Latest news with #JohnStephens
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Plymouth set for 44 new long-term cycle storage lockers
New secure cycle lockers are set to be installed across a Devon City Council said the "significant expansion" would include 44 long-term lockers, bringing the total number of spaces available across the city to city council said the lockers, funded by the Department for Transport's active travel fund, would be both short and long John Stephens, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: "This new cycle infrastructure is a real boost for sustainable transport in Plymouth and I'm delighted to see it installed." 'No parking loss' He added: "Getting people out of their cars and onto their bikes won't happen overnight but if we can continue to provide the infrastructure that breaks down another barrier to making that choice then together we will be able to get to a better place."The city council said the long-term lets would be at Cremyll Street, Vauxhall Street, Barbican Approach, the Theatre Royal car park, Grand Parade car park, Napier Terrace car park, St John's Road car park, Boringdon Terrace car park and Regent Street car park. There would be no loss of car parking as a result, it said short-term cycle storage lockers, each capable of storing two bikes, were also set for expansion thanks to five new bike hubs – an app-bookable locker system with bike parking available at an hourly rate. It said there would be three new hourly rental lockers at the Plymouth Life Centre and two on Vauxhall Street to bring the total city wide to lockers had been manufactured in the city by local company BikeAway, it added, and had been provided at no cost to the said the long-term lockers could be hired on an annual first of the storage lockers will be installed before the end of August.
Los Angeles Times
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Mailbag: Costa Mesa housing should ‘build community, not just density'
Recently, the Costa Mesa City Council approved the Victoria Place housing development despite the Planning Commission's recommendation to deny it. Mayor John Stephens dismissed concerns about parking by saying, 'Nobody's going to host Thanksgiving there.' That comment struck me as cold and out of touch with what makes a house a home. I remember when my husband and I bought our first home in Costa Mesa — a run-down tract house we slowly remodeled over time. We planned to stay two years. That was 40 years ago. We stayed because we loved our neighbors, our quiet cul-de-sac, and the life we built within those four walls. Our kitchen wall still bears the growth chart of our children and now our grandchild. That's what a home is: not just a structure, but a place where memories are made. At the farmers market, I spoke with a young manager who rents in Eastside Costa Mesa. She dreams of buying a home in the city because she loves the walkable neighborhoods and the charm of one- and two-story houses. She wants what many of us have had — a real home, not just a temporary apartment. Costa Mesa's new rezoning initiative, 'Neighborhoods Where We All Belong,' claims to address the housing needs of current and future residents. But if it only brings more market-rate rentals and luxury apartments, how does that help people like her? The city's weak inclusionary housing ordinance excludes for-sale housing. The Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan is floundering. And now, upzoning is being proposed across the city — except in neighborhoods where members of the City Council live. We need housing that builds community, not just density. We need homes people can own, not just rent. We need to offer new neighbors the same opportunity many of us had: to build equity, to put down roots, and yes, to host Thanksgiving. I urge all residents to attend the upcoming rezoning meetings. The schedule is available at Let's make sure Costa Mesa remains a place where people don't just live — but belong. Cynthia McDonald, Assistant SecretaryCosta Mesa First I reside in Costa Mesa and am acquainted with most members of the Costa Mesa City Council. Recently, I watched their latest meeting on the local public access television channel where they addressed the proposal to approve 142 residential units on the former Trinity Broadcasting property — a measure that passed unanimously. Having taught an Introduction to Public Policy course for two and a half years at Indiana University Bloomington, I found this city council meeting to be a master class demonstration of good government. Mayor John Stephens and the entire council showcased outstanding leadership and performance. Their deliberations were thoughtful, transparent and deeply considerate of the concerns voiced by local residents and stakeholders. The council ensured every viewpoint was heard, balancing the need for new housing with respect for the neighborhood's character and history. The process was neither rushed nor superficial; rather, it reflected a genuine commitment to civic engagement and prudent decision-making. The collaborative and professional spirit demonstrated by the mayor and council members should serve as an example to other cities grappling with complex development issues. Samuel Abram HelmCosta Mesa Of late I have been silent when it comes to local issues and politics because of what is happening in our country at large is so overwhelming. Our lives are challenged by the morality of the moment and nationally, institutions and people are cast aside like yesterday's