Corona Politics

State of the City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:39:00 +0000

The sluggish economy will force budget cuts throughout city departments, Corona Mayor Jeff Miller announced Wednesday following his State of the City speech this week.
Despite the cuts, Miller told an audience of 400 people Tuesday that Corona residents are still going to see large-scale traffic improvement projects, major commercial developments and a drive for more affordable housing in the aftermath of the mortgage industry meltdown. The State of the City speech was hosted by the Corona Chamber of Commerce.
Even as the community faces the same factors weighing down the economy nationwide, Corona is well-positioned to weather the storm, Miller said.
"Sales-tax revenues are down. We anticipate that there will be 5 percent cuts across the board in every department, and each department is working through how they are going to achieve these cuts without affecting service to our residents," Miller said.
But years of fighting for transportation funding and economic development planning has prepared the city to move forward with new projects even as other communities slow down.
"We've been fighting for transportation dollars for seven years," said Miller. "So the money has become available, and we're focused on these big projects in Corona."
The city is in the midst of the Magnolia Avenue overpass and Green River Road bridge replacement projects, he said. A new lane was recently added to a portion of Highway 91 at Serfas Club Drive in Corona.
In the next year or two, the city is also gearing up for the Foothill Parkway extension and the expansion of the Highway 91 and Interstate 15 interchange, he added. The state has pledged $2.2 million in Prop. 1B bonds to improve connections between highways 91, 71 and Interstate 15 and to add onramp auxiliary lanes to Highway 91, Miller said.
The city is also focused on economic development in the downtown area, Miller said. Taking advantage of the falling property values, the city has bought or facilitated land deals for redevelopment projects in the Corona Mall and the Edwards/Corona Plaza on Main Street.
Toward that end, the city has facilitated nearly $40 million in private land deals for the future mixed-use development of retail, office and residential developments for the downtown, he said.
Phase II of the Dos Lagos shopping center is slated to begin this year, adding about 200,000 square feet of retail space to the city, Miller said. The upcoming Phase II of the Crossings development will add another 300,000 feet of retail space, create jobs and expand the city's sales-tax base.
Miller also acknowledged there are economic hardships ahead.
"The presentation by Mayor Miller was very upbeat, but the economic picture can't always be rosy," said chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Bobby Spiegel. "(Miller) also showed us what the city is doing to help people on a personal level to get through these difficult times."
Spiegel said he was glad to learn about the city's upcoming program to waive permit fees and encourage homeowners to protect their property values with home-improvement projects.
The business community was also encouraged by news of ongoing office developments to serve companies that may want to come to Corona, Spiegel said.
Reach Paige Austin at 951-893-2106 or paustin@PE.com

Corona treasurer is tireless in service to community

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:33:00 +0000

Dick Haley went through Marine Corps boot camp in 1965. The strenuous training seemingly prepared him for four years of military service, including 400 missions on helicopters during the Vietnam War, and a life of nonstop public service in Corona for 30-plus years.
Haley, 61, is the chairman of the mayor's airport task force to determine the safety of Corona Municipal Airport after the Jan. 20 midair collision that killed five people.
He also oversees Corona's investment portfolio of about $200 million as the city treasurer. In addition, he deals with 600 clients as an agent emeritus for the Prudential Insurance Co. He is nearing completion of his first year of study at California Southern Law School in Riverside with a goal of providing legal representation for disadvantaged people.
Haley and his wife, Christine, live in northwest Corona beneath the landing pattern to the airport. They have five grown children. His devotion to the community has been well recognized. The Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year for 1998. The Boy Scouts of the Temescal district, which includes Corona, Norco and Mira Loma, gave him the Distinguished Citizen's award for 1997.
"Dick has a great head on his shoulders and the ability to think analytically and has a lot of common sense," said Corona Mayor Jeff Miller, explaining why he picked Haley to lead the task force of nine. Haley said he hopes to have a report on airport safety done and presented to the Corona City Council by the end of May.
The Federal Aviation Administration will make a report to the task force tonight in the City Council chambers at the Corona Civic Center.
Story continues below

