Exclusive to TheLiberalOC from Irvine Council member Melissa Fox:
Thank you for your message on the Orange County Veterans Cemetery.
I believe that the Strawberry Field Site is by far the most advantageous for the residents of Irvine. This site, overwhelmingly preferred by the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Committee (OCVMP), saves at a minimum $77.5 million in city, state and national tax dollars, does not require the substantial remediation and decontamination of the original site, and reduces traffic through the City.
I was one of the earliest and strongest advocates for a Veterans Cemetery located at the old El Toro Marine Air Station. I attended and spoke at every Irvine City Council meeting where the Veterans Cemetery was discussed. As an Irvine resident and as the daughter of an Orange County Korean War combat veteran, I believe that it is time that Orange County offered its veterans, who have sacrificed so much for us, a final resting place close to their families and loved ones.
My strong commitment to an Orange County Veterans Cemetery located on the grounds of the old El Toro Marine base in Irvine has never wavered. My goal remains to establish this cemetery as expeditiously as possible.
Here are the facts:
- The original ARDA Site and the proposed Strawberry Field Site are both within the borders of the old El Toro Marine Base.
- Neither the ARDA Site nor the Strawberry Field Site are within the boundaries of the Great Park. Both are contiguous to the Great Park: The Wildlife Corridor bisects the Strawberry Field Site and the ARDA Site sits just to the north of the park.
- For providing the Strawberry Field Site and a financial commitment to build the entirety of the veterans cemetery through Phase 1, the developer seeks no additional entitlements, only to move what they already have at the Strawberry Field Site to the ARDA Site, adding no additional traffic and no additional automobile trips.
- The $77.5 million estimate to prepare the ARDA site is only an estimate. The ARDA Site contains 77 buildings that would need to be demolished, and a dump site filled with unknown materials dumped over the entire lifespan of the base which is the largest Superfund Project in the Nation.
- The ARDA Site contains FAA facilities that must remain in use and cannot be removed.
- The Strawberry Fields Site is currently used as agricultural fields. No decontamination or demolition would be necessary before construction could begin.
- The majority of the funding for the Great Park comes from a settlement with the State of California for the return of $280 million over an unspecified period of time. A portion of those funds are dedicated to affordable housing, leaving $258 million available for the Park. The $38 million proposed by the City would come from these funds, necessarily reducing the funds available for gardens, museums, a library, maintenance and operations.
- The veteran members of the OCVMP Committee, who have fought for an Orange County Veterans Cemetery on the grounds of the old MCAS El Toro for many years, favor the Strawberry Field Site because it would be more visible from the freeway, has easier access, and the motorcade traffic and daily rifle volleys would not impact surrounding residences and schools.
- The ARDA was last appraised in 2014 at $9,425,224. In 2105, the developer sold 72 acres adjacent to the Strawberry Field Site for $128,000,000.
Again, thank you for your concern and your input.
Sincerely,
Melissa Fox
Councilmember, Irvine City Council
She makes sense. This is the right move.
http://voiceofoc.org/2017/06/jaffe-and-martinez-the-citizens-voice-has-laryngitis-again/
Was thinking the og site was good, but this makes more sense all around for tax payers and the vets.
three names from same IP address …. pick a name boys
She needs to be recalled. Siding with two homophobes.
Now that Fox has lied to her constituents more than once why would I believe anything that she has to say. She talks like a Dem and then turns around and votes like any other Republican who is owned by big business. Shameful behavior.
The only shameful behavior I see here is for someone on the outside, to criticize an objective decision made by an elected official. Tell your BFF Larry Agran, better luck next time.
Pat, you don’t even live here anymore and you are criticizing me for exercising my rights to free speech? Things are so good here that you left. Shea has done a great job for the developers and she has managed to have a huge hand in completely ruining our city.
Shea was against the cemetery before she was for it. Wonder if she got a success fee from Haddad.
They should rename it Cocoa Puff National Cemetery!
CRAZY GREG, has switched sides and taking the politically expedient way out (surprise). What a whore.
The best way to recover from a HUMILIATING LOSS: pick a new fight, and backhanded bash your preciously victorious opponents/enemies. What a child.
Thank you Melissa for your objective and courageous position on the Veteran’s Cemetery. It would have been easy to roll over and play to the whims of Larry Agran and new found friends, “Bully Boy” Lalloway and “Rubber Stamp, Lynn Schott. But you chose the higher path instead and the Veterans thank you for it. You will have my support in the future. .
Does Christina Shea ask you to get her coffee in the morning and you come by in your jammies?
Politicians who stand behind the flag and veterans, then sell out to big business are the lowest of the low. Melissa betrayed the people who worked hard to get her elected. Shame on her.
Actually, the lowest of the low are people like “Alan” who hide behind online anonymity while insulting others, especially others who put themselves on the front line by taking public positions on controversial issues — in other words, real leaders.
Far from being ashamed, Melissa should be tremendously proud of standing up what she believes is best for veterans and the residents of Irvine, no matter the political cost.
On the question of political cost, however, know this: The people who worked hard to get Melissa elected were her own campaign staff and her own volunteers, as well as volunteers from the firefighters and other unions. The great majority of these people applaud Melissa for her vote last night, and, for the most part, even those who campaigned for her but disagree with her vote, like Dan, still respect the integrity of her decision.
The Larry Agran people were almost exclusively focused on Mary Ann Gaido and did little to help Melissa, who never really fit in with the Agran-always-knows-best crowd. As for Agran himself, it is to her political benefit to have that albatross off her neck.
You underestimate the political sway Larry Agran and Beth Krom continue to have in this city. I hope your words do not cost your wife unduly in 2020.
