Opinion

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Press release

This story is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, a partnership with Chapman University that trains student journalists to cover public policy across Orange County. Have a student project or a response to this work? Email admin@voiceofoc.org.

A ballot measure limiting housing developments in Newport Beach could be invalidated by an Orange County Superior Court judge as city council members allege backers didn’t properly notify the public. 

Questions are surfacing in Brea over whether council members secretly came to a consensus on a tax-sharing agreement that could see a Costco and housing be developed – an allegation city officials deny. 

While dealing with rising questions over the Costco development, Brea City Council members also voted to increase donation limits on city council campaigns, bumping the maximum individual donor limit to $5,900. 

As Irvine grapples with projected budget deficits, city council members are looking to bring a baseball team to the Great Park and split ad revenue while also charging the minor league team rent to use the stadium.

At the same time, city council members are bringing back Irvine’s longtime city manager for one year as city staff project a $47 million deficit by the end of the decade.

Dana Point Harbor’s redevelopment hit another speed bump as some OC Supervisors push for more benefits in the public marina’s development project, but developers say they need a new lease after projected costs more than doubled so they can get a hotel built. 

Despite resident concerns of privacy and being over surveilled, Santa Ana City Council members are asking Sacramento to include the city in a speed camera pilot program in an attempt to reduce speeding and racing in the city.  

Laguna Beach City Council members are calling on OC Supervisors to stop using herbicide in Aliso Creek, potentially joining the one-year pilot program created for San Juan and Trabuco creeks. 

City officials are also looking to speed up Laguna Beach’s development process by using AI – potentially cutting down the wait time for things like plan checks and permits.

The Anaheim Marriott settled a labor complaint for $2.75 million with some hotel employees who alleged the company didn’t offer them their jobs back after getting hit with pandemic layoffs – the settlement also nixed a $12 million fine that state officials were imposing. 

A host of dogs and cats are available for adoption at the OC Animal Care shelter – including some canines named after Pokemon. 

Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.