Subject: Beth Krom

• Irvine Offends Thousands of Its Citizens

  An Orange County Grand Jury recently decided that the Irvine City Council is trying to hijack the Great Park, and that the OC Board of Supervisors (who initially approved of Irvine's actions) might look into litigation in order to return control of this huge local resource to the county itself. Irvine Mayor Beth Krom was, unsurprisingly, confused by all the uproar. She had the following to say in the OC Register: "I'm befuddled. Nowhere does this seizing of power take place." "What we have done

  June 18, 2006

• Irvine Tells Taiwan Where to Krom It

  Irvine Mayor Beth Krom just might be unmade in Taiwain. As reported in OC Register's blog and print edition, as well as The Blotter, Irvine recently set up a sister-city in China, after agreeing to ignore Taiwanese sovereignity. They can't partake in Taiwanese National Day celebrations and civic leaders can't visit the island in an official capacity. Unfortunately, Irvine is famous for its large Taiwanese population, making it O.C.'s most Taiwanese city by a landslide. And that population isn't

  June 21, 2006

• Irvine Wants Communist $$$ for the Great Park?

  The controversy surrounding Irvine's new "Sister City" relationship with Communist officials in Shanghai and the bizarre snub of democratic Taiwan began with numerous "irregularies," including breaches of protocol, "odd" outside influences and possible "deliberate deception," according to a June 21 memo obtained by the Weekly. Written by Sister Cities Foundation president James E. Dunning, the three-page document outlines how Henry King, the Shanghai-native husband of Councilman Larry Agran'

  June 25, 2006

• Chairman Jao

  It looks like Irvine Republicans may have finally developed their own alternative to the Hometown Voter Guide. The Irvine City, School and Neighborhood Leaders Committee (ICSNLC) has paid for $28,011 worth of independent expenditures opposing Beth Krom, $7,612 to oppose Mary-Anne Gaido, another $7,612 to oppose Sukhee Kang, and $17,465 in support of Christina Shea. Krom is Irvine's Mayor, Kang is a Councilmember, and Gaido is Planning Commissioner; the three are campaigning together as "The Gre

  November 1, 2006

• 2006 WORST OC Candidate: Lynn Daucher

  If I hadn't been stuck in the courthouse for the last several months, this award would probably go to Larry Agran's robot Beth Krom, a deceitful mess of a politician/hack who should shame any true progressive. More on her and Agran after their victory. I promise. But tonight the one candidate who easily earns the (dis)honor of 2006 WORST OC CANDIDATE is Lynn Daucher. She is running against OC Supervisor Lou Correa. Make sure you and all your friends and neighbors vote for Lou as State Senator.

  November 6, 2006

• Agran's Irvine Machine Gets Challenger

  A majority of Irvine voters are Republicans and yet for years Larry Agran's progressive political machine has controlled the mayor's office. It's a reality Republican city councilwoman Christina Shea hopes to shatter next year. This morning Shea announced that she will run for the job herself. Shea will face Agran's Sukhee Kang and whatever shell Republican campaign Agran also secretly sponsors to the divide GOP voters. Over the years, Shea has been the bee in Agran's bonnet, especially on et

  September 13, 2007

• Irvine Candidate Forum: Mostly Civil, Some Fireworks

  Irvine is either a city where the sun does nothing but shine, the streets are lined with gold and bad stuff never ever ever ever ever ever ever happens, or it's a swirling cesspool of cronyism, backroom deals and looming Muslim threats. That was the message voters were given as a busload of people running for Irvine City Council gathered in the council chambers tonight for a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, whose Sharon Holdt served as moderator. Current council members

  October 21, 2008

• Plumbing the Depths of Irvine's Election

  Dear Joe the Plumber, As you well know, you have unplugged many a drain at Casa de Coker over the years and sooner or later you'll be handling that bathroom remodel we talked about years ago. But first, I have a favor. I have started a petition drive where signees will let my bosses know what a good job I'm doing for my reader(s). Yes, I do want your signature, but I also need $5 to help pay for the gathering of more signatures. The importance of this petition drive is spelled out in a fake ne

  October 28, 2008

• Twisted Sister City

  June 29, 2006

• You Read the Irvine Election Results Here First

  Kang, Krom and Agran: staying put. Allow me to take you way, way, way back in time to last Thursday, Oct. 30, when the following was posted here (and it was in the print edition that hit the streets that day, too): [Irvine mayoral candidate Christina] Shea and fellow incumbent Sukhee Kang are the only candidates for the two-year mayor’s seat. Whoever loses still has two years remaining on his or her council seat. Among the candidates for two open, four-year council seats are outgoing Mayor B

  November 5, 2008

• Irvine City Councilwoman Beth Krom: Liar?

