Oct 16, 2024 League of Women Voters Candidate Forum

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[1. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTH ORANGE COUNTY LA HABRA CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES' FORUM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024 6:00 P.M. The purpose of this forum is to allow City Council candidates an opportunity to address a wide-range of issues that affect our community. The forum is not intended to be a debate among the candidates, rather a platform for the candidates to share their positions on key issues with the public. The League of Women Voters of North Orange County is an organization that does not endorse candidates or political parties. It does encourage the informed and active participation of citizens. Questions for candidates are to be submitted to Barbara Dunsheath at B_Dunsheath@yahoo.com no later than Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. To be better informed, visit the City of La Habra website at: http://www.lahabraca.gov/356/Archived-Council-Videos or tune in to Channel 3 for the La Habra City Candidates' Forum on October 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. League of Women Voters - Candidates' Forum Flyer click here]

SO, GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

IT'S SIX O'CLOCK, SO WE'LL START MY NAME.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO THIS AND LOOK AT YOU, OR MAYBE I SHOULDN'T, I DON'T KNOW.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINA FAU.

I AM WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

I'LL BE THE MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING.

THE BEST PART ABOUT ME AND WHY YOU LIKE ME A LOT IS BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE HERE.

SO , I HAVE NO STAKE IN THIS AT ALL.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OPINIONS WHATSOEVER, AND YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY 100% COUNT ON ME TO BE NON-PARTISAN, UM, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

WE SPECIALIZE IN VOTER SERVICES BECAUSE WE'RE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

SO WE DO OUR PROS AND CONS, NONPARTISAN BALLOT PROPOSITION PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN WE DO CANDIDATE FORUMS. I'M A CANDIDATE FORUM NERD, SO THIS IS RIGHT AT MY ALLEY, AND I JUST LOVE IT.

UM, SO WE'RE HERE TO HAVE FUN.

WE'RE HERE TO LEARN, WE'RE HERE TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT WHO, WHO'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

UM, AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE QUESTIONS ON CARDS, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME BY AND COLLECT THE CARDS.

WHO'S THAT OVER HERE? SHERLINE AND THE GREETERS TOO.

SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WRITE IT ON THE CARDS.

JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL COLLECT IT.

IT WILL COME TO THE QUESTION, SORTERS THE QUESTION, SORTERS, BRING IT TO ME AND MEAN NASTY QUESTIONS DON'T GET PRESENTED.

SO DON'T BOTHER.

AND I'M SURE NOBODY IN HERE LOOKS MEAN OR NASTY.

SO IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.

AND JUST HAVE FUN.

JUST RELAX, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT LOW KEY, FRIENDLY, INTERESTING.

AND, UM, AS INFORMATIVE AS POSSIBLE.

UM, ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WERE INVITED.

SO ROSE ESPINOZA, MICHELLE BEIER, CARRIE ZURICH, UH, DALE LAMPKIN, DARREN NIAN, AND SUSAN PRITCHARD.

THE CANDIDATES WHO'VE CHOSEN TO BE HERE THIS EVENING ARE DARREN NIAN, CARRIE ZURICH, AND ROSE ESPINOZA.

SO WE'LL START WITH OPENING STATEMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO GIVE AN OPENING STATEMENT, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE CLOSING STATEMENTS AT THE END.

UM, I THINK THAT ABOUT COVERS IT.

OH, AND THEY'RE SITTING IN ORDER, AND I DIDN'T CHOOSE THAT ORDER.

THEY DID.

WE HAD CARDS.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE LOT WE JOKED.

'CAUSE DARREN SAID, LADIES FIRST, AND I'M LIKE, REALLY? 'CAUSE YOU'RE FIRST.

SO THAT WAS FUN.

.

YOU GUYS GREAT.

YEP.

UM, I HAVE TO READ THE STATEMENT AS WELL.

ALL IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WHEN AN EVENT IS BEING RECORDED, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THE RECORDING IS SHOWN IN CONTEXT, SO NOBODY HAS AUTHORIZATION TO CUT AND PASTE AND SHOW WHAT THEY LIKE, BECAUSE CONTEXT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO, I HAVE A MEDIA STATEMENT.

I NEED TO READ YOU, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

TONIGHT'S SPONSORS HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANY VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THIS FORUM OTHER THAN REPEAT TELEVISION BROADCAST PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL.

IF ANY RECORDINGS ARE MADE BY ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, WE STRONGLY URGE THAT THE FORUM BE RECORDED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND NOT BE EDITED IN ANY WAY.

THE FCC REQUIRES THAT VIDEOTAPE OF THE DEBATE OR FORUM NOT BE EDITED AND MUST BE BROADCAST IN ITS ENTIRETY, EITHER LIVE OR REASONABLY SOON AFTER IT TAKES PLACE.

BOTH THE FCC AND THE LEAGUE WANT TO ENSURE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT MANIPULATED TO CREATE FALSE OR MISLEADING IMPRESSIONS.

THEREFORE, NO CANDIDATE IS ALLOWED TO USE OR EDIT FOOTAGE FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES.

OKAY, SO ON THAT NOTE, WE ARE READY.

UM, THE CANDIDATES HAVE DECIDED TO GO BY THEIR FIRST NAMES.

SO EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY GOES BY THEIR FIRST NAME TONIGHT.

SO, DARREN, WILL YOU PLEASE START WITH YOUR OPENING STATEMENT? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

I WILL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AGAIN.

I'M THE CURRENT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA MAYOR DARREN.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT HOW I GOT STARTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE, I LIKE TO SAY I RAN FOR PRESIDENT OF, UH, CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE FOURTH GRADE, AND I CAME IN SECOND.

AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE JIM GOMEZ DIDN'T ENDORSE ME.

BUT I ACTUALLY BEGAN MY JOURNEY ON MY OWN STREET, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO BEGIN MY OWN STREET, MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WANTED A SIGN AT THE FRONT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I GOT THAT DONE.

THEY PUT ME ON THE HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THEN THEY DRAFTED ME INTO BEING PRESIDENT, AND I SERVED IN THAT ROLE FOR 20 YEARS.

THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES.

UH, AFTER THAT, I BECAME VICE CHAIR OF THE LA HABER FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.

I JOINED THE LIONS CLUB AT THAT TIME.

IN 2006, I WAS APPOINTED TO THE LA HABER PLANNING COMMISSION, WHERE I SERVED FOR 11 YEARS, THREE TIMES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I LEARNED LAND USE, ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

I WROTE A COLUMN IN THE ORANGE COUNTY STAR PROGRESS CALLED LAHABRA.

NOW I SERVED ON THE POLICE REWARD FUND COMMITTEE.

I SERVED, UH, AS A, I STILL SERVE AS A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOARD MEMBER.

I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 15 YEARS, INCLUDING TWO YEARS AS

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I WAS ALSO APPOINTED TO THE LAHABRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL COMMISSION, AND I SERVED AS CHAIRMAN THERE.

AND OF COURSE, I SPENT 30 YEARS AS AN LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

I RETIRED IN 2014 AND WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.

AND, UH, FINALLY I GOT APPOINTED TO COUNCIL.

MY COLLEAGUES, UH, APPOINTED ME AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I GOT APPOINTED.

I RAN, EIGHT MONTHS LATER, I WON MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO APPOINT ME, MAYOR OF THE CITY IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

SO, LA HABER NOW IS A CITY WITH OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY, GOOD ROADS, UH, A GREAT, UH, GREAT COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

UH, WE HAVE FANTASTIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

WE ARE FISCALLY PRUDENT BY ALWAYS BALANCING OUR BUDGET.

THAT GAVE US A DOUBLE A RATING FROM STANDARD AND POORS.

AND I WANNA SAY I'M PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE TO A WELL RUN, VIBRANT AND THRIVING CARING COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, OH, I MEANT TO ADD THAT IN MY SPARE TIME.

I'LL, OH, I FORGOT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPARE TIME .

BUT ANYWAY, I WISH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE MAKING CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE WAY THE CITY'S BEING RUN.

NOW WE'RE HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

AND I'M DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DARREN.

OKAY, CARRIE, YOU'RE UP.

TWO MINUTES PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

AND THANK YOU TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR PUTTING, UH, PROVIDING THIS FORUM FOR US TONIGHT.

UM, IT'S MY FIRST TIME BEING ON THE FORUM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

WELL, I AM A PROUD DAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN.

MY DAD WAS A COASTIE GO COAST GUIDE, UM, AND A VERY PROUD MOTHER OF A 27 YEAR ARMY VETERAN.

MY SON JOSEPH, WAS IN THE ARMY, AND, UH, LIVING IN TENNESSEE.

NOW I AM MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND FRED, SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU, HONEY, FOR BEING HERE.

UM, TWO CHILDREN, SIX GRANDCHILDREN, ONE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER.

WE HAVE FOUR GENERATIONS LIVING HERE IN LAHABRA.

WE LOVE IT AND THRIVE HERE IN LAHABRA FOR 35 YEARS.

UM, WE'VE MADE THIS OUR HOME, LIKE I SAID, WITH FOUR GENERATIONS LIVING UNDER ONE ROOF, WHICH IS AN AMAZING THING IN ITSELF.

UM, I BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHY I VOLUNTEER WHEN AND WHEREVER I CAN.

FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH OUR SENIORS, WITH OUR VETERANS, OUR YOUTH COMMITTEE, AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS.

MEALS ON WHEELS, VETERANS COMMITTEE, YOUTH COMMITTEE, THE AMERICAN LEGION, POST 2 6 7, THE WOMEN'S CLUB, AND A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I'VE HELPED BRING THE VIETNAM WALL, UM, THAT HEALS TO OUR CITY, UM, AS THE CHAIR.

AND THAT'S REALLY GOT ME ALL STARTED IN VOLUNTEERING.

AND I BELIEVE IT'S ONE WAY TO GET A PROJECT STARTED AND ENDED WITH VOLUNTEERS.

SERVED ON COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR SIX YEARS, PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS, AND APPLIED FOR CITY COUNCIL AND WAS APPOINTED THIS APRIL, 2024, WHICH I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A WINNING TEAM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CARRIE ROSE, YOUR TURN.

TWO MINUTES PLEASE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK, LIKE CARRIE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE FOR BEING HERE, AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

I'VE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL NOW 23 YEARS.

NOVEMBER WILL BE 24 YEARS.

I'VE SERVED AS MAYOR PRO TEM SIX TIMES.

I'VE BEEN MAYOR FIVE TIMES, AND I AM PRESENTLY ON DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

SOME I SOUGHT APPOINTMENT BY THE ORANGE COUNTY MAYORS OF ORANGE COUNTY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE LA HARBOR SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE AND HAVE A VOICE THERE REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY.

SO PRESENTLY I AM ON SCAG, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT, OOG ORANGE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT.

I AM THE FOURTH DISTRICT LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE, THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES.

RECENTLY APPOINTED ME AS THE ORANGE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE FOR ADVANCING EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I AM ON HSEC HILLS OPEN SPACE EDUCATION COALITION.

I AM ON THE BRIDGES OF KRAMERS, WHICH DEALS WITH THE HOMELESS.

I AM ALSO ON THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT BOARD.

AND ON MY OWN TIME, I AM ON, ON A BOARD OF NEIGHBORWORKS ORANGE COUNTY, WHICH HELPS THE FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS.

AND, UM, I'M ALSO WITH THE PROVIDENCE OF ST.

JUDE, WHICH DEALS WITH NORTH ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH ISSUES.

WE WERE THE ONES THAT APPROVED THE BUDGET TO HAVE ALL THESE OUTDOOR EXERCISE MACHINES OUTSIDE IN NORTH ORANGE COUNTY.

AND OF COURSE, I AM FOUNDER OF ROSIE'S GARAGE, WHICH I HAVE BEEN HELPING LOW INCOME KIDS FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS, OF WHICH BY ONE IS VOLUNTEERING WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

TODAY, I, I GRADUATED FROM FULLERTON COLLEGE WITH AN AA DEGREE, AND I AM A RECENT GRADUATE OF CAL STATE FULLERTON.

