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.
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I know, it seems like a dream now. But believe me, it really did happen. Two to three years ago.
Actually, think of this as part two of a trilogy where the Orange Juice Blog shows off what the Weekly‘s Gustavo calls a rag’s “institutional memory.” Surrounded by liars about recent history as we are, we find our memory can be a weapon. Greg just this morning wrote about Lucille Kring’s dishonest 2014 Measure N; and later this weekend I’ll write about all the lies Jordan Brandman has been telling fellow Democrats about his mostly-negative record on supporting district elections – his biggest lies have been about his shenanigans of last November to January, but our institutional memory of his spotty record goes back to his first public pronouncements of August 8, 2012.
The news on the Angels this weekend was nice and totally unsurprising, but also an opportunity for the Orange Juice Blog and Tom Tait to say “We told you so,” and yet another perfect opportunity to show what liars and/or fools the Kleptos be. In short, the team is staying in Anaheim, their half-assed negotiations with Tustin (who were wise enough to refuse to finance a new stadium) having tanked. And they’ll be coming back to the negotiating table with Anaheim, perhaps with a little less hubris, as in the interim their team has come to SUCK a lot.
Did we ever determine for sure why it was so URGENT for them (the Pringle Ring = Murray, Brandman, Kring, Eastman, and the Chamber) to give away the stadium lot to team owner Arte Moreno for a dollar a year for 66 years? I don’t think we ever actually did (remind me if I’m wrong) but something fishy was sure going on because the whole thing made no sense.
The other side, being immeasurably less honest, really claimed to know why Mayor Tom Tait stubbornly OPPOSED the giveaway – according to them, he obviously WANTED the Angels to leave so that HE and his family could profit somehow off the property they owned nearby.
Tom was not only right on this, he was HEROIC, somehow managing to defeat the whole scheme even though he was but one vote out of five, simply by tirelessly speaking truth and logic to public and press, eventually embarrassing the crooks. And he got re-elected in a landslide as a result.
Special anti-kudos to the Liberal OC’s Dan Chmielewski, who not only let himself be used to broadcast the slander against Tait (probably not getting paid for it unlike Matt Cunningham) but also in essay after nonsensical essay developed the concept of “the Business of Baseball” which differed from simple “Business” in ways that only baseball fanboy Dan could discern. We salute you!
To wrap it up, for those keeping score at home:
LIARS AND/OR FOOLS =
- Lucille Kring
- Jordan Brandman
- Kris Murray (most of all, except she’s not up for re-election)
- Gail Eastman
- the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
- Matt Cunningham
- and the “Liberal” OC.
FOLKS YOU CAN TRUST =
- Mayor Tom Tait
- the Orange Juice Blog.
Next…
God, I’d forgotten about that idiotic “Business of Baseball.” As if there actually were some alternate reality where it was imperative to bend over and let a team of millionaires owned by a billionaire ream you good just so Lil’ Clumski could sit in the bleachers and tell people about how he could have maybe made the Frosh baseball team at the Rome Free Academy – except for that embarrassing incident in the Barge Canal.
“Did we ever determine for sure why it was so URGENT for them (the Pringle Ring = Murray, Brandman, Kring, Eastman, and the Chamber) to give away the stadium lot to team owner Arte Moreno for a dollar a year for 66 years?”
Once again, the Bard provides the answer.
MACBETH:
If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly.
Yeah huh. They ALWAYS seem to be in a big rush to do what they do.
And like Macbeth t’weren’t done when t’was done.
… as Kris somnambulates to vainly wash the blood off her hands …
Maybe now we can get to the business of a real deal versus sifting through the bullshit casserole that is Kris Murray’s economic policy.
“bullshit casserole”
Skadooshy!
Um, excuse me, but before you chill that champagne, the article says ‘ (they) are in negotiations with the City” and ” the Council has not yet been briefed on the talks” … Uh, folks, is the cart ONCE AGAIN before the horse (giving you an excellent view of…) since there is NO MENTION of that little thing called PUBLIC INPUT ! ! ! ???
Since NOBODY ever bothered to ask OR reveal the (landfill) location of the previous (sham) public input, is it now DISPENSED WITH ?
Once again WHAT IS THE City’s NEGOTATING POSITION AND HOW WAS IT OBTAINED ?? WHY are “negotiations” EVEN STARTING without public knowledge of that ?? Oh, well “fool us twice”… – “Oh, NO, THIS time will be DIFFERENT !” Really ?
