The San Juan Capistrano City Council gave the approval on Tuesday, Feb. 6, nixing a recommendation by the Planning Commission.

Since November, city officials have been collecting suggestions from the community to name the future passive park on the corner of San Juan Creek Road and La Novia Avenue. The Planning Commission reviewed more than 70 names submitted and recommended “Tony Forster Park.”

Tony Forster was a San Juan Capistrano mayor from 1971 to 1972 as well as a councilmember and planning commissioner. He was also the president of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society from 1991 until he died in 2007.

Councilmembers, however, rejected the suggestion.

“My reservation with naming the park after a person is what if, after 30 years, people want to change the name of the park,” said Councilmember John Taylor. “It is very difficult to change it if it is the name of a person.”

“I want to keep it neutral,” said Taylor.

Councilmember Troy Bourne noted that the park is not located near Marco Forster Middle School, colloquially known as just “Forster School.” The school has a park next to the campus, which Bourne said would create some confusion if the new park were to be similarly named.

And with a windmill planned for the park, Bourne said that “most people will call it Windmill Park anyways.”

“I think we need to find a way to honor Tony in some other manner,” said Councilmember Howard Hart.

Only Councilmember John Campbell objected to the Windmill Park moniker, saying, “When you look at the accomplishments of this one man (Forster), I think that they are significant enough to afford this recognition.”

Other suggested names, according to a staff report, were El Molino Park (windmill in Spanish), Harvest Park, Hitching Post Park, Mariposa Park (butterfly in Spanish) and Orange Grove Park.

After years of negotiations, the San Juan Capistrano City Council in June unanimously approved a plan to lease city-owned property off of San Juan Creek Road and La Novia Avenue to the San Juan Hills Golf Club to create the park.

Currently under construction, the new park will include a native pollinator garden, bench seating, oak shade trees, a boardwalk, citrus trees and a hitching post for horses as well as a corrugated water trough that will have a windmill to circulate the water.

The City Council approved a 30-year initial term lease with a 20-year available extension, amounting to $50,000 annually to fund park maintenance and supplement other nearby city-constructed improvements. The total area of the lease is five acres, but construction plans only use a little over one acre of that space.

Construction is underway and is expected to be finished by summer, according to assistant city manager Matisse Reischl.

But lately, due to unprecedented inclement weather, a recent move and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the farm is looking a bit different this year. It’s had to downsize tremendously, both in crops and employees. South Coast Farm, as it grapples with financial struggles, had to lay off a third of its employees in Dec. 2023 for the first time since opening over 25 years ago.

Situated in San Juan Capistrano off of Ortega Highway, the farm specializes in strawberries for the community. Most of South Coast’s harvest is typically sold at farmer’s markets across Orange County and at a stand in Dana Point. These operate in the spring and summer months.

Because strawberries can’t grow in the cold, the farm typically closes during the winter and reopens in February, said George Kibby. However, this year, the farm may not open again until the summer.

“We are limping through this with the hope all farmers have of a better year to come,” said Kibby. “Our losses these past few years, losses due to bad weather and bad decisions on my part, have really eaten into our cash reserves and threatened our ability to continue farming.”

South Coast’s harvest has been delayed by about 45 to 60 days compared to other farms, mainly because of colder weather patterns in the area, Kibby said. Unlike many other Orange County farms, South Coast does not have the benefit of alluvial soils, which is extremely fertile soil that is typically found closer to the ocean. Due to South Coast’s location in the Santa Ana mountains, the soil is rockier and freezes easier.

Last winter and spring, Southern California experienced a very unusually wet year. Freezes in late winter “wreaked havoc” on the Kibbys’ strawberry crops, he said, costing about $180,000 in losses.

And then there was the flash flood in March 2023 that washed away half of the year’s strawberry crop, Kibby said. This cost the farm about $75,000.

South Coast Farm’s crop is about 90% strawberries and the rest is seasonal produce, according to Kibby. Strawberries are the second most produced crop in the county, according to the Orange County Farm Bureau, racking in just over $19.5 million annually.

“The challenges of farming are well known,” said Kibby. “As the old timers used to say: ‘too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet, too much dirt.’”

