Wrapping Up and Around the Town

Well, it’s been a tumultuous campaign season and I know you are receiving a lot of mail and information to digest.  Let me cut through the malaise for you.  If I were guilty of any of the things being said about me, I would be in jail.  Statements such as Ponzi, using the money for my campaigns, misappropriating state funds…all criminal charges.  What is true is that I was sued in a civil case in 2009 and found innocent by my accusers and the court 10 years ago. 

I am a strong advocate for keeping the public safe and making sure that Orange County is one of the safest counties in the state and nation.  If that makes me “in the pocket” of law enforcement, then I am proud to wear that badge. If you are not safe you cannot live, work, play or send your kids to school. I don’t know about you, but when I call for help, I want someone to respond. OC Sheriffs and local police do just that. As Sacramento passes more “catch and release laws” we need to be sure we are providing our officers what they need to do the job we expect them to do.

So, I hope when you vote for your next County Supervisor, I will have your support.  I have tried to show differences between candidates, with regard to age, time in office and those all-important votes that will matter to Orange County. This is a big job, our office is in Santa Ana; the person you select will have to make a commitment to be there and to keep you informed on a variety of issues.  I make that commitment.  No one will work harder for you.

Around The Town

I began May with a precinct walk in Costa Mesa on the 1st where we canvassed the East side and found many concerned residents with young families.  Their focus was on safety, schools, and being sure they were the arbiters of their children’s healthcare. 

May 2nd I did an interview with Lisa Hart of This Day in Laguna Woods.  The interview is available on this link. https://youtu.be/CqszrZYHrIQ

May 5th I attended a Wake-up Newport Chamber event featuring our 5th District Supervisor, Lisa Bartlett on the State of the 5th District.  As usual in Newport Beach the focus was on the airport and noise and rumors of expansion.  Other issues such as Newport Harbor, homelessness and public safety were also discussed.

***

May 5th I also attended the State of the 5th District held at the Crown Valley Community Center in Laguna Niguel, and the focus on the Harbor, public safety, and the pandemic responses and results were discussed.

May 6th I attended the State of the City of San Clemente where the development issues, public safety acknowledging the good work of the OCSD and OCFA, and future transportation concerns were discussed. 

May 7th I participated in a precinct walk in Irvine which began at the Mike Ward Community Park.  MY turf was Turtle Rock, a beautiful community and one of the first in Irvine.  I did meet an older gentleman, very nicely attired and friendly, with dementia walking around and helped him navigate back home safely.  As more brain research comes forth, I am praying we can eliminate or at least arrest this debilitating mind disease.

May 7th that afternoon I also attended a meet-n-greet at a home in San Juan Capistrano where we enjoyed “Wine and Wisteria” as well as watched the Kentucky Derby.  What a race that was!

May 9th found me back in Newport Beach meeting with a local activist where we discussed parental rights with their children, with regard to school curriculum and mandatory COVID vaccines. I do oppose mandatory COVID vaccines.

May 10th I joined the San Juan Capistrano Chamber for a lunch at The Stand.  Fabulous food and choices, and of course I had to have their jumbo hot dog – something I seldom eat.  It was delicious and no heartburn afterward!

May 11th I attended Dana Point State of the City which really was amazing to see the progress we have made and will continue to make improving the downtown, Capistrano Beach Seaside Inn, the Harbor and financial stability.

May 14th I attended the E-bike safety class held at Dana Hills High School which featured the Mayor, and Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, the sponsor.  The CHP and Dana Point’s Deputy Sheriffs were on call and offered useful info and training for attendees.  We need more of these.

May 14th I also participated in a South OC precinct walk, and canvassed San Juan Capistrano with a new friend.

May 16th I participated in an early morning interview/debate held by Ed Steinfeld, on KX-FM radio talk show featured in Laguna Beach.

May 16th I attended and participated in the Ladera Ranch Civic Council’s candidate forum.  Well attended and informed citizens and the Civic Council Members were in attendance.  Questions with regard to their children, and of course the potential for self-governance of this 30,000 residential unincorporated area were discussed.

May 18th I attended a candidate interview, so to speak, a Reata Glenn, the new retirement community in Rancho Mission Viejo.  It was very well attended the audience asked some pointed questions about mental health and the progress on the Ortega Highway widening, e-bikes, and other topics. The facilities are fabulous and judging by the smiles of the people I met it seemed a great place to retire. 

