Here at the Orange Juice there is a long tradition of bashing former Red County blogger Matt Cunningham, who used the pseudonym Jubal until he came out, but later left blogging at his right wing playground with a published explanation that “blogging didn’t pay the bills.”
Cunningham catches flak because he is a flack, sometimes lapping at the public trough, sometimes doing public relations and ginning up astroturf support for developers. Conservatives lambasted him for his over-the-top billing for the First Five Commission. Others despised him for his role in protecting John Urell the protector of sexual predators in the Catholic church. Gustavo Arellano likes to detail Cunningham’s general political hypocrisy.
Jubal had a nice little $2500 payday in the City of Orange in the period between July 1st and September 30th, as detailed in the campaign finance reports of the Southern California Taxpayers Association Sponsored by Ridgeline Partners LLC.
Cunningham had ended his tenure as an Orange Planning Commissioner after voting to approve the Ridgeline Development. A few months later, he and his wife were seen organizing support for the development. Because these meetings happened before the referendum qualified, the billing for those services would not have appeared in the campaign finance reports. So we don’t know what Jubal and his wife garnered for their home-based consulting firm before June 1, 2011.
The City Council approved the development of one of the last pieces of land zoned as recreational open space in Orange. Long time Orange residents, using the slogan Orange Needs Parks, set out to gather signatures to overturn the City Council’s decision via referendum. Under this progressive constitutional feature, ordinary voters can force a public vote on legislative actions if they quickly gather enough signatures.
During the referendum campaign, the finance reports detail a $2500 payment for Matthew’s consulting firm, Pacific Strategies.
This $2500 was chump change in the context of staggering $640, 273 that was spent attempting to block a series of referendums while they were still in the signature-gathering stage.
Political consultant Scott Taylor of STA Campaigns raked in $20,000 for consulting plus any other mark-up he might have made on services he billed. STA Campaigns has worked on local Orange County races including winning Orange City Council campaigns for Carolyn Cavecche and Jon Dumitru, so it’s understandable that they would collect big.
Roni Hicks and Associates billed lavishly for Diane Gaynor’s services, including at least $35,500 that was specifically allocated to consulting after July 1st and some share of $46,200 that is not otherwise allocated in the reporting period ending June 30th. Gaynor had been shepherding the deal through working, hand in glove with Ken Ryan.
Olson and Associates, the Tulare-based provider of goons and blockers grabbed an amazing $233,270 for bringing in campaigners from the central valley who served as “blockers” to convince voters not to sign the referendum petitions. The Olson workers harassed volunteers, going as far as to follow young female volunteers home. The outsiders also circulated their own petition so voters would know that they had already signed something when a volunteer came to their door with a referendum petition.
Bieber Communications received $103,456 for direct mail, which didn’t include $24,724 paid directly to FDS, a commercial printer in Santa Fe Springs, and also didn’t include an additional $29,882 that was billed by Roni Hicks and Assoc for literature after July 1st or $4800 that was paid to Sacramento design firm Planet Kelly.
Attorney Steve Baric and his firm Baric Minesinger are shown receiving $35,700, which was in addition to the $15,449 billed by Stockton-based attorneys Harem Crabtree.
So yes, in the scope of things, Cunningham only got a taste of the money that was being wasted. It was a feeding frenzy for local consultants for a naïve and desperate client, and Cunningham barely nuzzled his way up to the trough.
So why do we pick on poor Matthew when everyone else was making more money?
Well, there is his affidavit in a lawsuit trying to disqualify the successful referendum:
Cunningham was the only witness who submitted an affidavit, and his affidavit seems to rely on a description of what he did not see and the thickness of a binder that he did not personally open to see what was inside it.
And then there’s the question of why they needed to throw more money at Pacific Strategies when they were already paying other consultants.
Maybe it’s just that Claus Dieckell, Chairman of the Board, and the other officers and investors at Milan Capital are hopelessly naive and being taken for a ride.
From Milan Capital’s website, we can see that
Mr. Dieckell is actively involved in the acquisition, repositioning and management of the company’s portfolio. He has overseen the acquisition of more than 1,200 apartment units, more than 2 million square feet of commercial space, and nearly 200 acres of land for development. With a critical eye for spotting undervalued assets and underlying market trends, Mr. Dieckell has vast experience in a wide range of project types from entitlement and rezoning to management of stabilized assets.
These are guys who have successfully bought and sold a lot of apartments and commercial property, but they’re over their head in Orange, and getting desperate. They overpaid for property at the top of the market, relying on another limited partner, John Martin, to grease the skids with political contributions and by hiring a consultant who had a history of working well with Mayor Cavecche in a developer-friendly city.
Doubtless only a pale foreshadowing of the torrents of cash we should expect them to unleash over the summer and fall to protect their Orange Land Grab!
Wait a minute. Let’s see if I’ve got this right. Cunningham votes to approve their project and then shortly thereafter gets paid by them? Really?
Say, I know I’m innocent n’ all, but isn’t that illegal?
Well, you got yourself a quid, and you got yourself a quo, now the question is just whether you got yourself a pro in between them. Does Cunningham look like a pro to you?
P.S. We always used the “J” but thought it stood for something else.
Tony,
point 1-the j stands for the commode in suite c in the jerbie cave in orange
point 2-the scuttlebutt is that he is in virginia passing out self examination tools that women will need to comply with the new virginia law requiring vaginal ultrasound tests and set to be signed by Governor Bob McDonnell. Jerbie’s selling point? he had experience passing out toothbrushesin the oc. the funder? the Foster Friese
of course it comes with aspirin
of course he said to Governor McDonnell that probiing was painless having experienced it by the excellent reporting by Friends of Fullerton’s Future.
He will be selling the vaginal ultrasound testers – several versions:
– personally autographed by Governor McDonnell – $2500
– personally autographed by Cunningham – for use only by owners of female pigs as they eat at the trough – $500,000
– personally autographed by Mr/Mrs Cunningham- for sale only to supporters of prop 8 – since they need funds for further legal pursuits – $1,000
requests can be sent to the Jerbie Cave in Orange-attention suite c or the newly christened jonathan room
I take a lot of shit for picking on this guy. But it’s always been well deserved.
I am at a loss as to how Art pedroza is the only one who seemingly cares that Supervisor Campbell has hired Mrs. Cunningham as Chief of Staff.
