Riverside County, like many throughout the state, is attempting to synchronize growth with environmental concerns. Land swaps, set asides, and regional planning agreements are all in place.One problem has always been the environmentalists ready use of the legal system to choke the life out of their opponents. The story below illustrates the difficulty in the process as it shows the apparent "second thought" after a long and complex land arrangement has been worked out: Groups threaten suit over March land swap

ENDANGERED: The objections center on the land swap to benefit the Stephens’ kangaroo rat.

By JENNIFER BOWLES The Press-Enterprise

Environmental groups on Tuesday put the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on notice they intend to sue the agency for approving development on a key Inland endangered-species preserve although land was set aside elsewhere.

The preserve for the Stephens’ kangaroo rat at March Air Reserve Base near Riverside was established in 1990 in perpetuity for improvements to the nearby Interstate 215, according to a 60-day notice… Read More

It has been a long standing tradition of this column, going back to 2001, to publish the "Winners and Losers of the CRP Convention" column the week after the California Republican Party Convention. If you are going to be going to the convention, this is a reminder that as a FR reader, you can make your own suggestions on who should be recognized with high (or low) honors.

There are two ways to make suggestions — the first is to simply send in e-mail to me, or send an anonymous tip (the link is above to the right). The other is to let me, or any of the other FR bloggers that you see at the convention, know of your suggestions.

I will be conferring with my colleagues before publishing the column!

So, keep an eye out! Remember that there is a lot that happens at these events, and more eyes and ears help us to identify more notable ‘people and events’ at the convention… Read More

I am thrilled to report that today the Governor signed my SB 41 – The California Fallen Firefighters Assistance Tax Clarification Act of 2006.

It was a bitter-sweet event.

It was wonderful that all obstacles have been removed, so the families of the five firefighters that lost their lives fighting the Esperanza Fire will now be able to receive the $1.3 million that the community spontaneously donated to the Central County United Way for them. It was great that the governor made a special trip to Riverside County to sign the bill and express his sympathy for the families and gratitude on behalf of the state to the heroes that lost their lives.

It was terribly sadwe had to do this at all.

Last October,an arsonist started the Esperanza fire that destroyed 34 homes, caused nearly $10 million dollars in damage and claimed the lives of… Read More

No matter how the impending recount comes out in the final results of the Orange County special election to succeed Democrat Lou Correa on the Board of Supervisors, the winner is more than just Republican candidate Trung Nguyen, it is also Assemblyman Van Tran, who threw his formidable Orange County organization behind Trung to win this important victory for the Republican party. Van Tran has now demonstrated his very formidable clout in southern California politics. The odds were steep: Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante had the early support of key members of the prestigious Orange County Lincoln Club, and as predicted in this column many weeks in advance, the Lincoln Club endorsed Bustamante. ButBustamante finished a disappointing and distant 4th place in the race, with just a little over 16% of the vote. Democrat Tom Umberg was in the money, finishing third, and Garden Grove Councilmember Janet Nguyen is currently second but neck-and-neck with Trung. Janet had the advantage of the very capable Dave Gilliard as her consultant.

Whichever Nguyen is the ultimate elected official in this race, Van Tran has proven himself to be alocalpolitical power to… Read More

I’m on the fly right now — but two quick updates for FR readers. In the donnybrook for CRP Vice Chairman, candidate Jalene Forbis has DROPPED OUT, and she has told CRP members that she is backing rival Tom Bordonaro for Vice Chairman…

In the race for the Orange County Board of Supervisors 1st District, the victor appears to be Trung Nguyen who has a SEVEN vote lead over Janet Nguyen, based on the unofficial tally after the absentee and provisional ballots have been counted. Can you say, "Recount?"

We may hear more about what Janet Nguyen’s campaign is up to when FR blogger Adam Probolsky gets to a computer – he is part of Janet’s political kitchen cabinet…… Read More

When Van Tran first ran for assembly in 2004 he invested huge energy and moneyinto registering Vietnamese voters into the Republican party. Some have estimated he registered over 10,000 new Vietnamese voters. Predictably, during his mud wrestling primary, his opponent accused Van of being "Vietnamese". It was an ugly primary, appealing to left over red neck feelings of a by-gone era. Van’sopponent using Vietnamese national colors to "show" that Van Tran wasn’t a regular Republican backfired. Van won the primary in central Orange County going away. But he did need the 10,000 new Vietnamese voters.

Just 3 years later, Republican Vietnamese voters astound all political pundits.

Experienced pols assumed with 7 Republicans running in a 10 person field for 1st District Supervisor, and, worst than that, 3 Vietnamese Republicans were going to "divide" the fledgling Vietnamese vote. In other words,it would be Supervisor Umberg.

The results in this winner take all Special election yesterday, is that he two top candidates areJanet and TrungNguyen . No relation. Janet now has the lead, but as of this morning… Read More

The Governor held a ceremony today and signed SB 41 into law. The bill will allow money collected for the families of the 5 firefighters who perished in the October Esperanza fire to receive the money tax-free, as it was intended to be. Over $1.3 million was collected from hundreds ofindividuals, businesses, Indian Tribes, and the BIA.

Both Benoit and Battin introduced urgency legislation in their respective houses, as is customary. The bills passed out the same day and Assemblyman Benoit held his bill in deference to the senior member, Senator Battin, joining his bill as a Principal Co-Author and "floor jockeying" it through the Assembly.

The Governor is now using one crutch, and see in him in person, it is obvious that he is in pain and remarkable he is keeping the schedule that he keeps. The man is tough.

The ceremony was well attended with numerous county and city electeds, as well as multiple public safety personnel. … Read More

Yesterday, Sacramento County became the first county in the state to ban the sale of sex items within 1,000 feet of a school, child care center, library, church community center, park, bus stop or recreation center.

Besides protecting the kids in Orangevale, the ordinance had some political impacts as well. It was sponsored by Chairwoman Roberta MacGlashan — a client of fellow Flashreport correspondent Tab Berg and potential candidate in Assembly District 10. The district is safe for Republicans and moves like these help position her for a Republican primary where the most conservative candidate usually wins.… Read More