OC Blog

The Crystal Ball: More Analysis Of A Possible 1st SD Special Election

During my e-mail correspondence with Westminster Councilman Kermit Marsh regarding the possibility of him running for the 1st Supervisor District (if it opens up), he sketched a quick analysis of the dynamics of the race:

The geographic breakdown would work against a Westminster or Garden Grove candidate.  I finished first in Westminster, yet I still finished fourth district-wide.  Bruce Broadwater finished first in Garden Grove, yet he finished a distant second behind Lou Correa.  The key to the first district is Santa Ana, where Lou received more votes than Bruce, Brett and I combined.  Despite much lower voter turnout in Santa Ana than in Westminster and Garden Grove, Santa Ana still accounted for 40% of the primary votes in March 2004.

To present a realistic candidacy, I think one would need either a powerful block of non-geographic voters (such as Van Tran's ability to carry nearly all of the Vietnamese American vote along with most non-Vietnamese American Republicans, or Joe Dunn's ability to draw almost the entirety of Democratic votes among all ethnicities) or a large and loyal constituency of the higher propensity voters in Santa Ana (such as Carlos Bustamante).  A candidate whose support is concentrated in a single ethnicity or one of the smaller geographic entities (Westminster or Garden Grove) would probably not fare well in the general election, even if a crowded field would allow that person to make it past the primary.  The candidate would also need to expend at least $200,000 to make it past the primary, or maybe a little less, if the field is truly crowded.

CUSD Recall Committee To Announce Three Reform Candidates For CUSD Board

This just came over the transom from the CUSD Recall Committee (which I believe is separate from Capo For Better Representation):

CUSD Recall Committee To Unveil Identities of Three Reform Candidates

Media Event.   This coming Thursday afternoon, representatives of the CUSD Recall Committee, the grass roots group of parents and concerned taxpayers that have led the widespread effort throughout South Orange County to recall all seven trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District will announce the identities of three reform candidates.   These candidates will challenge the three CUSD incumbents who must run for re-election in this November’s elections.  All television, radio and print media are encouraged to attend.

Date: Thursday, June 29
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: At the Front Driveway Entrance to the Controversial New
CUSD Administration Building
33122 Valle Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Background.   The CUSD Recall Committee is the grassroots organization that led South Orange County residents in the unprecedented campaign to recall all seven elected Trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District.  More than 177,000 signatures were obtained from South Orange County residents calling for the removal of all seven CUSD Trustees.  The campaign focused on the serious financial mismanagement and corruption at CUSD.

Now, the CUSD leaders are being investigated by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Thomas Russell, spokesperson for the CUSD Recall Committee, stated “The recall campaign uncovered compelling evidence of corruption at CUSD.   As a result, many citizens called upon law enforcement authorities to commence a complete investigation.  We believe those CUSD officials that misled our community and violated the law must be removed from office, held accountable and brought to justice.”

DeVore Teams Up with Leno (!) on Hemp Bill

Conservative Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (70th AD - NB, Lake Forest, Orange, Larryland) has joined up with none other than San Francisco Uberliberal Mark Leno to sponsor a very sensible bill to allow the hemp production.  A $270M market, help is is "grown and processed throughout the world for paper, fuel, clothing, building materials, canvas, rope, beauty care products, food and automobile parts, among others".

Good move, Chuck --  it's time this silliness stopped and we uncripple another California business.

Read the entire story at Leno-Devore Bill To Permit Farming Of Industrial Hemp Passes Senate Public Safety Committee.  Note there were still two no votes on the Public Safety Committee.  And they were?

Liberty Is Infectious: Anaheim's Path-Blazing In Video Delivery Services Getting More Nat'l Attention

From Kurt Weber's C-Log on Townhall.com a couple of days ago:

There are good things happening at the local government level. As concerns cable and video services, the always informative Reason Foundation vice president Adrian Moore recently wrote, “A few states, like Texas and Ohio, have passed legislation requiring that cities allow competing services. And a few mayors have spoken out in favor of competition in television providers and an end to the old monopoly regulations and franchise fees.” But, pointing a positive finger, Moore says, “Mayor Curt Pringle of Anaheim has been out front on this.” Moore mentions that the Anaheim Mayor and city council are making “good policy decisions that embrace competition and markets. Mayor Pringle’s perspective on competitive telecommunications providers … will give city residents more choices, a better deal, and make the city more competitive with its neighbors.” The next time your local officials blather on about franchise fees, the need for a monopoly provider, and other blah, blah about the importance of Soviet Central Telecomm Planning, hand them the City of Anaheim media release that extols the benefits of reduced government interference and franchise fee elimination. Next, send ‘em to Disneyland to see firsthand what a wonderful telecomm world we could have if they’d just stop acting Dopey.

The more local government officials around the country learn that freedom-friendly munipcal policies work in practice, as well as theory, the more likely they are to buck city bureaucrats and status quo thinking. Real world evidence of success is a powerful weapon in this debate.

