Barry Levinson
It is here where you will get the unvarnished truth, a unique and fresh perspective on the current status of College Town.
Let me just say this for starters. The plan deserved to be voted down, not just put on a temporary hold. The hungry beast (the city government) still wants to feed at the trough of taxpayer monies. It is our job to stop them.
I was very proud of my fellow citizens Wednesday night at the Planning Committee Meeting. All of you who spoke did a fantastic job. You may not realize it, but collectively we have the ability to greatly impact the decision making of our city leaders. It is only when we use that collective voice that we can force our city leaders to listen to us. The people have common sense and know instinctively when their city government is blowing smoke in their faces!
The display of arrogance of those committee members who spoke ill of some of the people at city hall was shameful. These citizens came to speak at this very important committee meeting to address not only the committee members but also the in-house audience and those watching on TV. If a speaker chooses to momentarily turn his or her head to the audience, you as committee members should not chastise the speaker. It is those people of Fullerton who deserve the accolades and great respect for taking the time out of their very busy schedules to speak before you. They do not earn a $75 dollar stipend for attending the meeting like the committee members. The bogus claim by Committee Member Ma’Ayn Johnson that there was public intimidation and harassment from some of the audience was a failed attempt to put the public on the defensive. It was both not true and only made Ms. Johnson look self-important, pompous and small. It is the committee who should be so embarrassed that they reduced the public comments to only 2 minutes. That action demonstrates a lack of respect shown by the committee to the public and they should apologize to us. Over and over again the chairperson interrupted public speaker time and time again.
The majority of the committee heard from the public who except for very few who had a connection to the project were 100% against it.
The committee members said it was important to continue to work on the project because of its importance but then stated that almost all major portions of the project were very flawed. They said the traffic, congestion, pedestrian safety and the partial closure of Nutwood were all problems. Some said that the adjoining colleges have not been good neighbors, especially as it pertains to the parking problems they cause to the surrounding residential neighborhoods that has exited over the last 20 years or more. They said that some intersections that would still be graded an F after the mitigation efforts were done were a problem. But don’t worry folks, they will probably remove the closure of Nutwood from the plan, maybe add a roundabout and then claim success in 3, 6 or 9 months from now and then salivate as the $40 million in fees starts arriving at city hall. What a total farce?
This plan should be scrapped for all of the above. Oh I did not mention the air quality concerns with the addition of thousands of cars was also mentioned as a problem.
SIMPLY STATED…IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. FOR STARTERS AT $11,700 PER RESIDENTIAL UNIT, THE PARK DWELLING FEE WILL GENERATE ALMOST 40 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CITY ALONE.
It is clear that the city desperately needs to make up for the large budget deficits that already exists ($2.8 million) and which they have recently increased by millions of dollars in the form of large city employee raises especially the 6% next year raises for police and fire and the authorization of 5 new police officers. All these moves are done without a confirmed source of where those millions of dollars are going to come from. The city council and our city manager are guilty of abandoning their fiduciary responsibilities to the citizens of Fullerton. It is really that simple.
So we have exposed a simple truth. The College Town project is a terrible idea that has no community support but is being pushed hard by the city because the CITY COUNCIL WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY ON THEMSELVES WE DO NOT HAVE!!
They state the parking, safety, congestion, air quality and the closure of Nutwood for thru traffic are all problems with the plan but at the end of the day the majority said they think the plan in theory is a Great Idea.
I will continue to shine a very bright light on the machinations of our city government. They far too often represent the special interests over the needs and wants of Fullertonians.
I report, you decide.
Barry Levinson
#1 by Barry Levinson on February 13, 2016 - 11:43 am
The same Planning Commission voted 5 – 0 in favor of the Downtown Core and Corridor Specific Plan. The most important agenda item to come before them in decades and two of the five committee members cannot even be present for the vote, while the other five members unanimously supported it.