dross. Many local citizens are dealing with the inhumanity of the moment by ignoring it. And there are certainly those who are trying to benefit from it but less vociferously than I expected. Other than the recent school board election in Newport Beach, local politicians (with some exceptions, certainly in Huntington Beach) seem to be sensitive enough to avoid flaunting 'MAGA values' in public. While those values are appealing in other states, they are not so in California where the president's popularity rating is currently in the 30th percentile. Our local loyalties will not be officially tested until November of 2026 when Dave Min, from the local 47th congressional district, Derek Tran from the 45th district and Young Kim from the 40th district are up for re-election to the House. While the Republican Party is almost unanimously loyal to President Trump, individual representatives have been instructed by the chair of the campaign arm of the Republican Party to stop holding in-person town halls because of the wave of angry backlash over the cuts undertaken by this administration. On the other hand, Democrats Tran and Min have held several meetings with their constituents. The two meetings held by Min, one at Newport's Harbor High School (which appeared online as well) and the other at UCI, were attended by captivated audiences. In some cases Democrats in Congress have held meetings for Republicans who do not want to appear before angry crowds. Such was the case when Long Beach Rep. Robert Garcia held a town hall meeting for Republican Kim's constituents at Orange High School. Local politicians are currently playing such a large role in national politics — Rep. Kim cast the deciding vote in the House to advance Donald Trump's massive budget reconciliation bill (218-214) — making her highly unpopular among many of her constituents. Also of local interest, Min was just selected by colleagues to lead the new Congressional Progressive's anti-corruption task force, while Rep. Robert Garcia was elected by Democrats to serve as ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Last, but certainly not least, Katie Porter, who recently represented Orange County in the House, has emerged as a front runner in the 2026 gubernatorial race when Kamala Harris decided not to run. Lynn Lorenz Newport Beach June 2024: Huntington Beach Mayor Burns called three council colleagues a four-letter obscenity for feces — a vulgar, disgraceful outburst from an elected official. March 2025: He said, 'Look what you started,' followed by another f-bomb. May 2025: He lectured residents on decorum — no clapping, naming council members, or cursing — from the same dais where he mutters profanities into a hot mic. June 2025: Burns again used crude, foul language — targeting residents this time — in a public meeting. His hypocrisy is not just shameful — it is corrosive. City Hall is now a place where chaos rules and accountability is optional. Real accountability starts with your resignation, Mayor Burns. As for the silent City Council, city attorney and manager: your silence is not neutrality. It is complicity. Andrew Einhorn Huntington Beach At the beginning of every Huntington Beach City Council meeting the Council and meeting attendees cite the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. The words of the pledge have meaning and espouse distinct principles. As citizens we routinely pledge our allegiance to those principles of 'liberty and justice for all.' Within the principles of 'liberty for all' is the covenant that liberty 'for me' also includes liberty 'for you and them.' In essence, tolerance of the liberty for others. The 'justice for all' component holds all — me, you, they, the others — fairly and uniformly accountable in their pursuit and exercise of liberties. The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution is a testament to tolerance. Tolerance for differences in religion, differences in speech, the press and media, differences in the methods of expression, assembly and protest. Tolerance should be considered as essential to our concepts of liberty. Diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy and acceptance should be considered as among the many manifestations of tolerance. Such manifestations are neither liberal nor conservative — blue nor red, left nor right — but societal endeavors to form 'a more perfect union.' Per se, 'the better good.' How did we, a democratic society, allow diversity, equity, inclusion, etc. to become negative endeavors? We were not inherently or historically polarized, but have allowed our bigoted politicians and pundits to get away with being polarizing. I yearn for a return to more tolerant and civil society where you, me, and them tolerate each other and their differing creeds. Dave Hamilton Huntington Beach While most of the attention at the 'No Kings' protest rallies has been rightly directed toward Donald Trump, we must remember that it is not just the kings in the deck that are dangerous. There are local officials and other minions who may be called the 'jacks' or 'knaves' in the deck that share the same anti-democratic and anti-community prejudice as President Trump. These folks, 'knaves' of both genders, deserve their own occasion of protest, a 'No Knaves' day. It should be held in conjunction with 'No Kings' protests. In Huntington Beach, the City Council is full of knaves, as evidenced by their support in opposing Measures A and B in the June election and their anti-community stance at City Council meetings. My 'No Kings' protest sign of four kings with a black slash through them will now be upgraded to include four jacks similarly displayed. We must not forget those officials who have chosen their anti-democratic path either in public meetings or at the ballot box. No 'king' can rule effectively without 'knaves' backing them. It's time to call them out as well. Tim Geddes Huntington Beach
