| February 1, 2018 |
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Volume 6 Issue 4 |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Speaks at NAHREP Annual Gala and Installation Dinner |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer Speaks at NAHREP Annual Gala and Installation Dinner |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer had the distinct honor of recognizing Jeannette Fuentes, outgoing President of the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals at the NAHREP Annual Gala and Installation Dinner.
Supervisor Todd Spitzer presented a proclamation to congratulate outgoing President Jeannette Fuentes. Supervisor Spitzer told Jeannette’s life story before a large crowd of real estate professionals and their families. |
Speaking before hundreds of real estate professionals and their families, Supervisor Spitzer told Jeannette’s story of perseverance and success as a leader. Jeannette was 11 years old when her family immigrated from Mexico to the United States. She learned about hard work from her parents who came to this country in search of a better life for their children. Always a trailblazer, Jeannette was the first in her family to graduate from college and proudly says she is living the American Dream. She and her husband own a REMAX real estate company with over 150 agents and 12 employees.
Under Jeannette’s leadership, the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals proudly promotes homeownership for the Hispanic community in and around Orange County. The Orange County Chapter is part of the national organization with over 20,000 members across the country.
Supervisor Spitzer also wished good luck to incoming President Yesica Gutierrez and her fellow board members. |
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| Restoring the Riverbed: Supervisor Spitzer Addresses the SART Closure |
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Tents line the Santa Ana River Trail as OC Sheriff deputies begin their sweeps of the encampments. |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, champion for public safety, visited the Santa Ana River Trail (SART), which is in Spitzer’s district, several times in January as crews of Orange County Sheriff and Orange County Public Works teams began preparing for the environmental remediation project on the riverbed.
“I’m proud to lead the County’s effort to close the Santa Ana River Trail to restore the trail to its intended purposes; recreation and flood control,” Supervisor Spitzer said. “Public safety is my top priority, and the homeless encampment on the riverbed is unsafe and unsanitary. Moreover, it’s not save for the homeless population there.”
Supervisor Spitzer emphasized the need for individuals to take ownership of their situation. “We’re trying to do everything we can to connect people with services in a very humane and empathetic way, but individuals must accept our shelter and outreach support.”
As of January 30, OC Sheriff, OC Public Works, OC Community Resources, and Orange County Health Care Agency reported the following from the SART:
- Arrests Made: 34 arrests have been made.
- Needles Collected:
- Approximately 2,290 needles and over 1,000 syringes have been collected since the start of the project on January 22.
- More than 4,500 syringes have been collected from the river bed since July 2017.
- Debris Removed:
- The cumulative total tonnage of debris removed since the start of the project on January 22 is approximately 62 tons.
- Individuals Transitioned to County Shelter:
- Ten individuals have been transitioned to a County-run shelter since the start of the project.
- A free shuttle is running nightly from the flood control channel to the Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program; so far one individual has accepted that resource since the start of the project.
- Animals Kenneled
- A total of 10 animals have been kenneled at OC Animal Care.
- OC Animal Care is providing free animal kenneling for the pets of individuals on the riverbed.
Encampments cause environmental stresses that must be cleaned for public safety issues. |
The temporary partial closure of the SART is necessary to address the pressing environmental impact of the unauthorized encampments, including removal of garbage and debris, removal of dangerous bio-hazardous materials, and repairs.
After several weeks’ advance notice, the County is clearing the homeless from the riverbed trail to start the necessary environmental remediation project in this area. Past efforts to maintain and clean the SART have been ineffective and difficult due to the large homeless encampment near Angels Stadium.
Shelter beds are available for homeless individuals. The County, in partnership with the nonprofit CityNet, is engaging in intensive case management with individuals encamped in the area.
The following shows the daily capacity for each of the County’s homeless shelters:
- Bridges at Kraemer Place (Third District): 100
- Courtyard Transitional Center in Santa Ana: 425
- Fullerton Armory Emergency Shelter: 200
- Santa Ana Armory Emergency Shelter: 200
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| I-405 Improvement Project Kicks Off |
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A sign promotes the project at the groundbreaking event on January 26. |
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The January 26 groundbreaking of the I-405 Improvement Project is the start of significant change for commuters in Orange County. As an OCTA Director, Supervisor Todd Spitzer is proud to be a leader as the transportation agency launches its largest project yet.
