TheLiberalOC has learned that former Irvine Mayor and Council member Larry Agran has put together a small group of investors and together they have acquired the alternative weekly newspaper “OC Weekly” from Voice Media Group for less than the cost of a new home in the Great Park Neighborhoods.
The firm of Dirks, Van Essen & Murray helped broker the deal by which the new AgranMedia Inc.will not incur any debt the publications carried on their books that inhibited others from making a solid offer for the Weekly. The deal is believed to be around $888,888 because “8’s are lucky.”
Agran wouldn’t comment on the deal but a source close to the sale said, “Oh they’ll be some changes in content and in the type of advertising we’ll do after. We’re also going to require our reporters to actually speak to the subject of every story, but we bought the Weekly for what amounts to a 30-year mortgage in Irvine.”
When asked if the popular feature “Ask a Mexican” would survive, the source said “Sure, but we’ll expand the idea to other ethnicities…imagine ‘Ask a Korean’ or ‘Ask a Persian’? And it’s not out of the question for a “Ask an Irish-German-Scot.” We also see “Ask a Geezer,” “Ask a Teen” and “Ask a Soccer Mom” columns.
So this means that Gustavo Arellano is safe?
“Who?” said the source.
What about the popular “Stick a Fork In It” food blog?
“We’ll want that section expanded too,” said the source. “You know they have never reviewed the Red Robin at the Irvine Spectrum? Those steak fries are amazing.”
What about R. Scott Moxley?
“Larry is looking forward to meeting and speaking with Moxley for the first time ever,” they said. “The two have never met. Moxley’s never met or spoken with Beth Krom either.”
The new and improved OC Weekly debuts June 1.
The consortium is also eyeing a bid for the OC Register but any deal would require no assumption of debt acquired during the last ownership experience. And contracts with existing Republican/Conservative/Libertarian columnists on the Editorial/Opinion pages would be terminated to present a more realistic view of the county’s politics of which Libertarian represents a tiny percentage.
Could be true. After all, Commie Girl bought Wonkette with a sub sandwich.
and made it better of you ask me
Well, there goes the last true independent paper news source in town. I don’t see Arellano kowtowing to the likes of Agran so, I hope Larry has someone lined up to write that Ask a Korean/Indian/White Guy column.
The OCW thrives because of its controversial content. There’s nothing controversial about a crook like Agran. Expect the OCW to become another political flyer for an egotist.
Jeff, check the date on the story and the byline 😉