Author: admin

Tony Bushala, FFFF founder, site administrator, activist from 2008-2013.
Posted onAbout Us

City of Fullerton Adopts Urgency Ordinance to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks with Increased Fines and Zero-Tolerance Enforcement

by 34 Comments on City of Fullerton Adopts Urgency Ordinance to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks with Increased Fines and Zero-Tolerance Enforcement

FULLERTON, CA. – In a strong show of commitment to community safety and quality of life, the Fullerton City Council has adopted an urgency ordinance to immediately strengthen the City’s regulations on illegal fireworks. The urgency ordinance establishes significantly increased fines and enforces a zero-tolerance policy aimed at stopping the use and possession of illegal fireworks throughout the city.

The Council’s swift action reflects its determination to protect Fullerton neighborhoods from the threats posed by illegal fireworks, including fires, injuries, property damage, and disruptions to residents, pets, and those with sensory sensitivities.

Effective immediately, the updated ordinance includes the following penalties:

  • $3,000 fine for the first offense
  • $5,000 fine for the second offense
  • $7,000 fine for third and subsequent offenses

To ensure accountability, the ordinance also includes:

  • Parental liability: Parents or guardians of minors who use illegal fireworks will be cited.
  • Property owner responsibility: Owners who permit or fail to prevent the use or sale of dangerous fireworks on or adjacent to their property will be held accountable.

The City is taking a proactive enforcement approach this year, with:

  • Increased patrols throughout neighborhoods
  • Targeted response to resident-submitted complaints and tips

“This urgency ordinance makes it clear that illegal fireworks have no place in our community,” said Mayor Fred Jung. “The City Council stands united in protecting the safety, peace, and well-being of our residents.”

Residents are reminded that only Safe and Sane fireworks purchased from licensed vendors within Fullerton are permitted—and only on July 4th from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on private property. All other fireworks—including aerial, explosive, or erratic types—are strictly prohibited under state and local law.

To mark the holiday in a safe and spirited way, the community is invited to attend Fullerton’s 4th of July Celebration in the Downtown Plaza from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, featuring live music, family-friendly activities, food vendors, and a 20-minute professional fireworks display to cap off the evening.

The City urges everyone to celebrate responsibly and respectfully. Violators will face immediate and significant penalties.

To report illegal fireworks, call the Fullerton Police Department’s non-emergency line at (714) 738-3165 or email ReportFireworks@fullertonpd.org.

For more information on fireworks regulations, safety guidelines, and holiday events, visit:
www.cityoffullerton.com/fireworks

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Posted onAbout Us

The “Dr.” Charles and Zahra Clown Show – REPOSTED

by 18 Comments on The “Dr.” Charles and Zahra Clown Show – REPOSTED

We apologize for the misleading video that was previously released. The videographer was under the influence of marijuana when editing the footage, which resulted in a misrepresentation of Ahmad Zahra’s comments regarding his relationship with the marijuana union boss, Derrick Smith.

4F sincerely apologizes for any harm this may have caused or any unintended consequences that have arisen. We are committed to improving our processes moving forward.

The former videographer has since moved on to bigger and more exciting projects. He is now producing his own show, which promises to feature an episode highlighting Papuan Highlands tribe Headman, B’rni “Barney” Wewak.

Few things rival the spectacle of two so called “doctors” confidently speaking from, well, less-than-expert territory.

During last night’s (6-3-25) Fullerton City Council meeting, George A. Bushala raised a pressing question: Why did Councilwoman Shanna Charles’ husband, Andre, receive $4,000 from the marijuana union lobby, UFCW, during the 2024 District 4 election? The answer may be connected to the lobbying group’s substantial $60,000 investment, yes, a staggering SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS aimed at securing the failed election of pro-marijuana candidate Vivian “Cannabis Kitty” Jaramillo to the Fullerton City Council.

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Posted onAbout Us

The Fullerton City Council Leak: A Breach of Trust and Brown Act Violation

by 23 Comments on The Fullerton City Council Leak: A Breach of Trust and Brown Act Violation

Three days ago, the Fullerton City Council convened an emergency meeting, but their discussions were swiftly undermined when confidential information about the upcoming departure of City Manager Eric Levitt was leaked. This breach of confidentiality sparked serious concerns about ethical conduct and legal compliance, with council members Ahmad Zhara and Shawna Charles under suspicion.

The Brown Act, which ensures the transparency of local legislative bodies, was violated, eroding public trust. The leak is suspected to have come from Ahmad Zara and/or Shawna Charles, who have personal ties to individuals at the Fullerton Observer. This raises concerns about transparency, an issue that both council members frequently discuss but consistently fail to uphold.

This incident highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency within the Fullerton City Council, namely Zhara and Charles, including stricter enforcement of confidentiality, training on ethical conduct, and clear consequences for violations. The public deserves representatives who uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

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Posted onAbout Us

WE GET MAIL

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“Dear Deputy O.C.D.A. Heather Heslep-Morrissey,

This email and the attached letter are a follow-up to your correspondence dated April 9, 2025, regarding my request to further investigate the Scott Markowitz scandal. Less than a year ago, Mr. Markowitz was caught and arrested by the O.C.D.A. for perjury and falsifying a government document, specifically his nomination papers for the November 2024 election for a City Council seat in District 4.

As stated in your letter, the new evidence I am providing proves that Mr. Markowitz did not act alone in his attempt to defraud the voters in the November 8, 2024, election. Based on the new facts contained in the attached letter, it is clear that a conspiracy to suborn perjury was in effect.

