Voting Resources for Irvine Residents
So you’ve gotten your ballot for the big election in the mail. Now what? There are several ways to...
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Author: Roger Bloom
Council Rejects Airport Commission’s Warning: Moves Forward on 4-1 Vote with Plan to Build 15,000 Housing Units in the IBC
On October 8th, the Irvine City Council voted 4-1 (with Vice Mayor Larry Agran voting NO) to move forward with a plan to add some 15,000 housing units in the Irvine Business Complex (IBC), next to John Wayne Airport.
In doing so, the Council majority ignored safety & noise warnings from the state’s Airport Land Use Commission.
Irvine was directed by the state to increase its affordable housing stock.
An amendment to the City’s General Plan to implement the state mandate by building up to 57,656 units passed the City Council back in August on another 4-1 vote, with Larry Agran voting against it.
Final List of Candidates Running for Irvine Mayor & Council
The candidate field is set and the races are on for Irvine Mayor and for four City Council seats...
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Councilmembers Kim & Treseder Refuse to Support a Pay Raise for Irvine’s Lowest Paid Workers
A profoundly dishonest political stunt by Councilmember Tammy Kim means that the City’s part-time employees and contract workers will have to wait indefinitely for a restoration of the City’s “living wage” ordinance that ensures those employees earn $20 per hour.
Some of the City’s 150 seasonal and part-time workers (such as janitorial and maintenance workers, childcare workers, and grounds-keeping workers) make about $16.50 to $17 per hour.
The reinstatement of the living wage ordinance had seemingly been sailing through the City’s decision-making process, with Irvine’s Finance Commission endorsing it, 4-1.
But, when it came before the City Council for final approval, Councilmembers Kim and Treseder refused to support it.
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Tammy Kim Feeling the Heat for Taking $150,000 from Public Employees She’s Paid to Oversee
As community members began circulating recall petitions in response to Councilmember Tammy Kim’s efforts to stifle public comments with which she disagrees, Kim set up an anti-recall fundraising committee. (The recall is a political impossibility since Kim ends her Council term in December, and there is no recall on the November ballot.)
Ignoring the City’s $620 campaign contribution limit, the union representing Orange County firefighters endorsed Kim in her mayoral bid and then turned on the “fire hose,” pouring $150,000 into the anti-recall committee’s coffers. (Kim is the City’s paid representative on the OC Fire Authority Board.)
At the August 13th Council meeting, it was reported that Irvine taxpayers are sending about $140 million annually to the OC Fire Authority but only receiving about $60 million in services.
Kim argued forcefully against any discussion regarding Irvine establishing its own Fire Department. Her strong opposition resulted in Irvine residents questioning Kim’s conflict of interest.
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