened in 1976 and began by serving fresh pasta and

printing the caloric count of its dishes on the menu.

However, during the past few years, the restaurant struggled to

pay its rent, the Irvine Co. said.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

NEWPORT BEACH

Transportation Department won’t push an El Toro airport

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta dealt a blow to

supporters of an El Toro airport when he announced that his agency

won’t push for the airport. Mineta’s comment amounted to a firm

denial of the city of Los Angeles’ request that the federal

government support an airport at El Toro in order to manage regional

growth in demand for flights.

* Supporters of the proposed Mariner’s joint-use library good some

good news last week when city staff reported that the project is

proceeding on time and within budget. City officials hope to break

ground in about a year on the joint school/public library and they

hope work will be done about two years from now.

* Locals anxious to learn about the city’s possible role in three

state projects at Crystal Cove were disappointed to learn they’ll

have to wait a bit longer. A study session on the matter was canceled

due to lack of a quorum. The matter could reappear on an agenda in

the near future.

* Two part-time patrol people will soon be roaming city parks.

Council members have approved a park patrol program that will put two

new staff members on the beat, checking permits, preventing vandalism

and making sure that sports teams don’t get bullied off their

reserved fields.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.