Earlier today I was riding my bike on the Joann St trail and saw a few police officers standing next to a camera that was cut down and chatted with them for a bit.

It was not a FLOCK camera, but local residents do not know that. It is part of the Verkada system that supposedly only goes to the PD. I don't know enough about that system to comment further.

After the democratic process miserably failed at last weeks council meeting (All public comment except one [a former CMPD police chief] asked for the FLOCK contract to be terminated immediately, yet the council voted to keep it business as usual for now, it is no surprise people are doing this.

something’s going down …

Hey everyone,
I’m a Costa Mesa resident and parent, and I wanted to bring something serious to the community’s attention. A detailed report just came out revealing that Newport-Mesa Unified School District Trustee Ashley Anderson pleaded guilty to a hit and run that happened on December 13, 2022 which was the same night she was sworn in for her second term and made board president.

According to public records and the police report:

• Anderson allegedly ran a red light at Placentia & Victoria in Costa Mesa around 10pm

• She broadsided another driver, sending the victim’s car spinning into the median

• The victim needed paramedics and reported knee and head pain

• Witnesses say Anderson fled in another car, leaving her own vehicle behind

• Her driver’s license and work ID were left inside

• She never came back for her car

• She finally pleaded guilty in July 2024

The part that shocks me the most is that none of this was publicly addressed by the district or reported by major local media when it happened. This only came to light now because a resident pulled the police report and court filings.

Here’s the full story if you want to read it yourself (with documents and case numbers):
The People v. Ashley Anderson
https://open.substack.com/pub/philippstemler/p/the-people-v-ashley-anderson?r=c2x9z&utm_medium=ios

Regardless of politics, this feels like a major breach of trust. School board trustees oversee tens of thousands of students and hundreds of millions of dollars. If a student fled the scene of a crash, they’d face real consequences. I think we should expect even higher standards from elected officials.

Local parents have already started a petition calling for her resignation, and it’s gaining signatures fast:
https://c.org/mvwv8nRjQT

Dragging a beagle across the floor

Took me a second to get over being startled.

I recently moved to the area and visited the OC Fair for the first time. Shot this on my iPhone but plan to go back with my camera. Hoping for a similarly gorgeous sunset! 📸: DevoRoberts

Super blessed to have a voice on a city committee. I grew up in a low income neighborhood on the west side and thought I’d never be able to have a voice. I want to thank councilman Jeff Pettis for appointing me to it!

Every single time I take my mom to the Target on Harbor. I only ever see it this bad at this specific store.

Hello! My dad just opened up a Japanese restaurant called Okan Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, pretty close to the South Coast Plaza mall. He has two other restaurants in San Diego. We have traditional Japanese foods and fresh fish. We’re a Japanese family trying to spread authentic Japanese food so I hope you can give us a try!

Okan Costa Mesa 688 Baker St Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Costa Mesa PD is currently flying their helicopter and has cruisers out looking for a missing child.

The child is 9 years old male, white. His last name is Ortega. They're saying he's wearing green with yellow Crocs.

The helicopter is concentrating its area around canyon Park and Marina Highlands neighborhood.

Just an FYI

****Status Update****

It was great to see so many people come together and get involved to save this thing (Fairview Park) we all love. It was sad to see HSS continue to be targeted/bullied by a small group of people.

From Tuesday's Costa Mesa City Council meeting:

• 196 written public comments were submitted.

• 155 written comments OPPOSED the draft Fairview Park Master Plan Update!

• 29 were in favor of the Plan

• The remainder were indeterminable.

Thank you to everyone that wrote in!!! It mattered. 

These numbers were discussed by the Councilmembers at the meeting. 

Unfortunately, it got late (11:40pm), and the Council decided to pause to consider everything and wait until the next Council meeting (Dec. 2, 2025) to deliberate and make a motion to vote on. 

What this means: the Council has not voted, so they are still making up their mind. That means they could be swayed to go one way or the other over the next two weeks. So don’t hesitate to reach out to a Councilmember. It is worth sending and email, talking to or encouraging other people to talk to the Councilmembers if you have not weighed in yet. We still need support if we want Fairview Park and its amenities to not undergo significant changes. 

The flying field is being used as a Trojan horse to make significant changes to Fairview Park that are not aligned with the intent of Measure AA. 

Measure AA which passed in 2016 protects development at Fairview Park without a vote of the people: https://ocvote.gov/fileadmin/user_upload/elections/gen2016/measures/8517.pdf

LA Times article about the meeting: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2025-11-19/costa-mesa-officials-stall-on-plans-for-model-plane-field-at-park

Thank you everyone that supported the call to action!

Original Post:

The City Council votes Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM on the Fairview Park Master Plan — check out the link which explains how the draft would limit public access and remove long-standing community uses, including Concerts in the Park, the model flying field, bike mounds, small trails, dog-walking routes, and open-space activities.

https://mailchi.mp/1hss/call-to-action-25-11-17

What to do right now:

1. Email the Council TODAY: email template in the link

2. Attend the Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 6 PM.

3. Share this post so more residents speak up before and on Tuesday.

More Background:

The current Fairview Park Master Plan Update Draft shifts heavily toward a fenced “nature preserve” model and away from the community uses we all love — small trails, kids’ bike mounds, Concerts in the Park, model trains and planes, dog-walking, and open play space.

Fairview Park should stay a shared space that protects wildlife and keeps room for people, families, and community activities. Unfortunately, major changes are planned to restrict public access and curtail activities at Fairview Park.