Oh, and further down, …”City Staff appears to be leading this round of discussions…” Oh, how nice of them ! Deja vu ?
More memories have been coming back of that election year 2014 – the kleptos, pushing Murray and Eastman for re-election to council and the unlikely Kring for Mayor, really thought they had a winning issue: that THEY would be KEEPING the Angels, while the hated crooked Tait was trying to DRIVE THEM AWAY.
I remember Kris saying as much on the radio.
And once, maybe TWICE, didn’t they hold big rallies for Mayor Lucille right in front of the stadium, at least once with the grotesque Rackauckas by her side, calling Tom a gang-lover, the Chamber giving out Keep the Angels teeshirts?
They may even have dragged by the writhing remnants of Bruno the Police Dog, though that may have been a dream.
And the Chamber started their “Keep the Angels” facebook page which got right to work banning anyone critical of them. (We started our counter-page in response.) I just went to look at it. For the last two years nothing but little monthly ads for things like Taste of Anaheim.
Wait — you’re saying that we’ve saved the city of Anaheim HOW MUCH MONEY by spiking that ridiculous set of contracts?
I realize that they’ll try to give it away again if they lose the election, before the new Council takes over, but the amount of time between Nov. 8 and Dec. 1 is pretty limited. They’ll try, though, with special meetings — even though Thanksgiving will get in the way. Heck, I’ll even predict the dates: November 11 and November 29.
That will be the day when we’ll need about 3000 people to speak at public comments, to filibuster them until they’re out of office. I hope we get that chance!
*”All Politics is local….”said: O’Neill. Well, here are a few thought balloons for your self centered…”I am the world….” types. Back in 1986 the former Mayor of Newport Beach, Jackie Heather endorse us to run against a total developer type in Newport Beach. In her mentor role, Jackie gave us a little known book….called the History of Newport Beach. As we chatted, the hot issue of the time was the expansion of John Wayne Airport. Jackie stated: “We have to face the facts that there is a lot of money in Airports.” Much like Sonny Corleone in the Godfather: “There’s a lot of money in that white powder Pop”. Well, the rest of that story is history. Today, it is Sports Stadiums. Only an totally ignorant, blind, paid off, self consumed nutcase would suggest that getting rid of the Angels would be a good idea! In case no one was paying attention:
The Rams are back in LA, at a cost to choke a horse…just in: Public Safety, Transportation and Traffic Pollution alone. What does LA get? A massive economic boost: restaurants, hotels and airline travel, rental cars and retail sales – just for starters. Look at San Diego. Even those troggs understand dollars and sense. Even they grasp that AirBnb’s, Uber and Nanos have dramatically changed our realities in this country. They will not be getting rid of the Chargers or the Padres any time soon.
They know which side their bread is buttered on. In the case of the Oakland Raiders?
The people of Oakland are begging the city fathers for a new stadium, but sadly – there is NO big money players stepping up to the plate. The Raiders are going to Las Vegas in a beautiful air conditioned stadium with all the trimmings. Arte Moreno, no matter what might be said about his ability to run and operate the LA/Anaheim Angels does understand economics 101. So does Lucille Kring, Tom Tait and even Brandman. They get it – Big Money that could never be replaced. Lose the Angels and you lose another Cash Cow. Lose the Angels and you gain 100 more street gangs and additional crime. But these arguments are merely “wine from the teaspoon”. We are pretty sure this hearty group probably has plenty to say that we didn’t mention…eh?
*ummm…
*just think of James Joyce with Mickey Mouse ears.
*…yes I said yes I will…eh?
This would be a more convincing argument if the City was actually profiting from the cash cow. People (me included) enjoy the Angels being there, but shockingly little money actually makes it into the City’s General Fund. We wrote a lot about this back in the day. Why don’t you explain how you think the City does actually make money on every dollar spent by people attending Angels games; lecturing to you won’t lead the message to sink in, but if you give reasonable explanations that turn out to have been evaded by sneaky legal means then MAYBE you’ll finally start to get it.
Now where the hell is Anaheim going to put another 100 street gangs? Aren’t the existing street gangs going to object? Or maybe … maybe … your assertion “Lose the Angels and you gain 100 more street gangs” is completely absurd gopher droppings. How you figure that, dude?
Or for anyone else who thinks that a sports team is a giant cash cow that we would be sad to lose, Google “stadium substitution effect” and read some of the links that come up.
