Friends For Fullerton's Future

I just got a robocall from the good folks at Republic Services, the behemoth trash pick-up conglomerate. Apparently the work stoppage is over and they will be working hard to catch up to their regular schedule.

This stoppage has effected many cities in Orange County that contract with Republic including our fair city. The cause? A contract dispute. In Boston. That’s 2974 miles away.

According to the Voice of OC the local agreement permits this sort of thing. Here’s what is reported:

“Under the union’s contract with Republic Services, workers are allowed to honor picket lines when workers at other facilities go on strike in an effort to add pressure on the company.”

This seems like a recipe for trouble, and we’re the ones getting it, even though the “picket line” is 3000 miles away.

Walking out on a basic public service, and a monopoly, seems like a breach of faith with the public. But we’re dealing with the Teamsters here.

The Teamsters obviously believe this cross-nation strategy will intimidate Republic to play ball in Boston, and of course anywhere else Republic’s tentacles reach. Are we then to expect more work stoppages if, say, Republic gets into a labor dispute in Minneapolis, Denver or Seattle? I don’t know.

But the trash contract is up in less than two years and it may be time to consider a more local option next year.

The following missive was discovered in the FFFF In Box this morning. It may seem gratuitous to point out the hypocrisy of the Fuller Observer and the two Kennedy sisters who run it, but it good to seem others cotton on to the complete lack of journalistic ethics involved there.

In the realm of local journalism, consistency and fairness are paramount. Unfortunately, the Fullerton Observer, a poseur “newspaper” in Fullerton, has shown a glaring inconsistency in its coverage of recent development projects in the city – projects that ironically happen to be adjacent. This selective criticism proves the paper’s lack of objectivity and its fundamental inability to hold local government accountable.

A few years ago, the City of Fullerton entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with an individual who, remarkably, had no prior experience in the type of development planned – a “boutique” hotel. This agreement granted him exclusive rights to develop a 2-acre parcel of city-owned land adjacent to the train station. Despite the lack of experience and the complete lack of market demand for the proposed hotel, the Fullerton Observer remained silent. There was no critical analysis, no questioning of the city’s decision to entrust such a significant project to an inexperienced developer. The paper seemed content to report the facts without delving into the potential risks and implications for the city and its residents.

When the project was passed on to two individuals with a record of fraud and loan default, the Fullerton Observer ignored the glaring problem – even as the City prepared to up-zone the land and hand over title to the land before a development agreement was even reached. The project is now in limbo as all of the required milestones have been missed – but the land belongs to the conmen. Silence from the Observer

Fast forward to the present, and we see a stark contrast in the Fullerton Observer’s supposed civic concern. Currently, the Observer has stirred up opposition to a lease amendment at the citiy’s adjacent property, a historic train station listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is considering whether to include in the lease the area of only 1000 sq. ft. of its extended portion of it’s “loading dock” that’s been fenced off for nearly thirty five years with no access other than through the current tenant’s leasehold. The tenant of the station has made substantial improvements to the train station building, and has twenty two years remaining on its current lease if he exercises extension rights. However, the Observer has been highly critical of this proposed lease amendment, questioning the results of the City’s staff’s negotiations with the tenant.

The discrepancy in the Observer’s coverages is vivid. Why was there no scrutiny when an inexperienced developer made an unsolicited proposal and was given an exclusive agreement for a high-profile project? Why no scrutiny or criticism of how the deal and the land were handed over to a couple of con artists? Why is there such intense criticism now when a tenant with a proven track record is involved; a tenant who is incentivized to build out the loading dock into a tax-paying space; a tenant who is willing to double his monthly rent to the City? This double standard demonstrates that the Observer’s editorial stance is influenced by factors other than journalistic integrity.

It is crucial for local newspapers to maintain a consistent and critical stance when reporting on city developments. They have a responsibility to question decisions that may not be in the best interest of the community and to hold city officials accountable for their actions. The Fullerton Observer’s selective criticism undermines its credibility and raises concerns about its commitment to fair and unbiased reporting.

As residents of Fullerton, we deserve a real newspaper that provides balanced, critical, and thorough coverage of all development projects. It is time for the Fullerton Observer to reassess its editorial practices and ensure that its reporting is consistent, fair, and in the best interest of the community.

– A Friend of Fullerton’s Future

As a highlight, I’ve added a comment made by David Curlee on the Observer blog that eviscerates the idiotic post by poor Steve who is now left holding his own on a canal bridge. Fortunately, common sense still exists in Fullerton.