“We went back in and reworked the soil and replanted,” said Kibby about last winter, “but yields were poor, even by our low standards. It only takes a single weather event to destroy a crop, and then that season is over.”

The University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources division tracks weather patterns in Coto de Caza, just about three miles away from the farm.

In January 2022, UCANR recorded about 0.03 inches of rainfall, drastically less than the 4.63 inches recorded in January 2023. In March 2022, 1.84 inches of rainfall was recorded compared to 8.78 inches a year later.

Weather is not the only challenge the farm is facing, though. Kibby said that costs have been on the rise since the pandemic, especially with farming becoming an “increasingly rare skill.”

“I know people associate farm work with manual labor, but skills are required in pruning trees, vines and tomatoes, too,” said Kibby. “Knowing how to care for crops properly allows the crop to produce to its maximum potential. In the end, that is all a farmer can do: prepare the crop for maximum potential and wait and see.”

Jose Arriaga, Orange County’s agricultural commissioner, said this lack of labor availability in fieldwork has been noticeable over the past year.

“A lot of strawberry fieldwork is very intensive,” said Arriaga. “We do see a struggle to find workers who are willing and able.”

As challenges continue to accumulate, Kibby said the farm had to make the “very difficult decision to lay employees off” in December.

“I should have let a few of my full-time fellows go last winter when it was becoming obvious costs were running away from income,” said Kibby. “But I couldn’t do it. You go to these friends’ children’s quinceañeras, their weddings. You help them through divorces and legal issues. You consider them family.”

Outside support from the federal Department of Agriculture has been hit-and-miss, according to Kibby.

In 2023, the USDA rolled out a program designed to help specialty crop growers after the COVID-19 pandemic, called the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program. Kibby applied for max payout from this program, which totaled $125,000, and was accepted soon after. However, requests for assistance under PARP far exceeded the funds available, said USDA spokesperson Brooke Raffaele, and USDA had to put a cap on how much funding farms could get. South Coast Farms ended up receiving only $11,875.

“That was very disappointing,” said Kibby. “We counted on that money, even sent in a tractor for extensive repairs. We had no way to pay for the repairs which amounted to $23,000.”

With support from the community, including through a GoFundMe, Kibby says he hopes the farm can reopen in March, but still, it might not be able to reopen until the summer months. As of Monday, Feb. 5, the couple’s fundraiser has brought in more than $51,000.

With the money, Kibby said the farm will be able to invest in “eco-friendly initiatives that preserve the land and promote biodiversity” as well as “repair the tractor, get an upgraded cooler and new greenhouse for transplant growing and finish overall vehicle and machinery maintenance.”

“The future in farming, and of any farm, is always in doubt,” said Kibby. “Ours is no different. There is so much outside of one’s control. That is just the way it is and should be.”

“But we have had a great run farming locally, and it has been a privilege to do so.”

The more than a century-old railroad bridge in San Juan Capistrano will be replaced with a three-span girder bridge in coordination with the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink, a project expected to be completed by late 2026.

The bridge will be demolished and a new one constructed just west of the existing structure. A new foundation will be constructed on top of the existing bridge for a potential second one in the future; albeit, there are no plans yet in the works for a second structure, said OCTA Spokesperson Eric Carpenter.

During construction, train delays — for commuter and freight service — are expected, but the San Juan Creek Bridge will remain open and operational until the new structure is finished.

“There is no planned service disruption as this bridge is being built,” said Carpenter. “While the construction could require a brief, overnight closure, passengers would see minimal, if any, disruption to regular service.”

Delays and adjustments to the rail service will be posted on Metrolink’s website.

For now, the streets around the railroad bridge — Del Obispo, Camino Capistrano and Paseo Adelanto — are not expected to be closed during construction, but that could be subject to change, said Carpenter. Additionally, the adjacent Descanso Park is expected to remain open.

The San Juan Creek walking and bike trail will have to close during the construction from Camino Capistrano to Descanso Park, however.

The trail is expected to be closed for up to 30 months, said Carpenter, and a detour route will be installed on Del Obispo and Camino Capistrano as well as Trabuco Trail. Officials don’t have a date yet for when the trail will close.

