The area – where two homes were already affected by unstable soil – is an active landslide on private property that has had ongoing movement for several decades, said Dave Rebensdorf, the city’s assistant engineer who went out Friday to check on it.

“Unfortunately, the recent movement has furthered damaged the end of the city’s Columbo cul-de-sac,” he said. “City crews have installed sandbags to route drainage from the cul-de-sac to an existing storm drain.”

Dave Peterson, who lives on Columbo but not on the failing end, went there to see the damage for himself.

“It’s not yet impacting houses, but there are houses to the left and right that are close to the slide,” he said. “I’m concerned about those.”

Councilmember Steve Knoblock also visited.  He is familiar with the area and said, a few years ago, the city had to red-tag a house that was later condemned and bulldozed down the hillside because of the slope’s instability.

In Dana Point, some mud and debris slid from a cliff next to the Ocean Institute near the tidepools, said City Manager Mike Killebrew.

“There are no structures jeopardized at this point, and it looks like no impact on the lateral beach access,” he said.

• 

  The kitchen, with its flip-out window, and dining area. (Photo by Preview First)

• 

  The living room is on the second floor. (Photo by Preview First)

• 

  The primary bedroom faces the walk-through closet on the left and the living room on the right. (Photo by Preview First)

• 

  The elevated Brazilian hardwood deck area at the front of the house. (Photo by Preview First)

A Dana Point house made with repurposed shipping containers is on the market for $1.78 million.

Located in the Lantern District, this 1,600-square-foot container home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a soundproof automatic sliding barn door crafted from reclaimed lumber from an Idaho barn.

Set with a pedestrian door, the barn door conceals the one-car garage, which doubles as an artist’s studio.

Records show seller Max Auerswald purchased the property in June 2015 for $486,500. At the time, a 500-square-foot, single-story house stood on the lot. He and his wife, Talee, later demolished and replaced it with a house secured by 15-foot-deep caissons.

While the main level is stone and concrete, the couple installed two 40-foot containers and two 20-foot containers to create a second level.

The house, completed in 2019, has a modern industrial look and incorporates found and reclaimed elements, from abandoned doors to repurposed building materials.

Exposed beams, ductwork and pipes complement the reclaimed French limestone floors on the entry level. There, the kitchen features a flip-out window with an Italian travertine slab countertop for passing food and drinks indoors and out.

A steel bifold door extends the dining space out onto the elevated Brazilian hardwood deck. At the front of the house is a small patio concealed by a tall hedge.

The staircase has a metal horizontal railing and leads up to the living room on the second floor. At one end of the living room is the primary suite, which features a walk-through closet and a freestanding tub shower with a hanging oval curtain rod in the ensuite bathroom.

There are also two balconies, one at the front and the other at the back with a corrugated roof.

Smart technology, ample power and a new air-conditioning unit add to the perks of the home listed by Gaetano Lo Grande of Bullock Russell Real Estate Services.

The property at 33832 Robles Drive in Dana Point will open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.

Dana Point Harbor Partners won a 66-year lease in 2018 from the OC Board of Supervisors to renovate the 53-year-old county harbor, including the 120,000-square-foot area of the harbor that will house shops, restaurants, public gathering spaces and an expansive boardwalk connecting Doheny State Beach to Baby Beach.

“This is a milestone,” Bryon Ward, president of Burnham Ward Properties and the development partner heading up the commercial core overhaul, said of Wednesday’s ceremonial groundbreaking at the site where the parking structure will go. The event included community, county and city leaders and harbor merchants, and the development partners presented the timeline guiding the harbor project forward, which is projected to take five to six more years.

Work on the new  2,265-slip marina is already underway, with 772 completed. There will also be additional guest boat slips, which aren’t included in the count. Joe Ueberroth, of Bellwether Financial Group, is handling those renovations.

Bob Olson, of R.D. Olson, rounds out the development partnership and is working on entitlements through the California Coastal Commission for two new hotels.