The Observer’s new action figure’s name is Steven Sherry who is on the Fullerton Transportation Commission and is also a Democrat political consultant of some sort; meaning he is on some politician’s payroll, or desperately want to be. He doesn’t seem to have ever held a job outside of political wheedling and and political campaign hackery.

Gee, I wonder who put this person on a city commission. Any guesses?

He is the author of a recent post in the Fullerton Observer attacking the proposed lease amendment at the City-owned Santa Fe Depot with Bushala Brothers, Inc. The lease would activate the long dormant east end of the loading dock and would get rent for a derelict structure that would be adaptively reused.

Steven Sherry is not happy about it. And spells out numerous reasons why. They are nothing but unfounded opinions, typical Observer innuendo, and of course, outright falsehoods. The title of his screed is “Opinion: Fullerton’s Train Station Could Be a Jewel—If We Stop Settling.” Settling. That’s funny, Steve.

Let’s review Steve’s complaints one by one.

WASTED POTENTIAL. Steve claims Tony Bushala has reneged on all sorts of (undocumented) promises from 1989 (3 years before the lease started) and comically lists things that aren’t and never were in the Bushala leasehold. He cites no sources for verification for his allegations, as usual. We do learn of a place called “Trevors” is in the SJC depot. Hooray.

AN UNNECESSARY MIDDLEMAN. Steve asserts that the City should build out the loading dock and rent it out itself, eliminating a “middleman.” But poor dumb Steve seems to be unaware that the City controlled portion of the dock is the eastern, skinny butt-end – a mere 1000 square feet. Without the Bushala leasehold portion that far end of the loading dock is completely useless. Plus, the City doesn’t have the money to build a birdhouse and has no facility for property management; but let’s not let facts get in the way of a political essay.

LEGAL JEOPARDY. A recurring Observer theme. Because Albert Bushala is suing the rest of the Bushala family the City could end up in…LEGAL JEOPARDY. Forget for a moment that the City is ALWAYS embroiled in legal jeopardy because of its own actions with no complaint from the Fullerton Observer, the issue is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the rent is paid on time. If it isn’t, the tenant gets evicted. Pretty simple unless you don’t know what you’re talking about.

DOUBLE DIPPING. Bushala Brothers were recently paid by the City for exterior plaster and interior renovation. Over $100,000 for what should be obligated maintenance under the lease! What Steve doesn’t share with his readers is that The Bushalas responded to a solicitation by the City itself to do this work, work the City obviously considered outside the scope of routine maintenance in the existing lease. Another contractor bid significantly higher to do this work. Gee, Steve wants an audit!

LACK OF REVENUE. Steve complains about the current low-rent. What Steve doesn’t know, maybe because it happened before he was born, the Bushalas put in hundreds of thousands of dollars into the initial historic preservation and rehabilitation – money the City didn’t have to fork over at all. Over the past 30 years this investment is worth many times more.

Steve wants the tenants to share the wealth! Kick back a percentage of revenue says Steve. But Steve doesn’t seem to grasp that the loading dock has produced $0 revenue for the City over the past 35 years and without this deal, never will; but with renovation that loading dock would generate sales and possessory interest tax revenue to the City and County of Orange. Steve cites the Summit House restaurant – a completely different type of agreement.

QUESTIONABLE TERMS. All terms are questionable once they’ve been questioned. And Steve is trying, gosh darn it. Then he steps on his own weenie by citing rising land values thanks to “The Tracks at Fullerton” a project that really is mired in the inability of its conmen Johnny Lu and Larry Liu to perform to the agreement, two grifters who were never “audited” by anybody in City Hall and whose multiple frauds, crimes and, massive loan defaults have never been mentioned once in the Fullerton Observer. Fortunately the odds of this monstrosity ever getting built are very long.

Poor Steven never bothers to explain what elements of his essay would make the Santa Fe Depot a “jewel” if it isn’t one already. He says the cafe is “downtrodden,” whatever that means to him. It might be news to the proprietor of the establishment.

And so Steve Sherry pops up to join the tender young sprout Elijah Manassero, in a desperate attempt to twist language and logic in an effort to defame the Bushalas, and doing it at the behest of somebody else.

