In a post on Red County-OC today, blogger Cynthia Ward tries to make the case that Anaheim Council member Lorri Galloway’s move into her now home in Anaheim’s Colony neighborhood is a code violation becaue the home, a former quilt shop, isn’t zoned for residential use.Â
Galloway sent this statement on the matter exclusively to TheLiberalOC this morning:
“My beautiful historic home in the 4th district is zoned for residential/commercial uses just as many homes are (live-work lofts, etc). I did my homework and verified this with county registrar Neal Kelly who personally researched this property. Before we applied for utilities in our name, the city of Anaheim verified that this is a residence and eligible for residential, not commercial billing.Â
We moved our furniture in our new home with bedrooms and bathrooms just as any other home. I hosted my entire family (all seven siblings and their children and my parents) this past Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s dinners). I have also held numerous business, political and campaign meetings in my home.Â
It is located less than a mile from the Eli Home headquarters and less than a mile from City Hall. It is in the heart of the city of Anaheim and in the heart of the 4th district. aAs you know, Anaheim is 40 percent of the 4th district. We have not sold our house in Anaheim Hills and do not intend to. We have two grown daughters who may decide to raise families there. I am deeply committed to the people I serve in the entire city of Anaheim and am proud of where I live. I have nothing to hide and that is why I am hosting a coffee chat in my home. I hope to see you here.”
Ward maintains: “…the address given by the FFF people of 1155 E. Lincoln Avenue is an adaptive reuse site, zoned by the City of Anaheim for a land use of Light Commercial/Retail. Anaheim’s Code Enforcement staff has confirmed that it is illegal to establish residence in a structure zoned for commercial use. Clearly someone in a position of responsibility like Councilwoman Galloway would never willlingly break the law in an attempt to gain a seat for an election she was otherwise unqualified for. But just to ensure that no life-safety issues are being presented by someone living in a structure clearly defined by the City of Anaheim as uninhabitable for residential use, the staff at Code Enforcement will be looking into the issue.”
It’s too bad Mz. Galloway can’t grasp the elementary zoning regulations in her own city. It also doesn’t make sense why someone would go to the county to check on a city ordinance. And what in the world does the registrar know about zoning issues?
Mz. Galloway would be best off to heed the advice of that old saw: “Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
What I said was….IF Lorri Galloway is residing at 1155 E. Lincoln Avenue, as claimed by the Fullerton blog, the City of Anaheim, in its zoning and land use resources http://gis.anaheim.net/ParcelInfo/Zoning.aspx?APN=03523434 shows that the parcel that encompasses the 3 addresses listed there to be designated for commercial and retail uses. An inquiry to Code Enforcement confirms that residing at a location with that land use is against the law. If Lorri Galloway is living on Bill T’s site, I do not care what the County or Utilities might say, the City’s Planning Department says it is not allowed, and therefore a violation of Municipal Code. I expect better from an elected official looking for a higher office. On the other hand, i do not expect anything better from Galloway.
Note to Lorri…
Call the ANAHEIM Planning Department on Tuesday and check on the eligible uses for your new “home.”
No need for her to call, Bill T, the owner of the property is already taking the blame. She better find a new address quick! She’s no better than Harry Sidhu! And THATS saying something!
I didn’t know that the Registrar of Voters (or Anaheim Public Utilities) had jurisdiction over local zoning issues! Note that she doesn’t say that she contacted the city’s Code Enforcement or Planning divisions before planning her move.
Again, Lorri Galloway is telling a bald-faced lie — the property that her “home” sits upon is zoned O-L (“Low-Density Office”). There is *NO* provision in Municipal Code for a live/work situation; read Section 18.38.120 of the Code (the portion that governs use of a converted residential structure in an O-L zone), and tell me how it is legal for Galloway to occupy that property residentially.
(What does the zoning for an actual live/work area look like? Take a look at the parcel info for the “Harbor Lofts” project at the corner of Harbor and Lincoln. While the parcel is zoned commercially, it’s part of the DMU [“Downtown Mixed Use”] overlay zone, which explicitly permits residential uses on the property.)
Does Galloway think that obeying the law is only for the little people? That she can do whatever it takes to meet her ends, and just make up the justifications to excuse her behavior later? Her “home” may have bathrooms, but what she’s doing is just as illegal as someone living in a converted garage or a tilt-up warehouse building. As someone who’s currently building a small outbuilding on my property in Anaheim and who is spending considerable extra time and money to make sure that it is code-compliant, I’m really upset that one of my local ‘leaders’ thinks that city code just doesn’t matter.
(As for the tissue-paper thin excuse that she hasn’t sold her Third District home because her two daughters “may decide to raise families there” [in some kind of communal living situation, apparently] — why not sell it to one of them? CUT THE CORD, Galloway — show us you’re dedicated to the Fourth District and not keeping one hand on an escape hatch in the event of your loss.)
Interesting choice of photo for this post, Dan.
Has Congresswoman Sanchez made an endorsement in this race?
If not, it’s somewhat misleading to readers.
But not unexpected from you.