The bridge is being replaced to “enhance safety, reduce maintenance needs and meet current design and bridge load standards,” said Carpenter.

The total cost for the replacement project is estimated at $65.6 million. The project is funded by $1.4 million in local sales tax dollars for transportation improvements, administered by OCTA, as well as $22.9 million in state funds and $41.6 million in federal funds, said Carpenter.

Aside from planned construction projects, the LOSSAN rail corridor has experienced many delays in recent years — and weeks — due to landslides.

Last week, a landslide caused a slope failure and halted rail service around San Clemente, just a few miles south of the San Juan Creek railroad bridge. That marked the fifth service interruption in three years along this stretch due to landslides, according to OCTA.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 31, service is not operating between Laguna Niguel and Oceanside, which includes the San Juan Capistrano station and San Juan Creek railroad bridge, due to the falling debris.

“We don’t anticipate the emergency work in San Clemente having any impact on the timeline on the San Juan Creek Bridge construction project,” said Carpenter. “Both are important to maintaining service on the line and keeping this vital rail line operating for years to come.”

Built in 1917, the San Juan Creek railroad bridge services Metrolink, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and various freight trains.

An estimated 500 passengers either board or disembark Metrolink trains at the San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Oceanside stations. On weekdays, an estimated 14 trains operate through the area and another 12 on weekends, Metrolink spokesperson Scott Johnson said. Amtrak runs 10 northbound and 10 southbound trains through the area daily.

More information about the project can be found on OCTA’s website.

It’s been a recurring issue in recent years that has decision-makers wondering what to do about the vulnerable section of coastal train tracks. This landslide has also indefinitely disabled the town’s popular coastal trail.

The worsening of the landslide on Wednesday, Jan. 24, caused so much damage to the Mariposa Bridge it was “precariously hanging over the tracks and must be removed as soon as possible,” Councilman Chris Duncan said Thursday morning. “The bridge is beyond repair.”

Passengers and commuters, meanwhile, were left without train service through the affected area, about half a mile from the San Clemente Pier. Metrolink and Amtrak had to cancel trains Wednesday evening, offering commuters vouchers to take ride-sharing services or a bus ride to bridge the gap.

There is no word on how long the service will be interrupted by the latest landslide. Trains will only operate as far south as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station until further notice, Metrolink officials said in a news alert.

Metrolink is unable to secure enough shuttles or buses to provide alternative transportation between Orange County and Oceanside, said Metrolink spokesperson Scott Johnson.

An estimated 500 passengers either board or disembark Metrolink trains at the San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Oceanside stations. On weekdays, an estimated 14 trains operate through the affected section and another 12 on weekends, Johnson said.  Amtrak runs 10 northbound and 10 southbound trains through the area daily.

Amtrack’s Pacific Surfliner canceled some trains Thursday and offered a bus bridge in some cases.

Metrolink’s engineering team and track department were on site Thursday to assess the situation to “try and determine how to safely remove the debris on the right of way without triggering additional landslides,” Johnson said.

It’s not the first time this spot has had trouble with movement of the hillside, a landslide in 2019 closed the Mariposa Bridge, shutting off access along San Clemente’s popular 2.3-mile coastal beach trail on the north end of town for months. Another closed the trail again in December.

More hillside movement prompted the city to close the bridge last week for safety reasons  and city officials were already coordinating with the private property owner above the landslide and geologists, according to the city.

“It’s been coming down the hill and hitting the bridge. The bridge has been holding it up, basically. Now that the bridge is so destabilized, it has gotten through and washed down onto the tracks,” Duncan said.

The landslide is the latest in a series of slope failures in the beach town the past three years, first on the south end of the city in 2022 with a track closure that lasted months and required $13.7 million in Orange County Transit Authority and state funds to secure the hillside at Cyprus Shores.

A landslide in April at the historic Casa Romantica closed the tracks again and required $8.5 million in city funds to stabilize and is still being monitored carefully as recent storms have soaked the slide area. The OCTA spent another $3 million on a retaining wall to stabilize the base of the slope and protect the tracks from debris.

Another landslide in North Beach a year ago sent residents fleeing from their homes – some were red-tagged temporarily – but the failure was far enough from the tracks to not impact train service that time.