  Krom: DON'T read my lips At the Oct. 21 Irvine City Council candidates forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Councilwoman Christina Shea, in the middle of an unsuccessful campaign for mayor, said that Lennar Corp., which is building homes ringing the future Great Park, would be allowed to triple the 3,200 units called for in its original agreement with the city to develop parts of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Termed-out mayor Beth Krom, a political foe of Shea's who wa

  November 11, 2008

• I'm Not Dead Yet

  Christina Shea had one of those gut-check moments when Orange County Great Park Corp. board clerk Steve Larsen read the roll at this morning's regular meeting at Irvine City Hall. "How come you didn't call my name?" Shea asked defensively. Last month's defeat in the mayoral race against Sukhee Kang leaves her with only two years remaining on the Irvine City Council and Great Park board before she will be termed out. After Larsen corrected his mistake, Shea was quick to remind, "I haven't

  November 20, 2008

• Great Park's Hired Design Reviewers Get Another $2 Mil to Add to Their Previous $2 Mil

  "Um, yeah, that's not gonna work for me." The city of Irvine is paying a private company at least $400 million to design the Great Park. It has set aside $9 million for city staff and an independent company to check the Great Park Design Studio's plans to make sure they more quickly clear future city design reviews. Now the City Council will be asked to dole out another $1.9 million to compensate the program manager, Bovis Lend Lease, for essentially looking over the shoulders of designers in r

  November 20, 2008

• Great Park to World: Crisis? What Global Economic Crisis?

  You'd think the dotcom crisis was just a bad dream, the housing bubble never burst and we'd mysteriously been time traveled back to the halcyon days of the Clinton economy considering the bullish way the Orange County Great Park Corporation is pushing the financial envelope.   With three of its nine members missing, including constant budget nag Christina Shea, the taxpayer-supported corporation's Board of Directors unanimously approved year-end budget adjustments

  December 22, 2008

• Attorney Who Misspent Clients' $2.7 Million Was at Center of Irvine Election Controversies

  The Register's Greg Hardesty has the scoop on 38-year-old Irvine attorney Sandeep Baweja admitting to burning through nearly all of a $2.7-million settlement that was supposed to be shared by about 1,000 plaintiffs he represented in a class-action labor lawsuit.According to the story, Baweja played the dumb card, saying he invested the money in the stock market without knowing what he was doing, apologizing for his knuckleheaded conduct in papers filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and r

  December 31, 2008

• It's Thursday, Must Be Time for More Irvine City Campaign Sliminess

  If you thought the man and organization behind Larry Agran's campaign slush funds was only involved in Irvine political shenanigans (as we previously reported here), now comes word that Frank Lunding is up to his eyeballs in it in the Carmel Valley as well. Jessica Lyons reports in the Monterey County Weekly that attorney Lunding and his Planning 2020 group is suing Monterey County, its supervisors and a group called Carmel Valley Forum in connection with Carmel Valley's bid to incorporate as

  January 22, 2009

• Councilwoman Blames Own Panel for Irvine Sister City's Demise

  The Irvine Sister City Foundation--which has helped make Irvine a truly international city thanks to successful partnerships with with Tsukuba, Japan, Hermosillo, Mexico, and Taoyuan, Taiwan--voted to dissolve last night. Despite the denials of Irvine Mayor Suhkee Kang, an Irvine City Council colleague blames the nonproft's demise on "political pay back"--from her own city council. "This is a travesty. A political carving out . . . a tossing aside of an outstanding volunteer

  January 23, 2009

• Agran Reelected Great Park Corp. Board Chairman

  The Great Park Corp. Board of Directors this morning unanimously reelected director Michael Pinto to another four-year term and then reelected the Laguna Canyon Foundation founder their vice chairman. It was initially announced to be a straight flush, with the unanimous reelection of Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran (pictured) as chairman. But board clerk Steve Larsen misspoke when he said the vote was 7-0; Councilman Steven Choi had actually voted no. There was also confusion over whether Agr

  February 19, 2009

• An Orange County with Two Democratic Congress Members?

