| October 18, 2018 |
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Volume 6 Issue 36 |
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| New Sober Living Ordinance Grossly Inadequate to Protect Public Proposal Ignores most of Orange County |
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An attempt by the District Attorney to circumvent the Health Care Agency by creating a registry of sober living facilities fell short of full Board of Supervisors support because the proposed ordinance did not go far enough. Cities weren’t included and neither was a cost analysis for taxpayers. The proposal also duplicates state law.
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas brought the proposal that requires the county Health Care Agency to maintain a registry to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. It required all alcohol, narcotic, and drug abuse programs located in the unincorporated area to register with the County. A state law has already been in place since 2005 that requires such facilities to register.
When asked why he was raising this issue 13 years later, Rackauckas said, “We started looking at this just in the last few months.”
Both Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Shawn Nelson questioned the purpose of such a redundant regulation, abstaining until significant changes can be made.
“The Health Care Agency didn’t know about this until Oct. 1. This law has been going on for a decade and no cities have been approached to be included,” Spitzer said. There was only one reason to grab this away from the Health Care Agency’s jurisdiction and we know what it was.”
Spitzer also pointed out that the ordinance had no penalties for violators. Failure to register will have no consequences.
The District Attorney admitted that he didn’t have any funding for the new law and it would require further study. The Health Care Agency only has the funds to support it for one year and only within the unincorporated areas.
Spitzer said he doesn’t know what the ordinance accomplishes other than an attempt at creating publicity for the District Attorney.
“The real need is to protect our coastal cities, which are magnets for rehab facilities. The proposed ordinance does nothing for them,” Spitzer said. “Bringing a half-cooked ordinance to the Board that doesn’t even bother to cover our 34 cities is malfeasance. The statute already allows for strict enforcement registries. The District Attorney missed the target completely.” |
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| Supervisor Spitzer Congratulates Rev. Mark Whitlock on 20 Years of Service |
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Reverend Mark Whitlock and First Lady Hermia Shegog-Whitlock. Credit: COR Church. |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer offered his congratulations to Pastor Mark Whitlock for his 20th Pastoral Anniversary heading the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church (COR), the largest A.M.E. Church in Orange County. Supervisor Spitzer sent Pastor Whitlock a proclamation commending the achievement. The Anniversary Service was held on Sunday, October 14.
Pastor Whitlock was appointed to lead COR in 1998. At the time, the church had only ten members, Pastor Whitlock’s wife, Hermia Shegog-Whitlock, was the entire choir, and every week the Whitlocks themselves prepared the church for worship. Since 1991, over 2,800 men, women, and children have connected with COR to belong to an ethnically diverse group of congregants seeking to shape their behavior in line with their belief.
Congratulations to Pastor Whitlock for his service as a leader and influencer in Orange County. |
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| 30th Annual Police K9 Demonstration |
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deputy and his K-9 partner greet the crowd.
Photo credit: Phantomphan1974 Photography |
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The crowd watches as police officers lead their canine companions onto the field. |
As a lifelong strong champion of law enforcement in their efforts to protect the public, Supervisor Todd Spitzer was proud to once again support the Orange County Police Canine Association’s (OCPCA) Annual Police K-9 Demonstration.
The OCPCA Police K-9 Demonstration raises funds to assist the families of fallen officers, provide medical care for retired police dogs, assist police departments needing to replace retired K9s, and provide further training for K9 teams.
Congratulations to OCPCA for another successful fundraising and community event! |
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| Old Towne Orange Plaza Named Great Public Space |
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Named one of America's Great Public Spaces, this fountain is part of the charm and history of the Old Towne Orange Plaza. Photo credit: OC Register. |
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The City of Orange’s Old Towne Plaza was named one of five “Great Public Spaces” in America for 2018.
Located on cross streets Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street, Orange residents already know their beloved Plaza as a great space, but this recognition by the American Planning Association (APA) is of particular distinction. The APA said the Plaza “epitomizes why Orange is so often described as a mid-sized city that feels like a small town.”
Supervisor Spitzer, whose district includes Orange, remarked that the Plaza’s home-grown charm is central to the rich history and proud culture of the city. Orange recently celebrated its 160th anniversary, while the Plaza was first laid out in 1880.
