If there's one thing that Orange County Register editorial writer Steven Greenhut hates more than Sheriff Mike Carona, it's city-controlled urban planning, and he ripped SanTana officials a new one and then some yesterday in a piece blasting the city's much-ballyhooed Renaissance Specific Plan. Proponents say the Renaissance Plan will transform the city's downtown; opponents say the same, except use the word “gentrification.” Greenhut, in one of his increasing moves to the Left, sides with the opponents and even injects race into the argument with this wonderful line:
Why aren't Santa Ana residents up in arms at an effort to gentrify the downtown, in a fairly obvious effort to replace the city's Mexican-themed atmosphere with something more in keeping with a yuppie clientele?
Where the heck is the outrage?
Steve, 'mano: have you been to a Green Party meeting lately?
My challenge to all lovers of liberty after the jump:
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Thanks for jumping the jump. Today, Los Angeles Times reporter Jennifer Delson (the best SanTana reporter EVER) writes about the embarrassment that is the SanTana City Council's decision to publicly air only one council meeting a month. Or, rather, mayor-for-life Miguel Pulido's decision. Why the wallflower approach. Apparently, Papi Pulido doesn't think his ducklings are ready for their close-up:
Pulido said at the meeting that he preferred to limit viewing because cameras made some council members nervous.
“The best job in many cases involves learning off-camera in an informal setting,” Pulido said.
LAME. LAME. LAME. Hey, Pudillo el Caudillo: at least make the excuse your city can't afford the technology like councilmember Claudia Alvarez did. And then remember a council member is a PUBLIC official, not the First Presidency.
Until Delson publishes an article stating that the SanTana City Council will televise ALL its meetings, the Weekly will record all meetings and upload them to our website. It's not particularly groundbreaking: former city council candidate George Collins has done this for a while on his website. However, I challenge anyone who cares about open government to attend and record SanTana City Council meetings until Papi Pulido reverses himself. Camcorders of Orange County, unite!
One final note: according to Delson, SanTana is the largest city in California that doesn't air all its meetings. For crying out loud, even Fresno airs all city council reunions. FUCKING FRESNO. You're going to let Fresno beat you in a non-poverty category, Papi Pulido? And you whine about SanTana not getting any respect…
