Get the Lube Ready...Here Comes the Irvine Company!

As expected, the Irvine Company doesn't give stuff away without a price. In Newport's Bible is this article is most appropriately called, "Irvine Co. has City Hall demands." Need I say more?

Actually, yes I do.

Turns out that in order to build the New White Elephant (City Hall), our City of Newport Beach will have to dance with the devil, getting "permission" from the Irvine Company for three out of the four possible locations (the only "safe" location being the current City Hall site). In return, the Irvine Company will do it's best Lets-Create-Another-Irvine dance. I've talked about the Irvine Company before (here, here and here) and actually have wondered before why, and how, the Irvine Company hadn't really squeezed that tightly before. Don't get me wrong, the Company are integrated into our lives here pretty well (Newport Coast, Fashion Island, making the Newport Nautical Museum move), but not nearly as much as our neighbors in Irvine have to put up with. But now...with the huge "majority" of the City demanding a New White Elephant (nevermind the additional debt and more City Employees), the Irvine Company, who patiently waited and waited, will pounce.

And pounce they will.