She is a Co-owner of a lobbying consulting firm that operates out of her home. The firm, Pacific Strategies has been well documented as having done business with the county (OCTA and OCCFC). the link has long been her fellow Parishinor and boss Bill Campbell.
Since he is now termed out, I can’t help but feel like they are gilding the lily here.
Matt if not dishonest is completely clueless, Suite C??? that was a LIE dismissed as being cute. His whole leap from the sinking shipbeing called Red County is a testement to his loyalty.
I am sure I’ll be criticized for being an A-HOLE, for being overly personal, all kinds of things. Meanwhile no one will question this. Not the OC Register, Not the LA TIMES, Certainly not anyone claiming to challenge the right wing noise machine…..So on he steals.
Research it and write a post on it, KLND! Do you think Vern wouldn’t publish it?
I can’t speak for others, but for my part: (1) my expectations that Republicans will avoid this sort of behavior are very low to begin with and (2) Campbell, as you note, is termed out anyway. That’s why it would not jump to the top of my to-do list. But I’m certainly happy to see others discuss what they view as political corruption. If you think that you’ve got the goods, go for it! One of us will come up with a cool graphic for your story.
Does the boy have any scruples? Sure haven’t seen any.
Former Planning Commish who sided with developer Martin/Milan. Then he takes money from same developer? Seriously? Add potential perjury as a developer lackey making false statements in a legal complaint to thwart the Referendum Process. Is there no honest work available or does he just not know how to do it?
Perhaps Gerbil’s proudest moment was pimping his Ma out to speak in support of his developer friend’s project. Can a family that testifies together get a family cell when the time comes?
where are the other three, schroeder, baugh and greer,,,,surely they got money somewhere, somehow
Flash….
Governor McDonnell to veto vaginal penetration bill (sounds like his career goals got in the way)…..Jerbie has reduced the price of his stock of McDonnell-autographed vaginal penetrators to $1.00 and you get a free toothbrush for kids
Its hard to even put in words what a mess this is. Liberal or conservative or anywhere in between this just shows that our system stinks, is broken and corrupt. There are some really bad people involved in this and the worst is Ken Ryan he has generated nothing but contempt. Matt fits nicely in Ryans gang- they deserve each other. Hopefully they will get what they deserve.
The citizens of Orange deserve better. This is a great city and some of the electeds and some of the appointeds have tainted what really should be a great system.
Looks like every repuglican in OC wet their beaks in this puddle.
You’re right, Tony, there’s even a Dave Ellis connection – via Bieber Communications, one of his outfits.
Bieber’s sticking it to the Three Bald Tires in Fullerton right now.
“Sticking it?” You mean, charging them a lot? Or are you saying they’re on our side there? (I’m 90% sure they’re an Ellis group, so it must be the former?)
Well, Art Pedroza may be gone, but Vern is continuing his proud tradition of publishing falsehoods and character assassinations, this time by “Mayor Quimby,” who sounds very much like an individual who writes for the Foothill Sentry.
I also see the usual cast of characters who lack the nerve to put their real names to their lies (except Tony Bushala, who does put his name to his lies — sometimes, when he’s not posting under his various pseudonyms).
I’ll hit the highlights of “Mayor Quimby’s” lies.
Contrary to the brave “Mayor Quimby’s” assertion, I didn’t not consult on the Ridgeline project “a few months” after voting on it as a Planning Commissioner. My consulting work began A YEAR after Ridgeline was approved by the commission, and approximately three months after I resigned from the PC. My consulting role was very limited, and was only for the last couple of months leading up to the City Council vote.
Another Mayor Quimby claim:
Cunningham was the only witness who submitted an affidavit,…
I don’t know if that is true or not.
“…and his affidavit seems to rely on a description of what he did not see…”
Wrong. If you actually read the affidavit, you’ll see that I personally saw everything I described. Furthermore, I took pictures, as well.
“…and the thickness of a binder that he did not personally open to see what was inside it.”
I could clearly see the thickness of the binder — or more accurately, the thinness of it — because I was only several feet away. It clearly contained a few sheets of paper — not the phonebook-size EIR the circulator was required to carry with the petitions. And again, I have pictures.
This is sour grapes from a NIMBY-faction of OPA residents, who conducted themselves disgracefully during their petition drives. They conned one of my neighbors to sign their petition by lying to her that John Martin was trying to build houses on a park.
When another circulator asked my mother, as she was leaving the supermarket, to sign the petition, my mother said she lived in the county-portion of OPA and therefore couldn’t sign, but said her sister (my aunt) lived in the City of Orange. The circulator replied that it would be OK for my mom to sign the petition for her sister.
These were not isolated incidents, but characteristic of the ends-justifies-the-means of those leading the fight against the Ridgeline development. You can see evidence here in the cheap shot against my mother — who has lived in OPA longer than any of the anti-Ridgeline NIMBYs and quite rationally opposed their anti-property rights jihad against the rare OPA development that adhered to the one-acre lot standard established decades ago.
And while Mayor Quimby quibbles with the consultant-hiring decisions of the Ridgeline team, she might also consider that same team protected the right of a property owner to develop his property, and defeated the two referendum petitions that were most fundamental to the NIMBYs campaign.
And as for the accusation from the biggest coward and prevaricator in the OC blogosphere, Kenlaysnotdead: Art Pedroza is a documented liar (perhaps knowledge of that is one reason you’re rafraid to pimp him under your real name). His post was a fantasy from beginning to end. It’s sole basis was I forgot to update my website by removing Laura’s bio after she went to work for Bill Campbell. My consultancy is incorporated, and I am the sole shareholder. I have never lobbied the County of Orange.
Vern, you ought to be ashamed for publishing this dishonest personal attack — as should you, Greg. I expected better of you both.
I’d love to sink my teeth into some of this, but I’ll wait till Quimby gets here…
Note that we put up your comment intact Matt? As you say Art never did. Everyone gets their say here. Damn… can’t wait to tear this one apart, but I’m gonna wait.
Gee, Vern. Some anon posts a dishonest smear of me, and you allow me to refute the smear in a comment.
You are the epitome of editorial virtue.
Where to start????
