Anti-Measure B activist vows to push lawsuit

A Newport Beach activist who filed a lawsuit challenging Measure B said he plans to push forward with his suit even after voters approved the measure Tuesday.

Allan Beek, a member of the group Parks are Priceless, filed a suit in November that challenges the legality of having voters determine the new city hall site. In December, an Orange County District Court judge blocked a restraining order that would have kept Measure B off the ballot, but Beek said Thursday that his mission remained the same.

Beek guessed that his suit would take a few months to reach a court hearing, but since officials have projected the construction of city hall to begin more than a year from now, he said there was little rush.

“There’s nothing urgent about it now, so I don’t think we’ll get any expedited treatment,” Beek said. “It’s certainly going to take the city a long time to put a city hall there if they do, so I’m sure they wouldn’t mind waiting until the lawsuit is settled.”

— Michael Miller