Location of the proposed station outlined in yellow.
Stadium property framed by possible conflagrations.
Angels owner Arte Moreno laughing.
Vern here. The case of Anaheim’s long-awaited FIRE STATION #12 is not well known and has been ignored by the media, but it’s been a concern of Marc Herbert for a few months. And it is outrageous. The need for this station, which would sit on a corner of the Anaheim Stadium property, has been long established, all the permits and plans are done, and the only reason it’s not being built and protecting the surrounding areas of the (very overpopulated) Platinum Triangle and the (very hazardous) Anaheim Hills is because THE ANGELS MANAGEMENT DOESN’T WANT IT. And apparently the Angels have veto power here even though they don’t own the land.
And what objection does Angels Management have to a badly needed fire station on a corner of the property they don’t own? NOISE. Seriously. Their objection is that we are denying them the “right to peaceable and quiet enjoyment of the Baseball Stadium and Parking Area.” Have you been to a baseball game? The occasional siren going off a couple football fields away (as they already do when firetrucks race down Katella or State College) is gonna seriously ruin the fans’ noisy enjoyment? Cry me an air horn.
Secondly, who the hell made Angels Management gods on a throne, to put their selfish whims over Anaheim’s safety? How much rent are they paying there now, thanks to the criminal Harry Sidhu (and his lackeys) re-instating their lease in 2019? Oh right, basically none. Let’s have this station, STAT!
On Monday, Marc (who also runs a blog called Anaheim Grease) sent the following letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred, and is awaiting a response:
August 28, 2023
Dear Commissioner:
“Led by Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., MLB remains committed to making an impact in the communities of the U.S., Canada and throughout t0he world, perpetuating the sport’s larger role in society and permeating every facet of baseball’s business, marketing, community relations and social responsibility endeavors.” -MLB.com
The baseball fans and residents of Anaheim could use your help. Since 2010 there has been a need to build a fire station in the Platinum Triangle Development where Angel Stadium is located. City Council has approved and budgeted the project. On August 9, 2022 the city awarded a design+build contract to Soltek-ECC for Platinum Triangle Fire Station #12.
In a September 29, 2022 letter to Anaheim’s City Attorney, Angel owner Arte Moreno’s lawyer wrote: “Landlord (Anaheim) has violated Tenant’s right to peaceable and quiet enjoyment of the Baseball Stadium and Parking Area by, on August 9, 2022, approving a Design-Build Agreement with Soltek-ECC for the design and construction of a fire station that is proposed to be located in the Parking Area and which is proposed to be constructed during the Term of the Lease.”
Since then, the construction of Fire Station#12 has been on hold. There has been no public explanation of the reason for this year delay by either Angel Owner Arte Moreno or the Anaheim City Council. There has been no announcement of when Soltek-ECC will be allowed to start construction of Fire Station#12 by either Angel owner Arte Moreno or the Anaheim Council. The delay is entering its second year with no end in sight.
With the Maui fire in mind, I was hoping your office would look into resolving this year long delay. Its too late for this project to be completed before the fall arrival of our annual Santa Ana winds and fire season. But ending the delay, and starting the construction now, would allow for its completion before the arrival of next year’s winds and fire season.
Let’s not forget the public safety lessons of Maui.
Fire Station #12 Timeline
1. The JL Group’s Report on political corruption (page 263) said the Anaheim City Council approved the final Environmental Impact Report for the Platinum Triangle District on Oct. 26, 2010. “Anaheim officials increased the permitted number of homes in the district by allowing developers to build in areas formerly zoned for office towers and industrial space. Environmental studies pointed out that the Platinum Triangle’s increased density would create needs for an additional fire station, an electrical substation, a library, and a water well.”
Context-
2010- About 1,600 units in District.
2023- About 4 times the density with about 6,400 units.
JL Group Report (pages 1-5 and 257-263) included for context.
Complete report link:
https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Anaheim20redacted20independent20investigation20report207-31-23-2.pdf
2. August 9, 2022- Anaheim approved a Design-Build Agreement with Soltek-ECC for the design and construction of a fire station in the parking area of Angel Stadium.
Context-
LA Times-Sept. 29, 2022 –
https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2022-09-29/angels-anaheim-angel-stadium-parking-lot-lawsuit
OC Register-Nov. 1, 2022-
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/11/01/for-now-anaheim-wont-build-new-fire-station-that-angels-argue-would-breach-stadium-lease/?utm_email=64966431F5749483748C046180&lctg=64966431F5749483748C046180&active=yesD&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Story+Button&utm_campaign=scng-ocr-breaking-news&utm_content=alert
3. September 29, 2022- In a letter, Arte Moreno’s lawyer, informed Anaheim’s City Attorney the city’s August 9, 2022 Design-Build Agreement violated Tenant’s right to peace and quiet.
Context-
Loeb&Loeb Partner Allan Abshez’s letter to Anaheim City Attorney.
https://local.anaheim.net/docs_agend/questys_pub/35292/35296/35589/35590/1.%20Letter%20-%20Loeb%20&%20Loeb,%20LLP%20(Dated%2009_29_22)35590.pdf
4. May 17, 2023- MLB.com- “On Wednesday, MLB announced the debut of one unified social responsibility brand, “MLB Together,” the league’s new platform emphasizing baseball’s efforts to make important societal contributions through the power of partnership and community.”
