| June 28, 2018 |
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Volume 6 Issue 21 |
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| Spitzer Calls for Joint Sheriff-OC Fire Authority Helicopter Base at John Wayne Airport |
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An OCFA helicopter flies overhead to drop water on the Santiago Fire on June 11, 2018. Picture courtesy of OCFA. |
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The Grand Jury released a report June 22 on dual efforts by the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. and Orange County Fire Authority in emergency responses; however they reached a conclusion that is impractical, Supervisor Todd Spitzer said Friday.
The report makes the recommendation that the OCFA heliport in Fullerton should also be staffed by the Sheriff’s Department in order to pool resources. It says this would cut down on response time, save money, and make the agencies work closer together.
However, Spitzer says response time from Fullerton takes longer than if aircraft originated from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, a central hub for the county. The Sheriff’s fleet of helicopters is currently stationed there.
“It does not matter the color of the helicopter, if it’s red or green or something else,” Spitzer said. “The public expects a quick and safe response.”
He added, “As we all realize, minutes matter in emergencies and to be 15 minutes further away is the difference between life and death,” Spitzer said. “These helicopters are critical to public safety requiring a quick response to fires, drownings, shootings, car accidents, and any other emergency you could think of.”
Spitzer has already spoken to John Wayne Airport officials about the possibility of having the two agencies locate their heliports there. He gave the officials instructions to research the topic during their expansion design phase.
The response was met with agreement.
“For the past few months, I have been asking both the Sheriff and Fire Chief to negotiate this issue so we can get the item before the Board of Supervisors for approval,” Spitzer said. “This grand jury report highlights the urgency of this situation.”
The recent Santiago Canyon fire near the 241 toll road in Spitzer’s district was quickly controlled and extinguished thanks to a joint effort by OCSD and FCA. Both agencies sent water dropping helicopters that helped suppress the spread of the fire.
Spitzer responded to the fire immediately and witnessed the coordination between the two agencies. He would like to see such coordination continue. |
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| Board of Supervisors Renews Contract with Mercy House for Bridges at Kraemer Place Homeless Shelter |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, third from left, led a tour of the County's first year-round, whole-care homeless shelter, Bridges at Kraemer Place. (L to R): Frank Kim, County CEO; Larry Haynes, CEO of Mercy House; Supervisor Spitzer; Karen McGlinn, CEO of Share Our Selves; and Darin Rorrer, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in addiction therapy. |
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The Board of Supervisors renewed a one-year contract with Mercy House Living Centers to staff and provide services to the County’s only year-round whole-service homeless shelter, Bridges at Kraemer Place.
The 1.8 million dollar contract extends Mercy House’s work at the shelter through June 30, 2019.
Bridges at Kraemer Place opened Phase I in May 2017 with 100 beds for men and women. Phase II was completed in June 2018 with an additional 100 beds (total of 200 beds for men and women), an onsite kitchen, a computer lab, recreational/cultural room, and on onsite medical assessment and treatment center.
Supervisor Todd Spitzer has repeatedly praised Bridges as the gold standard for homeless shelter services in Orange County. |
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| Orange County Group Homes Require Far Greater Regulation and Oversight |
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As published in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/tn-dpt-me-commentary-spitzer-20180618-story.html
The Orange County Board of Supervisors passed a budget item June 12 that allows for a $741,094 expenditure to investigate and prosecute the growing scourge of fraudulent group homes.
Just as I have fervently fought for residents who don’t want to live near a homeless shelter, I have also struggled to keep criminals and sex offenders from congregating in these homes, which are often in close proximity to children, the elderly and decent, hard-working families.
This dates to 2005, when I was in the state Assembly and authored a bill that would have created a sex offender management board. This would have regulated the placement and group housing of some 100,000 released sex offenders. Although I obtained bipartisan support for Assembly Bill 632, it did not pass.
Since then, I have constantly advocated to have the state allow for local control to police these group homes, which often attract crime, drug abuse and fraud. Our tone deaf Legislature has not allowed this to happen.
Admittedly, not every group home resident has a rap sheet. Some are victims themselves, trying to get help. This is where another criminal element has taken hold: fraudulent operators who run these businesses as a mill, getting rich off various government subsidies and insurance payouts.
One option where we can make a difference is to vigorously prosecute mill operators with fraud.
Here in Orange County, six people were charged last year in a $22 million fraud scheme that sadly resulted in the death of a young patient. When state officials were confronted with their tragic lack of oversight, they shrugged.