Jerry Soifer / The Press-Enterprise
Dick Haley visits Bob's Chili and Chowder Hall at Corona Municipal Airport. Haley and his wife live in northwest Corona.
Haley has clothing for each of his varied activities. He wears a suit and tie for chamber of commerce events. He has a leather jacket to wear on the motorcycle he rode cross-country four times. He used to wear black shorts and shirt to officiate soccer games and khaki for his work with the Boy Scouts.
"He's a true chameleon," said Corona City Councilwoman Karen Spiegel. "He fits whatever crowd he's in ... He's got so much knowledge to bring to the table no matter what he's involved in."
Haley brings tranquility to whatever activity he attends. "He can come into areas where people are a little bit upset," said former chamber Executive Director Jim Bradley. "By the time he leaves, everybody has calmed down. He has that kind of personality. Everybody knows he's sincere."
Haley attributes much of what he is to his upbringing in the Boston suburb of Fitchburg, Mass., and his father, Ritchie, who died in 2002 at age 84. Haley said his father always arranged his truck routes so he could attend the high school junior varsity football games he played.
"He was always involved with us kids," said Haley. "He was always a Boy Scout leader, an adviser in the church, and involved with my sister in Girl Scouts."
Haley is a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. One of his lifelong goals is to play first base for the Red Sox. He knows that is only possible at a fantasy camp. His other remaining goal is to get a law degree. He is near the end of a very difficult first year.
"I thought with all my years in business and all my years in talking to people, it would be a snap," Haley said. "It's not. It's the most difficult thing I've ever done except for raising five kids."
Haley said he has fulfilled his other goals of raising a great family, attaining success in business, leading a good, clean and moral life, doing a good job in the Marines, and the cross-country motorcycling. Haley completed his associate of arts degree at Riverside Community College Norco campus in 2005. After his discharge from the Marines, he found it too time-consuming to work, raise a family and attend college. So he skipped college until his workload eased.
Haley combines exercise and study. He listens to law lectures on an iPod while he walks a five-mile route. Other times he walks with his wife.
"He's fun to be with," said Christine. "He has a back-Eastern sense of humor that is quite dry ... He can be pretty serious about his job, about school."
Reach Jerry Soifer at 951-893-2112 or jsoifer@PE.com

Jason Scott Officially Kicks-Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:35:00 +0000

Jason Scott officially kicked-off his campaing with more than 100 supporters at Heritage Park yesterday. It was an ice cream social and free to the public. It was a good time for all and it was nice that they had the park open with the train and the glass blowing and all....

Good luck Jason and congrats on being official!

Corona's airport safety panel holds first meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:52:00 +0000

By PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise
CORONA - The mayor's Airport Safety Taskforce held its first meeting Tuesday to assess the Corona Municipal Airport's safety after January's midair crash that killed five people.
As the nine-member panel of pilots, city and business leaders met for the first time, it faced public fears fueled by a string of small plane crashes in the region. Thirteen people have died in six Inland plane crashes so far this year.
Many questions are being asked in the aftermath of the Jan. 20 wreck, acknowledged Mayor Jeff Miller at the start of Tuesday's meeting.
"We will have a report from this panel to the City Council to evaluate and decide what the next step is," said Miller as he introduced the taskforce to an audience of two dozen people, most from the aviation community.
"We do live in the flight path and we want to make sure that we live in a safe area," said taskforce Chairman Richard O. Haley.
The group will meet twice a month and release findings in June.
On March 18, the group will hear a presentation on the airport from the Federal Aviation Administration, Haley said. In a sign of the panel's concerns, the members concentrated their questions Tuesday on the airport's flight pattern and the current measures in place to make sure that all pilots follow it.
Tuesday's meeting mainly offered a factual introduction to the airport's history and operations.
The airport is home to 420 aircraft, and it sees about 158,000 takeoffs and landings each year, said Mark Wills, the city's administrative and community services manager.
There have been 53 plane crashes in Corona over the past 20 years, Wills said. Ten were fatal, killing 23 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the Jan. 20 midair wreck. In a preliminary report, investigators cited evidence that neither pilot took evasive action and that one plane could have been entering the landing pattern for Corona Municipal Airport while the other was already in it.
Last week, three people died when a Corona-based plane crashed after takeoff from Riverside's airport, and on Jan. 10, a pilot who took off from Corona died when he struck a hillside near Canyon Lake.
Reach Paige Austin at 951-893-2106 or paustin@PE.com

