OC Blog

Dinner Reception with BOE Member Michelle Steel

This came over from Shawn Steel in the morning.  It's a fundraiser reception honoring his wife Michelle Steel, a Board of Equalization Member.  Steel represents the 3rd District on the BOE, which covered the following counties: Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial.  Here is the information for those interested in supporting:

WHAT: Dinner with BOE Member Michelle Steel

WHEN: Thursday, September 6, 2007

WHERE: Oxford Palace Hotel, 745 S. Oxford Avenue, Los Angeles

SPECIAL GUESTS: LA County Sheriff Lee Baca and Appointments Secretary John Cruz

RSVP: Peter Kim (714) 293-7536 or Desiree (310) 697-9000

NOTE: Private Reception - 6:30 PM; Dinner Reception - 7:30 PM

Watching The Watchers

It's pretty standard in politics to send observers to an opponent's press event, and yesterday's pro-241 toll road completion press conference was no exception.

Here's video I shot with the UnsteadiCam of the enviro video guy and his comrades:

As I left the press conference, he handed me what he called a "goodie bag": a plain brown lunch bag containing a press release, an 8-oz bottle of Arrowhead drinking water and a small tube of Banana Boat 30 SPF sunblock ("UltraSweatproof" - thanks!). There was also a Nutrigrain Cranberry, Raisin & Peanut Fruit & Nut Bar.

Yuck. Next time, make it chocolate chip.

Ken Calvert & Van Tran Call For Completing the 241 Toll Road

Yesterday I accompanied Rep. Ken Calvert and Assemblyman Van Tran a helicopter tour of the proposed completion route for the 241 Foothill South toll road. I'll post about the helo tour shortly, but in the meantime here is video of the press conference held afterward with Corona Councilman Jeff Miller:

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- August 31, 2007

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Anaheim Union Trustee Resigns -- OCR and LAT
An immigration critic has said he wants to save the school district the cost of an election.

Angels Owner, Anaheim AT Odds Over Project -- LAT
Arte Moreno suggests that the city honor its stadium lease or be sued. But some say city may build without his OK.

Judge Sides With Developers In Habitat Dispute -- OCR
Orange County has two nature reserves founded under the 'no surprises' rule.

Editorial: Keep Your Shirt On -- OCR
La Habra's actions against a nude-dancing club are more corrosive of public morals than the activities that went on behind the dark glass windows.

Bolsa Chica Footbridge Could Be On Site By Next Summer -- OCR
The Bolsa Chica Land Trust raised the remaining $75,000 needed to fund the bridge.

Man Charged In Sea Lion Attack -- OCR and DP
The sea lion was euthanized after several injuries from a steak knife.

Tower Knocked Down -- DP
Robins Hall has been there through World War II, the first moon landing, the collapse of the Berlin Wall and 13 U.S. presidents.

Costa Mesa To COnsider New Rules For Subdividing -- DP
Costa Mesa City Council members will consider new rules for subdividing apartment buildings and industrial parks for the sale of individual units, also known as condo conversion, when they meet Tuesday.

Flouridated Water Will Come To Residents -- DP
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents will get fluoridated drinking water — most of them for the first time — beginning in November.

Council Votes On Environmental Program -- DP
The Costa Mesa City Council will vote Tuesday on final approval for a green building incentive program designed to encourage more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient features in homes and businesses.

Should Government's Quest For Money Trump All?

The following is from the the ballot argument in favor of Measure P, the anti-Kelo charter amendment approved by 80.3% of Anaheim voters in November 2006:

One of the basic rights we Americans have is property rights. This means that government may not seize our property without a public purpose and fair compensation.

However, our property rights have been eroded by a recent Supreme Court decision called Kelo v. New London, in which the city of New London, Connecticut seized the Kelo family home, and their neighbors, because the city wanted a resort hotel in their place. The residents did not want to sell, so they used their power of eminent domain to force the residents to move.

We all know that in clear cases of public opinion, like building a road, government may need to use eminent domain. But when the sole "public purpose" is the hope for greater tax revenues then that is an abuse of power.

[Emphasis mine]

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- August 30, 2007

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Anaheim Trustee Might Resign -- OCR
Anaheim Union's Harald Martin says he wants to avoid costly special election.

Alicia Robinson's The Political Landscape: Congressman Campbell Endorses New iPhone -- DP
Also, the Lincoln Club last week pledged its support for Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry’s proposal to give voters power over future pension boosts for city employees.

