by Dave Emerson

Connect the dots

May 23, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, Highlands Guy's Thursday Columns, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property) By: Dave Emerson

Christo Bardis

(5/23/2013, Los Alamitos/Cypress)  by Highlands Guy:  Over the last few months I have been trying to keep up with the news and comments on the Prologis/Cypress debacle. And it ain’t easy.

Not only are there a lot of articles to be digested, but one also has to try and root out the facts from the prejudicial, emotional rhetoric. A May 20 post on Orange County For Us (OC4Us.com)  noted a direct connection between Cypress City Councilman Doug Bailey and a gentleman by the name of Cristo Bardis.

The connection was directly tied to the Bardis family via political donations.  Specifically, the Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Weekly Local Media post: No on A: 4; Yes: 2

May 22, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, Cypress Mesaure A, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Local Media review & reporting, Your reporting and comments By: Dave Emerson

One of 3 lakes slated for destruction by Measure A.

One of 3 lakes slated for destruction by Measure A.

(Los Alamitos/Cypress, 5/22/2013)  It’s Wednesday, so it’s time for our weekly post where you get to report and comment on anything of local interest in any media.

One of our readers in Cypress was so excited about today’s News Enterprise that she unknowingly wrote my intro for this week’s column before I’d even my N-E.

Her e-mail arrived in my inbox early this morning:

Today’s News Enterprise (May 22, 2013)-

Front page : “Recording causes stir at meeting” … Chris Frost quotes a lot from Council Member Bailey in article, but also many other people, including Mayor Warren Kusumoto.

The Guest Column is titled: ”Bailey did disservice to all local residents” – great piece by Carol Biri.

Letters to the Editor: There are 4 of them; 3 are Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Carolyn Sylvia embarrasses herself at Council Meeting

May 21, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Cypress, Decency By: Dave Emerson

Council 3 28 prologis spec mtg(Los Alamitos, 5/21/2013)  Wow!

I finally got around to watching the tape, and was I ever shocked at Carolyn Sylvia’s remarks.

Frankly, she embarrassed herself.

And our community as well.

I’ve enjoyed pleasant conversations with both Sylvias, and worked with them both on various occasions.  They do have a good side.  Sadly, it did not seem to be on display Monday night.

First, she accused our Mayor of lying in saying that he advised Cypress Councilman Bailey that he was recording him. Based on her assumption that he wouldn’t have left if he was telling the truth. That’s random at best and libelous on it’s face.

So, because Bailey threw a hissy fit about Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Sylvias booed: Your reporting/comments on Monday’s 2 Los Al Council Meetings

May 20, 2013 in Decency, Your reporting and comments By: Dave Emerson

bigrigs(5/20/2013, Los Alamitos) Updated 11:30 pm:  The regular meeting was over in about 2 hours, but not before a very interesting Oral Communication time with several twists.  See the first comment below for details. 

Then add your comments, or your report on the regular agenda items of either of the two meetings.

(Click here for agenda of the 5 pm Budget Workshop, followed by agenda item detailed reports and attachments.)

Click here for agenda of the 6pm regular meeting, followed by agenda item detailed reports and attachments.

Click here for  the despicable hit pieces passed out in some Los Al neighborhoods,the subject of much discussion, as you’ll see in the comments below.  Please, be  Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Anti-Kusumoto hit piece hits Los Al

May 19, 2013 in City Council, Decency, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Weekend Wisdom By: Dave Emerson

(Los Alamitos, 5/19/2013)  They’re at it again.  An anonymous group of “concerned Los Alamitos residents” is smearing one of Los Alamitos’ finest elected officials with an expensive hit piece filled with half truths and distortions.

It’s time to set the record straight.

Then to figure out who’s behind this effort, which started a week ago at Cypress’ Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Potential

May 16, 2013 in City Council, Highlands Guy's Thursday Columns, Our Future, Our Priorities, Planning & Community Development By: Dave Emerson

(Los Alamitos, 5/16/2013) Our Thursday columnist hits the nail on the head once again!  by Highlands Guy: 

po•ten•tial:  adjective:

  1. Possible, as opposed to actual: the potential uses of nuclear energy.
  2. Capable of being or becoming: a potential danger to safety.
  3. Grammar . expressing possibility: the potential subjunctive in Latin; the potential use of can in I can go

I hate to say it, but Los Alamitos just isn’t there yet. By that I mean it has not yet reached its potential.

Think about it. With all its natural, cultural, and man-made resources it should be one of the best places to live in this little corner of the world.

At 33°48′8″N 118°3′52″W , it doesn’t get as hot as just little father in-land and it doesn’t suffer from the overcast days like the nearby coastal communities. The temperature rarely gets up to, or down to, any extreme number.

