Author: Roger Bloom

In December 2021, Casco Construction was awarded a contract to install, maintain and operate vehicle charging stations at the Great Park, despite the fact that two other firms had been recommended by City staff following a formal bid process.

More than a year after the contract with Casco was pushed through, City Manager Oliver Chi says the $2 million revenue promised by Casco has now been revised down to just 10% of that amount — if there is any revenue at all. And Irvine has actually lost jobs. The same month that Councilmember Kim was promising a boon in local jobs, Taiwan-based Noodoe was closing up shop in Irvine and moving its U.S. operations to Houston, laying off Irvine employees. It turns out that the chargers were never going to be manufactured here in Irvine, or even the U.S., but in Taiwan.
 

The Irvine City Council is poised to approve — in April — a massive land deal to acquire and remove the All American Asphalt plant in north Irvine. The 12-acre asphalt plant and hundreds of acres surrounding it will become part of a 700-acre open space preserve that has been dubbed the “Gateway Preserve.”

The key to the deal is the Irvine Company’s dedication to the City of nearly 500 acres of land surrounding the plant. The dedication includes 80 acres that the City will sell to residential developers to cover the cost of acquiring and dismantling the asphalt plant — and paying for the planning and establishment of the Gateway Preserve. Accordingly, the deal will not cost Irvine taxpayers anything.
 

Maybe they’ll call it the Tammy Kim Amphitheater.

Just one hour later, Kim reversed course — completely ignoring her original statement about wanting to support Irvine residents’ calls for a smaller venue — and voted for the larger plan.

For the fourth time in less than a year, an investigation of the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) has revealed severe management and transparency problems — and possible financial peril — triggering calls by State officials for the agency to quickly change its practices or face State action.

OCPA has not fulfilled its promises of cheaper green energy or investment in community energy-efficiency programs.
 

In the February 21st controversial City Council 3-to-2 vote for a large 14,000-seat amphitheater...