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Again, since none of us were able to attend last night’s Anaheim Council Candidates Forum, we reprint commentary from our frequent Anaheim commenter Ricardo Toro. I should make him an account here one of these days, you think? – V.
I missed at least half of tonight’s forum at Betsy Ross School, hosted by OCCCO and other community groups. It was the largest and most diverse audience so far. I heard that it was also the most animated, with some candidates parading into the hall accompanied by their supporters. I am looking forward to Gabriel San Roman’s report, describing the flavor and highlights of the meeting.
What I heard from the candidates did not vary much for what I have learned so far.
There are four viable candidates in the Anaheim council race: Leos, Kring, Brandman and Roberts. That’s based on the endorsements of two local major news media organizations, the OC Register and Weekly, and by political figures and organizations. Politics could be non-partisan, but the values or dogmas of the candidates reflect visions of the society as a whole: conservatives, liberal or progressive.
John (Leos) breaks through the dogma held by many conservatives. A working man, at certain point he was a member of the executive leadership of an employee association. He’s supported by this labor group, and has shown that he can represent average neighbors regardless of ideological or political allegiances. He has been one of most solid, reasonable, consistent candidate in the forums.
However, at the Anna Drive forum, he used the GOP party line of the “market forces” in reference to the hotels project in the Garden Walk area. The market forces may be appropriate in this case, but it should not be a mantra to determine policies. The rundown, blighted condition of the Rio Vista shopping center in the neighborhood where John and I live, is the result of the market forces. The Miraloma Community Center could not have been developed if the recession had not occurred; city officials would not have applied public domain on the only property suitable for the center. Sometimes, the active role of city government may be needed, especially when the market forces are not getting the desirable results.
Ms Kring is an enigma. She does not favor elections by district, although she accepts that it is inevitable. She does not apply a “holistic” approach to the crime and gang problems and she is stuck with the formula of community policing. She is the standard bearer of conservatives bent on taking down the unions’ leverage, and not just in lowering their pensions. These conservatives go to the extreme of indirectly ridiculing the police and firefighters unions, by pointing out that their backed candidates refer to them as “public safety heroes.” The irony is that these conservatives laud the police’s repressive behavior during the riots, but they are proud of complying with the Baugh Manifesto, of not accepting funds from labor organizations. Her commitment to allocate 1% of the TOT revenue for neighborhood improvement is commendable though.
Leos and Kring, endorsed by Mayor Tait, are expected to curtail the influence of developers and corporate lobbyists, and to support the election by districts sooner than the current commission timetable. They appear as the pragmatic choice as many people vote along party lines, and the GOP is still the dominant political force in the city.
Jordan Brandman has an impressive record serving as a public official, is an excellent public speaker. He is a well-groomed young politician. In the first debate he was so polished, it was too good to believe. He gave the right answers, and avoided the ones linking him to the developers. In the second one he showed a more human side, and had the guts to bring up the positive aspects of Obamacare. It’s shrewd of him to run as a Democrat in a city that is still predominant Republican, but whose significant demographic change will soon have registered Democrats outpacing Republicans. His support for developers and ties to former mayor Pringle, his unwillingness to recognize police brutality, and his pairing up with Steve Lodge, who has a very negative image, may cost him the race.
Duane Roberts is a long-shot candidate. He was the first one to propose a civilian police review commission. His criticism of corporate welfare resonates well with the average resident, and it is worth repeating:
“The Anaheim Resort Area’s success is solely based on corporate welfare. This economic engine couldn’t exist without more than a half billion dollar of direct and indirect public subsidies over the past decade. The Walt Disney Company, for example, has benefited from all sorts of taxpayer assistance, everything from a free $90 million parking garage to expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center.
“The burden of the impacts of Anaheim Resort Area expansion has been shifted to surrounding communities, most notably West Anaheim. Increased employment of low wage workers not only caused overcrowding of apartments, schools, and parks, but traffic congestion. When Disney proposed its California Adventure Theme park, they argued against paying for impacts of their pending development on local schools, saying it wasn’t their responsibility. What they did, in essence, was shift the burden onto the backs of thousands of workers and homeowners, who now pay increased property tax assessments to pay off bonds floated to pay for construction of new facilities”
He draw applause at the Anna Drive forum, from the mostly Latino audience, when he stated his commitment to advance the causes of the workers , documented or not. This is an indication of the potential impact of this segment of the population. As more working class and young Latinos register to vote, the better progressive candidates like Duane will fare.