OC Blog News Roundup -- June 28, 2006

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Irvine Apologizes To Taiwanese -- OCR and LAT
Council meeting draws 175 protesters critical of proposed sister-city agreement with mainland community.

OC Supervisors Pass $5.56 Billion Budget -- LAT
Highlights include added money for indigent medical care and improvements to John Wayne Airport.

Orange County To Retain Traffic School Firm Despite Lower Bidder -- LAT
The companies were judged by two Superior Court officials and three judges, who gave little insight into how they arrived at the score.

Push To Recall Capo Unified Trustees Remains Alive -- OCR
Judge denies Registrar of Voters' bid to dismiss dispute over rejected signatures.

Frank Mickadeit: Capistrano District Begs For A Recount -- OCR
Frank writes on the latest twists and turns of the CUSD recount saga.

Mission Reveals Local Treasures -- OCR
Collection of about 400 items includes pottery and agricultural tools.

Meth Raids Net 3 In OC -- OCR and LAT
Federal agents cap probe of drug ring with arrests of men from Anaheim, Orange.

Near Bolsa Chica, A Bumber Crop Of Bugs -- OCR
Thank Goodness we're preserving those wetlands!

Newport Beach Votes To Study Yet Another City Hall -- OCR and DP
At the risk of angering parks supporters, the City Council unanimously voted late Tuesday to give more consideration to building a city hall on a plot slated for open space.

OC Choirs Entertain U.S. Troops While Visiting Italy -- OCR
Orange County choirs visiting Italy to serenade the pope made a spontaneous stop on their choral tour to salute servicemen aboard the USS Iwo Jima with song Tuesday.

Dana Point Council Considers Building Proposal -- OCR
Doheny Estates is requesting a general plan amendment to construct homes at former mobile home park in Dana Point.

Stage Set For Nabisco Site Re-Use -- OCR
Buena Park rezones the 23 acres for commercial purposes; ideas range from auto dealerships to big-box retail.

Op-Ed: Voters Can Act To  "Save Our State" -- OCR
Initiative to halt eminent-domain abuse makes the November ballot

UCI Radiologist To Quit In Wake Of Probe -- LAT
He is the 3rd top official to recently announce his departure from the troubled hospital.

Firefighters Didn't Dally, Agency Concludes -- LAT
A Yorba Linda man said his home was left to burn longer because he was a nonunion firefighter in L.A. County.

Idea Separates Half Of Triangle Square For Housing -- DP
After a long struggle to attract and keep tenants, Triangle Square could gain permanent residents, under a plan to add residential units that will be presented to the Costa Mesa City Council next week. Mall hosts food and wine festival

Bolsa Chica Peace Offering: Big Dividend -- OCBJ
Irvine's California Coastal Communities Inc., under fire from shareholders over its plans to build homes at Bolsa Chica, made a peace offering Tuesday: an $11 to $13 per share dividend.

Garden Grove Councilmember Harry Krebs Wants To Ban Fireworks

At tonight's Garden Grove City Council meeting, Councilman Harry Krebs has requested "discussion concerning placing a measure on the November 7, 2006 ballot to eliminate fireworks sales and use within the city limits of Garden Grove".

Thanks, Harry. Fireworks on the Fourth of July is one of the coolest things about Garden Grove. You can go out in the street with your neighbors and celebrate our freedom and independence in the manner called for by Founding Father John Adams:

"I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games; sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

Garden Grove is one of only five OC cities that still permit fireworks on the Fourth of July, the others being Stanton (it's main redeeming quality in addition to Adventure City), Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Buena Park. At least there a free citizen can buy their own fireworks and celebrate liberty themselves if they prefer not to shuffle into the local stadium to watch the government-operated fireworks show.

I'm confident Councilmembers Mark Leyes and Janet Nguyen will oppose Kreb's fireworks ban. I don't know where Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Rosen and Mayor Bill Dalton come down on the issue, but I hope at least one of them sides with liberty.

Irvine To Further Tighten Lobbying Restrictions Tonight

The OC Grand Jury report on the Great Park and the Sister City snafu aren't the only important items to be discussed at tonight's Irvine City Council meeting. Also on the agenda is the first reading of amendments to Irvine's infamous lobbying code, which seeks to make pariahs who advocate before government for a living.

Here are the proposed amendments, which include even more microscopic definitions of what constitutes "contact" between a lobbyist and a city official, throwing an even wider net over who is considered a lobbyist rather than a mere citizen -- while reducing reporting requirements for things like expenditures.

Initiative To Repeal Stanton's Forced Pre-Sale Home Inspections To Be On November Ballot

The initiative to repeal Stanton's outrageous regime of mandatory pre-sale home inspections by city examiners has been certified, and the Stanton City Council tonight will have the opportunity to immediately vote to place it on the November ballot.

They also have the option of trying to further delay the initiative by "refer[ring] the proposed initiative to any city agency for a report on the impact of the proposed measure."

Here's hoping the Stanton City Council does the honorable thing and votes to let voters have their say without such delays.

