NEWPORT BEACH Ridgeway eyeing a return mayor’s...
NEWPORT BEACH
Ridgeway eyeing a return mayor’s post
Vice Mayor and former Mayor Tod Ridgeway could be in line for his
old job. Ridgeway said he has asked council colleagues to vote for
him when they select a new mayor on Tuesday.
* Mayor Steve Bromberg announced that he will seek a second term
on the City Council. Councilman Steve Rosansky had already said he
intends to run for re-election in November. The only seat that
remains uncertain is John Heffernan’s. The councilman has said he’ll
will decide this summer whether to run for reelection in November.
* 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.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Police believe thief did more than steal
Costa Mesa police are looking for a man who reportedly exposed
himself twice and tried to steal women’s underwear from a home -- all
on the same day.
Detectives believe the same man was involved in all three
incidents, which were reported on Nov. 22 between 3:40 and 7 p.m. At
about 3:40 p.m., the man, said to be between 20 and 30 years of age,
walked into the laundry room of an apartment complex in the 700 block
of Shalimar Drive, nude. He confronted a girl there, police said.
Police said the same man also accosted another girl less than an
hour later, again in a laundry room of an apartment complex in the
700 block of West 18th Street, and exposed himself to her. The third
incident happened at about 7 p.m. in the 1700 block of Newport
Boulevard, when he was seen inside a home stealing women’s underwear
from the bedroom.
* Newport Beach police are looking for the person who fired a
flare gun at a police helicopter on Nov. 28, officials said.
Someone fired a flare at a Huntington Beach police helicopter as
it was responding to a brush fire call near Newport Ridge Drive and
White Cap Lane at about 1:15 a.m., officials said.
The projectile missed the left side of the helicopter by about 100
feet and went above it. No one was hurt. Investigators later detected
that the initial brush fire was caused by a similar flare.
* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be
reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.
ENVIRONMENT
Los Trancos named to list of dirtiest creeks
Los Trancos Creek in Newport Beach was named among the dirtiest
waterways in the county in a recent study by coastal monitoring
groups including Orange County CoastKeeper. The report was based on
data collected on May 17 at points along the coast statewide.
Los Trancos Creek and Talbert Channel in Huntington Beach showed
high levels of phosphates and nitrates, which can cause explosive
plant growth and kill fish, CoastKeeper project coordinator Ray
Hiemstra said. Los Trancos also contained high levels of E. coli
bacteria.
Hiemstra said at 31 of the 36 sites studied exceeded at least one
of the standards measured.
* 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.
COSTA MESA
Monahan reappointed
mayor by City Council
Gary Monahan did such a good job as mayor after replacing Karen
Robinson that his colleagues unanimously reappointed him as mayor,
although Councilman Chris Steel expressed reservations about the
choice, touting himself as the only choice for change.
* There will be a new face on the Parks and Recreation Commission,
come Jan. 1 when Mirna Burciaga replaces Kelly Feldman. Feldman is
moving to Laguna Niguel where her fiancee lives. Burciaga was
appointed by Councilwoman Libby Cowan.
* Planning Commissioners will pocket more dough this month, as the
council upgraded their salary from $300 to $400 a month. The
commissioners will get paid by the month now, instead of by the
meeting.
* The council cemented its support of an underground route for the
CenterLine light rail system by approving a second preferred route
that it got the county to consider in October. This route will run
from Bristol Street to Sunflower Avenue to Avenue of the Arts, with a
short underground section on Avenue of the Arts. The county will
choose its preferred route in January.
* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.
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