“We spent 2020 and 2021 redesigning and permitting everything,” Ward said of the commercial core element, adding that they were postured to start earlier but, because of the market’s volatility and inflation, had to figure out new financing for the project, now projected at $600 million.

They also had to negotiate new utility permits with the South Coast Water District, he said. “Everything needed to be upgraded.”

The parking structure will be built on the left side of Golden Lantern at the entrance of Dana Point Harbor. It will be three levels, but won’t obscure a view of the new buildings or the water, the developer said.

The structure will also have boater services, including restrooms, showers, changing rooms, e-charging stations and dedicated parking for people going sportfishing and whale watching and those transiting on the Catalina Express. There will be 984 stalls, including 98 dedicated boater spaces.

“It’s not going to look like a big concrete structure,” Ward said, adding that there will be valet services and a gangway where boaters can wheel their gear down to the dock and launch pads. Mature trees will be planted to line the extension of Golden Lantern.

The construction of the structure, landscaping, and hardscapes, including the new harbor boardwalk that will be doubled in width and surrounded by a greenbelt, should be done in a year to 14 months, which completes the first two phases of the project plans, Ward said. From there, Ward said he will begin work on the new buildings near the waterfront as Phase 3 and then turn his attention to Dana Wharf.

Ward said $50 million has already been invested in the project for entitlements, design work, consultants, and geotechnical soil issues.

But with inflation and rising construction costs, the partners have had to find new financing for the renovations. Each phase will be financed independently, Ward said. As one is finished, the next will be financed. Financing for the parking structure and the accompanying amenities are secured, he said.

“We’re trying to upgrade everything without losing the charm Dana Point is,” he said. “A lot is visible and some is not. When you live with a project for five years, you get a better feel for the conditions.”

As the parking structure work gets underway, those with businesses in the harbor and people visiting won’t see a lot of negative impacts, Ward said. All the work will be confined behind the site’s fence for the first six months. When that work is completed, access will be flip-flopped so as not to impede traffic or pedestrians, he said.

All harbor businesses will remain open.

Work on the seven waterfront buildings will begin as the first phases wind down, Ward said. As that gets underway, he said more discussions will be held with existing tenants to “determine their desire to remain in the project,” he said.

“I’m optimistic we’ll have 100% of the project committed before we finish the waterfront,” he said, adding that he expects a mix of tenants and a culturally diverse mix of food offerings from independent and regional operators.

“It won’t all be seafood,” he said.

Among some of those tenants is Jim Miller, who operates the popular Coffee Importers and the Scoop Deck. While he said he would remain in his present buildings until he can’t, he is working on an option for a space at the Ocean Institute, where the former gift shop existed. If that plan works out, he said he will add a patio and a bakery – it’s been a goal to include his daughter, an executive pastry chef, in the business.

The location there would allow him to coordinate events with the Ocean Institute while still drawing his regular customers. And, he said he’s still open to also having a presence in the commercial core.

“It takes pressure off (Ward) if he doesn’t have a place for me right away, and it keeps my employees working that I’ve had for 15 years,” Miller said.

But on Wednesday, Miller was most enthusiastic about the parking structure. He also provided coffee and food for the event.

“I’ve been waiting for that since 1998,” he said, adding that he spent three decades talking with harbor’s first business owner, Don Hansen, the founder of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, about how the merchants could get one built. Hansen was active in pushing for the structure up until his death in 2022.

Hansen pushed the topic with then-Supervisor Tom Wilson and the first steps in a harbor revitalization were born.

“I’m sad Don isn’t here to see it; we spent 30 years talking about it,” Miller said.

Still, Donna Kalez, Hansen’s daughter, who now runs the family business, was excited to see her father’s dream materialize. The whale-watching and fishing charter business is located on the wharf, which will be the last section to be built and will include five new buildings.

“We’ve been telling everyone it’s coming,” she said. “For me, it’s bittersweet because my dad isn’t here to see it, but he’ll be watching from above. I’ve ben waiting for this moment forever.”

