The Orange County Tribune July 2, 2022

Saturday Forecast

WEEKEND EDITION

79 / 63

Saturday: 79/63 sunny Sunday: 77/61 partly cloudy Monday: 74/61 sunny Tuesday: 80/64 sunny

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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Saturday, July 2, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

n GARDEN GROVE PLANNING COMMISSION

MARS LANDS ON MAIN STREET

A New Luxury Hotel Coming to Harbor?

Nickeoldeon wants to build a 500-room project

The long-awaited Nickelodeon-themed luxury hotel for Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove appears to be back on track.

Delayed by the end of redevelopment as well as the coronavirus pandemic, the proposed 500room hotel and resort will now go before the Garden Grove Planning Commis-

sion next Thursday.

Kam Sang Company is seeking approval of a planned unit development and site plan for a 3.72acre site on the west side of Harbor immediately south of the existing Sheraton Hotel.

The proposed project would include: • a themed pool experience with a “lazy river” and pool slide • event space with a 600seat theater • 17,715 square feet of

A Bruno Mars tribute band attracted a large crowd to a block of Main Street in downtown Garden Grove Thursday evening. “Bruno and the Hooligans” performed before hundreds of spectators who cheered, applauded and even – some some cases – sang along or danced. The free concert was sponsored by the City of Garden Grove and Garden Grove Community Foundation (Tribune photo by Jim Tortolano).

n WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Continued on page 2

Inquiry ordered into city hall event

Four coronavirus stats now showing increases All four major metrics tracking the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County showed increases in Friday’s report.

According to the county health care agency, the latest tally of confirmed new cases over a three-day period is 3,826. That’s an average of 1275.3 cases.

Friday’s number reflects an increase from Tuesday’s total of 3,688, an average of 922 cases a day.

Deaths increased from six in Tuesday’s report to 23 in Friday’s total. Hospitalizations increased from 209 to 212, and the use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 patients also rose, from 26 to 32.

Since the pandemic began, Orange County has had 604,055 confirmed cases, of which 571,551 are considered recovered.

The total of deaths is at 7,126.

Continued on page 2

DONATION PLACARD

“Dead aunt” ploy backfires in GG Preying on the kind hearts of people trying to help others is a “con game” that probably goes back to the Stone Age, and it’s still going on.

However, on Wednesday the Garden Grove Police Department broke up of the newer hustles, panhandling for money for a non-existent funeral.

According to the GGPD, officers were in the area of Harbor Boulevard and Continued on page 2

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

Where is the line between permitted political speech and holding a campaign event for an office-seeker on the steps of the city hall?

On Friday, the Westminster City Council spent hours arguing over an event held on June 24 in which Councilmember Chi Charlie Nguyen announced his candidacy for the position of mayor at the civic center.

The council majority finally chose to further investigate. After hours of public comments, argument and – often – repetition of the same points, the council finally decided on a 3-2 vote (with NguyContinued on page 2

For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com

Continued from page 1

2 SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Campaign rally at city hall raises legal, ethical questions Continued from page 1

en and Mayor Ta voting no) to have a police officer document the incident and refer the matter to the state attorney general and/ or county district attorney.

Was the event a violation of state law? Nguyen and his supporters said no. A majority of the city council said it probably was.

California Government Code Sec. 8314 states: “It is unlawful for any elected state or local officer, including

any state or local employee, or consultant to use or permit others to use public resources for a campaign activity, or personal or other purposes which are not authorized by law.”

The two sides differed as to how the code should be viewed with respect to the event in question.

In a memo from City Manager Christine Cordon penned by City Attorney Christian Bettenhausen, it was stated that there was no city policy prohibiting such activity there.

In summary, the memo declares that “political speech … is a highly protected form of speech under the First Amendment. It does not fall under within a lesser category of speech simply because the speaker is a politician.”

However, the memo doesn’t specifically address whether the state code applies in this case.

“Dead aunt” Continued from page 1

Westminster Avenue when they spotted several males holding signs asking for donations to pay the funeral expenses for their aunt whom –they claimed – had recently passed away in Mexico.

However, officers recognized the photo on the poster of “Rosalinda” was an image that had circulated frequently on the internet.

Further questioning prompted the “nephews” to flee in different directions. One was detained by police and was later found to have warrants out of San Bernardino County.

Coronavirus Continued from page 1

Increases in Orange County ran parallel to national and state statistics.

The New York Times reports that – over a 14-day period – new cases have risen by 10 percent and deaths by 18 percent.

Hospitalizations increased by 10 percent.

In California, Los Angeles Times is reporting a 12 percent increase in new cases over a similar period, and that deaths are up by 20 percent.

Nickelodeon Continued from page 1

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 is orangecountytribune@gmail. com.

Our website is 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 Online News Association and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

ballroom/meeting space • 22,296 square feet of hotel restaurant • 5,480 square feet of retail • themed amenities totaling 13,238 square feet • a 7,000 square foot arcade • a spa and fitness center of 8,532 square feet • a five-level parking structure with 528 parking spaces.

The commission will meet on Thursday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave.

