Location plays a hand in how bright or gloomy our days are. For years, researchers have studied the science of happiness and found that its key ingredients include a positive mental state, healthy body, strong social connections, job satisfaction and financial well-being.

The study found that the majority of Irvine residents have a remarkably positive mental state, good physical health, low divorce rate, longer life expectancy, strong social connections, high job satisfaction, and financial well-being.

When Larry Agran was elected Mayor of Irvine last November, his District 5 Council seat was left...

Last year, the Irvine City Council unanimously voted to transition library services from the Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) and, instead, establish our own Irvine Public Library System.

By establishing its own public library system, the City will save millions of taxpayer dollars; existing Irvine libraries will be expanded and modernized; and two new libraries will be built (at the Great Park and in Woodbridge).

Two Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) high school seniors — Matthew Chang (Woodbridge High...

Last April, the City launched its free public bus service to connect Irvine residents to parks, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers.

Due to the popularity of the Irvine CONNECT shuttle and its increased ridership, the City Council voted unanimously in support of Councilmember Kathleen Treseder’s motion to have staff analyze ways to expand the shuttle’s service area and hours of operation.

A recent LA Times article suggested that Irvine’s meticulous planning and strict regulations could become a model for other California cities that want to build fire-resistant neighborhoods.

So, why was Orchard Hills spared? According to the LA Times article, it wasn’t luck — it was the result of deliberate design, stringent regulations, and proactive planning.

Last year, Irvine ranked No. 1 in California and No. 4 in America in the Public Land Trust’s ParkScore Index, which is recognized as the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. The index is based on factors including park access, acreage, investment, and amenities.

Now, Agran wants Irvine to set a new goal due to the growth of the City and the urgency of climate change. “We need another 200,000 trees, minimum, to help clean the air, sequester carbon, cool the City, and help us reach our Climate Action Plan goals,” Agran said.

Irvine resident Sonit Joshi is a junior at Rancho Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Since the...