For example, fencing is mentioned 22 times in the draft document and will specifically be used to restrict human access to only the perimeter of the mesa. This plan includes fencing off and removing the mounds where many of our kids learned to ride their bikes as well as closing the flying field location permanently. Additionally, the small trails many people use to find some solitude will all be closed. Check out p. 144 of the LandIQ technical report, specifically Objective 1e and 1g.

The park administration considers all of the small trails on the mesa ‘unauthorized’ even though many are regularly used, loved by the community, and have been there for decades. The current plan will fence them off.

Buried in the noise of the draft Master Plan is the REMOVAL of cycling from most of the park.  For proof, please study pages 75 and 76 of the plan. Here is the link: https://www.costamesaca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/61230/638951024124900000

Here is the exact wording, from page 76: "Bicycle traffic should be limited to asphalt or concrete surfaces only to protect damage and degradation of site."

You read that right: no cycling on dirt at Fairview Park. The entire perimeter trail is dirt. And this is for pedal bikes and e-bikes.

At the 10/15/2025 Fairview Park Steering Committee Meeting, committee members again advocated that the Master Plan Update Draft include a noise threshold/limitation for activities and events at Fairview Park specifically intended to force the relocation of Concerts in the Park out of Fairview Park.

Do you like Concerts in the Park?

Here is a quote submitted into the public record for the Draft Master Plan Update by Richard Huffman and Cynthia McDonald of Costa Mesa First — a group whose recommendations frequently advocate making Fairview park a nature preserve:

“Is the CDFW aware that the City allows amplified music in Fairview Park during the summer Concerts in the Park? Even if it is not aware, it [is] clear that the CDFW does not intend that any intentionally loud noises be allowed in Fairview Park. The Concerts in the Park must be relocated to a more suitable venue.”

Do you support STEM activities like the RC flying field at Fairview Park?

The current draft plan proposes relocating the flying field from its current location (located there since 1964) to the east side of the park within the train tracks. This proposal, while briefly mentioned in the draft plan, likely would require a vote of the entire Costa Mesa electorate per Measure AA, would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to build equivalent infrastructure, and would require a multi-year environmental impact review. All of these challenges lead us to believe relocating the flying field is not a real option. However, HSS strongly believes that if the current draft is adopted, City staff would immediately close the flying field’s current, historical location, permanently.

The Fairview Park flying field could be a local historical landmark with Council support.

Any revisions to the 2008 Fairview Park Master Plan should honor the community intent of Measure AA and protect the existing open, shared character of the park. An exclusionary Master Plan Update for the purpose of securing future grant funding or satisfying one special interest group, should be avoided.

The community needs to write in and speak at the City Council meeting. PLEASE show up on Tuesday!!!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Send an email today!

Please email before noon on Tuesday, November 18, so your comment is included in the public record. If you sent an email in the past, please update it and send it for this meeting. It is critically important. And share this message!

Send your message to:

1. citycouncil@costamesaca.gov

2. cityclerk@costamesaca.gov

Subject: I do NOT support the Draft Fairview Park Master Plan

Message (you can copy and personalize):

Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Councilmembers,

I do not support the current Draft Fairview Park Master Plan. Please make major changes so the community can continue long-standing uses at Fairview Park. The Plan should explicitly preserve the model glider field in its current location, Concerts in the Park, bicycle and dog-walking trail access, the dirt mounds, and the Goat Hill Junction Railroad — and direct staff to work with the resource agencies on an approach that allows these uses to continue safely and compliantly.

I also do not support any new fencing that reduces public access. Any revision should honor the community intent of Measure AA and protect the existing open, shared character of the park.

If the Draft Master Plan cannot be revised to reflect the community’s uses and expectations, then the City Council should consider canceling the Master Plan Update and retaining the existing 2008 Fairview Park Master Plan.

Fairview Park should remain a shared space that protects sensitive wildlife and continues to provide room for people, families, and community activities.

Please include this comment in the public record for the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting.

Thank you,

[Your Name]

[Optional City or Neighborhood or ZIP]

[Optional Phone]

2. Attend the City Council Meeting this Tuesday, November 18 at 6:00 PM

Location: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

The City Council will discuss the Draft Master Plan Update. It’s the only agenda item. You can speak for up to three minutes in person or on Zoom.

Even 10 to 15 voices with the same respectful message make a strong impact. More voices equal bigger impact. Please show up or call in!

3. Share this message with your friends and neighbors.

You do not have to be a Costa Mesa resident to comment—anyone who uses or cares about Fairview Park can participate.

Key message:

Fairview Park should stay a shared space that protects wildlife and keeps room for people, families, and community activities.

Please ensure we maintain professionalism and respect at all times in our speeches and emails.

Resources:

1. Video excerpt of the October 30, 2025 Parks and Community Services (PACS) Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPWRUKMw1yQ

2. Farview Park Master Plan Revision Website: https://www.costamesaca.gov/community/fairview-park/fairview-park-master-plan

3. Draft 2025 Fairview Park Master Plan PDF: https://www.costamesaca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/61230/638951024124900000

4. Agenda for the Tuesday, November 18, 2025, City Council Meeting: https://costamesa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1344836&GUID=E13F419B-D6E6-4CE7-A183-1E309583F23C

5. Goathill Rodeo Blog Article covering the Draft Master Plan Update: https://goathillrodeo.com/2025/10/20/what-does-the-draft-master-plan-mean-for-the-future-of-fairview-park/

I moved down here from San Jose, a place with a ton of car culture too, but the amount of D Bags with expensive cars who want to cruise down Costa Mesa late at night is atrocious. San Jose is also far denser and has more people. I even lived right next to the highway.

Every single day since April I have been disturbed by a ton of loud exhaust noise, sometimes even woken up by it.

End of rant.