The best in local news for West Orange County The Orange County TRIBUNE

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022 3

News&Views

Pizza Delivery Driver Killed Trying To Aid Man Being Attacked A 49-year-old Anaheim was fatally shot

DIGGING FOR PROGRESS Members of the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees at a ceremonial groundbreaking for renovations at Star View Elemenary School in Midway City (OVSD photo).

It’s a brand new start for OVSD’s Star View School

The Ocean View School District held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at Star View Elementary to kick-off a year-long modernization project that will take place at the site. Star View will be the fifth school in the district to be modernized by funds generated from the Measure R general obligation bond that was passed in 2016.

Gina Clayton-Tarvin, President of the OVSD Board of Trustees said, “We are so excited to be able to provide the students, staff and community with a new, stateof-the-art school. The Star View modernization will ensure that students are provided with a safe and innovative learning environment, with a rigorous curriculum that will prepare them for middle school and high school.”

The transformation of Star View will be comprehensive and will include: • Fully modernized classrooms • Technology classroom upgrades • Outdoor, double-sided amphitheater • New lunch structure tied into the amphitheater • Reorienting the front of the

school to decrease the neighborhood traffic • New student drop off and parking area • Infrastructure replacement such as larger dual paned windows, lighting, air conditioning, heating, piping, drinking fountains, bathrooms upgrades, and ADA access.

• A new kitchen for student meals • New innovative classroom furniture • New grade level appropriate play structures • New school administrative office.

Students will be relocated to an interim site for the 2022-23 school year and will return to a “new” school for the 2023-24 school year. Ledesma & Meyer Construction Company and DLR Architect Group will partner with OVSD on the project.

Star View is located at 9411 Worthy Dr. in Midway City.

The OVSD is a K-8 system that serves northern Huntington Beach and parts of Fountain Valley, Westminster and Midway City.

A pizza delivery driver who authorities believe may have gone to the aid of a wounded elderly man was fatally shot Tuesday night in Stanton.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the incident took place around 7:20 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to the 7000 block of Lessue Avenue, southwest of Orangewood and Western avenues. On arrival they found a 49-year-old man and a 76-year-old man with gunshot wounds.

They were taken to a local hospital where the 49-year-old man – identified as Juan Cristalinas of Santa Ana – was pronounced deceased.

“Multiple suspects” are reported to have fled the area before deputies arrived. A preliminary investigation indicates that Cristalinas was a pizza delivery driver who may have stopped to assist the older man who was being assaulted.

The relationship between the injured victim and suspects is under investigation by the OCSD’s homicide bureau and the North Gang Enforcement Team.

Detectives believe that – based on witness statements – the suspects are believed to be four Hispanic or white males.

Anyone with information to help the investigation should call the OCSD at (714) 647-7000.

A suspect is sought in crash A hit-and-run accident critically injured a woman Wednesday morning in Westminster.

According to the WPD, the incident took place in the area of Klamath Drive and Iroquois Road after 6 a.m. Officers were dispatched to a investigate a report of a woman lying in the roadway.

Arriving officers determined she had been struck by a motor vehicle while she was crossing the street. Police believe that Continued on page 4

Clearing backlog leads to arrests SANTA ANA (AP) – Orange County authorities have cleared a backlog of untested sexual assault kits going back decades and the results led to the filing of charges in six cold cases, the district attorney's office announced Tuesday.

After a survey of backlogged kits, some 1,700 were tested by the county's crime lab and an outside lab under the DA's Orange County Sexual Assault Fo-

rensic Endeavor program, also known as OC SAFE, the district attorney's office said in a statement.

The kits were collected by various law enforcement agencies in the county, with the oldest dating back to 1977, said Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the DA's office.

The survey didn't include about two dozen kits collected by the Continued on page 4

4 SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Clearing a backlog is leading to arrests Continued from page 3

county Sheriff's Department that are currently being tested, Edds said.

The OC SAFE program began in 2016. Testing was funded by about $2 million in state and federal funds, and the last kit was tested on Friday, the DA's office said.

“Every one of these untested sexual assault kits represents a victim who deserves justice,'' District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the statement.

The testing resulted in hundreds of new DNA profiles being uploaded to law enforcement databases in the county and to the filing of criminal charges in six cold cases.

One case involved a woman who was raped at gunpoint in 1993 in Stanton by a man who pretended to be a police officer, authorities said. The woman was raped in a car while on a date with another man. The couple also were robbed and their car stolen.

DNA from the rape kit led to a suspect, Michael Ray Armijo,

who was convicted last year of two felony counts of kidnap to commit robbery with enhancements for personal use of a firearm. The DA's office said Armijo couldn't be charged with rape because the statue of limitations had expired but he was given the maximum possible sentence of 24 years to life in state prison.

Seek suspect in hit-and-run Continued from page 3

after the collision the motorist from did not stop and the vehicle left the scene.

Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded and treated the victim, described only as being 30 to 35 years old. She was then taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange in critical condition.

The suspect vehicle is described as being a silver “newer model” Ford Explorer SUV with custom silver wheels and a temporary registration in the lower right corner of the front windshield.

The vehicle may have damage to the hood and left front corner.

