PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS Two men injured...

PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS

Two men injured in Westside alley shooting

Two Costa Mesa residents escaped with injuries when they were shot

after they had an argument with a group of men in a dark alley off of

Coolidge Avenue.

Police said three or four unidentified men, estimated to be in

their 20s, approached the two victims who were hanging out in the

alley. Detectives are still looking into whether the incident is

gang-related. Costa Mesa police are not releasing any more

information because the incident is under investigation.

* A Superior Court judge said on Monday that he will decide next

week whether to drop an enhanced charge against one of the defendants

in a gang rape case that could determine if the teenager would face

life in prison, if convicted. Gregory Haidl, the son of Orange County

Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl; Keith Spann; and Kyle Nachreiner face 24

counts. Haidl and Nachreiner face enhancements for allegedly

inflicting great bodily injury to the unconscious victim and using a

deadly weapon -- in this case a pool cue -- to sexually assault her.

The judge’s decision could decide whether Haidl gets a life sentence

or a much lesser sentence.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

Final public hearing not the last of CenterLine debate

The debate regarding the CenterLine light rail system intensified

last week, as many South Coast Metro businesses began to question the

appearance of political favorites during the final public hearing for

the environmental document outlining the feasibility of the project.

Representatives of major properties in the area, such as Tom

Smalley, the general manager of the Wyndham Garden Hotel on Avenue of

the Arts, questioned why the preferred route avoided Bristol Street

and South Coast Plaza when it would obviously be a popular

destination.

The alignment in question -- preferred by Costa Mesa officials --

could displace smaller businesses, while avoiding the Segerstrom

owned plaza. The route would go from Bristol Street to Sunflower

Avenue then along Avenue of the Arts for a short underground section

before turning onto Anton Drive. The closest station to South Coast

Plaza would be at Bristol Street and Sunflower Avenue.

The authority will vote on the preferred route on Dec. 8. The

light rail is designed to go from Santa Ana through Costa Mesa to

John Wayne Airport.

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

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

BUSINESS

Teamsters union join supermarket strike

The United Food and Commercial Workers union turned up the heat in

the grocery strike this week when they extended picket lines to

distribution centers for Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons stores. The

Teamsters honored the picket lines and stopped deliveries to stores

on Monday.

Locally, picketing workers said they’ll stay on the lines as long

as they have to, but they joined shoppers in hoping the labor dispute

between the union and the stores will be resolved soon.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

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

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.

EDUCATION

Asbestos may be gone but questions remain, parents say

Workers completed asbestos removal at Harbor View Elementary

School, but parents remain anxious about their children’s safety.

Parents of 52 students pulled their children out of the school

during the removal last week until district officials agreed to stop

work and resume only after school hours. Two parents called the South

Coast Air Quality Management District to report their concerns, but

they found nothing “unusual or in violation,” according to

spokesperson Tina Cherry.

* Less than one week after a popular Westside after-school program

closed, Newport-Mesa Unified School District will be opening its own

at Wilson Elementary School. After hearing that the Wilson Street

THINK Together center would close, the district allocated funds from

an existing federal grant to open a new program on Monday, which will

serve more than 180 students.

* The Harbor Council PTA delivered two trucks full of toys, books

and stuffed animals to children in San Bernardino, many of whom lost

everything in the raging firestorms last month. PTAs at Newport-Mesa

schools set up drop-offs at district schools and delivered the toys

to San Bernardino Monday morning. The items collected by Harbor

Council and other local PTAs will go to 400 children whose homes

suffered fire, smoke or water damage.

* A Corona del Mar Middle School student reportedly made a threat

last week that is under investigation, police and school officials

confirmed. The alleged threat, made via the Internet, included

mention of a gun, but school officials said none was ever brought

onto the school’s campus. The Newport Beach Police Department and

Newport-Mesa Unified School District are investigating the matter.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.