May 19th I attended Newport Beach Mayor’s Dinner, extremely well-attended since the event had been cancelled for 2 years due to COVID.  Good news on the state of the city and there were 15 former Mayors in attendance.  Now, that is continuity!

May 20th I was honored to attend the Family Assistance Ministries Annual Gala (FAM) held at the Casino in San Clemente.  We were able to raise a lot of money for a very worthy cause and celebrate the many achievements of the non-profit, with regard to placing homeless people in permanent housing and actually working with many that may have mental illness or drug addiction. 

May 22nd I participate in another precinct walk in my home town, Dana Point.

May 24th I was honored to speak at my Alma Mater, UCI, to an upper division political science class.  The exchange in the Q & A was great, and I think we all left having a better understanding of the county, the politics and the student concerns.

May 25th I was honored to participate in the Newport Height Association Candidate forum, where I was pleased to introduce myself and explain my candidacy and agenda. Getting to know the residents and opinion makers of the area was valuable. This area is similar to Capo  Beach in that there is no formal HOA. Later speakers attended to speak on measure B – Elect a Mayor ballot initiative.

May 26th I attended the Newport Beach Chamber Mixer held at Bayside restaurant.  Over 100 attendees were present and ready for the Memorial Day weekend.

Which brings me to Memorial Day, Monday May 30th, where I attended the annual ceremony held by VFW 9934 and the City of Dana Point at Pines Park in Capistrano Beach, overlooking the Ocean. Fabulous ceremony and location to give thanks and remember those who sacrificed all for us. 

Around the Town

Well, Spring is officially around the corner, and the activities and celebrations are in full swing! Some of the functions I recently attended:

2-25-22

San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Installation

San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Installation and Awards Luncheon was as usual, a great celebration of the entrepreneurial and freedom-loving community of the southernmost city in Orange County. Happy to be back in person this year!

2-28-22

Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding

Las Vaqueras, a Women’s Riding Group, held our meeting at The Brew House in San Juan Capistrano, where plans for future events as well as an informative explanation of the Equine Virus, by Julie Ryan Johnson, DVM, that has our stables under lockdown to try to prevent the spread. Sound familiar? Let’s pray it works and we can get back out on the trails again. Watch the video above!

3-1-22

Newport Beach Town Hall

Hosted by Councilwomen Diane Dixon and Joy Brenner, I attended an informative Town Hall in Newport Beach where crime, homelessness and projects underway were discussed. Good info: Low crime but Bike Theft is on the rise (expensive e-bikes). Ways to prevent thieves: register with Project 529 (nationwide search), report the theft, lock your bike with a heavy-duty lock, and keep your garage doors shut.

3-5-22

Dana Point Festival of Whales

Dana Point Festival of Whales, a family-oriented, hometown event that features, kids, Veterans, active military service members and young aspiring service members, schools, bands, and of course HUGE balloon Whales, Sharks and the like. I was a guest of the VFW Post 9934.

3-5-22

South Coast Women's Federated

Candidates intro at the South Coast Republican Women’s Federated where we heard from a multitude of prospective officeholders, including yours truly!

3-5-22

Swallow's Parade Kick-Off

Kick-off to the Swallow Parade on March 12, 2022, is the El President Ball, with great people, great food great music and great dancing! Pictured with former Mayor, John Taylor and his wife Marianne, along with Ricardo and Rosa Beas, of Ricardo’s restaurant fame, and guests.

As always it’s a pleasure to be with great people and if you are having an upcoming event, please let me know and I will try to attend. Thanks for your continued support!

Diane

 

The Bright Side – It’s 2022!

Here’s hoping you had a blessed holiday season with family and friends. The past two years have been challenging for many. While we have much to deal with as a nation, lets all be thankful for the little blessings we experience each day: our families, good friends, our health, our beautiful environment, parks, beaches, our pets that bring us joy and make us laugh. Let’s also not take for granted the police and sheriffs that protect us locally, and those serving in the military that protect us abroad.

The Good News?

We report, you decide as 2021 was not a dull year:

Redistricting Chaos: With redistricting decided in Congress, and State Legislative districts, the Orange County Supervisors approved their new maps as well. The NEW District 5 lines that I hope to be representing in 2022, are quite different as the district excludes Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, and Lake Forest. The included communities are: Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, Las Flores (all unincorporated areas) plus the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and a small part of Irvine – between the 405 and the 73. View map of all districts here.