Publius,
Given that this story is not a campaign mailer, I am not clear on how the picture of two elected officials together at a food bank should be confused as an endorsement. As far as we know, Congresswoman Sanchez has not made any endorsement in the 4th District race.
Dan was simply trying to find a good photo to use with his post rather than using the same one over and over. That said, we do have some file photos of Lorri that we will try to make better use of in the future.
Chris-
You know as well as I do that there is a tacit implication of support by the use of the photo.
Visual images are stronger than words.
Oh please Pub– I have used this photo before. And I can chose what photo to use. Interesting that I used a photo of Beth Krom with Bill Clinton the other day and you didn’t chime in on that.
Has anyone thought to ask Lorri’s landlord about the rental agreement? If she couldn’t live there, wouldn’t he/she/corp. know that?
It seems like Republicans are always intent on eliminating candidates by means other than the ballot box.
I know, let’s check Lorri’s birth certificate.
1135-55-75 E. Lincoln Avenue
Hello,
My name is Bill Taormina. I am the owner of the subject property. I have been leasing this property (three buildings on a single lot) to numerous mixed-use tenants (both residential and commercial users) for nearly five years. All of my current and past tenants enjoy(ed) the fact that they could live above their business. My own sister actually did that, and now her General Manager lives above her business (Timeless Quilts) on that property. This property was planned, designed, and approved for mixed use since its inception and I have had no issues, complaints, or other problems regarding its use. Next week, I will have my property manager and Realtor visit City Hall to re-verify everything regarding the mixed-use of this property. It is very important to note that should a mistake, misunderstanding, or error have been made regarding this situation, I take FULL RESPONSIBILTY for it. Through my property manager, I represented this property to Lorri as mixed use and if there is an issue with this, I will rectify it without delay. Please contact me by cell (714)308-0220 or by email billtaormina@aol.com and I will be happy to answer any questions anyone may have. Lorri Galloway, her employees, and her clients have been exemplary tenants and assets to our community. I welcome Lorri and her associates to Downtown Anaheim and I wish her continued success as she continues to serve both as an elected public official and in her role as Founder and Executive Director of the Eli Home.
Sincerely,
Bill Taormina
Well of course you take full responsibility! You’ve been her supporter for years! When your done verifying the legality of this agreement with Lorri Galloway, how about you show us that she’s paying a fair market rate for the property, and not a sweetheart deal?
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEthicsMatter#p/a/u/0/382Rst2XJP4
How CONVENIENT that the “galliant” Councilmember is not selling her old home!CUT THE CORD LORRI! I cannot believe that even after carpetbagging into a district, you would not even sell your old residence as a show of good faith and indication of complete compliance with the rule of law!
Her Anaheim Hills home is her property to do with as she pleases. Her good faith was established the moment she moved to the Colony neighborhood. Owning property in the district does not prevent someone from running or from being a candidate.
I believe when Chris Prevatt ran for office, he was a renter. When Paul Lucas ran, I believe he was a renter. When Steve Perez ran, he was a renter or still lived at home at his parent’s house while attending school. Our pal at OJ “Irvine Reporter” likely stil maintains a legal residence in the city with his parent’s home.
And likewise, there is no legal obligation for a landlord and renter to disclose whether someone is paying “fair market rate.” That rate is established and agreed to between two parties.
With a significant chunk of Lorri’s daily time at the Eli Home in the 4th district, there is an argument to be made that she is far more in tune with the needs of voters in the 4th district than you give her credit for.
Galloway wouldn’t be living in her “home” if she weren’t carpetbagging it in to run for Supervisor. Therefore, I think that the details of Galloway’s rental arrangement are extremely pertinent, especially if (as I’ve heard) she’ll also be using it as her campaign headquarters. Is she paying market rate, or is she getting an in-kind donation from Bill Taormina? Is she paying for the rental out-of-pocket, or is it being paid for by her campaign?
(If, say, Mike Carona or Chris Norby had been getting a below-market rate on a crash pad from a former campaign contributor, would you soft-pedal it, saying that it was a matter “between two parties”?)
With a significant chunk of Lorri’s daily time at the Eli Home in the 4th district, there is an argument to be made that she is far more in tune with the needs of voters in the 4th district than you give her credit for.
Oh, please. What about the hundreds of thousands of residents of the Fourth District who aren’t clients of the Eli Home, and who have needs that are quite different from a typical social-services client? You’ve made this argument multiple times, and I’m never quite sure what you’re getting at here. Are you just choosing to paint the district with an extremely broad brush, or are you arguing that those of us who live in the district who aren’t one of Galloway’s favored client groups should give up our representation for four years so that Galloway can have another platform for her results-free grandstanding?
Rationalize for Lorri all you want, Dan, but as a Fourth District resident and owner of an actual Colony District historical home (that has a yard instead of a cement parking lot, and doesn’t feature a lighted corner sign, unlike Lorri’s “home”), I find her motivations transparent and her actions to date insulting — the exact opposite of good faith.