Better yet, they ought to bow to the inevitable and repeal this misbegotten and invasive policy themselves and save taxpayers the cost of an initiative campaign that will surely end in repeal.

And here's hoping this spectacle will put the brakes on the City of Santa Ana's incipient efforts to impose a similar scheme on their residents.

Anti-Kromunist Protest At Irvine City Hall At 4:30 p.m.

This came over the transom from the ubiquitous Anthony Kuo of Iger & Associates:

Big Demonstration to Protest the International Insult from Irvine City and Chinese Government
Time: 6/27 (Tuesday) 4:30 ~ 7:30 PM
Place: Court yard of Irvine City Hall

From Steven Greenhut:

Here is part of the text of an email I just received, which was originally sent by Hong Zong Lin regarding the city of Irvine's recent anti-Taiwan agreement with the government of China::

"There will be a big demonstration to protest the recent establishment of the sister city relationship between Irvine and Xuhei District under the provision to abide by the principles set out in the Communiqué on (he Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States and the principle that there is only one China."

"Because Irvine and Taoyuan of Taiwan became sister cities in 2000, under the memorandum signed by both mayors of Irvine and Xuhui Distric, in the bilateral contacts between Irvine and Taoyuan, Irvine will also abide by the above-mentioned principles. Irvine promises that there will be no occurrence of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" and that on any occasions and in any forms the names of "Republic of China" and "Taiwan" will not be used and its so-called "national flag" and "national anthem" will not be hung and played. The city officials of Irvine will not visit Taiwan Province in their official capacities and will not attend the so-called "National Day"celebrations and other activities.

"This agreement has been attracted by main stream media such as LA Times, OC Register, and radios, TV stations. There are total 28 cities in U.S.A. established sister city relations with both Taiwan and China. However, none had signed such kind of agreement like Irvine. This indicates that China is going to launch the diplomatic attack on Taiwan further into the level of people relationship.

"We are scheduled to have a big demonstration in the court yard of Irvine City Hall on next Tuesday (6/27/2006) starting from 4:30 PM and ended on 7:30 PM. Please join this very important demonstration. There will be also an international press conference during the demonstration and directly attending Irvine City Council Meeting. You can find the address and direction of Irvine City Hall at http://www.ci.irvine.ca.us/maps/popups/irvine_city_hall.htm

"Please distribute the news of demonstration to your friends (not limited to Taiwanese) and encourage them to join this event. We need to show our angry and position on this case.

OC Blog News Roundup -- June 27, 2006

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Irvine Mayor Tries To Make Amends -- OCR
The mayor here has apologized to the mayor of Taoyuan, Taiwan, for an agreement signed last month with a new sister city in China pledging basically not to recognize Taiwan.

OC Grand Jury Blasts Vector Control District -- OCR
Officials call report, which alleges mismanagement at the agency, biased and inaccurate.

Fireworks OK In Few Cities -- OCR
John Adams would be sad.

Seal Beach Halts 3-Story Homes -- OCR
Ephemeral notion of "town character" trumps property rights as the City Council approves a 45-day moratorium on Old Town construction.

Orange Uses $2.6 Million In Redevelopment Funds To Buy Historic Mansion -- OCR
Orange officials have no immediate plans for historic building but intend to use it as part of civic center expansion.

Frank Mickadeit: Coming Clean On "Vacation" -- OCR
Frank talks about vacation, Irvine sister city mess.

OCTA To Debut Upscale Buses -- OCR
OC Express, a limited-run bus line meant to serve long-range business commuters, will kick off Monday with high-end coaches offering electrical outlets for commuters, lap trays and reclining chairs.

OC's Beach Shacks Are Open For Business -- LAT and DP
The enclave of Depression-era cottages at Crystal Cove State Park has reopened after $14 million in renovations. But the waiting list for rentals is a long one.

Who Will Pay For Patrolling OC's Harbors and Coasts? -- LAT
To cover the $10-million bill, supervisors consider tapping other county accounts or the Sheriff's Department.

Dana Parsons: Generosity Plus Wisdom Can Tackle All Problems -- LAT
I'm a bit long in the tooth to play the wide-eyed kid, but let me ask you this: How can we have any unsolved problems in this country?

N.B. Council May Take New Look At City Hall -- DP
With a storm brewing over whether a designated park site should be used for a new city hall, Newport Beach City Council members tonight may again postpone a decision on City Hall's location to allow more discussion.

Op-Ed: Keep City Hall Where It Is -- DP
NB Councilman Tod Ridgeway opines "There is no free lunch, especially when it comes to locating a new city hall. While I respect Bill Ficker and the Daily Pilot, I must take exception to an attempt by the press to create policy by half information and barrels of ink. Also, the paper is clearly supporting one group over another at the expense of the process. What happened to their support of parks and open space?

Shareholder Urges Bolsa Chica Sale -- OCBJ
The battle of Bolsa Chica took another turn on Monday as a dissident shareholder of developer California Coastal Communities Inc. said it voted against management’s directors and urged a sale of the company or of its Huntington Beach land.