Tuesday’s Irvine City Council meeting is still virtual, but the people advocating for the current city council to act on an Asphalt Plant in the city’s Northern Sphere, the Veteran’s Cemetery at the ARDA site on the old Old Toro base, and those advocating for the city to either expand the city council to seven members and/or go to districts are planning a “No Confidence Rally” 3PM Tuesday at Irvine City Hall.
Our friends at Irvine Watchdog have this post that offers details.
From the story:
Among groups demanding action, the Stop Toxic Asphalt Pollutants (STAP) group is specifically demanding action from elected officials to protect the public’s health. They claim that based on the latest information that they have received from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), that the City of Irvine should have cause to revoke AAA’s business permit.
The groups claim that the City Council has denied the public’s requests for a public hearing on four notable issues despite campaign promises and hundreds of public comments:
- North Irvine: The request for a public hearing due to public health concerns involving emissions from the All American Asphalt factory.
- Great Park Neighborhoods: The Great Park residents have requested the formation of a Great Park Residents Advisory Committee so their “special” taxation comes with representation.
- The long-debated veteran’s cemetery issue.
- The potential litigation against voting rights attorney Kevin Shenkman and the issue of district elections. Residents state it is undemocratic not to include voters in a discussion on voter representation.
STAP invited other groups from around the City to amplify the concern they have of not being heard by this City Council. They have received confirmation that the Great Park residents seeking a resident’s advisory committee and those wanting the veterans cemetery issue on the agenda will also be joining the rally. This is a non-partisan event.
The problem for many Irvine Democrats and Republicans alike stems from the current council’s policy of not offering a second for items Council member Larry Agran wants to raise for a council discussion. Agran was part of the “Team Irvine” ticket with Mayor Farrah Khan and Vice Mayor Tammy Kim. I’m not surprised that neither Republican council members Anthony Kuo or Mike Carroll would give Agran a second, but I’m not the only one disappointed by the act of common courtesy by Khan and Kim.
It’s anti-Democratic not to bring these issues and discuss them for the full city council.
Good: The protest is happening tomorrow in advance of the city council meeting will send a message to the council majority.
Bad: 3PM on a Tuesday makes it difficult to everyone who wants to attend to show up (how about an online petition for those who support this protest and can’t make it in person.
Prediction: No matter how many people show up, the council majority will claim its not representative of the city’s concern and they will ignore it.
We buried the lede: The council is going to discuss passing a two year budget much earlier in the cycle than normal (it’s usually June). Not sure how many people have studied the budget and it’s unclear if there’s going to be any debate on it.
What’s hiding in plain sight?
For our City Council to host the two year budget for the first time in decades at a May meeting, not at a standard June timeframe, is really troubling.
It’s time our Mayor and her Council colleagues open City Hall as other Cities, Counties, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm etc have now.
The Mayor is opening her City office but won’t host in-house Council meetings for one of the most important agenda items we approve as a City?
Open City Hall for the first meeting in June, continue the budget process till then, allowing this important budget review to be experienced in house.
Social distancing is very attainable in our large hall
This City budget which includes, dismantling the City Council aide budget, turning it into a large “slush fund” for campaign efforts for Council-members, needs scrutiny.
There are so many community groups so frustrated with ecomments being shut off at meetings, little access to electeds in person, but yet they are attending children’s playground openings, swinging on swings, playing in pretend trees.
Time to get serious
The optics are bad, the lack of access is bad and as a reminder it’s our Councilmembers job to address community issues and try to fix problems harming our neighborhoods.
Join the Rally at three tomorrow and please
Encourage: Open City Hall Now !
I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry to get back to in-person council meetings. Your Vice-Mayor, Tammy Kim considers Irvine residents to be nothing more than noise, according to a recent Voice of OC article.