Lisa Kim, Garden Grove’s brand new city manager The Orange County Tribune Every Wednesday & Saturday

Continued from page 1 city; the town was founded in 1874] in June. It’s a very dense, built-out community, so there’s a reason to ensure that our infrastructure is maintained. But I also want our community to able to thrive and sustain ourselves. We want to celebrate our legacy and pave the way for the future.”

Front and center initially are city efforts to cope with homelessness, as the Central Cities Navigation Center soon will come on line to house and help the unsheltered.

Another big project will be a new 87,000-square foot police building that will lead to big changes in the Civic Center area. But don’t worry, she says, about the wildlife in the Civic Center Park ponds. “The ducks will always have a home in Garden Grove.”

Her new role is quite a change, she admits. “I’m used to being in the weeds, concentrating on details, milestones and deadlines.”

Now she’s got to “pan back to 35,000 feet” and take a broader view of her responsibilities.

But that’s OK. “I loved my old hat,” she said, referring to her time as community development director and assistant city manager. “But I love my new hat more.”

Westminster City Council preview

Continued from page 1 meeting two items continued from the April 5 session. Among the issues raised by staff and council members are traffic and parking conditions, including the possibility of building a parking structure.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is a public hearing on a proposed general plan amendment to re-designate 17.3 acres of the 156-acre Westminster Memorial Park from “park/open space” to “public/semi-public facilities.”

In the past, the site has been considered as a possible location for the controversial proposed Quang Tri monument.

The council will meet in open session at 6 p.m. at 8200 Westminster Blvd.

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager

The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

E-mail : orangecountytribune@gmail. com.

Website: www.orangecountytribune. com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

Established Aug. 6, 2016. All opinions expressed in The Tribune, unless otherwise stated, are those of the individual writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Tribune.

A member of The Associated Press, the Garden Grove Downtown Business Association and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

The benefits of living with a famous Mouse

When I am out of town (i.e., out of the Golden State) people will ask me, “So, where are you from?”

I start with, “Garden Grove.” Blank look.

“Orange County.” Puzzled look, as if it sounds vaguely familiar.

“Near Anaheim.”

Face scrunch.

Tip of their tongue …

“Near Disneyland?”

Face lights up.

“Oh, yeah. I know where that is!”

Retorts

Jim Tortolano

Like it or not, we all kind of live in the shadow of the Mouse. It put us on the map, paved the way for the Angels and Ducks, and the waves of tourism that followed. But these are bumpy days for Walt’s literal and financial descendants. Disney in general has become embroiled in culture wars from the right and economic pressures from the left.

Some conservatives are upset about the company’s gayfriendly attitude and some liberals are upset that Anaheim and Orlando aren’t getting enough of a benefit for their aging communities from the tax breaks and other concessions Disney has received over the years.

I look at it differently. Disneyland was not only my best college summer job (decent pay, great food), but it was a wonderful place to socialize. Most of us “casual/seasonal” employees were around the same age and interested in the same things, if you catch my drift.

It seemed like half the people I knew from high school worked somewhere in the park. I could walk down the D-land Main

One killed, three hurt in 4-car crash

A 52-year-old Santa Ana man was killed and three other persons injured in a four-car collision in Garden Grove on Saturday afternoon.

According to Sgt. Royce Wimmer of the GGPD, the incident took place in the 10800 block of Garden Grove Boulevard, near Nelson Street and Century Boulevard.

The call came into police at about 3:30 p.m. and arriving officers found four vehicles –a blue Ford 500 truck, a white Ford Mustang, a silver Honda Odyssey van and a blue Toyota Rav 4 – involved.

Four people were treated at the scene. Three were taken to area hospitals and one was pronounced dead.

The cause of the crashes is under investigation, including the possibility of drugs and/or alcohol being a factor. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Investigator Dan Mihalik at (714) 741-5925.