Please review the contents of my attached letter (below) and let me know what additional information you may need from me to assist the DA in prosecuting the accomplice to Mr. Markowitz’s scheme to suborn perjury and defraud the voters of Fullerton, District 4.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Aaruni Thakur
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Posted onBruce Whitaker

Elevators to Nowhere – The Rising Cost Hits Fullerton Directly

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Here’s the final (for now) installment of the series by our Friend “Fullerton Engineer” documenting the sad history of the project to add a couple of elevators to the existing tower/bridge structure at the Depot. Remarkably, none of our elected representatives seems the least bit curious about the downward trajectory of this project, or the ultimate tap into our Facility Capital Repair Fund, a fund that was never intended to pay for new construction, particularly for projects never needed in the first place.  

The best way of avoiding embarrassing information is not to ask embarrassing questions. It’s not their money.

It may have been expensive, but it sure was unnecessary…

It took over five years, but the astonishingly high cost of an elevator addition project at the Fullerton train station finally hit Fullerton taxpayers directly in 2017.

The project that the public never asked for and doesn’t need was initiated based not on necessisity, but on the availability of money from Sacramento; and later, OCTA came to the funding rescue. But the delays piled up – year after year, and OCTA would no longer pay the bill. So in March, the City Engineer, Don Hoppe, came hat in hand and asked the Fullerton taxpayers for money. Lots of it. Here’s the staff report.

Notice how the various and diverse issues are all thrown together into a single sum – $600,000. We see added cost for the railroad flagging for some unexplained reason; the curiosity of “unforeseen” utilities on a well-developed site; an unknown amount to pay for the escalated cost of the elevator subcontractor; and finally, an unspecified amount to cover “additional assistant (sic) in contract administration” a nebulous term, but a category clearly meant to cover the ongoing cost of someone in the Public Works department.  The final item is particularly ironic given the amounts already contracted with private companies for construction support and management on this very small project.

The simple fact that these items are lumped together can only be explained by an attempt to obfuscate the nature and trues costs of the ongoing delay. And those delay costs are increasing even now, as the project seems to have stalled again.

— Fullerton Engineer

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Posted onStatewide Stuff

John and Ken Return to Fullerton on Thursday

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The KFI radio jocks love stirring things up here in Fullerton. Whether its the 2009 tax revolt, the 2011 teachers’ union protest or the 2012 Fullerton recall, they just can’t seem to avoid our little town and its parade of terrible politicians.

Here’s a clip of KFI’s John and Ken expanding upon The Hourly Struggle’s recent interview with state senator Josh Newman. The radio hosts also took the opportunity to announce that they are coming to Fullerton this week, gathering signatures to recall Newman.

Here are the details:

The effort to recall State Senator Josh Newman is officially on! This Thursday we’re going to broadcast live in Fullerton, and we need you to come by and sign the recall petition.

WHEN: THURSDAY 05/11/17 2pm-6pm PST

LOCATION: Arco AM PM  519 South Harbor Blvd. Fullerton,CA

Carl DeMaio, who hosts on our San Diego sister station KOGO-AM, has worked hard to put all of this together. He’ll be there doing his show along side us from 3-6pm.

We’re also in need of volunteers to collect the signatures, you can click here to sign up for a date that works for you.

We’ll see you this Thursday!

Be sure to come by, sign a petition and say hello to your favorite FFFFers.

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Posted onBehind Closed Doors

Elevators to Nowhere – Construction Begins! Oh, Wait. No It Doesn’t.

by 10 Comments on Elevators to Nowhere – Construction Begins! Oh, Wait. No It Doesn’t.

Friends, here is another in a series of posts about Fullerton’s ill-fated “Elevators to Nowhere” series by “Fullerton Engineer”

It may have been expensive, but it sure was unnecessary…

In following the trajectory of the new elevator project at the Fullerton train station I have described a project that the public neither wanted nor needed, that had its genesis in the simple availability of “free money” way back in 2011 – six long years ago.

Although the design contract was let in 2013, the project was not bid until 2015 when the low bid came in 22% higher than anticipated. The construction contract was awarded anyway. With numerous ancillary “management” contracts, the project budget had grown to $4,000,000. By 2017 that figure had ballooned to an astonishing $4,600,000.

And yet construction didn’t start until February, 2016 and when it did it was only for some minor ADA toilet room modifications adjacent to the AMTRAK ticket office.

Woodcliff Billing #1

You can see in the project billing submitted by Woodcliff Corporation, the contractor, a few items related to bonds, mobilization and the bathroom work in February 2016 – a year after the contract bid. Nothing was billed against the elevator items at all, except for crediting the structural steel shop drawings for $55,000. Over 14 months later the structural steel has not been erected. In fact, the foundations for the steel structure haven’t even been built, as the site sits empty with minor demolition having taken place and some lighting conduit rerouted.

If any delay claims have been submitted by Woodcliff, those documents have not been shared, although delay claims are certainly coming, and escalation costs are already starting to accrue, although we don’t know how much because the costs were intentionally lumped together with  other completely unrelated items in the March 2017 staff report.

As I noted in an earlier post the cause of all these delays is not known by the public because the Public Works staff doesn’t want the public to know that things have obviously gone wrong, very wrong; and, that the inexplicable and unexplained delays have finally cost the taxpayers of Fullerton directly. The money is no longer free.

— Fullerton Engineer

 

 

 

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