OC UNFAIR » Wake up Call for the Board http://ocunfair.com All that is necessary for the triumph for evil, is that good men do nothing - Edmund Burke Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:14:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Summary of Alleged Corruption http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/summary-of-alleged-corruption/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/summary-of-alleged-corruption/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:43:02 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=301 If you want to get a good (yet sour) taste of the  alleged corruption that exists on this Fair Board, check this article out.

]]> If you want to get a good (yet sour) taste of the  alleged corruption that exists on this Fair Board, check this article out.

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/summary-of-alleged-corruption/feed/ 1 Assemblymen Solorio and Tran want to hear from YOU! http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/assemblymen-solorio-and-tran-want-to-hear-from-you/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/assemblymen-solorio-and-tran-want-to-hear-from-you/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:00:49 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=255 California State Assemblymembers Jose Solorio and Van Tran are holding an Informational Hearing Regarding the Sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds on Monday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Costa Mesa City Council Chambers (77 Fair Drive).

According the the e-mail that was sent out yesterday, “this informational hearing will allow panelists [...]]]> California State Assemblymembers Jose Solorio and Van Tran are holding an Informational Hearing Regarding the Sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds on Monday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Costa Mesa City Council Chambers (77 Fair Drive).

According the the e-mail that was sent out yesterday, “this informational hearing will allow panelists and attendees (emphasis added) an opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns regarding the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds.  A representative from the California Department of General Services will also be at the hearing to discuss the process currently underway for the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds.”

To RSVP or for more information, please email John Nam in Assemblyman Solorio’s office at john.nam@asm.ca.gov or call 714-939-8469.

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/assemblymen-solorio-and-tran-want-to-hear-from-you/feed/ 0 City of Costa Mesa to tighten restrictions on Fair Ground use http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/city-of-costa-mesa-to-tighten-restrictions-on-fair-ground-use/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/city-of-costa-mesa-to-tighten-restrictions-on-fair-ground-use/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:25:40 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=245 As reported today, the City of Costa Mesa approved a staff request to prepare a “Specific Plan” to tighten the restrictions on the potential use of the fairgrounds if it is sold.  Aware that this type of restriction is but a temporary fix should a new council majority come in and change the zoning in [...]]]> As reported today, the City of Costa Mesa approved a staff request to prepare a “Specific Plan” to tighten the restrictions on the potential use of the fairgrounds if it is sold.  Aware that this type of restriction is but a temporary fix should a new council majority come in and change the zoning in the future, the City Council asked the City Attorney to look into whether the zoning for the fairgrounds can be locked in by a vote of the residents and only be UNDONE by a vote of the residents.  Unless, this can be done, all the specific plans and zoning regulations in the world won’t do any good because a future council majority can always undo what has been done.

The only safe route is to have the Governor rescind the RFP.  E-mail the Governor and ask him to pull the RFP off the table.  With the zoning restrictions and the new specific plan, the state won’t receive anywhere close to market value for the property. 

Selling the property to the proposed non-profit board would simply be a way-station to the sale to a commercial property owner.  That’s why the state has it written into the RFP that they get a cut for any FUTURE development of the property. 

The only good sale is no sale.  Save the fair.  Tell the state to take this property off the market.

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/city-of-costa-mesa-to-tighten-restrictions-on-fair-ground-use/feed/ 0 It’s Official, the Fairgrounds are FOR SALE! http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/it%e2%80%99s-official-the-fairgrounds-are-for-sale/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/it%e2%80%99s-official-the-fairgrounds-are-for-sale/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:05:37 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=180 Beazley and Ellis have taken the next step on their efforts at a land grab.  They’ve allowed the state to put the fairgrounds up for sale.  Watch now as Beazley and Ellis form a “non-profit” to buy the land for pennies on the dollar, then let their friends at AEG turn the fairgrounds into LA [...]]]> Beazley and Ellis have taken the next step on their efforts at a land grab.  They’ve allowed the state to put the fairgrounds up for sale.  Watch now as Beazley and Ellis form a “non-profit” to buy the land for pennies on the dollar, then let their friends at AEG turn the fairgrounds into LA Live South.  The traffic, noise and commotion it will cause for the local neighbors will be immaterial to Beazley and Ellis, who are looking to recreate a new non-profit board, which means… no more public meetings… no more public review of their inner workings… and you can bet their front-row tickets will be reinstated at the very least and don’t be surprised to see Ellis work as a “consultant” for AEG and reap thousands upon thousands of dollars so AEG has access to this prime real estate at a “best-friend” rate.

The City of Costa Mesa, the local neighbors, the Orange County Register and others better wake up to this scheme before it’s too late!

View RFP_for_sale_of_fairgrounds

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/it%e2%80%99s-official-the-fairgrounds-are-for-sale/feed/ 3 Will Board Stand Up To Beazley? http://ocunfair.com/uncategorized/will-board-stand-up-to-beazley/ http://ocunfair.com/uncategorized/will-board-stand-up-to-beazley/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:56:09 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=176 Steve Beazley’s efforts to put the OC Marketplace vendors out of business for two months during the summer may be his “bridge too far.” The Board is finally starting to question his “leadership” and should start looking at him motives. With thanks to Pacific Progressive, here is a post on their blog about the happenings [...]]]> Steve Beazley’s efforts to put the OC Marketplace vendors out of business for two months during the summer may be his “bridge too far.” The Board is finally starting to question his “leadership” and should start looking at him motives. With thanks to Pacific Progressive, here is a post on their blog about the happenings at the September 24 Board meeting.