Yesterday Sharon Kennedy published a post by tender young Elijah Manassero – Part 2 of what is supposed to be a damning legal revelation against the Bushala family. It’s really the wild product of an angry man-child against all of his relatives, but no matter. The point of the post is to try to make Tony and George Bushala look bad to Fullerton Boohoo, and at the same time call into question the upcoming lease agreement between Bushala Brothers, Inc. and the City of Fullerton at the Depot.

Sharon Kennedy telegraphed this intent by making the following comment on her own blog:

This is clearly supposed to be a talking point for the usual gaggle who loudly harass the City Council majority at every meeting over some silly grievance or other.

It’s funny how nobody evert hears from Fullerton Boohoo about the legal entanglements surrounding Mario Marovic’s stolen sidewalk or about the legal entanglements and bankruptcies that enveloped Johnny Lu and Larry Liu before the entitled land for the so-called boutique hotel/rabbit warren apartments was essentially gifted to the grifters. That would require intellectual and moral consistency, two qualities sorely missing from Fullerton Observers.

Well, the item is on the agenda for next Tuesday, so we can expect a vocal shrieking from the banshees Sharon Kennedy and her younger sister, Skakia intend to call out.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t point out (again) the secondary, perhaps primary purpose of the Kennedy Klan’s plan: to create fodder for next year’s campaign for County Supervisor, in which fresh young Elijah’s (alleged) boss, Connor Traut is running against Fullerton Boohoo Public Enemy #1 – Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung.

A couple of month ago a delicate young shoot named Elijah Manassero popped up on the Fullerton scene like a new flower nourished by a spring shower.

Who was he, and where did he come from? Who knew? He repeated all the talking points of the Fullerton Observer crew, for which he began writing “articles” under the guise of news. He posted comments on line. His themes were always the same: attacking the council majority and decrying the influence of Tony Bushala; particularly obsessed has he been with the Bushalas effort to lease the long-abandoned portion of the loading dock at the Santa Fe Depot.

Just yesterday I posted about Manassero’s ridiculous complaint to the FPPC regarding a perfectly legal campaign donation by George Bushala Jr. to Councilman Nick Dunlap. There may be others that haven’t surfaced yet. A couple days ago sweet Elijah published a story in the Observer about a lawsuit levied by a disgruntled son against everyone else in the entire Bushala family. It wasn’t newsworthy, but its purpose was to embarrass Tony Bushala by giving credence to the allegations in the lawsuit.

I got the feeling there was more to young Elijah than random concerned citizenry. I think I was right.

Sources are saying that fresh young Elijah is working for Connor Traut, the Buena Park carpetbagging councilman who is running for County Supervisor. How does attacking the Bushala family advance Traut’s goal? Easy. His only opponent so far is Fullerton’s mayor, Fred Jung.

Many people are starting to ask questions. Questions like: is the Fullerton Observer being used by Traut to create fodder for a political campaign against Jung? Are the Kennedy Sisters complicit in this or just brainless dupes? They certainly ran cover for Team Jaramillo by actively ignoring the Scott Markowitz perjury scam conspiracy, so we know they have no moral compunction against this sort of thing; and they have no professional or personal code of ethics to restrain them.

According to the Fullerton Boohoo narrative, Jung is a puppet of Tony Bushala’s, and every effort to tie them together in various nefarious schemes would be used in next year’s campaign. Will it work?

Previous efforts to attack Tony Bushala as part of a broader campaign have failed miserably, most notably in 2012. In that year’s recall the anti-recall efforts were focused on making Bushala look bad. They lost that election by 30 points.

Connor Traut may think this is a winning strategy but he is wasting his money if he is paying tender young Elijah anything. Angering the deep-pocketed Bushala clan is not a way to get yourself elected.

Our new acquaintance, a tender young fleur named Elijah Manassero is making something of a name for himself in Fullerton. And that name is “Somebody’s Lackey.”

So get this – apparently, the callow youth recently sent a complaint to the California Fair Political Practices Commission. The topic? He swore under oath that Fullerton Councilman Nick Dunlap violated the law by voting on something related to a donor – George Bushala Jr. – who had given Dunlap a $500 campaign contribution.

I don’t have the complaint, but I do have the FPPC response, here:

Oops!

No fire, no smoke, no smoking gun. Sweet Elijah apparently doesn’t know the law, yet proceeded to waste other people’s time, time seemingly more valuable than his own with a phony complaint. This harassment by the green young sprout is starting to get weird – there seems to be more to fresh Elijah than just a pop-up concerned citizen. A funny smell is emanating.

