OC Blog

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- December 31, 2006

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Santa Ana Council Adds Youth To The Mix -- LAT
Michelle Martinez, 27, takes a seat and vows to make a difference with 'the people's agenda.'

Newsmaker Of The Year: The Face Of Costa Mesa -- DP
It would be hard for Allan Mansoor to top 2006.

Following The Float -- OCR
Anaheim celebrates anniversary with entry as residents make dedicated trek to the Rose Parade.

Planners' Perfect New Year's Parties -- OCR
Some have been working since September to guarantee that O.C. revelers have fun.

Teen Irish Dancers Flourish In Anaheim -- OCR
Teenagers Bobby and Chelsea Clark compete internationally.

Man With A Great Park Master Plan -- OCR
Richard Ramsey wants to merge nature, politics and architecture into the Great Park.

Agency In La Habra Earns Client's Gratitude -- OCR
Center has assisted Vivian Estrada with rent and other bills.

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup - December 30, 2006

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Janet Nguyen Leads In Fundraising -- OCR
Four other candidates in county supervisor race also have hit six figures. Featuring quotes by yours truly.

County Residents Recall President Trapped By Fate -- OCR
OCers recall President Ford.

Suspect Dead In Police Shooting -- OCR and LAT
An early morning shootout between Fullerton police and two suspects Friday left one man dead and the other seriously injured.

El Toro Off Course Until 2008 -- OCR
The El Toro air base links, which opened in 1944, will close for more than a year of upgrades.

Ex-OC Man Indicted -- OCR
Taiwanese prosecutors charge the engineer and former government official – who once lived in Fountain Valley – with steering a $200 million contract to a friend.

Film Classes Present Challenge To Schools -- OCR
Local districts have varying standards about whether teenage students should be exposed to PG- or R-rated material.

Crime Numbers Static In Newport -- DP
The number of serious crimes in Newport Beach has likely stayed flat from 2005 to 2006, according to preliminary statistics released by police to the Daily Pilot. This year there were 2% fewer incidents than last year, statistics show.

Top Stories Of 2006: Year Of The Immigration Debate -- DP
Newport's centennial and a $200 million concert hall's opening were among the biggest stories.

OC/DC: Ford Funeral Coverage

Some interesting coverage has been published here in DC about the life and legacy of President Ford in the run-up to this weekend's visitation / repose period in the Capitol and the upcoming State funeral proceedings. 

Today,  OCBlog's own Quang Pham had an excellent op-ed column published on the nearly impossible to crack op-ed page of the Washington Post (that is to say, impossible to crack as an outside writer unless you are Dr. Kissinger).  It is a wonderful tribute to President Gerald Ford.  I'm not sure if this piece was posted out West anyplace, but a link to the Post version is here.

In addition, the Washington Post released embargoed reporting from Bob Woodward with very recent interviews with President Ford about his legacy, his relationship with longtime OC resident President Nixon and the implications for both of the Pardon Ford issued to Nixon.  Coverage of Ford's legacy is here.  Of particular note, are the Woodward interviews which were embargoed until Ford's death and are for an "upcoming book project" according to the author.  A link to one of the series is here.

One additional point deserves mention, especially in light of the recent coverage here on OCBlog about the United Way / Boy Scouts flap.  Today's Washington Post reports that as Ford's funeral procession winds through Alexandria (his residence during his tenure in Congress) and Washington DC, it will pause at the WWII Memorial on the National Mall.  Present at the site will be a Boy Scout Color Guard as well as military officials (both at the request of the Ford Family).  It is a fitting tribute to President Ford who was proudly an Eagle Scout and to an organization that has been mentioned in nearly every story about Ford in recent days as one of the foundations of his career and character.  It is fitting that his family asked the organization about which he cared so much to participate in such an honorable way in his State Funeral.  Some additional news on this point is here. 

A Holiday Poem for Political Junkies

Here's a little light reading for the holiday weekend before everyone gets too serious to laugh. It is based on the prevailing conventional wisdom and not meant as offense to anyone. It is all in jest - so enjoy:

‘TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
A Poem for Political Junkies (with apologies to Clement Moore)

‘Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the O.C.,
Everyone was excited by the Board vacancy;
The papers were filed by the candidates with care,
In hopes that a victory soon would be theirs;

Lou Correa was aiming to replace Senator Dunn,
And scarcely had the vote count determined he’d won;
When ambitious locals showed up – far more than a dozen,
Every official in the district (and everyone’s cousin).

When at the Registrar there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my armchair to see what was the matter.
Away to the keyboard I flew in a dash,
To log into RED COUNTY and that report by FLASH.

A quick read of the new postings at OC Blog,
Showed a panoply of wannabes in the candidate log,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But JUBAL’s grainy video of Tom Umberg’s rear;

Mr. Umberg was filing for Supe District One,
And some of the candidates who said they would run,
Began to rethink it, in fact some withdrew,
Nine brave ones stayed in, but even they knew:

Oh, Rosen! Oh, Diaz! Oh, Lupe and Franklin!
Oh, Carlos! Oh, Kermit! Oh Larry and both Nguyens!
You can raise tons of money! You can clutter the mail!
You can walk all the precincts! But, surely you’ll fail!

