ICNV Staff

Tustin Does What Irvine Refuses to Do: Transition to District Elections … a Fairer System to Elect City Councilmembers

The Tustin City Council has voted unanimously to transition to district elections for the November 2022 general election.

As cities grow, most decide to switch to district elections since it’s viewed as a more equitable voting system to ensure that every part of town has its own elected representative. In recent years, a majority of Orange County cities have transitioned to district elections.

The only member of the City Council to publicly support the City transitioning to district elections is Larry Agran.

So far, Irvine’s Mayor and Council majority have refused Agran’s request to publicly discuss district elections, even though the City has been threatened with a possible lawsuit that could cost Irvine taxpayers millions of dollars if the City does not transition to the more equitable system of district elections.

Irvine’s Mayor & Council Majority Continue to Ignore Residents’ Growing Health Concerns Regarding All American Asphalt Plant

More than 800 north Irvine residents have filed complaints with the South Coast Air Quality Management District regarding the toxic emissions and noxious odors resulting from ongoing operations at the All American Asphalt plant that is located less than a mile away from homes.

For months, Councilmember Agran has repeatedly asked the Mayor and his Council colleagues to hold a special meeting to publicly discuss All American Asphalt-related health and environmental concerns and identify near-term solutions to the problem. So far, they have refused.

With the help of community organizers from Non-Toxic Neighborhoods (NTN) and Stop Toxic Asphalt Pollutants (STAP), Agran hosted his own community hearing at City Hall to allow NTN and STAP representatives, Irvine residents, and volunteer air quality scientists from UCI to provide public testimony.