Councilman Nolan Makes Some Chili....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:07:00 +0000

Not very political, but it is good Chili none the less....

"Chili is simple, it's fun, it's easy," says Nolan. "If it's cold outside, it warms you up. It's a good, party kind of food. It's a must."
The key to good chili is the meat, he says. "If you start with poor-quality beef, you end up with a poor product in the end. But if you start with good meat, it's kind of hard to mess up. Then keep it simple. The simpler the better. Chili does not need to be complicated."
Nolan starts by searing the meat over a high heat using only mesquite wood in his huge barbecue/smoker in the back of his restaurant.
After searing, he slow-roasts the meat for 1 ½ to two hours, until it's medium-rare, and then lets the meat "hold" for about the same amount of time. The meat is cooled down in the refrigerator, before he trims off the excess fat, and then dices the meat into ½-inch cubes.
The chili is "spicy; there's some jalapeño and some crushed red pepper. It's got some kick," Nolan said. "Even people who don't like 'heat' or don't like spice, they like this chili. It's just addicting."
For folks who are still a bit leery of spicy chili, you can easily adjust the amount of jalapeños and crushed red pepper you use. Even then, this chili is sure to score big with you and your guests.

BACKWOODS BBQ TRI TIP CHILI
2 pounds smoked choice tri tip (3-4 pounds raw)
6 cups tomato sauce
3 cups canned pinto beans
3 cups canned black beans
½large white onion, diced
½bunch cilantro, chopped fine
½cup canned diced jalapeños
¼cup chili powder
¼cup masa flour
¾tablespoon ground cumin
½tablespoon ground pepper
½tablespoon granulated garlic
½tablespoon seasoning salt
½tablespoon garlic salt
½tablespoon red pepper (flakes)

Smoke or barbecue tri tips until medium to medium-rare. Chill tri tips until firm. Trim fat from meat and dice into ½-inch cubes. Put tomato sauce, pinto and black beans into pot. Add onion and cilantro. Add jalapeños and other seasonings. Mix thoroughly and add diced tri tip. Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring often, for about an hour. You also can pour chili into deep baking pan or disposable foil pans, cover with foil and heat slowly in 250- to 300-degree oven for 2 hours or until thickened. Makes 3 quarts. Cooking notes:
All tablespoons should be heaping, not level.
The heating and thickening is simple and forgiving as long as you do not burn it.
Instead of cooking the chili on the stovetop or in the oven, you can also put the chili back on your barbecue and simmer it there.

http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/stories/PE_Fea_Daily_D_superbowlfood0130.22812c1.html

Take Action for Corona Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:46:00 +0000

The Corona Chamber of Commerce has a new Legislative Action Committee... It is headed by Cynthia Schneider - VP of American Security bank, Circle City Rotary President and Past Chairman of the Corona Chamber (what a busy lasy).

