OC Blog News Roundup -- April 29, 2006

Today's top stories and commentary from behind the Orange Curtain:

OCR with more on the Carona capers: Migrant trio cleared in purse case.  Deputy still under suspicion, yet ILLEGALS get back in country apparently without OCSD or ICE giving a damn.  In part,

The Sheriff's Department is investigating whether at least one deputy violated policy by reportedly handing over the three women to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, damaging relations between Sheriff Mike Carona and immigration activists.  Earlier this week, family members in Orange County said, the women - Yolanda Gonzalez, Gloria Santacruz and Carmen Fernandez - paid smugglers about $3,000 each to bring them back to the county.  The developments came as officials with the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana hope to set up a meeting with Carona to discuss the incident, which immigration advocates said has had a chilling effect in the community...

What happened that day seems to be against department policy. Deputies who encounter illegal immigrants accused of crimes usually file a report that is forwarded to immigration officials. Deputies cannot contact federal authorities without the approval of two supervisors.  Sheriff's spokesman Jon Fleischman reported Friday that the purse had been found but said he didn't know the details...

And remember the name of this local company as an employer of illegal aliens: Lucy Galan, who supervises the trio at Maid Brigade in Irvine, said in an earlier interview that she went to the home and helped translate.

OCR with ANOTHER story on Carona's Reserves and a .357 Magnum: O.C. sheriff launches probe in Ferrari case.  IAD on the case!

LAT on the Alternanator: Westly Leads Angelides in Primary Race.

LAT's Pasco, DP on the recount: Harman Is Victor in State Senate Recount.  Vote margin at 225.  In part,

Harkey said she had no regrets about forgoing a ballot statement to avoid a campaign spending cap of $680,000. She contributed nearly $800,000 to her campaign, which spent an additional $250,000 from donors. Harman spent about half that.  The two also benefited from independent campaigns run on their behalf — two Republican groups helped Harkey, while Harman got boosts from the union representing state prison guards and the Pechanga Indians.  Neither candidate dominated within the sprawling coastal district's 20 cities, which stretch from Seal Beach to Dana Point: Harman and Harkey won 10 cities each.  Harman drew 1,000 votes more in his hometown of Huntington Beach, while Harkey did best with a nearly 700-vote margin in Fountain Valley.

DP's Robinson: As to whether she'll challenge Harman for the Senate seat in 2008, Harkey said, "I don't rule anything out two years from now, but I'm not anticipating the need to do so."

LAT scoops OCR on Placentia ditch debacle: OnTrac Warnings Ignored, Testimony Alleges.

Probably the best idea you'll see today, OCR on Pendleton or Miramar as the next area airport: A radical departure.  Since El Toro was stolen by the south county BANANAs for the Great Park they can't pay for (which, of course, was then stolen by the Agranistas), this makes sense.  Halfway between John Wayne and SD's Lindbergh Field, accessible by heavy rail, and on the 5, access to Pendleton appears much easier than the March alternative site in SB County.

Total Buzz on Monday: May 1: The streets as school.

While the rest of us are at work next week, paying for benefits for the illegals, trying to keep emergency rooms open, and providing an education for their anchor babies, here's everywhere to avoid from the Register on Monday, May 1st:

Santa Ana, 11 a.m.: Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana and the Mexican-American Political Association, which support the boycott, will meet at Plaza of the Flags in Civic Center Plaza. Contact: Hermandad's Santa Ana office, (714) 541-0250.

Santa Ana, noon: Members from the SEIU Local 1877 will march starting from 1516 Sycamore Blvd. to Civic Center Plaza to join the rallies at the Plaza of the Flags. Contact: Irene Martinez, (714)564-9974.

Santa Ana, 2 p.m.: A coalition of immigrant-rights groups, unions and students will join the rallies at the Civic Center from 2 to 7 p.m. Contact: Hermandad's Santa Ana office, (714) 541-0250.

Santa Ana, 3 p.m.: A coalition of Mexican organizations will walk from El Salvador Park to Civic Center Plaza. The group includes members of 15 hometown organizations representing Mexican states. The route is along Civic Center Drive from Raitt to Flower. Contact: Lupe Gomez, (714)554-3100.

