OC Blog News Roundup - June 1, 2008
Posted by: Jonathan Constantine | 06/01/2008 5:05 PM
Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:In Orange County election races, primaries pose the real fight for Republicans (LAT)
Come fall, most of the county's Democratic candidates are expected to lose. So Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu and Assemblywoman Mimi Walters are duking it out now to secure their party's backing.
PR campaign launched to find O.C. voice of al Qaeda (OCR)
Federal authorities are trying to spread word of $1 million reward for information on Adam Gadahn.
O.C. Fair ticket policy under review (LAT)
Despite state warning, thousands have been given away by board.
Great white shark spotted by charter boat 2 miles off Doheny State Beach (OCR)
A great white shark was captured off Huntington Beach and held in captivity by the Monterey AquariumA great white shark was spotted two miles offshore near Doheny State Beach today by a whale watching charter boat.
Consumers say O.C. is in a "water crisis" (OCR)
fountain.jpgOrange County is experiencing a "water crisis," but residents aren't willing to pay higher rates to ensure that the region has reliable access to water, says a new survey commissioned by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC).
TALES FROM THE FRONT: Serving with a straight face (DP)
Naval officer who dealt with equipment failures, top-down politics and bias says he was given the boot for not 'snitching.'
Driver arrested after early morning crash (DP)
Five men speeding down Harbor Boulevard flipped their car on its roof early this morning in an accident that police suspect might have been caused by drunk driving.
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
New on the Irvine Tattler ... The Measure H special election is tomorrow, June 3.
The Irvine Tattler reports that councilman Sukhee Kang is connected with the recent smear mailer sent by the "Yes on Measure H" committee that falsely accused councilwoman Christina Shea of being a lobbyist. Our research has shown that Kang took $1,749 in 2007 from lobbyists registered with the City of Irvine, lobbyists who represent the biggest developers in the city.
One of those developers, Maguire Properties, made contributions totalling $120,000 to a slush fund that paid for 2006 mailers promoting Kang while smearing Shea. Kang later voted in closed session with Mayor Beth Krom and Councilman Larry Agran to approve Maguire's development agreement amendment.
Shea and Councilman Steven Choi refused to participate in what they viewed as an illegal vote, and walked out of the closed session. Two prominent Irvine residents -- former Councilman Greg Smith and retired police lieutenant Pat Rodgers -- have filed suit alleging the vote was illegal.
You can read more about Kang's connections to lobbyists and developers at:
http://www.irvinetattler.com/ethics/election7.aspx
Thank you for your continued interest in the Irvine Tattler. Please tell your Irvine friends and neighbors about the web site.
From the OC Register, Dec 13, 2005 -- "But Councilwoman Christina Shea sees the proposed ordinance as an attempt to run her out of office. ***She works part-time helping individuals and companies connect with government agencies. Shea has said she will recuse herself from any council vote that involves a client, but that hasn't happened yet because she has steered clear of clients trying to do business with the city, she said.***
Sounds like a lobbyist to me, especially when the words come right outof her mouth in a direct quote. So much for the "fasley accuse Shea of being a lobbyist." She admits it.