Fourth District Forum Features Five Mayors

All five local mayors spoke at the Second Annual Fourth District Forum held last Thursday, June 2, at Anaheim’s Jagerhaus Restaurant. The event was organized by my office and I served as moderator. Over 60 attendees included elected officials, community liaisons and representatives from local, state and federal legislators.

Mayors Curt Pringle (Anaheim), Don McCay (Buena Park), Shawn Nelson (Fullerton), Steve Anderson (La Habra) and Scott Brady (Placentia) discussed mostly transportation, housing and trends affecting their cities. Pringle discussed the Platinum Triangle, a new high-density mixed-use development near Anaheim Stadium, while Nelson spoke of transit-oriented development in Downtown Fullerton. Anderson spoke for the extension of the Measure “M” transportation improvements, while Brady updated us on Placentia’s OnTrac struggle to deal with increasing freight traffic. McCay outlined the impact of the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway widening project in Buena Park.

OC Fire Stations Declared Safe for Newborns

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has declared all OC fire stations to be “safe stations” for any mom seeking to discretely and safely give up her newborn baby. Babies can already be left at hospitals, but the new policy expands the sanctuary to all fire stations in the county. Since the program began statewide four years ago, 75 babies have been left at such safe locations.

A mother may leave her newborn up to a maximum of three days following the birth. She must leave the baby in the care of a responsible person at a fire station or hospital, but she is not required to leave her name or any other personal information. The baby is then placed under the care of Child Protective Services until an adoptive home is found. As the number of childless couples far exceeds the available newborns, the adoptions are completed rapidly.

No mother, out of shame or financial need, should feel pressure to abandon or otherwise jeopardize her baby’s safety. There are plenty of adoptive parents needing babies they cannot bear on their own. Your nearest fire station door is now a gateway to a new life for newborns whose mothers cannot care for them.

Top OC Exec Resigns

On June 2, 2005, Dan Hatton, the County’s Chief Information Officer, submitted his resignation effective June 17, 2005

At the May 24th Board of Supervisors meeting, my colleagues and I raised concerns about the County’s IT department. At the meeting, the Board was asked to approve a $5.8 million lease with ACS for an IBM mainframe to address our lack of capacity on our current mainframe. Had the Board been informed of the fast shrinking computer capacity sooner, we’d have had sufficient time to consider alternatives and take competitive bids. Instead, the Board had no practical option but to approve the lease agreement or risk not being able to process the County’s tax rolls.

This issue provides us with the opportunity to increase our focus on the IT department and ensure the lines of communication with the Board are open.

Linda Evans Dispute Settled

Over 400 North OC women will divide $110,000 in a settlement against the now-defunct Linda Evans Spa chain. The woman had joined the spa in Fullerton on Harbor Blvd., located just across from Hillcrest Park. Their enrollment and membership fees were based on an all-female spa where privacy was part of the theme.

Mid-membership, the spa closed, and members were redirected to 24-hour fitness clubs, which are co-ed and have an entirely different theme and amenities from Linda Evans. The “Life After Linda” group, led by Fullerton business-owner Carol Edmonston, appealed to my office for help. I helped enlist District Attorney Tony Rackauckus, whose year-long negotiations finally yielded results.

New Faces, New Opportunities

Kristyn Hursh has joined our staff as a summer intern. She will work 12 hours per week, earning college credits through the Cal State Fullerton Political Science Dept. A lifetime La Habra resident, Hursh is a Class of 2001 grad from La Habra H.S. where she served as ASB Vice-President and lettered in tennis. Hursh replaces Tom Hall, our previous intern, who enrolls in UCI this fall.

There is currently an opening on the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council for a representative from the Fourth District. Interested applicants should call Pam Nollkamper in my office at 714-834-3440. The opening was created by the resignation of Conrad DeWitte, who felt the body spent too much effort lobbying for more spending, without regards to other county needs. DeWitte advocates a “minority report” system, so the Board hears a full range of views. I thank Conrad for his service and for sharing his candid views, and welcome any who are interested in serving on this important citizen council.