Business Wire
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Convergence Networks Reports 238% Growth in Internal Password Management Adoption Following Switch to Bitwarden
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bitwarden, the trusted leader in password, passkey, and secrets management, today announced that Convergence Networks, a North American managed service provider (MSP) serving highly regulated industries, saw a 238% increase in employee password manager usage after replacing its previous solution with Bitwarden. This momentum helped the MSP accelerate client deployments through the Bitwarden partner program. By leveraging event logging and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities, Convergence modernized access controls and streamlined credential workflows across internal and client environments. Convergence replaced a legacy password manager following repeated security incidents, integrating Bitwarden into its cybersecurity offerings to strengthen identity protection. Serving clients across financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering, the MSP selected Bitwarden for its trusted open source foundation, proven security track record, and seamless compatibility with identity providers (IdPs) such as Microsoft Entra ID. The deployment enabled faster client onboarding and stronger shared credential oversight. 'Bitwarden is a reliable, reputable solution without a history of security vulnerabilities,' said John Stephens, Chief Information Security Officer, Convergence Networks. 'Its ease of administration and deployment, and its economic attractiveness make it the ideal password manager to offer to our clients.' The MSP also cited Bitwarden event logs as essential for maintaining accountability and managing privileged access across complex environments. Integration with Microsoft tools enabled Convergence to reduce administrative time and centralize credential workflows, leading to faster adoption, especially among users new to password management solutions. 'It's very useful to have pride in a platform through our own internal experiences because we can wholeheartedly recommend it to our customers,' said Josh Plumlee, IT Manager, Convergence Networks. As part of the Bitwarden partner program, Convergence Networks benefits from usage-based pricing, not-for-resale (NFR) licenses, consolidated billing, and a multi-tenant deployment architecture that supports rapid onboarding. Program features enable MSPs like Convergence Networks to embed credential security into broader offerings, including cybersecurity audits, end-user training, and policy enforcement. To learn more about how Convergence Networks adds value with Bitwarden, visit: About Bitwarden Bitwarden equips enterprises and individuals with the power to securely manage and share information online with trusted open source security solutions. With a password manager for everyone, users can easily manage their entire online identity anywhere. Bitwarden Secrets Manager and enhance developer secrets security and streamline passkey development for end users and workforce authentication. Founded in 2016, Bitwarden serves over 50,000 businesses and more than 10 million users worldwide across 180 countries in 50+ languages. The company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at
Los Angeles Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Costa Mesa Council approves 40-unit Victoria Place, after planning commission denial
Perhaps not willing to let perfect be the enemy of the good, the Costa Mesa City Council last week approved plans for Victoria Place, a 40-unit complex near Newport Boulevard and Victoria Street previously rejected by the city's planning commission. During its earlier consideration of the condominium complex — which would be included in a rare and never-initiated residential overlay district allowing commercial properties to be used for housing — the planning commission denied the proposal in a 5-2 vote during a June 9 meeting. Commissioners contended the 1.77-acre parcel qualifies for rezoning under the voter-backed Measure K initiative and, as such, could potentially be more thoroughly developed to meet Costa Mesa's housing needs than what they regarded as the archaic mish-mash of alternative approaches and deviations placed before them. There's just one hitch. The citywide rezoning of certain commercial corridors under Measure K, passed in 2022, hasn't happened and is only now in the visioning stages. So while a transformation of the partially vacant site, currently home to a lighting store and boat storage facilities, into needed housing might be a welcome one, ideas on how to optimize that shift differ. Furthermore, the City Council initially reviewed the plan in a screening nearly one year ago, providing feedback on open space, landscaping and pedestrian safety, suggestions that were incorporated into an amended version of the plan. 'You were responsive to what we said in August,' Mayor John Stephens told applicant WMC Partners' Tony Weeda ahead of the July 15 vote. 