RIGONOMICS:City hall initiative worth vote

A lot has happened in the last few months.

Some of subjects we have touched on here are becoming hot issues in town. Though I might disagree with people who have positions opposite of mine, I want to state clearly that honorable people can disagree.

That of course does not make them right. My attitude is no matter how much I disagree with someone publicly, at least they are in the scuffle of ideas. They are putting their thoughts and ideas on the line for all to agree or condemn. Most people do not want to get into controversial subjects. So my hat goes off to all who get into the battle of ideas.

With that being said, let’s touch on some issues. Since last I wrote about the Newport Beach City Hall controversy, Bill Ficker has started collecting signatures for an initiative to put the city hall next to the city library on city-owned property to save the city about $21 million on land. Another group, Parks are Priceless, was started that does not want this initiative to go to the voters. No one disagrees that parks are important, but saving $21 million using 3 acres of a 12.8-acre vacant lot is worth at least voting on. Parks are valuable, but priceless.

The Great Park in Irvine, or should I say the great housing project, is moving forward on its $1.5 billion waste of taxpayers’ money. It was featured in the Wall Street Journal as the most expensive park under construction in the country by a factor of 15. The next most expensive park was $93 million in Houston. But you have to get a kick out of people who compare it to New York’s Central Park. As if Irvine is somehow equivalent to New York City.

Irvine has 150,000 people, excellent master planned communities, great weather. The Great Park’s $4.6 million balloon is set to launch today. This does not include operating the balloon rides estimated at $975,000 per year. No worry, free rides until … whatever. Remember, parks are priceless in O.C.

Immigration reform lost in the United States Senate. Lucky for us. The more enforcement issues got into the bill, the more it became evident the feds could never keep up their end of the bargain. Border fences, overnight background checks on 12 million people, auditing back taxes, and all this being handled by the same people who can’t get U.S. citizens passports in 12 weeks.

I don’t think so. Love those Democrat senators, including our own Dianne Feinstein, who wanted to bring back the Fairness Doctrine to radio. After they lost their immigration bill they wanted to attack the people who inform the public, talk radio. Senators don’t like being told how to vote.

Lastly, KOCE. I got a call from Jo Ellen Allen, a good friend and chairwoman of the KOCE-TV Foundation. She was not real happy with my take on the strange financing for the sale of KOCE from the Coast Community College District to the foundation. No payments for five years. No interest for 30. I don’t blame the foundation for negotiating a great deal. I just wonder if the college trustees had anyone on the taxpayers’ side of the table.

I met with both Jo Ellen and KOCE General Manager Mel Rodgers to get the foundation’s side of it. They both give a compelling argument for why Orange County should have its own PBS station. My issue is not if Orange County should have its own station. My issue is whether there was a gift of public funds (which is a crime) at the expense of students, teachers and taxpayers. I am getting the rest of the court and public documents to settle the price and term inconsistencies.

As of now, the numbers still do not add up. Answer this question for me: Why would the district’s November 2004 press release, announcing the closing of the sale to the foundation, say the price was $28 million when the asset and purchase agreement states it is $25.5 million? Another $2.5 million price drop in the back room.

You should ask college trustee and Corona del Mar resident Walter G. Howard what happened to the $2.5 million. He was a trustee when it happened, and he is still one now. Not to worry; it’s only taxpayer money. Stay tuned.