“I think it is amazing and beautiful,” the 9-year-old said. “It’s my first waterfall, ever. I just never knew it would be this beautiful.”

Well, kind of.

The famed Dana Point Waterfall is actually stormwater runoff in disguise. Still, it has become a draw for lookie-loos and spectators armed with cameras and cell phones to snap photos and selfies in front of the famed sight.

The waterfall only shows up while, and shortly after, heavy rains, making it an elusive attraction that lures people from near and far.

The storm runoff water funnels down from homes and businesses in the city’s Lantern District, through a concrete pipe that crosses Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado and discharges over the cliff near Baby Beach in the harbor.

Yellow caution tape and warning signs surrounded the falls and the drainage area where the water flows down.

Pass by on a dry day, and the waterfall won’t be anywhere in sight, with no indication that it even exists here.

Set around the flowing falls are palm trees and lush landscaping, giving a faraway feel for people who come to admire them.

“Every time it rains, it just makes you feel like you’re in another area, it takes you to Hawaii,” said Gale Lorton, a Dana Point resident. “I love coming to see nature. It’s just amazing.”

The water had a hint of brown Tuesday afternoon, so people would be wise to stay clear of the discharge.

“You don’t want to go play in there,” said Rancho Mission Viejo resident Tyler Martina, who came out to see it as soon as there was a break in the rain. “Last year, people were letting their kids swim in there, and I was like, ‘No, don’t do that!’”

The waterfall was a perfect getaway when there was a break in the rain by Tuesday afternoon.

“You never get stuck inside here; once you get stuck inside for two days, it’s like ‘gotta get out to do something’,”’ he said.

For Kaden’s mom, Amy, it was the perfect after-school outing to enjoy the outdoors.

“To see this kind of thing is just breathtaking,” she said. “I think it’s cool, too, the community comes together to see something like this and pause in life.”

Dan Corwin was waiting to meet his 32-year-old daughter Chelsea, who told him about the falls.

“It’s cool,” he said. “I never knew about this.”

 There’s more to this article on Instagram

We’ve put together a video from this event on our Instagram. You can watch it below or share it with someone you think would enjoy it by opening the video in the app and pressing on the paper airplane icon. You can either add it to your stories for all your followers or share it with someone specific.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OC Register (@ocregister)

The property, an early example of a California motor court-style hotel, is more than 80 years old and steps from the ocean. “It’s important to us,” he said, “that you know you’re in Dana Point. A black screen can be a portal out of that.”

Instead, the focal point of the rooms in the EL Caminante Bar and Bungalows is a king bed sitting on handcrafted Saltillo tiles with a view of the expansive beach. The TV is there, but framed to disappear into the room’s decor.

Each of the bungalows is decorated to create its own unique experience, helped through varied artwork, vintage light fixtures and one-of-a-kind mosaics created on Mexican white tile in the bathrooms. The idea, Hyde said, is for the ambiance to create a “sense of place.” Overnight stays will be priced between $300 to $1,500.

The property was once the Capistrano Seaside Inn and served as a getaway spot for early Hollywood stars. Over time it’s luster wore off and it was even listed among the nation’s 10 worst motels on Yelp before being shuttered for years and red-tagged by the city.  Following a spin through the courts, the property ultimately went to a foreclosure sale.

Hyde, president of the San Clemente-based Artist Guild Hospitality, purchased the property in 2021 out of the foreclosure. With his partner, Jeff Finn, the two assured city officials that they would renovate with an eye to its historical importance and followed the standards of historical restoration for the exterior. And the community has since been watching closely how the project has unfolded.

Twenty-two of the hotel’s 30 rooms are on the lower level and will have private patios – equal to the size of the room – with cozy seating and a custom-designed outdoor fireplace to give an indoor-outdoor feeling to the space.

As a special surprise, each of the rooms has an old-style record player that plays vinyl, cassette tapes and CDs. Upon request, guests can pick from more than 45 artists to tailor the music to their tastes.

A hacienda – described as a presidential suite – is located above the hotel’s lobby and bar-lounge area and includes a private patio that can accommodate 23 people.

