OC Blog

Orange Home Improvement Holiday Update

I spoke with Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche yesterday evening at the packed kick-off event for Larry Dick's 60th Assembly District campaign.

She updated me on her home improvement holiday proposal, noting it has been proposed in the City of Orange's next fiscal year budget that commences in July -- which the City Council will vote on in May or June. I'm confident it will be approved -- hopefully 5-0 -- and if so, Mayor Cavecche said the program  could start it the early fall.

Steve Greenhut Leaving The GOP

I see from his Orange Punch post that Steve Greenhut is planning to leave the Republican Party, and will give his reasons in his Sunday column.

I'm sad to see Steve go, respect his decision and share his dissatisfaction with the state of the GOP. At the national level, our party leaders squandered six years of control of the federal government by making a mockery of our claim to be the party of small government. I'll refrain from further comment on  Steve's decision it until reading his column, other than to note there are essentially two responses one can make when one's political party drifts from its philosophical moorings: abandon ship, or stay and fight to steer it back to its proper, principled course.

That was a choice facing Republicans back in the 1970s following nearly six years of Nixonism (detente, wage-and-price controls, an explosion of the federal regulatory state, etc.). Fortunately, conservatives like Ronald Reagan chose to stand and fight rather than abandon ship.

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup --

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Referendum May Overrule Anaheim Council -- OCR and LAT
A Disney-led coalition is pushing for another ballot item to kill zoning change.

Disney And City Move Beyond Vote -- OCR (4/26/07)
The county's largest employer says it will continue its relationship with the city, despite the City Council voting for a residential zoning plan that Disney opposes.

Home Sales Still Down -- OCR
Mid-April numbers trending toward 19th month in a row that sales don't meet year-ago pace.

Jurists Uphold Bar Critic's Gagging -- OCR and LAT
A Balboa Island woman can be stopped from making defamatory comments about a local bar, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Public Access To Leaders Denied -- OCR
Some in government have additional exemptions to open records laws.

$120 Million For Razing, Building At Great Park -- OCR
Park board unanimously recommends approval to Irvine City Council of the proposed 2007-08 budget.

Sex Offenders Moving To Garden Grove Motels -- OCR
21 convicted of child sex acts living at Garden Grove Avenue motels. Police are warning residents.

Natural Toxin Kills Birds, Sea Lions -- OCR and DP
Domoic acid, released by blooming diatoms, is behind dozens of sick mammals and birds washing up on O.C. beaches.

Live Music Returns To Fox Fullerton Theatre -- OCR
Fullerton College jazz band concert Friday is first in 54 years, part of effort to revive the 1920s venue.

Op-Ed: Contract Award Takes Your Breath Away -- OCR (4/26/07)
O.C. maker's ventilator, cheaper and more reliable, loses to out-of-state rival.

Rep. Sanchez Launching TV Show -- OCR
Cable-access program 'Loretta Live' to feature interviews with colleagues, Cabinet members and policy experts.

Main Offender -- OC Weekly
Garden Grove merchants say the city cut corners to let insider Steve Sheldon build condos

Angry Asian Rap Stalls Case -- OC Weekly
VA Tech murders give OC Sheriff pal excuse.

NOTE TO READERS: There are a few stories in today's OCR I can't include because the OCR seems incapable of matching their print edition to their website. For example,The article "OC Eyeing Changes To Public Pensions" is nowhere to be found on the website. Neither is the "Great Park Board OK's Prices, Operations for Balloon Rides" (isn't it amazing the amount of ink the OCR has spilled writing about a balloon ride?), or "New Internet Services Planned" about AT & T's plan to install a bunch of utility boxes in RSM.

Here's a modest proposal: the OCR details a staff member to spend a few minutes every morning checking the newspaper against the OCR website, see which articles are missing from the website, and have them posted. Just a suggestion.

Immigration Symposium at Chapman U., 4/28/07 (FREE)

I just left the Chapman Argyros School Board of Counselors after four years but still receive invitations to interesting events such as this one that takes place tomorrow, Sat., 4/28/07. Amb. Argyros will be giving the keynote at noon followed by panels of academic speakers. I can't tell which way this discussion will be leaning toward but I'm sure it will be filled with facts and emotions.