Garden Grove To Consider Charter City Proposal -- OCR
Council members voted in favor of considering a controversial proposal to make the city a charter city, divide it into six districts and extend term limits for council members.

Voters To Decide On North County Bond -- OCR
Placentia-Yorba district will seek $200 million on Feb. 5 ballot.

Disney Involved In 2 Gardenwalk Hotels -- LAT
The entertainment giant would operate and staff two hotels but not own them, sources say.

School Officials Race Against Time -- OCR
San Juan Hills High School officials are racing to prepare the brand-new campus for the arrival of students next week.

City Purchases Old Towne Apartment For $1.5 Million -- OCR
Unit on Grand between Chapman, Almond avenues.

Homeless Man In Santa Ana Is Subject Of Major Motion Picture -- OCR
Like the headline says.

Dana Parsons: Film Resurrects A Champ, But Takes A Punch AT Journalism -- LAT
This will not be a movie review. That would take me way out of my element.

OC Officials Talk War -- DP
Orange County legislators have joined the battle over whether U.S. troops should stay in Iraq, and morale is a key issue in the debate.

OCTA Offers 35-Cent Rides On Its Anniversary -- DP
Residents can take advantage of 35-cent bus fares Friday in honor of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s 35th anniversary, or stop by the Fullerton Transportation Center, 210 E. Santa Fe Ave., at 11 a.m. for the agency’s birthday party.

Shawn Steel for RNC National Committeeman

As a member of the California Republican Party, I received a letter this week from Shawn Steel who is running for RNC National Committeeman, a position that is currently held by Tim Morgan.  Shawn served as CRP Chairman from 2001-2003 and near the end of his term, he helped orchestrate the historic Recall of Gray Davis.

His candidacy is overwhelmingly supported by Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and nearly all the Republican legislators in the California State Legislature.  Shawn also already secured the endorsements of a handful of GOP County Party Chairmen and other county wide officials like San Bernardino Assessor Bill Postmus, and Orange District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

I believe Mr. Tim Morgan will be seriously challenged in his re-election bid.

Irvine: Is Agran Country Also Ron Paul Country?

A friend forwarded me this e-mail that went out today from the Ron Paul for President campaign:

Phew!  With just over two days left in the Meetup fundraising competition, we've seen nothing but flip-flopping at the top of the leaderboard.

The New Hampshire Meetup led over the weekend, but Manhattan quickly shot by with a monstrous Monday.  And just when we thought they were running away with the grand prize, Irvine, CA surprised everyone, catapulting into a slim lead.  So don't get discouraged, because each Meetup group in the top ten is still within just three maximum donations of $2300...

Check here for the latest standings:  http://www.ronpaul2008.com/meetup/standings.

Stage 1 Emergency power alert: more nuclear power needed

The California Independent System Operator, CaISO (see: http://www.caiso.com/outlook/SystemStatus.html) just declared a Stage 1 Emergency power alert.  It seems that the West is hot and once again the wind turbines aren’t helping much (as they often do on hot, calm days). 

This caused ABC News to drop by my Sacramento office today to interview me on the emergency scarcity of power. 

Electrical demand is growing in neighboring Western states, due largely to their more favorable tax and regulatory environments that invite business and industry growth.  This means that we cannot rely as much on imported power as we used to. 

California is buying emergency power right now for $399 per megawatt, or $0.39 per kilowatt hour.  This rate is right up there during the 2001 electrical crisis rates.  Look at your electric bill and you’ll see that $0.39 is more than you pay on your monthly invoice. 

Conclusion: we need more safe, clean, reliable and affordable nuclear power in California and we need it as soon as possible.

All the best,

Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District

Where's The Rocco Recall?

I wanted to write about the campaign to recall Orange Unified School District Trustee Steve Rocco, but since this is the stealthiest recall campaign I have ever seen, I'm not sure what to write.

My family lives in Trustee Area 6, which Rocco represents. We are high-propensity absentee voters. We never miss an election.

[NOTE: OUSD is divided into seven Trustee Areas. One candidate is elected from each Trustee Area, but they are voted on district-wide.]

Yet we have had zero contact from the Rocco Recall. Not a phone call, Not a signature gatherer ringing the doorbell or leaving literature. Nothing in the mail.

I haven't seen a single "Recall Rocco" table set up anywhere.