Coyote Creek keeps us safe from historical flooding. Freeway access in any directions is just a few of minutes away. Less than 5 miles to the sand. And although we’re in the middle of a concrete jungle, most neighborhoods are lined with trees.

First responders can be at your door within 5 minutes. The school experience is rewarding for students at the highest levels as well as those needing a little extra push. And we now have Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

N-E reveals conflict between LAUSD and youth sports over field fee increase

May 15, 2013 in 2013 Issues, City Budget, Local Media review & reporting, Parks and Recreation, Schools, Your reporting and comments By: Dave Emerson

(5/15/2013, Los Alamitos) (Weekly Wednesday local media reporting & comments post)  Three things caught my attention in today’s News Enterprise, and two of them related to a controversy that’s been brewing for several weeks, when our School Board announced their intent to dramatically raise the field use fees charged to local youth sports groups such as AYSO and Friday Night Lights.

The District’s Athletic Fields have deteriorated badly, and the district is dramatically raising use fees to finance renovation and upkeep to avoid deterioration this time around.  The groups that use the fields haven’t had their fees raised for ten years, according to super-volunteer  Pete Carvajal, who wrote an excellent Guest Column on the subject that appears on page 4 of today’s N-E.  Pete’s headed up volunteer proprams for both Rossmoor School, AYSO, and also chaired Los Al’s Parks & Rec Commission, so he probably has as balanced a perspective as anyone on this.  As usual, Pete is both  Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

ProLogis cuts truck bays, not square footage

May 14, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Traffic By: Dave Emerson

trucksx-large(Cypress/Los Alamitos, 5/14/2013)  ProLogis Senior V.P. Pat Maloney (rhymes with “baloney”) kicked off his “[Traffic] Jam on Katella Reunion Tour” with live appearances at Cypress City Council Meeting last night and Cypress Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast this morning.

The breakfast meeting was held at the “Marriott Residence Inn Cypress Los Alamitos,” which is both south and east of the 33 acres where ProLogis plans to erect three buildings so massive that 15 pro football fields  could be housed inside them!

I’m guessing Mr. Maloney might have spent the night at the Residence Inn rather than confront the morning rush hour gridlock on Katella his firm will be adding to if their proposed facilities are ever built.

At the  ”open house” ProLogis hosted two months ago I had a revealing discussion about trucking bays with Mr. Maloney.  Way back then he told me that ProLogis would be happy to replace truck bays with additional parking.

Pretty much a wash

However, Mahoney said the result would be pretty much a wash in terms of traffic impact:  Lots 

Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

Your reporting on 3 important meetings tonight (5/13/13) & ProLogis Tues. AM

May 13, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Commissions, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Planning & Community Development, Weekend Wisdom By: Dave Emerson

(Los Alamitos/Cypress, 5/13/2013)  Three big meetings tonight, the biggest in Cypress, two others in Los Al, all 3 in the Council Chambers,  Cypress on their cable, no tv for Los Al that I’m aware of.

ProLogis @ 8 am Tuesday, 5/14:

Also note that ProLogis 2 VPs will be presenting their perspective and probably their newest proposal at 7:30 am at 7:30 am at the Residence Inn by Marriott Cypress/Los Alamitos (4931 Katella Avenue),   Click here for details.

If you call today you can save $5.  I suspect if you arrive late and don’t eat but walk in discreetly with authority,you might be able to hear the meeting for free.  You can always tell them you’re reporting for a local blog–as long as you actually post what you hear in a comment below.  They can call me if they want to verify–I’ve got a conflicting duty in Costa Mesa.

On to tonight’s meetings:   Read the rest of this entry →

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by Dave Emerson

An overview of the Measure L and Measure A parcels

May 11, 2013 in Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Our Future, Planning & Community Development By: Dave Emerson

Prologis Project Building Layout cropped(Los Alamitos/Cypress, 5/11/2013) I finally located it!  And when I saw the big picture of  Measure L and Measure A’s land mapped out, I was shocked.

And, if you’ll read on a few more paragraphs, you can see with your own eyes exactly what’s going on.

By now most of us are familiar with the  33 acres last year’s Measure L rezoned, supposedly so a Senior’s community could be built between Cottonwood Church and the Marriott Inn.  That’s the parcel pictured  to the left, with ProLogis’ originally proposed Logistics Center squeezed between the church and the Marriott.

Many of us also know Measure A rezones almost 37 more acres of the old Golf Course, this time the “back nine” holes along Cerritos between Lexingotn and the Seacoast Grace Church .   But the location of the 11 acres of  Race Track land that Measure A would also rezone has been a bit of a mystery.

When you look at the picture below, a lot of things will become clear.  Maybe too clear:  Read the rest of this entry →

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