Presumed state Senate shoo-in Tom Harman opposes the controversial 241 toll-road extension through San Onofre State Park. That places Harman, who lives in Huntington Beach at the north end of the elongated coastal district, at odds with other politicians who represent South County. Toll road officials contend Harman’s opposition isn’t meaningful,regulatory approvals have been granted, the design and permit processes have begun, and they say lawsuits by Attorney General Bill Lockyer and environmental groups are mere nuisances. Nonetheless, Transportation Corridor Agencies spokeswoman Clare Climaco says, “We’re looking forward to meeting with him to discuss the important role of the project in providing mobility for his constituents, since polls consistently show overwhelming support in South County.” The Insider, viewing Harman’s razor-thin April 11 victory margin with the benefit of hindsight, wonders whether 241 supporter Diane Harkey should have spent some of her attack-ad dollars hitting the issue …
Chapman U Prez Jim Doti and Prof Essie Adibi said they received a lot of vitriolic feedback over their April 16 OC Register op-ed calling for an open border with Mexico. Doti said the “slings and arrows” were offset when he had lunch at the Pacific Club: “My favorite waiter, Pepe, came up and hugged me. He said, ‘Thank you so much for giving me and my fellow Mexican-Americans a feeling of dignity'” …
OC’s most complete downtown? South Coast Metro. It’s got office towers, restaurants, hotels, freeway ramps, an expanding arts center and, of course, South Coast Plaza. All it lacks are residents, but high-rise condos are on the way (Mark Mueller, page 1) …
Big smiles: Danaher Corp.’s $2 billion ($47 a share) purchase of Newport Beach-based Sybron Dental Products, which makes braces, fillings, wires and other mouth stuff, means hefty cashouts for institutional investors, especially Aerial Capital Management ($216 million for its 11.4% stake) and Neuberger Berman ($141 million for its 7.5% holding) …
Trump, Nicklaus, Bernanke,and Strada cofounder John McMonigle. The Newport Beach agent, now Coldwell Banker’s top producer, made Unique Homes magazine’s list of 35 “Most Influential People in Luxury Real Estate” …
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LA Observed reports that an L.A. Times memo says the paper plans to outsource graphics work to India for a two-month trial, starting with classified ads in the OC edition.
Separated at birth: OC Weekly and the new Inland Empire Weekly. Ex-OCW staffers Jeremy Zachary and Stacy Davies run the independently owned, Corona-based alternative pub, which proclaims, “A New Day in the IE”
