This time I sit down with Cara Stewart, an entrepreneur, a communications strategist and a former journalist who is running for Costa Mesa City Council District 3. We talk about her thoughts on large planning projects like the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan, how she sees Fairview Road and other major street rehabilitation projects like it fitting into the Costa Mesa street grid, her thoughts on neighborhood traffic calming, what the City Council can do to improve public trust, and what she sees as the biggest challenges for the city in the next several years.

Our conversation took place on September 18, 2026, so we spoke after the City Council's somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan. Given I asked her a specific question on the FDC Specific Plan, this timing is important to keep in mind when you listen.

And if you'd like to check out to Salty Bear Brewing Co., a brewery that gets a shoutout towards the end of our conversation, please use the link to find its website.

In this episode I sit down with Daniel Morgan, a small business owner and real estate professional who is running for Costa Mesa City Council District 3. We chat about his approach to big projects like the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan, major road projects like Fairview Road, his take on traffic pressures on District 3 neighborhoods, the city's need for more recreational green space, and much more.

Our conversation took place on September 10, 2026, so we spoke before the City Council's consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan. Given that I asked specifically about Daniel's thoughts on the FDC Plan, this timing is extremely relevant to keep in mind when you listen.

And if you'd like to check out the places/organizations that Daniel references in our conversation, you can take a look at the links below:

• "Bei Restaurant" refers to a modern Lebanese restaurant located on Harbor Boulevard.  
• "Feed Barn", "Salty Horse", and "Tacos Madre" refer to three local businesses in Costa Mesa: the Feed Barn, a garden and homestead supply store located on Newport Boulevard, Salty Horse, a coastal-western cafe also located on Newport Boulevard, and Tacos Madre Mexican Cocina, a home-style Mexican restaurant located on Harbor Boulevard, all in Costa Mesa.
• "Let’s Be Kind" refers to a nonprofit organization that advocates for a culture of kindness on school campuses, founded by Rebekah Robeck while she was a student at Costa Mesa Middle School.
• "Bike Bus" refers to the College Park Bike Bus, an informal club of parents and kids that bike together to College Park Elementary School on Tuesday mornings, founded by Kohl Crecelius.

In this episode I sit down with Loren Gameros, City Council Member for District 2, who is running for Mayor. We talk housing, the budget, his differences in policy from his opponent, Mike Buley (who also currently sits on the City Council), what he would do to improve public trust in government, and much more.

Our conversation took place on September 14, 2026, so we spoke before the City Council's somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

And if you'd like to check out the restaurants Loren mentions you can check them out here:
2145 Eats, https://2145eats.com/#about
Trenta Pizza & Cucina, https://www.trentapizza.com/

In this episode I sit down with Mike Buley, City Council Member for District 1, who is running for Mayor. We talk housing, the budget, his differences in policy from his opponent, Loren Gameros (who also currently sits on the City Council), what he would do to improve public trust in government, and much more.

Our conversation took place on September 17, 2026, so we spoke after the City Council's somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

And if you'd like to check out Mike's restaurant recommendation, Yubuya, you can find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yubuya_costamesa/?hl=en