It’s Official: Construction of the Veterans Memorial Park & Gardens on the ARDA Site at the Great Park Has Begun!
After more than a decade of developer schemes, political battles, and ballot measures, the work of...
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Year: 2023
Poll Results: Irvine Residents Sound Off on OCPA
Last year, all Irvine electricity ratepayers were transferred from Southern California Edison (SCE) and automatically enrolled in the new Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) 100% renewable electricity plan at a significantly higher monthly rate than SCE charges its customers for the same 100% renewable electricity.
Since the forced enrollment last October, 30% of Irvine households have opted-out of OCPA. (The highest opt-out rate in the state!)
Even with the high opt-out rate, thousands and thousands of Irvine ratepayers don’t even know they have been forced into the more expensive OCPA plan. OCPA uses SCE to send out electricity bills so, unless you really study your bill, nothing appears to have changed … except the amount you are now paying for electricity.
Read our poll results to see what Irvine residents think about the City’s continued involvement in OCPA.
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City Council Passes E-Bike Ordinance
E-bike riders in Irvine will have to follow a speed limit of 28 miles per hour on streets and 20 miles per hour on bike paths.
Riders will also be required to travel with the flow of traffic on streets and sidewalks under a new ordinance approved by the City Council at its July 11th meeting.
In addition, the ordinance requires e-bikes to yield to all pedestrians and vehicles when entering a roadway from an alley or driveway; bans e-bikes from the City’s Open Space areas; and prohibits people from tinkering with their e-bikes to increase their speed capability.
The ordinance was recommended to the Council by the Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the City’s Transportation Commission, in response to the Council’s October 2022 request that an ordinance addressing e-bikes be drafted.
The Latest Developments Regarding OCPA
After four scathing audits, the OCPA Board of Directors fired the agency’s controversial CEO, Brian Probolsky — a longtime political consultant with no previous experience in the electricity field. However, even that action has resulted in controversy.
According to last week’s article in Voice of OC, the OCPA Board paid Probolsky “nearly four times the severance payout promised in his original contract in exchange not to speak about the agency.” Even though his contract only stipulated six months salary, which would have amounted to about $120,000, the Board paid Probolsky $450,000.
The Board then hired the agency’s former Communications Director, Joe Mosco, to serve as interim CEO, and approved a $750,000 six-month media campaign in an attempt to re-brand OCPA.
These two unusually large payouts come as Irvine electricity ratepayers continue to be charged higher monthly electricity rates by OCPA.
Irvine Schools Win Big at the National History Day 2023 Contest
After months of intensive research and success at district, county, and state-level competitions,...
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