(Basically: sports teams and new stadiums don’t do a lot to bring new money into an area, because it turns out that most peoples’ leisure/entertainment budget is pretty static. A gold-plated stadium might entice a family into becoming Angels season ticket holders, but they’ll make up for that by economizing in other areas — fewer trips to the movies, having meals at home instead of going out to eat, maybe dropping those Disneyland passes. Add in costs to the city [public safety on game nights, operating a “Convention, Sports and Entertainment” department], and municipally, it’s probably a wash.)
Exactly! Just like the old Redevelopment schemes attempted to steal other cities’ tax revenue, no new disposable income was ever created – just moved around.
The revenue generated by the Angels in surrounding businesses represents a paltry amount.
Inside the stadium the jobs attendant on a pro franchise count literally in the dozens and are low-wage, part-time – vendors, ushers, sweeper uppers, etc.
Apparently Arte hasn’t even been employing maintenance personnel.
The only economic winners are the players and their owners.
“In 2013, the Anaheim City Council approved the framework of a deal in which the Angels would have paid an estimated $150 million to refurbish Angel Stadium in exchange for a $1-per-year lease on part of the surrounding parking lot, providing team owner Arte Moreno with the opportunity to recoup his stadium renovation costs with profitable development of the surrounding land.”
I notice the lazy reporter is repeating the $150,000,000 bullshit that was never described in any part of the MOU – it was just made up by Team Klepto after the fact.
Tait’s family still stands to profit over the Angels leaving. Resuming talks does not mean the Angels are staying. The stadium is falling apart. It’s an eyesore. Not an asset. Get a clue.
So, you stand to profit by stabbing me in the back and taking the 50 bucks out of my pocket. It doesn’t mean I’m too worried about you doing that. Especially if the worst thing you’d done so far was try to negotiate a mutually beneficial deal for the city you lead.
About the stadium falling apart: the Angels are responsible for repairs to the stadium. They’ve failed to keep up with their responsibilities. (In fact, with a less bought-off Council, the City could actually sue the Angels over that.) The Angels are NOT responsible, however, for renovation — so they want the City to pay for renovation that, among other things, would make their repair costs unnecessary.
If Tait’s trying to boot the Angels, he’s doing a terrible job of it — because he proposed a fair deal to them wherein the Angels and the City would jointly build (and jointly profit from) the parking structure that Arte wants, over where the train station was taken out to be moved to the (inferior) ARTIC location.
I’m not surprised that you wouldn’t write this under your real name, but it’s a shame that you chose such an inappropriate pseudonym.
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.
Sports stadiums are in constant need of repair. The team has failed to accomplish that. But that doesn’t mean that the stadium is “falling apart.” That’s nothing more than hyperbole. If the stadium were “falling apart” they wouldn’t let people enter the stands.
“If the stadium were “falling apart” they wouldn’t let people enter the stands.”
Well, “they” might, “they” being the City who owns the facility.
However I’d wager that the place is real safe. It’s easy to say it’s falling apart” and real hard to demonstrate. Are welds failing? Are concrete chunks spalling off and dropping on people? Even if they were such things could probably be attended to for less than the annual cost of a typical MLB middle-inning relief pitcher.
Last time around some idiots were suggesting that age alone should be enough condemn the structure. Funny, nobody ever says that about Fenway, or Wrigley, or Dodger Stadium.
The metrics used to rank the popularity of baseball stadiums is admittedly vague, but I’ve seen several of these and Angel Stadium always acquits itself very nicely, thank you very much.
As noted in this ranking, the stadium received extensive upgrading in the ’90s. It’s handling its age very, very well.
And its a fantastic place to watch a baseball game.
http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washington-nationals/ranking-all-30-mlb-ballparks
And yeah, I remember Dan C. saying once that we “deserve” a new stadium.
Deserve? Why? Why do we deserve a new stadium?
Entitled, much?
He doesn’t even know.
He will though interrogate you about your whereabouts for the entire baseball season and require ticket stubs before submitting any comments concerning the stadium.
Lil’ Clumski is still insisting that the Angels (or Angles, depending on your level of cynicism) could still be movin’ on up to the East Side.
The problem is that the 3 (free) years the Kleptocracy gave Arte back in 2013 courtesy of the dubious efforts of Charlie Black, are NOW GONE.
The Angels would have to:
1) develop a deal
2) make a deal
3) perform CEQA & get entitlements
4) build a freakin’ stadium
That’s five or six years. The opt out is 2019. Do the math, Clump. You drank too much Barge Canal water back there in 1979.