How about here:
“And as for the accusation from the biggest coward and prevaricator in the OC blogosphere, Kenlaysnotdead”
Would this be the same cowardice attributed to JUBAL:
http://www.ocweekly.com/2006-04-13/news/who-is-jubal/
So is this Matt Cunningham, “JUBAL”, “MAXIMUS” or “DelusionOfGranduer” posting this??? Please we’d love to know.
Next, if you were remotely in touch with your reputation AND my comments you would refrain from using the term PIMP in the same discussion:
http://www.lauracunninghamoc.com/
Matthew, Jerbal, Jubal, Maximus…..whatever, we could go on and and on, but if you thing that removing your wifes name from your website, a company which has operated from your home, HER HOME excuses her complicity and eliminates the questions of imprpriety (especially given your history) you are living on another planet. If you are not smart enough to realize that, you are simply GREEDY.
KLND: the difference, which you have never been able to grasp, is that I didn’t abuse my pseudonym as a shield behind which to lie about people and try to assassinate their character. THAT is the express reason you use a pseudonym, and that is what makes you a coward (not to mention a liar). You are doubly a coward for attacking my wife and making baseless accusations against us both. All your personal attacks cannot obscure the fact that you are afraid to attach your name and reputation to the personal attacks you make.
Until you are able to muster the intestinal fortitude to put your real name to your smears, you’re just another anon coward and you’ll get no further response from me.
Matt,
You know full well who I am and are simply afraid to say.
Hypocrite.
Well, I know the consensus as to who you are, but if you would like to confirm that here or in an e-mail to me, I would be more than happy to identify you in a subsequent comment. Here’s your chance to put your cojones where your mouth is.
What is hypocritical is to comment on issues in Orange when you live in Santa Ana. it’s the standard you hold others to.
What is hypocritical is to work at a Catholic institution after commitng adultery with an employee
Cunningham is right. You are a coward kenlay. You add nothing to the discussion and cannot demand answers. You are a fraud and a joke. Now go get Art Pedroza his slippers
Shall we start digging up old memos about sudden staff changes at Lou Correa’s office? Seems like his old C o S got caught with a married staffer. Does St. Joe’s know about this marital infidelity?
This comment seems a bit off topic for this post. Sounds like something you’d hear from one of the Quill regulars.
Do they still serve good inexpensive steaks – with the super garlic bread and Mickey’s tacos at the Quill? I miss that place.
Heh heh, old Jerb raises head out of hole. Feb 2 was 22 days ago!
Seruoisly, I can’t remember ever lying about you. That would have been too much work when the truth offered such a bountiful yield of material.
You’re just still sore that we uncovered your $200 scam handing out toothbrushes and listening to the radio!
Say, do you still have that contract that pays you to go to City Council meetings for OCTA? I’d like to dig into that one.
I’d like to better spotlight one the central falsehoods peddled by Mayor Quimby:
“Cunningham had ended his tenure as an Orange Planning Commissioner after voting to approve the Ridgeline Development. A few months later, he and his wife were seen organizing support for the development.
Quimby is trying to mislead readers into thinking I voted for the Ridgeline project and then immediately resigned from the commission, and then shortly thereafter was consulting on Ridgeline.
This is untrue. The Planning Commission voted to approve Ridgeline on June 7, 2010. I resigned from the Planning Commission nearly 10 months later, in late February 2011. And then 3 months after that, I began doing some consulting work for Ridgeline.
“Mayor Quimby”is a moral coward who is attempting to smear by implying some nexus between my vote for Ridgeline and the consulting I provided a year later. She has no evidence to support this smear because there is no evidence, and because her smear is untrue. Given my strongly pro-property rights record on the PC, and given the facts of the matter, my vote should come as a surprise to no one.
June 7, 2010 to February 28, 2011 would be a week short of 9 months, not 10.
I think that the date — whether 4 months (“several”) or up to 8.75 months — is secondary to the question of whether there was an explicit or implicit quid pro quo, or enough of a danger of one that a prudent person should not have taken such an assignment. The specific time period is simply circumstantial evidence that could cut in various ways. I don’t know who’s right, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact the discussion is about substantive conflict of interest, not “how long is too long.”
I see that Not Tina Richards Quimby argues below that the issue is simply the revolving door between government and consultant positions, which I do recognize undercuts what I say above. It was my concern (and apparently Bushala’s) when I read the article, so to that extent your point and MQ’s clarification is well-taken.
BTW, Jerb, why lie to OJ readers? You didn’t resign from the Planning Commission. Dumitru kicked you off for being a useless Cavecche ‘puglican.
Maybe a new handle is order Matt:
“TEN SPEED” As in the need to pedal backwards!
I am working on another shovel for you to keep on digging.
You are too fucking cute by a factor of 10 – dweeb!
“I resigned from the Planning Commission nearly 10 months later, in late February 2011”.
Wouldn’t you be restricted from working on a matter before your former quasi judicial board or agency for one year from your resignation of office? The clock starts when you step down, not when the vote was taken in 2010.
…just asking?
Sigh. You again.
No. I was a Planning Commissioner, not a councilmember, remember?
Besides, I checked it out beforehand and there was no prohibition.
Sigh! My sentiments exactly…I thought you had moved away with nuke-em Devore to Tejas…
See your still sucking at the public teet.
You know, I remember you from OC Blog days, when you would post comments during work hours from a school district.
You call them the OC Blog days, I call them the Sheriff scumbag apologist days, the SunCal propaganda days, the poor excuse for a practicing Catholic days…but if you want to remember them as your glorious OCBlog days so be it!
p.s. I’ve nothing to do with any school districts, other than supporting kids in both public and Catholic schools, you have something against schools and our kids? Other than your protecting of abusers?
How does a guy who markets his “CONSULTANCY” and his praised by the right as an “LEADER IN SOCIAL MEDIA” in politics not know how to put up a FACEBOOK PAGE, he leaves it to his kid???
http://www.theliberaloc.com/2008/06/27/matt-cunningham-has-no-friends/
This guy is a phony and a fraud. Worse he doesn’t know when to shut up.
Since he lack’s the “intestional fortitude” to defend himself, it’s going to be tough.
A leader in social media that could’nt creat a FB page.
Yeah
KLND:
So, we’ve established that:
a) you’re waaaaay obsessed with me, since you seem to have spent your evening doing Google searches on me;
b) You’re not very smart (or honest for that matter). You linked to a nearly 4-year old LOC post about an FB page I didn’t create. Genius.