“This is going to be our life, we are going to have these challenges. we are going to have to be very clear-eyed about the fact that these bluff failures and the loss of beach sand and coastal erosion is something we will have to continually deal with,” Duncan said, calling on federal, state, county and city officials to come together to come up with a solution. “It will need to be an all-hands-on-deck approach.”

A long-term fix to the Mariposa Bridge was in the city’s plans, but those funds were used to repair the city-owned Casa Romantica and stabilize the hillside there.

“It’s a good thing we hadn’t repaired the bridge,” Duncan noted.  “If we had done the repair we planned, we would have repaired a bridge that then got damaged by this slide.”

Short-term, the area is likely going to need some sort of retaining wall, Duncan said.

Congressman Mike Levin was scheduled on Thursday to host a train ride to announce new federal funding dedicated to the rail corridor, with plans to travel from Oceanside to Los Angeles. With the train route shut down, Levin pivoted to instead visit the landslide site Thursday morning.

During a press conference, Levin announced $53.8 million in new federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the 108-year-old San Dieguito River Railway Bridge, the first step in relocating the tracks off the bluffs in Del Mar where similar issues have been plaquing the rail line.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest link. Our weakest link is here in San Clemente and Del Mar,” Levin said. “If the rail area is closed, you can’t get from San Diego to Los Angeles.”

Levin also announced that the rail line – called the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo, or LOSSAN, Corridor – has been selected for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID Program, providing Caltrans with a $500,000 grant for planning and development of long-term improvements to the corridor.

The Corridor ID Program will be “critical to unlocking future federal funding sources to prevent further coastal erosion and landslides from impacting service,” Levin’s office said in an announcement.

Levin stopped short of saying the section of rail line in San Clemente should move inland, but noted that federal, state and local funding should be used to engage a stakeholder dialogue.

“I do not pretend to have the answer on stabilization or relocation,” he said during his press conference. “Whether they go, or whether they stay, we are going to need major investments.”

Duncan said geologists expect more land to move as the damaged structures are removed and rain expected next weekend could also cause further problems.

“They are saying this is a very unstable and dangerous area,” Duncan said. “They don’t want anyone near the bridge.”

The OCTA owns the tracks in Orange County, while Metrolink maintains the right-of-way infrastructure.

The OCTA has two studies planned, one for short-term fixes to vulnerable areas, another to explore longer-term solutions.

Laurie Girand, who represents the community activist group Capo Cares, called on officials to move the line inland. And she argued more ridership studies should be done and geological testing to show whether train vibrations, especially from heavy freights that run through the region, are adding to the vulnerability of the soaked, sandy soil where hundreds of homes are located on the cliff.

Supervisor Katrina Foley, who sits on the OCTA board and was recently appointed as vice chair for the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, agrees and is asking for those factors to be added to OCTA’s short-term study.

Foley is hoping for a study of the bluff, no matter if it is public or private land, to find other risk areas, she said.

“We will work on this tirelessly. We can not keep shutting down the rail service,” Foley said. “We can’t just measure where we’ve already seen landslides, we need to be proactive to show where we have risk. It’s a lot more expensive to react. We keep investing millions and millions of dollars reacting, instead of proactive planning to prevent.”

Levin noted $3.5 million has been secured in this year’s federal budget for OCTA’s long-term study, but that still needs to be approved in Congress.

“Everyday, it seems like a new bandage they need to put on. Every time is a reminder that we have to be thinking about long-term stability,” he said.

The OCTA already in 2021 completed a study assessing how future climate change could affect the Orange County rail corridor, especially along the 7-mile section that runs along the coast in Dana Point through San Clemente and down to Oceanside.

Slope failure and erosion were addressed, with the study looking at changing precipitation patterns as well as coastal storm patterns that can affect erosion and increase the likelihood of slopes being unstable.

The Mariposa Bridge was identified as among the most exposed sections of tracks.

The OCTA explored relocation of the train inland to run along the 5-freeway in its climate change assessment, though that option would come with a price tag in the billions of dollars, the study says. A two-segment rail tunnel looked at could be built along Interstate 5 from San Onofre State Beach to Avenida Aeropuerto in San Juan Capistrano for an estimated $5.9 billion.

