It may have been re-scheduled, but tomorrow the OCTA was planning a media event to re-install the Little Saigon freeway sign on the new-and-improved 22 Freeway.
Since the event was going to be Vietnamese media heavy, OCTA staff was working with Assemblyman Van Tran to organize the event. While going over the details with him during a conference call several days ago the subject of who would be attending came up. OCTA staff went over the list of VIPs with Tran, who was fine with the names until they came to Garden Grove Mayor Pro Tem and OCTA Director Mark Rosen - who is running for the vacant 1st Supervisor District seat also being sought by Tran-backed Trung Nguyen.
"No, he can't come," said Assemblyman Tran.
The somewhat stunned OCTA staff responded that Rosen had to be be invited since he was not only an OCTA director, but the sign was being re-installed in Garden Grove -- of which he is Mayor Pro Tem.
Tran ultimately relented, and Rosen was -- as he should be -- kept on the invite list. It just goes to show how deeply politics can seep into even unpolitical events like re-installing a freeway sign.
Its too bad things have sunk to this level of pettiness.
www.PaulLucas2006.com
Posted by: Paul Lucas | February 01, 2007 at 06:10 PM
I was at a dinner in early 2000 when Mark Rosen showed up to support Van Tran for GG council. Politics is petty but transparent.
Posted by: Quang | February 01, 2007 at 06:10 PM
Van has been a good friend for central OC folks since getting elected into Garden Grove city council in 2000 and in Sacramento from 2004. I met him a few times and trust his judgment. Politics can be a bit unpleasant, but the bottom line is that he tends to get the job done for small business folks and for his constituent like myself. Good result speaks for itself.
Posted by: CentralOCguy | February 01, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Did Tran really think he could keep Rosen out? Amazing. But given some of over the top campaigning going on over there, not surprising.
Posted by: Bladerunner | February 01, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Isn't the real question why a government agency posting a sign with tax dollars constitutes "an event" in the first place?
Do your job, put the up sign, and move on.
Posted by: ocwatcher | February 02, 2007 at 07:43 AM