“Warned repeatedly by the state to alter its practice of handing out free tickets to some of the summer’s hottest concerts, the Orange County Fair Board on Thursday adopted a more conservative policy that will limit each board member to 10 complimentary tickets for each of the concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre,” according to the L.A. Times.
Ten tickets each? How is that a fair concert ticket policy? Who do these board members think they are? There are nine board members. This new policy means that almost 100 tickets will be set aside for these greedy commissioners – and we the public will not only be prevented from getting the best seats but will also be stuck with the bill when these valuable tickets are given to the fair board members instead of being sold.
I wonder if the fair board members will still stuff their faces at our expense too? Local newspapers reported that the fair board members were eating gourmet meals at taxpayers’ expense. Not fair! Let them pay through the nose for expensive, greasy fair food like the rest of us do!
A fair ticket policy would give no more than two tickets to each board member and the ability to buy perhaps four more tickets at face value. There is NO good reason to hand out so much pork to these egotistical elites. Furthermore, the fair board members who have been ripping us off for years ought to resign in disgrace!
Well, I guess Red County editor Matt “Jubal” Cunningham will still be going to O.C. Fair concerts for free as his fellow Republicans on the Fair Board will no doubt hook him and OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh up with free tickets whenever they ask for them. Shame on them! I hope they finally start reporting these “free” tickets on their tax returns as income!
If I do, I’ll let you know how the concert is.
we the public will not only be prevented from getting the best seats but will also be stuck with the bill when these valuable tickets are given to the fair board members instead of being sold.
Again, Art — demonstrate exactly how the public is “stuck with the bill”?
As you know very well, the OC Fair generates its own revenue. It does not receive tax revenues.
Reasonable people can differ on this issue. But at least be honest in your opposition.
Matt/Jubal,
It’s simple actually. The profits from the fair are PUBLIC funds. When you use those profits to engorge the greedy pigs on the OC Fair Board you are blowing money that ought to be used to defray Fair costs and to go into the public till. In other words you guys are using public money in order to have a good time. And THAT is not right.
BTW, I can afford to buy my own tickets. So perhaps I will see you at one of these concerts – but I will have paid my way whereas you are just mooching off the public. For shame!
Art:
You didn’t answer the question, because the public is not being “stuck with the bill.” If a fair board member gives away a free ticket, it doesn’t cost you or the public a cent. You may disagree with their doing so, but it doesn’t cost the public anything, as you know perfectly well.
Well, oink oink.
All gifts valued at a large sum are taxable. Not reporting it on your tax return is illegal. So it like stealing from tax payers. Or at least tax evasion.
I like the part about the tickets that they are not taking, they get to say who may buy them. So they still control the same amount of perks.
These are public officials, how about no more free tickets. If they need a perk, let them have first crack at purchasing tickets at face value.
As to the tax implications, the tickets are either a perk which must be reported to the IRS as part of their compensation. Or they are a gift of public funds, which violates California law.
greedy rep . ahh art the dems dont have any greedy people or did you just forget to leave them out . oh yes i forgot you are a d.t.s.
Matt/Jubal,
Question for you. What happens to the Fair proceeds? Where do they go? They are public funds, are they not? Isn’t this why the State has oversight over the fair – and why the Governor appoints the Fair Board members?
So when you GIVE AWAY a concert ticket to a Fair Board member, the money the state WOULD HAVE garnered is now down the toilet. And to make it worse, the greedy pigs on the Fair Board take the BEST SEATS in the house!
And the money they blow to feed themselves is money that would otherwise go to the public till, right?
I think you guys are blowing this public money on yourselves because you rather do so than turn it over to the State. Well, it is just plain wrong. If everyone on the Fair Board was a Democrat, I wonder how you Red faced County types would feel about these ticket giveaways? Never mind. You would just kiss their a** and get free tickets anyway.
Art –
Where are our press tickets? Oh wait. We don’t get any. No expensive dinner for us. That’s OK, I’ll stick with BBQ at your house. 😛 Viva la grill! See you Friday!
SMS
Art,
It would be refreshing if, for once, you knew what you were talking about. Simply acting outraged isn’t a substitute for informed debate.
OC Fair revenues stay with the OC Fair. The state doesn’t get anything.
Art, The Fair Board will raise $250,000 this year for the Centennial Farms Foundation so that 100,000 OC school children can continue experiencing our agricultural heritage — FOR FREE. Each Fair Board director has donated at least $1000 — some much more. If you give or get $10,000 you and your friends will ride in a covered wagon during cattle drive in the streets of Costa Mesa on July 26. We are trying to get as many children on the wagons as possible, so don’t give up all your seats. Are you in? C’mon Art, do it for the children.
David,
Here is what the OC Register stated that each of you on the Board will be receiving:
•Each board member receives 10 tickets per show in the pit at the Pacific Amphitheatre. Other guests referred by the board and fair administrators can buy tickets at face value through a special purchase program. Unsold tickets would be turned back to the box office for public sale within 72 hours of the concert.
•Each board member and immediate family receives a photograph ID card allowing for free admission to the fair. More day passes can be purchased at the employee price of $1. The general public now pays $9, which will rise to $10 next year.
•Former board members receive a lifetime pass to the fair and can buy more fair tickets for $1 apiece.
•Each board member and immediate family can attend the nightly VIP dinner.
Sounds like a good return on your $1,000 investment!
BTW, I have an idea. Instead of spending all that money to bring a bunch of cows and covered wagons to town, why not drive everyone over to one of Orange County’s remaining strawberry fields and have folks pick strawberries all day? That way they will understand what the immigrants in this state have been doing with respect to agriculture for so many years. Then the money you raise will ALL go to the children instead of blowing it on cows and wagons.
Matt/Jubal,
Here is what the OC Fair website states about its relationship with the State:
The 32nd District Agricultural Association, doing business as the OC Fair & Event Center, is a state entity within the Division of Fairs and Expositions, California Department of Food and Agriculture.
And on the Fair employment page you will find that: Full-time positions are state civil service appointments.
So it sure sounds like the Fair is a State enterprise. Curiously I could not find any info on the Fair website stating what they do with their revenue. Rest assured that it is public. Whether or not it goes to the State or elsewhere the Fair Board members have a fiduciary responsibility not to blow that money on themselves.
Yes, Art. County fairs are state enterprises. No one has said any different.
But as I already told you: OC Fair revenue stays with the OC Fair. It’s really not difficult to understand. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to give up the “they’re ripping off us taxpayers!” tub-thumping line.
And remember — you already promised to boycott the fair.
That way they will understand what the immigrants in this state have been doing with respect to agriculture for so many years.
Or, you could put your tremendous organization skills and terrific prestige into putting it together yourself.
Matt/Jubal,
Well, one of us has managed refinery shutdown maintenance projects with hundreds of employees. And one of us has been in charge of safety for over three hundred workers in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And one of us has a graduate degree in management.
Obviously I am not talking about you. So yes, if this was something I wanted to focus on I am sure I could pull it off. But I am not on the OC Fair Board. In fact I believe there is only one Latino on the Board and he doesn’t speak Spanish. The Board as it is currently composed is a joke.