The property’s surrounding landscape kept the original palm trees and has been planted with flowering bushes, edible plants and five Asian fruit trees, from which Hyde said guests will be able to pick fruits like lychee and loganberries.  Handcrafted bricks from an artist in Mexico create a path around the units and through the front courtyard to a three-tiered handcrafted fountain where guests can dip their toes while looking through a clear glass barrier that separates the property from Pacific Coast Highway.

“It’s important you know you are here,” Hyde said during a recent tour of the property. “It’s important you have a sense of place. Everything, including the woodwork, is intentional.”

The minute he and Finn saw the property, Hyde said they knew it would fit their company’s portfolio. They have at least 30 other historic properties they’ve restored along the California coast and one in Hawaii. Their specialty, Hyde said, is taking old buildings and making a new life for them.

“It felt like this was the spot we wanted to create in,” said Hyde, who was living in the same Capistrano Beach community when he purchased the property.  “We went to court, submitted a bid, and got selected for it.”

When they got the property, the buildings had been torn down to the studs.

For Hyde, who describes himself as a hotelier and real estate developer, working on the hotel has been a labor of love, he said. Growing up in Nevada, he framed his first house as a 14-year-old, he said. While he’s built multiple single- and multi-family homes and offices, he said he gets his greatest satisfaction from working on hotels.

“Hospitality is always open,” he said. “When homes are built, I can never go in again.”

As soon as he spent time at the property, Hyde said he realized he had a gem that needed a “gemcutter.” So, he assembled a group of artists to help create the pallet, he said.

First, they had to make sure the floors were level and the walls were square. Each door – the rooms have two Dutch doors  – had to be recut. Everything they constructed had to be rebuilt “twice and three times,” he said.

Now, he said, the property is almost ready to open to the public. April 1 is the date he tossed out, with a possible soft opening earlier for locals.

Hyde is excited about a rooftop bar positioned over the location of a former carport against a steep hillside overlooking the ocean. “I stood on it and decided to turn it into a deck,” Hyde said.

After getting approval from the California Coastal Commission, he’s moving forward with the work to finish it in time for the hotel’s opening. Once completed it will accommodate 49 people.

The deck will be one of three spots where people will be able to grab specialty drinks and a menu featuring Mediterranean-style cuisine and unique pizzas, tapas, and ceviche. The food will be prepared in a 1968 Airstream Ambassador parked near the lobby’s entrance.

Hyde said he’s excited to see what guests will think of the new place, and Didi Shields, the hotel’s general manager, said they’ll be in for quite a treat.

Hyde and Shields said they’ve talked to the city about adding sidewalks in front of the property similar to what’s been done in front of Olamendi’s restaurant just down the road. They’re hopeful this can happen, they said, especially in the wake of city officials looking at a plan to create better connectivity for pedestrians and bikes between Doheny Village and Doheny State Beach.

While the hotel restoration has taken longer than others he’s done, Hyde said the greatest difficulty arose from disagreements with contractors.

“It’s hard to lose people fighting over details,” he said, referring to a September lawsuit filed by Lipps and Sons LLC, which first served as the general contractor. The complaint seeking roughly $1.2 million in damages alleges the contractor was not paid for the hotel renovation and is contesting change orders. According to court records, the case has moved slowly and appears headed to mediation or, if necessary, binding arbitration.

Hyde acknowledged the project has required many changes from what it looked like when he and Finn bought it in the foreclosure sale. Instead of concrete floors and walls, they are now hand-tiled and the walls are drywalled. Every finish that was planned has changed, he said. Hyde declined to say what the project cost.

“It was designed to be rustic; we made it more of a Spanish hacienda,” Hyde said, adding that the hotel has had “noise” around it from the beginning and “there is still noise.”

City Attorney Patrick Munoz said Hyde and Finn have gone through all the required inspections, including to add new features not on the property before, such as the view deck and a fountain. Hyde and Finn had proposed a pool, but the city said no.