This is all the more reason to tighten the screws. If the state isn’t going to do its job, we will find a way step in and do it for it.
Regardless of whether the operators or the clients are committing crimes, the message is clear: these businesses need oversight.
The Board of Supervisors’ approval of six new employees dedicated to this industry is a start. This allows the district attorney’s office to ramp up enforcement of a problem that has existed for decades. It must stop. |
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| County to Conduct Repairs on Modjeska Boxcar Bridge |
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The County will begin work on Santiago Creek near Boxcar Bridge to clear the creek of debris. Photo courtesy of T. Fardig. |
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The Board of Supervisors approved the Modjeska Boxcar Bridge Repairs Project to protect the bridge’s infrastructure and clear Santiago Creek of debris.
Following the Santiago Fire of 2007, heavy deposits of upstream canyon-wall materials washed down the watershed and deposited near the bridge. This reduced the creek’s depth and destabilized the creek banks downstream of the bridge. During the storms of December 2010, significant portions of the bridge abutment protection, along with up- and down-stream reaches of the canyon, were washed out. This caused heavy deposits of upstream canyon wall materials to be washed down the watershed and deposited near the bridge, which further reduced the channel runoff capacity below the bridge. Storms since then have naturally removed some of the accumulated sediments under Boxcar Bridge, but substantial volumes remain that require the removal project.
(Portions courtesy of OC Parks). |
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| City of Orange Kicks off Summer Concert Series |
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80’s hits band Knyght Ryder kicked off the summer concert series on June 20. |
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The City of Orange kicked off its annual Concerts in the Park series at Hart Park and invites the public to attend these fun and free concerts. The concerts are held on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm through August 22 at Hart Park.
Orange City Council Orange Mayor Tita Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Murphy who is generously sponsoring the last concert of the summer, Councilman Mike Alvarez, and Councilman Fred Whitaker and his wife, Mignon Marie Whitaker brought their beach chairs and enjoyed the music along with all the other concert goers on the kickoff concert on June 20.
The public is invited to come out on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer to listen to the best local bands performing top 40s, cover music, classic rock, and much more. The concerts are free and open to the public. Lawn chair, blankets, and food are welcome. Vendors sell a variety of snacks, eats, and soft drink beverages for purchase.
2018 Orange Concerts Schedule:
July 11 – Stone Soul (Classic Motown and Soul)
July 18 – Wiseguys Big Band Machine (Big Band Favorites)
July 25 – Pickleback Shine (Modern and Classic Country)
August 1 – Soto (Latin, Funk, and R&B)
August 8 – Hard Days Night (Beatles Tribute)
August 15 – The Trip (Top 40s Rock Hits)
August 22 – Wimberly Bluegrass Band (Bluegrass Jams)
Superlark (Classic Rock) |
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| Olive Heights Construction: June 25-29 |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Santiago Canyon Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project: Update |
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| Free Pet Tags Every Saturday in June at OC Animal Care |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Pet of the Week |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Events Around the District |
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Anaheim
Toddler Stories and Playtime
Monday, July 2, 11:00 am – 11:45 am
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Preschool Storytime
Friday, July 6, 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Anaheim Canyon Hills, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Movies on the Lawn: Brigadoon
Friday, June 29, 6:30 pm
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Family Game Day
Saturday, June 30, 10:00 am—2:00 pm
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange
2018 Summer Reading Club for Adults: Reading Takes You Everywhere
June 16—July 28, 10:00 am—6:00 pm
Library Community Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Friday Film Festival
Friday, June 28, 2:00 pm—4:00 pm
Library Main Community Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Silverado
Family Drop-In Crafts
Saturday, June 30, 11:00 am — 2:00 pm
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Family Sunset Storytime
Wednesday, July 11, 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Tustin Library, 345 E. Main Street
Concerts in the Park
Wednesday, July 11, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Peppertree Park, 230 West First Street
Villa Park
Let’s Learn a Language!
Thursday, July 12, 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Fourth of July Celebration at the Nixon Library
Wednesday, July 4, 10:45 am—5:00 pm
Richard Nixon Library and Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Family Funtime—Comedy Magic Show
Thursday, July 5, 6:30 pm — 7:15 pm
Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Highway
For questions or comments regarding Spitzer’s E-Newsletter
please contact the Supervisor's office staff at: (714) 834-3330 or Montana.Sudul@ocgov.com
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