The best in local news for West Orange County is TheOrange County TRIBUNE Electronically every day Our e-paper now on Wednesdays and Saturdays

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY JULY 2, 2022 5

Bruins, Trojans going from Pac-12 to Big 16?

Continued from page 6

resources the conference will bring our student-athletes and programs; and the ability to expand engagement with our passionate alumni nationwide.”

The Big Ten is building on previous expansion into the nation’s largest media markets, and the move allows the conference to keep pace with the SEC

as one of the most powerful entities in college sports.

The Big Ten will gain blueblood programs in football (USC) and basketball (UCLA) and big-name brands that will enhance the value of the conference’s new media rights package currently being negotiated.

Losing flagship schools like USC and UCLA is a major blow to the Pac-12, which has had a long and amicable relationship with the Big Ten best exempli-

fied by its Rose Bowl partnership.

“While we are extremely surprised and disappointed by the news coming out of UCLA and USC today, we have a long and storied history in athletics, academics, and leadership in supporting student-athletes that we’re confident will continue to thrive and grow into the future,” the Pac-12 said in a statement.

The Pac-12′s next move is unknown, but adding schools to replace USC and UCLA is a possibility.

“We look forward to partnering with current and potential members to pioneer the future of college athletics together,” the Pac-12 said.

The Big Ten has expanded twice in recent years, with Nebraska joining in 2011 and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014.

USC and UCLA fit the Big Ten’s academic profile. Both schools are among the 65 members of the Association of American Universities, which is made up of top research universities. All Big Ten schools except Nebraska are members.

“From increased exposure and a broader national platform for our student-athletes, to enhanced resources for our teams, this move will help preserve the legacy of UCLA Athletics for generations to come,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said.

Angels lose to Astros Continued from page 6

zen (6-6) for eight hits (including three home runs) and eight runs in three innings. He walked three batters and struck out three.

Overall, the Astros outhit the Angels 11-2. Jake Meyers did the most damage for the home team, going 2-for-4 with two

runs scored and three driven in, including a home run.

The only hit the Orange County team had other than Ohtani was a single by Luis Rengifo.

Now 37-42 and tied for third place in the AL West, the Halos will resume the series on Saturday with Patrick Sandoval (3-2) making the start for them.

Dodgers beat Padres Continued from page 6

improved its lead in the NL West to 3.5 games.

“He was outstanding tonight,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts. “I thought he had his entire mix working.”

The contest was tied 1-1 after five innings, but the home team pulled away with a solo

home run by Cody Bellinger in the sixth, followed by an RBI double in the seventh by Freddie Freeman. Two more runs in the bottom of the eighth settled the issue.

The series continues Saturday with Tyler Anderson (8-1) starting for LAD, with Yu Darvish (7-3) going for the visiting team.

Are you interested in placing advertising in The Orange County Tribune (print and website)? Call Jim at (714) 458-1860 for details.

6 SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Sports Page

A FAREWELL PAC-12 TOUR FOR BRUINS AND TROJANS COMING USC and UCLA have been accepted by the Big 10 (plus!) for admission in the 2024 season (Wikipedia photo).

USC, UCLA: New League of Their Own Is the Pac-12 headed for sunset if other universities leave, too?

By Ralph D. Russo and Eric Olson AP Writers

In a surprising and seismic shift in college athletics, the Big Ten voted Thursday to add Southern California and UCLA as

conference members beginning in 2024.

The expansion to 16 teams will happen after the Pac-12’s current media rights contracts with Fox and ESPN expire and make the Big Ten the first conference to stretch

from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The announcement, which caught the Pac-12 off-guard, came almost a year after Oklahoma and Texas formally accepted invitations to join the Southeastern Conference in July 2025.

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said USC and UCLA, both mem-

bers of the Pac-12 and its previous iterations for nearly a century, submitted applications for membership and the league’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to add the Los Angeles schools.

“Ultimately, the Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan athletics as we move into the new world

of collegiate sports,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn said. “We are excited that our values align with the league’s member institutions. We also will benefit from the stability and strength of the conference; the athletic caliber of Big Ten institutions; the increased visibility, exposure, and Continued on page 5

Ohtani was nearly ohlll the offense in an 8-1 loss

Gonsolin aces Padres in a key 5-1 victory

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

By David Arthur Orange County Tribune

It’s not unusual for Shohei Ohtani to be a big part to the Los Angeles Angels’ offense. It is unusual – and a little painful – for the two-way star to be almost all of the team’s offense.

In the first inning of

the Angels’ game Friday night, he hit a solo home run, his 18th round-tripper of the season.

But that was the only run – and one of only two hits – the Halos got in losing 8-1 to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Meanwhile, the Astros, who lead the American League West with a 49-27

record, touched Angel starter Michael LorenContinued on page 5

With first place in the National League West at stake in this series at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres pulled out all the stops Friday night.

Starter Tony Gonsolin stopped the Padres’ of-

fense with an all-star quality performance as the Blue Crew won 5-1 and opened up some distance between the Dodgers and their closest pursuers.

Gonsolin (10-0) worked 7.2 innings, yielding just four hits and striking out eight batters as his team Continued on page 5