If you had the sense to look at my actual FaceBook page, you’d see I not only know how to create a FaceBook page, but I have nearly 2,000 people following it.
To respond to some of Mr. Cunningham’s points,
I’ve made one correction to the article. Apparently there was at least one other affidavit that alleged dirty tricks by the signature gatherers who were local volunteers, rigorously trained to follow the law.
No, I’m not Tina Richards, although Orange is very lucky to still have a monthly independent local news organization, the Foothill Sentry. Most of the county has to put up with the third-rate reporting by the Register and its ever-shrinking staff of cub reporters. But hey, nice unfounded gratuitous attack against Tina.
The referendum petition that was being carried on July 4th was 77 pages, between 1/4″ and 5/16″. Hardly, “the phonebook-size EIR the circulator was required to carry with the petitions”. This is an easily verified fact that you might have checked before your affidavit or your protestations.
And really, “cheap shot against your mother”? If you didn’t want to bring your mother into the matter, maybe you should not have included her name and address in your affidavit. We did redact her home address as a courtesy, something you might have thought to do in a public document.
Actually, there was no attempt to accuse you of anything illegal or imply that your vote to approve Ridgeline was anything other than what the Orange City Council expected when they appointed you.
Nevertheless, there are many people who cynically find it downright creepy how easily some individuals and their spouses move between roles as commissioners, board members or elected officials and their jobs as staffers, lobbyists, consultants or government relations experts. You’re a small player compared to guys like Scott Baugh, Peter Buffa, Miguel Pulido, or Curt Pringle, just as you only got a little taste of all that money that was floating around in Orange.
You may call me a moral coward, but anonymity in political debate is a proud American tradition. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius,” and “the Federal Farmer” spoke up in rebuttal. The US Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized rights to speak anonymously derived from the First Amendment.
PS
As you are updating your corporate records, you might go in and change the information with the Secretary of State where Laura Cunningham is listed as agent of service for Pacific Strategies.
“No, I’m not Tina Richards, although Orange is very lucky to still have a monthly independent local news organization, the Foothill Sentry.”
Since I never mentioned Tina Richards in my comment, it’s interesting that you would deny that’s who you are. As for the Sentry, since Bob Bennyhoff died it has become a pale shadow of its former self in terms of journalistic integrity and accuracy. With the recent departure of Marjann Dunn and the sad passing of Bob Fateaux, there will be precious little reliable reporting on civic affairs.
“The referendum petition that was being carried on July 4th was 77 pages, between 1/4″ and 5/16″. Hardly, “the phonebook-size EIR the circulator was required to carry with the petitions”. This is an easily verified fact that you might have checked before your affidavit or your protestations.”
Yes, and the binder this individual was carrying contained, at best, a few pages – not 77. She walked right by us, and it was plain to see the binder was virtually empty. In other words, the circulator didn’t have EIR she was required to have. That’s to say nothing of the circulators accompanying her, who had only clipboards – no EIRs.
And you seem to forget – I was there, you were not.
‘And really, “cheap shot against your mother”? If you didn’t want to bring your mother into the matter, maybe you should not have included her name and address in your affidavit. We did redact her home address as a courtesy, something you might have thought to do in a public document.”
Well, since it was a legal affidavit in which I was recounting an incident I witnessed, I kind of had to identify where I was when I saw what I saw.
“Actually, there was no attempt to accuse you of anything illegal or imply that your vote to approve Ridgeline was anything other than what the Orange City Council expected when they appointed you.”
Now you’re just being dishonest. You link to some articles that are replete with half-truths, distortions, falsehoods and personal attacks. Then you write a totally inaccurate timeline of my service on the Planning Commission and work on Ridgeline. You were clearly trying to paint a picture of me – an untruthful one, but a deliberately constructed one. Don’t compound your earlier dishonesty with further mendacity.
As for the City Council’s “expectations”: No councilmember ever gave me any direction to me or made any suggestion to me as to how to vote on Ridgeline — or any other item that came before the PC during my tenure. That’s just fantasy on your part.
“You may call me a moral coward, but anonymity in political debate is a proud American tradition. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius,” and “the Federal Farmer” spoke up in rebuttal.”
Your comparison is absurd. The Federalist Papers aren’t chock full of personal attacks, dishonest or otherwise. The reason Hamilton, Madison and Jay used pseudonyms has nothing in common with your motivation. They weren’t afraid to be associated with their opinions, and later revealed their identities. You use your fake name as a screen which to smear others.
“The US Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized rights to speak anonymously derived from the First Amendment.”
Great – so you have the freedom to exhibit moral cowardice by smearing people anonymously.
From the dead horse department:
From: http://www.pacific-strategies.com/results/
Pacific Strategies’ offers more than a two dozen years of public affairs experience helping public and private sector clients efficiently and effective communicate with target audiences.
We specialize in:
•Social media
•Community outreach
•Government relations
•Strategic Communications
This from a guy who said he doesn’t even know how to access Facebook.
Who’s lying now??? Shall we continue.
I estimate Vern will give 10 more posts (provided i don’t go off the rails). #’s 3 and 4 should be good and embarassing Jubal.
Go home.
“This from a guy who said he doesn’t even know how to access Facebook.”
If you had the sense to look at my actual FB page, you see I access it frequently.
“Who’s lying now???”
Once again, KLND, you are.
Question: How do you know when Kenlaysnotdead is lying?
Answer: When his fingers are moving on his keyboard.
Hey Jubal, Or was it CHAPSCHK back then?? Remember when you used to be able to argue sensibly???
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-03-17/local/me-48478_1_id-cards
I haven’t even begun research on Mrs. Lay’s nexislexis account yet.
I guess being a Social Conservative didn’t pay the bills back in 96. HYPOCRITE.
My views on the subject haven’t changed since then. So how exactly does the “hypocrite” charge apply? I’m beginning to think you don’t know what the word means.
By the way, still waiting for that e-mail admitting your identity, which you said I know. Unlike you, I like to confirm things. Or you can continue to hide behind a phony name – which isn’t surprising, given the lies and viciousness you’ve been putting out over the years.
Did anyone notice that another Orange politician was recently chastised in the paper?. Termed out Mayor Carolyn was biotch slapped for voting herself onto Public Boards with spiffy stipends.
