INSIDE SCOOP

-- Compiled by Daily Pilot staff

Remember Carol Hoffman?

The smartly dressed, eloquent blond who succeeded in convincing nearly

everyone -- or at least the Costa Mesa City Council -- that the Home

Ranch project was good for the community?

Yeah, her.

Well, the folks at AT&T; Broadband have hired Hoffman and her public

relations team at Government Solutions to help promote the cable

company’s renewed dedication to customer service.

Hoffman is no stranger to heavily debated subjects and proved her

grace under fire while defending the development of 93 acres of

Segerstrom lima bean farm.

Not unlike the Segerstrom’s Home Ranch project, the cable company has

been criticized by some Costa Mesa residents as not paying attention to

the residents. City officials have also complained of the company’s poor

customer service during various changes in technology and programming.

But Hoffman is on the case.

She gets results and AT&T; Broadband officials obviously recognize

that.