As you may know the OCTA has had its bus drivers on strike for the last 4 days.
I received an e-mail today stating that, is Carolyn Cavecche does not show leadership that they will attend the Orange City Council meeting and speak up! They will also picket at the meeting.
So, if your interested in the strike and want to see bus drivers tell her off, come on down to the Orange City Council meeting tonight at 4:30pm
I will be there!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Cavecche OCTA Follies, hurts the poor!
Bus strike enters 4th day
By DENISSE SALAZARThe Orange County Register
Negotiations are continuing this morning after the Orange County Transportation Authority and union negotiators talked all night to reach a deal to end the four-day strike by county bus drivers.
While both sides remain at the bargaining table, about to 225,000 daily riders remain stranded or have to find other transportation to get to work or elsewhere.
Late Monday, OCTA officials and bus drivers called for a media blackout at a press conference out of concern that interaction with news reporters was hindering their abilities to negotiate a labor contract that will end the strike.
Both parties agreed to cut off communication with reporters until the strike could be settled.
OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said if a settlement can be reached buses can return to normal service in "as little as a day or two."
Today, 31 of the 81 routes, including the heavily used No. 43 line between Fullerton and Costa Mesa via Harbor Boulevard, are operating at no cost to the rider. While 30 routes are being staffed by contracted drivers, supervisors are staffing the No. 43 line.
The Mayor of Orange, Carolyn Cavecche is also the Chairperson of the OCTA. She has led the OCTA into a fight with the drivers, and hurting those that rely on the bus services. I hope that she will actually lead, and end this strike and get the buses rolling again.
One thing that is strange is that Cavecche has been very quiet about this whole subject, I haven't seen her in the newspaper or on tv as of yet, which is surprising. Afterall, she loves the media attention!
Orange Car Dealership RAIDED BY THE DA!
Nissan dealership in Orange raided
District Attorney investigators are looking into accusations of identity theft. Thousands may be at risk, prosecutors say.
ORANGE - A Nissan dealership here was raided Monday by dozens of investigators from Orange County District Attorney's Office and the Orange police department as part of a months-long investigation in complaints of identity theft by the dealership.
The investigation into Douglas Nissan at 1140 W. Katella Avenue is still in its infancy, officials said at a press conference in front of the dealership, but there may have been thousands of fraudulent loans processed with the stolen identities of thousands of unsuspecting people in the scam. The vast majority of victims were Hispanic, prosecutors said.
Douglas Nissan remained open while uniformed police officers carted out more than 350 cardboard boxes packed with lease documents, dealer jackets, and loan applications. Potential customers wandered the lots of shiny new Altimas, Pathfinders and Titans. Salesmen patiently answered questions – about the cars – not the investigation.
“The only thing going on here is a big sale. Everyone knows that,” said a man who identified himself as a manager at the dealership, but refused to give his name. Other employees were pulled inside the dealership office when questioned by a small cluster of reporters and television cameras.
Prosecutors believe pilfered pay stubs, driver licenses and social security numbers were used to apply for – and get – fraudulent car loans at Douglas Nissan, said Susan Schroeder, a spokeswoman of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
“This is something that frightens everyone – that their identity might be stolen and they're left holding the bad credit,” Schroeder said.
Investigators were looking into whether employees of the dealership were part of the scam.
The multi-agency investigation – which included representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles - began about three months ago after complaints of fraudulent loans being processed by the dealership flooded the District Attorney's office.
Prosecutors would not say how many complaints were fielded by the District Attorney's Office, saying it was “numerous” and “big enough to have all this effort.”
The Better Business Bureau, which keeps track of complaints customers make against businesses, recorded 42 complaints against Douglas Nissan over the last three years. Eleven of those complaints resulted in a full refund to the customer. Douglas Nissan earned a B rating from the bureau – the middle of the bureau's 12 ratings. According to the bureau's Web site, a B is a good rating that still implies reputability.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim is asked to call the District Attorney's Office at 714-648-3626.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Bilodeau, Crime Fighter ?
Councilman helps arrest burglary suspect
Denis Bilodeau chases suspect who allegedly stole from a neighbor's open garage.
Councilman Denis Bilodeau took fighting crime into his own hands.
The first-term councilman from Orange spotted a man suspected of trying to break into a car and kept watching.
The incident occurred as the councilman was driving home just after 3 a.m. Saturday and noticed a man walking in his neighborhood.
“I know all my neighbors in my tract,” Bilodeau said. “But I didn’t recognize him.”
He watched as the suspect entered a neighbor’s open garage. He allegedly took an iPod from a vehicle parked inside.
As the suspect walked out of the garage, he noticed Bilodeau. The councilman called the police as the man took off. Another suspect joined him on foot and continued running away moments later. The second man, Sean Casey Sheets, 26, turned back toward Bilodeau’s car.
“Sheets tried to chase after me in an attempt to scare me off,” Bilodeau said. “He even ran up to my car and hit it. You can see the dent he made.” Sheets is 6 feet 8. Bilodeau is 5-9.
The two men jumped into the passenger seats of a waiting silver Acura, a woman at the wheel. Bilodeau drove after the car onto the northbound 55 Freeway.
The Acura driver slammed on the brakes and stopped in an attempt to lose Bilodeau. He went in reverse to stay behind the car. Sheets jumped out of the Acura and started running toward the councilman’s car. That’s when the Orange police arrived and arrested him.
The two other suspects took off in the Acura, but Bilodeau wrote down their license plate number.
Sheets faces vandalism charges for hitting the councilman’s car.
Auto burglars have been hitting his East Orange neighborhood a lot, Bilodeau said. His laptop was stolen last year from his car that was parked in front of his home.
“I think it’s because we are so close to the freeway,” he said. “My neighbors and I are stepping up our Neighborhood Watch program since we’re fed up with this activity.”
Sheets was arrested by Orange police officers on suspicion of vandalism. Sheets had an arrest warrant for driving on a suspended license and other vehicle code violations, Orange police Sgt. Dan Adams said.
Sheets, who was being held at Orange County Jail, posted bail Monday and a court date will be set within 30 days, Orange County sheriff’s officials said.
The other two suspects are still at large.
I think this a very interesting story, Now remember Bilodeau is currently on trial for theft and vandalism himself, related back to his 2006 City Council race against Carol Rudat. Bilodeau was caught on video stealing a sign of another candidate.
I think also that Bilodeau should exercise better judgement, he was racing around the streets chasing this suspect and was driving in reverse on the freeway. Bilodeau could have been injured or worst, and lets also think of all the people he endangered to make sure he gets a news story.
Bilodeau, my only word of advice, let the Orange Police do their job!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)