Santa Ana, 5 p.m.: The Orange County Congregation Community Organization, which includes 18 faith-based groups, will join the Civic Center rallies. At 6 p.m. the group will walk with candles to St. Joseph's Church, 727 Minter St. Participants are invited to attend a 7 p.m. Mass. Contact: OCCCO's office, (714) 491-0771.

UC Irvine, 11 a.m.: "May Day Teach-in" plaza near flagpole; at 2 p.m., car-pooling to larger rallies.

Los Angeles, noon: March and rally. Starting at Olympic and Broadway, ending at City Hall (First and Temple streets); rally begins at 2:30 p.m.

Maywood/Huntington Park, 10a.m.: March and rally. Starting at Santa Rose of Lima Church (Atlantic Boulevard and 60th Street in Maywood), ending in Huntington Park. Rally begins at noon.

Counter-protests

Santa Ana, 10:30 a.m.: A "pro-American rally" will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Santa Ana City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza. Contact: slsweet@cox.net.

Comments

[Hanna]

Posted on another thread instead of waiting for this thread, duh.. (feel free to delete)

One more May 1 event - a flight to Sacramento for $8.15 (plus tax and fees totaling more than $10)

From SacBee

http://www.sacbee.com/content/travel/bee/story/14249043p-15066168c.html

On the heels of its $60 one-day, one-way fare from Sacramento to Honolulu next week, Aloha Airlines on Thursday said it's going even lower: an $8.15 ticket for its inaugural flight on Monday, May 1, from Sacramento to John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

The price reflects the 8:15 p.m. departure of one of the two weekday flights the carrier will begin operating between Sacramento and Orange County, said Thom Nulty, Aloha's senior vice president of sales and marketing. It also will run one flight a day on weekends.

(snip)

The $8.15 and $60 fares are available only at www.alohaairlines.com. Phone reservations at (800) 367-5250 incur an additional charge of $10.

[justice]

Yaaaaawnnnnn...it's nice waking to the sounds of silence in south county. Where's that airport gonna be, somewhere in San Diego? Close enough. When is our park going to be finished?

[Hanna]

Suburban Warfare

Satellite towns battle cities for tourists with shark tanks and free parking
By CANDACE JACKSON
The Wall St. Journal
April 29, 2006; Page P4

(snip)

This spring, the list of places battling for your tourist dollars has some unlikely contenders.

(snip)

The new suburban sell might seem like a marketing ploy, but there's more to it. This summer is shaping up to be a tough one for travelers in the U.S. because of a shortage of hotel rooms and consequent rising rates. Hotels held off building in the post-Sept. 11 slump, and now, with travel surging again, supply isn't keeping up with demand. In the suburbs, officials see an opportunity in the room squeeze in nearby big cities, particularly when combined with the lure of their own new homegrown attractions

(snip)

Orange County, Calif.
50 miles from Laguna Beach to Los Angeles

The Pitch:"Small enough to explore. Big enough to come back for more."

What you will see: The county includes Anaheim (home to Disneyland) and Buena Park (Knott's Berry Farm); the many beach towns are benefiting from the popularity of the TV shows "The O.C." and "Laguna Beach."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114625690706239103.html?mod=todays_us_pursuits#CHART

Sheriff Carona is about to let one of his deputies walk the plank, "alone," to save his skin with Hispanic voters.

Great leadership Mike!

[OCNative]

The link to "A radical departure" should be http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1123132.php

[redperegrine]

Placentia's Norman Eckenrode:

"Too much information was being held in one person, and in my opinion, it was Bob D'Amato," Councilman Norman Z. Eckenrode testified.

"You were kind of the mushroom theory of management," he told the grand jury. "You get information on a need-to-know basis. And if you wanted more, you had to dig. That's not a healthy situation."

Now here's an amazing statement. How long has Norm been on the City Council and how long has he subscribed to the mushroom theory of management?

IT'S YOUR JOB TO DIG, NORM. WHEN YOU RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE YOU ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILTY OF PUBLIC TRUST.

Alas, too many local electeds see themselves as nothing other than drum beaters and shills for their city managers. The City Council is responsible for the City Manager, not the other way around. Councilmen like to be seen exercizing power, but most of them will accept none of the work or responsibility. Almost none have the courage to stand alone and vote in the minority.

What beats me is how any of the people responsible for the Placentia fiasco could possibly still be in office - making fiscal decisions and big redevelopment master plans.

Incredible.