Anyhow, the law is clear. A contribution above $500 triggers the prohibition against voting on a contributor’s “license, permit, or other entitlement.” And Dunlap hasn’t done that, either. This is just a silly effort to harass Bushala and Dunlap. The set up? The upcoming Bushala lease at the Depot where Elijah has been nattering (falsely) about a giveaway to the Bushalas.

Now who would gain from that?

There’s something sad about an old woman who is slow-witted, vulgar, and mad.

Of course I’m talking about Vivian “Cannabis Kitty” Jaramillo, the woman who lost the election in Fullerton’s 4th District last year to Jamie Valencia, who happens to be smart, classy and good natured.

Jaramillo posted her take on the idiot Trail to Nowhere© that had a “groundbreaking” party last week.

Naturally, the bad sport has to take a shot at the “majority” that wanted to “obliterate” the ridiculous waste of money and it’s too bad they didn’t, like they should have. After all, the price tag to the City for this boondoggle exploded by 250% since the original grant application. Naturally, the ever-cultured Jaramillo made reference to them having a “hair up their butt,” giving us yet one more reason to be grateful that this uncouth harridan and her dope lobby supporters lost.

Well, according to Jaramillo, Egleth Nunnci led a charge, creating an unforgettable mental image.

But the most entertaining part of the the Jaramillo post was this picture of Ahmad Zahra, speechifying about the wonders of his pet project, a project that will die an orphan when it is shut down after a murder or two.

Zahra is a Noser, alright, as indicated by the graffiti behind him. Of the several definitions, the one that is preceded by the word “brown” seems really appropriate. And so for that, at least, we thank you Cannabis Kitty. Of course the irony of the rampant defacement of property along the railroad right-of-way escaped the attention of Jaramillo.

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

Yep. You read that right. As reported in the Voice of OC last month, DA Todd Spitzer and his former bad cop Shawn Nelson were popped for retaliating against Tracy Miller, one of the Deputy DAs. It seems that Spitzer hired his best bud Gary LoGalbo at the DAs shop who proceeded to sexually harass a bunch of women; Miller said she was targeted by Spitzer and Nelson for whistleblowing. This is the frat boy kind of garbage so common in the workplace.

A jury believed Ms. Miller and awarded her three million bucks. That’s a lot of scratch. And many other suits are till outstanding.

Shawn Nelson, Todd Spitzer, and Joe Sipowicz have one thing in common. None of us will have to pay a dime of that award. Nelson and Spitzer are protected by the typical indemnification that goes with public employment. And I live in Lincoln County, Nevada.

But OC residents will pay plenty. About a dollar for every person in the county; about $150,000 for very man woman and child in Fullerton. So Sorry.

For Spitzer the case is just another in a long line of employee related legal suits dating back his days as a County Supervisor. He’s been busted for racial profiling and recently lost a $2,000,000 case for retaliating against a DA investigator. Ouch. He’s costing OC a helluva lot more than he’s worth.

The equally morally egregious Nelson once a Fullerton Councilman, used to be a hardcore Spitzer enemy until he saw him as a was to become a judge – a long standing wet dream job. But he was never going to get it without help – an official job with the DAs office. So Nelson endorsed Spitzer over Rackauckas in 2018 and in return got the job as Spitzer’s in-house enforcer. He also got an undeserved job title (he was formerly a defense lawyer) and a free pass to a judgeship via an election against a nobody. The Bar Association described him as “unqualified.”

Spitzer’s response was a non-apology of the “I’m sorry my well-intentioned actions were misinterpreted” type. Nelson, as a judge didn’t have to say anything, hiding behind the “He can’t comment” as parroted by some court flunky to the media.

Well, this wasn’t exactly mail. It was a polemic that seems to have passed through a few hands before it ended up in our Boondoggle In Box. It’s about the notorious “Trail to Nowhere” project, set to break ground Wednesday. It is worth reproducing.

I have edited some of it for the sake of brevity, correct spelling and to protect the anonymity of the author whose permission to reproduce has not been given. The sentiments expressed are worth consideration and reinforce what FFFF writers have been saying all along.

As I watched the City Council meeting on tv recently regarding the Union Pacific Trail  it is becoming noticeable that these meetings are being hijacked by unhinged liberal women, young people from our city colleges, and non-English speaking women needing translators. It is clear that these individuals, many who are being groomed to create the “appearance” of a majority, are not tax paying homeowners. They are demanding that city leaders kowtow to their demands because they are the loudest voices in the room.  

