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Providing a unified voice concerning issues which enhance, affect, or threaten the equestrian lifestyles in Orange County
Updated: 11.01.2010
More on Derail the Sale
We had a good week in Sacramento. We met with Dept of General Services and various legislators including our Orange County Delegation and secured support for AB 1590 (to Stop the Sale) from:
Assemblymembers Solorio, Tran, Silva, Miller, Harkey
Senators Correa, Harman and Wyland.
Still waiting to hear from Sen. Huff, Assemblymembers Hagman and Mendoza
Sen. Walters is recusing herself and Assemblyman De Vore is a NO
We now have resolutions or letters of support from 25 cities. The deadline to submit bids has been extended to Monday.
The opening of the bids and auction is Thursday, 1/14 at the Fairgrounds - TBA. Details will be provided as we get them. Please save the date as this will be an event to witness.
Assemblyman Solorio sent a letter to the Governor on Dec 2, 2009 expressing his concerns that “the process for carrying out the sale has been tainted by misinformation, misrepresentation, conflicts of interests, questionable legal and ethical activities, and that a potential constitutional barrier regarding the sale of the property exists”.
The Attorney General sent a letter to Kristina Dodge, Chair of the District Board the day before withdrawing legal services due to conflict of interest charges that six of the Fair Board members had formed a private foundation in order to purchase the Fairgrounds.
We will explain what we believe the options are now that the Governor has chosen to let the Sale continue. We will also explain why our Fairgrounds is the only fairgrounds in the State for sale and who we believe is to blame and why this happened. It will be important for the public to know the real story, what we are trying to do to change this course and how you can help. It is unbelievable that our fairgrounds is in jeopardy!
We hope to see you on Thursday - 1/14.
We'll be back in Sacramento Mon/Tues to continue meeting with legislators, the media event and the committee hearing. Please stay tuned.
Sincerely,
Theresa Sears
Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society
Fight to save O.C. Fairgrounds continues
Local officials are stepping up the opposition to the sale
BY KRISTEN SCHOTT
JANUARY 07, 2010
Bids for the O.C. fairgrounds are due tomorrow, and despite Gov. Schwarzenegger's decision earlier this week not to stop the sale, Costa Mesa city officials are moving forward with plans to keep the 150-acre venue as is.
Members of the City Council met with the governor on Monday in Sacramento to discuss the issue, and though he rejected the notion, Councilwoman Katrina Foley says he did offer a few "golden nuggets."
Mainly, the governor supports the idea that the 150-acre venue should remain a fairground and exposition center, and the city and county should have control over the site.
She says the biggest concern is the historical significance of the site, as well as the thousands of jobs that could be adversely affected if the grounds had to close its doors.
"Additionally, our local economy is very much fueled by the events and activities that occur at the grounds," adds Foley.
With the pressure on, she says the city, local residents and other county representatives are taking action. For example, Foley is heading to Sacramento on Tuesday to testify on Assemblyman Jose Solorio's bill – AB 1590 – which, if approved, would cancel the legislative action that allowed the sale to proceed.
Though the hearing is after the bid deadline, she says there is still time before the live auction on Jan. 14 to stop the process.
She adds that the city and the county, which entered a memorandum of understanding late last year, have also submitted a bid for the property.
Officials are also continuing to gather public support for canceling the sale – which appears to be largely in their favor. Twenty-two cities have passed measures in opposition to the auction and in support of Solorio's bill, and Assemblymen Van Tran and Silva, as well as Sens. Harkey and Correa support the actions.
What's more, on Tuesday, the Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society, which has led the "Derail the Sale" charge, plans to deliver some 50,000 signatures on petitions in wheelbarrows to the governor's office, in yet another attempt to cancel the process.
"We're cautiously optimistic," says Foley. "All we can do is hope for the best and keep putting on the pressure to stop the sale."
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