  Make room, Loretta Sanchez?TheLiberalOC.com reported today that serious efforts are underway to elect not just Orange County's second Democrat to Congress but also its second female Democrat. Dan Chmielewski, who runs the influential progressive blog and has undeniable insider Democratic Party connections, wrote that Irvine City Council member Beth Krom (pictured during a KUCI appearance) is "putting the pieces together" to seek the 48th Congressional District seat occupied by Republican John C

  March 1, 2009

• Krom Makes Congressional Bid for Campbell Seat Official

  Nine days after R. Scott Moxley, with an assist from TheLiberalOC.com, blogged that Irvine City Councilwoman Beth Krom was "putting the pieces together" to seek the 48th Congressional District seat occupied by Republican John Campbell, Krom made it official."On issues that matter to this district, the economy, jobs and economic development, education, the environment, public safety and transportation, John Campbell has no record of accomplishment either as a congressman or as a state legislator.

  March 9, 2009

• Campbell Shrugged

  With Irvine City Councilwoman Beth Krom indicating she will run for his 48th Congressional District seat, the big question is which novel Rep. John Campbell (R-Newport Beach) will pull off his shelf for prophesy. The Washington Independent reported on Campbell giving his departing interns copies of Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged, which has produced among "thinkers" both a cult-like following and intense damnation.There's nothing wrong with the former car dealer serving as the D.C. affiliate for

  March 11, 2009

• Lennar Corp. Flies Missing Man Formation Over Great Park

  The hot question raised at this afternoon's Orange County Great Park study session was whatever became of Lennar Corp.? You know, big Miami-based developer? It's Chinese-made drywall stinks? Victimized by copper thieves in Anaheim's Platinum Triangle? Recently faced financial woes and serious allegations but its CEO still got $1.1 million in '08? (Don't worry, folks, it was a pay cut!) Partner with the City of Irvine in the Great Park development? You know? That Lennar?Great Park board member an

  March 19, 2009

• Three Local Elections Worth Watching. Call It Morbid Fascination

  October 30, 2008

• The Great 
Green Orange

  June 12, 2008

• A CLOCKWORK NARANJA

  August 11, 2005

• Letters

  July 20, 2006

• Diary of a Mad County

  June 21 - June 27

  June 29, 2006

• Agran on the Warpath

  Indians are the new bogeyman in the war against an already defeated airport

  October 13, 2005

• Criticize Larry Agran, Go to Jail

  September 22, 2005

• Angry Liberals

  September 8, 2005

• During Brain Surgery, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, You Cockroach

  July 21, 2005

• Agran Dispenses Great Pork

  July 7, 2005

• Great Park With All the Fixins

  June 23, 2005

• Ink-Stained Wretchedness

  April 21, 2005

• Center Bind

  December 9, 2004

• O, America . . .

  Reflections on Election Day, 2004

  November 4, 2004

• AGRAN AGAIN!

  November 4, 2004

• Run It Up the Poop Poll

  May 9, 2002

• Hey! We're all Liberals Now!

  November 16, 2000

• Beth Krom Finally Drawn Into Jolie-Aniston Debate

  Lila Kooklan of UC Irvine's New University student newspaper went to the nearby Crystal Jade restaurant recently to cover an event geared toward young people by the campaign to elect former Irvine mayor and current City Councilwoman Beth Krom to Congress.Krom announced in March she will seek the 2010 Democratic nomination for the 48th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. John Campbell (R-Newport Beach).During the campaign event, Krom blasted Campbell for thus far refusing to debate

  May 4, 2009

• Congressional Candidate Krom's Son Dies in Fall

  Beth Krom Congress 2010 Facebook pageThe Kroms in 2007 (from left): Hershel, Abby, Noah, Solly and Beth.The Weekly, which has taken jabs over the years at a certain Irvine city councilwoman and announced congressional candidate, expresses its deepest condolences to Beth and Solly Krom, who are mourning the death of their 22-year-old son."It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our son Noah Krom in Santa Barbara on Friday night," the couple wrote on Beth's congressional campai

  June 8, 2009

• Attention Turns to Hours Before Noah Krom's Death

  Noah KromWe told you yesterday about the tragic death of 22-year-old Noah Krom, the eldest son of Irvine's Solly Krom and City Councilwoman and announced congressional candidate Beth Krom. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's investigators are now trying to piece together the events that took the UC Santa Barbara senior to the steep cliff he eventually fell off of before plunging to his death on the Isla Vista beach below Friday night or early Saturday morning. The

