Thomas Gordon

Will Santa Ana Appoint a Developer to Planning Commission?

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 01/05/09

This evening, the Santa Ana City Council is set to appoint Mario Turner to the cities Planning Commission. Mr.Turner is Director of Development for Orange County at Agoura Hills-based Amcal Development which I wrote about in this earlier post.Why is this a problem you ask?Back in February 2008, the Santa Ana City Council placed Measure D onto the ballot and it promised to "reduce the power and influence of special interest and developers"Measure... read more »

Santa Ana's Wasteful Spending

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 01/05/09

The Santa Ana City Council is set to award a change order at this evenings meeting to a contractor doing rehabilitation on the Flower Street bridge over Santiago Creek.The contract was originally awarded to Noeti Corporation of Laguna Niguel at the agreed contract price of $ 464,400. But the contractor came back to the city before asking for an additional $ 112,440 and was awarded the change order by the Council.Now Noeti Corporation is back... read more »

Operation Homefront

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 01/04/09

With 2008 in the rearview mirror and 2009 looming large in front of us, isn't now the time to give a little to those who give so much?Operation Homefront is an organization that provides food and baby items, financial assistance, vehicle repairs, furniture and household items, and vehicle & home remodels for our wounded warriors.So add one more New Years resolution to your list and give a little not only to the troops,... read more »

Fee's Fi Fo Fum

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 12/18/08

Gas taxes, sales taxes and income taxes are all about to get a whole lot higher in the State of Taxifornia.   The next big idea from up North brings us $7.3 billion in cuts and $9.3 billion in new taxes/fees, including a 13-cent-per-gallon hike in gas taxes, a 0.75-cent increase in the state sales tax, a 9.9 percent surcharge on oil production in California, and a 2.5 percent income tax surcharge for each and every California... read more »

"I've abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system,"

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 12/17/08

Bush has generally talked a "free market" talk while walking a socialistic walk. He has federalized airport security. His prescription drug program was a massive increase in the welfare state. He's raised tariffs.He's supported farm subsidies.He has signed bills that promoted home ownership for risky buyers. No Child Left Behind has wrecked our school system's and expanded federal intervention in education.He's become the bailout King!When... read more »

Pending conflict on Santa Ana's Planning Commission??

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 12/15/08

Santa Ana City Council is planning to fill it's vacant Planning Commission seat this evening by appointing Mario Turner. This appointment concerns me on several levels.  First, Mr.Turner is Director of Development for Orange County at Agoura Hills-based Amcal Development according to press releases found on-line. That screams conflict in my opinion. But in addition to the potential conflict, Mr.Turner was appointed to Santa Ana's... read more »

Mayor Pro-Tem Carlos Bustamante?

By Thomas Anthony Gordon | 12/04/08

With the election of November 4th behind us, the Santa Ana Council meets on Tuesday, December 9th to swear in the victor's and choose a new Mayor Pro-Tem.Mayor Pro-Tem translated from the Latin is "for the time being"And in my humble opinion, it's time to give Carlos Bustamante the opportunity to lead the city into a new era of prosperity and growth.As Santa Ana's only elected Republican, Carlos Bustamante should insist on smaller... read more »