I GRADUATED IN 2020, SO THIS BRAIN IS STILL WORKING, UH, WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLI SCI.

THAT WOULD BE IT.

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OKAY, SO NOW WE GO TO THE QUESTIONS PART.

AND THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO DARREN.

WHAT TYPE OF FISCAL TRANSPARENCY MEASURES ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO REASSURE RESIDENTS HOW MONEY IS SPENT? IF THERE ARE NO MEASURES, WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO IMPLEMENT? THANK YOU.

YEAH, THERE WAS THIS IDEA THERE.

SOMEBODY SAID AT SOME MEET AND GREET, UH, ONE OF OUR OPPONENTS, UH, RUNNING AGAINST US SAID, WELL, WE, WE, WE DEMAND AN AUDIT.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING.

THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS KIND OF THING.

AND THIS IS THE WAY YOU KIND OF CREATE ISSUES WHERE NONE EXISTS.

IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE YOU WANNA BE ON CITY COUNCIL, BUT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING TO HANG YOUR HAT ON, THERE'S SIMPLY NOTHING WRONG.

SO HOW DO WE ENSURE, UH, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY? THIS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS 192 PAGES.

IT'S CALLED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

THIS IS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED IN 2023.

THE FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS YEAR JUST ENDED IN JUNE.

THERE'LL BE ANOTHER AUDIT CONDUCTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT.

AND IF ANYBODY WANTS ANY OF THIS INFORMATION, IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

ANYTIME YOU CAN SEE THAT EVERY PENNY IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET.

WE'VE ALSO DONE A FULL AUDIT.

AND THIS IS ALSO, BY THE WAY, NOT BY THE CITY.

THIS IS DONE BY A THIRD PARTY VENDOR.

THIS IS DONE BY CLIFTON LARSON, ALLEN, LLP.

SO THE CITY HAS NO DOG IN THIS FIGHT.

WE SIMPLY SHOW THEM ALL THE BOOKS, AND THEY TELL US THAT THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO ERRONEOUS FIGURES AND EVERYTHING FULLY ACCOUNT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

YOUR TURN.

DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? NO.

OKAY.

WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF LAHABRA HAS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ALL OF OUR 63,000 RESIDENTS HERE IN LA HABRA.

AND BY DOING THAT, WE DO PROVIDE AN OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY, UM, VERY FISCAL, UM, I MEAN, THEY, THEY DO THESE, UM, AUDITS FOR MANY CITIES, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF LA HABRA, WHICH GIVES US ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT'S NOT OUR WORD.

IT'S A, UM, A COMPANY THAT HAS DONE THIS AUDIT AND SHOWS THAT WE ARE KEEPING WITHIN, UM, ALL OF THE REGULATIONS AND RULES THAT WE NEED TO, TO PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS ON HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CARRIE ROSE, DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? NO, NO, NO.

I WILL JUST ADD ON THAT THIS IS, THE AUDIT IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE, UH, GOVERNMENT AUDIT STANDARDS, AND IT'S ISSUED BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF.

IT'S AN AUDIT THAT IS AN OUTSIDE AUDITOR.

AND OUR 20 22, 20 23 20 24 AUDIT WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF 2004.

THAT WOULD BE IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU, ROSE.

NEXT QUESTION GOES TO CARRIE.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BUILDING MORE HOMES AND APARTMENTS AND REDEVELOPMENT IN LA HABRA? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

UM, AS A RESIDENT OF LA HABRA FOR 35 YEARS, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH OPEN SPACE AS POSSIBLE.

UM, GIVEN THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE LOCAL CONTROL.

I MEAN, THE STATE TELLS US WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT BUILD, AND WHEN WE CAN DO THAT, SO WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POWER TO SAY YES OR NO TO A DEVELOPER ON REDEVELOPMENT, THAT IS WHAT WE FOLLOW.

WE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THIS THE LAST WORD ON, ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO.

SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO KEEP AS MUCH OPEN SPACE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO COMPLY.

UM, OUR ARENA NUMBERS ARE OUT THERE, THE EIGHT OH HUNDRED AND FOUR THAT WE HAD TO MAKE DUE FOR, UM, WHETHER IT'S, UM, THANK YOU, CARRIE.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU, ROSE.

AS I MENTIONED, I AM ON NEIGHBOR WORK ORANGE COUNTY.

I'VE BEEN HELPING WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT BOARD FOR 35 YEARS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BOUGHT MY HOME FROM A NONPROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATION, AND I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE BUILT THE, THE HOUSING RIGHT ACROSS WASHINGTON SCHOOL.

WE HAD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, HAS BUILT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE, UH, NEIGHBOR WORKS.

ORANGE COUNTY HAS BUILT HOUSING AND DUPLEXES ON GRACE AVENUE.

HIGH DENSITY, LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IS WHERE I WANT THEM BUILD.

BUT IT'S A CHOICE OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO BE FORCED BY ANYONE TO BUILD THESE HOMES.

IT'S MORE IDEAL FOR ME TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAVE IT RESPECTIVELY WHERE IT SHOULD BE PLACED INSTEAD OF, UH, WHERE THE DEVELOPERS OR ANYONE WANTS TO BE PLACED IN PLACING IT

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THANK YOU ROSE, DARREN.

WE HAVE 63,000 PEOPLE AND SEVEN SQUARE MILES.

WE'RE COMPLETELY BUILT OUT.

IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

THE FACT IS, LOCAL CONTROL IS EVERYTHING, MEANING CITIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS A DEVELOPMENT FOR ITS MERITS OR FOR WHATEVER ISSUES IT MIGHT PRESENT.

IF YOU CAN'T MITIGATE TRAFFIC IMPACTS, IF YOU CAN'T MITIGATE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS PROPOSED BY ANY DEVELOPMENT, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY NO.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAID NO TO THE 400 HOUSES AT THE WESTRIDGE GOLF COURSE.

AS SOON AS WE DID, WE WERE SUED FOR $110 MILLION BY THE DEVELOPER.

WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THAT LAWSUIT RIGHT NOW.

