Voters May Limit Eminent Domain

Over a million signatures have just been submitted to the California Secretary State to qualify the “Protect Our Homes” initiative on the November statewide ballot. Funded by New York philanthropist Howie Rich and headed locally by Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel), the initiative would limit eminent domain to purely public uses, and also compensate property owners for certain zoning and environmental takings.

A simpler initiative limiting eminent domain—without the zoning and environmental clauses—was backed by a San Jose-based volunteer coalition, but failed to garner the signatures for 2006 and will try for 2008.

Meanwhile, here in OC, Measure A on the June ballot will allow voters to limit eminent domain by the County of Orange to only public projects. Measure A would prohibit the use of eminent domain by the County to promote private development or effect private real estate transactions.

Below is a photo of myself at a recent California Conference on Redevelopment Reform in Burbank. I’m next to Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), indicating the liberal-conservative bipartisan alliance on this issue. Both spoke passionately of the need to protect small homeowners and businesses from eminent domain seizures like the one sanctioned by the Supreme Court’s 5-4 Kelo decision.

Property Rights Champions: Norby, Waters and McClintock

Burglars Beware: OC Has Your DNA

At Tuesday’s Board meeting, we had a presentation from District Attorney Tony Raukauckas and Sheriff Mike Carona regarding the DNA Expansion Program, a joint effort between the DA and Sheriff offices to solve high volume property crime with DNA testing.

The Sheriff’s crime lab was invited to participate in this program by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) because of our leadership in the use of DNA technology. The County of Orange is one of only five agencies nationwide selected for a pilot program to determine whether using DNA to solve and prevent crime is effective.

DNA can not only be obtained from blood and other body fluids but from items left behind or even touched or handled items. The Sheriff’s Crime lab is one of the few in the country capable of gathering DNA samples from touched or handled items.

Studies have shown that people who commit serious and violent crimes are highly likely to have started their life of crime committing burglaries. If we can apprehend people after they commit burglaries, hopefully we can prevent future violent crimes.

Placentia Island Annexation Discussed

A 76-acre unincorporated island surrounded by Placentia is being considered for annexation by that city. A little over 900 residents live in the island, roughly centered along Yorba Linda Blvd. and Hamer Lane.

The OC Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO) will hold a hearing on Wednesday, May 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Wagner School, 717 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. County policy is that small, scattered unincorporated islands are better served by being annexed into adjacent cities. Previous island annexation attempts in Anaheim and La Habra generated a great deal of concern and some organized opposition, but annexation can bring better services and representation to these enclaves.

County Quiz Results: 2 Perfect 10's

Thanks to the 25 readers who responded to the “Know Your Counties Quiz.” There were two perfect 10-for-10 scores: Ernie Schneider of Laguna Beach and Margaret Cady of Placentia.

Here are the answers:

1. Highest point in OC: A) Santiago Peak at 5,687 feet (higher than Denver). Along with Modjeska peak, it forms a distinctive profile long known as Saddleback.
   
2. Highest per-capita income in OC: B) Newport Beach at $63,000 annual income for every man, woman and child. Most readers guessed Villa Park, but the horse folks were edged out by the beach crowd in wealth.
   
3. Smallest population of California’s 58 counties: D) Alpine County with just over 1,000 people. It was formed during a short-lived silver boom in the 1860s, but few can brave its winters and isolation.
   
4. California’s wealthiest county: D) Marin County has an annual per-capita income of $45,000.
   
5. Percentage of OC residents foreign-born: B) 30% were born outside the USA. The rest of us can still sing along with Bruce Springsteen.
   
6. California’s smallest county in area: C) San Francisco is by far the smallest, and most densely populated, being a combined city-county.
   
7. Poorest of California’s counties: B) Imperial County, with a high percentage of farm workers, has an annual per capita income of 13,200, about 1/3 of the state’s average.
   
8. OC’s most valuable food crop: D) strawberries.
   
9. Most productive agricultural county: D) Fresno County leads California—and the nation—in annual value of agricultural production.
   
10. California’s largest school system: A) L.A. Unified School District with 741,000 K-12 students. For those of you who guessed the Cal State University system, it has just over 400,000 enrolled.