From Left: Councilmembers William Go, James Mai, Melinda Liu, and Kathleen Treseder
Councilmembers Go, Mai, Liu, and Treseder said that dedicating a small portion of the Great Park to a Veterans Memorial Park & Cemetery would be “incompatible” with other amenities at the Great Park — even though the entire 1,300-acre Great Park sits on a former military airbase that was central to our nation’s defense beginning with World War II, and continuing through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War.
Just before voting NO, Mai said: “I feel bad for the promises that were made to people, but that was 10 years ago.” James Mai apparently believes that the City’s promises have a shelf life.
My article regarding that May 27th Council vote has struck a chord with tens of thousands of Irvine residents. In fact, it has become the most-read article Irvine Community News & Views has ever published, with more than 75,000 residents having read the article and 1,293 Irvine residents (so far) sharing it on their own social media platforms.
Our website and social media pages have been inundated with several hundred comments from residents who are deeply angered by the four Councilmembers’ betrayal of veterans and their families. Below is a small sampling of those comments.
Shame on them! As an Irvine resident for 52 years, I find their NO votes despicable! Irvine deserves a veterans cemetery as promised years ago. I witnessed the closing ceremonies of El Toro Marine Corps Base. My World War II Irvine veteran father had to be buried in Riverside. If promises were kept, it would’ve been nice to have a veterans cemetery close to home.
– Linda Martin
Promises don’t expire.
– Deborah Townes
Obviously the City Council does not have an ounce of appreciation for our veterans, even though they paid with their lives to protect them and our citizens. I am ashamed and embarrassed to say I live in Irvine.
– Beryl Oliver
They’re disgusting. They wasted money with a citywide vote and two petitions, which showed overwhelming support of the veterans cemetery in the Great Park. What the hell is a vote for if you don’t listen to your constituents?
– Cathi Moro
They make promises to get our votes and then they refuse to fulfill their promises. What an injustice to ALL these veterans and their families!
– Rebecca Lysse
As a veteran, I am disgusted. My father was stationed at El Toro and we lived in base housing there in my younger years.
– Danny Bautista
I served at both El Toro and Tustin Air Bases. It is a shame that promises made are so easily broken and forgotten when aesthetics and greed come into play. How dare we veterans wish to rest in peace in the place where we served and in the communities we loved. Apparently, a cemetery is too unsightly for their vision of Irvine. They honor veterans in name only. Maybe a park is okay, maybe some statues, or banners … but not a final resting place.
– Alex De Tres
So ashamed of Irvine. Seems veterans are something they just don’t care about.
– Diane Ertley
The ARDA site is permanently designated by ordinance for a veterans cemetery because the initiative — signed by 19,790 Irvine residents — was adopted by the City Council in 2020. If Great Park residents want to overturn that ordinance, it can only be done by another citywide initiative. Many statements made by James Mai were false and his district voters and veterans would be well served to reconsider if he is their best representative.
– Michelle Johnson
Next chance to vote, let’s vote out Go, Liu, Mai, and Treseder. Pathetic!
– John Liu
I have been holding onto my husband’s ashes for this Irvine site. I don’t want him buried in Riverside. I want him on what was military land. Veterans who served at El Toro or Tustin deserve respect. Please vote these four out of office!
– Helen Locke
It’s strange. James Mai is a Trump supporter and supposed to be a patriot. Wondering if they got bought by the elites to stop building this. This is a shame!
– Christian Flores
This is ridiculous! I am so sick of these politicians not honoring what we voted for. I’m not sure why they even ask our opinion since they are going to do exactly what they want. Really frustrating!!
– Beverly Allen
The staff report suggested incorporating a “columbarium” within a Wall of Honor & Remembrance as part of the Veterans Memorial Park & Gardens. (A columbarium is a beautifully sculptured structure with small compartments to hold the funeral urns containing the cremated remains of individual Irvine veterans and their family members.)
An example of a columbarium structure suitable for the Veterans Memorial Park
Since 80% of funerals now involve cremation, building an aesthetically pleasing columbarium seemed like a reasonable compromise for the Councilmembers who oppose a Veterans Cemetery while still accommodating most Irvine veterans and their families. But Councilmembers Go, Mai, Liu, and Treseder voted NO!
Over the past decade, tens of thousands of Irvine residents have voted (and signed petitions) in support of the Veterans Memorial Park & Cemetery at the Great Park. But every time the matter comes before the Council, these four (Go, Mai, Liu, and Treseder) choose to ignore thousands of Irvine voters. Instead, they bring in a small group of dissenting Great Park residents and then try to justify their NO votes by falsely claiming that no one wants a Veterans Cemetery in Irvine.
The new year — 2026 — is an election year, providing a number of opportunities for voters to once again weigh-in on how they feel about Councilmembers who continue to betray our Irvine veterans and their families.
From Left: Mayor Larry Agran and Councilmembers Betty Martinez-Franco & Mike Carroll
Mayor Larry Agran has been working closely with thousands of Irvine residents on this issue for more than a decade. Mayor Agran has never wavered in his steadfast support of Irvine veterans and his commitment to implement the expressed will of Irvine voters.
In 2020, Councilmember Mike Carroll voted to adopt the citizens’ initiative — signed by nearly 20,000 Irvine residents — to establish a Veterans Memorial Park & Cemetery at the Great Park. Since that time, Councilmember Carroll has stood by that vote, continuing to voice his support of the project.
Councilmember Betty Martinez-Franco is new to the Council but has already voted twice in support of the Veterans Memorial Park & Cemetery. In May, she said: “I have only been a Councilmember for a short period . . . I learned about this issue when I started knocking on doors and hearing stories directly from loved ones. I made a promise to them and I don’t want to start my career breaking a promise that I made to the people who voted for me. I feel their pain.” Looking directly at a group of veterans and their families, she continued: “I’m going to keep my integrity. I want you to know that if I make a promise to you, I am going to keep it.”
- Publisher’s Perspective: Four Irvine Councilmembers Betray Veterans … Again! - December 14, 2025
- Publisher’s Perspective: OCPA Continues to Break Its Promises - December 5, 2025
- Irvine City Council Votes to Stick with OCPA - October 12, 2025
