OC did not quite go for Barack Obama on Election Day, but local officials are readying wish lists of infrastructure projects they hope to qualify for the incoming president’s anticipated $800 billion-plus stimulus package. Supe Bill Campbell says the OCTA has $600 million of transportation projects ready to go and cities have identified another $1 billion of work. Projects include dam construction along the Santa Ana River, the extension of Alton Parkway, John Wayne Airport improvements and more Riverside (91) Freeway lanes. Santa Ana’s Democratic Mayor Miguel Pulido, new chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ energy committee, eyes funds for the “greening of the Civic Center.” He says he and Republican county Treasurer Chriss Street envision solar panels “on almost every square foot of every building” in the county government complex …
OC’s big spenders face an identity crisis. The recession has reduced wealth in the county, and even those who still have it don’t want to be perceived as flaunting it. That may help to explain why a thriving Irvine-based private equity firm with some $4 billion in assets dodged questions about the holiday junket it threw for close to 300 employees, clients, associates and relatives. The firm hosted a three-day Bermuda cruise followed by three days at Disney World …
Irvine’s contentious City Council election is over, but the political drama continues. Lawyer Sandeep Baweja, listed on a city document as the treasurer of two key campaign committees for Councilman Larry Agran’s victorious faction (Measure R and Measure S), has separately admitted to squandering almost all of a $2.7 million settlement awarded to sales agents he represented in a class-action lawsuit; legal observers say such behavior could lead to disbarment or prosecution. Councilwoman and Agran critic Christina Shea says “a person (Baweja) who would do such a horrible thing with clients’ money” should have his fundraising activities investigated, too, by the California Fair Political Practices Commission or the state attorney general. No comment from Agran. But a lawyer for Baweja, Michael Proctor of Caldwell Leslie & Proctor in L.A., says his client was not involved in the finances of the R and S campaigns, which “used a professional treasurer. Nevertheless Mr. Baweja would cooperate in any inquiry whatsoever involving those matters” …
Former OC Metro Editor Craig Reem is now PR director for the city of Irvine …
Overnight Express founder Rob Ukropina headlines the OCBJ-CalCPA CFO of the Year Awards dinner Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Call (949) 833-8373 …
The official OC Dem Jan. 20 inaugural party will be at Original Mike’s in Santa Ana. Call (714) 835-5158 …
Tim Salmon’s golf tourney, benefiting Canyon Acres and Laurel House, is Feb. 9 at Coto de Caza. Info at www.timsalmon.com …
USC’s recession-proof Pete Carroll will quarterback the OC Biz Council’s annual dinner Feb. 10 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Info at www.ocbc.org.