Is there something in Orange’s water? Another Council character was called fpr receiving heavy campaign contributions from the same skeezy developer fund machine that paid the the Cunninghams. Former Orange Planning Commissioner cum Councilman Fred (shut up Fred as John Martin refers to him) took a sizable transfusion of green from the Martin money machine. Huh, The gerbil and Fred served on the same Planning Commission and both voted in favor of the project. Is there a theme here? Does a river (of money) run through Orange politics?
Why skuffle for stipends when the real money comes in the back door, lady Mayor? Get in line with da boyz.
Still stung by Matt’s having expected better of me, and moreso by his thinking that I’m a publisher here rather than a writer, graphic artist, and housekeeper, I want to try to drill down to the actual sources of disagreement in the above. (I’m setting aside allegations made in comments, such as KNLD’s, as “non-canonical.”)
(1) I think that I get the timeline, although I’m still not sure that the discrepancies about it matters so much, but something still disturbs me.
As I understand it, Matt voted to approve the Ridgecrest project at one point, left the Planning Commission around nine months later, and then began consulting for Ridgecrest three months after that, leading up to the City Council vote on the project. That may be suggestive but not conclusive; differences about what is meant by “several,” “a few,” etc. have by now been clarified. What interests me more is: “My consulting role was very limited.” I don’t know the relevant legalities and ethical requirements regarding moving from Planning Commission to consultant, but is the role being “limited” incompatible with anything to worry about?
(2) There is some disagreement about Matt’s affidavit. To me, the most interesting thing about it (which I presume he won’t find objectionable) is that he came forward with an affidavit at all, which derives either from extreme civic-mindedness or a desire to kill the initiative even on what in other circumstances would strike many of us as pretty darn technical grounds. But, regardless: again, I don’t know the facts and would love to see them lined up.
What exactly were these signature-gatherers — each one of them or part of a team? — supposed to have on them? How was this thing, whatever we ultimately agree that it was, provided to them? Is there any reason that they would not want to have it with them? (Seriously — how many people read the supporting material and how terrible is it if a given person does so and decides not to sign?)
Of course, even the absence of an EIR would not necessarily be scandalous (let alone the basis to take a proposal off of a ballot) if, say, someone else acted to prevent the signature-gatherer from being able to use it — say, by taking it away from them. I don’t have any evidence that that happened, but it does lead me to a segue into my actual problem with Norby’s — QUIMBY’S, I meant QUIMBY’S! — article (just having some fun with everyone there), which is this: Quimby buried the lede.
What sent my jaw floorward was the tenth paragraph:
Whaaaaaa???? This, more than Matt’s role in anything, is what to me should be topic numero uno for discussion. In fact, in the interests of comity across the political divides, I’ll invite Matt to demonstrate his inherent decency by agreeing with me that this sort of thing is at no less than twice as objectionable and offensive (and possible even actionable) as failing to have an EIR while signature gathering.
And by “no less than twice as objectionable and offensive,” I mean more like “at least a hundred times more so.”
So, seeing as this discussion has been spiraling downhill, I think I’ll just start a new post here and unbury that lede.
LOL. If Matthew Cunningham didn’t exist, we would have to invent him.
He’s got this rightwing victim thing down pat. EVERYTHING is an unfair personal attack on him. What’s this nonsense about “cheap shots at his mother?” I wasted two extra readings of Quimby’s post looking for anything negative about his mother, and only learned, once again (from Matt’s own affidavit) that she has a house in Orange, and that Matthew was standing in front of it. How thin must a man’s skin be, for that to feel like an attack? Skinless, I’d say.
Matthew even said in one of the many e-mails he sent to me, Greg, and his Liberal OC friends in reaction to this post, that he “has half a mind to file a lawsuit” against us over this piece. Jesus, who even talks like that any more? “Half a mind to file a lawsuit.” Can you picture this guy in high school?
But mostly he got me thinking about the whole idea of “personal attacks.” And, aside from how little it takes for a guy like Matt to feel personally attacked, I started wondering if it’s possible to write about politics and current events, with ANY degree of passion and conviction, and never engage in what could be construed in “personal attacks.” Politics ISN’T just philosophy, ideas, strategies. More than that, it’s ACTIONS, good and bad actions, and those are committed by PEOPLE.
Back in 2008 when I was first doing this blogging stuff, I used to watch, with a certain amount of revulsion, Matthew – well, he was Jubal then – Jubal engaging in amicable back-and-forths with his friends Dan and Chris on the Liberal OC, about things like how the battle over Proposition 8 would benefit the Republican or Democratic Parties. And the conversation was always so casual and friendly I couldn’t stand it. I’d be thinking “This is people’s lives they’re talking about!” I could never be so pleasant with a guy who’s busy fighting to make gay people second class citizens, while his wife is getting paid for it, and speculating nonchalantly on how that may help or harm his political party in the coming elections. But that’s just me…
When he whines about personal attacks, he forgets what provoked this post. It’s not that he was on the other side of an issue from Quimby or that he got $2500 for it. It’s the ridiculous, petty affidavit he filed against a volunteer signature-collector – one Laura Thomas – for supposedly not having a fat enough binder with her. And he was wrong!
Matt, please send us your photo of
youngLaura and her skinny binder, and I will post it, and we’ll all see for ourselves if it could have contained the 77 pages it was supposed to, or not. We can compare it to the recent photo of me delivering a notebook containing about 70 pages to Susan Kang Schroeder with evidence of Dick Ackerman’s illegal lobbying.But this just reminds us all of how petty and mercenary the guy is. He’s on the side of the big money – he’s ALWAYS on the side where the big money is – and he’s picking on young girl VOLUNTEERS who are acting to save the quality of their neighborhoods – girls who probably were doing everything correctly, and who were being followed home and harassed by his boss’ goons.
I don’t hate Matt, I enjoy arguing with him sometimes, but mostly I enjoy just pointing at him. He’s a perfect “type,” for demonstrating what’s wrong with our politics. If Matthew Cunningham didn’t exist we would be forced to invent him.
I don’t believe that anyone “has” to invent anyone else. If market forces so decree, that person will automatically come into existence.
Good grief. Being judged by a guy with four-DUI convictions who by the grace of God didn’t kill anyone. Not to mention a guy who has absolutely no idea what he his talking about regarding this issue. Who, like Mayor Quimby, was not there present when Ms. Thomas (you named her here, Vern — I tried to avoid pulling her name into this sewer) was was circulating petitions with a virtually empty binder.
