SCAQMD Board Passes New Fire Pit Rules

A CURIOUS OUTCOME
Those who follow this issue already know the outcome of the raucous meeting held at the headquarters of the South Coast Air Quality Management District headquarters in Diamond Bar.  It was covered extensively in both print, online and electronic media last night.  Here's my summary of events based on the coverage provided by our local media friends.

BURKE THE SWING VOTE
The facts of the event are pretty constant among the various reports.  The short version of the outcome is that the SCAQMD Board, led by Chairman William Burke, who voted with the majority for a thin 7-6 margin to modify their rule 444 and place new restrictions on nearly 800 fire pits throughout the southland.  It establishes a 700-foot buffer zone between beach fires and residences.

WILL NEWPORT REMOVE THE FIRE RINGS NOW?
According to Jill Cowan's report in the Daily Pilot, HERE, based on the new rules the City of Newport Beach can get rid of 60 fire pits near the Balboa Pier and at Corona del Mar State Beach.  Whether they do remains to be seen based on her quote from City Manager Dave Kiff.  See more below.

JUST A LITTLE OUT OF TOUCH!
Cowan provides us with a very interesting quote from Burke.  He said, "I understand everybody out there doesn't want this rule.  I'm just amazed very few people are here in support of the rule today."  This, during a packed-house meeting at which more than four dozen people addressed the directors on this issue.

RIGHEIMER BLASTS NEWPORT COUNCIL

Cowan also quoted Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer as saying, "These beaches are regional.  If you're up and down the 55 you don't go to Huntington Beach."  Since the beginning of this issue I've found it fascinating that Righeimer decided to spit directly in the eye of the Newport Beach city council.  According to Amy Senk, publisher of the outstanding local blog, Corona del Mar Today, HERE, only councilwoman Leslie Daigle attended the meeting and spoke.  It's curious that others from the Newport Beach council, including Mayor Keith Curry, chose not to attend since it was their petition to the Coastal Commission that started this whole controversy in the first place.

COUNTING SPEAKERS
According to Senk, of the 49 speakers today, only 7 supported the changes that were eventually approved.  The remainder, including 17 public officials or their spokespersons, were in favor of keeping the bonfires without changes in the rules.  She quotes Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson, a member of the Board, as indicating that the "fire rings didn't pose enough of a health risk to warrant the AQMD's attention."  He went on to say that Newport Beach, has, "one of the cleanest environments our basin has to offer."

HOW THE VOTE WENT
Senk tells us that "the board members supporting the rule changes were Burke, Clark Parker, Judith Mitchell, Dennis Yates, Michael Cacciotti, Gonzales and Joseph Lyou. The board members who voted no were John Benoit, Ben Benoit, Pulido, Jan Perry, Michael Antonovich and Nelson."

MORE FROM RIGHEIMER
Former Daily Pilot reporter, Deep Bharath, now writing for the Orange County Register in an article tucked firmly behind their pay wall, HERE, quoted Righeimer stating, "They started this mess and they're not even here," he said of the other Newport Beach council members. "They get what they want. This is about multi-millionaires who don't want others there. They know that if you can make it about health, you can shut it down."  Obviously, Righeimer doesn't much care what the heavily-Republican electorate and leadership of Newport Beach thinks on this issue.

BEFORE THE GLOATING BEGINS...
But, before the few people who theoretically "won" yesterday get too cocky, Kiff and Mayor Pro Tem Rush Hill posted an entry on the City website late this afternoon, HERE, that implies much work still needs to be done in that city before this issue is resolved.  Kiff's final paragraph says it best - "This issue has been debated extensively in the community in recent weeks and months, and good people are on each side of the issue. I know that the Council will work closely with the community to determine the best way for Newport Beach to move forward. The next chapter is not yet written."

***MORE FROM CORONA DEL MAR TODAY
Amy Senk posted a followup entry to this issue today, Saturday, HERE.

GOOD REPORTING
Thanks to Cowan, Bharath and Senk for their excellent coverage of this important issue.  Now we watch...

Fire Rings Meeting Tomorrow

FIRE RING OUTREACH TOMROROW

A reminder to all you fire ring fans... the South Coast Air Quality Management District is holding an informational meeting - seeking input and providing facts - on the Great Fire Ring discussion tomorrow, Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach beginning at 5:30 p.m.  You can read all about it HERE.