“We all need to develop a plan to address this proactively, so we are not playing defense. That has not happened before – this is relatively new that we have gotten these kind of landslide on a recurring basis,” Duncan said. “We’re going to need to take a more forward-looking approach, or we will keep finding ourselves in these situations.”

Rail services were suspended between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations as of late Wednesday afternoon, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said in a news release.

OC/IEOC Line Alert: Tracks are closed between San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside due to possible hillside sliding near San Clemente. Update to follow.

— MetrolinkIEOC (@MetrolinkIEOC) January 25, 2024

UPDATE: As of 5:58 PM PT, Due to an unforeseen track closure resulting from previous weather events, all train service between Irvine and Oceanside is temporarily suspended. A bus bridge will operate between those stations assisting affected customers. Updates to follow.

— Pacific Surfliner (@PacSurfliners) January 25, 2024

The closure also affected Metrolink service lines between Orange County and the Inland Empire. Individuals using Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner to travel between Los Angeles and San Diego could also face lengthy delays and potential cancellations, Amtrak said on social media.

“I remain committed to working with our partners to clean up and monitor this situation, but more importantly, find solutions for rail stability,” Foley said in a statement.

Representatives from Amtrak and Metrolink could not be immediately reached for comment. Details on when the tracks may reopen were not released.

Landslides in the area the past few years have caused the rail line to be closed intermittently because of track damage.

The closure of the Mariposa Bridge beach trail this month followed a closure in December.

For the safety of the public, the San Clemente Beach Trail Mariposa Bridge is currently closed while slope movement is being evaluated. The bridge will be reopened as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/k3A8H0UxEz

— CityofSanClemente,CA (@CitySanClemente) January 17, 2024

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.

Highlights include, but not limited to, Marcelo Hisaki of Restaurante Amores in Tecate, Baja California who will kick off the series on March 1 with fare influenced by Mexican, Japanese and French cultures. Gabriela Lopez, inspired by traditional Mexican recipes passed down from her grandmother, and Debra Scott of Casa Gabriela will take the helm on March 15. Cody Requejo and Colin Whitbread of Fiish bring their seafood savvy from LA to SJC on March 29. Sabrina Nyswonger, who uses her Mexican, Cuban and Italian background, will join her work and life partner, Jason Mcleod, a classically French-trained chef, on April 26. Alan Sanz of the new Maizano, Mercado Gonzalez’s only dedicated restaurant, will make an appearance on May 3. On May 31, Janina Garay (formerly of Addison, San Diego’s only Michelin three-star sparker) joins Trisha Vasquez (executive chef Wormwood in San Diego) and Adrian Villarreal (executive chef at Tahona Bar) will round out the springtime dinner series.

SEE ALSO: San Juan Capistrano’s excellent Campesino Cafe signals food shift in South County

The Ecology Center’s Community Table lineup is as follows:

• March 1: Marcelo Hisaki of Restaurante Amores
• March 8: Chefs Logan and Gary Mitchell of Cellar Door
• March 15: Moira Hill of Lilian’s
• March 22: Gabriela Lopez and Debra Scott of Casa Gabriela
• March 29: Cody Requejo and Colin Whitbread of Fiish
• April 5: Brian Bornemann of Crudo e Nudo
• April 12: David Serus of Montage Laguna Beach
• April 19: Willie Eick of Matsu
• April 26:  Sabrina Nyswonger and Jason Mcleod
• May 3:  Alan Sanz of Maizano
• May 10: David Sim of Kingfisher
• May 17: Whitney Aronoff of Starseed Kitchen
• May 24: Rich Mead and Paddy Glennon of Clausen Oyster Farm
• May 31: Janina Garay, Trisha Vasquez, Adrian Villarreal

Community Table dinners commence on Fridays at 6 p.m with pre-dinner drinks, a tour of the farm and al fresco dining, which concludes around 10 p.m. (Yes, blankets will be provided to stave off any chill in the air.) Community Table chefs and farmers will also share ideas to help us bring farm-to-table philosophy into everyday life. It’s all part of the Ecology Center’s mission as an educational hub for students, chefs, and locals to learn more about the importance of food consumption and sustainable farming.