And for the record, she is not a young girl, but a woman who is at least my age or older. I wasn’t following anyone. I was sitting on a driveway waiting for a parade when she and other circulators came along.
You haven’t gotten anything right yet, Vern. Quit while you’re behind.
How ’bout sending us that photo, champ?
I am half drunk, having come from the Quill…(that was a joke Tardiff).
– Greg, while I studied with and under Jesuit’s for most of my academic life, I’ll leave the “Connonical” aurguements to Stephanie. She likes to beat MJC up more than me!
– Matt, I never REPEAT NEVER mentioned your Mother, unlike your friends at the Liberal OC, I believe Mom’s out of bounds. Never have, never would. Now your wife is a different story, she has put herself forward as a public figure. I would be happy to debate Laura on her merits in English, Spanish or maybe my really, really shitty French. Might need some help there.
– Vern, what in the world does The Liberal OC have to do with this? Are you saying Matt has introduced those “Challenging OC’s Right Wing Noise Machine” to this fight in hopes of back up. How WWI is that?
– JUBAL, I use Dogpile, not Google. It’s more precise. Besides, I was right. You were WRONG (again). I could give a shit about your politics. I just hate your smug attitude and the silly CON-JOB you are running. Wash your hands Son.
– In general, I will say, I was an avid poster on the blogs for a long time, but, the admitted downside of using a handleis it is easily and often stolen and abused. I have to accept that, along with the mis-attributed comments it brings. I am willing to live with that, Usually Vern catches the bullshit, Dan C. uses it as bait, Tardiff, I don’t know about that old-timer, he just comes off as a nasty, bigoted old man, who thinks he is smarter than he is.
– I never lied about you. I have a legimitate question as to how the principal of a public consultant firm, who has a rich history in dealing with the county, can become the COS for a sitting politician. That’s my duty as a citizen to ask, and a question you and your wife, and supervisor Campbell have yet to answer.
Go on with your games, you’ll eventually beat down the masses and continue. But, quit painting your critics with such a broad brush. YOU OWE US ANSWERS.
KLND:
You are an anon coward. You’re plenty brave behind a keyboard slinging accusations, safely hidden in anonymity. Very admirable. What a role model. You don’t want your friends and colleagues in the public affairs world to connect you to the crap you write.
As long you hide behind your phony name (and I just loooove your “other people hijack my handle” excuse), nobody owes you any answers — especially since you offer lots of (laughably ill-informed) speculation and insults, but rarely any facts.
“Matt, I never REPEAT NEVER mentioned your Mother…
Great. I never said you did.
JUBAL, MAXIMUS, DELUSIONSOFGRANDUER, SANTAANA RESIDENT………
The credibility clock is running out CON MAN.
I WILL NO LONGER DIGNIFY THIS WITH A RESPONSE….(Not)
Cunningham is a blowhard. Keep fleecing the world Matt.
Remember it’s Lent….Alterboy.
What part of hypocrisy don’t you understand Jubal?
YOU don’t owe me any answers .
Supervisor Campbell does. Maybe if the Voice Of OC and the OC Register get enough inquiries someone will ask the Supervisor about this. Is that what you want Matt? You certainly don’t know when to stop.
Supervisor Campbell, NOT MATT CUNNINGHAM needs to expalin why it is OK to hire a lobbyist. Not you,. You are nothing. He is the elected official.
Should be pretty emabarassing. Certainly won’t help his future.
What’s all this talk about cowardice? Nobody is afraid of you. Nobody is afraid of Lewis. Nobody is afraid of Pringle or Campbell or Ackerman or Ellis any of your toilet bowl patrons.
…(that was a joke Tardiff).
One “f” in Tardif dipshit.
“I’ll leave the “Connonical” aurguements to Stephanie.”
It’s “Canonical” dipshit – and Steph has more class in her little Digi than you have in your entire rotting carcass.
“I was an avid poster on the blogs for a long time, but, the admitted downside of using a handleis it is easily and often stolen and abused. I have to accept that, along with the mis-attributed comments it brings. I am willing to live with that,”
You are a lying POS – you had plenty of opportunity to disavow the meanest nastiest comments of kenlay – you didn’t – you are a fucking liar.
“Tardiff, I don’t know about that old-timer, he just comes off as a nasty, bigoted old man, who thinks he is smarter than he is.”
You are full of shit.
Mike, You are an angry old man, who pissed his pants over the possibility over Soccer teams using your beloved Eddie West Field.
Let me tell you something Grandpa. No matter what you think, This is 2012, the Catholic Diocease, no matter who runs it does not own that stadium. You first got pissed at me when I called you out for LYING about who and how often the stadium is used. Sure Mater Dei might be a tradition, but, try practicing some Social Justice you closed minded fool.
It’s not 1950, 1960, 1970 or even 200 grandpa. Take your homophobe, wierd old school shit and try to impress upon those Grandkids some value. YOU ARE A TIRED OLD MAN. You are a bigot, a liar and as your buddy Dan C. says: A “Sock-Puppet”.
Defend that one???? Kenlaysnotdead is bad; Jubal is OK;; Maximus is permissable; Junior is just Mike being Mike………
LIAR’S AND CON’S.
Got to go. My Mexican wife is serving me…..(that was another joke BIGOT!)
Vern, what in the world does The Liberal OC have to do with this? Are you saying Matt has introduced those “Challenging OC’s Right Wing Noise Machine” to this fight in hopes of back up. How WWI is that?
LOL. Whenever I fight with Art & Sean (and whenever Greg fights with Art) there’s immediately this cheering section – of people who think we’re never going to be fighting with them. But the Orange Juice calls bullshit wherever the Orange Juice sees it.
“Social Justice” is a fucking joke – just like you shithead kenlay.
Try as you may to get out from under the meanest nastiest comments ever posted – you can’t lie your way out of those – your finger prints are all over them – liar.
KLIND – If I am a “Sock-Puppet” – what does that make you? Most here know who I am.
“Social Justice is a fucking joke”
Enough said about Mike “Junior” Tardif. (except for put the old man to bed Mercede’s).
YOU’RE TEARIN’ ME APAAAAAART!
OK boys that’s enough KLND and junior for this thread. Only comments relating to the original (Orange Land Grab) story will be approved. OK, Greg?