Headline: Galloway’s Entry In 4thSup Race Makes Big Splash
Sub-headline: Galloway’s opponents attack her on erroneous technicalities likely to only increases Galloway’s visibility to voters.
Note: Galloway’s opponents are a vicious anti-development and anti-working family crowd who have opposed her from day one of her career. Daly has shamelessly teamed up with this crowd, typifying his political character.
anti-working family crowd
Well, you found me out! I’d better go tell my wife and son that they don’t exist, right after I finish lighting this Cuban cigar with this sheaf of hundred-dollar-bills that I withdrew from my trust fund this morning.
Good thing that the working poor have such an effective champion in Lorri Galloway. I mean, look at how her front-and-center intervention in the SunCal matter resulted in all that new affordable housing — oh, wait. Well, at least the Disneyland Hotel workers can take comfort in the fact that Galloway’s intervention in their contract negotiations resulted in — oh, wait. But thankfully Lorri has always been such a tireless worker for affordable housing in the Platinum Triangle and Anaheim Hills — oh, wait. What’s that? She actually supported measures against affordable housing in the Platinum Triangle? Hunh — who would’ve thunk it?
With a record of proven performance like she’s been racking up in Anaheim, think how effective she’ll be on the Board of Supervisors! Oh, wait.
Well, at least she talks a good game, and she’s always front-and-center when it’s time to take pictures; I guess that’s good enough to satisfy folks like Daniel.
Daniel, What is your interest in this? You live in the 3rd District. Let the voters of the 4th District decide who represents us.
By the way, I drive by Lorri’s new place everyday on a carpool route, and I keep wanting to stop and welcome her to the ‘hood, maybe drop off the new potluck calendar, but I can never seem to catch her at home….
Colony, You are absolutely right he lives in the 3rd Supervisorial District, of Los Angeles County. Hey Daniel, worry about getting Zev Youroslovsky re-elected.
Daniel- Erroneous technicalities? Is that all the rules are to you Daniel? It seems like your headed to having the same serious, ethical lapses that your mentor has, a pity, but not unexpected given your thoughts and positions.
Note: I’m far from vicious and my family is ACTUALLY a working family. Like I told you before, I actually LIVE within a block or two of the Eli home segunda, so please keep your self-serving libel in that pretentious brain of yours before I get annoyed and really hurt your feelings.
Colony Rabble- You know very well what his interests are. Apart from the fact that he hails from the 3rd and Anaheim Hills, he also has a annoying trait of thinking he knows better than even the people who reside where his unethical mentor is carpetbagging into. Pretentious indeed!
Luke,
Unfortunately us denizens of Central OC have a history of having people from the Hills and South County coming to our neck of the woods to let us know what is best for us. Somehow we are not educated enough to do it ourselves. There is a wise Democratic sage who gave mme a theory as to why this is. Unfortunately the world has a history of outsiders coming into an area where they look down on the populace and telling them how they oughta live their lives.
I much prefer this headline –
Candidate Galloway’s Coffee Stunt Backfires to Show Her Lack of Ethics Once Again!
Lorri “Rules just apply to the little people” Galloway tries to convince voters she lives in unoccupied commercial building that houses her campaign office, despite zoning regulations of the city she has been elected to govern.
In her haste to convince locals she has real roots, she reveals a sweetheart deal with a major campaign donor/waste hauler with a city contract.
OOPS!
Lorri-G has no moral compass. She will do anything to get herself to the position her minions believe she deserves. It’s over for Lorri!
From a political stand point, Lorri Galloway’s greatest attribute is that her opponents always sound unreasonable and angry. See Above.
When they can not personally attack her anymore, they turn to her supporters. This has been played out before and Galloway has emerged a winner with popular support.
The operative fact, which is missing from the discussion, in that voters in central and west Anaheim a huge part of the fourth, voted overwhelmingly for Lorri Galloway in 2008.
Yawn.
Daniel, again with the spin. The voters do not support Lorri, the unions do, and it was the unions that went out on election day, checked voter records, and dragged people out of their homes to vote for her. The only thing missing was the whisky barrel outside the precinct station for a shot per vote. When did Anaheim become Chicago?!
So, if an organization goes to peoples homes and encourages them to participate (or even assists in facilitation of participation) of the most basic form of democracy, they are corrupt???
Wow, how low have we sunk as a nation where this type of comment passes for political discourse.
Is there any evidence of voter intimidation or bribery in the history of elections by Unions in Orange County which you can site as a rational basis for making such a ludicrous statement?
As usual people try to bring Lorri down however, this statement shows that she is following the rules and I am sure the code violation will be cleared up quickly!
Your statement that there was a “VIOLATION” that need to “be cleared up” shows that there was some sort of wrongdoing to begin with – right?
Lorri Galloway has a pattern of behaving as though the rules/laws that apply to the rest of us simply don’t apply to her. It’s DISTURBING!!
It would appear that the City Of Anaheim does not feel there is a code violation at that property, or at least they are not planning to investigate one there.
LOL Publius, Lorri did follow the rules. However, her property owner, Bill Taormin was unaware that there were any zoning issues. He took responsibility for it. This was not her fault.