WE KEEP WINNING IN COURT ONE BY ONE.

WE KEEP WINNING THE JUDGE'S DECISIONS, BUT NONETHELESS, WE SPENT $700,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY DEFENDING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE WANNA BE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW WE SATISFY ARENA NUMBERS.

WE'VE ZONED FOR 804 HOUSES, WE'RE NOT GONNA BUILD THEM, BUT WHEN A PROJECT COMES UP, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HA LOOK AT THAT PROJECT AND SEE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE.

WE'RE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

NOW, IF THEY GET BUILT, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S ALL.

BUT LITTLE BY LITTLE SACRAMENTO IS TAKING THAT CONTROL AWAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DARREN.

CARRIE, DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? SHOULD YOU ANSWERED I'M AHEAD.

I, WE ARE GONNA JUST GO IN CIRCLES.

YOU SEE WHAT I SAID? WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN TONIGHT, AND IT'S ON ME .

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE, WE'RE THE REST OF MY EXES.

UM, OKAY, SO NOW IT'S ROSE'S TURN.

OKAY.

HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS? I HAVE TAKEN A MIND.

YOU ALL THESE YEARS HAVE BEEN 23 YEARS.

I HAVE PAID AND PUT MY OWN MONEY INTO EACH CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M EVER GONNA RUN AGAIN.

SO THIS TIME I THOUGHT I'M GONNA DO WHAT OTHER CANDIDATES DO.

AND YES, I RECEIVED SOME MONEY FROM THE FIRE, UH, THE FIRE, THE LA FIRE COMPANY, OR A, A LOCAL NUMBER.

BUT I AM NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CANDIDATES WHO HAVE TAKEN MONEY, SAY FROM THE, UH, BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.

OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE TAKEN FROM THAT, THAT ARE NOT HERE.

SO, UM, I'M, I, AND THEY ARE A, AN ENTITY, THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE SUPPORT, AND THEY HAVE SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITY.

SO YES, I DID TAKE FROM THEM.

THANK YOU, ROSE.

DARREN, SAME THING.

UH, I'M SUPPORTED BY THE LA COUNTY FIRE ASSOCIATION.

I'M SUPPORTED BY OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

THESE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF LA HABRA.

WHAT I DIDN'T DO AND WILL NEVER DO, IS TAKE MONEY LIKE CANDIDATE PRITCHARD FROM THE BUILDING INDUSTRY AND FROM APARTMENT OWNERS, ASSOCIATIONS AND THIS SORT OF THING.

SHE WAS BANKROLLED ENTIRELY TWO YEARS AGO BY THESE OUTSIDE SPECIAL INTERESTS.

WHEREAS NONE OF US HERE, THE THREE OF US HAVE DONE THAT.

AND THAT GOES TO SHOW THERE'S AN AGENDA THERE AND, AND THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE AGENDA.

SO SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY FOR ME.

NO PUBLIC SAFETY.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

WELL, I HAVE TAKEN, UM, OUR, THE MONEY FROM OUR LA COUNTY FIRE LOCAL AND FROM THE, UH, POLICE ASSOCIATION, WELL, ACTUALLY I HAVEN'T GOT THAT.

SO, UM, I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THEM.

CHECKS IN THE MAIL.

CHECKS IN THE MAIL.

UM, BUT, UM, I HAVE NOT TAKEN OUTSIDE, UH, INTEREST MONEY.

I BELIEVE THAT, UM, WORKING IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA, AND WE ARE, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THOSE OF THE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT I HAVE, UH, RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM, FROM MY CAMPAIGN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE BACK TO DARREN.

UH, IF THE CITY HAS HAD A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, WHY DID WE HAVE TO BORROW $72 MILLION IN JANUARY OF 2022? THAT IS A FANTASTIC QUESTION, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO FINALLY CLEAR UP WHAT IS DISINFORMATION OR MISINFORMATION, OR EVEN WORSE, AN OUTRIGHT LIE, THERE IS NO $72 MILLION, $75 MILLION LOAN.

THIS, THE $75 MILLION THAT THIS PERSON IS TALKING ABOUT IS MONEY THAT WE HAVE AS A LIABILITY TO CALPERS THE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION UP IN SACRAMENTO.

EVERY CITY IN CALIFORNIA HAS A LIABILITY.

THEY OWE CALPERS, RIGHT? SO THERE WAS NO MONEY RECEIVED BY THE CITY OF LA HABER FOR THAT.

IT WASN'T A LOAN, IT'S A DEBT.

AND WHEN WE ISSUED THE PENSION OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM, WHAT WE DID IS WE REFINANCED THAT DEBT FROM 7% THAT WE WERE PAYING DOWN TO 4%, SAVING 1 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS A YEAR, A TOTAL OF $22 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT THE PENSION OBLIGATION BOND THING DID.

NO, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE $75 MILLION.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN, THAT, THAT WAS OUR DEBT TO CALPERS.

SO IF WE CAN CLEAR THAT UP ONCE AND FOR ALL, THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DARREN.

KERRY.

OKAY, SO THE 72, UH, MILLION DOLLAR, UH, LOAN, SO TO SPEAK, WAS NOT A LOAN.

IT IS A PENSION OBLIGATION BOND.

UM, THE BOND PROCEEDS WERE TO PAY OFF A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.

UH, LET'S JUST SAY YOU'RE A

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THAT IS WHAT THE CITY DID.

WE REFINANCED TO GET A BETTER RATE FROM 7% DOWN TO THREE 4% SAVINGS.

I WOULD DO THAT ALL DAY LONG.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE ROSE.

AND, UH, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY BEHIND THAT PENSION REFORM, IT WAS ADOPTED, UH, WITH A VARIETY OF PENSION REFORM MEASURES.

IN 2010, THEY NEGOTIATED WITH THE EMPLOYERS GROUP TO LOWER THE PENSION COST AND LIABILITIES.

