Author: Roger Bloom

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.

Once the chargers were installed at the Great Park, Noodoe’s CEO and Public Relations Officer hosted a campaign fundraiser for Kim’s mayoral campaign.

Councilmembers Tammy Kim and Mike Carroll pushed for Casco, despite the fact that City staff recommended two other companies following a formal bid process.

Kim added a requirement that Casco purchase Noodoe chargers because Noodoe was based in Irvine and this would create a dramatic boost in Irvine manufacturing jobs.

In December 2021, three members of the Irvine City Council — Tammy Kim, Mike Carroll and Anthony Kuo — made an unusual push to award Casco Construction a multi-million-dollar contract to install, maintain and operate 288 EV charging stations in five large parking lots at the Great Park, despite the fact that two other firms had been recommended to the Council by City staff following a formal bid process.

The City was promised $2 million in annual revenue from those charging stations. But, the charging stations were not included in the recent budget because the annual revenue to the City is actually “near zero,” according to Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi. Usage has also been negligible, Chi said.