The Newport Beach City Council unanimously approved July 11 an ordinance that bans homeless encampments that block public access to such facilities as schools, daycare centers, and public restrooms, as well as “unpermitted structures”—such as those made of wood pallets or lean-tos—of any kind even if the city’s only shelter is full. Tents, tarps, and…

The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously March 14 to draft an ordinance to classify fractional homeownerships as timeshares, which are currently banned in the city’s residential neighborhoods. Fractional homeownership occurs when multiple individuals purchase a property, usually as a second home, and split usage based on a percentage of ownership. They are different from…

Evelyn Reese Hart—often referred to as one of Newport Beach’s “great dames” and “sweetheart”—died peacefully Nov. 23 after a recent stroke. She was 91. Born Willie Evelyn Reese on Jan. 24, 1931, in Phoenix, Arizona, Hart moved to Newport Beach in the 1950s. She served for 16 years on the Newport Beach City Council and…

During a regular city council meeting for Newport Beach on Nov. 15, councilors approved the purchase of a $30.5 million property with plans to turn it into the new police headquarters within a decade. The council voted 4–1—with Mayor Kevin Muldoon dissenting—approving the purchase. The property is in the city’s airport area at 1201 Dove…

The cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa adopted stances against the current violence in Iran against protestors, during their Tuesday, Nov. 15 meetings. Without discussion, the Costa Mesa City Council approved a resolution announcing the city’s support for the Iranian-American community whose relatives and friends are currently being affected by violence and protests in…

After years of public service, Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Lauren Kleiman now seeks the open seat for the city council’s District 6, which represents Corona del Mar, and is running against incumbent Joy Brenner in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. Kleiman lives with her husband and 10-year-old son who enjoy spending free time at the…

Being a Newport Beach resident of nearly 60 years, Joy Brenner said that “I’ve lived here since I was 15 … I’ve seen our little town grow and for some reason, I was always interested in city government.” Brenner, who was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in 2018, is seeking reelection of her…

For the last 13 years, one Newport Beach resident has attended nearly every city meeting, earning the title of “City Watchdog.” Jim Mosher, 74, is a Caltech physics Ph.D. graduate who retired from working as a research scientist and consultant with a focus on space phenomena. Now he’s running in the city’s Nov. 8 election…

Previous 2016 and 2020 Newport Mesa School Board candidate Amy Peters is running for Newport Beach’s District 3 city council seat, which encompasses neighborhoods surrounding the upper Newport Bay, in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. Independent thought and expertise from someone who is not a lifelong politician is something she said she hopes to bring…

Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Erik Weigand is seeking to replace termed-out City Councilman Marshall Duffield in the city’s Nov. 8 election. The race in District 3 encompasses neighborhoods surrounding upper Newport Bay. Weigand is currently the only candidate who has all seven councilmembers’ support, after working in various governmental capacities including at the federal, state,…