| December 1, 2016 |
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Volume 4 Issue 31 |
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| You are invited to join Supervisor Todd Spitzer and Orange Council Member Mark Murphy at the 22nd Annual Toy Drive and Ride for CHOC Children’s Hospital on December 18 |
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The 22nd Annual Toy Drive and Ride for CHOC Children’s Hospital will be held on December 18, 2016. The motorcycle ride to CHOC departs Orange County Harley-Davidson, 8677 Research Drive in Irvine at 8:00 am.
Donations for unwrapped toys will be collected the day of the event and toys can also be dropped off at Orange County Harley-Davidson. CHOC’s current needs are infant and toddler toys, movies, and X-Box video games. CHOC is unable to accept used toys or stuffed animals.
Donate online: www.choc.org/events/harley-toy-drive or register for the event by clicking here. |
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| DROWNINGS IN ORANGE COUNTY |
| YEAR |
DROWNING INCIDENTS |
FATALITIES |
| 2016* |
75 |
31 |
| 2015 |
118 |
50 |
| 2014 |
86 |
43 |
| *2016 data is for January through November 30, 2016 |
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| Mothers Against Drunk Driving Honors Supervisor Spitzer as Recipient of the MADD 2016 Pursuit of Justice Award |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Regional Executive Director MADD Southern California Patricia Rillera, and Retired Law Enforcement Bill Cavenaugh |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer was honored with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Pursuit of Justice Award for 2016. Recognized for his long-standing effort to advocate, educate and legislate in the fight against drunk driving throughout Orange County and the State of California, Supervisor Spitzer was a guest of honor and featured speaker at the annual MADD Tie One On for Safety Gala luncheon November 10th in Long Beach.
“Every day in America, another 27 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes,” Supervisor Spitzer shared with the audience when the award was presented. Citing recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Supervisor Spitzer noted approximately 10,000 Americans are killed annually in drunk driving crashes and 290,000 more are injured.
“Each crash, each death, each injury impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more,” Supervisor Spitzer continued, speaking from experience and not just statistics.
In 2006, close friend Steve Ambriz, a husband and father, sitting City of Orange Councilman and Supervisor Spitzer’s former Chief of Staff, was killed by a drunk driver on Santiago Canyon Road. The tragedy prompted then-State Assemblyman Spitzer to author the Ambriz Act. The state law, enacted in 2007, requires licensed drivers in California to sign an acknowledgement understanding that DUI offenders can be charged with murder for subsequent DUI offenses.
The loss of his colleague wasn’t the only experience Supervisor Spitzer has had as a victim of DUI. His teenage son was fortunate to walk away from a crash caused by a drunk driver just last September one week before starting college.
“Dreams can be shattered by drunk drivers,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer.
MADD cited Supervisor Spitzer this year for his support of SB 1046, a new state law requiring Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) in vehicles operated by convicted DUI offenders. The bill was signed by Governor Brown in September and takes effect in 2019.
“Even those who have not been directly touched help pay the $132 billion yearly price tag of drunk driving,” Supervisor Spitzer reminded the audience. “Together we can eliminate drunk driving.”
Awards and recipients included the following: Community Champion Award, James T. Butts; Honorary Victim Award, John Saliture; Corporate Champion Awards, Automobile Club of Southern California and the Port of Long Beach; Volunteer Difference Maker Awards, Joshua Jahn and Janelle Weinberg and the Heroes Difference Maker Award, Daniel Smith. |
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving Southern California Regional Director Patricia Rillera introduces Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer as recipient of the MADD 2016 Pursuit of Justice Award |
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| “The MADD 2016 Pursuit of Justice Award signifies a commitment to effectively represent government and the community at large as it relates to victims and victims’ rights,” said Patricia Rillera, MADD Executive Director for the Southern California region. “There is no one whom we work with more deserving of this award than Supervisor Todd Spitzer. We applaud his commitment to Victim Rights and are honored to bestow this prestigious award to him.” |
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| County Seeks to Challenge FAA’s Plan to Alter Flight Patterns |
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Orange County has filed a petition in federal court to sign-on with the City of Newport Beach in a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over plans for revised air traffic patterns in and out of John Wayne Airport (JWA) at the urging of Vice Chair Michelle Steel and Supervisor Todd Spitzer.
The Board of Supervisors filed the petition in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on November 10th after voting to join Newport in the case during closed session on November 8th. The City of Laguna Beach also filed a similar but separate lawsuit against the FAA.
