Foothills Sentry November 2021

Page 5 Foothills Sentry November 2021 Circulation … 41,750 Published on the last Tuesday of each month and distributed to residences, businesses, libraries and civic centers. 714-532-4406 Fax: 714-532-6755 foothillssentry.com 1107 E. Chapman Ave., #207 Orange, CA 92866 © Foothills Sentry 2021 Publisher/Editor Anita Bennyhoff 1969-2013 Editor Tina Richards editor@foothillssentry.com Sports Editor Cliff Robbins sportseditor@att.net Graphic Designer Aimee Armstrong graphics@foothillssentry.com Advertising Sales Andie Mills advertising@foothillssentry.com 714-926-9299 Office Manager Kathy Eidson officemanager@foothillssentry. com Guest Commentary By Arianna Barrios and Ana Gutierrez Ask just about anyone to define the American Dream and the an- swer will invariably include some version of homeownership. Own- ing your own home is a symbol of security and stability that even the founding fathers recognized. Yet some politicians in Sacra- mento seem to be intent on rip- ping the very fabric of this dream to shreds. California State Senate Bills 9 and 10, passed in early September, and were two of the first pieces of legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom post-recall. If the 2019 laws accelerating construc- tion of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) were a grenade, SB9 and 10 are nuclear bombs that will essentially destroy single-family zoning statewide, muzzle com- munity input and sideline all local planning and controls. SB9 allows four market rate homes (and possibly six) where a single home stands now. Sup- porters say the bill will help homeowners reimagine their properties. In fact, the legislation pits families against well-funded investors. SB10 goes even fur- ther, opening all neighborhoods, regardless of zoning, to demoli- tion and speculation with the al- lowance of 14-unit apartment complexes. It overrides CEQA, voter-approved land protections and open space set-asides. The absurdity of these new laws is breathtaking, as evidenced by their opposition moniker - “Death Star” bills. Ostensibly designed to end the housing crisis, afford- ability issues and homelessness, these bills are classic ready-fire- aim answers to complex prob- lems. With little or no factual data to support the supposed benefits, these laws claim to help those in need by creating affordable hous- ing opportunities, but they do so at the expense of millions of oth- ers. In fact, there are serious ques- tions being raised about the hous- ing data upon which these bills were built. The Orange County Council of Governments claims the state did not follow its own statutes in a recently filed lawsuit. The worst part of these new laws is that they contain NO af- fordable unit requirements. Not one. They openly invite specula- tion and gentrification of older, diverse, multi-family and single- family areas ignoring the historic fights that these communities had to undertake to overcome housing discrimination of the past such as redlining. SB10 attacks our direct democracy by overriding Califor- nia’s 108-year-old constitutional right to the initiative process. So, who, exactly, is benefitting from these onerous laws? The Orange City Council is united in our opposition to these new laws. Earlier in the year we unanimously passed resolutions against both bills as they wound their way through the legislature. Watching the destruction ADU laws have caused in our neighbor- hoods only intensified our opposi- tion and underscored the need to do more. As predatory Wall Street investors began driving longtime homeowners out of Orange, there was widespread outcry from residents and the council moved quickly to strengthen what local ordinances we could to stop these practices. But SB9 and 10 are de- signed to undermine even those efforts to protect our neighbors. From the moment of enact- ment, strong statewide opposition has coalesced to claw back the rights and protections guaranteed to us in our state’s constitution. These include a legal challenge to SB10 and a statewide initiative campaign. At our Oct. 13 meeting, coun- cil members discussed the many ways we could assist these ef- forts. We requested that staff re- view and bring back additional measures we can enact before the Dec. 31 deadline. These include exercising the “opt-out” clause built into SB10 and enacting “af- fordability covenants” embedded in SB9. Both actions will suppress predatory developers seeking to obliterate our neighborhoods. Finally, we discussed addi- tional resolutions in support of the statewide initiative and filing amicus briefs to support the SB10 lawsuit. Councilmember Jon Du- mitru suggested that we consider financial support of these opposi- tion efforts, with which we whol- ly concur. If our duty is to protect residents, we should put our mon- ey where our mouth is. Arianna Barrios and Ana Guti- errez serve on the Orange City Council, representing District 1 and 5, respectively. VPWL readies for the holidays Philanthropy Chair Anita Kantak coordinates the traditional VPWL Giving Trees, providing gifts to the less fortunate. Villa Park Women’s League will feature holiday libations and hors d’oeuvres, “Just in Time for the Holidays” at the general meet- ing on Nov. 18 at the Trinity Epis- copal community room, 2400 N. Canal St. