“I want to compliment the staff we...

“I want to compliment the staff we have here that makes the council

-- and this council member -- look a lot better and smarter than we

really are.”

-- Chris Steel, Costa Mesa councilman, on how impressed he was

with what he called the best budget he has seen in his more than

two-year council tenure

“Everybody wants a piece of the cheese. We’re doing our best, but

we’re still going to feel the hurt.”

-- Steve Bromberg, Newport Beach mayor, on the city’s tight

economic times

“We believe the new tenant needs to be a destination client.

Smaller, fast food restaurants don’t seem to work. People need to go

there on purpose, not just because they have some time, but to a

place where they want to bring their families.”

-- David Yoon, general manager of Triangle Square, on the latest

efforts to revive the downtown Costa Mesa shopping center

“Many other people have recognized Roger’s strength. I have two

younger boys and I hope they follow his example. I pray that many

others turn out like my son. With the grace of God, they can.”

-- Rogelio Mendez, a Costa Mesa resident, on his son, Roger, who

is the first recipient of a scholarship created to honor fallen Costa

Mesa Marine Jose Garibay

“It goes up and down, like a roller coaster.”

-- Tim Schennum, Costa Mesa gang detail sergeant, on gang crime

that had been somewhat dormant until a couple of months ago

“I’m conflicted. For a lot of reasons, an El Toro airport would be

good for us. I just don’t want it in my back yard.”

-- Gerry Ross, a Newport Coast resident, saying what residents

think about an El Toro airport