Top 10 stories of 2010

The ASL, in Laguna Canyon, was the culmination of a homeless advocacy process that began when the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit against the city in late 2008, accusing city officials of violating the constitutional rights of homeless people by not allowing them to sleep on public land or providing an alternative. The ASL facility costs the city about $20,000 a month to operate. The Friendship Shelter supervises the site during the evening and overnight hours, and the Resource Center provides assistance to the homeless during the day.

The year began on a sad note for the homeless community and activists when Charles Reginald Conwell, known as "Cowboy," was struck and killed Jan. 9, 2010, on Laguna Canyon Road while making his way on foot to the previous shelter at the ACT V lot. Cowboy had been a familiar face on the streets of Laguna Beach for some 30 years.

*

Incumbents reelected

The seating arrangement on the dais in the City Council Chamber may have changed, but the faces didn't. Incumbents Toni Iseman, Kelly Boyd and Elizabeth Pearson were reelected, bucking a national trend that saw highly regarded elected officials sidelined. Iseman was elected for a fourth consecutive term, unprecedented in Laguna.

Challenger Emanuel Patrascu picked up 16% of the vote. Patrascu, who is employed by Republican State Sen. Tom Harman, was not endorsed by the local Republicans or the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn., which gave their support to Boyd and Pearson.

*

Immigration sweeps

The issue of illegal border crossings came to Laguna Beach after a series of beach landings by suspected human smugglers were discovered, mostly at Aliso Beach in South Laguna. The landings in turn brought the U.S. Border Patrol to the city, and their activities prompted protests by immigration activists.

In one reported incident, an employee of the Coastline Pilot — a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent — was detained on June 18 by Border Patrol agents as he worked on a news rack in downtown Laguna. The employee was released after producing his papers. On June 25, protestors marched near the Broadway bus depot with signs assailing "Illegal Search & Seizures" and alleged racial profiling by the agents.

*

Skateboarding

After a number of incidents and mishaps involving street skateboarders, some residents demanded that skateboarding be banned on steep streets in the city.