THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:A new city blogger joins the fray

Eminent domain, “smart growth,” and spaying and neutering pets are all fodder for Newport-Mesa’s latest entrant into the blogosphere.

After years of activism and comments at council meetings — including quotes from the Federalist Papers — former Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Sandra Genis in May started her own blog, called La Femme Wonkita.

Genis joins Costa Mesa residents Geoff West and Martin Millard — who write the Bubbling Cauldron and CM Press blogs, respectively — in blogging about city and regional issues.

Genis couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday, but she explains her motives right on the blog: “I’ve long been active in local politics and am one of the most opinionated people I know, but previously refrained from blogging,” Genis wrote. “What finally got me going? Well, first, a high level of irritation. Next, the realization as I was perusing the Federalist Papers that those guys were the original bloggers.”

Genis’ blog can be found at https://lafemmewonkita.blogspot.com , and she handily includes links to other Orange County bloggers — though the Daily Pilot is not included.

Beyond our border

After suing the city of Irvine for not adequately studying the impact of residential development planned in the Irvine Business Complex, the city of Newport Beach is taking on the studies itself, Newport Councilwoman Leslie Daigle said this week.

Newport recently hired consultants to study how residents in thousands of new homes across the border in Irvine will affect traffic and park facilities in Newport Beach.

“The main reason is that we don’t want the consequences of bad planning,” Daigle said. “We’re going to use it as the basis for future demands.”

Newport isn’t paying for the studies — the city’s covered by money from a legal settlement with Irvine.

Spelling snafu

A few years ago, someone at the Orange County Sheriff’s department slipped up and sent out a notice about a public meeting in “Carona del Mar.” Of course, the area is spelled “Corona del Mar,” while the sheriff’s last name is Carona.

The slip can apparently go both ways. An announcement Tuesday from Speak Up Newport informed the community that “Sheriff Mike Corona” will be speaking at the group’s meeting next Wednesday.

Sheriff Carona will address the ongoing debate over whether Newport Beach should take over patrolling its own harbor. Speak Up Newport meets at 6 p.m., with a reception at 5 p.m., at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive. Call (714) 558-6991 for information.

Sites on city hall site

Anyone interested in Newport Beach’s city hall/park issue can visit two new websites. Supporters of a ballot measure to build city hall on a park site are putting together www.cityhallinthepark.com . Those who want to preserve the property for a park have created www.parksarepriceless.org .