It is unfortunate that Mr Dunlap chose to placate these individuals who had a disrespectful and inappropriate tone towards anyone who disagreed with them. It is appalling to see hundreds of thousands of city dollars, let alone a penny going towards such a ridiculous project as this, when there are so many other more serious issues. Drug dealers, drug addicts, homeless individuals, and criminals on bikes that come into our neighborhoods at night to steal and burglarize properties are the inhabitants of this property where they hang out at night. This is where you can see holes cut in the chain link fence at Independence Park, and many other locations where they leave their bags of possessions stuffed into the bushes. I liken this to Fullerton’s beloved Methadone Clinic that is next to the historic US Post office on Commonwealth that I had to visit when the Sunnycrest post office was temporarily closed. Meth addicts with tattoo tears next to their eyes hanging out at the post office blocking the stairs, and post office access causing fear as they jumped up and pretended to run after customers when they left. Why I have never been back to that post office.

The out and out lies about this being the perfect location for a nature trail is laughable yet disturbing. This location is as far as it gets from a peaceful nature locale. If you enjoy a “nature trail” with a jackhammer going off frequently, note that the BNSF Railway often hauls 60 to 150 cars each time they blow through the city. A person next to you talking are steps away from a roaring rail line – not a relaxing place for a conversation. These trains with up to 100 rail cars  are moving over 125 tons alongside proposed sections of this nature trail with families, and potentially children riding bikes. In addition, many speakers completely lied about this location being “lined with homes.” This location is flanked predominantly on both sides of the railroad with Williamson Ave. and Truslow  where there are solid tightly packed commercial/industrial/service businesses, and an extremely dense amount of the most filthy dirty auto repair businesses in Fullerton most notably on Williamson.

There are security cameras on all sides of Fullerton Ford. These cameras record the truly unbelievable crime taking place on Williamson and nefarious activities coming from the railroad area. Brazen organized crime gangs commit daring thefts at the tracks stealing hundreds of thousands of merchandise recently. A call was made to the Police Dept. of a crime in progress at the trains/rail line. This call to report a  crime was not reported to the “Call for Service” log that is on the Fullerton Police website. If there is a dead body, or crime in the area of the BNSF rail line, or significant organized crime moves the criminal activity onto the street that started at the rail  line, from what I understand these crimes may not be reported at the City Police Dept. When my husband first called, he was told by the police Dept. that these crimes near the rail line are under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff department!  When these crimes go unreported, this information then does not appear in the media. There are many mixed messages on this subject as the information changes depending on what officer you speak to. This creates a significant false sense of safety and security for the public at large, especially when a “nature trail” is built next to such a foul, unsafe environment. 

Last weekend we had to see with our own eyes the area of this proposed trail. As we drove and walked near these businesses along the rail line we noticed it was shockingly dirty, desolate, and trashy, with junk cars and refuse. More garbage, graffiti, empty bottles of alcohol and other disgusting items left on the other side of the fence at Independence Skateboard Park. I am curious if every City Council member walked the entire length of this proposed “nature trail?” Did they feel safe? Did they notice that this section of property along the BNSF Railway is one of the most decrepit, and disgusting areas of Fullerton? 

Our city is broke and we are now adding more long term maintenance costs. Those 176 trees and any bushes will be dead in no time. All sprinklers and water will be quickly abandoned (as in previous projects) and lighting will be broken and not maintained. The trash and garbage laying around our city right now can’t even be cleaned up! This walk along Williamson where there is a mattress, and refuse of all kinds that have been there for 9 months along with trash along the length of that street, at the end of cul de sacs and opposite side on Truslow is a constant. I am all for trees and landscaping, but the city has allowed miles of landscaping median shrubbery along Bastanchury and other areas to die. It was originally created as a “Scenic Corridor,” we now call Bastanchury a trash and weed corridor. Our city cannot maintain the parks we already have. This will be a rogue neglected area of crime that will go unreported because it lies on the BNSF railroad line. 

This sweet benign “perfect” location for this faux “nature” trail is a joke on the citizens of Fullerton. This project is like putting lipstick on a pig. I never use this phrase, but it fits this project perfectly. The public was fleeced by the screeching women at those meetings. The proposed renderings of the project are very misleading. Where I live – The Fullerton Observer is not the mouthpiece or moral majority for the City of  Fullerton.

I am sorry I was not at that meeting, I know this is too little too late.