IN 2018, THE COUNCIL APPROVED A PENSION RATE STABILIZATION FUND TO HELP OFFSET FUTURE, UH, PENSION COST INCREASE, AND THEN THE 72 POINT MILLION, UH, PENSION OBLIGATION BOND THAT WAS REFINANCED, AS THEY SAID BY UNFUNDED, ACCRUED LIABILITY TO LOWER THE INTEREST RATE.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WENT FROM 7% TO 3%, WHICH IS, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, RE RE YOUR REFINANCING YOUR HOME PROPERTY.

IT JUST MADE SENSE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND ACTUALLY NOW WE'VE, UH, WE'VE HAD WHAT OVER DECREASE THE COST, AS DARREN SAID, $22 MILLION OVER 20 YEAR PERIOD.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS A POSITIVE THING, AND THERE IS REALLY NO MONEY THERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE IT.

THANK YOU, ROSE.

OKAY, THIS NEXT QUESTION GOES TO CARRIE.

THIS PAST WEEKEND AT KORN FESTIVAL EVENTS, THERE WAS DECREASED ATTENDANCE AND AN INCREASE OF ROWDY BEHAVIOR.

HOW CAN YOU HELP MAKE CITY EVENTS SAFER AND MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND BETTER? OKAY, SO MAKING IT SAFER, THAT WOULD BE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN, IN OUR IN-HOUSE.

WE NEED TO HAVE THEM TRAINED.

WE HAVE, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM READY TO GO.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO PROTECTS 63,000 PEOPLE HERE IN LA HABRA AS A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER AND A WIFE.

WHEN I AM OUT AND ABOUT, I WANNA KNOW THAT I'M SAFE.

SO IF WE HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SAFETY, I WOULD DO IT ALL DAY LONG.

I WOULD ALSO CHECK WITH, UM, ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND FIND OUT WHAT COULD WE DO DIFFERENTLY TO HELP THEM IN THEIR QUEST TO MAKE MORE MONEY FOR THEIR EVENTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

ROSE, THE QUESTION, PLEASE.

THIS PAST WEEKEND AT THE KORN FESTIVAL EVENT, THERE WAS DECREASED ATTENDANCE AND AN INCREASE OF ROWDY BEHAVIOR.

HOW CAN YOU HELP MAKE CITY EVENTS SAFER, MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND BETTER? I, YOU KNOW, I I, WE, I SPOKE TO A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS WITH ME ON THE, ON THE PARADE, AND I SAID, WE, HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A BIGGER TURNOUT OF PEOPLE IN THE PARADE.

AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE, IF THERE IS A DECREASE, IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE, THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT HEY, THEY HAD, INITIALLY IT WAS IN AUGUST, NOW IT'S MOVED TO OCTOBER, AND THERE'S STILL SOME THAT BELIEVE IT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, IN AUGUST THAT STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE MESSAGE TO THEM THAT IT'S IN OCTOBER.

BUT IT, IT'S A PARADE.

IT'S AN ACTIVITY THAT IS GOING TO GROW AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

SO I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS, IT WAS A MATTER OF, OF THINGS, THE NEGATIVE THINGS.

I THINK IT'S JUST THAT IT HAS CHANGED FROM A PERIOD OF THE YEAR TO ANOTHER PART OF THE YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

THANK YOU ROSE.

DARREN? WELL, I QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF THE QUESTION.

WHAT IT'S, WHAT IT'S PREDICATED ON, UH, THE IDEA THAT THERE WAS ROWDY BEHAVIOR AND THE IDEA THAT, UH, THE ATTENDANCES FIGURES WERE DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY WOULD KNOW THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UH, CAROL AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE CORN FESTIVAL.

THE CROWDS WERE HUGE.

THE PARADE WAS FANTASTIC.

THERE WERE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

I TALKED TO THE POLICE WHO WERE WORKING THAT EVENT.

THEY SAID, IT'S BEEN VERY QUIET, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE DU WELLS, WHICH ANY CITY EVENT IN ANY CITY IS GONNA HAVE ON OCCASION.

BUT BY ALL, ALL MY OBSERVATIONS WERE THAT IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WELL RUN, SAFE AND WELL ATTENDED EVENT.

NOW GOING FORWARD, IF YOU START TO NOTICE TRENDS OF THIS SORT, THEN WHAT YOU DO IS YOU BOLSTER THE SECURITY PRESENCE, THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS THERE.

CAN WE DO THAT? SURE.

LET'S HOPE OUR SALES TAX MEASURE IS RENEWED BECAUSE THAT IS THE SOURCE FROM WHICH PUBLIC SAFETY IS FUNDED.

SO ASSUMING THAT HAPPENS, THEN IF WE NEED TO FILL THE RANKS, BOLSTER THE SECURITY, OF COURSE WE'LL DO THAT.

BUT I QUESTION AGAIN, THE VERACITY OF THE QUESTIONER, BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS A GREAT EVENT THIS YEAR AND A COMPLETE SUCCESS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DARREN.

OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE TO ROSE, THIS QUESTION'S FOR YOU.

WHY ARE SO MANY TOBACCO SHOPS ALLOWED TO BE AT TEENS AND UNDERAGE PEOPLE'S AVAILABILITY? WHY ARE WHAT, WHY ARE SO MANY TOBACCO

[00:25:01]

BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN I, I HAD THE KIDS, I HAD THEM GO OUT TO LIQUOR STORES AND I HAD THEM VIEW WHAT WAS AT YOUR EYE LEVEL, AND WE WOULD TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND TELL 'EM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE THAT YOU DISPLAY THIS KIND OF PRODUCT AT THE LEVEL OF THE KIDS.

UM, SO IT, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ADVOCATING FOR THAT WOULD BE THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IF THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, ATTRACTED BY THIS STUFF.

I THINK THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE, AND THE STUDENTS THERE SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO, UH, DO A STUDY ON IT AND GO OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR IT FROM THE, THE, THE YOUTH THEMSELVES, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR THESE BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO I WOULD SAY LET THE HIGH SCHOOLS DO A STUDY AND GO OUT THERE TO THE, TO THESE BUSINESSES AND TELL 'EM IF THEY APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE AND WHY.

OKAY, THANK YOU ROSE, DARREN.

