Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Orange County

Did O.C. Supervisor Bill Campbell hire gay basher Laura Cunningham?

Posted on by Posted in Jobs, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Mrs. Jerbal is back!

Chisme has it that O.C. Supervisor Bill Campbell has hired a new Chief of Staff – gay basher Laura Cunningham!  You may remember that she was the “Hispanic Outreach Director” for the Yes on Prop. 8 campaign – the ballot measure that made gay marriage illegal here in California.

We know now that Prop. 8 was cynically designed by Republican consultants so as to create votes for their presidential candidate at the time, John McCain.  Well, it was an epic fail.  Blacks and Latinos voted for Prop. 8 – but they voted for Obama, not McCain. Continue reading→

Did O.C. Supervisors rip off our schools to save union jobs?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Jobs, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 4 Comments

OC CONSERVATIVES RIP-OFF SCHOOLS TO SAVE UNION JOBS

By Chriss Street

Orange County, California is often referred to as the “Most Conservative County in America.”  But County Supervisors have made a mockery of that title by increasing spending by $145.8 million, in a year of lower property tax collection. Now that the County has started running out of cash, they simply diverted $73.5 million from the school’s share of property taxes to stop layoffs of 490 County unionized employees. Conservatives support small government, low taxes,and prudent spending. The County protecting their union buddies at the expense of firing 865school teachers doesn’t sound very conservative to me. Continue reading→

Environmental Nature Center presents Winter Nature Camps for kids

Posted on by Posted in Education, Green, Nature, Orange County, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER PRESENTS WINTER NATURE CAMPS FOR KIDS

Enrichment program offers opportunity for children to spend time in nature.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., November 17, 2011 – The Environmental Nature Center is presenting Winter Nature Camps for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Session 1 is December 19 – 22, and Session 2 is December 26 – 29. Camps are from 9AM to 1PM, and afternoon camps are available from 1-3PM. For more info call 949-645-8489 or visit www.encenter.org/programs/naturecamp.shtml. Continue reading→

O.C. Treasurer-Tax Collector announces top 10 property taxpayers

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

 

The Walt Disney World Company pays $36,701,081 in O.C. property taxes

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2011
Contact: Shari Freidenrich, (714) 834-7625, Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

TOP TEN PROPERTY TAX PAYERS – SECURED AND UNSECURED

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich announced that for 2011 the Top Ten Property Taxpayers, in the secured and unsecured categories in the County of Orange are as follows:

Secured: Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport offers travel tips for the Thanksgiving holiday

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2011

Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182 (office), jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OFFERS TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – In anticipation of the nation’s most heavily traveled holiday period, John Wayne Airport (JWA) offers travel tips to help passengers prepare for a safe and enjoyable holiday air travel experience. Passengers traveling through JWA between Friday, November 18 and Monday, November 28, will experience higher-than-normal passenger traffic due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. In 2010, 187,028 passengers traveled through JWA during the week of Thanksgiving. The busiest travel days are expected to be Wednesday, November 23 and Sunday, November 27. Continue reading→

Asleep in Daly’s office?

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 32 Comments

Like boss like employee. This is a snap shot of the Clerk-Recorder Department’s crack purchasing agent XXXXXXXXXXX XXXX. There is a saying that a team is as strong as its weakest team member and this appears to be the truth in this case. What kind of a shop is Tom Daly running here? From the looks of things Tom Daly expects his campaign for the 69th Assembly District to be a breeze.

The problem with this photo is that it is a reflection of Tom Daly’s inability to make a sound decision. In 2009, the County’s Head Purchasing Agent Ron Vienna conducted an audit of the Clerk-Recorder Department’s purchasing practices. The audit, which you can read about here, exposed Tom Daly’s inability to follow county purchasing policy. On twelve separate incidents, it was found that Tom Daly skirted county policy and showed no regret or concern over it. His department concurred with all the findings and listed several remedial actions the department would take. Continue reading→

Solorio tries to help as the County cuts school funding by $48 million

Posted on by Posted in california, Education, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Santa Ana 5 Comments

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2011

For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355

Assemblyman Solorio Releases Statement Regarding OC’s Move to Halt Property Tax Payments to Schools Due to VLF Take

Anaheim – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) released a statement today regarding the announcement by Orange County officials that due to an unanticipated shortfall in revenue caused by the state reneging on sending the County $48 million in vehicle license fees, the County has decided to hold back property tax payments slated for schools. Continue reading→

The Lincoln Club’s immigration-reform proposal is ridiculous

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Elections, Federal Government, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 34 Comments

UPDATE: O.C. Register editorial writer Brian Calle weighed in on the Lincoln Club’s proposal this Sunday, admitting that “Calls for amnesty for illegal immigrants or even a pathway to citizenship are taboo among Republicans, who fear potential conservative backlash for merely broaching the issue. Yet, 67 percent of all Latino voters, and 64 percent of Latino Republicans, support a pathway policy. And 58 percent of Americans support the same approach.”