“Nobody got cut any special deals and they had to comply with all the uniform codes,” Munoz said, adding the city does inspections as construction progresses and a final inspection will still be required.

Munoz said the hotel fills a niche the city wanted to retain near the beach for visitors. It was also important to the city that the historical significance of a hotel was preserved.

In the end, Hyde hopes the controversies around the hotel fade, he said, and visitors instead focus on the romance and the nod to Spanish history of the new hotel.

“Maybe it feels timeless, and maybe it’s always been here,” he said. “When you do historical renovations, you think about what it would have been like if they had the most resources. What type of art would they have had? What creativity inspired the original bones?”

The construction and project team brought in continues to work to secure the landslide area and facilitate more efficient water drainage, according to Scott Johnson spokesperson for Metrolink, which hasn’t been able to run its trains south of San Juan Capistrano since the middle of last week.

Extensive tarping of the landslide area has taken place in preparation for the impending rain.

“Through the efforts of Metrolink’s track department, along with the grading and excavating contractor, the project team is observing a decrease in hillside movement above the San Clemente right-of-way near the Mariposa Pedestrian Bridge,” Johnson said in an email Tuesday, Jan. 30. Damaged sections of the bridge had to be removed last week.

BNSF started running freight trains through the area at 10 mph between 9 p.m. Monday evening and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

“Inspections of the track and a confirmation that it is safe to proceed will occur before and after each freight train passes,” an announcement said. “Along with the continued movement of the hillside, a major factor of why freight trains are allowed to pass San Clemente at night and passenger trains are not allowed during the day, is the constricted right-of-way and limited space for construction material and personnel.”

There is no definitive timeline for when passenger train movement can safely resume through the area.

Metrolink trains are only operating as far south as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station weekdays. For more information on schedules or updates, go to metrolinktrains.com.

Arthur Fenwick Williams of Santa Ana pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the July 20, 2019, killing of 48-year-old David Patrick McCabe of Dana Point in the 1500 block of West Center Street, according to court records. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 31. Williams was about to go on trial for the murder when he entered his plea.

The two had been at the Doll Hut bar that night and were hanging out at Capistrano Beach earlier in the day, according to a prosecution trial brief. Shauna Kuhn, a friend of McCabe’s who was with them, said Williams “repeatedly brought up drug use and said he had been up for a week and was using methamphetamine,” according to the trial brief.

Williams was found unconscious in Santiago Park on July 20, 2019, and was taken to a hospital in Orange, prosecutors said. Williams attempted to leave the hospital July 24, 2019, against medical advice, but his family said he had “suicidal ideations” so the defendant was placed on a psychiatric hold, prosecutors said.

Williams’ family was aware police wanted the defendant so they called authorities and he was placed under arrest.

Mitchell Timbanard of the Alternate Defender’s Office said in his trial brief that his client “killed his friend David McCabe after a long day and night of drinking. By all accounts, David and Arthur were friends, but something occurred at the end of a long day of drinking that caused Mr. Williams to kill his friend.”

After spending time earlier in the day in the Dana Point area they went to see a punk band at the Doll Hut, where McCabe was well-known, Timbanard wrote in the brief.

After they left the bar “things got ugly,” the defense attorney said.

“Surveillance video from the parking lot shows Dave and Arthur walking around and talking side by side in a seemingly normal manner,” according to Timbanard.

“At some point that changes and Arthur becomes very aggressive toward David, headbutting, pushing and striking David. …. Mr. McCabe appears to make no effort to protect himself and never appears to throw a punch at Mr. Williams.”

Williams then took McCabe’s car and was aimlessly driving around for about an hour, Timbanard said. Police eventually found the victim’s car in a Rowland Heights strip mall parking lot.

Williams got his mother to get him an Uber ride to Santa Ana “where he showed up crying at his old friend’s home,” the defense attorney said. He told his friends he thought he killed the victim and the dispute was over whether Los Angeles or Orange County is better, he said.

