Setting the Record Straight
With election day rapidly approaching, the rhetoric on social media has heated up. Irvine Watchdog has received our fair share of complaints and we’d like to address some of the issues. The great news is people are paying attention and for that we are thankful.
Criticism #1:
- You misquoted John Park (and hence the voter-guide is inaccurate).
Irvine Watchdog held a forum where the candidates were asked, “Do you think Irvine should remain a Sanctuary City?” John Park answered “Yes”. (View time 44:40 on livestream)
However, when the OC Register asked, “What do you think of SB54?” Park answered, “I was against SB54 and I would be against any move to make my city a sanctuary city.”
Mr. Park’s stance on SB54 flipped. Accordingly, our Voter Guide has been updated to reflect “Yes and No” because he provided both answers.
Criticism #2:
- “Why doesn’t Irvine Watchdog expose the link between Larry Agran and the Pope/Woods/McGill slate?”
Correction 11/3/18:
Criticism #3:
- “Why don’t you research or report on X?”
Often people will accuse of of bias because we’re not writing articles on any number of topics. We have been asked, “can you investigate ___” or “why don’t you report on ___”. Please keep in mind we are a group of non-partisan, volunteer Irvine residents. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities beyond Irvine Watchdog. As such, we are limited in the amount of time we can spend researching data and topics. We would welcome and appreciate contributions from others.
Irvine Watchdog is a platform for you. We ask for your partnership in helping keep tabs on our city. If you would like to submit an Op-Ed or have evidence you’d like to bring to light, please review our guidelines and send it to us here.
Criticism #4:
- Irvine Watchdog seems biased.
Irvine Watchdog arose because of the dark money flooding into local elections and the recognition that residents do not have an organized or collective way to voice their concerns over our city’s issues. If we appear biased, it’s because we are. We are biased against the major developers and special interests currently controlling our local government. The developers run a business that seeks profits. Our city council should be a representative entity that places needed checks against our city’s business interests. We currently do not have that balance. For information on how much money the developers have spent on our Irvine elections thus far read here.
We have volunteers from the entire political spectrum, old and new residents, homeowners and renters, retirees and young adults, and each of our perspectives is unique. Individually, we hold differing points of view, styles of writing and interests, but we are united about one thing: we care about Irvine and want to make sure our local government represents us.
Criticism #5:
- You’re always complaining about the same people.
We believe in holding accountable any elected official, commissioner, or candidate who takes away from transparency or misleads/lies to the voters. Some hold integrity and honesty in higher regard than others.
***
The next time you come across something on our site you’re not sure about, please consider the following. Before attacking our credibility, we ask you provide us with evidence where we were wrong or ways that we can improve, and we will be happy to make corrections or updates as necessary.
We are a group of residents who saw a need and responded with our best efforts, but have much learning and adjusting to do. So, please bear with us as we figure out how to make our site even more transparent. Constructive criticism is welcome! Or better yet, join us!
15 Comments
Irvine Voter
November 3, 2018 at 6:24 amYour response to number 2 is a joke. You would have to be totally blind to not see the link between the Pope, Woods, and McGill team and Agran. Blind or purposefully avoiding it.
1. They are the “no on B Team.” Pull the campaign finance reports for the qualification of the referendum on…
Branda Lin
November 3, 2018 at 3:50 pmIrvine Voter: There is no question there’s a link between Larry Agran and Ed Pope’s slate. My point was there were no monetary connections between the developers and the Pope slate. I have corrected my post accordingly. Thank you for your comment.
Irvine Voter
November 3, 2018 at 5:48 pmYour correction misses the point. Why would you only track developer money? Why would you turn a blind eye to the tens of thousands of dollars being spent by Agran through a fake newspaper to push his slate of candidates? It’s either lazy or dishonest on the part of you and the Watchdog. Don’t…
Branda Lin
November 5, 2018 at 2:10 pmIrvine Voter:
From the article above – “Please keep in mind we are a group of non-partisan, volunteer Irvine residents. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities beyond Irvine Watchdog. As such, we are limited in the amount of time we can spend researching data and topics. We would welcome and appreciate contributions from others. If you come across an interesting disclosure on campaign spending please share it with us and the voters.”
Please send us any evidence you have regarding…
Irvine Voter
November 6, 2018 at 11:05 amThat’s convenient, but based on your posts here, nextdoor, everywhere, you have plenty of time to do research against certain people and no time for others. That is neither transparent, accountable, or honest and the Irvine residents know it and discount the things written here. Most of the posts have 1 or 2 comments or shares at most.
deefox
November 5, 2018 at 8:48 pmIrvine Voter: So you have a problem with candidates receiving independent funding vs developer funding? And I guess you still believe Agran did something wrong. Maybe you need to educate yourself on the facts because it was Christina Shea that was found to have lied about her allegations. This, of course, came out after the election.