Just so you know Mr. Fox I donated to Melissa’s campaign and also voted for her. I am stating my point of view and have not insulted anyone. Just stating the truth. By the way I speak for myself. I have no patience for another politician selling out to a huge corporation. Our city is being ruined with over development and traffic or do you even care about Irvine.
I hope she enjoys her only term on the city council.
She’s done. Patrick Strader won’t save her.
One last point: Melissa’s vote on the veterans cemetery was supported by Democratic State Senator Josh Newman and Democratic Congressman Lou Correa. Democratic Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva stated that either location was fine with her, and issued a celebratory tweet today about the City Council decision. Democratic Governor Jerry Brown also appeared completely happy with a choice of the strawberry fields site.
Among those condemning Agran’s despicable personal attacks on Melissa is California Democratic Party Regional Director Florice Hoffman, DPOC Chair Fran Sdao, and numerous other Democratic Party officials and activists.
Thankfully, Larry Agran is not and has never been representative of the Democratic Party.
Michael, I haven’t seen any communication from Fran, Josh or Lou. Fran’s in London last I checked. Florice is one of Melissa’s best friends so that’s no surprise. Sharon said all along the choice was Irvine’s and would have issued said tweet for either location. But please share where you see these measures of support.
Your comment about Agran’s contribution to the Democratic Party in Irvine and Orange County over the years is both inaccurate and beneath you. There would have been a cemetery if not for him. You underestimate those in Irvine still grateful to Larry for all he’s done. His record of progressive legislation over the years is one of the reasons Irvine is a great city and I’m not alone in this opinion. I hope your comments are forgotten when Melissa runs in 2020. I understand you are defending your wife but she is more than capable of defending herself.
Both Congressman Lou Correa and State Senator Josh Newman sent representatives to the City Counci meeting to read letters of support for the strawberry fields land exchange.
OCYD leader Luis Aleman posted a vigorous defense of Melissa on Facebook — which Fran Sdao supported and many others supported — that also called out those like Larry Agran who have attacked her character.
As for your other points, as I said before, Agran is one who stooped to gutter tactics of attacks on Melissa ‘s character, which nameless cowards now repeat on your blog. If you’re a friend of Melissa, criticize them, not me.
I’m out.
I missed the meeting to collect family from LAX. Thanks for the back up. Fran liking a Facebook comment isn’t exactly support. Again, I don’t like the deal and have stated why. Electeds are often criticized and Agran is no stranger to attacks as he was in robocalls even though he’s been out of office for 2-1/2 years. Melissa is going to be criticized for her vote. I’ll remind you of gutter tactics in attacks on Melissa from FivePoint paid-for IEs. Like I said before, Melissa is tough enough to defend herself. The vote is not about her character. It’s about a bad deal
There’s no Facebook “like” on Aleman’s post in support of Melissa
Fran Sdao was among the many hundreds of people who liked Melissa’s Facebook post calling out those who are attacking her integrity and character.
For those who missed Melissa’s post, here it is:
“I am boarding a flight to return from my brother’s funeral and I see the vicious lies posted and emailed to my law office. Vicious and completely false information is being spread, intended only to bully me into a decision that I believe is wrong for our veterans and wrong for Irvine.
I will not be bullied. We should be able to debate and disagree about policy decisions, such as the location of a veterans cemetery, without stooping to character assassination. Shame on those who are spreading these lies.
I have always supported the vets and will continue to do so, keeping the interests of Irvine residents first.
I refuse to cave to the pressure to punish 5point at the cost of a minimum of $38 million of Irvine residents’ money — millions of dollars that could be used for gardens, a library and museums in the Great Park — just for vengeance.
I will make my decision on the location of the veterans cemetery based only on what I believe is best for our veterans and the residents of Irvine. The allegation that I am “bought and paid for” — by anyone — is false and despicable. Of course, I do not “trust” 5point or any developer. I am a 25 year attorney — I trust written and enforceable contracts.
Get your facts straight before repeating these malicious lies. It’s as bad as the fake news.”
https://www.facebook.com/melissajoifox
You said it was Luis Aleman’s post. I think you need to be more careful as you defend your words.
I’d still like an explanation of how FivePoint would have been punished had the swap not happened. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain from this.
Um, whatever. At this point. Dan, you’re just insisting on having the last word. Its your blog, so I guess you’re entitled to it.
A blog that has long supported Melissa Fox’s multiple runs for office.
Again, I was unable to attend the meeting and the video quality of the live stream was terrible. I’m asking questions; I get answers and I go and check it out. If you have said it was Melissa’s Facebook post that garnered much support, that checks out. The Luis Aleman one does not. I’m sorry you’ve taken umbrage.
Is Krom an albatross too? She was against this swap
“Alan” says he didn’t insult anyone, while — mouthing Larry Agran — he accuses Melissa of “standing behind the flag and veterans” and “selling out to big business.”
Agran made the choice to lower the political debate on this issue to insults and spurious accusations of corruption, not Melissa.
If you or others still choose to follow Agran, after his years of questionable conduct and numerous defeats, so be it.
Melissa will do what she believes is right for the residents of Irvine and takes orders from no one.
She will certainly be a one term Councilmember. Who cares what politicians outside of Irvine think, this was a local decision and she could care less about the traffic in Irvine. The notion that someone cares about traffic, but is supported by lowly Patrick Strader and Fivepoints is insulting to Irvine residents.
One more thing Mr. Fox. No one speaks for me. I have my own mind, my own thoughts and my own mouth. This has nothing to do with Larry Agran. I am an Agran supporter and have been for years. Thank goodness for Larry. If not for him there would be commercial airliners flying over Irvine on a daily basis. We would have no open space at all. This was a master planned community until Christina Shea and her cohorts gave away over 600 acres to FivePoint turning us into a company owned City.
Melissa won one election. Lost twice. You really want to go there?