Orange County California

Nothing much to say other than I had to drive down PCH today and it would have been a better idea to drive around back bay. So many deplorable magats waving their stupid flags, driving in circles. I showed my support by yelling "We love proven rapists who are convicted felons!!" at them when stopped. It's just so embarrassing seeing these anti-democratic, anti-Constitution morons in my city/county/state/country.

If you're a resident of Huntington Beach, head over to the library and sign their petition. They're trying to stop the book bans. I don't want to see a mini Florida or Texas in orange county.

Found an article on the topic: https://www.ocregister.com/2024/05/31/petitions-in-huntington-beach-want-to-ask-voters-to-overturn-changes-at-city-libraries/

There will be an in-person training in Orange County on June 1 and a virtual training on June 8. Deadline to apply is Sunday, May 19.

The Fair Representation Act has been re-introduced in Congress. This bold solution can stop gerrymandering and make Congress work for every American. 

The Fair Representation Act can solve partisan gerrymandering, make every congressional district competitive, and encourage politicians to represent all of us instead of just their base. It does this by combining three reforms: 

• Multi-member districts. In three- or five-member districts, nearly every voter will elect a candidate they support. Voters like Massachusetts Republicans and Oklahoma Democrats will be represented in Congress. Gerrymandering will become nearly impossible.

• Ranked choice voting for all U.S. House and Senate elections. RCV frees voters to support their favorite candidates, and encourages candidates to reach out to more voters for second-choice support. When RCV is used in multi-member districts, it is a form of proportional representation.

• Uniform rules for congressional redistricting 

The Fair Representation Act can be passed without a constitutional amendment. It truly has the potential to transform our political system and create a more inclusive and deliberative government which respects and empowers all voices.

Preferably S. OC (ex: HB, NPB,Costa Mesa, FV) but wouldn't mind recs for other cities.

I'm cooped up at home all day, I gotta do something. Any ideas?

If anyone else freaked out about the jets doing low flyby's today. It's that time again.

Last day to attend the fair is this Sunday

A bit late, as this was announced on July 11th, but it's the first I'd heard of it. Glad to know they were able to get that section of track back open again.

They're also holding a promotion for $10 day passes, as well as kids riding free on the weekends. With free parking at many stations, it's a convenient way to head to the beach without having to worry about beach parking.

Just a heads up to anyone heading to HB this week, but especially this weekend. If you love crowds, head on down. Otherwise, just thought you should know.

Vacancies grow despite companies inking deals for 1.5M sf of offices from April to June

Orange County companies are ditching offices faster than they can rent them, sending the vacancy rate to a historic high of 25 percent.

Firms inked deals for 1.5 million square feet in OC office leases in the second quarter, while vacancies ticked up 1.6 percent to roughly one in four empty offices, the Orange County Business Journal reported, citing Savills.

“Despite the increase in leasing activity, macroeconomic concerns such as recession fears, increasing interest rates, and a slowdown in hiring have caused occupiers to have a wait-and-see approach, which has led to a slowdown in office space demand,” the Savills report said.

“This has also led to many tenants downsizing square footages and/or subleasing their existing office space.”

The rise in leases marked a 39-percent increase to 1.5 million square feet, compared to 1.1 million square feet in the previous quarter.

Of the top 10 deals inked from April to June, just one was a renewal, an improvement for the office market. Six of the top 10 deals in the first quarter were renewals, according to Savills.

Office subleases Orange County also climbed to historic highs, reaching 4 million square feet in June, up 25 percent from 3.2 million square feet last year.

The largest lease inked during the second quarter was by Axonics, which in April moved its headquarters to a 145,500-square-foot office at Sand Canyon Business Center in Irvine.

Empty office square footage across Southern California has shot up 67 percent since the pandemic as more employees work from home. Landlords in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties had 68 million square feet of empty offices last month, up from 41 million square feet in late 2019.

Los Angeles County added 20.7 million square feet of empty offices since 2019, a 73 percent jump. Orange County added 6.3 million square feet, or 57 percent. And the Inland Empire added 300,000 square feet, or 21 percent, according to an Orange County Register analysis.

The overall office vacancy across Los Angeles County was 26.6 percent in the second quarter, according to Savills, up from 25.1 percent during the same period last year. Much of that comes from subleasing, with nearly 2 million square feet on the sublease market over the last year.

— Dana Bartholomew

Moved here from San Diego County recently. Down there you sort of just turned off the 101 into a parking lot and boom, beach. (Tamarack, Ponto, Moonlight, etc)

I feel like here in OC they make it real difficult to get to. Any place between Dana Point and Newport that has easy access? I have a fresh little one and am eager to get them out into the sand without it being a fat hassle.

TIA!

Santa Ana is “OC’s most progressive city”

Among top events June 24-25, 2023, throughout OC are Discovery Cube's new Sea Lab & Ocean Encounter in Santa Ana, opening of Joseph Kleitsch: Abroad & At Home In Old Laguna at Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, and last sunflower-picking days in Costa Mesa.

The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge takes place Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 at Huntington Beach State Park.

The Garden Grove Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint on June 23, 2023, from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location.

Orange County condo residents forced to live without gas for weeks by: Vivian Chow, Chip Yost

Posted: Jun 22, 2023 / 08:58 PM PDT

Updated: Jun 23, 2023 / 04:41 AM PDT

For nearly a month, hundreds of residents living in a condominium complex in Orange have been forced to live without natural gas.

SoCalGas said it shut off gas access for the La Veta Monterey Condos on June 2 citing safety concerns after a gas leak was discovered on the premises. The complex houses 212 units with both owners and renters.

Because the leak was discovered on private property, utility officials said responsibility for repairs falls on the complex owners and the homeowners association.

Residents, meanwhile, are fed up with living without hot water or the ability to cook at home.

“We need this gas turned back on,” said resident Betty Talbert. “We are tired of the problems.”

A ton of caution tape can be seen throughout the complex grounds with ongoing underground construction work.

In a letter sent to residents from the homeowners association board president, upgrades to rectify the faulty gas lines were estimated to be costly and lengthy. Residents were told an immediate solution was being sought, but some said the wait time has been unacceptable and unbearable.

“I’m taking cold showers,” said Talbert. “As a matter of fact, three days after this happened, I got really sick with the flu. So with the flu for at least seven days, I was taking cold showers because I didn’t have any other way to do it.”

Some residents said not being able to cook at home has been tough on their finances.

“We’re a family of six and we have to eat,” said resident Nathan Medina. “So spending over $100 on McDonald’s or whatever food is outside, it’s just crazy.”

Medina’s family was forced to bring in a gas grill onto their balcony just to heat up a pot of water for a warm shower.

An estimated timeline to restore gas to units still remains unknown. Neighbors said the letter they received from the homeowners association appeared to discourage them from speaking about the matter to the media.

Some residents, however, told KTLA they wanted attention on the matter so the complex owners could be held accountable. Neighbors also expressed interest in what legal rights they may have.