In 2022, the center worked with the city of San Juan Capistrano to extend its license agreement for a total of 40 years.

The dedicated food week will feature deals and prix-fixe menus ranging from $15 to $25 for lunch, and $25 to $45 for dinner, a date-night lineup and even luxury menus offering a more tony experiences for $60 to $120.

New to this year’s lineup include Irvine’s Benny and Mary’s, Bloom Restaurant and Bar in San Juan Capistrano, Le Shrimp Noodle Bar in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo’s Dizzy Bird and Oliver’s Trattoria in Irvine, to name a few.

This year’s week-long event will also highlight family-friendly dining, which is a great way at getting kids to learn about cuisine and dining out, and vegetarian dining, ideal for those who either eschew a carnivorous lifestyle or yearn for a more vegetable-forward menu.

The annual event is put on by the Orange County Restaurant Association. Diners can find participating restaurants’ menus and prices at www.OCRestaurantWeek.com.

This year’s restaurants are as follows:

1886 Brewing Company – Orange

399 Vietnamese Kitchen – Tustin

Anaheim White House – Anaheim

Angelina’s Pizzeria – Irvine

AnQi Bistro – Costa Mesa

Apola Greek Grill – Yorba Linda

Aria Kitchen – Irvine

AVEO Table + Bar – Dana Point

Avila’s El Ranchito – San Clemente, Santa Ana

Benchmark – Santa Ana

Benny and Mary’s – Irvine

Billy’s at the Beach – Newport Beach

Blaze Pizza – Newport Beach

Bloom, Restaurant + Bar – San Juan Capistrano

Bluegold – Huntington Beach

Bodega Laguna – Laguna Beach

Bottega Angelina – Laguna Niguel

Brio Italian Grille – Irvine

BRU Grill and Market – Lake Forest

Brunos Italian Kitchen – Brea

Cabo Wabo Beach Club – Huntington Beach

Cafe Sevilla Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar – Costa Mesa

Cambalache Grill – Fountain Valley

Cappy’s Cafe – Newport Beach

Casa Ramos – Santa Ana

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Brea

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Irvine

Chapter One: the modern local- Santa Ana

Chelas Mexican Kitchen – San Clemente

Churriño – Costa Mesa

Citrus City Grille – Orange

Citrus Fresh Grill – Aliso Viejo

City Cruises Anchored by Hornblower – Newport Beach

Congregation Ale House – Santa Ana

CUCINA enoteca – Irvine, Newport Beach

CUCINA enoteca – Newport Beach

Descanso – Costa Mesa

Dizzy Bird – Mission Viejo

Eureka! – Irvine

Falasophy – Irvine

Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens- Corona Del Mar

Fermentation Farm – Costa Mesa

Five Crowns – Corona Del Mar

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar – Newport Beach

Fly N Fish Oyster Bar and Grill – Newport Beach

Gracias Madre – Newport Beach

Great Maple – Anaheim

Great Maple – Newport Beach

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Santa Ana

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ – (Huntington Beach, Tustin)

Haagen-Dazs – Irvine

Habana – Costa Mesa, Irvine

Hammer Burger – Santa Ana

Harborside Restaurant – Newport Beach

Hatam Restaurant – Mission Viejo

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar – Orange

Henry’s Coastal Cuisine – Huntington Beach

High Horse Saloon – Fullerton

HoléSmokes – Costa Mesa

Il Fornaio – Irvine

Il Sole La Nuova Cucina – RSM

Indigo | Modern Indian Bistro – Huntington Beach

Ironwood, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Hills

Izakaya Osen – Irvine

JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings- Irvine

Jars Sweets & Things – Laguna Niguel

Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen- Fullerton

Le Shrimp Noodle Bar – Costa Mesa

Left Coast Brewing – Irvine

Lido Bottle Works – Newport Beach

Lighthouse Cafe – Newport Beach

Little Sister – Irvine

Lola Gaspar – Santa Ana

Luciana’s Ristorante – Dana Point

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que- Brea, Lake Forest, Orange, Tustin)