Both suits question the adequacy of the environmental impact review as part of the FAA’s Southern California Metroplex project, designed to upgrade aging ground-based air-traffic control procedures to a GPS-based system at 21 airports throughout the region including JWA. The federal agency claims its review shows there would be no significant environmental impact with the change in flight patterns.
Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Michelle Steel said the County shares the cities’ concerns that air-borne pollutants, noise and safety issues have not been properly studied. John Wayne Airport is located in Steel’s 2nd Supervisorial District, where residents are located immediately under the primary departure pattern.
“Our residents are the ones who live every day with aircraft operating overhead,” Vice Chair Steel said. “The Metroplex project must be clearly defined and the resulting impacts clearly described. Our residents deserve to know whether and how the FAA’s proposed changes may impact them now and into the future.”
“Residents have a right to weigh in on issues like flight patterns when they are the ones who live with the impacts to air quality, noise and safety,” said Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who represents the portion of Orange County most impacted by arriving jets. “I have a long history fighting on behalf of Orange County residents to protect their quality of life as it relates to the airport and I’m not going to stop now.”
The FAA approved the Metroplex project in September after a 120-day public comment period that triggered a flurry of complaints and concerns from throughout Southern California. The cities have asked the federal court to temporarily halt the project and order the FAA to conduct a more comprehensive environmental analysis. The County has requested the Court’s permission to intervene as an additional party to the Newport Beach case and to file a separate petition for review to raise the issues brought forth in the County’s comment letter during the administrative process.
Related links:
Newport Beach suing FAA over proposed flight path changes at John Wayne Airport, Orange County Register |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Volunteers at the Annual We Give Thanks Event |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer with Frank Garcia and his family and local leaders |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer attended and volunteered the annual We Give Thanks Event to help serve food on Thanksgiving to thousands of less fortunate Orange County families. Over 1,500 volunteers worked to prepare 3,000 pounds of stuffing, 600 turkeys, 6,000 pounds of mashed potatoes, 300 gallons of gravy and several thousand pies. |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer and volunteers serving food |
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| The event began twenty-nine years ago with 3,000 meals at Frank Garcia’s La Casa Garcia Restaurant on Chapman Avenue in Anaheim. This year's crowd was 12,000-plus at the Honda Center as thousands gathered to enjoy a free Thanksgiving feast. |
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| Volunteer at the Homeless Shelter, the Courtyard as a Guest Chef |
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The Courtyard shelter. Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG. |
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Are you interested in volunteering or contributing to the new homeless shelter, the Courtyard in Santa Ana? The Guest Chef program ensures that there are enough meals available each day to service those currently living at the Courtyard.
Please contact City Net for information regarding volunteers, service providers and donations at volunteer@citynet.org or (714) 494-9418. For more information, click here. |
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| The City of Orange’s 22nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession |
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Sunday, December 4, 2016
Old Towne Plaza Area
Holiday Festivities begin at 3:30 p.m.
Main Musical Program & Tree Lighting Ceremony
begins at 5:15 p.m.
Come and join the City of Orange for an evening of holiday cheer and family fun with the Orange Community Master Chorale led by musical director Michael Short.
For more information call (714) 744-7293 or email mmatsuda@cityoforange.org |
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| City of Anaheim Christmas Tree Lighting |
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| The Annual City of Anaheim Christmas Tree Lighting is Sunday, December 4th from 4pm to 8pm. This free event is hosted by Influence Center and includes Santa Claus, Vendors, horse drawn carriage rides, fresh snow, live music and Made Market. Bring an unused, unwrapped toy for a child between the ages of 5-15 for a toy drive benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Anaheim. |
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| Villa Park Santa Tour by Fire Truck |
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| You won’t want to miss this traditional Villa Park fun sponsored by the VP Community Services Foundation and supported by the Southern California Gas Company. The VP Events page at www.vpcsfoundation.org will provide you with a list of various routes for the Santa Tour by Fire Truck. |
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| 6th Annual Christmas in the Canyon, Downtown Silverado Canyon |
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The 6th Annual Christmas in the Canyons will be held on Saturday, December 10th, 2016 from 10 am to 5 pm. with live musical entertainment, homemade food, wine tasting, and a special appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their Elves. Just in time for holiday shopping, Downtown Silverado will be filled with over 60 local artisans and vendors.
Admission is free and ample parking is available with a free hayride to Town. Santa makes his big debut at 10 am with photos to follow. |
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For questions or comments regarding Spitzer’s E-Newsletter
please contact the Supervisor's office staff at: (714) 834-3330 or Melanie.Eustice@ocgov.com |
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