A LOT OF FOLKS SAY, WHY ARE YOU EVEN ALLOWING BAIT STORES OR TOBACCO STORES OR ANY OF THAT IN LA HABRA? AND WE HAVE TO REMIND FOLKS AGAIN THAT IT IS A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, AND WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES LOCATE HERE.

CERTAINLY OUR PREFERENCE IS FOR HIGH QUALITY RETAIL, NOT NECESSARILY A STORE THAT SELLS VAPES AND TOBACCO, BUT NONETHELESS, IF THEY FULFILL ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, UH, IMPOSED BY CITY CODES, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS HERE.

IN TERMS OF SELLING TO UNDERAGE KIDS, THAT'S ILLEGAL.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE OCCASIONAL SPOT CHECKS GOING IN THERE TO SEE IF THEY CAN WITNESS SOMEBODY UNDERAGE TRYING TO BUY THESE PRODUCTS.

ALSO, I THINK IT'S A STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION THAT ALSO GOES IN AND DOES CHECKS.

IF WE RECEIVE A REPORT THAT A, A BUSINESS OWNER IS ROUTINELY SELLING TO KIDS, UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY POUNCE ON THAT OWNER AND CITE AND PROSECUTE AS NEED BE.

BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THIS IDEA WHY ARE THEY EVEN HERE? WELL, WE ASK OURSELVES THAT QUESTION TOO.

SOMETIMES.

IT'S NOT OUR, OUR OUR, OUR PREMIER TYPE OF RETAIL WE WANNA ENCOURAGE IN LA HABRA.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MARKET BASED ECONOMY AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SOMETIMES SEE ONE DONUT SHOP PRETTY CLOSE TO ANOTHER.

WE CAN'T SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT YOU COMPETING WITH THAT DONUT SHOP.

YOU'VE GOT A RIGHT TO DO BUSINESS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DARREN.

CARRIE, WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE CAN SAY WHO CAN AND CANNOT GO HERE OR THERE, BUT THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE WORLD IS.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION, THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT THEY ARE, AND AS LONG AS THEY FIT ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS, WE CANNOT SAY HOW MANY DONUT SHOPS OR, OR SMOKE SHOPS ARE GONNA BE IN A CERTAIN LOCATION.

UM, WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A GROUP, UH, A COALITION OUT THERE IN LA HABRA THAT GOES AROUND AND TRIES TO DISCOURAGE YOUNG KIDS FROM SMOKING.

THEY GO TO THE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE AT ALL THE EVENTS.

SO MORE EVENTS LIKE THAT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

UM, DARREN DID SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, UH, IF WE GET NOTICED THAT THERE ARE, UH, SHOPS THAT ARE SELLING TO UNDERAGE CHILDREN, THEN THEY'LL, THAT'S WHERE WE, WE CALL IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SAY, LOOK, WE'VE HAD DISTURBANCE.

THANK YOU.

SORRY.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

OKAY, SO NEW QUESTION.

WE'RE BACK TO DARREN.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL CITY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SHOULD BE? WELL, THAT'S A HOT BUTTON TOPIC, AND UH, I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND THE LAHABRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND FOLKS SAY, WELL, WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? I THINK PART OF IT IS EMOTIONAL, UH, AND IT'S BASED UPON HURT FEELINGS.

UH, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY THE CITY ALWAYS PROVIDED A, UH, A FAIRLY LARGE SUBSIDY TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND IT WAS A SUBSIDY OF, OF GENERAL INTENT, GENERAL PURPOSE.

THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO WITH THE MONEY.

BUT WHEN WE STARTED ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FROM THE CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE WERE STONEWALLED.

WE REALLY DIDN'T GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE BUDGET WAS NEVER PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE.

WE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHERE THIS MONEY WAS GOING, JUST AS ONE PERSON'S SALARY OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT RABBIT HOLE MIGHT IT FALL INTO.

THEN THERE IS THE ANAHEIM CHAMBER'S PROBLEM WITH, UH, THE CITY OF ANAHEIM WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THERE, COLLUSION, AND IT WAS A GIFT OF PUBLIC MONEY IS WHAT TOOK PLACE THERE.

AND WE WERE AWARE THE FACT THAT WITHOUT THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, THIS COULD BE A GIFT OF PUBLIC MONEY TOO.

SO WE STOPPED PROVIDING THAT SUBSIDY.

I THINK THE CHAMBER WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE'S THE ANSWER, SORRY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DARREN.

CARRIE, CHAMBER VERSUS CITY.

OF COURSE, THERE, THERE SHOULD BE, UM, GOOD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BOTH THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UM, AND NOT HAVE PERSONAL CONFLICTS.

UH, RATHER BE BASED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHAT THE CHAMBER'S

[00:30:01]

UM, I REPRESENT ALL OF OUR 63,000 RESIDENTS HERE IN LA HABRA.

AND, UM, THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS IS KEEPING ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN HAND.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

ROSE, TRANSPARENCY IS A BIG, A BIG, UH, ISSUE RIGHT THERE.

YOU NEED AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS THE, THE CITY, UH, CITY HALL DOES.

EVERYTHING IS POSTED.

MOST EVERYTHING IS POSTED ON OUR CITY WEBSITE AND THEY CAN SEE OUR SALARIES, ANYONE'S SALARIES, WHAT'S GOING ON THE BUDGET.

UM, THAT'S NOT TO AT, WHEN I LAST LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE, THERE WASN'T THAT TRANSPARENCY OF WHERE IS THE MONEY THAT THE CITY IS GIVING TO THE CHAMBER GOING, HOW IS IT BEING USED? I MEAN, THIS IS TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

THIS IS NOT OURS.

THIS IS TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND THE TAXPAYERS NEED TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING.

AND ANOTHER THING IS, UM, I, I WANT ALL BUSINESSES SUPPORTED.