DAIGLE NOW SUPPORTS THE FIRE RINGS!
In a related story, Amy Senk at the Corona del Mar Today blog reported this morning that my old pal,  Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle,  has come out in support of the fire rings in Newport Beach.  You can read Senk's report HERE.  It seems like this issue has polarized that community... it's kind of fun to watch from over here in Costa Mesa!

2012 DP 103

 (Photo courtesy of Daily Pilot)

TIME FOR FUN

Our friends at the Daily Pilot have posted their latest version of their "103", the list of 103 persons or things that were influential in our communities during the year.  As always, this one is a fun list to scroll through.  You can read it HERE.  It looks like this year's list is a little dyslectic since the "103" is actually "130", one hundred thirty names on the list, PLUS 21 more "reader picks".

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND THE REST OF US
The list is full of politicians, sports heroes, educators, philanthropists, business leaders and a whole lot of just plain folks who make a difference in the community.

OLYMPIANS TOP THE LIST
We can all speculate about who should or should not be on the list, that's part of the fun.  However, I doubt that anyone will disagree with the choice of our Olympians to top the list.  So, "#1" is actually 22 names of local Olympians - a good start for this list.
 
LANZILLO ON THE BOTTOM
The bottom slot is occupied by Private Investigator Chris Lanzillo, whose presence at Skosh Monahan's gin mill in the run-up to the recent election certainly did create controversy.  Yeah, he deserves to be down there...

GREAT CHOICE
Number 2 surprised me, but I sure don't disagree with it.  Sandy Genis' activism and successful election to another tour on the Costa Mesa City Council certainly makes her worthy of this lofty position.

JUST RIGHT
And, it's somehow appropriate that she is ranked above #3, new Mayor Jim Righeimer.

GOOD CHOICE
It was good to see Robin Leffler on the list this year.  Her role as the President of Costa Mesans For Responsible Government (CM4RG), that broad-based grassroots organization that was instrumental in the defeat of Jim Righeimer's Charter in November, certainly qualifies her for a position on this list.

LOBDELL...
It was interesting to see City of Costa Mesa Communication Director Bill Lobdell's name on the list.  Not that he doesn't deserve the recognition - he certainly does - but I smiled when I saw it because the original DP 103 was created by Lobdell and Tom Johnson when they both were with the Daily Pilot.

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I also smiled when I saw the name of Jess Gilman, retired legendary School Resource Officer, on the list.  Sadly, it took his retirement for folks to fully appreciate his value to the Costa Mesa schools and the community in general.

ME, TOO...
Oh, yes... I'm on it again.  I'm down there at #91, sandwiched between Amy Senk - publisher of Corona del Mar Today and the BEST BLOGGER in our area - and super activist Mike Scheafer.  That's pretty darn good company, if you ask me.

ENJOY

So, the list goes on and on.  Take a few minutes to read through it and smile, or grumble, as you see the names included this year.  Enjoy...

Fashion Island Gunman Apprehended

GUNFIRE AT FASHION ISLAND
As many know by now, a lone gunman fired a reported 50 shots from a handgun late in the afternoon Saturday in the Macy's parking lot at Fashion Island.  He was apprehended, apparently without incident, by the Newport Beach Police.  Several stores in the mall were reported to have been locked-down.
 

BEST COVERAGE BY AMY SENK
Perhaps the best coverage of this event by local media was provided by Amy Senk on her Corona del Mar Today site.  That really doesn't surprise me, since she covers Corona del Mar like a blanket.  She had an early report, HERE, almost immediately after the event occurred.  She followed up with a very comprehensive entry, HERE, later in the evening and wrapped it up with yet another entry, HERE, much later in the evening which quoted the Newport Beach police press release.

RUMORS...
Rumors continue to swirl around this event.  One report, unconfirmed, was that a person was found shot and stabbed at Macy's.  One would assume this is a false report since no official word has been released to that effect.

NO REASON GIVEN

No word on why the alleged gunman, identified in several reports as Marcos Sarinana Gurrola, 42, of Garden Grove, decided to shoot up the place yesterday.

Something's Missing...

BIG CHANGES AT THE DAILY PILOT
This week marks a new era in local news.  As announced earlier by editor John Canalis, beginning today, Monday, November 12, 2012, The Daily Pilot - our newspaper of record for more than a century - has taken another significant step backward as it wrestles with the requirements of producing the best local news while trying to remain fiscally sound and support its parent company's attempts to emerge from bankruptcy.


DOWN TO 5 DAYS PER WEEK
This week The Daily Pilot, which has not been "daily" for some time when it dropped Mondays, becomes even less so as they transition to producing a print product only 5 days per week - Wednesday through Sunday - dropping Tuesdays beginning tomorrow.