Leave it to Mike to ruin the party. OK I am off.
What, you don’t like my James Dean impression?
My suggestion is: leave the infighting here; continue the wondering what the hell is going on in Orange in my other post.
Let’s set aside all the outrage.
Instead, let’s just get back to that referendum packet that the volunteers were carrying. We have established that it was less than 5/16″ thick, not in fact the “phonebook” size document that Mr. Cunningham thought it was.
Furthermore, the packets were assembled with the signature pages attached as part of the 79 page booklet issued to each volunteer, with every packet issued as a packet and turned in as a packet.
What would be the incentive for the volunteer signature gatherers to detach the signature pages from the body of the document? Was it the cumbersome 5/16″ thickness or the incredibly heavy 13 ounce weight?
Or is it possible that Mr. Cunningham really had no idea how thick an actual document was until it was pointed out to him in a comment on this blog post after he claimed that there was a phonebook-size EIR the circulator was required to carry with the petitions ?
Perhaps Mr. Cunningham has forgotten how thick a phone book is, or perhaps he is referring to a small-town phone book with covers, 36 pages for phone listings, and 41 pages for local ads.
Perhaps Mr. Cunningham was engaging in hyperbole.
The referendum that was being circulated on July 4th easily fit on a clipboard.
The pair of referendums being circulated later were similarly assembled and issued to volunteers in binders so that it was easy to have voters sign on opposing pages.
The packets, including the signature pages and the affidavit pages, were inspected by the Orange City Clerk. The packets were then inspected by the Registrar of voters, where every signature was compared to the signature and address on file.
Also, I assume that Mr. Cunningham’s affidavit was met, at the Court, with derisive laughter?
Still waiting to see his photo of Laura Thomas and her skimpy documentation. Why is he not sharing it with the rest of us, if it’s grievous enough to show to a Judge, and absolves him of comical pettiness?
Apparently Jerbal is now criticizing a rich guy (me) on that lame Liberal OC site for influencing politics.
A complete and total hypocrite. It’s in his genes, evidently. It funny how only in the world of OC politics where most of the pugs are illiterate crooks could a slug like The Jerb find employment. Not in the private sector, that’s for sure.
Why all the hoo-rah about the thickness of an effen phone book? Must be a really important effen phone book.
Did you read the story at all, Junior?
Did you read Matt’s affidavit that was copied into the story?
Are you following this comments section at all?
Your “brother from another mother” Matt started off claiming that the signature gatherers, whom he ran to court complaining about, were SUPPOSED to have a phone-book sized notebook with them. Of course he’s wrong, they were only supposed to have 70 pages of information, which fits neatly into a thin notebook, just like he actually claims he saw, and supposedly has a photo of, which now he’s apparently ashamed to show us. And so now we are making fun of him. This is all as it should be. Move along now.
It doesn’t say anything about a phone book in the court document. It says that some of the petition signature gatherers were only carrying clipboards with signature pages. Is that proper procedure for those petitioners? Just asking.
MQ said: “What would be the incentive for the volunteer signature gatherers to detach the signature pages from the body of the document? Was it the cumbersome 5/16″ thickness or the incredibly heavy 13 ounce weight?”
It could be that or it could be that the petioners did not want to deal with potential signers who might want to read the docs.
“The circulator replied that it would be OK for my mom to sign the petition for her sister.”
Is that proper or legal procedure for a petitioner?
If that was true, I’d think Matt woulda put it in his affidavit.
Here’s an idea – how about if the residents of OPA form a Mello-Roos type of district, tax themselves and buy the property and build a park.
Either that or let the property go fallow – fence it and look at that for the next 80 years.
Just throwing out ideas.
Here is another thought – it doesn’t seem quite fair to me that the entire City of Orange population has a say-so (via petition) to determine what is going to go in Ridgeline – not many of them would use it – primary use would be by the residents of OPA.
Without addressing the specifics of your argument, what kind of argumemt is that? “It’s not fair”? Do you really want to start politics in terms of fairness all of the sudden, as opposed to what is legally — and even technically legally — required? Because if you want to talk about fairness instead of legal requirements, I’m going to have to bus in hundreds of grad students….
Yeah … FAIRNESS … isn’t that what “Social Justice” is all about? “FAIRNESS”
How about some “Social Justice” for the residents of OPA?
They should be able to determine what is best for their community – not bussed in grad students – or people living outside of OPA.
What bussed-in grad students? If there are any of those, they sure won’t be allowed to vote in the referendum.
Or are you thinking of the hired blockers and goons bussed in from Tulare? Those were on the other side.
Why is it fair to break the law by denying the right of all residents of Orange to vote on this project?
If you think that only residents of a particular portion of a community should vote on something, then change the law first to make that happen. Your complaining after the fact that the law isn’t working out as you like makes no sense. You have a plausible (though I think wrong) argument; so try to make it happen.
The reason this bothers me is that it reminds me of the arguments against direct election of Senators, or that only property owners should get to vote, that were predominant early in our nation’s history. I don’t have a lot of sweet nostalgia for that aspect of our Founding history.
1.Usage of the Ridgeline property as a park would depend on what type of park or recreational business was created. I am certain that the majority of Ridgeline Golf and Tennis members did not live in OPA!
2. No one said the old Ridgeline property has to be a park – it is about mitigation for the loss of the recreational opportunities that Ridgeline used to offer to the entire city.
3. Allowing a property to become an eyesore seems a nasty ploy of the current owner. The worse it looks the more likely he is to garner the support of those who live near it?
4. Are there some code violations associated with letting a property become an eyesore?
“.. it is about mitigation for the loss of the recreational opportunities that Ridgeline used to offer to the entire city.”
Do you mean that the developer can buy his approval by kicking in big bucks to whatever park fund the City of Orange may have?
The loss of Ridgeline Golf & Tennis and the rezoning of that land from recreational to residential means the loss of recreational opportunity. Mitigation means providing some replacement for recreational losses to the community (not just OPA). Mitigation does not mean a payoff to the city.
“.. complaining after the fact that the law isn’t working out as you like makes no sense.”
Throw out the law – where is the “Social Justice” in law?
Or does “Social Justice” make no sense?
I am corn-fused.
We agree. You are corn-fused.
“Why is it fair to break the law by denying the right of all residents of Orange to vote on this project?”