Williams was found overdosed in the park and was revived by paramedics and doctors at the hospital, Timbanard said.

The Dana Point Yacht Club announced the results of its 25th annual Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta by awarding a $46,896.47 check to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. The organization helps more than 1,800 youths in local communities reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. This is why the theme for the regatta was “Setting a Course for Great Futures.”

The Dana Point Yacht Club (DPYC), founded in 1952, has a rich and proud history of fostering a love of the ocean, tradition, competition and giving back to the local community. The charity regattas have held a special place in the annual calendar of activities for 25 years.

Over this time, DPYC has raised more than $1 million in support of local charitable organizations, including the Ocean Institute, 5th Marine Regiment Support Group, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Association and the High Hopes Head Injury Association.

The annual event in the Dana Point Harbor was created with the mission of bringing together business, civic and social leaders in the community with the club’s membership (and notably sailing members) to raise money to benefit charitable organizations in South Orange County. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley will continue to be the beneficiary of the charity regatta for two more years.

– Submitted by Dana Point Yacht Club

Three Orange County schools selected as state finalists in national STEM competition

Samsung named 300 public schools nationwide state finalists in the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. Nine schools in California, including three in Orange County, were selected. University High School in Irvine, Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine and Westminster High School in Westminster made the cut.

Each state finalist will win a package of $2,500 in technology and classroom school supplies.

The competition now advances to its next phase, culminating in April with the selection of three national winners, each receiving a $100,000 prize package, part of a $2 million prize pool.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide competition designed to empower students in grades 6-12 to leverage the power of STEM to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities.

Based on this year’s competition entries, some common themes around community issues felt by students all over the U.S. include the climate crisis, mental health issues such as student anxiety and loneliness, food insecurity, cybersecurity, and aid for the unhoused and migrants.

Westminster student wins ‘Transform Your Classroom’ contest

Students at Fryberger Elementary School in Westminster are enjoying a brand-new classroom thanks to Lauren Vu-Tran, who entered a “Transform Your Classroom” contest and won the makeover.

“Updated spaces are designed to promote active learning, which involves students taking a more hands-on and participatory approach to learning,” Vu-Tran said. “This can include flexible seating options, technology integration and collaborative workspaces, which can all help students to engage more actively in the learning process.”

The HON Company in partnership with OES Office Furniture, a local commercial and education furniture provider, started the contest, which gives away a full classroom of furniture.

The goal was to transform Vu-Tran’s classroom into an inclusive and interactive learning space.

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Chris Duncan

Current Job Title: San Clemente City Councilmember + business owner

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem

City where you reside: San Clemente

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.VoteChrisDuncan.com; Social: @chrisduncanca

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

People in this district want action right here in our community, not overseas. I’m running for Assembly to solve our homelessness crisis, strengthen our schools, fight against crime and make California more affordable for the middle class. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California can and should leverage its influence on critical issues such as trade, climate change and technological innovation. But in the Assembly, I will focus on advancing domestic, not foreign, priorities — that means reviving the California dream for our community by improving the lives of our residents right here in District 74.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

While political extremists are playing games with our democracy, I firmly reject attempts to interfere with Californians’ right to vote. Our voting system is secure. I support automatically registering anyone who is eligible to vote. No eligible voter should miss out on the opportunity to vote because of business, work or family obligations.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Our schools and basic services are facing drastic budget cuts because career politicians like our current assemblymember talk a big game and then go to Sacramento and go MIA. The fact is, she’s done nothing to rein in out-of-control spending and protect vital services we rely on. I will.

I’ll fight for a full state audit of homelessness and a statewide study on waste, fraud and abuse so we focus on what’s working and stop wasting money on what’s not. I do not support cuts to our public schools or public safety.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

As a former federal prosecutor, keeping children and families safe is my top priority. I worked to protect our community and go after drug smugglers in the Department of Homeland Security. On public safety, we need a representative we can trust. My opponent voted against funding to fight fentanyl and even campaigned for Trump’s re-election with a now-convicted Jan. 6 terrorist. That’s unacceptable.