The 405 Improvement Project will reduce congestion, move more vehicles and people more quickly, and provide trip reliability for riders. With two new lanes in each direction, 18 bridge replacements plus new and widened bridges, merge lane improvements, and more, there's plenty to look forward to. |
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An artist's rendering of some of the changes to come with the Interstate 405 Improvement Project. |
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| County Offers Tax Relief for Fire Victims |
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The Canyon Fire 2 affected many Third District residents. If your home suffered damage due to the fire, you may quality for lower property taxes. |
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The Treasurer-Tax Collector has been notified that only a few taxpayers have requested a lowering of their property taxes due to damages from the Canyon Fire 2. Those taxpayers who lost their homes should consider applying to temporarily lower their property taxes. Due to the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, certain taxpayers may not have been able to pay their first installment of their 2017-18 Annual Secured Property taxes by the last timely date of December 11, 2017, and may have received a 10 percent penalty. Those taxpayers may file for a penalty cancellation by completing the application for reassessment with the Assessor.
If you have further questions on the postponement of property taxes, please contact the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector at ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com or 714-834-3411. For further information on other Disaster FAQs, please go to www.ttc.ocgov.com and click on Property Tax Disaster relief.
View this information online at: http://www.ocgov.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=71812 |
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| Help OCTA Rename Seven Open Space Preserves in Orange County |
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Help OCTA rename seven wilderness preserves throughout the county. |
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As Third District Supervisor and Director on Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, Supervisor Todd Spitzer calls on residents to help rename seven wilderness preserves throughout the county to highlight the regional and environmental significances of each preserve.
OCTA has successfully purchased seven properties that are permanently preserved as natural open space and totals more than 1,300 acres of land. Five of these preserves are located in the Trabuco and Silverado Canyon area. One is located in Laguna Beach and the last is in Brea.
Pick your favorite names at www.octa.net/preservation and join OCTA at the next hike on Saturday, Feb. 24 at O’Neill Oaks in Trabuco Canyon to witness the unveiling of the new preserve names. Register here. The survey closes on February 16, 2018.
See more here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7v1sYqhUbLJyN__vj2YeT6Vn1ocvzkOo |
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| Apply to be a Capital Fellow! |
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| Todd Spitzer was a Senior Fellow (1982-1983) in the California State Capital. He still points to that experience as one which fundamentally shaped his career. Apply now! Deadline February 12, 2018. http://www.csus.edu/calst/programs/ |
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| OC Waste and Recycling Tips for Throwing a Green Super Bowl Party |
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 More than 40 tons of waste is expected at U.S. Bank Stadium, where Super Bowl LII will take place this Sunday, February 4. This year the NFL is aiming for a Zero Waste Super Bowl.
With the big game almost here, OC residents may find themselves at a friend or family’s home glued to a television watching the game and enjoying the food and drink. The NFL has some recycling and waste-reduction tips for at-home viewers, too. An initiative called Rush2Recycle challenges viewers to “intercept waste” and keep it out of landfills.
Many foods and beverages we consume at Super Bowl gatherings are packaged in containers that can be recycled. So why not follow these easy tips? They’ll allow for easier cleanup and also “intercept” waste entering our landfills.
- BUY IN BULK – One large bottle of soda uses less material than the cardboard box that contains canned sodas.
- USE REAL DISHES – Save yourself some money and serve guests on real plates instead of buying disposable items.
- FINGER FOODS – Serving these types of foods cuts down on plates, utensils and even cleanup!
- TWO BIN SYSTEM – Next to every trash can place another receptacle next to it with a recycle label.
Most disposed bottles, cans and cardboard can be recycled. Whatever doesn’t get recycled will end up in an Orange County landfill. One good thing about that is that it will be turned into renewable energy which provides electricity for homes throughout Orange County.
For more information contact OC Waste & Recycling at 714-834-4000 or visit www.oclandfills.com. |
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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, February 2, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Anaheim Canyon Hills, 400 Scout Trail
Family Storytime
Saturday, February 3, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Irvine
Orange County Great Park Farmers Market
Sunday, February 4, 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Kaleidoscope: A Family Art Experiences
Saturday, February 17, 10:00 AM — 12:00 PM
Admission is $2 per person.
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange
Tech Talk Tuesdays
Tuesday, February 13, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Main Library Rotary Conference Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Help for Small Business Owners
Monday, February 26, 6:00 PM — 8:30 PM
Main Library Community Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Silverado
Movie Matinee: Dunkirk (rated R)
Saturday, February 3, 1:00 PM — 3:00 PM
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Family Sunset Storytime
Wednesday, February 7, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Tustin Library, 345 E. Main Street
Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, February 7, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & W. 3rd St.
Villa Park
Music and Movement Storytime
Thursday, February 8, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Good for your Gut: Kombucha (Adults 18+ Only)
Saturday, February 3, 2:00 PM — 3:30 PM
Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Highway
Meet Lt. Col. Robert Friend, Tuskegee Airmen Pilot
Tuesday, February 13, 7:00 PM
Richard Nixon Library and Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
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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