*Hey guys, this is not Red China. The Professional Sumo Wrestlers don’t pay the Japanese Cities for performing there. The concession guys make a bundle, and
all the businesses surrounding the venue……get pounded with business after every
event. They then pay taxes on their profits……and the city profits sizeably. Gas stations sell more gas, liquor stores sell more beer and hotels make out like it’s 4th of July…every game or event night. So…..Arte Moreno does not have to pay any more than a buck….to have his venue. He does however have a sizeable player,manager, coaches and admin cost……which all benefits Anaheim. And DZ….bend over and crack us a smile, but be sure to wear your Angel Cap so we can recognize you!
Anna, for a lady you sure talk crude.
Fantasy sports are now a hot thing in the US, so you have apparently created Fantasy Sports Economics to boot. The above display of Fantasy Facts and accompanying Fantasy Economics should win you the Fantasy Ignorance Championship . Send yourselves to the showers !
Please Stop And Think!!
What Are We The People of Anaheim Going To Do In Two Years (2018) When Be The Rules of The ‘City Charder’Term Limits will Apply To Mayor Tom Tait,and He Is Required To Step Down..Mickey & Friend’s Will Rejoice it will be a’special’ weekend at Disneyland …but what about the rest of U.S…..A Recruitment of a Tom Tait’Like Minded Candidate …Oh But There is Only ONE TOM TAIT..we need to look long and hard for someone for whom shares his views…You Know Mickey & Friend’s have someone in the Magic kingdom’s Corner to step in…and Two Years is not that far away….”when you wish Upon a Star ..makes no difference Who You Are” well you know the rest…
I believe Vanderbilt maybe a good candidate. By that time he will have two more years experience on the council. Let’s keep in mind that he funded his own campaign for City Council and he did so because he did not want to have any influence from any outside sources. He cannot be bought which is a key to being on this council. Also he ran his campaign with Tait and Tait endorsed him. His questions at the end of council meeting are very articulate and well thought out. He will never sell out the City. He has done some incredibly ethical things like when he moved to a new district to keep Brandaman from saying District 3 was represented. Plus he has a prior relationship with Moreno from when they were on the Board. Don’t write him off yet. He maybe a good bet and a lot of people trust him to make the right decisions.
Actually there COULD and SHOULD be someone better than Tait, although I can’t think of anyone in particular. A perfect mayor would be as honest and kind as him, and understand financial matters as well as him, but also be more clever, flexible, and ruthless, a better politician.
I think that Vanderbilt’s heart (and head) are in the right place, but he needs to spend some time in Toastmasters (or something) because man, the guy is more wooden than a 2×4. It would sure be nice to have someone on the non-sellout side who can speak fluidly and give a decent presentation. I am 100% in Tom Tait’s camp, but it pains me to hear him pause and stammer, especially when he gets emotional (and he rightly gets emotional about all of the biggest, most important issues). Kris Murray has fooled a lot of people who should know better into thinking that she is a deep thinker with substance simply because she can give a good presentation and has someone on her side who knows their way around a PowerPoint template.
Yep.
Angles are 0-10 in last 10 games, 19 games back and last place in their division. Just saying…
Far as I can tell, the angles are obtuse.
New team name for the kleptocrats: the Anaheim Angles.
John Oliver does a brilliant take down of public funding or corporate welfare for sports stadiums.
I’m depressed because all the pieces I got in the pipeline are negative. Which should I finish first: Jordan’s lies; Coldren attacking senior mobile home dwellers in SJC again; or Chris Epting hooks up with Matt Cunningham? Readers?
jordan
*Not to worry….the Angels will be great….NEXT YEAR!
Oops, now what?
Anaheim Planners OK Development Despite Opposition From Angels
“The Angels’ letter stated that allowing LT Global to enter the Stadium District would mean there would be no room left for their own “sports-entertainment-hotel center” development. Approving the project “would fundamentally undermine the Angels negotiations to remain in Anaheim over the long term,” Abshez’s letter states.”
http://voiceofoc.org/2016/08/platinum-triangle-development-heads-to-city-council-despite-opposition-from-angels/
Now the Angels call up Pringle who tells Brandman and Murray and Kringle to vote it down.
Or, alternatively, Pringle gets hired by LT Global so that Brandman and Murray and Kringle vote yes.
What’s the mystery?
Did a just hear a cash register bell?
No, that bell was an angel getting its wings.
Angle.