There’s been a lot of hand-wringing and violin-playing from Councilmembers Jose Moreno and Denise Barnes and their minions – claiming the council majority is being tyrannical and stifling free speech due to a few instances of tabling Moreno items with little discussion. This criticism is hollow and hypocritical given how Moreno and Councilmember Denise Barnes staunchly supported Mayor Tom Tait’s ...

City Councilmember Jose Moreno clearly believes his own bluster that he is Anaheim’s self-appointed “man of the people.” But more often than not, his self-styled populism is really little more than a bow tied around an extreme left-wing ideology or just simply crass and selfish political gamesmanship. This week’s City Council Meeting provides a great example of when Moreno’s thirst ...

At last Tuesday’s council meeting, my colleagues and I tabled a measure on a 6-1 vote that would have introduced Rent Control to Anaheim. The issue came to our attention after residents of Rancho La Paz mobile park reported proposed rent increases of upwards of 50 percent. I empathize with those struggling to cope with rising rents, particularly seniors and ...

After a long and jumbled discussion of city boards and commissions primarily focused on the Youth Commission, the Anaheim City Council last week formed an ad hoc committee to address attendance problems that prevent some commissions from functioning. The ad hoc committee of Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring and Councilmembers Jose Moreno and Jordan Brandman will report back in 60 ...

This week, the Anaheim City Council approved a series of senior staff appointments that promise the bring the Unstableheim Era to a close. Acting Deputy City Manager/Planning Director David Belmer was appointed Deputy City Manager. He will oversee the Community & Economic Development, Planning, and Public Works departments. Acting Assistant City Manager Greg Garcia was appointed Deputy City Manager and will ...

Another item on this evening’s council agenda is a reform of how the council makes appointments to city commissions. When the Tait-Moreno majority took control of the council following the November 2016 election, it undertook a radical restructuring of city commissions: forcing a mass resignation of all commissioners and changing the appointment process to reflect district-based council elections. Commissioners would ...

One of Mayor Harry Sidhu’s priorities has been making council meetings operate in a more efficient, productive manner that is respectful of the people’s time, not to mention staff time and resources. During the Tait-Moreno majority era, council meetings turned into fatiguing marathons. At a previous council meeting, Sidhu tasked staff with developing recommendations to streamline council meetings. Those recommendations ...

From Councilwoman Kris Murray: Thank you Anaheim – It’s Been an Adventure! After two terms, eight years, it’s time to pass the baton to a new generation of city leaders. I took office on December 7, 2010, surrounded by family, friends and community leaders who supported my candidacy to serve as a member of the Anaheim City Council. Tonight, I step ...

West Anaheim resident Sal Ortiz simply, directly and powerfully articulated the frustration and anger of his fellow residents at the July 17 Anaheim City Council, tell the council “enough is enough” regarding the degradation of their neighborhoods due to the proliferation of RV dwellers street camping in their neighborhoods: Ortiz forcefully channeled the frustration felt by residents who obey the ...

Media narratives can be powerful things, which is why politicians and interests seeking to influence public debate try to craft clever narratives.  It’s why the winners of elections always try to claim a “mandate,” whether they won by a landslide or squeaked out an electoral college win while losing the popular vote by millions. In Anaheim, it’s why the progressives ...