Trash Talk: Senate Bill 1383 requires that we now separate our trash even further from merely recycling and trash, and either compost food and green waste or place it separately in the “green” trash container, that if you haven’t received you will soon be receiving. The organics program in place in most cities exempted those housing units where there was either no space or no green waste currently due to HOA or private gardeners hauling the waste away. Many of these formerly exempted residences will be seeing the delivery of an organics cart or other method of complying with state law. So, if you’ve been getting plastic bags at the grocers you might want to change to those brown paper bags to have a way to stash your food waste when your “green or organic waste” can arrive. Plastic may not be placed in organic receptacles.

Housing, Land Use and Local Control: More housing is a good thing as there is a shortage of housing stock for sale and for rent. However, when and where housing is required may be controversial. We saw many bills passed in the legislature with regard to housing, affordable and non specifically, SB 9 and SB 10  which create more “vertical” and multifamily units in communities and required new approved land use plans for cities. The good part is we should add more housing, quicker. However, traffic considerations, water and power solutions often lag in their remedies. And of course, if you are in a single-family neighborhood, you may find lot splits and additional units approved next door, greatly changing the neighborhood dynamic, that your city council may have no ability to deny. Local land use is definitely under attack and you may see ballot initiatives in 2022 to try to steer some of the authority away from Sacramento and back to city councils.

Our Self-Help County:

With the passing of the federal Infrastructure bill you may see more funding for local projects such as sand replenishment in San Clemente, as well as for water and roadway projects (it would also be nice to see some effort the clear the LA/Long Beach Harbor and unload Cargo ships).

But here in Orange County there is a lot going on with OC Transportation this year that has LITTLE to do with the recently passed infrastructure bill: Connecting the 241 with Los Patrones Parkway, eliminating the traffic jam by creating a fly-over between the 241 with the 91 (in design phase), widening of the 5 from Mission Viejo to El Toro, and 5 more bridges in the Westminster and Huntington Beach area of the 405. And let’s not forget the additional lanes on the 405 from Costa Mesa to Seal Beach – one free and one tolled express lane in each direction. Expect some disruptions but much better service in the not-too-distant future. Your tax dollars are at work for the improvements we need, that makes Orange County a great place to live, work and play.

Our “Booming” Economy:

If you own a home you may feel great about the increase in value over the past years. If you are looking for a rental or another home to buy – not so much. Inflation is now at a at a 39 year high at 6.8% and we all feel the pain in the pocketbook at the market, at the pump and in higher heating and electricity bills. With goods languishing offshore on cargo ships, unable to dock and deliver in the LA and Long Beach Harbors, federal stimulus and extremely high federal deficits and debt with perhaps more spending of “free money” on the way, increasing dependence on foreign oil to run our industries and vehicles, and a very tight labor market (meaning all industries are having trouble attracting employees and even paying interview bonuses for those who at least show up to interview) something has to give, as stock and asset prices cannot continue to skyrocket.

Part of the remedy seems to be the Fed’s decision to pull back on bond buying, or taking money out of the financial system, and increasing interest rates. While concentrating on getting people back to work, as the feds’ goal is to keep inflation low and employment high, the inflation equation seems to be more than transitory and highly related to government policies.

In Closing – COVID and beyond:

With COVID on the rise, and cold and flu season upon us don’t be afraid, get help and early medications if you need them.

If you need COVID tests and you live in Orange County go to: https://ochealthinfo.com/covidtest to place you order for pick up and/or home delivery.

If you want a vaccine or booster go to:
https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-channels or simply google for a pharmacy location near you.

With the new upsurge in COVID cases, we need to remain vigilant, focus on the at-risk, allow our children to live normal lives, and demand that medical and government leaders provide early intervention for COVID as we have other serious and deadly diseases. Vaccines and boosters cannot be the only answer as vaccinated and “boosted” are also becoming ill.

So, as we continue to see an uptick in infections as the virus mutates and cold and flu season are upon us, please don’t give up freedom for the illusion of safety but use your freedoms to provide solutions and safety. We have a lot of freedoms that we take for granted because we’ve never known life without them. But as we move into 2022 we cannot ignore how quickly they have been eradicated in other countries around the world.

As your County Supervisor, I will advocate for increasing out-of-the-box thinking with regard to health, both physical and mental. We can do this because we are free to think, create and share ideas and provide funding to make life better for all.

Thank you for your continued support.