Commentary: Things are looking up in Newport Beach
What an amazing month in Newport Beach!
The Board of Supervisors approved the memorandum of understanding with the city, Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON) and the Airport Working Group, moving forward with airport curfew protections for an additional 15 years, all the way to 2035. This will appreciably protect our quality of life. Thank you, Supervisor John Moorlach, for your support and leadership.
More than 2,000 residents joined us Saturday as we dedicated our new Civic Center, which includes the city’s fifth-largest park and a needed expansion of our award-winning library. This new complex was built to last and will serve our city for the next four generations.
At the same time, we received three outstanding proposals, including two for a luxury hotel, which will enable us to economically revitalize the Lido Village area and the entire peninsula. Ross Perot Jr. was in town to break ground on a $100 million investment in luxury housing (with Texas money!).
Our budget office reported that we are projected to again run a surplus, with expenses coming in below budget. This will enable us to keep investing in needed street, parkway and infrastructure improvements and will add to our record levels of reserves.
We gathered on the bay to recognize and thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their partnership in completing the dredging of Lower Newport Bay, the first comprehensive dredging since the bay was dedicated in the 1930s.
Under clear skies and strong wind, the 66th Newport to Ensenada yacht race continued one of the grandest and oldest traditions in our city.
More than 50,000 attended our 14th annual Newport Beach Film Festival, including Taylor Hicks, Green Day and award-winning Disney composer Richard Sherman. Several films were set here in Newport Beach.
More than 20,000 runners participated in the Orange County Marathon, starting in Fashion Island and running in solidarity with the people of Boston. Thousands more participated in the March of Dimes earlier to raise money to fight childhood disease. The Gift of Literacy luncheon was one of several charity events that occurred in our community.
The 52nd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Breakfast recognized our outstanding graduating students from Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar and Sage Hill. These students excelled in both academics and community service.
Finally, our yacht clubs celebrated the opening of another season of family tradition on the Bay.
With all the negativity that surrounds us, sometimes it is good to pause and be thankful that we live in such a wonderful city.
KEITH CURRY is the mayor of Newport Beach.