Because they will not be using it – why should all of the residents of The City of Orange pay for a park that will only be used by residents of OPA?
Where is the fairness for 95% of Orange residents who will not use the park but will be required to pay for it? – where is the Social Justice in that?
If all the residents of the City of Orange will be paying, then shouldn’t they get to vote on it?
If your point is that land use decisions should be made only by property owners themselves, as if they do not affect anyone else living nearby, I respectfully disagree.
My point is – there seems to be 2 ways on the table to go with this.
1. Development
2. Open space – fenced weed overgrown land with no impetus or money to build a park for who knows how long.
Which would the residents of OPA prefer? Is there another option?
Is it their call alone?
Yes, I know that you think that it should be. Or that it should be solely the developer’s call, maybe. But whose call is it?
What’s your sense of what happens right now in that acreage, junior? Anything living there besides weeds?
“Anything living there besides weeds?” Just them weeds – with no better prospects in the offing.
Whose call is it? Don’t know – where does the petition stand in court?
Hey Bushala, are you and your brother still the only Fullerton residents willing to donate to your recall? And when are you going to blog about Shawn Nelson voting to try and give himself a third term, and all his double-talk about why he wanted to put Moorlachs third-term initiative on the ballot?
Hey Vern, why don’t you write about the sweetheart deal on the Fullerton train station that Bushala got from the city council? The council took the train station from its owner by eminent domain and leased it to Bushala for $1500 a month for 105 years. And he got a couple of 0% redevelopment loans to boot. Isn’t that the knd of crony capitalism Occupy people are against?
Too bad your facts are wrong. Oh, yeah you got them from Larry Bennett and the embarrassing anti-recall website.
P.S. The lease at the depot was approved by Bankhead and Ackerman!!
More point by point refutation, please! If the facts are wrong, knock them all down — the $1500, the 105 years, the 0%, etc. Our mosh pit needs that sort of exclusive story!
Yes! Although – always bearing in mind that these charges, however many of them are true or false, are a distraction thrown up by three useless repugs who don’t wanna get recalled. Still, clear the air?
Here’s a copy of a letter to The Fullerton Observer by State Assemblyman, Chris Norby, who puts the lie to the notion that Tony Bushala got some sort of subsidy in his lease deal with the Fullerton Redevelopment Agency. It’s funny how those who have routinely handed out millions in corporate welfare to their pals and cronies have chosen to attack Tony for actually paying to renovate the City-owned building!
Well, such are politics. The anti-recall crew are incapable of defending the Three Dessicated Dinosaurs so they have to attack the messenger of the Recall. Anyway, here’s Norby’s letter:
I hesitate to get in the middle of your lively give-and-take with Tony Bushala (Mid-Sept Observer page 9 “Redevelopment Foe Also a Recipient,” and the Early October page 2 Rebuttal ).
However, since I was one of five Fullerton City Councilmembers (including Don Bankhead, Molly McClanahan, Buck Catlin, and Richard Ackerman) voting to approve the old Santa Fe Depot lease, allow me to defend our action.
That lease was the only way to save the historic structure from demolition and make an outdated building commercially viable.
In 1987, the Santa Fe Railroad sold the depot to a private developer who then sought a demolition permit. To avert its razing, the Fullerton Redevelopment Agency acquired the depot and sought bids for those who could preserve, restore and operate it. Agency staff recommended that the Bushala Brothers, Inc. (BBI) be awarded the project.
BBI was the only firm not requesting public subsidies. It offered a $41,000 up front payment to the agency plus $340,000 to restore the building to its original condition. As BBI had just completed an award-winning restoration of the old Ice House (just across the tracks from the depot) it was well qualified. When the depot restoration actually cost $540,000, the overruns were covered by BBI.
BBI also applied for and received the depot’s recognition on the National Registration of Historic Buildings and Places.
The monthly lease payment to the agency is $1,326, which is adjusted annually for inflation. While the Observer contends this is below market rate, it was the best offer we had at the time to restore this historic building. In addition, BBI pays $12,000 annually in building maintenance and for all property taxes and insurance.
The agency retained all rental income from Amtrak for the waiting room and ticketing areas. The rest of the depot was largely baggage storage rooms and an abandoned loading dock – areas difficult to lease out.
I have been critical of redevelopment agencies’ abuse of eminent domain, handouts to developers and diversion of property taxes from public schools. However, I have voted for agency-funded public projects (roads, parks, libraries) and for the preservation of historic buildings, such as the Santa Fe Depot.
One could argue that an old depot was not worth the public investment. However, given the council’s commitment to save the structure, I believe this was the best deal we had.
Chris Norby Fullerton Current California Assemblymember and former Fullerton City Council & Redevelopment Agency Member, 1984-2002
Thanks, Joe.
Bushala won’t respond under his own name, but has to use his “Joe Sipowicz” pen-name like spokeshole. Precious!
All Tony/Joe did was confirm parts of what I said (the monthly lease) and fail to address the rest, such as locking in that low monthly price for more than a century, or how Bushala s the economic beneficiary of a property the city acquired by eminent domain. Kelo decision, anyone? And what about those 0% RDA loans? Were those to a different Tony Bushala?
Here’s an old LA Times article on the deal:
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-29/local/me-1815_1_fullerton-train-tony-bushala-amtrak-trains
It’s easy to be against the crony capitalism after you already gotten yours.
Hey big guy. Where do you stand on the recall of Jones, McKinley, Bankhead? I think that’s the issue of the day. Did you think they did a fine job dealing with the murder of Kelly? Do you back their water tax and bloated pensions? I’m pretty sure nobody’s voting on Tony right now.
Also, Sipowicz is a person. He breathes, he bleeds, he breeds. You sure must think Tony is some all-powerful, versatile and prolific superman!
Ho ho! Another Larry Bennett lie. Nobody has 105 year lease. You clowns just made that up didn’t you?
So how long is your lease for, Tony? Bushala tactically denies without providing corrections. Was the LA Times article wrong? It’s like he’s embarassed to talk about his sweetheart train station deal.
Here’s one where Bushala threatens to sue his landlord, the city of Fullerton, because he doesn’t want to do what the property owner, the city, wants him to do:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21427211.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+9%2C+1995&author=MIMI+KO&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=3&desc=FULLERTON+When+Is+a+Depot+Sufficiently+Plastered%3F