  June 9, 2009

• Noah Krom's Memorial Service is Set

  Beth Krom Congress 2010 Facebook page(From left): Hershel, Abby, Noah, Solly and Beth Krom in 2007.From the Krom Family, via Dan Chmielewski of Madison Alexander PR, Inc., The Liberal OC blog and Navel Gazing comments section fame:  The Krom Family appreciates the outpouring of love and all the thoughtful expressions of sympathy you have extended in this time of their most intense grief. The are trying hard to make sense of this tragedy. Their hearts are broken and they know that only time

  June 9, 2009

• John Campbell Gets Caught Using a Twitter Ghostwriter

  We usually glaze over any posts on Irvine councilwoman Beth Krom written by The Liberal OC, because the woman can do no wrong in their eyes. But that didn't stop editor Chris Prevatt from helping to out Representative John Campbell's Twitter writer: the king of Orange County sock-puppetry, Matt "Jubal" Cunningham.It was never Prevatt's intention to do this. He was pissed off about the tone of a Campbell tweet bashing Krom and asked Cunningham, who's serving as his campaign consultant in his 2010

  July 17, 2009

• Irvine Police Association Blasts Mayor Sukhee Kang, City Council Members Beth Krom and Larry Agran

  Irvine Police Association has criticized Mayor Sukhee Kang (left) and City Council members Beth Krom and Larry Agran over stalled contract talks.​Anyone who has attended a city-run meeting in Irvine has heard elected officials, especially City Councilman and Orange County Great Park Corporation chairman Larry Agran, boast about overseeing "America's safest city."Likewise, anyone who complains about the shady, back-room, ethically challenged way the city of Irvine is run, or the plastic, uninsp

  July 27, 2009

• "Press Conference" Against Iran Government Produces No News, Much Political Support in Irvine

  Rep. Laura Richardson (inset), Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Rep. Ed Royce, together at last.If the goal of a press conference is to produce a "big announcement" that makes news and warrants coverage--the usual reason one calls a press conference in the first place--then the Iran Supporters Network failed Friday evening at Irvine City Hall. But if the idea was to bring local politicians, community leaders and the Iranian American community together, engage in some spirited preach

  August 10, 2009

• Park Place Owners Have a Rocky History in Irvine

  Maguire had this office tower built at Park Place in 2006.​Maguire Properties' announcement today that it has sold its Park Place I office property in Irvine is just the latest twist for a massive campus that seems to have been dogged by controversy since the Los Angeles-based developer acquired it five years ago.To get a sense for this, just follow this timeline.June 1999: After more than two decades as the most visible tenant at the futuristic, distinctive green-glass, 1.7 million-squa

  August 12, 2009

• Resurrected, Boisterous OC Pride Festival "a Smashing Success"

  Photo by Christopher VictorioPark rangers talk with OC Pride participants about the noise at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Saturday.​The crowd was small but boisterous, there was a minor issue with the noise and some participants did not know at first that the showy police presence was for their benefit, but otherwise the resurrected, family friendly OC Pride Festival at Mason Regional Park in Irvine Saturday was "a smashing success," according to organizers of the LGBT event. (See photogra

  August 17, 2009

• Tale of 2 Police Forces: While Irvine's Fumes, La Habra's Bites the Bullet

  To protect and serve . . . for less.​While their counterparts in "Safest City in America" Irvine fume over an employer-proposed wage freeze, officers who belong to the La Habra Police Association seem to have gladly accepted a deal that imposes what is essentially a 5 percent pay cut. "Although difficult, we commend our members, and other city labor groups, for agreeing to tighten our collective belts in order to help the city through our national recession," says La Habra association presiden

  August 19, 2009

• Irvine Cops Angry at Agran Machine Scheming Plan Protest Today

  Agran: Screwing Irvine Cops?​It's always fascinated me that Irvine's Larry Agran, Orange County's most liberal (and wily) politician, has enjoyed solid political support from two groups: corporate executives and cops--especially considering most folks in those two categories sit on the other end of the political spectrum. But the law enforcement alliance might finally be over. Today, the Irvine Police Association plans a protest to draw public attention to the Agran-controlled city council's "

  August 20, 2009