Rearview Mirror: O.C. Week in Review

Sunday, 05.17.15

Loretta Sanchez issues an apology

U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez apologized for making a stereotypical Native American “war cry” gesture that disrupted the opening phase of her campaign. In remarks to hundreds of delegates at the state Democratic Party convention in Anaheim, the Orange County congresswoman said Native Americans “know that I have always had their backs.” (Los Angeles Times)

Cost of Great Park audit reaches $1.4 million

The long-running effort to determine how tens of millions of dollars were spent trying to transform a retired Marine base into a sprawling municipal park has itself rocketed far past its original budget. Since 2013, auditors have been trying to determine how Irvine city leaders and Great Park contractors spent more than $200 million to create what was billed as America’s next great municipal park, an expanse that would rival Balboa Park in San Diego or even Central Park in New York City. Auditors were originally given a budget of $240,000, along with the power to subpoena witnesses who otherwise might be reluctant to talk. The cost budgeted for the audit has now ballooned to more than $1.4 million. (Los Angeles Times)

Monday, 05.18.15

D.A. declines to press charges

Three out of four men arrested by Huntington Beach police on suspicion of conspiring to kill a woman for monetary gain were released last week after the Orange County district attorney’s office declined to prosecute them, according to county Sheriff’s Department records. Huntington Beach resident Joseph Jordan Taylor, 29, was to be arraigned on charges of solicitation to commit murder, attempted murder and potential sentencing enhancements for premeditation and deliberation. His bail was raised to $3 million from $1 million. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Man dies in Newport crash

Coroner’s officials have identified the man who died in a single-car crash near the Newport Beach Police Department as a 22-year-old Wildomar resident. Trent Morris was driving a Mazda Miata south on Jamboree Road when the car struck a concrete light pole and flipped over near Santa Barbara Drive at about 12:20 p.m. Monday, according to authorities. Morris was declared dead at the scene, police said. (Daily Pilot)

Tuesday, 05.19.15

Church is being sold to developers

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is wrapping up a deal to sell St. James the Great Episcopal Church in Newport Beach to a real estate developer. Diocese spokesman Robert Williams said negotiations to sell the church property at 3209 Via Lido and the parking lot across 32nd Street to Legacy Partners for about $15 million are nearing the end. St. James’ turbulent history includes an Episcopal-to-Anglican switch and a lengthy court battle. (Daily Pilot)

Lake M.V. may stop using potable water

The group that operates a private lake in Mission Viejo has proposed building a $5-million purification facility so it can begin using recycled water instead of the potable supplies it has relied on for decades. As state regulators demand conservation in the fourth year of drought, the Lake Mission Viejo Assn. board of directors voted last week to put a proposal before its delegates for a plant that would send recycled water through additional purification processes and then into the lake. (Los Angeles Times)

Wednesday, 05.20.15

Court says Banning Ranch deal is legal

A state appeals judge ruled that Newport Beach’s approval of development plans for Banning Ranch did not violate city laws. Judge Raymond J. Ikola, writing for a three-judge panel of the California 4th District Court of Appeals, said the city did not violate its general plan, which prioritizes that land in West Newport be kept as open space, during the process of approving the development project in 2012. The plan for the development of the 401-acre parcel of land overlooking the ocean near Pacific Coast Highway calls for 1,375 homes, a 75-room hotel, a commercial area and a portion of open space. (Daily Pilot)

Consultant seeks to change alimony law

For many, divorce is a difficult process fraught with emotional pain and financial battles, including lengthy legal disputes over things such as alimony. With that in mind, Steve Clark, an independent software consultant based in Huntington Beach, has put together a petition drive for an initiative intended to overhaul alimony law in California. His website, calalimonyreform.org, is dedicated to the proposal. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Newport may put on the Ritz again

The iconic Ritz Restaurant, renowned at its previous location for its old-school elegance, celebrity sightings and lunchtime cocktails, is a step closer to heading back to Newport Beach, this time with waterfront views on Mariner’s Mile. The Planning Commission will consider an application from GP’s Landing LLC, which manages the property at 2801 W. Coast Hwy., also home to Billy’s at the Beach and a marina, to authorize a building remodel to accommodate the Ritz. (Daily Pilot)

Bicyclists ride in remembrance of those killed

Cyclists in Laguna Beach and hundreds of cities nationwide pedaled during the annual Ride of Silence in remembrance of those injured or killed on the roads. Cyclists in Laguna began at Heisler Park and traveled 5.3 miles along Glenneyre and Catalina streets and Monterey Drive. (Coastline Pilot)

Thursday, 05.20.15

State fines Santa Ana mayor

A state commission unanimously agreed to fine the mayor of Santa Ana $13,000 in connection with accusations that he profited from a real estate deal with an auto parts dealer and then voted to make the business owner the city’s exclusive contractor. Mayor Miguel Pulido agreed to pay the fine for six violations of the Political Reform Act, according to stipulations of the agreement released last week. (Los Angeles Times)

So this sea lion walks into a bar ...

The customer in the sleek brown coat was feeling quite parched as he wandered off the beach and into a Balboa Peninsula bar last week. Thirsty patrons coming off the sand aren’t unusual at Beach Ball, which sits along a stretch of watering holes near the Newport Pier. But this visitor was unlike any other. After all, a sea lion pup isn’t tall enough to reach a seat at the bar and probably doesn’t have an affinity for stiff cocktails. (Los Angeles Times)

Bill protects sea lions

In the wake of an attack on a marine wildlife rehabilitation facility in Laguna Beach, five legislators have authored a bill to increase the penalties for animal cruelty. The attack last month on the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, during which large amounts of chlorine were added to a pool where 17 sea lions were being treated, angered the community and animal rights activists and prompted the legislation. (KTLA)

Friday, 05.20.15

Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley hasn’t lost that Newport feelin’

Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers fame is leaving his Balboa Peninsula home, but he’s not leaving Newport Beach altogether. (Daily Pilot)

Buckle up, Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach police will be on heightened alert for motorists and passengers not wearing seat belts through May as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Click It Or Ticket campaign. Nearly half of the 21,132 vehicle occupants killed in crashes nationwide in 2013 were unbuckled, Laguna Beach police said, citing safety administration statistics. Fifty-nine percent of people killed were in crashes that occurred in the overnight hours, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. (Coastline Pilot)

Men suspected of trying to support terrorists

Federal agents and local authorities arrested two Orange County men on suspicion of trying to support overseas terrorist organizations, according to the FBI. One man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, and the second was arrested at the Crystal Inn in the 700 block of South Street in Anaheim, according to Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman. (Los Angeles Times)