Martin Wisckol reported this week that the Orange County Lincoln Club, a group of rich Republican businessmen, has “announced an immigration-reform proposal that would provide a path to legal residency for illegal immigrants.”  Of course Wisckol reported this without questioning any of it.

That sounds great but it isn’t true. Oh sure, the Lincoln Club wants us to think they have broken with the usual GOP hatred of Mexican immigrants, but upon further review their plan is just indentured servitude – without U.S. citizenship.

What the Lincoln Club is advocating is: Continue reading→

State Senator Correa invites you to Veteran Day events in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Fullerton, Lou Correa, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Stanton Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

Let us take time to honor all veterans and current service men and women for their dedication to our country, and let us not take for granted the freedoms and fortunes they have provided for us. We are fortunate to have thousands of veterans in our very own communities, and I hope that we can all take a moment to personally thank them for their service on this Veterans Day. For more information on ways to celebrate Veterans Day, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Sincerely,

Lou Correa
State Senator, 34th District Continue reading→

Matt Harper warned not to campaign at the County – what about Tom Daly?

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Matt Harper, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 5 Comments

“Matt Harper, former deputy chief of staff to Supervisor Janet Nguyen who quietly transferred to the Orange County trash agency last month while preparing a run for the Assembly, has been officially warned to avoid any political activities while working as public affairs manager at OC Waste & Recycling for the next year,” according to the Voice of OC.

This is based on an opinion written by Senior Deputy County Counsel Christopher J. Miller, which states that:

  • Neither candidates for county office nor county officials or employees may solicit political contributions from county employees or applicants for county employment.
  • No campaign contributions may be received or delivered in any county office or building. Continue reading→

O.C. Supervisors want to cut Rob Richardson’s pay and take away his car

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 6 Comments

The O.C. Supervisors are finally going after Assistant County CEO Rob Richardson, who is also a Trustee on the SAUSD School Board.  “Nelson and Bates recommend demoting Assistant CEO Rob Richardson and revoking a 13.1 percent unjustified raise given to Deputy CEO for Infrastructure Alisa Drakodaidis,” according to the O.C. Register.

Why is Richardson in trouble?  Check this out – “Richardson saw his pay increase 33.13 percent in just six months after he was promoted in January 2006 to assistant to the CEO, a position without any direct oversight of county departments or employees. Richardson draws a salary of $191,089.” Continue reading→

43-year-old woman charged with unlawful sex with friend’s 12-year-old son

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

Fountain Valley Police Department & Orange County District Attorney Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2011

Case # 11WF2588: 43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEX WITH SON’S 12-YEAR-OLD FRIEND

*Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims

WESTMINSTER – A 43-year-old woman has been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old boy who was friends with her son. Patricia Ann Serrano, 43, Fountain Valley, is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 with the sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison. The court set bail in the amount of $100,000 today after denying the People’s request that Serrano be held on $250,000 bail. Serrano is currently in custody and is scheduled for a continued arraignment tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-15, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Will Correa take back his seat on the O.C. Board of Supervisors?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 3 Comments

I had lunch with a state legislator last week and he dropped a bombshell – apparently there are forces in the Democratic Party that are asking State Senator Lou Correa to consider taking back his old seat on the O.C. Board of Supervisors – and giving incumbent Supervisor Janet Nguyen the boot.

The last time I met with Correa, earlier this year, he said he was looking at the possibility of running for State Attorney General, but only if the incumbent were to run for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s seat.  Feinstein got cleaned out by Kinde Durkee so perhaps she might consider finally retiring.  However if she runs again, where will that leave Correa? Continue reading→

Circle Painting comes around to the Great Park

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Entertainment, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 11, 2011
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

Circle Painting Comes Around to the Great Park
Community art project will connect all ages in a fun and artistic way.

IRVINE – Feel free to use the Great Park Balloon as inspiration as you participate in a Circle Painting community art project at the Orange County Great Park. Circle Painting, led by Interdisciplinary artist Hiep Nguyen, will bring people of all ages together to create a circular art project as a way to connect, create and celebrate on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex. Finished artwork will be on display at the Great Park. Continue reading→

The world’s largest photograph debuts at the Great Park on Nov. 5

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, irvine, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 27, 2011
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

The Great Picture: The World’s Largest Photograph & The Legacy Project Opens November 5
The Legacy Project members in front of the Great Picture canvas before exposure.

IRVINE – The Great Picture: The World’s Largest Photograph & The Legacy Project is a multimedia exhibition that tells the compelling story of how six artist/photographers and their friends came together to build what the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledges as the “world’s largest pinhole camera” (also known as a Camera Obscura) at the Orange County Great Park. This exhibition documents how the Legacy Project artists activated their gigantic camera to create the world’s largest photograph. The Legacy Project exhibition will be on display at the Great Park Gallery from November 5, 2011 to January 29, 2012. Continue reading→