The Irvine Company In The Spotlight

Everyone knows that the Irvine Company prefers not to be in the spotlight or talked about.  Which is what makes it so wonderfully enticing to share some choice tid-bits from a lengthy piece about the Irvine Company that ran on the front page of last Saturday's Sacramento Bee.  The piece, entitled Firm Keeps Its Influence Under Wraps: Irvine Co. A Quiet Force in State's Political Scene, can be read via this link. 

The lengthy Bee article starts like this...

Whether it's registering an opinion in the Legislature, helping orchestrate a deal to get a tax measure off the ballot or combining its campaign contributions with other business groups around the state, the Irvine Co. is known for its political stealth and making an impact while leaving no fingerprints.

Well, this article probably makes everyone over at the Ivory Tower, in their mandatory 3-piece suits, a little uneasy.  A major article about you is hardly appreciated by someone who tries not to be seen...

...Since 1999, the Irvine Co. has spent more than $1.9 million on lobbying and another $3.6 million in assorted political campaigns, mostly toward ballot measures and to a much more limited extent, toward candidates, according to the secretary of state's electronic records...

...In its campaign spending, Irvine, since 1999, has allocated about 40 percent of its political money - $1.4 million - through about 10 other pro-business and anti-tax political action committees, including one that is funding some of the opposition this year to the Rob Reiner preschool indicative.

...Last year, the Irvine Co. played a major role in helping Schwarzenegger get his failed special election initiatives on the ballot, contributing $250,000 to the Citizens to Save California, which paid for the signature-gathering campaign for three Schwarzenegger initiatives.

...Irvine maintained a line of communication to the Governor's Office during Gray Davis' administration, contributing $75,000 to the former Democratic governor's political operation in 2000.

...Although Irvine stayed out of the 2003 recall election that deposed Davis in favor of Schwarzenegger, it strongly supported the new governor after he took office. Irvine's contributions include $150,000 to Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team, the quarter-million to the Citizens to Save California, and $252,000 to the California Republican Party.

...It also has funneled political money through the California Business Properties Association, the California Housing Council, the Chamber of Commerce's political action committees, the New Majority PAC and others.

Here's an interesting end to the story -- where it pretty much said that The Irvine Company has agreed to work WITH the California Teachers Association on their priorities if the CTA does not put a 'split role' property tax measure on the ballot.  Such a measure would divide residential properties from commercial, allowing them to be taxed a different rates...

Rex Hime, the lobbyist for the California Business Properties Association, downplayed the influence of the Irvine Co. in the business property group's lobbying strategy. But he confirmed that Irvine played a role in last August's arrangement where the California Teachers Association and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association dropped their proposed "split roll" initiative that would have increased commercial property taxes $2.8 billion. In exchange, business groups committed to working with the teachers union toward educational reforms and to increase school funding.

Some stats on TIC from the story:

IRVINE COMPANY POLITICAL SPENDING

Campaigns
1999-00: $1,110,812
2001-02: $790,225
2003-04: $1,102,075
2005-06: $608,750
Total: $3,611,862

These are among the major contributions
• California Republican Party, $417,900
• California Conservation Campaign, $250,000*
• Citizens to Save California, $250,000**
• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team, $150,000
• Californians for Clean, Safe, Reliable Water, $150,000***
• California Business Properties Association, $170,000
• California Chamber of Commerce, $110,000****
• California Business Properties Association, $50,000
• California Business Properties Issues PAC, $120,000
• Former Gov. Gray Davis, $75,000
• California Housing Council PAC, $70,000
• Californians to Stop Higher Taxes, $50,000
• Small Business Action Committee, $50,000
• Fund for Better Schools, $50,000
• Californians Against Higher Property Taxes, $40,000
• New Majority PAC, $40,000
• Coalition for Emergency Shelter and Affordable Housing, $25,000
• Building Industry Association of Southern California, $15,000

* Yes on Proposition 51 open space bond, 2002
** Signature gathering for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2005 special-election initiatives
*** Yes on 12/13 water quality bond, 2000
**** Jobs PAC and California Business PAC committees

Lobbying
1999-00: $200,472
2001-02: $712,266
2003-04: $638,022
2005-06: $360,238
Total: $1,910,998

So, what are your thoughts about the Irvine Company?  You can be sure that Dan Young, their go-to VP for all things political (who is shown above to the right) will read every word!

-- EP

Comments

[Ex-TIC Employee]

It's a good company if you are working somewhere near the top. It's run a lot like Disney Co. It's Bren's way or the highway though. Paul Hernandez does a great job for them. I only wish I could have convinced them to give me some $$$ in my last campaign. They are the glue that holds together Irvine. The day Don gets bored with the whole thing and sells out is the beginning of the end for the planned community look that has become Irvine. Dan Young's a great guy too.

[Problems with TIC]

My biggest problem with the Irvine Company is that they are way too comfortable with government. They consistently support local tax increases whenever they can. I remember when Irvine faxed a parcel tax, where the voting was by property owners only, that TIC cast all of their property votes (a lot of them) FOR the tax.

Then there is the cozy relationship that has been ongoing between TIC and Larry Agran & Company. At some point, they all drank the kool-aid.

[Alex B-Z]

Irvine Company is good. Irvine Company loves you. There is nothing to fear from the Irvine Company. All hail the glory that is the Irvine Company. The mere sound of Don Bren's voice is enough to immolate mere mortals. Consider yourself lucky to bask within the sphere of influence of all that is Irvine Company.

Regarding the 2002 Prop. 51 donation ... The Irvine Company donated $25,000 on April 1, 2002 and another $20,000 on April 15, 2002, according to state records. Larry Agran was, and still is, on the Board of Directors of the lobbying organization that wrote Prop. 51.

[www.eltorotoday.com]

The Irvine Company worked behind the scenes to sabotage El Toro Airport. By eliminating aviation zoning for the base this has allowed them to shoehorn the base with thousands of new homes. The irony is that many people feared the potential traffic from an airport. Ironically, they will get traffic anyways, much worse than the airport!

[Northcountystorm]

Say what you want but Dan Young has done a great job in keeping the Irvine Company effective without it becoming a big target.
Agran's 3 votes are reality in Irvine so they have to deal with him. They're not like the Lincoln Club which can lob in a few hit pieces, leave town and remain untouchable. Irvine Co. has to live with the Commissar.

[private]

The Irvine Company still owes me $260 dollars as they over charged my last month of rent. The Vice President Trea Montgomery was exceptionally obnoxious when she did not return my call for several months. When I reached out again... she basicly told me off.

I wish her and her company the worst of luck.

You know what they say about one unhappy customer right? Well here you go.

[Lyann Collins]

The Irvine Company development in my area of West Irvine, within the Tustin Unified School District has resulted in overcrowding of our local schools. For 7 years, their projections have been way off and our kids packed in trailers. At one point, Mayor Krom told me to contact the Irvine Company if I had any questions regarding the school capacity problems. I've only thought of one . . . how do these people sleep at night?

Read all about it at www.simby.org