The other four sites named in 2018 are joins Central Park in New York, Olvera Street in Los Angeles, and the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. See more about the APA’s selection of the Old Towne Plaza at https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/spaces/2018/plaza/. |
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| Spitzer Discusses Public Safety at Noble Vikings Charities Luncheon |
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Supervisor Spitzer points to a map showing the proposed needle exchange locations in relation to nearby schools. |
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Supervisor Spitzer with Marvin Waider, Chief of the Noble Viking Charities Board. |
Supervisor Todd Spitzer spoke to the Noble Vikings Charities luncheon on Tuesday, October 9. As a leader in public safety, Spitzer shared the dangers of allowing a needle exchange program, which is estimated to distribute a million needles per year, to operate in Orange County. Spitzer also discussed the County’s efforts to curb homelessness and to better protect our communities.
At the close of the event, Supervisor Spitzer presented a service award to Marvin Waider and the Noble Viking Charities of OC, which raised $68,965 to feed 18,000 people in need during Christmas time this year. |
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| OC Animal Care Gives Update on Mila the “Miracle” Pug |
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Mila testing out her new wheelchair around the OC Animal Care office. |
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Mila cuddles with a toy at her foster home. |
To celebrate National Pug Day, OC Animal Care (OCAC) gave a special update on Mila, a pug who is undergoing medical care to treat severe injuries that left her with half of both hind legs. OC Animal Care staff named her “Mila”, short for milagro, which means “miracle” in Spanish.
Mila has been visiting orthopedic specialists and went to one of many appointments for prosthesis made just for her. A Good Samaritan recently donated a wheelchair she is using during her recovery. Mila has brought nothing but joy to her foster family and to OCAC staff.
For any information on Mila's case, please contact us at (714) 796-6460. To continue to support Mila's recovery or help other medical dogs in need, please donate today to the OCAC Medical Pets fund through Noble Friends Foundation by visiting https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=7489c0. |
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| Irvine “Scare Away Hunger” Fall Food Drive |
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Donated cans of food to feed hungry families. The donation period is |
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The City of Irvine asks residents to support hunger relief efforts by donating canned goods or nonperishable food items to benefit local food banks. Donations will be accepted now through November 18.
Drop off cans to the Orange County Great Park Visitors Center at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606.
Donations may be made during the following hours:
Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.
For questions, call 949-724-6247. |
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| Yorba Linda Senior Wellness Expo |
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| The Senior Wellness Expo is designed for older adults ages fifty and better, and their family and friends, to experience a variety of services and information provided by over sixty vendors. Catch the wellness wave and join this annual event featuring free flu shots, medical screenings, medication take-back sponsored by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and demonstrations. Mark your calendar for this event on Saturday, October 20 from 9 am—12 pm. Visit https://www.yorbalindaca.gov/711/Wellness-Expo for more. |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Construction Alert: Santiago Canyon Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project |
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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
Preschool Storytime
Friday, October 19, 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Anaheim Canyon Hills, 400 Scout Trail
Count Dave the Silly Vampire Halloween Magic Show
Saturday, October 20, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Irvine
Garden Workshop: Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
Saturday, October 20, 10:00 am—11:00 am
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange County Great Park Farmers Market
Sunday, October 21, 10:00 am—2:00 pm
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange
Frighteningly Fun Rock Paint Night for Adults
Monday, October 22, 6:30 pm—8:00 pm
Community Room, 407 E Chapman Ave.
Treats in the Streets Autumn Festival
Thursday, October 25, 4:00 pm—7:00 pm
Old Towne Orange Plaza, 1 Plaza Square
Silverado
Tree Preservation and Fire Risk presented by the North Tustin Fire Safe Council and the Gruett Tree Company
Saturday, October 20, 10:00 am
Bent Tree Park, North Tustin
Saturday YA Club
Saturday, October 20, 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Scary Movie Marathon
Saturday, October 27, 11:00 am — 5:00 pm
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Old Town Art Walk
Saturday, October 20, 11:00 am—5:00 pm
Main Street and El Camino Real
Farmers Market
Wednesday, October 24, 9:00 am—1:00 pm
El Camino Real and West 3rd Street
Villa Park
Music and Movement Storytime
Thursday, October 25, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Sunday Concerts: Concert Violinist: Drew Tretick, Disneyland Violinist
Sunday, October 21, 1:30 pm
Richard Nixon Library and Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Craft for a Cause
Tuesday, October 23, 6:00 pm— 8:00 pm
Hurless Barton Park, 4579 Casa Loma Ave.
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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