As a father, I’m committed to strengthening our schools. California used to be the gold standard, and we’re falling behind because Sacramento representatives like my opponent have failed us. As a parent with three children in our public schools, I understand firsthand the critical need to avoid teacher layoffs, hold the line on class sizes and increase parental involvement in local school district decisions.

Finally, our community needs well-maintained roads, bridges, beaches and public transport systems alongside investments in housing, water resources and energy projects.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I’m a former prosecutor and a father of three young children. I know we can, and must, protect public safety and protect civil rights. It’s not either/or — it’s both. The legislature’s failure to increase child sex trafficking penalties was an embarrassment. The most heinous crimes against children deserve serious consequences. Period. Unfortunately, there were those in both parties who got this issue wrong, including the Republicans who were more interested in scoring political points than solving the problem. I won’t play those partisan games with public safety. I’ll listen to law enforcement, engage with the community and work across party lines to get things done — just like I have as the mayor of San Clemente where I added more police, and 100% of my public safety proposals passed with bipartisan support.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

As I mentioned above, regrettably, the state has spent a lot of money on homelessness without a long-term system in place to ensure the money is spent effectively. Spending millions to put homeless people in hotel rooms is not the long-term answer our residents deserve. Many homeless people simply lack affordable housing. We need to build more housing in a sustainable, affordable way so young people, medically disabled veterans and low-income families do not become homeless. That’s what I’ve done as mayor — and we were able to decrease our unsheltered population by 15%.

Other homeless people tragically suffer from mental illness or drug addiction. I support the new CARE courts program, in which a judge orders such individuals to a facility that can treat these conditions. And we need to let local governments enforce their laws if services are refused. Our residents deserve action on homelessness, not the status quo. Enough is enough. We need a change.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

California is just too darn expensive for working people and middle-class families. To help our residents afford to live here, I support raising the minimum wage, especially in a key industry like healthcare where we have a severe shortage of skilled workers and a growing senior population that must have reliable care.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

As a city councilmember and mayor, I’ve championed community choice energy as a cornerstone of our environmental and climate policy. CCE breaks up the monopoly by San Diego Gas & Electric, offers lower rates than the utility companies and allows residents and businesses the choice to buy cleaner energy which will protect our environment for future generations.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

In Assembly District 74, I believe the most vital capital improvement project that needs financing and completion is the sand replenishment along our coast. I’ll fight for our fair share of funding in AD 74 and prioritize sand replenishment projects — just like I’ve done as the mayor of San Clemente. My opponent is running for her third term in the Assembly and has nothing to show for it. I’ve delivered on my promises, and I will in the Assembly.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

I have a lot of hope for CARE courts program, which I’m glad to see Orange County is taking the lead in implementing, unlike other jurisdictions. It’s high time our state took mental health seriously, and that means hiring more behavioral health professionals, building more hospitals to support more psychiatric beds and creating parity between physical and psychiatric conditions. Right now, we don’t have enough of either, and people wind up in jail when they should be treated by health professionals. CARE courts is a complete paradigm shift that will allow people to get the treatment they deserve but only if we support it with the appropriate level of funding.

It’s too early to evaluate the results from the program, but we should be able to tell soon if it’s working such that it can be expanded to cover less severe disorders.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Do what is right, even if it’s at a personal cost.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Pizza.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Laurie Davies

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Laguna Niguel City Councilmember and mayor (2012-2020)

City where you reside: Laguna Niguel

Campaign website or social media: www.DaviesforCA.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

I believe California does lead the way when it comes to environmental protection. California has stepped up its efforts to combat issues like coastal erosion. Our state has the opportunity to be a leader in this space for countries worldwide who are dealing with their own environmental challenges. Furthermore, as the fourth-largest economy in the world, we have a global responsibility to ensure our business environment here can help attract and lure international companies to bring jobs to our communities. Economic investment brings opportunities for California residents.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

I believe reforms need to be common sense and practical. Let’s start with cleaning the voter rolls on a consistent basis so people who no longer live in our community aren’t sent ballots. Furthermore, I think it is reasonable to ask people when they vote in person to present a valid form of identification. You have to show an ID when you buy products like alcohol, yet no requirement when voting for president of the United States. It’s a common-sense step.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

If you look at the report given by the Legislative Analyst Office, it estimates the state has about $8.6 billion in one-time temporary spending that can be halted in various programs. So I would start there. This step partners with looking at the excessive costs of some of the bills the governor has signed recently and temporarily halting those needed to be implemented.