Tom’s eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
For the Unions would give him all the cash he could carry!
He was brimming with confidence down to his marrow,
When he was endorsed by the Democrats (thanks to Barbaro);

The Deputy Sheriff’s endorsement he held tight in his teeth,
All the county worker unions circled him like a wreath;
And the praise that was heaped on by the AFL-CIO,
Almost made one forget about Guantanamo.

Like a life-size cardboard cutout, he turned with a jerk,
(insert your own joke here about Tom’s aide George Urch);
In a winner-take-all race, a sure bona fide,
Is that no one can match Tom Umberg’s Name ID.

And flipping a finger to his now Nine new foes,
He dreamed of I.E.'s, as his poll numbers rose;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
--"Happy New Year to me - to all of you, say ‘Good-Night’.”

Martin Wisckol Q & A With Sen. Lou Correa

Martin Wisckol posted the full-length version of his Q & A with Sen. Lou Correa over at Total Buzz -- a shorter version of which is scheduled to run in Tuesday's OC Register.

Click here to read it. It's a very interesting interview.

A Defense Of The OC Vector Control Pension Increase

OC Vector Control District Communications Director Mike Hearst called me last week to present the OCVCD's reasons for the changes made in the employees' pension plan last week (click here to see how the members of the OCVCD Board of Trustees voted). I asked if he'd write up his arguments so I could post them -- which he did a few days ago, and I'm finally posting them up now:

Vector Control Pension Plan Revisited

Now that the dust has settled I feel the complete story about the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) pension reform should be posted.  On December 21, 2006 the OCVCD Board of Trustees voted 21-9 in favor of what has been called a “pension spike”.  The change is from 1.67% @573/8 to 2%@55.  For the record, the “spike” provides an increase of 0.5%, or about $25 per month to a retiree earning $5,000 per month.  Since the change is for future time only, that figure is only applicable to a 25 year old individual starting in 2007 and working for 30 years.  The average age of OCVCD starting employees is 37.5, the average retirement age is nearly 64, at which point the two plans are equal. The new maximum benefit at age 65 is actually a tiny bit smaller than the current formula, but at 55 the new formula is somewhat better.  Contrast this enhancement to those agencies that granted retroactive increases of 2.5% and 2.7%.  These plans, because they were retroactive, would provide an instant increase to any employee after 30 years, (even if they started 30 years ago) of $1,250 and $1,750 per month, not to mention an instant liability of millions of dollars to the granting agency.  Orange County Vector Control District’s new plan creates no additional liability and is actually costing the District (taxpayers) less.

Janet Nguyen Trumpets Campaign Report

This came over the transom a little while ago from the Janet Nguyen campaign:

Janet Nguyen Leads Campaign Finance Race

GARDEN GROVE, CA - - Supervisor candidate Janet Nguyen has over $211,000 cash on hand as the race for 1st District Supervisor gears up. Campaign reports made public today show that Janet’s total far surpasses the other contenders in the race.

“I am very grateful to my loyal supporters for helping me put the resources together to run an effective campaign,” said Janet.  “We have raised over $124,000 in new money and combined with the funds I already had on hand, we are almost two-thirds of the way to meeting our budget.”

Janet Nguyen is a Garden Grove City Councilmember. She was the top vote-getter in the 2004 election and the first woman elected to the council in 35 years.

Wayne Eggleston Apologizes For Stanton Remark, Says He Was Misquoted

San Clemente Councilman Wayne Eggleston posted a comment a little while ago regarding yesterday's Los Angeles Times story in which he was quoted as saying:

"I wouldn't want to stop in Stanton, much less patrol it."

Here is Councilman Eggleston's response:

I wish to thank the OCBlog for the opportunity of posting a response. I was mis-quoted by an LA Times reporter. That is not what I said and the reporter is well aware of it. I would never slam another city. My apologies to the residents of Stanton.

Lesson: Do not co-operate with LA Times reporters as they are not trustworthy. I have dealt with Orange County Register reporters and they are of the highest quality.

Wayne Eggleston
Council member
San Clemente

UPDATE (4:23 p.m.): Gustavo Arellano followed up with the LAT reporter in question, who stands by his quotation of Eggleston. You can read about it on The Blotter.

Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters Endorses Carlos Bustamante

The Carlos Bustamante for Supervisor campaign announced Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters has endorsed Bustamante in the Feb. 6 special election.

"Chief Paul Walters is a highly respected law enforcement professional in Orange County and his endorsement will help solidify Carlos' growing political base in this race," said Bustamante's campaign consultant John Lewis. "It will be especially effective in convincing undecided voters in Santa Ana to support Carlos.

"Clearly Carlos Bustamante has tremendous momentum building in this campaign, and Chief Walters' endorsement is just another example of that momentum," Lewis continued. "Carlos' growing endorsements, along with his fundraising momentum, is outfitting him in an excellent position to win this race."

Raymond Chandler Quote Of The Week, December 24-30, 2006

I'm late with this week's Raymond Chandler quote, which it the famous first paragraph of Chandler's first novel, The Big Sleep:

It was about eleven o'clock in the morning, mid-October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie annd display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark blue clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care he knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.

-- The Big Sleep (1939)