AD71 Watch: Corona Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Miller Raises $45,000 At Anaheim Fundraiser

This just came over the transom from the Jeff Miller for Assembly campaign:

Jeff Miller adds more Money and Endorsements in AD 71 Race

(ORANGE COUNTY, CA)   Assembly Republican candidate Jeff Miller raised another $45,000 last night at a fundraiser held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim during the Angels game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Miller also announced endorsements from Republican Senator George Runner, Republican Senator Bob Dutton and Republican Senator Jim Battin.

Waking Up To The Futility Of Reforming Public Schools

This came over the transom yesterday from the Public Policy Institute of California. It's an interesting read:

FRUSTRATED BY LITTLE PROGRESS AND LACK OF FAITH IN PROCESS, CALIFORNIANS LOSE FOCUS ON K-12 EDUCATION

No Blank Check: Residents Want More Accountability, More Resources Growing Perception that Goal of K-12 Is College Prep

To view the full survey online, please click here and enter the following code: 407SS

View our searchable PPIC Statewide Survey database online.

Disney Ballot-Box Zoning Initiative Press Conference Today

I just saw this on Orange Punch:

Anaheim City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to allow a zone change that will set the stage for a large residential complex within the resort district. Opponents, part of a Disney-led coalition called Save Our Anaheim Resort district, are holding a press conference today at 4:30 in front of the Chamber of Commerce offices to announce their response to the vote. The statement I received promises attendance by state Sen. Lou Correa, Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and Lucy Dunn, president of the Orange County Business Council.

That'll be interesting seeing the Orange County Business Council endorsing a ballot-box zoning initiative that is essentially a mini-Greenlight. Here's what OCBC had to say this past October about why it opposed Measure X (the Greenlight II initiative):

On the other hand, Measure X would place harsh restrictions on businesses, property owners and homeowners, requiring them to obtain voter approval (very costly) on land-use decisions, currently it is the responsibility of the City Council and Planning Commission.

An interesting flip-flop, not least because the SOAR initiative is, if anything, more restrictive than Measure X.

[Full disclosure: I'm a member of the consultant team for the SunCal project.]

UPDATE (4/27/07): As you can see from today's LAT and OCR stories, yesterday's SOAR press conference was to announce a referendum drive to overturn Tuesday's Anaheim City Council decision amending the resort district zoning, and was not about the Disney ballot-box zoning initiative.

So, in fairness, I should note the Orange County Business Council is not contravening it's earlier stance against ballot-box zoning initiatives like Measure X.

Jose Solorio On Newly-Approved Prison Reform & Construction Package

It's "Big House" day up in Sacramento. This just came over the transom from Assemblyman Jose Solorio:

State Assembly Unanimously Approves Historic Prison Construction and Reform Agreement

Proposal Contains No Early Release of Prisoners, Builds Prison Capacity and Helps Close Prison System Revolving Door

Assemblyman Solorio will be available for press interviews today:

Capitol Office from 11 am to noon, Room #2196, phone: (916) 319-2069     

District Office from 4 to 5pm, (714) 939-8469

Jim Silva Prison Reform Package

This came over the transom a little while ago:

ASSEMBLYMAN SILVA SUPPORTS PRISON REFORM PACKAGE THAT PROTECTS CALIFORNIA FAMILIES

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Jim Silva, R-Huntington Beach, today voted in favor of Assembly Bill 900, a critical measure that will address California’s prison overcrowding problems and expand rehabilitation programs that reduce recidivism.

Lou Correa: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Outl!aw 'Em

Incumbency has its advantages -- especially when you're a member of the legislative majority.

In Sen. Lou Correa's case, it enables you to respond to the opposing political party's successful voter registration program by introducing legislation to outlaw it!

The Correa bill in question is SB 812. It came to my attention via posts on a couple of liberal blogs (here and here), which describe it as an anti-GOP registration fraud bill.