Key Issues

Public Safety & First Responders

Public safety is a number one priority.  Liberal policies at the state level have led to rising crime throughout California.  We work aggressively to address these trends and keep our neighborhoods safe and crime out of our city.

Newport Beach’s first responders are on the front line of maintaining the well-being of our community.  They are not only tasked with keeping the peace, battling fires, and providing emergency medical services, but they also perform a multitude of essential community services to address homelessness, operate our animal shelter, and prepare for emergencies through Newport’s world class CERT program.

I am committed to providing our first responders the appropriate compensation, equipment, and support to perform at the highest level.  Some initiatives include:

  • Seven new drones strategically placed around the city to respond to emergency calls, major traffic investigations, and natural disaster management including a smaller Lemur 2 drone to support high risk police interior searches using night vision and two-way communication.
  • 69 FLOCK cameras registering license plates at every city entry and exit and coordinating with private cameras throughout the city.
  • Real time crime center manned around the clock providing first responders critical information achieved from this advanced technology.

Fiscal Responsibility

We continue a legacy of prudent planning, vigilant spending oversight, paying down city debt, investing in rehabilitating aging infrastructure, initiating innovative quality of life projects, and delivering high quality municipal services.  While taxes cannot be raised without a vote of the people, we ensure fees and charges for public services do not become overly burdensome or noncompetitive.

Some accomplishments include:

  • Early paydown of unfunded pension liability - we are one of the only municipalities in the state making early payments and are on track be free of this debt before 2030.
  • Balanced annual budgets with consistent surpluses.
  • Investment in city-wide infrastructure with generational impact including the Newport Bay Trash Interceptor, Junior Lifeguard Building, Newport Beach Animal Shelter, Witte Hall, Sunset Bridge, new libraries and fire stations, and more.

Quality of Life

Residents enjoy a high quality of life in our community.  Maintaining that standard is a critical priority.  We are tasked with securing our valuable assets for future generations, including protecting our residential villages, thriving business culture, and natural ecology.  Successes include:

  • Homelessness reduced by 80%, utilizing appropriate enforcement and providing opportunities for transitional shelter and permanent supportive housing.
  • Sober living homes significantly reduced through participation in state-wide legislative efforts and an active role in the California Sober Living Task Force.
  • Protecting Newport Harbor, our most significant environmental and economic resource.  We serve a large marine community and important ecological habitat and maintain a balance with the business and tourist industry, applying standards fairly with all stakeholders.
  • Housing mandates managed properly to concentrate mandated residential development in appropriate areas of town like Newport Center and the airport environs and away from existing villages.

 

Managing Traffic

Traffic is a critical concern in Newport Beach with tens of thousands of residents and visitors navigating our streets daily. Creative mitigation includes:

  • Five open open-air trolleys reminiscent of Orange County’s historic Pacific Electric red cars, fueled by compressed natural gas, ready for operation in summer 2026.
  • Prioritizing live and walk options in our villages.
  • Creating over 150 miles of bicycle routes & trails.
  • Partnering with neighboring Costa Mesa to reduce the impact of the termination of the 55 freeway onto Newport Boulevard.

Local Business Support

Newport Beach’s community of villages, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, West Newport, and the Balboa Peninsula, among others, are home to a diverse collection of local businesses. Sales tax generated by these businesses is second only to property tax in supporting our general fund and maintaining highly valued infrastructure and services in our community.  We continue to support the growth of new and established business investment through strong chamber relationships, “shop local” messaging, and economic development grants.

Promoting Libraries, Arts & Culture

Arts and culture are a valued resource and significant economic engine of a community and Newport Beach is no exception.  Public concerts, theater, and lectures create opportunities for community enrichment and business to thrive.  Our world class Civic Center includes City Hall as well as the Newport Beach Public Library, with over one-million visitors a year.  A new civic hall will complete the campus with cultural opportunities to complement Concerts on the Green, rotating art exhibitions, and the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park.

Airport Protections

Newport Beach is critically impacted by the presence of John Wayne Airport in our midst.  Many in our community identify airport noise as a paramount concern and lobby for meaningful solutions.  We continue to forge coalitions with the aviation community, Federal Aviation Administration, and County Board of Supervisors to address key issues of flight paths, takeoff acceleration, and noise monitoring and preserve the protections in the landmark Settlement Agreement governing the airport.

Group Home Oversight

Group homes, including sober living, mental recovery, and other residential care facilities are a critical concern in our community.  Abuses by unscrupulous owners put their clients at risk and leave residents feeling powerless and frustrated. 

Various agencies including the City Council, County Board of Supervisors, State legislature, and District Attorney endeavor to regulate, license, or monitor these businesses but State law preempts meaningful action on the local level. 

We are committed to through participation in state-wide legislative efforts and an active role in the California Sober Living Task Force to return of licensing and regulation to cities to promote safe and appropriate patient care as well as mitigation of neighborhood impacts.  

Fostering Public-Private Partnerships

Private coalitions can be instrumental sources of support for public infrastructure projects.  These public-private partnerships supplement budget resources.  This has occurred successfully in our community in projects like Oasis Senior Center, Marina Park, the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, Witte Hall, and The Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park.  Fostering the public-private economic engine provides additional resources to enhance our community and secure infrastructure assets championed by residents.