Jennifer Delson, of the L.A. Times, has written a story about the shady dealings of the Measure D campaign. Here are excerpts from her fine article:
A Santa Ana ballot measure that would increase by four years the terms City Council members can serve is being heavily funded by companies having business with the city.
The largest contributions have been from a developer who has proposed a 27-story high-rise downtown and his associates. Money from developer Robert Bisno comes despite Measure D supporters’ argument in the voter pamphlet that the item’s passage would “reduce the power and influence of City Hall bureaucrats and developers.”
Bisno and his associates have given $40,000 to Yes on Measure D. The committee has received a total of $82,000. Bisno, who is based in Century City, did not return phone calls.
Measure D would increase the years that council members can serve from eight to 12.
On Tuesday, the committee received $20,000 from companies owned by Ware Disposal, the city’s garbage hauler; and $5,000 from Caribou Industries, run by developer Mike Harrah, who owns much of downtown. It also received $4,000 from the Santa Ana Police Officers Assn.
Critics of Measure D say Bisno’s contributions demonstrate how elected officials are being influenced by those with projects before the city.
Measure D supporters “say they want to disassociate themselves from developers, but they are again blatantly telling the residents that they are fools and we are going to put another one over you,” said Art Lomeli, a Santa Ana dentist who is heading the effort against the measure.
On Thursday, $20,000 from what is listed on campaign documents as “Robert Bisno including aggregated contributions” came in. Four days later, Main Street Concourse LLC, a Bisno partnership, donated another $20,000.
Bisno built a multimillion-dollar Santa Ana development known as City Place, which was a coup in a city that several years ago had trouble attracting Starbucks. City Place includes lofts for work and residence, as well as a McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Cafe and Corner Bakery. The natural foods store Mother’s Market is under construction.
The developer has proposed building a 27-story high-rise with 353 condos across the street. The project is expected to go before the Planning Commission within 90 days.
The home of Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez, the only council member who will be termed out in November if Measure D fails, is listed on the campaign contribution statement as the address of the Yes on Measure D committee.
Bisno, his partners and employees donated $33,000 to Alvarez in her failed 2006 campaign for an Assembly seat, records show.
Bisno Development Co. and related businesses have worked on 80 properties in 45 communities, including Santa Monica, Santa Ana, San Pedro and Dallas, according to the website of Baldwin Park, where the company is heading efforts to redevelop 125 acres in the city center. Similar plans have been made for downtown Santa Ana.
The No on Measure D committee has collected $2,975, with the biggest donations $1,500 from a committee affiliated with Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and a $1,000 loan from Councilwoman Michele Martinez.
Max Madrid, a city parks and recreation commissioner and treasurer for the Yes on Measure D campaign, said Tuesday that he didn’t know how the money would be spent. He said he was unaware of fliers or advertising in support of the measure.
Delson has outed Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez’ complicity with Measure D – which if it passes will allow her to run for a third term. This is truly a selfish act on her part and by the Council Members whose names appear on the Measure D argument – Councilman Sal Tinajero and Mayor Miguel Pulido. They have all hopped into bed with developers, unions and other special interests in order to lie to us and compel us to vote for Measure D. Do they think we are utterly stupid? Vote No on Measure D!
Gustavo said that Developer Bisno “has a hard on for Alvarez”…now Art says that Councilmembers ” hopped into bed with developers”
Sounds like we need Dr. Drew & Dr. Ruth to sort this out!
Claudia Alvarez is the Devil and I rebuke her in the name of Jesus!
VOTE NO ON MEASURE D and send self-serving Clownia Alvarez back to the lair she crawled out of and when she crawls back in permanently seal the lair shut.
Art, Is it legal for Alvarez to run the No on D out of her home? Is she paying herself rent for a campaign headquarters? Paying for other campaign “costs” out of the funds? This seems like a violation of campaign laws and certainly unethical. Any thoughts?
Anyone see the graffiti on the water tower? It says:
For Sale
Very slick move by Claudia. Now any expenses for her home(computers, phone bills, etc) that are “campaign related” can be charged to the No on Measure D campaign. I bet la mama de Claudia’s going to be getting a nice new Micro Horno, computer, and a Flat Screen T.V. for Valentines day!!!
I wonder why Claudia didn’t use the address of her bosom buddy former councilwoman Lisa Bist as the No on D campaign headquarters?
Cook, that’s how the city complied with the Brown Act to let everybody know that Santa Ana is for sale.
An# 3,5 and 6..YOU HAVE IT INCORRECT…Claudia is not running No on Measure D at her house..SHE IS RUNNING YES ON MEASURE D. She wants it so she can stay in Office come Nov.
Don’t forget to VOTE NO ON MEASURE D.
What a nice little shell game Claudia has going…she can use Yes on D funds to pay off her campaign debt/loans by running it through her home. Very tricky Claudia.
DUMP CRAZY CLOWNIA!! VOTE NO ON MEASURE D!!
Jeez, how much more unethical can this bitch possibly be?
Max Madrid, huh? If this is the same Max Madrid who worked for a non-profit called CSP, an organization that contracts heavily wth the county for youth services – especially those on probation – then he has been a political gadfly attracted to electeds for a long long time. Surprised he would get sucked into this position – he should do better in drawing personal boundaries as to lines he will not cross as he pursues association with politicians.
Ryan,
I agree!!
We miss you…
#13, thanks! That’s so sweet.
But seriously, Claudia needs to go. This measure needs to be solidly defeated and her political career needs to come to an end.
Ryan, I thought you were in San Diego. Keep Santa Ana politics in the rear view mirror and focus on your opportunities in San Diego. You’ll be better off!
Good luck down there!
#15, Ryan is VERY focused in San Diego politics. In fact, I hear he’s going to be added to the SD GOP Central Committee next month. He’s also doing some design work for a few candidates down there while also working on a candidate’s city council campaign in San Diego. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, he did some web design work for the NO on D campaign.
You gotta hand it to him though, he spent three years here in Santa Ana being active within the city’s politics and he still feels very strongly about this town unlike a lot people who already live here.