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Back to Orange County Line

Orange County Line

Newport Beach's City Taj Ma-City Hall

The controversy surrounding Newport Beach's newish civic center.

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By Gustavo Arellano • Jul 7, 2015 • 3m Listen

Two years ago, Newport Beach opened a new civic center complete with a sparkling City Hall, a park, a library expansion, and concrete bunny statues. What was once supposed to be a $50 million project had ballooned into a $140 million lighting point that led to the defeat of four city council members and a new order vowing to examine what happened. Last month, the council voted to have the project audited, a move that followed a request to the Orange County District Attorney's office to launch a criminal investigation against a former assistant city manager. What more scandal will hit this wealthy beach-side town?

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Gustavo Arellano

    columnist, LA Times

    CultureNewsOrange County
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