Take a look at their website and get active!

http://www.coronaadvocacy.biz/

We have 120 Sex Offenders in Corona... Wanna see who they are...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:20:00 +0000

Megans Law

Here's Corona's Sex Offenders

Mayor appoints task force to study Corona airport

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:42:00 +0000

By PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise

CORONA - Changes may be in store for the Corona Municipal Airport in the aftermath of last month's deadly midair plane crash.
Though the specific changes remain uncertain, nine people were chosen this week for the Mayor's Airport Safety Taskforce to investigate aviation safety at and around the airport.
Corona Mayor Jeff Miller announced the names of eight men and one woman who are expected to make findings and recommendations to the Corona City Council in 120 days.
The task force includes Chairman and City Treasurer Dick Haley, John Gavigan, Mike Nolan, Harry Rusigno, Chuck Ferano, Shane Reichardt, Traci Rodriguez, and Councilmen Eugene Montanez and Steve Nolan.
Many nearby residents and people who witnessed the crash that killed four people in the air and one on the ground have called for changes at the airport ranging from closure to the construction of an air traffic control tower.
Over the last decade, three midair plane crashes have taken place near the airport.
Airport supporters say they are leery of the task force. They fear the community's emotional response to the tragedy could result in drastic or unnecessary changes at the airport.
Gene Murphy, a Norco resident and pilot who flies out of Corona, attended Wednesday's meeting to caution the city against adopting findings based upon "emotions over facts."
A commercial pilot for more than 25 years, Murphy said he fears the city could close the airport even though city officials have not said closure is an option. He urged pilots and airport regulars to attend the task force meetings to demonstrate the need for the airport.
At the council meeting, Miller said he wants to limit the task force's focus to aviation safety issues only. Miller has said he does not think the addition of a control tower is necessary but added that he wants to let the task force make its own findings.
Haley, the task force chairman, said the group plans to gather input from the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Corona Pilots Association and members of the community.

Reach Paige Austin at 951-893-2106 or paustin@PE.com

Breitenbucher makes a stand

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:37:00 +0000

An Inland activist, Phil Breitenbucher, of Corona, said he's pushing a related resolution. It would pledge that the California Young Republicans will campaign against any Republican who supports the governor's plan.
The only exception would be if a majority of the GOP caucus backs the measure.
"We don't want turncoat Republicans jumping ship and joining the Democrats," Breitenbucher said.
"Personally, I like the governor. But this is about what's good for moms and dads of California," he said.

See article at Press Enterprise

Completing 241 Toll Road

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:29:00 +0000

Keep trying... We would really like that extension completed...

Find out who your friends are giving their money to...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Ran across this fun site... Type in a name or a zip and see who has contributed to what campaign or PAC...

http://www.campaignmoney.com

Looking to increase fines for graffiti

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:55:00 +0000

"A spike in graffiti and vandalism in Corona has city leaders, police and business groups clawing for new ways to curb the problem. As the costs of vandalism hit businesses and the city alike, they are hoping to hit back.
City staffers are considering ways to change the city's graffiti ordinance to increase fines or penalties, Mayor Jeff Miller said. The city is also looking at upping the city's $250 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals, he added."
For the rest of the story visit:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/corona/stories/PE_News_Local_C_cgraffiti10.b9eaa1.html

I am glad they are doing something.... It just seems to get worse.

Don't forget you can call the grafitti hotline at 951-817-5841.
Removal is free to city businesses and residents - paid for by these fines i'm sure!

Corona Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:43:00 +0000

This blog is meant to be an open forum related to anything dealing with politics in Corona, CA. We are not part of any entity or campaign and we are not trying to sell you anything. Really just a good ol' fashioned gossip/news website for the fun of it. We want you input and your insights and we will not moderate them, so say what you want and keep it anonymous if you wish.

The Election is On!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:24:00 +0000

It only early February, but the election seems to be off-and-running with fundraisers, speeches and commissions coming out of the woodwork.

Current people running for 2 open spots:

Mayor Jeff Miller (Also running for State Assembly)

Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Nolan

Planning Commisioner Jason Scott

Parks Commisioner Phil Breitenbucher

It is hard to know the front runners right now, but Mayor Miller is running a second campaing, and Nolan and Breitenbucher have had recent legal trouble... So I would put Jason Scott on top... What do you guys think?