Stop The Fairgrounds Sale - Let's Roll!

I'M BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
After getting out of town for a few days the end of last week to help flush the depression about the current state of affairs regarding the sale of the Orange County Fair and Events Center - see previous post - I returned to find a few responses to my request for a pep talk. I do appreciate those who communicated with me, trying to get me back thinking positively about the chances of the sale being canceled.


GOOD ADVICE FROM A FRIEND
For example, one person whom I hold in very high regard dropped me a little note of encouragement and reminded me of the following:

• Baseball games are not decided in the 7^th inning just because one team is ahead.
• Because diligence is ultimately, always rewarded
• Big money doesn’t always determine victory
• It’s seldom as it appears

He went on to say, "There are many more rounds left in this fight and one of the reasons I like our chances are because people in this community simply don’t give up. "

UNITED VOICES - KILL THE SALE!
Well, I can't argue with him about that. This battle - and that's what it has become - has united diverse constituencies in our community with one common goal - to kill off the sale of the Fairgrounds. In my years of watching local politics I can recall no issue that has done so to such an extent.

COUNCIL TO VOTE ON GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
Tuesday, February 2nd, the Costa Mesa City Council will consider the General Plan amendment that will codify the designation of the Fairgrounds property as Institutional and Recreational, and will further specifically identify prohibited uses that might otherwise fall into that category.

BALLOT MEASURE TO CONSIDER, TOO
The staff report also indicates that the City Attorney will present separately a measure to appear on the June, 2010 ballot that will lock this General Plan amendment into place and any change to it will require another vote of the people. I didn't find that item on the agenda, though.

FAIR BOARD POSTPONES MEETING
The 32nd Agriculture District Board (Fair Board) has postponed it's scheduled meeting from the 2nd until February 9th. The sole item in the open session of the meeting will be their response to the sale of the Fairgrounds. There is a closed session item listed that addresses potential litigation. We find ourselves wondering if it has anything to do with the Fairgrounds sale and the suspicious circumstances around the Board's role in getting the property put on the block in the first place.

WRITE TO THE GOVERNOR - AGAIN AND AGAIN
So, it's up to us to continue to communicate with Governor Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento, urging him to please kill the sale of the Fairgrounds. Remind him that the Fair and other events have been held at it's current location for more than a half-century and that by permitting the sale to go through he places in jeopardy the jobs of thousands of business owners and their employees who use the Fairgrounds as their marketing venue. Remind him of the potential loss of sales tax dollars and the probability of placing even more Orange County residents into the unemployment lines.

A STAIN ON HIS LEGACY
Remind the governor that, by permitting the sale to be consummated, he will place an indelible stain on his legacy and his image as the elected leader of this great state. Remind him that the winning bid is not even a drop in the ocean of debt the State is currently trying to resolve. Remind him that we are not in the organ transplant business - that Orange County residents don't want to see it's heart sold, and certainly not so cheaply.


NO FAT LADY SINGING YET
We must not give up this fight until the proverbial "fat lady" has sung. Last week I thought I heard her tuning up, but she's quieted down now.

KEEP FIGHTING!
So, as my friend so clearly stated, "...the people in this community simply don't give up." Keep on fighting, my friends. This battle is not lost yet...



VERN NELSON'S "TAINTED SALE"

STOP THE SALE OF THE FAIRGROUNDS!

OK, folks, now's the time for ACTION!

COSTA MESA LEADERS GAVE IT A GOOD SHOT
The Costa Mesa City Council and staff have given it their best shot. They've made two trips to Sacramento, meeting first with the General Services Department, then last Monday, with Governor Schwarzenegger, to have the sale of the Orange County Fair and Events Center quashed. No luck... Katrina Foley will return to Sacramento again next week to speak in favor of Jose Solorio's AB 1590, to cancel the sale.

BIDS ARE DUE FRIDAY
In the meantime, the clock keeps on ticking... On Friday, January 8th, all bids are due to be submitted to The State. They will be opened on January 14th and the auction to obtain the highest bid will commence.

FAX OR CALL NOW
It's time for each of us to ramp up our efforts on this issue and communicate directly with the governor, requesting him to exercise his power to stop the sale. The best way to do that is by fax to the following number: 916-558-3160. If you choose to call, use: 916-445-2841.