Additionally, we should give serious consideration to auditing many of the state agencies and the existing programs that require continuous funding. If there are programs that can be temporarily halted, serious thought should be given to that option. Taxpayer money should not be funding antiquated or useless programs or services.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

First and foremost, given that we are in a budget deficit, I’d love to see audits done on what state programs and agencies are living up to their potential and what ones can be repealed or reformed.

Next, I’d like to see more funding for coastal erosion programs administered by the state Parks and Recreation Department. Our coastline isn’t getting any bigger and we must act prudently to ensure we save our beaches and sand.

Additionally, I’d like to see more funding for more enforcement of the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS). This program helps law enforcement take away illegal firearms from people legally deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Lastly, I’d love to see more funding for behavioral health resources, such as attracting more providers to our state.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I believe the two are one and the same. If we increase penalties for heinous crimes, like human trafficking, you make our communities safer since those criminals are no longer roaming free. In addition, if we start giving more help and resources to those convicted of drug crimes, we keep our communities safer since we are helping people fight their addiction. Less users means less demand. Let’s punish the dealers and give treatment to users.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

The first thing we have to do when it comes to the homelessness crisis is to keep people in their homes who are most at risk of losing them. Take, for example, the renter’s tax credit. It has not been adjusted in years, yet rents have skyrocketed due to inflation. In Orange County alone, the average rent price is $2,590 a month. In the legislature, I have co-authored many bipartisan bills, such as SB 843, that try to improve and increase the amount for this credit.

If you want to go further, let’s reduce the red tape needed to even build homes. All the permits and filing fees deter developers from even wanting to build in our state.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

While I do believe our healthcare workers are unsung heroes in our communities, I do not believe we should start setting wage standards by industry. It should not be up to the governor or legislature to determine which set of workers do more or mean more to a community. I am all for pay increases for hard-working professions like our police, teachers, firefighters and healthcare workers. However, let’s make them across the board increases, not singled out.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

Coastal erosion is an issue near and dear to my heart. Our community thrives off tourism and the economic revenue it brings us. If we lose our precious beaches and sand, what becomes of the small businesses that rely on those dollars to survive? Or what happens to city programs that need hotel tax revenue to help clean our streets or improve our infrastructure? This year, I authored and passed AB 882 to ensure local agencies and nonprofits can get expedited grant funding from the State Coastal Conservancy specifically for coastal erosion mitigation projects. The time to save our coastline is now.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

As a former member of the Orange County Transportation Authority, I know firsthand how much railroads and lines mean to us. My office has worked closely with both OCTA and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency to help find a solution to the environmental challenges the rail faces in San Clemente. This stretch of railroad is not only critical for transporting goods and services, but many people in Orange County use this option to travel along our coastline for work or quick trips. At the state level, I have advocated and worked with legislators from both parties on budget requests to help get this issue fixed.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

When we talk about mental health, the first thing that needs to be made clear is we have a severe lack of mental health professionals available in our state. I think one thing we can do is help increase the number of mental health providers available to our residents. Many states allow telehealth options for providers in other states with similar educational backgrounds or licenses to see patients in neighboring states. However, California regulations hamper this. We need to make it as easy as possible for residents to see providers, even if it is through remote options.

Since COVID-19, we have seen a rise in mental health issues in every age demographic, but specifically high in our teens and young adults. Allowing this group greater access to professionals is in the state’s best interest.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

An independent voice bringing common-sense solutions for California.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Trail mix.