That’s Debatable

Costa Mesa officials visited Sacramento this week to meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. They were trying to persuade him to cancel the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds. The governor’s office announced that he was going through with the sale. Should he have canceled the sale, or was his decision unavoidable?

The public expects and deserves transparency from the state government on all matters, but especially when it comes to an asset as valuable and historic as the fairgrounds. And although it was a noble idea to get the state government out of a local asset — as the sale has progressed, many issues of concern have been raised by those in the Orange County community.

We evaluated and voted on this legislation under the understanding that the outcome of the sale would be far different than the current situation. The sale was intended to modestly benefit the state in financial gain, but at the same time, it was clear that the property would be offered for sale to local entities, allowing the property to continue to operate as a fair in a more efficient and profitable manner. At the Nov. 9 hearing on the sale, co-hosted by Assemblyman Jose Solorio and myself, I committed to doing everything I can to keep the fairgrounds a fairground and have co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1590 in an effort to stop this sale.

The current process has resulted in dramatic opposition. Better consideration to local concerns and issues must be recognized.

Assemblyman Van Tran

(R-Costa Mesa)

Last summer the budget compromise authorized the sale of the fairgrounds and other state properties. Once this legislation was signed into law, the Department of General Services was tasked with implementing the law. The way I see it, the only way to alter this course is to pass legislation prohibiting the sale. Assembly Bill 1590, which I support, was introduced to do that. Last summer, I made it clear that I was open to the idea of selling the fairgrounds as long as there was a guarantee it would remain just that — a fairground. It seems there is some confusion about that now. At this time, the appropriate course of action is to prohibit DGS from selling the property.

State Sen. Tom Harman

(R- Costa Mesa)