I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THOSE THAT PAY, UM, THE FEE THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED WILL GET THE RIBBON CUTTING, BUT HOW ABOUT THE BUSINESS OWNER THAT IT'S JUST OPENING AND DOESN'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO PAY THAT 1300 OR WHATEVER IT IS, BUT STILL WANTS A RIBBON CUTTING.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK THEY SHOULD SUPPORT ALL BUSINESSES, NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE, THANK YOU, ROSE, ARE SIGNED UP WITH A CHAMBER.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT QUESTION GOES TO CARRIE, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ENSURE THAT BUDGET MONEY IS PROPERLY SPENT? WELL, THAT IS A QUESTION, UM, WHERE YOU COULD FIND ALL THE ANSWERS ON OUR CITY WEBSITE.

OUR BUDGET SPELLS OUT LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM ON WHAT ALL THE MONEY IS, UM, USED FOR THE MONEY THAT COMES IN, THE MONEY THAT IS PAID OUT, THE MONEY THAT STAYS IN, UM, DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCOUNTS, YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, IN THAT BUDGET, WE'VE GOT 70% GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE OTHER 30% GOES TO PAY EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO IF SOMEONE REALLY WANTS TO KNOW WHERE ALL THIS MONEY IS GOING, THAT COMES INTO THE CITY OF LA HABRA, OUR BUDGET, UH, IS ALWAYS IN PLAIN SIGHT AND EVERYONE IS ABLE TO SEE, FIND IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CARRIE ROSE.

I KNOW THAT WHEN I HAD MY MAYOR'S ROUND TABLE OR A MAYOR'S COMMUNITY HOUR, I WOULD GO OUT IN FRONT OF A STATER BROTHERS OR A THE POST OFFICE OR ANY BUSINESS, AND I WOULD PUT OUT MY TABLE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY HOUR, AND I WOULD HAVE THESE LAMINATED, UH, UH, UH, UH, FIGURES OF A DOLLAR BILL AND I WOULD SHOW THE COMMUNITY HOW IT WAS BROKEN DOWN, HOW MUCH IS COMING TO THE CITY, WHICH WAS 6 CENTS FROM MEASURE T.

AND THE BRADLEY ONE WAS 12 CENTS, WHICH WAS 18 CENTS FOR US, AND THE REST OF THE 82 CENTS WAS GOING TO ANY OTHER STATE ENTITIES.

SO IT WAS JUST BRINGING IT DOWN TO THE RESIDENTS AND EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING ALL THIS MONEY THAT YOU THINK WE'RE GETTING.

AND AGAIN, I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING.

AND IT'S ONLINE.

I EVEN HAVE A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HAVE PUT THIS A BOOK LIKE THIS IN THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY FOR ANYONE TO GET WHENEVER THEY CHOOSE.

THAT'S HOW TRANSPARENT, I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SEE THAT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ROSE.

DARREN, A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW I'VE BEEN WALKING DOORS IN LA HABER SINCE JANUARY.

I'VE KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS, AND ONE THING I NEVER REALLY GET HIT WITH IS, WELL, WE GIVE YOU ALL THIS MONEY, WHERE'S IT GOING? AND I DON'T GET HIT WITH THAT QUESTION BECAUSE ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SPREAD OUT MY ARMS AND SAY, LOOK AROUND YOU, LOOK AT YOUR ROAD.

THAT GETS REPAID EVERY THREE YEARS.

LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY.

LOOK AT PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE STUFF THEY DO.

FOLKS FEEL GENERALLY THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR.

AND AS ROSE AND CARRIE SAID, OF COURSE, WHEN IT DOES COME TO ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY, YEAH, THE ANSWERS ARE ALL HERE.

AND THIS CITY IS SPECTACULAR IN THE WAY THAT IT CONSTANTLY TRANSMITS THIS INFORMATION.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN MIND PAYING TAXES SO LONG AS THEY FEEL THEIR MONEY'S NOT BEING WASTED.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S HARDLY ANYBODY IN THE HARBOR WHO THINKS THAT WHAT THEY GET OUT OF THIS CITY THERE IS, IS NOT, IS NOT WORTH IT, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

I MEAN, WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT, WE'VE GOT SALES TAX.

THAT'S THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND IT'S PUT TO GOOD USE AND TO GOOD WORK AND PEOPLE KNOW IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DARREN.

OKAY, SO NEXT QUESTION.

THANK GOODNESS I'M KEEPING TRACK.

I'M LIKE, HUH? OKAY, NEXT QUESTION GOES TO ROSE.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR MAINTAINING QUALITY POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE IN LA HABRA IF WE DON'T PASS MEASURE V? WELL, IT'S SIMPLY SAID, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT ACROSS

[00:35:01]

IF THIS MEASURE, UM, DOESN'T PASS, I MEAN, IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS, WHETHER THEY DECIDE WHAT KIND OF QUALITY OF LIFE DO THEY WANT IN THE CITY OF LA HARBOR, THEY'VE GOTTEN SO USED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, OF HAVING A TOP LA FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THEIR SERVICE.

AND, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

UM, THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT HAD NEVER HAD BEFORE.

IT'S A STRONGER ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CITIZENS EMERGENCY OR A CITIZENS ACADEMY, POLICE ACADEMY, ALL THESE THINGS, IF IT DEPENDS ON, ON WHAT KIND OF BUDGET WE HAVE, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS MEASURE WILL PASS AND WE CAN KEEP THAT QUALITY, IF NOT BETTER.

THANK YOU ROSE.

DARREN, I THINK EVERYBODY DOES NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES WHAT KIND OF CITY THEY WANT TO LIVE IN.

IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT SALES TAX MEASURE WITH THE UPDATED RATE.

OH, WELL, WHY IS IT BEING UPDATED A HALF A PENNY? WELL, THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOLKS IS WHAT THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT DID TO US THIS YEAR.

THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY INCREASED OUR CONTRACT.

WE HAD TO CUT ALL DEPARTMENTS BY 6% RIGHT THERE.

PLUS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT PRICE BY UP TO $600,000 A YEAR.

SO LIKE ANY HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, LIKE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE WATCHING OR LISTENING, THE CITY IS ONE BIG HOUSEHOLD.

AND SO WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN, WE HAVE A CHOICE.