COLUMNISTS DROPPED, REDUCED OR SHIFTED
Coincident with this change, we will also no longer see some familiar bylines.  Weekly columns produced by Greer Wylder, Amy Senk, Chuck Cassity, Crissy Brooks and Mona Shadia have all been dropped.  Shadia moved on to the Orange County Register. 
 
Both Jack Wu and Jeffrey Harlan will be published every other week instead of weekly.  Steve Smith's column will be published on Fridays and Jim Carnett's column will be found on Wednesdays.
 
Patrice Apodaca and Bruce Cook will remain as weekly columnists. 

SERNA AND REICHER
These changes come on the heels of the departure of ace reporters Joseph Serna and Mike Reicher.  Serna moved on to the parent newspaper, The Los Angeles Times, and Reicher now covers our area for The Register.


THE REGISTER GOES THE OTHER WAY
Personally, I'm saddened that these changes have been made, but it seems to be representative of changes throughout the print media nationally.  All of them seem to be looking for the right blend of print and electronic media to provide the news promptly and still be able to make money on it.  The exception is the Orange County Register, whose new owner Aaron Kushner, is doing the exact opposite.  He's throttling back the electronic side and is pouring tons of money into revitalizing the print product.  Recently he's advertised for dozens of media types - writers, reporters, editors, etc. - as witnessed by the departure of Shadia and Reicher from The Daily Pilot.
 

BLOOM TO THE REGISTER, TOO

In a related move, veteran newsman Roger Bloom - editor of the Newport Beach Independent and a mainstay at the Feet To The Fire Forums - will also soon join the Register to help establish more local newspapers similar to The Current that it distributes in our area each Friday.  The Indy is part of Firebrand Media in Laguna Beach and is still wrestling with their business model.  Right now they publish daily online and one day per week in print.


WHO'S LEFT - OLD GRUMPY AND ME?

I'm sorry that The Daily Pilot will diminish it's presence in our communities.  I hope they will continue to ramp up their electronic product and provide us with timely, accurate local news.  If "real" news outlets continue to shrink and, in some instances, disappear, it may leave the production of "news" to local blogs like this one and others.  That would be a real tragedy.

Looking For Hunter Ashcraft

CORONA DEL MAR TODAY TAKES THE LEAD
Amy Senk, my friend who publishes the excellent Corona Del Mar Today blog, has a painful story today about a runaway boy who may be in the Newport-Mesa area. You can read Amy's story HERE.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

Here is the flier published by the Brea Police Department after 13-year-old Hunter Ashcraft ran away from grandmother's home early in February. Since Hunter is a local kid from Corona Del Mar who also went to Ensign Middle School, there's a good chance that he's found his way back down here from Brea.

(click on photo to enlarge)

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT HIM, OR IF YOU SEE HIM....
If you have information on the whereabouts of Hunter Ashcraft, please call 714-990-7638. If you see him please immediately call the local police. Thanks for your help.

There's A New Blog In Town

WELCOME, CORONA DEL MAR TODAY
Today, as a little counterpoint to those little squirts of venom, I'd like to point out a new link over there on the right side of this page. Recently I discovered a new blog in our area - Corona del Mar Today - published by CdM resident Amy Senk. The blog, about six months old now, seems to be nicely filling an important niche by covering news and newsworthy items in and around the section of Newport Beach known as the Village of Corona del Mar - land of Sherman Gardens, The Five Crowns and sandcastles in the fall and much, much more.

IT'S A GOOD READ
Senk has the chops for this gig - she's a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked as a reporter for years before putting her career on pause to raise her family. When you read the blog it will be clear that it's written with a reporter's perspective, and done very well.

PISTOL-PACKIN' PERPS AT NEWPORT CENTER!
Yesterday she reported a story that appeared nowhere else in local media outlets - that the Newport Beach police snatched up two guys in Newport Center toting a bag with loaded automatic handguns, apparently with the intent of robbing people on the street! You can read her piece HERE.

WAKE UP CALL
Most of us living in this region tend to think of Newport Beach as a relatively safe haven from crime. The guy mentioned in the first paragraph certainly does. It's this kind of event that is like a splash of cold water on your face and makes you realize that nowhere - not even Newport Beach - is immune from violent crime.

VISIT CORONA DEL MAR TODAY OFTEN
So, I invite you to click on the link to Corona del Mar Today from time to time to see what's happening in that little slice of heaven.