One of the favorite sections in the magazine is our LOCAL HISTORY column. We can’t thank resident Bill Lobdell of @newport_in_the_rearview_mirror enough for the fascinating stories he finds and shares with us about Newport Beach. In the January issue readers learned about the 5 Worst Ideas in Newport Beach; there are actually 20 😊which you can learn all about by subscribing to the @newport_in_the_rearview_mirror podcast. Here are 5 of 20 of the worst ideas: 1) Passing a city law requiring licenses for surfboards. From 1966-1970 surfers had to pay a fee to license their board. If an unlicensed board was identified, it could be confiscated, fines imposed, or the surfer could be arrested 🥹 2) Developing @fashionisland as an indoor mall. Back in 1960 this was the plan before architect Albert Trevino convinced the Irvine Company it was a bad idea. The beautiful outdoor mall as we know it opened in 1967 3) Trying to develop Corona Del Mar at the turn of the 20th Century. In 1904, George F. Hart purchase 700 acres from for a massive development of homes, a hotel, piers. But he was ahead of his time. Water service was needed and it was a remote area with only one way in and out (now Bayside Dr). Eleven years after he started, he sold less than 100 lots. Discouraged, he gave up, trading his remaining acreage for land in Riverside. 4) Planning a race car track on @visitbalboaisland - can you imagine?! Developer W.S. Collins was obsessed with cars but his vision never materialized. 5) Allowing lower Castaways Park to languish, despite being the site of Newport Landing. We have many wonderful parks throughout Newport Beach, but as Bill mentions, Lower Castaways doesn’t live up to NB standards. This 4-acre triangular piece of land is bordered by West Coast Hwy, Dover Drive, Upper Newport Bay and Castaways Bluff. Simply put, it’s gravel and dirt surrounded by a chain link fence 🙁 Bill believes transforming this piece of land and renaming it Newport Landing Historical Park would instantly turn it into one of he areas most popular attractions. And, it would then no longer be on his list of worst ideas ✔️ What do you think? Photo: @almondsurfboards