I have a suggestion for the Planning Committee. How about you vote on improving all of those D and F rated intersections before even considering making the traffic and congestion that much worse? In other words, how about doing something beneficial for the people of Fullerton. I know it is a radical idea that by your actions has not probably been considered by yourselves. However, there is never a better time to start putting the well being of the people of Fullerton first and foremost. Let the council figure out a better way to deal with the large and ever growing deficits they have created in this city, rather than ruining the quality of life for its citizens.
I report, you decide!
#2 by Joe Imbriano on February 13, 2016 - 12:26 pm
Not according to Fitzgerald sycophant Mr. Kevin Pendergraft who stated that College Town was the most important agenda item to ever come before the commission. Why would he make such a statement? He was on the planning commission in 2014 when this was voted on. Oh yeah he was on a vacation and conveniently missed the meeting and vote on the single most destructive plan ever foisted on the City of Fullerton in its history and NOT A PEEP OUT OF HIM SINCE ON THE ISSUE. What does he do for a living? He is President/CEO of Pacific Community Credit Union. Is that a conflict of interest?
All of these commissioners need to be removed from their positions by the council as well as the council members that appointed them if they refuse to do so.
They are not acting in the interests of the citizens of Fullerton. They are acting in the interests of developers and city employees who desperately need these massive projects short term cash infusions to make the bloated payroll, medical and pension obligations. Fullerton is being ruined for good unless we replace these people and trash the DCCSP and College Town projects.
That planning commission should have moved to deny the plan, not bring it back when no one is looking. Don’t believe me? YOU THINK THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THESE HORRIBLE PROJECTS? Look at this-Not one archive of a community workshop on either THE DCCSP OR COLLEGE TOWN JUST A PRESUBMITTAL MEETING BACK IN 2011-THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2008
2016
Name Date Duration
Currently there are no archived videos in this section.
2015
Name Date Duration
Currently there are no archived videos in this section.
2014
Name Date Duration
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum 10/02/14 01h 30m Video
2013
Name Date Duration
Currently there are no archived videos in this section.
2012
Name Date Duration
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum 09/24/12 01h 56m Video
2011
Name Date Duration
NOFA Selection Committee Meeting 04/07/11 02h 47m Agenda Video
Downtown Core and Corridor Specific Plan Statement of Qualifications Pre-Submittal Meeting 02/15/11 01h 04m Video
2010
Name Date Duration
Candidate Forum (2 Year Term) September 28, 2010 09/28/10 01h 53m Video
Candidate Forum (4 Year Term) Sept. 20, 2010 09/20/10 02h 00m Video
2009
Name Date Duration
Coyote Hills Workshop 07/08/09 02h 35m Video
New Waste and Recycling Program Workshop 01/13/09 00h 30m Agenda Video
New Waste and Recycling Program Workshop 01/07/09 01h 03m Agenda Video
2008
Name Date Duration
New Waste and Recycling Program Workshop 12/18/08 01h 15m Agenda Video
https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/city_council_meetings/default.asp
Oh yeah our so called leaders will give you a fireworks show, a new years eve beer garden, a lousy parade and a snow play day to keep your eyes off the ball. Oh yeah, they will tell you how wonderful everything is but they will never deal with the real issues like the hundreds of millions of unfunded pension and future medical liabilities, the hundreds of millions in outstanding water mains, sewer and road repairs, the rotting infrastructure, traffic, blight and bedlum. No you get fluff, smoke and mirrors and mindless diversions like Love Fullerton where you get to wash police cars and clean up the parks and paint the schools that should have been paid for by the school district and city hall pick pockets while the front end of your car bounces up and down all over town on these third world roads and the smokey back rood deals go down behind your backs until it is too late. Not this time. The lights are on and the cameras are rolling. I am running for office and win or lose, the truth is marching on.
#3 by Anonymous on February 13, 2016 - 1:43 pm
I would agree that they “vote on improving all of the D and F rated intersections.” They need to actually do the job they volunteered to do — what’s best for the residents.
I would go further and say that they never, again, work to destroy the Fullerton residents quality of life and ruin the home values. That said, no more of these projects should ever be considered, again, as they have the propensity to destroy the city.
This city has been ‘developed’ enough. The Fullerton carcass has been picked clean.