District elections WILL become a reality. Some of the other pressing issues these candidates need to address if elected are:
1) The resort industry.
Limiting /eliminating the corporate influence in city government.
It is a fact that the resort area / tourist industry is a major source of revenue and employment. The question is how to avoid excessive subsidies, if any at all, and effectively address the negative impact of developments in the surrounding communities. Living wages and full application of green technologies should be pursued. The pollution from fuel-powered equipments used at Disneyland needs to be curtailed even further. A protocol of transparency between the industry and the city needs to be established.
2) the Crime and Gangs problem.
Nobody likes crimes and gangs. Allocate the earmarked funds from the resort industry primarily to neglected areas. The Anaheim Police have already identified these areas as the “hot zones” in its Action Incident Report. Establish a task force to implement a comprehensive gang intervention program. As Luis J. Rodriguez states in his newest edition of Always Running: “Expand the conversation about why people join gangs, are violent, lose their imagination and their hopes, and to explore what we can do as creative and caring communities to truly see and address these ongoing and deepening concerns.”
3) Police brutality.
We all appreciate the police mission to “serve and protect”. The police should not be acting as a militarized force, or fatally shooting people in a pattern that is questionable. It is the failure of the civilian institutions and policies that put the police in an undesirable role. It may probably be a culture problem in the police force, rather than a few rotten apples. A civilian police commission could also explore how to improve the police and community interaction.
Finally, I wish that Brian Chuchua could have a chance to make every neighborhood in Anaheim as beautiful as the resort area!
– Ricardo Toro, Anaheim citizen.
@ Mr. Toro
I would like to note and make a suggestion to those running for Council as Mr. Toro highlights great points. First, those new viable Council Candidates running for Council, they should see the Gang Maps identified for the record, by Anaheim PD, and walk thru and enmesh themselves momentarily, with the effort to become enlightened by new policy that “they” might aspire to formulate based on empeiical findings of actually being in the numerous Barrios that have or continue to taint Anaheim.
It is not a Police issue alone, it is a genuine effort by the Anaheim City Council to formulate policy and engage in proactive and positive alternatives to those Barrios which have become or continue to be a thriving Gang Issue. I think this would in all honesty mix the truth of their [viable Candidates running for Council] true agenda of either working with the Anaheim PD and Community truthfully to the social strata that is in dire need of rebuilding and not shy away by special interest groups such as Disneyland or Corporate Businesses seeking a “Political Favor” by those Councils that they endorse. Rather, the new councils appointed run with zeal and an honest approach.
Hi Joe. The gang issue that taints some of our neighborhoods is a complex problem. In addition to the cultural and historical factors, current ones such as the economic recession, compound the problem. The infrastructure of many of these neighborhoods, compacted apartment buildings, lack of green spaces, back-alleys are the result of outdated urban planning. This type of planning maximizes the profit making,and probably many are owned by absent slum landlords. Adequate affordable housing could be a positive alternative, not only in the flatlands. Jobs and educational opportunities and activities, not only by philantrophists and fundations, are vital components.
Hey Ricardo —
I did attend last night, but I’m not writing a summary of it so yours is the only game in town. It was the most well attended out of the three, so that’s a good sign given that. I missed the last half hour or so as I was speaking with Niko Black — a woman whose eviction story all should familiarize themselves with if they haven’t already.
I will offer some quick responses. I think Kring’s 1% idea is interesting as it is generating discussion on the blogs of the chattering class. She also calls for more police hires, so the dialogue must be balanced out by that. (Or imbalanced if you will!) It does not represent shifting away from the perverted priorities that prevail. It strikes me as a slim ‘say to play’ bone thrown out to the working class residents. The statistical choice of 1% in the era of Occupy’s binary rhetoric is rather telling! Let them eat tres leches cake!