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with the program commencing at 6:30 p.m. In addition to myriad social ac- tivities, the organization also co- ordinates philanthropic projects. The annual “Giving Trees” will be at the Villa Park Pharmacy and The Flowery from Nov. 1 to 30, filled with tags and infor- mation about a disadvantaged child or a vulnerable adult whose holidays need brightening. Se- lect a tag and purchase an age- appropriate gift, movie tickets or gift card for a child, or items such as socks, jackets, sweat- ers, robes and hair accessories. The gifts, unwrapped, may be returned to the Giving Tree loca- tion. They will be delivered to Miracles for Kids, The Friendly Center and WISEPlace. Contact her with questions or suggestions regarding other charities, (562) 225-8838 or akantak@appliedre- searchwest.com . Membership is open to female Villa Park residents; for informa- tion, see vpwl.org. The Tustin Democratic Club gathered in Peppertree Park, Oct. 3 to welcome Representative Katie Porter and voice their solidarity with women’s rights. From left, Courtney Long, Replevin the Legal Beagle, Lee Fink, Jordan Weltman, Hillary Streichenberger, Cheryl Roman, Rep. Porter, Ronna Weltman, Geniece Higgins, Brandon Martinez, Jenny Golden and Kimberly Adams; Vicky Schulte, in front. In lieu of a November meeting, the club is focusing on service and will be lending hands to Operation Warm Wishes to create memorable Thanksgivings for families in need. To connect with fellow Democrats visit Tustin- DemocraticClub.org. Single family homes and neighborhoods under fire I’m originally from The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, the melting pot. And something we Knickerbockers are known for is our natural, innate response to our fellow humans. We are skeptical of everyone; you’re sur- prised less often if you just think everyone is trying to get over on you, right? I had a friend visit me once; she was from the Midwest and just sweeter than iced tea in the summertime. She was waiting for me outside the bodega while I grabbed some snacks, and when I came out, she was buggin’ be- cause someone had taken her purse. The guy was dressed kind of hipster, and she said he had a good “vibe,” and before she knew it, her purse strap was cut, and Gucci was gone. We’ve all experienced this at some point, a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” someone pretending to be something they’re not for per- sonal gain. Believe it or not, it is natural and inborn for some. For instance, in the animal kingdom the Indigobird masquerades as a Firefinch chick, deceiving the adult Finch into thinking it’s one of her babies, thus getting free food. In plant biology it’s called Vavilovian mimicry, where one plant organism evolves to share common outward characteristics with another organism. This hap- pens in rice plants, strawberries, rose bushes and even some citrus trees. Ever see a large stalk grow tall and fast out of your rose bush out of nowhere? It may look like part of the rose bush, but it’s not. Instead it is sapping nutrients from your rose bush and causing decline. Identifying the weeds that have infiltrated your garden, or the im- personators trying to creep into your circle of family and friends, is a skill that can be learned. But before you just start whackin’ stems and sprouts, ask a special- ist. If you’ll do more harm than good, forget about it. Trust but verify Volunteer remembered at OPA BBQ The sold out OPA BBQ with 200 guests at the home of Mark and Julie Sandford was lauded as “one of the most successful events anyone could remember.”The Gary Bandy “Volunteer of the Year” award was presented to 2021 recipient Sherry Panttaja and the 2020 award given posthumously to longtime OPA artist and equestrian Carole Baker. Baker would have received the award last year had OPA’s usual events not been cancelled due to the pandemic. She subsequently passed away.