]]> http://ocunfair.com/uncategorized/will-board-stand-up-to-beazley/feed/ 4 Board Must Get Off the Sidelines http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/board-must-get-off-the-sidelines/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/board-must-get-off-the-sidelines/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:29:39 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=32 It’s time for this board to wake up to its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers.  A small board faction is conspiring with a power-mad CEO to lead the inattentive board majority down a path of destruction.  The board allowed the Beazley-Ellis faction to strip them of their committees and set the scene for them to [...]]]> It’s time for this board to wake up to its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers.  A small board faction is conspiring with a power-mad CEO to lead the inattentive board majority down a path of destruction.  The board allowed the Beazley-Ellis faction to strip them of their committees and set the scene for them to sell off this state property at a price that is simply too good to be true. This new organization is going to buy state land at 10% of its true value under the authority of themselves. This is literally robbery and it is amazing that the rest of the board would go along with this.

Where is the leadership from such board members as Dale Dykema, Julie Vandermost or the Chairperson, Kristina Dodge?

You may say that $30 million is a reasonable cost for a piece of land that is not currently zoned for residential or commercial development.  If history has taught us anything, it’s that any political seat can be bought for the right price.  If this new “non-profit organization” (made up from existing board members) that buys the fair from the state has a chance to turn a $30 million investment into a $300 million windfall, don’t you think buying three votes on the Costa Mesa City Council to change the zoning would be worth the $270 million profit?

It’s time for this board to wake up to its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. A
small board faction is conspiracy with a power-mad CEO to lead the inattentive board
majority down a path of destruction. The board allowed the Beazley-Ellis faction strip
them of their committees and set the scene for them to sell off this state property at a
price that is simply too good to be true.
You may say that $30 million is a reasonable cost for a piece of land that is not
currently zoned for residential or commercial development. If history has taught us
anything, it’s that any political seat can be bought for the right price. If this new “nonprofit
organization” (made up from existing board members) that buys the fair from the
state have a chance to turn a $30 million investment into a $300 million windfall, don’t
you think buying three votes on the Costa Mesa City Council to change the zoning
would be worth the $270 million profit?
]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/board-must-get-off-the-sidelines/feed/ 0 Fair Employees Left to Fend for Themselves http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/fair-employees-left-to-fend-for-themselves/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/fair-employees-left-to-fend-for-themselves/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:32:23 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=36 Once Beazley and Ellis consolidate their power, sell the fairgrounds to themselves and cancel all future public meetings, the fair employees will be in real trouble.  By firing long time fair employee and volunteer Bob Mosley, Beazley has made it clear that those who question his plan could lose their jobs.  With this much money [...]]]> Once Beazley and Ellis consolidate their power, sell the fairgrounds to themselves and cancel all future public meetings, the fair employees will be in real trouble.  By firing long time fair employee and volunteer Bob Mosley, Beazley has made it clear that those who question his plan could lose their jobs.  With this much money at stake (hundreds of millions of dollars), Ellis and Beazley need to push this through fast before the media or – more importantly – the rest of the board catches on to their scheme.

Additionally one wonders about the cozy report between Beazley and the OC Marketplace.  Why would Beazley move heaven and earth to help his buddy Jeff Teller in the Marketplace Village this past June?

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/fair-employees-left-to-fend-for-themselves/feed/ 0 Weird Beazley’s Brain http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/weird-beazley%e2%80%99s-brain/ http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/weird-beazley%e2%80%99s-brain/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:31:29 +0000 OCunfair http://ocunfair.com/?p=34 The “Weird Al’s Brain” concept at the 2009 fair was an unmitigated disaster.  It cost the fair $3 million and Weird Al retains all rights to it… the Orange County Fair simply bought the right to use it for three years (yes, we have two more years of this boondoggle whether we like it or [...]]]> The “Weird Al’s Brain” concept at the 2009 fair was an unmitigated disaster.  It cost the fair $3 million and Weird Al retains all rights to it… the Orange County Fair simply bought the right to use it for three years (yes, we have two more years of this boondoggle whether we like it or not).

Beazley said the Orange County Fair would MAKE money on this ridiculous scheme because they’d be able to sell the rights to other fairs.  Not surprisingly, not one other fair paid for the right to show this “infotainment experience.”

Yet this $3 million waste of tax dollars is chicken feed compared to the plans going on behind the scenes now.  Ellis and Beazley are scheming to sell off the fairgrounds at the bargain basement price of $30 million to… (wait for it)… THEMSELVES!

That’s right… On July 21, 2009, the fair board formed a SEPARATE 501(c)(3)non-profit organization called the “OC Fair and Event Center Foundation” to buy the fairgrounds from themselves. The fairgrounds are estimated to be worth about $300 million, but since they’re selling state land to themselves, they’ve given themselves a 90% discount and plan to snap up this valuable real estate for the bargain basement price of $30 million.  The buildings and infrastructure on the property alone are worth between $75 – $150 million.

As this new reconsituted non-profit entity, the board plans to buy the fairgrounds from themselves as fair board members and because they would no longer be associated with a public agency, they could give themselves big salaries, free front-row tickets and other perks behind the comfort of closed door meetings that would never again be open to the public.

]]> http://ocunfair.com/wake-up-call-for-the-board/weird-beazley%e2%80%99s-brain/feed/ 0