Supes Scrutinize Anaheim H.S. Bonds

When voters of the Anaheim Union High School District approved $132 million bond measure in 2002 they were told all 22 high school and junior high school campuses would be upgraded. Instead, financial mismanagement, weak oversight and runaway costs mean that only eight campuses will receive any funds. The other fourteen will continue to deteriorate. A $73 million state matching grant was lost, as the district has already spent its share of the match.

The Anaheim Union High School District is the state’s largest high school district in the state, serving 37,000 grade 7-12 students in Anaheim, Cypress, La Palma and Buena Park. Most of the AUHSD lies within my Fourth Supervisorial District, but it also overlaps into Bill Campbell’s Third District and Jim Silva’s Second District. In addition, First District Supervisor Lou Correa is an Anaheim H.S. graduate.

So, there was a lot of Supervisorial interest yesterday when the Anaheim school bonds appeared on our Board agenda. Normally, this would have been a routine approval of a $12 million installment of the bond sales. By law, all county school bonds are subject to Board approval, but such approval is required and routine so long as the bonds were properly approved by district voters (which they were in 2002).

The discussion was hardly routine. Anaheim Union High School District Trustee member Denise Reinking spoke at length of the school board’s frustration at getting accurate updates and information. Three different superintendents have now come and gone, as well as other district personnel. The answers she could not get from her own district staff she was asking the county to provide. Accompanying her was Assistant Superintendent Holcomb, who seems to have gotten a grip on the situation.

While the Board of Supervisors has no financial or legal authority over local school districts, both the Grand Jury and the District Attorney do conduct investigations, and D.A. Tony Rackauckas’ office is looking into this matter. The Board did approve the bond installment, but only with the understanding that we’ll receive monthly updates of the D.A.’s investigation and its final report will bring public accountability.

Eminent Domain Reform
Coalition Broadens

Reaction to the Supreme Court’s 5-4 Kelo vs. New London continues, as 38 state legislatures are proceeding with limits on eminent domain powers by local governments. In California, several proposed constitutional amendments may soon be circulating, as reform efforts at the legislative level have stalled.

AB590 by Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel) would have limited eminent domain to only public projects, but was killed in committee. AB1162 by Assemblyman Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco) places a moratorium on eminent domain on owner-occupied single family homes, but leave apartments and businesses still open to seizure to benefit private parties. Last month, the California Democratic Party’s executive board voted to support efforts to limit eminent domain to public uses—not for private development. Legislative Dems should take note.

In his State-of-the-City address, Mayor Curt Pringle proposed an Anaheim charter amendment to limit eminent domain, and a similar measure is being considered for Orange County. Bi-partisan alliances include Fox’s Hannity and Colmes, who both railed against the Kelo decision, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), who will be speaking on a joint forum I will be hosting this April 22 in Burbank. Call my office for details.

Tiger Woods Center Opens Friday

I will be joining Former President Bill Clinton and other sports and political dignitaries for the official opening of the Tiger Woods Learning Center this Friday at noon. The 14-acre facility will serve over 3,000 local students, and was built with $4 million in private donations.

In the heart of the Fourth Supervisorial District, the Tiger Woods Center is adjacent to the Dad Miller Golf Course, an Anaheim city facility built on county flood control property. As a student at nearby Western High School, Tiger Woods often played high school and recreational golf at the course. Friday’s opening is by invitation only. Parents interested in enrolling their kids in upcoming programs should call 714-765-8000.