Barrett-Jackson A Success
AUCTION WEEK A ROUSING SUCCESS
S
o, from all accounts so far, the Barrett-Jackson event was a rousing success. No, I did not attend - too many other things on my plate over the past few days - but I did sneak a peek at the television coverage of the auction from time to time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wow! There were some spectacular cars on the block. If, as has been speculated, the sales generated around $20 million, that could mean a healthy infusion of sales tax dollars for our city at a time when we really need it.
MICKADEIT'S TAKE ON IT
Register columnist Frank Mickadeit wrote an interesting column about the auction, HERE. Unfortunately, the headline writers created a minor stir with their interesting choice of lingo, which was later modified to it's current form. Seems the phrase "B-J" isn't universally recognized as a contraction for "Barrett-Jackson", but rather a contemporary coarse reference... I'll leave it to you to figure it out. It did generate lots of hits on the column, though.
TRACTOR BRINGS $25,000
One of the highlights of the auction was the tractor made available by the folks at Facilities Management West. That old John Deere drew a winning bid of $25,000 from, according to the Daily Pilot article HERE, a gent from Orange Park Acres named Matt Tachdjian. Tachdjian apparently owns a couple of Honda dealerships in southern California. As mentioned in my previous post, the entire proceeds will go to the Centennial Farm Foundation.
ROEDER AS "FARMER JOHN"?
I especially liked this photo of the tractor being driven by Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder... can you envision Roeder in coveralls, plowing the south 40? Nah, neither can I.
FOLKS STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE SALE
The pendin
g sale of the Fairgrounds to the City and subsequent land lease to Facilities Management West have more than a few folks unhappy. Of special interest may be a posting over at the Pacific Progressive blog, HERE.
PROCESS CONTINUES - HOPEFULLY
As I understand it, the City and FMW are still hammering out the final details and the State is proceeding with it's part of this process, including the legislation necessary to actually facilitate the sale. No more recent word from the Latino Caucus in the past couple days. We continue to hope that they will set aside their squabble with our lamebrain mayor, Allan Mansoor, and do what is right for the City, the County of Orange and the State - sign the legislation so the sale can move forward. We'll see...
S
o, from all accounts so far, the Barrett-Jackson event was a rousing success. No, I did not attend - too many other things on my plate over the past few days - but I did sneak a peek at the television coverage of the auction from time to time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wow! There were some spectacular cars on the block. If, as has been speculated, the sales generated around $20 million, that could mean a healthy infusion of sales tax dollars for our city at a time when we really need it.MICKADEIT'S TAKE ON IT
Register columnist Frank Mickadeit wrote an interesting column about the auction, HERE. Unfortunately, the headline writers created a minor stir with their interesting choice of lingo, which was later modified to it's current form. Seems the phrase "B-J" isn't universally recognized as a contraction for "Barrett-Jackson", but rather a contemporary coarse reference... I'll leave it to you to figure it out. It did generate lots of hits on the column, though.
TRACTOR BRINGS $25,000
One of the highlights of the auction was the tractor made available by the folks at Facilities Management West. That old John Deere drew a winning bid of $25,000 from, according to the Daily Pilot article HERE, a gent from Orange Park Acres named Matt Tachdjian. Tachdjian apparently owns a couple of Honda dealerships in southern California. As mentioned in my previous post, the entire proceeds will go to the Centennial Farm Foundation.
ROEDER AS "FARMER JOHN"?
I especially liked this photo of the tractor being driven by Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder... can you envision Roeder in coveralls, plowing the south 40? Nah, neither can I.
FOLKS STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE SALE
The pendin
g sale of the Fairgrounds to the City and subsequent land lease to Facilities Management West have more than a few folks unhappy. Of special interest may be a posting over at the Pacific Progressive blog, HERE.PROCESS CONTINUES - HOPEFULLY
As I understand it, the City and FMW are still hammering out the final details and the State is proceeding with it's part of this process, including the legislation necessary to actually facilitate the sale. No more recent word from the Latino Caucus in the past couple days. We continue to hope that they will set aside their squabble with our lamebrain mayor, Allan Mansoor, and do what is right for the City, the County of Orange and the State - sign the legislation so the sale can move forward. We'll see...
Labels: Barrett-Jackson, Facilities Management West, Fairgrounds Sale, Frank Mickadeit
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 6/29/2010 12:26:00 AM
3 Comments:
It should be obvious by now that those 50,000 petitions were BOGUS.
Not a single signer has complained about the loss of their fairgrounds. Not even Sandy Genis.
All the city has done is lease the property to developers for 55 years. When this lease expires, they will lease it for another 55 years.
When will Orange County ever be able to enjoy those fairgrounds again? The fairgoers and taxpayers really got screwed on this deal.
Costa Mesa's general fund will now be sufficiently pumped up to allow for more bloated city salaries, pensions and excess employees.
Roeder has certainly overstayed his welcome!
Gail,
It should be obvious by now that your sour grapes knows no bounds!
So far, nobody's "lost their fairgrounds". Are you paying attention? The deal assures that there will be a Fair at this site for the term of the lease - longer than we both will be around to confirm it.
If this deal had failed - and it still could be quashed - it would be entirely possible for the State to simply lease the property to a vendor to do with it what he chooses without the restrictions guaranteed by Measure "C".
Assuming this deal is consummated, there WILL be a fair next year, there WILL be equestrian activities on the site, the Centennial Farm WILL continue to provide it's wonderful activities for our kids, etc.
That income from the deal - $750,000 per year for the first 5 years - will hardly be a windfall for the city, although it could save a few jobs, for sure.
And, your opinion of Roeder is yours - and it's hogwash! Without his steady hand at the helm of Costa Mesa it would have gone over the falls long ago.
You certainly do sound like a disgruntled Fairgrounds employee, worried about your job.
Actually Geoff, one point of clarification about the equestrian center. Since there is no "community programming" currently at the equestrian center, only commercial activities, there is no guarantee of equestrian activities in the MOU.
Post a Comment
<< Home