Irvine Voter
November 6, 2018 at 11:03 amYes, all funding should be covered by Watchdog to be fair and balanced. Why would Larry Agran’s special interest money not be relevant? You are the last person to tell anyone else to educate themselves on facts since all of your “facts” have been disproved by the FPPC, City Attorney, etc. Christina Shea was never found to have lied about any allegations. You live in a world of delusion and spend your days writing complaints and social media posts based on these delusions.
Branda Lin
November 6, 2018 at 3:25 pmIrvine Voter: Reviewing Form 460’s and 496’s are straightforward. These forms are available from our city’s website and Secretary of State website. I’m not sure where to begin the search you are saying I should conduct. Any help would be appreciated. You can criticize or choose to help. I’d encourage you to choose the later as I’d appreciate working with you to help expose the money trail and learn something new. Thank you for your consideration.
Irvine Voter
November 6, 2018 at 4:20 pmCheck the Form 460’s for the Save The Cemetery and No on B Committees. They clearly show ICNV and Agran both “loaning” over $600.000 to the No on B Campaign. Are you aware of other “newspapers” who loan money to political campaigns and then take out paid ads for candidates? I’ll save you the time, no. Pope, Woods, and McGill are single-issue Agran puppets. They raise very little money yet have huge political spending with no disclosures. Never covered in Irvine Watchdog because it doesn’t fit the narrative you are pushing.
deefox
November 6, 2018 at 6:00 pmIrvine Voter: Since I can’t attach any documents here, I suggest you “google” “State Accountancy Board (SAB) Issues Critical Report of Irvine Great Park Audits Initiated by Christina Shea Right before a 2014 Election” and educate yourself. And the FPPC DOES HAVE AN OPEN INVESTIGATION regarding MELISSA FOX and CHRISTINA SHEA. It is a continuation of my first claim where they asked for documents that I supplied them with. Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Case No. 2018-00784. Just look at the reference at City Council Meetings Closed Session. Where do you get your information? And why don’t you use your name instead of hiding?
deefox
November 6, 2018 at 6:20 pmIrvine Voter: I would rather have support from an upstanding resident then a developer who controls you. Obviously you have no interest in the truth because if you did you would look at the motives behind candidates that accept PAC money. I just proved you lied about two statements so it’s not worth my time to even defend anything you say, especially when you can’t identify yourself.
tsuru
November 7, 2018 at 1:05 pmOutcome: Just proves that all the HATE out there from the one side trumps all accusations. You LOST and you got beat hands down on ALL counts. The real voters of Irvine saw through it quite well and clearly, even though all you could do is piss and moan about PAC money, which if you aren’t literate enough to know, that it is legal in America, voted you OUT.
Agran’s money stinks just as much, and apparently more, now that we see who DID NOT win! And the lies and deceit and illegal tactics getting your petition through also got Irvine voters to stand up against your lack of integrity, making sure that you lost! Bye Bye B team. Now maybe we can finally get our Veterans Cemetery NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tsuru
November 7, 2018 at 7:52 pmI just now received a deranged email from a Harvey Liss, who proves just how out of touch some folks are who wish to get our votes. Anyone who wishes a copy, and my reply, I’ll gladly pass it on to you. He apparently couldn’t make his remarks public here for all to see.
deefox
November 8, 2018 at 9:10 pmTsuru – Well, this council can’t blame the previous council anymore for over development and crowded streets because they are the previous council. Let’s see what happens in the next two years…think we will get a VETERANS CEMETERY at the GREAT PARK or will they give it to FivePoints at a fraction of the cost?
deefox
November 9, 2018 at 1:28 pmIrvine Voter – Melissa Fox has several lawsuits both personally and professionally regarding her law firm, The Fox Law Firm. They include charges of Professional Negligence, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Violation of Business and Professional Codes, Misuse of Client Funds, Commingling of Trust Account Funds, Improper Money Transfers, Failing to Maintain Investor Records, Representing the Interests of other Entities that are in Direct Opposition of her Client, and the list goes on. Orange County case numbers 30-2012-00580623 and 30-2009-00295919.
Melissa Fox and Christina Shea should not be seated on our City Council and have the power to do as they see fit with City funds. The people in the community should not have to wonder where their tax dollars are going and if affordable housing is really being affordable to those that need it. They delete people and their comments on Facebook and other social media sites that call them out on their lack of transparency and accountability. The residents deserve a council that is looking out for their interests and not the interests of a developer.
Comments are closed.