WEEK IN REVIEW

Airport backers dressed down the Great Park this week by presenting a

fiscal study branding the project as a massive drain on the public till.

The park, proposed by South County as an non-aviation alternative for

the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, would cost $2.1 billion

dollars to develop and as much as $60 million to operate.

A countywide tax increase of 10% would be needed to pay for the park,

according to the report. By just using only revenue from leases at the

base, it would take 63 years to raise enough cash.

The study was paid for by a coalition of pro-airport groups, including

the Airport Working Group and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .

A mystery almost solved

It was Costa Mesa’s latest whodunnit for almost a whole week.

But the police seem to have their suspect -- the individual they

believe is responsible for the murder of 16-year-old Ceceline Godsoe, who

was found dead on a brush-covered trail in Fairview Park Sept. 21.

Only, he is not behind bars.

Police on Thursday put out an arrest warrant for Victor Garcia, 17,

who they said fled his Costa Mesa home after he learned about the

investigation.

Officials said Godsoe died from being hit on the head with a blunt

instrument. Police said there were no signs of sexual assault.

There are still several unanswered questions. The motive for the

alleged crime still remains a mystery and it is not known if Garcia was a

gang member.

A memorial service for Godsoe will be held Tuesday.

-- Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

Almost home

This year’s Home Ranch reincarnate cleared its initial hurdles at the

Planning Commission meeting last week, gaining a recommendation for

approval to the City Council -- again.

The project seeking to develop the lima bean farm north of the San

Diego Freeway was given a thumbs up by the commission, which called it a

“solid project.” Final approval could be given by the City Council, which

will hear the item Oct. 15.

After nearly two decades of pitching various proposals to the city

regarding Home Ranch, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons found itself in a familiar

position Monday night -- or rather, Tuesday morning. Plans for previous

Home Ranch designs have garnered the approval of the Planning Commission

but found themselves stalled because of an outcry of public opposition.

Members of the opposition are taking the decision in step. hey have

been in this position before and are prepared to duke it out when the

item comes before the city council next month. Participating in the

Planning Commission process, provided them to opportunity to practice

their arguments and recognize areas that may need improvement, former

mayor and member of the opposition Sandy Genis said.

-- Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

Supporting their teacher

Students in support of an Orange Coast College political science

professor accused of making racist statements are taking matters into

their own hands by circulating a petition to get the professor

reinstated.

Meanwhile, the administration has hired a lawyer from the Orange

County Department of Education to to conduct an impartial investigation

of Kenneth Hearlson.

Hearlson is accused of calling a Muslim student in one of his classes

a terrorist.

-- Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

Dunes or bust

The owners of the Newport Dunes resort have given the city an Oct. 15

deadline for offering a bid on the land.

City officials have been considering purchasing the resort’s nearly

40-year lease in part to ensure a hotel will not be built on the land,

which is at East Coast Highway and the Back Bay.

The Dunes’ owners put the land up for sale this summer, in part

because the city’s slow-growth Greenlight initiative all but assured that

plans for a 470-room resort would never get past the city’s voters.

A 270-room hotel is approved for the land, so many residents have

urged the City Council to find a way to buy the land. The asking price

has not been disclosed.

-- June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .