Friends For Fullerton's Future

April 21, 2010April 21, 2010About Us

President Obama Visits FFFF, Gets the Scoop on OCCCO

Last Thursday our humble blog had a visit from the Executive Office of the President of the United States. It looks like someone on Barack Obama’s computer was doing a bit of Googling on a organization called OCCCO when he stumbled across our post on The OCCCO Scam.

Maybe the President’s office was researching the Orange County branch of the national Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) non-profit after it had requested another round of taxpayer funding from Obama’s bulging cluster of social welfare programs.

Hopefully FFFF was able to shed a little light on the subject. Glad we could help, Mr. President.

April 21, 2010Downtown Fullerton

From Pawn Shop to Sex Shop in Downtown Fullerton

by The Fullerton Savage70 Comments

How did an empty pawn shop become a sex shop?

For months the 219 W. Commonwealth has stood depressingly empty, but at least the trash was on the outside. Now it seems that Commonwealth will sport its very own lingerie shop just two short city blocks from the Boys and Girls Club and the Senior Center. And that’s if we’re lucky, and they limit their wares to the wearable variety.

The lights went off one by one just as I began to take some snapshots of the buxom mannequins through the iron gated windows. Such class in our fair city–”The Education City”. Well, some kids are going to get quite an education from across the street at the friendly gelato cafe. I guess there will be something skimpy dressing these hotties to keep them from showing off too much, but is this really what was envisioned for our downtown? Where is zoning on this one? How long has this area been a redevelopment zone? Is there any better evidence of redevelopment engendering blight?

April 21, 2010Chris Norby

Nelson vs. Sidhu @ OCGOP; Round 1

by admin1 Comment

As promised, I will be sharing with you the debate between Shawn Nelson, who lives in our district, and Harry Sidhu, who moved into our district twice just to run for yet another office. His first so called “residence” was at the Calabria apartments on W. Lincoln, where we proved Sidhu committed voter fraud here. The other residence is over on Lucky Way.

Both candidates are running in OC’s 4th Supervisorial district special election to replace our current State Assemblyman Chris Norby. I’m going to start off this series of video clips with both candidates’ opening statements. Enjoy the show:

April 21, 2010April 21, 2010Harry Sidhu

Cunningham Talks and Talks and Talks. Anybody Listening?

by The Desert Rat10 Comments

Over at the RedCounty blog, Matthew J. Cunningham’s posts are becoming increasingly dronish and petulant – just like always seems to happen when an election nears.

His latest post about the OCGOP Central Committee endorsement of Shawn Nelson is a case in point. Apparently he wasn’t at this big event (could it be because he’s not yet ready to explain his huge windfall from The Meathead’s Children and Families commission?). So he’s getting his talking points from somebody who was – probably lonely Sidhu supporter and John Lewis partner Matt Holder.

You would think that when your bosses candidate gets wiped out 47-8 you would just keep your mouth shut and say nothing. But not our motormouth buddy – who goes on and on and on about how the thing is unfair and Nelson just won because he did better at the forum, how the questions weren’t good, how it was all due to political whipping and how Sidhu, not Nelson has been fully vetted through the last election cycle (? Nelson’s been through three!).

Not a single word from Cunningham about carpetbagging, perjury and perpetual candidacy! Did it not occur to Cunningham that maybe, just maybe the OCGOP Central Committee members were turned off by Sidhu’s voter registration fraud, and his two bogus addresses on top of his inarticulate, scripted performances.

Well, too bad for Cunningham and Lewis and Sidhu, but that genie is out of the bottle and ain’t going back in. So just accept it and quit yer bitchin’.

Anyhow, congrats from inside the electrified fence of the Desert Rat compound out on beautiful Screech Owl Road to Nelson for an important victory.

April 21, 2010April 21, 2010CSUF

The El Dorado Ranch – Is it Public or Private?

by Greg Sebourn8 Comments

A few weeks ago I gave you a glimpse of the old Chapman property that houses CSUF President Milton Gordon on the public dime up in the hills of Fullerton. I decided to take a spin past the old ranch to see what it looks like.

Clearly this sign warns potential visitors to the El Dorado Ranch that it is “PRIVATE PROPERTY”. However, the sign lies! Or rather the person who placed the sign there is either a liar or is misinformed. The Grant Deed below makes it clear that the property has been granted to a public agency which places the property in the hands of California residents.

So, despite the very official albeit old and faded sign, you and I own the temporary residence of Milton A. Gordon, President of Cal State Fullerton whose salary exceeds $300,000 per year. With all that money he saves living rent free it’s no wonder he left the light on for us.

April 20, 2010April 20, 2010Behind Closed Doors

Did Bankhead Shoot Self in Foot? Or have The People Really Spoken?

by Mr. Peabody4 Comments

A Friend just passed along the minutes from a California High Speed Rail meeting back in May 2008. The city of Fullerton “strongly supports the HSR project” per Councilman Don Bankhead. Hey, wait a minute. Did the City Council of Fullerton adopt a formal position on the HSR , and did they appoint Bankhead to be it’s official spokesman on the subject?

And if the Council really and truly already decided that we’re on board the HSR, then why bother with one of those idiotic “work shops” at tonight’s council meeting, and why have another one on April 26th at the Senior Center?

Anyway check this out:

CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY/ MEETING MINUTES / MAY 14, 2008

The meeting of the California High-Speed Rail Authority was called to order on May 14, 2008 at 9:30AM at Anaheim City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd in Anaheim, CA.

Mr. Bankhead stated the City of Fullerton strongly supports the HSR Project. To date the City, CalTrans and OCTA has invested millions of dollars in public transit services at the Fullerton Transportation Center. Mr. Bankhead stated Fullerton has the busiest rail station between Los Angeles and San Diego along the LOSSAN corridor. In addition, the City of Fullerton is working with CalTrans and OCTA to construct a new parking structure to accommodate up to 1000 rail passengers. There would be a platform adjacent to the parking structure that could accommodate high-speed rail. Mr. Bankhead stated the City of Fullerton supports the Authority’s budget request for $103M towards the development of high-speed rail. Mr. Bankhead stated on behalf of the City of Fullerton that the Authority consider a stop in Fullerton which would serve the region and build upon a previous transportation investment.

April 20, 2010Harry Sidhu

The GOP Central Committee Speaks: Nelson 47, Sidhu 8

by admin19 Comments

Shawn Nelson won the Orange County GOP Central Committee endorsement over Harry Sidhu by 47-8 votes last night at the Irvine Hyatt. That’s 85% for Nelson if you like numbers.

The room was designed to fit 200 people, and was standing room only. Besides Sidhu, who voted for himself (Sidhu got sworn in as an alternative to the OCGOP just prior to the vote), Matt Holder of (John) Lewis Consulting Services and Thomas Gordon went down in flames voting for their own interests instead of the better candidate. knowing that his client was going to lose Holder tried to forestall a vote, avoid a vote, but it was not to be.

To those in attendance it was painfully obvious that the more qualified candidate was Shawn Nelson. As usual Sidhu read his answers from a script prepared for him while Nelson’s answers were direct, forthright, and informed.

Nelson, the OCGOP’s 2009 elected official of the year won the Daily Double. It will be hard for Sidhu’s paid apologists to cast this in any other light than a resounding rejection of their candidate. You can expect the negative Sidhu mail to start coming furiously from here on out – and that won’t endear Sidhu to the party faithful, either.

For Nelson this victory provides important momentum heading into the final seven weeks of the campaign and can be used in mailings to fellow Republicans.

In short: Nelson kicked ass. I’ve got some good video and will be uploading choice nuggets for the benefit and amusement of the Friends.

April 19, 2010April 19, 2010Redevelopment

Will Redevelopment Borrow $50 Million for Affordable Housing?

by Christian11 Comments

Have you ever been robbed? Some robberies are violent and involve weapons or threats of force. Others are of a white-collar nature. Don’t be fooled, you are robbed either way. One robber let’s you know he is taking your money while the other is much more insidious and calculating. Our Redevelopment Agency is the latter.

Item 10 on this week’s council agenda deserves some attention.

According to the staff recommendation signed by Ramona Castaneda, for our illustrious Land Czar Rob Zur Schmiede and Charles Kovac, these fine public employees would like to sell a bond. They say that their autonomous agency could net between $26,900,000 and $32,000,000 in proceeds. That sounds like a great idea if you like to squander public money. The Staff report states that the debt service payments over a 17-year term would be approximately $2,900,000 per year starting September 20100 and ending September 2027. Okay, so check my math: $2,900,000 x 17 years = $49,300,000.

That’s a cost of nearly $50 MILLION! We are cutting staff hours, cutting services and rethinking the way we do business… at least everyone else is. Our Land Czar wants the money so he can build MORE affordable housing. That’s laughable since his agency has single-handedly destroyed and displaced more homes than any other in Fullerton. Oh, but wait! What’s that Doc? Oh, he says it’s that law, we just gotta do it! No we don’t.

Of course missing from the discussion about this venture seems to be the little matter of the lawsuit that Friends for Fullerton’s Future has filed against the Redevelopment Agency’s expansion plan. Is Zur Schmiede counting on tax increment from the proposed expansion area to pay off his bonds? Better hope not.

April 19, 2010April 19, 2010Dead heads

The Lorri Galloway Residency Comedy Rolls Along

by admin23 Comments

At the WAND candidate forum the other day Lorri Galloway asserted that she has lived in our district for seven months.

Not quite right. According to her voter registration she only started carpetbaggin’ the 4th District a mere 5 months ago. So who cares? She’s a politician and they just love to fuzz up the facts.

GallowayatDoor — Hi, I'm your new neighbor. I know I haven't been around much.

But wait. The really fun fact is that she began her so called 4th District residency by “living” in Anaheim’s O-P zone – on the corner of Lincoln Avenue And East Street. And even if she did actually reside there, which is extremely doubtful, that residency was illegal per Anaheim’s zone code; she was busted (by us) in January and she had to “move.” So even if the most credulous person believes that she is now actually living in the “5 Points” area, she’s only been a legal resident of the 4th District for a couple of months.

April 18, 2010Fullerton City Council

On The Agenda – April 20, 2010

by Christian3 Comments

High-Speed Rail is here! At 5PM you get to hear a presentation on the subject from the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). Afterwards, they’ll take your questions. What they do with your questions is entirely up to them. Maybe you’ll get answers, maybe not. There will be another community meeting April 29 from 5PM to 8PM at the Senior Multi-Service Center to “…solicit input and begin CHSRA’s community outreach process in Fullerton.” Doesn’t it feel good to be part of a process?

After the presentation, council has a closed session with the labor negotiators.

There are some certificates, commendations, and proclamations to make before getting into any serious business.

On the consent calendar, items 1 through 7, we find the minutes, financial statement for period ending February 28, Appropriation of funds to comply with state obligation requiring… Wait a minute! Is someone trying to sneak something in as a consent calendar item? Let’s look a little closer at item 3.

The title is red flag: “APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO COMPLY WITH STATE OBLIGATION REQUIRING REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE A PAYMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION REVENUE AUGMENTATION FUND” So, on the surface the Land Czar’s agency is obligated to pay for some of the havoc they have created by blocking regular tax funds from going to education by declaring BLIGHT. $6,670,864 on or before May 10, 2010 and everyone is happy. There is a pending court case that could eventually halt the payment but I wouldn’t hold my breath over it. It just makes another strong case against having a redevelopment agency in the first place.

Item 4 is for the FAA’s 15-year lease of some of the airport’s tower. The lease is for $26,550 for the first 5 years with a CPI clause that could raise the rate every 5 years thereafter.

The OC Auto Theft Task Force (OCATTS – isn’t that cute!) is item 5. I’m not sure how OCATTS gets its funding but the staff report states that the detective’s salary, benefits, work vehicle (take home car?) and overtime are 100% reimbursed through the OCATTS fund.

Item 6 is a resolution that declares council’s intention to consider the designation and adoption of an underground utility district on State College from about Kimberly Avenue to Santa Fe Avenue. But why the district? Because there are currently overhead power, phone, and cable lines and doing this would bury them. This is somewhat tied to the grade separation work. I think it is a way to take advantage of the construction chaos and do it all at the same time while it is already tore up. Maybe not. Either way, I am glad I don’t have a business or live in that area! The staff report says there are no proposed costs associated with this resolution; however, I think a public hearing resulting from this project will have a direct cost associated with it. Another question to be asked is this: Is the City of Fullerton creating a District or altering the boundary of a district? If so, where is LAFCO?

The police want to accept a donation in item 7 of $750 from the Elks Lodge for the Police Explorer Program. Sounds good… But can’t the council pass an ordinance authorizing department heads to receive donations under a certain threshold? Then we don’t need the staff to sit in the council chamber the extra few minutes to hear this. Maybe just move it to the consent calendar.

Item 8 is a staff update on the Gilbert Community Center.

Item 9 is the All the Arts for All the Kids Heart Project that, if approved, will allow for sculptures to be placed on public property in the downtown area. The All the Arts for All the Kids Foundation wants 25 heart sculptures around the area. I think the reason it is actually on the agenda is because the City Manager wants to waive all of the permit fees. Since they will have to abide by standard city conditions and obtain permits through the normal process like anyone else, I suppose it isn’t a big deal. But what if another non-profit comes in and wants to put art on the corner, will we waive their fees? Will they be allowed to do it? What criteria does the City use to make these determinations? Or is this really a backroom deal that now needs council’s blessing?

Lastly, we have Item 10. I saved the best for last and placed it in it’s own post to follow this. Wait until you hear what our Land Czar wants now…

AGENDA FORECAST

MAY 4, 2010
• Public Hearing – 5 Year Consolidated Plan
• 10/11 Preliminary Budget
MAY 11, 2010 – Adjourned Regular Meeting – 5 pm
• Public Hearing – Coyote Hills
MAY 18, 2010
• March Financials
• Capital Projects
• Proclamation – Relay for Life Month – June 2010
• Closed Session – Property Negotiations – Fox Block
• Fox Block Extension of ENA
• Personnel Management System Changes
• St. College Grade Separation Change Order
• Service Recognition – Kathy Dasney, Former Parks Commissioner

Until next month, please feel free to add comments to this. If you have the inside scoop, shoot me a comment or email me through the Contact page on this website.