Orange Juice: PLA lawsuit hits Rancho Santiago Community College District

By: Art Pedroza

In this edition of the Orange Juice we will visit a number of issues, including a lawsuit filed against the Rancho Santiago Community College District, and a suggestion to rename John Wayne Airport.

In this Edition:

1. Rancho Santiago Community College District PLA results in lawsuit

2. Norby says “adios” to John Wayne…but is something worse to come?

3. Spitzer unloads on Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas

4. Coronado reception this evening

5. Women-Count Launch Celebration to be held in Orange County

News from the other side of the Orange Curtain…

1. Kerry protest on Thursday!

2. Southland Limited Government Coalition Meeting

The Juice Bar: Classifieds and more

Rancho Santiago Community College District PLA results in lawsuit

What happens when Democrats take over a school board? Nothing good – and here is another example. The Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Education capitulated to unions last year by passing a union-only project labor agreement that in effect banned non-union contractors from working on Rancho construction projects. The result? As expected, less bidders, and on the heels of that, a group of non-union apprentices has now sued the district. The litigants are part of an apprenticeship program that is approved by the State of California – and as such it is illegal to bar them from participating in Rancho construction projects. Hopefully the judge will agree.

We do have an opportunity this fall to take back the Rancho board. A total of three seats are up and winning those seats would shift the power on the board away from the Democrats who are currently in charge. There are two Republicans on the board now, including Phil Yarbrough and Lisa Woolery.

Norby says “adios” to John Wayne…but is something worse to come?

Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby took a lot of heat for suggesting that we think about renaming John Wayne Airport after the “OC” television program on the Fox network. Personally I think the airport should be named after our county. I am a fan of John Wayne, to a certain extent, but how many people in our county even know who he is anymore?

The real problem with the Norby suggestion is that now U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez will no doubt start thinking about naming the airport after herself. I can just see her telling the media that as the first Latina congresswoman in Orange County, she deserves her own airport. I’d rather see the county animal shelter named after her. Draw your own conclusions…

Norby addressed the entire airport renaming issue in his latest email newsletter. If you are not already receiving the newsletter I highly recommend it. You can call Norby’s office and request to be added to his email distribution list, at 714-834-3440.

Spitzer unloads on Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas

California State Assemblyman Todd Spitzer unloaded on Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas this past week, as their mutual enmity became public knowledge in a big way.

Spitzer alleged that a pilot program run by the D.A.’s office, whereby individuals were allowed to serve jail sentences at home via electronic monitoring, had now worked as spectacularly as Rackauckas had indicated.

You can read the entire story online at http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/06//17/sections/local/local/article_137870.php.

The political ramifications of this intra-party fight are uncertain. Spitzer is known to be a very ambitious politician. He is particularly adept at working the media. Rackauckas is not nearly as glib, and he has suffered mistakes throughout his tenure as District Attorney. If anything, this episode is just another embarrassment for Rackauckas, and you have to wonder if Spitzer might be using this to elevate his own profile, perhaps for a future campaign for the D.A.’s office or for State Attorney General.

Coronado reception this evening

Dr. Alexandria Coronado, the Republican candidate opposing U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, is being honored tonight at a fundraising reception that will take place starting at 6 p.m., at the home of Carlos Velasquez, at 23335 Portrait Way, Tustin. The hosts include Lincoln Club members such as Doy Henley and Dale Dykema, and other party leaders such as Mario Rodriguez and Van Tran. The event is also endorsed by six Republican congressmen including Ed Royce and Chris Cox. For more information, call 949-753-0860.

Women-Count Launch Celebration to be held in Orange County

The California Republican Party is launching a program to outreach to women voters, which makes a lot of sense, on July 6, in Costa Mesa. It is a well-known fact that the Democrats are going after single women in particular, and this seems to be the GOP’s response. Here are excerpts from the official press release:

The Women-Count Launch Celebration will be held at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa on July 6, 2004 from 6-8pm. Women-Count is a movement by the California Republican Party to build strength, leadership and involvement at the local level among women with active lifestyles.

We understand that women today are consumed with obligations to their families, careers, and other responsibilities. Our goal is to provide each woman with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about legislation and candidates that affect their futures and that of their children.

Women today hold many important and influential positions in the government, corporate, and domestic arenas. As a result, it has become increasingly more important for us to focus our efforts and energy into a unified and powerful voice. With a concentrated movement of educated and informed women, we can open the doors to change and progress. Women-Count encourages all women to take an active role in changing the future of politics.

We realize and understand that you are extraordinarily busy; but we would be privileged and honored to have you take the time to show your support for women in the California Republican Party and help us as we put a new face on the next generation of leaders. The successes of this event will kickoff a huge movement of attention from the media, elected officials and others and help get more women involved in the political process. At your earliest convenience, please RSVP by contacting me at (818) 841-5210 x105 or by email at masy@cagop.org.

News from the other side of the Orange Curtain…

Protest Kerry on Thursday!

Please a Kerry/Sreisand protest this Thursday (6/24) at 6 p.m.

outside the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles — as we protest the

John Kerry/Barbra Streisand

$10,000/couple FUNDRAISER!

111 South Grand Ave.

at First and Grand

Downtown Los Angeles

Groups attending so far:

Young Americans for Freedom

Catholics Against Kerry

RKBA

CRA – Prolifers

Hollywood Resistance Force

Freepers

Reagan Youth

Veterans Against Kerry

Dems for Decency

For more information, contact Ron Smith at (310) 416-9155 or ronsmith@quixnet.net

Southland Limited Government Coalition Meeting

The Southland Limited Government Coalition will meet this Thursday, June 24th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

MEETING DETAILS

Thursday, June 24th 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

6055 E. Washington Blvd , Commerce, CA 90040. (Bank of the West building). Suite 228

If you have not already done so, please RSVP to me at adrian.moore@reason.org. If you would like to be added to the agenda to speak on a specific subject, please let me know that as well.

Snacks will be provided! Thanks to Linda Boyd for the use of the facility and the food!

The Juice Bar: Classifieds and more

Santa Ana Relay for Life

July 9 and 10 at Eddie West Field in Santa Ana. The goal is to raise funds to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. To get involved write to Lupe Moreno, at lmorfin57@hotmail.com.

Need a website? Call Terry Crowley at TNT Web Management at 714-235-3728.

Volunteers needed. The campaign to amend 3 strikes is looking for volunteers. Call Jim Benson at (714) 547-9842.

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