Franklin J. Lunding - Irvine Community News and Views

Endorsements: Larry Agran for Mayor & Scotty Hong for City Council

In the Nov. 3 election, ICNV endorses Mayor Larry Agran for re-election.

Agran’s visionary leadership was responsible for preserving 10,000 acres of open space; building thousands of affordable housing units; shutting down the City’s largest industrial polluter and replacing it with a new 700-acre Gateway Preserve; and establishing Irvine’s park system (ranked No. 1 in California).

For the first City Council election in District 6, ICNV endorses Scotty Hong.

In just the past few years, Hong has built an impressive record of accomplishment — including the successful implementation of the Irvine Urban Forest Master Plan, the expansion of the City’s free green transit shuttle bus system (Irvine CONNECT), and the City’s expanded solar rooftop and battery storage program.

Publisher’s Perspective: Councilmember Treseder’s Attacks on Local Democracy

Politicians often run for office promising transparency and a commitment to democratic principles. However, once in office, some elected officials ignore their campaign promises and act in ways that subvert rather than support their constituents.

Irvine City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder has become one of those politicians.

Treseder ran for Irvine City Council in 2022, promising “transparency and accountability.” She’s running for re-election this year, making those same promises. However, a review of her record shows that Councilmember Treseder has actively worked to deny Irvine voters their democratic right to weigh-in on critical matters.

Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday!

Independence Day, also called Fourth of July, is America’s annual celebration of nationhood.

The holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It’s a time to come together as Americans to honor our revolutionary history — and our military — through parades, concerts filled with patriotic music, and awe-inspiring fireworks.

Regardless of how you plan to spend the day, we urge our readers to take some time to reflect on the many sacrifices our brave men and women — both those in uniform as well as civilians — have made these past 250 years to keep our nation free.

Honoring Irvine’s Military History

If you are not familiar with Irvine’s rich military history, our City was home to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) for nearly six decades.

It was commissioned in 1943 during World War II and became the Center for Support Operations & Combat Readiness of Fleet Forces in the Pacific during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The air station was also home to thousands of military families.

MCAS was decommissioned in 1999. A few years later, the land was transferred to the City of Irvine, and is now home to our Great Park.

After more than a decade of tireless work by Mayor Larry Agran and thousands of Irvine residents, a Veterans Memorial Park & Gardens is being built at the Great Park to honor the history and legacy of the former air station.

Publisher’s Perspective: Three Councilmembers Spend Millions While Attacking City Staff for a Budget Overage

Irvine City Manager Sean Crumby recently reported that economic instability nationwide has led to rising costs locally. Those rising costs, coupled with new Council programs, have resulted in a projected $6 million budget overage.

Councilmembers Kathleen Treseder, James Mai, and William Go spent nearly an hour publicly attacking Mr. Crumby and City staff for the overage.

These are the same three Councilmembers who have kept us stuck in the costly Orange County Power Authority (OCPA). In the last four years — including projections through the end of calendar year 2026 — OCPA has cost our City government and Irvine’s electricity customers (both residents and businesses) nearly $100 million in overcharges.

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Author: Franklin J. Lunding

Endorsements: Larry Agran for Mayor & Scotty Hong for City Council

Publisher’s Perspective: Councilmember Treseder’s Attacks on Local Democracy

Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday!

Honoring Irvine’s Military History

Publisher’s Perspective: Three Councilmembers Spend Millions While Attacking City Staff for a Budget Overage

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