As you mentioned, education came up in the course of the forum. Roberts’ point about development and its impact on schools is well taken. Since the issue of hood violence is also around, there’s a two-for-one opportunity in advocating for a culturally responsive curriculum as the pedagogical wave of the future for the city. Its merits are proven. Opposition is solely ideological. Keep kids in school by keeping them interested in how and what they are learning. Hence, “responsive.”
The tone of questions regarding policing was actually quite striking (not in a good way) and underscored a deep disconnect between most of the candidates and the working class residents of Anaheim. You are wise to invoke Luis Rodriguez (Vice Presidential candidate of the Justice Party) A Mayor or council members in the know would have phoned folks like Rodriguez and Father Gregory Boyle *before* unrest ever broke out. Instead, the first effort after was to corral the Ducks, Angels and Disney as corporate “philanthropists” of a ‘Heal Anaheim’ farce.
We have real social ills and need a new brand of politics that truly understands their roots. This election is interesting in the dynamics and issues that are playing out. The odds are stacked against anything positive occurring, but hey, perhaps something along those lines will happen. If it doesn’t, the ballot box is only one avenue of political participation, anyway.
The real action begins the day after the new electeds, whoever they may be, are anointed.
Regards,
GSR
Hi Gabriel
The ruling city establishment has taken notice that their business as usual, is no longer tolerated. The corporate influence and obnoxious subsidies is widely condoned. The issues that made them appear as the reasonable leaders are no longer just theirs : the role of the resort area , the problems of crime and gangs, the value of the police, immigration reform. They have also taken notice of the brewing discontent among the many that have been disefranchised. The grassroot organizing is slowing showing its strenght. One disturbing trend though is the cannibalism among some leading personalities of the alternative movement. This does not help. Disagreements should be addressed in a responsible manner, as the hopes of many people rest on the examples of our succesful members of our community.
I was not at the Forum, so am uncertain if “make every neighborhood as beautiful as the Resort Area” was a holdover from the last forum, or becoming a tagline for Mr. Chuchua. Residents should be aware that the Resort Area PAYS A SEPARATE ASSESSMENT for ‘Landscape and Lighting’ Districts BEYOND base property taxes, for that. Many L.A. County cities have tried to adopt this backdoor tax increase (EXTRA payment without extra SERVICE), and I hope Anaheim residents have the good sense not to take the bait – ANOTHER form of ‘Districts’ to avoid.
Thanks for the good report, Richard. Local politics is really interesting this year!
Why do you keep calling him Richard? Have you met Ricardo?
Uhmmm … negligence. No, we haven’t met.
@ Mr. Toro,
Great points! Although there is a zeal to attain a vacant seat, from four viable candidates running for Council, will the challenging viable Candidates take genuine action? For the record, publicize with Media and highlight the infrastructures in need such as you cite the “alleys” which do become a haven for illicit gang activity. Motion sensor lights and even Camera’ s are a start and deterrant while the governing body[Anahiem City Council] formulates policty to address the concern at hand. Will the viable candidates keep the promises? Will they succumb to lobbying/special interests/corporate business lobbying is yet to be seen. I suggest a special Neighboorhood Gang Committee to be established and attain a citizen member from each of the Gang areas and establish meetings with the Anaheim City Council and Police, and also be included in the City Council Meetings Agenda.
Hey vato, what’s wrong with our alleys, eh? We do our businnes there, taking care of our carcachas, and sometimes having secret rendezvous. Your lights and sensor cameras will be taking down the same day they are installed. What the heck is “illicit gang activity”? Are you talking about the whitiest man alive and his puppets, making sweet heart deals with the city subsidies to the “resort” area. After the desmadre that took place when the KKK reps gunned down one of our homeboys, they now want to appease us by trowing us the 1% bone from the “resort” allocation. What about taking a bunch of our vatos locos and their families from the “hot zones” and let them live in the Hills? Living in a manicured neighborhood will not change a thing ese. Profound changes are needed! Pay attention to Duane, el guero, at least he is making us feel like we are not second class citizens. I have to go now to clean some houses in the Hills.