Lumberyard Restaurant – Laguna Beach

Luna Rossa – Tustin

Maldon’s Bistro – Irvine

Market Broiler – Huntington Beach, Orange

Mayor’s Table at Lido House – Newport Beach

MESA – Costa Mesa

Mickey’s Irish Pub – Fullerton

Morton’s The Steakhouse – Santa Ana

Mozambique – Laguna Beach

Mr. D’s – Placentia

Muldoon’s Irish Pub – Newport Beach

Native Son – Santa Ana

Newport Landing – Newport Beach

NOVA Kitchen and Bar – Garden Grove

O Fine Japanese Cuisine – Irvine, Laguna Beach

O SEA – Orange

Oak – Laguna Beach

OC Fish Grill – Irvine

Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge – Huntington Beach

Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Newport Beach

Oliver’s Osteria – Laguna Beach

Oliver’s Trattoria – Irvine

Pacific Catch – Tustin

Pacitas Modern Filipino Kitchen – Anaheim

Paradise Dynasty – Costa Mesa

Paul Martin’s American Grill– Irvine

Perla Mexican Cuisine – Santa Ana

Pieology The Market Place – Irvine

Pita Feast – Huntington Beach

Playa Mesa – Costa Mesa

Plums Cafe – Costa Mesa

Pressed – Newport Beach

Prime Cut Cafe – Orange

Pub Thirty-Two – Mission Viejo

Puesto – Anaheim

Puesto Los Olivos – Irvine

Puesto Park Place – Irvine

RA Sushi – Tustin

RAKKAN Ramen – Tustin

Rancho Capistrano Winery – SJC

Rangeen Kitchen – Laguna Niguel

Red O Restaurant – Newport Beach

Robata Wasa – Irvine

Rockin Baja Lobster – Newport Beach

Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Irvine

Rub Red’s BBQ – La Habra

Rumari – Laguna Beach

Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Beach

Scratch Bakery Cafe – Laguna Hills, Scratch Bakery Cafe

SideDoor – Corona Del Mar

Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar- Costa Mesa

Simply Fish – Costa Mesa

Skyloft – Laguna Beach

Starfish – Newport Beach, Laguna Beach

StillWater Spirits & Sounds- Dana Point

Summit House Restaurant – Fullerton

Sundried Tomato American Bistro & Catering – SJC

Sweetgreen – Irvine, Tustin

Taco Rosa – Irvine, Newport Beach

TACOMPADRE – Santa Ana

Tacos TJ Style – Santa Ana

Tangerine Room – Anaheim

Taste of Beauty – Fountain Valley

Tea Maru – Irvine, Santa Ana

The Bungalow Restaurant – Corona Del Mar

The Country Club – Costa Mesa

The Crack Shack – Costa Mesa

The Peel Craftbar & Kitchen – Orange

The Pizza Press – Santa Ana

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar – Tustin

The Yellow Chilli Tustin – Tustin

Thirty Four Bar & Bistro – Irvine

Vacation Bar – Santa Ana

Villa Roma – Laguna Hills

Vine Restaurant & Bar – San Clemente

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar – Dana Point

Wild Goose Tavern – Costa Mesa

Woody’s Wharf – Newport Beach

Ysidora Restaurant and Lounge – SJC

Zabb Thai Cuisine – Newport Beach

ZOOD – Newport Beach

The music and craft beer festival will feature two alternating stages with performances by singer-songwriter-guitarist Donavon Frankenreiter and alt country artist Nikki Lane.

Additional acts include Alabama folk outlaw Early James, plus Orange County rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck, Eric Roebuck, Leroy From The North and Alice Wallace.

General admission tickets are now on sale starting at $59; Early entry passes start at $79; Docent Lounge passes start at $129; Parking passes start at $20 at fieldtripfest.com.

Each ticket purchase includes complimentary beer sampling from Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano’s first brewery house, and more than 40 other Southern California breweries participating from 1-4:30 p.m. Doors open at noon for those who upgrade to the early entry ticket. The festival will also feature Heritage BBQ, one of South Orange County’s top eateries, food trucks and local vendors.

The festival will also host a free Volkswagen bus show produced by the South County Bus Society, where attendees can browse through 80 classic Volkswagen buses as well as a handful of eclectic cars.