Today's top stories and commentary from behind the Orange Curtain:
LAT and OCR: Two More Suits Filed Against UCI Hospital. LAT summary below reports 32 dead waiting for transplants during Chancellor Drake's "failure to succeed".
LAT wraps up 2005 for the OC: O.C.'s 2005 Filled With Tragedy, Levity and Perfect Storms.
Best (unresolved) item: Residents of a Newport Beach neighborhood once known for raising Cain about Dennis Rodman's rowdy parties said they didn't hear a thing on the April night when someone bulldozed the sand dunes in front of their oceanfront homes. Police later accused five homeowners who allegedly sought unobstructed views of the ocean, and state officials said the residents would have to pay to restore the dunes.
Most troubling: It wasn't a banner year for Sheriff Michael S. Carona. In December, a
longtime supporter endorsed one of Carona's opponents in next year's election. The setback followed a string of embarrassments, including the indictment of a former assistant sheriff, a state investigation into accusations that Carona sexually harassed two women (which he denied), and scrutiny over his appointment of friends and political allies as reserve officers. One reserve deputy allegedly flashed his badge and pulled a gun on a group of slow-playing golfers in Chino Hills.
About damn time. DP on finally closing the CM Job Center: On the eve of closure. Loitering, curb-side soliciting and whining begins. Will CM round 'em up as they've planned or chase 'em out? Related Alicia Robinson story: Infighting, controversy dominate headlines.
Maria's husband to step in it again? OCR: Governor may seek minimum wage hike.
OCR: O.C. stocks boast 16.8% return in '05. Great news on STRONG local economy -- OC Index beats Russell, S&P by 13%. Imagine what a new international airport might have added.
OCR: Laguna Beach buys 'paper lots' for open space.
OCR: Nowhere to run. More El Toro fallout. Horses apparently incompatible with Great Park. Spicy and Bebe banned.
Two great OC Weekly year-end wrap pieces this week:
Warped Blue Line by R. Scott Moxley. Top 10 moments in 2005 OC crime.
¡Ask a Mexican! by Gustavo Arellano. The year in Mexican-bashing.
Just FYI: Haidl boys sentencing is 1/20, Angels naming trial starts 1/9.
Already the lemmings at the Chamber are chiming in "what a great idea" it is to raise the minimum wage.
Posted by: gimme a break | December 31, 2005 at 09:41 AM
The Times missed Orange County’s biggest news happening of 2005 in its wrap up (O.C.’s 2005) on 16 O.C. stories making news. The end of the eleven year, $150 million fight over a proposed El Toro airport – the county’s most contentious issue since the bankruptcy - got nary a word.
For our report on 2005 and predictions for 2006 - The El Toro Year in Review - see the El Toro website News section at www.eltoroairport.org
Happy New Year.
Posted by: Len Kranser | December 31, 2005 at 10:06 AM
Register story Farm closes for lack of legal labor
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/yourcounty/article_924047.php
Sunrise Growersis closing its San Clemente Ranch today, a 498-acre expanse just over the county line on Camp Pendleton, land so bountiful it typically produced about 7,000 tons of fruit and vegetables a year.
Sunrise couldn't get enough legal workers.
Tighter restrictions at the border cut the flow of workers to San Clemente and to farms around the state. But what really made it nearly impossible for Sunrise was the intensifying security at the base, which excluded workers lacking documentation - and that included many of the workers at San Clemente. Entrance to the ranch is through the base gate, and military commanders no longer wanted to allow illegal-immigrant workers to enter. Typically, 250 workers a day labored at the site, picking, planting and tending to other chores. Now they are recycling irrigation pipe, packing equipment and cleaning up.
Posted by: Hanna | December 31, 2005 at 10:53 AM
Hanna, please see my later post. This one was too good to ignore.
Posted by: Lurk | December 31, 2005 at 12:45 PM
More on Sheriff Carona: One of his Captain's has been indicted on 16 counts of soliciting illegal campaign contributions related to the embattled sheriff. One of Carona's ex-friends, who endorsed him in 1998, Joe Cavallo, also has been recently indicted and is also suing Carona.
Another contributor, Rick Rizullo, has mobster ties to Chicago and will be indicted in early 2006. And can anyone tell me, has Carona ever returned the $15,000.00 in illegal campaign funds he received from Charles Gabbard, who is also fighting criminal charges that are related to Carona.
Posted by: | December 31, 2005 at 01:48 PM
and the Wright brother's flew, too...
Posted by: | January 03, 2006 at 12:53 PM