WE EITHER TRY TO KEEP UP WITH REVENUE GENERATION OR WE CUT, MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE PUT THIS BEFORE THE VOTERS TO LET THEM DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR CITY TO LOOK BASICALLY LIKE IT DOES NOW OR TO SEE AN ALTERED VERSION OF THAT CITY.

AND IF WE HAVE TO CUT 13% OF OUR BUDGET, IF V FAILS, $8 MILLION A YEAR, WE'RE GONNA DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

THAT'S OUR JOB.

WE WILL CUT TO FIT.

WE WILL NOT DO THIS.

WE WILL NOT DIP INTO RESERVES.

WE WILL NOT USE OUR CREDIT CARD, WE WON'T PLAY ANY GAMES WITH THAT.

WE'LL SIMPLY CUT TO FIT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DARREN.

CARRIE, MEASURE VI DO SUPPORT MEASURE VI BELIEVE IT IS A NECESSARY, UM, AVENUE THAT WE, THIS THE CITY COUNCIL IS TAKING TO PUT IT OUT TO THE VOTERS, LET THEM DECIDE ON, ON WHAT KIND OF CITY THAT THEY THEY WOULD LIKE.

WHAT KIND OF EVENTS DO THEY WANNA KEEP? WHAT KIND OF SERVICES WOULD THEY LIKE TO, TO CONTINUE WITH OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, OUR PARAMEDICS.

UM, WHEN WE MAKE A 9 1 1 CALL, WE WANNA KNOW THAT THAT RESPONSE TIME IS IMMEDIATE.

WE DON'T WANNA HAVE TO RELY ON WONDERING, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY FIRE, UM, PERSONNEL DO WE HAVE ON FILE THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO GET TO US WHEN WE NEED TO.

SO, UM, I HOPE THE VOTERS SEE THAT MEASURE V IS GONNA BE A WAY THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE WITH ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE ALL DESERVE.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE BACK TO DARREN.

IN LIGHT OF RECENT BUDGET CUTS, SOME HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR FURTHER CUTS.

WHAT SPECIFIC JOBS AND OR SERVICES DO YOU SUPPORT? CUTTING? LET'S LOOK AT LA HABER'S JOB NUMBER ONE.

THAT WOULD BE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S THE FIRST AND FOREMOST RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY CITY ENTITY.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST TO SUFFER FROM THE EFFECTS OF MASSIVE BUDGET CUTS.

WOULD IT EVENTUALLY COME DOWN TO CHANGES WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET? YES, OF COURSE IT WOULD.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER FLUFF TO BE THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY SERVICES.

OH, THE SENIOR DANCES, THE TAMALI FESTIVAL, UH, PROGRAMS THAT, THAT HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

NOW IF YOU CONSIDER THAT FLUFF, THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

IS THAT MORE LIKELY TO BE CUT THAN POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES? YES, OF COURSE.

SO DO WE WANNA CHANGE THE INHERENT CHARACTER OF THIS CITY TO THAT EXTENT? WE'VE GOT CANDIDATES RUNNING LIKE CANDIDATE PRITCHARD AND EVEN CANDIDATE LAKIN'S, NOT SURE ABOUT THIS, BUT WHO SAY WE DON'T NEED IT.

LET IT GO.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BE MORE RESILIENT, MORE EFFICIENT, WHICH IS UTTER COMPLETE NONSENSE.

IT TAKES MONEY TO RUN A CITY, AND ULTIMATELY IF WE HAVE TO MAKE 13% CUTS IN OUR GENERAL BUDGET, WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

AND WE'LL CUT THE STUFF THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DARREN.

CARRIE, CUTTING THE BUDGET, CUTTING OUT SERVICES THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO KNOW AND, UM, APPRECIATE AND EXPECT.

UM, WE'VE ALREADY CUT 6 MILLION ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT STAFF, UH, POLICE, FINANCES, ALL THOSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

EVERYONE HAD TO LOOK AT WHAT WE WERE PAYING OUT AND FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH 6% OUT OF THEIR DEPARTMENT IS GONNA BE CUT.

NOW, LA HABRA, WITH ALL THE

[00:40:01]

WE DON'T WANT THOSE TO GO AWAY, BUT WE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN A BUDGET AS WELL.

AND IF THAT MEANS HAVING TO CUT THE SERVICES, OUR UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE THANK YOU CARRIE .

WELL, UM, ROSE? YES? DO YOU WANNA TURN YOURS OFF? OH, OKAY.

WELL, WELL, I MEAN, LET'S LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD BUDGET CUTS.

UH, THE CITY MANAGER HAD ASKED EVERY DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE TO CUT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN EACH OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS.

THAT WAS TOUGH.

I MEAN, EVEN THE COUNCIL, WE CUT OUR CONFERENCES OR ANY KIND OF TRIPS THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE, WE JUST CUT IT DOWN TO NIL.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT, I MEAN, LET'S LOOK AT THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CITY HAS SPENT 4.6 MILLION ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN LAHABRA.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PERSON THAT IS HELPING, UH, TO, UH, HELP THE HOMELESS AND FIND THEM THE AGENCIES THAT THEY NEED TO GO TO, TO ASSIST THEM.

IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT? IS THAT GOING TO CREATE MORE HOMELESSNESS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY? I MEAN, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP THEM AS WELL, AS WELL AS THE OTHER, OTHER RESIDENT MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS.

I MEAN, MY GOD, IF YOU'VE EVER GONE TO THE SENIOR DANCES, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAVING A TIME OF THEIR LIFE.

I MEAN, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WERE 28 INSTEAD OF 78 OR 88, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

THANK YOU, ROSE.

OKAY, SO BEFORE I GO ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION BY CARRIE, HERE'S WHERE I TELL YOU, WE JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.

SUBMIT THEM TO THE QUESTION SORTERS.

AND IF I DON'T HAVE MORE QUESTIONS WHEN THESE TWO ARE DONE, WELL CLOSING STATEMENTS.

SO, OKAY.

UM, CARRIE, IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHAT WILL BE YOUR PRIORITY WHILE ON THE COUNCIL AND CLEARLY DEFINE THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL AND CAN YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR ROLE? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE BEGINNING OF THAT ONE? YEP.