'And it wouldn't be fair play, in my opinion, to lay some other objectives on you that we wouldn't express in August.' The approval of Victoria Place — named after the small side street it fronts — allows for 18 duplexes and four detached residences, each comprising roughly 2,700 square feet in three stories with a ground-floor work space, two-car garage, balcony and rooftop deck standing 39 feet, 6 inches in height. Although they are ownership dwellings, nothing would prevent an owner from renting out a unit. Fitting those units on the smallish lot requires setback reductions, a shrinking of space in between buildings and in garage width and a reduction in parking spaces, from the 150 required to just 103. Those entitlements and others will be codified in a site-specific master plan under the city's residential incentive overlay district, created in 2016 but never applied until now. Don Lamm — a consultant for WMC who also served as Costa Mesa's deputy city manager and developmental services director from 1986 to 2009 — told the council what planning commissioners saw as too-abundant 'deviations' might be instead viewed as viable alternatives for breathing life into an underutilized area. 'This is simply a very nice [40-unit] condominium project on a property that really needs to be recycled or redeveloped,' Lamm said. 'In reality, these deviations are good because it's the incentive the applicant needs to build this project to provide these new housing units.' Two people who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting criticized the project as an inefficient use of the land and for the potential increased vehicle traffic it could present for residents. 'There's no clear expectation, either for the public or developer, no ideal to conform to that reflects what the city and public would like to see in the future,' said Costa Mesa resident and City Hall critic Cynthia McDonald. 'The planning commission got it right — this needs to be rethought.' Council members, however, favored the project, making minor modifications so that a landscaped peninsula out front, to remain under the city's purview, would be protected from vehicle traffic and steps would be taken to add architectural elements to the ends of the units fronting Victoria Place. Stephens said the development will transform a site that is currently blighted. 'It's exactly on point with language we had in Measure K, which we all fought so hard to get passed to change our kind-of outdated land use into housing,' he said. 'Could it be better? I don't know. [But] it's going to be a huge improvement when we drive by.'
Los Angeles Times
17-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Costa Mesa's bridge shelter gets state funding for 15 more behavioral health beds
Thanks to a $750,000 allocation from a state lawmaker, Costa Mesa will soon be add 15 more behavioral health beds at its bridge shelter, doubling its capacity to serve individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues. City officials announced last week Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) had earmarked funds in the state's 2025-26 budget to help grow the behavioral healthcare program at the Airway Avenue facility, from 15 dedicated beds to 30. 'This expansion of services fills the gap needed to effectively transition people with mental health and addiction issues off the streets and into permanent housing through the city's Bridge Shelter,' Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens stated in a July 10 news release. The city's bridge shelter opened in March 2021 with 69 daily resident beds for men and women and three more beds that could be used during emergency intake situations. The city of Newport Beach, through a memorandum of understanding, agreed to pay $1.6 million toward the construction of the shelter, along with another $1 million for access to up to 20 beds across a five-year period. Today, the facility serves about 200 people annually and has helped hundreds secure permanent housing. Hoping to increase the reach of the shelter, Costa Mesa officials in 2024 partnered with the Orange County Health Care Agency to create a space for 15 behavioral health beds at the shelter, taking in $4.2 million in Behavioral Health Bridge Housing funds to pay for the addition. Newport Beach requested access to five of the 15 beds, increasing its annual payment to the city to $1.275 million. The need at the time was dire — about 33% of Orange County's homeless population at that time were estimated to have substance abuse issues, while roughly 30% had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. One year into the program, the Costa Mesa shelter has served 53 individuals with behavioral health care services, nine of whom went on to secure permanent housing, city officials reported in the release. Petrie-Norris said the investment helps take care of the county's most vulnerable neighbors and seeks to make sure no one falls through the cracks. 'By expanding behavioral health services at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, we're helping people facing serious mental health and substance use challenges get the support they need to heal, rebuild, and find a path to stable housing,' she said in a statement. 'I'm grateful to the [city] for its leadership and proud to help bring these critical state resources to our community.' Behavioral health clients served on site have access to a dedicated case manager and an OCHCA clinician who can assess and refer residents to county services as well as licensed in-patient detox facilities and out-patient residential rehabilitation programs.