“MLB Together represents the very best of what our sport means to our fans and our communities,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Baseball’s ability to bring people together through shared values and addressing common causes has helped secure the game’s status within our culture. We look forward to working with our clubs, partners, players and fans to make a meaningful community impact through the MLB Together platform.”
Context-
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-together-launches-as-platform-for-social-change
5. June 13, 2023- Anaheim Fire Chief Pat Russell presented the proposed Fire+Rescue Budget fy 2023/24 to City Council. He noted there was a delay in the construction of Fire Station#12. Fire Chief gave no explanation. City Council asked no questions.
Context-
Council Meeting Video 06/13/2023 at the 02:28:13 mark. The Fire Chief mentioned the station delay. (length-17 seconds)
https://anaheim.granicus.com/player/clip/2996?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=09fe0ba516c8c94ded3b0c530b4d1417
6. June 27, 2023- I questioned Fire Station#12 construction delay. Fire Chief Russell said the site addressed the needs of the 2 most vulnerable areas of Anaheim: the Resort District and the Canyon.
Context-
Council Meeting Video 06/27/2023 at the 09:31:22 mark. I questioned the delay. (length- 1:47 minutes)
https://anaheim.granicus.com/player/clip/3004?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=e069deba739035ea8f25ac6657ac194f
7. July 18, 2023- I discussed Anaheim’s two-part planning process. Project must pass the 5 steps of the Public Process:
a.- pass Planning Commission.
b.- pass City Council.
c. -Get budgeted.
d.- Awarded a design contract.
e.- Awarded a build contract.
The project then must pass the second part which is a Private Process. In this part of the process projects must gain approval of certain private parties like the Angels or Disney. Without gaining the approval in both the public and private parts of the planning process, a project cannot break ground. In the case of Fire Station#12, Angel Owner Artie Moreno is the party holding up construction.
Context-
(correction) Fire stations are considered public works projects so their path to construction does not begin with the Planning Commission. It starts by having to gain the approval of the Public Works Department. After this, the two-part planning process steps are the same.
Council Meeting Video 07/18/2023 at the 02:50:13 mark. I discussed Anaheim’s two-part planning process: the public and the private. (length- 1:34 minutes)
https://anaheim.granicus.com/player/clip/3016?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=0b85e07663eb610cf4706518ccdbec0c
8. August 3, 2023- Met with Anaheim’s Planning+Building Director Ted White. He said public works projects like Fire Station#12 start with the approval of Public Works, not the Planning Commission. The following steps of the two-part planning process remain the same. He advised checking with Public Works to see what is the delay in Fire Station#12’s construction.
9. August 13, 2023- Called Anaheim Public Works to find status of Fire Station#12 project. Paperwork not found. A more in depth search required a project number or address. Suggested calling Fire Department for project number, address, or details.
10. August 13, 2023- Called Anaheim Fire Department for status of Fire Station#12. No information. Promised to look into it and phone back.
11. August 14, 2023- Anaheim Fire Department returned call. Said the project “stalled in the advanced planning stage due to the issues related to development around Angel Stadium.” No project number or station address assigned. Without either, Public Works search for the Fire Station#12’s paperwork is on hold.
12. August 15, 2023- I discussed the history since 2010 of the Fire Station#12 project and its recent holdup. The JL Report (page 263) reported the need for a new fire station in the Platinum Triangle due to an increase in density back in 2010. 13 years later the housing density has increased 4 times and yet, still is no fire station. No explanation or questions from Mayor and City Council.
Context-
(Correction) Angels first contested in writing the construction of Fire Station#12, September 29, 2022, not June of 2022. In 2010 there were about 1,600 housing units in the Platinum Triangle. Today about 6,400 units (not 5,000).
https://anaheim.granicus.com/player/clip/3019?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=4ca2dfdd0cc2ae03cda7f97ebd383b99
13. August 22, 2023- Attempted contacting MLB Together. No email, phone number, or mailing address posted on MLB website.
14. August 22, 2023- Called MLB. Informed there was no information concerning Angel owner Moreno delaying the construction of Fire Station#12 “over issues related to the development around Angel Stadium”. Suggested calling the Angels. Provided a phone number.
15. August 22, 2023- Called Angels. No information provided on Fire Station#12. Declined request to speak with a person more knowledgeable of the project. Suggested calling the city of Anaheim.
This is the path that led to your office.
In the aftermath of Maui, I’m trying to stay ahead of the fire risk and season in Anaheim. Fire Chief Pat Russell is clear on the need for Platinum Triangle Fire Station#12. City Council has approved, funded, and awarded the design+build contract to Soltek-ECC.
For the past year, Anaheim’s issue of public safety has fallen on deaf ears. The community is waiting on Angel owner Arte Moreno.
Sincerely,
Marc Herbert
email- fatclaw@gmail.com
phone- (949) 7211-8266
Perfect! I’ve been suggesting that Anaheim residents write the Commissioner about the Angels’ receipt of the City’s Stadium appraisals that they weren’t supposed to have, among other misdeeds I hope that someone (or some several) will use this handy template.