Fairgrounds Intrigue & My Pal's Birthday
What's going on over at the Fairgrounds?
INTERESTING AGENDA ITEM
Lat
e yesterday I got a heads-up that the Fair Board, at it's meeting Monday morning at 10 a.m., will consider Item #8. A. "Review and Approve Revenue Sharing Proposal between the 32nd DAA and the State of California."
NO STAFF REPORT AVAILABLE
Since no staff report is available on this subject, it's difficult to tell exactly what the Board is up to - no surprise there - but it certainly looks like the same issue that the State refused to consider several months ago, when it agreed to enter into exclusive negotiations with the City of Costa Mesa for the purchase of the Fairgrounds. At the time the Fair Board and management were ticked off that the State wouldn't hear their proposal. NOTE: Just got off the phone with Steve Beazley at 11:15 a.m. He promises a staff report on this issue will be available for viewing Saturday, tomorrow. He confirmed that this is exactly the same issue they placed on their agenda in April, but that the Governor asked to be pulled at that time.
WHY NOW?
While the Fair Board is not known for it's openness and transparency as it conducts business, the timing of the consideration of this issue now seems curious. Because at least a couple members of the Fair Board are very well-connected in Sacramento - that's probably the biggest understatement you'll ever see on this site - one might suspect that some inside info
rmation about the future of the deal being hammered out by Costa Mesa has led the Fair Board to re-visit this issue at this time.
WHAT DO THEY KNOW?
For example, I wonder if they have received insider information that the legislature will not pass the required bill to facilitate the sale of the Fairgrounds to The City? If so, from whom? The legislature goes on a summer break next week for a month, which leaves us all waiting a long, long time for that proverbial "other shoe" to drop.
HUMMING THE JEOPARDY! THEME, WAITING...
I tried to contact Fairgrounds CEO Steve Beazley about this a few minutes ago, but reached only his voice mail. The folks in Media Relations at the Fairgrounds were no help, either. So, until we have a chance to view a staff report and/or hear back from someone in authority at the Fairgrounds, we are left to speculate... I'll report back if and when I hear more.
***
LARRY MOORE'S BIRTHDAY
Today would be my buddy Larry Moore's 69th birthday. Regular readers here know the story of our relationship - best friends for 57 years - and the tragic circumstances of his passing. I've written about it here and elsewhere since he died more than six years ago.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMIGO
Today, rather than re-hash all the pain of his passing, I'll simply wish my friend a Happy Birthday, knowing that he's looking down on us from a better place. If you wish to re-read some of the things I've written about him and our life together in the past you can do so HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
DO IT NOW
I leave with the reminder that you need to tell those you love how you feel NOW - don't wait. You never know what is around the next bend in the road.
INTERESTING AGENDA ITEM
Lat
e yesterday I got a heads-up that the Fair Board, at it's meeting Monday morning at 10 a.m., will consider Item #8. A. "Review and Approve Revenue Sharing Proposal between the 32nd DAA and the State of California."NO STAFF REPORT AVAILABLE
Since no staff report is available on this subject, it's difficult to tell exactly what the Board is up to - no surprise there - but it certainly looks like the same issue that the State refused to consider several months ago, when it agreed to enter into exclusive negotiations with the City of Costa Mesa for the purchase of the Fairgrounds. At the time the Fair Board and management were ticked off that the State wouldn't hear their proposal. NOTE: Just got off the phone with Steve Beazley at 11:15 a.m. He promises a staff report on this issue will be available for viewing Saturday, tomorrow. He confirmed that this is exactly the same issue they placed on their agenda in April, but that the Governor asked to be pulled at that time.
WHY NOW?
While the Fair Board is not known for it's openness and transparency as it conducts business, the timing of the consideration of this issue now seems curious. Because at least a couple members of the Fair Board are very well-connected in Sacramento - that's probably the biggest understatement you'll ever see on this site - one might suspect that some inside info
rmation about the future of the deal being hammered out by Costa Mesa has led the Fair Board to re-visit this issue at this time.WHAT DO THEY KNOW?
For example, I wonder if they have received insider information that the legislature will not pass the required bill to facilitate the sale of the Fairgrounds to The City? If so, from whom? The legislature goes on a summer break next week for a month, which leaves us all waiting a long, long time for that proverbial "other shoe" to drop.
HUMMING THE JEOPARDY! THEME, WAITING...
I tried to contact Fairgrounds CEO Steve Beazley about this a few minutes ago, but reached only his voice mail. The folks in Media Relations at the Fairgrounds were no help, either. So, until we have a chance to view a staff report and/or hear back from someone in authority at the Fairgrounds, we are left to speculate... I'll report back if and when I hear more.
***
LARRY MOORE'S BIRTHDAY
Today would be my buddy Larry Moore's 69th birthday. Regular readers here know the story of our relationship - best friends for 57 years - and the tragic circumstances of his passing. I've written about it here and elsewhere since he died more than six years ago.HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMIGO
Today, rather than re-hash all the pain of his passing, I'll simply wish my friend a Happy Birthday, knowing that he's looking down on us from a better place. If you wish to re-read some of the things I've written about him and our life together in the past you can do so HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
DO IT NOW
I leave with the reminder that you need to tell those you love how you feel NOW - don't wait. You never know what is around the next bend in the road.
Labels: Fairgrounds, Larry Moore, Steve Beazley
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 7/30/2010 09:53:00 AM
2 Comments:
So I went to the Fair on Wed. - little did I know it would be a record-breaking attendance day. That said, between getting in to park, and getting into the fair itself, and navigating the entire place - I think some people are right that the Fair has outgrown the Fairgrounds. Place was absolutely packed. I could see it moving to 'The Great Park,' but what on earth could they build there that wouldn't be a traffic nightmare? I understand the tradition and all as a 40+ year resident of CM, but it's gotten a bit too big.
According to Beazley, they are cautiously optimistic that this may be a record year for attendance a the fair. I think the Emperor Agran could carve out a couple hundred acres for the Fair and contiguous amenities (amphitheater, etc.) with very little trouble AND it would finally add credibility to that venture. I AM NOT suggesting that, just observing...
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