I SENT MY LETTER - TIME FOR YOURS IS NOW
Tonight I sent my letter to the governor, thanking him for taking the time to meet with our leaders on Monday and respectfully requesting him to seriously consider using his authority as the governor to stop the sale of The Fairgrounds. I reminded him of the value of The Fairgrounds to our community and Orange County. I reminded him that it operates with a profit, requiring no state funds to keep it afloat. I reminded him of the overwhelming support being expressed by most Orange County cities and other elected bodies to stop the sale. I also reminded him that the zoning restrictions being placed on that site by the City of Costa Mesa will make it an undesirable location for any serious developer.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!
It's time to let the governor know how you feel. Fax him or call him now. This may be the last chance you have to keep The Fairgrounds from being sold.

Register Reports On Meeting With Governor

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR NOT ENCOURAGING
Reporter Brian Joseph gives us his take on the meeting this morning by Costa Mesa officials and the governor on the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds. You can read his complete story HERE.

OUR LEADERS NOT OPTIMISTIC
Several quotes jumped out at me. For example, he quotes Katrina Foley as saying, "He said they would debate it internally." Allan Mansoor said, "I'm not optimistic that it'll be called off". City Manager Allan Roeder is quoted as saying, "I would say without question it is the most important matter, not only at present, but that has come before our community in many, many, many years."

LEECE SHUT OUT
Besides the fact that our emissaries got luke warm treatment from the governor, I thought it was particularly interesting that he and his staff decided at the last minute to permit only two council members plus City Manager Allan Roeder to attend the meeting. That, apparently, left Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece out in the cold. And, I suppose, that meant it was not actually an official "council meeting", since there was not a majority present.


AB1590 OUR LAST HOPE
This means that we must now turn up the steam on the efforts to get Jose Solorio's ballot measure passed. I suspect Vern Nelson over on the Orange Juice Blog will ramp up his efforts to contact members of the California legislature to push for the passage of AB1590.

GET MOVIN'...
Time's a wastin', folks... This could all be over in less than two weeks when the bids submitted to the state are opened.

January Weirdness

JANUARY HAS BEEN WEIRD...
January seems to be a month full of strangeness for the Costa Mesa City Council. You will recall, for example, that the whole Benito Acosta affair took place during the first meeting of January four years ago. The lawsuits as a result of that event were finally resolved last month.



DOUBLE YOUR FUN
This month the first two business days of the year will involve two separate City Council meetings.

SPECIAL MEETING IN SACRAMENTO ON FAIRGROUNDS SALE
The first, on Monday, January 4th, will take place in Sacramento at 11:15 a.m. in the Governor's Cabinet Room in the State Capitol Building. "What", you ask, "is going on here?" Well, because a majority of the city council - Mayor Allan Mansoor, Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece and Councilwoman Katrina Foley - will be present at the meeting with the governor, it is necessary for it to be an "official" council meeting or risk violation the Brown Act.

CONVINCING ARNOLD TO "JUST SAY NO SALE"
The purpose of this meeting, which will be attended by City Manager Allan Roeder too, is to try to convince the governor to cancel the sale of the Orange County Fair and Events Center, preferably before the bids are opened on January 14th. Our municipal team has approximately 30 minutes to convince the governor that virtually no one in Orange County want the Fairgrounds sold.

ANTICIPATING NEWS...
I don't know their plan, except that each of the council members will be participating. And, I don't expect to hear much until the next day, when the whole council convenes for it's regularly scheduled meeting on the 5th. If any of you loyal readers plan to attend Monday's meeting in Sacramento, please give me a shout when it's over to let me know how things went.

TUESDAY'S MEETING SHOULD BE SHORT
The second meeting, on Tuesday, looks pretty tame and probably will last less than an hour - unless there is a lengthy report on the Monday meeting.

STARTING OFF WITH A BANG!
So, off we go into a new year with one of the biggest issues of the past decade staring us squarely in the face. Let's hope our elected leaders are up to the task of convincing the governor that selling the Fairgrounds is a bad idea. More news when it's available.