Non-partisan News Opinion Arts & Living Sports
Covering Garden Grove Huntington Beach Stanton Westminster
Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com
SUSPECT HELD IN CARJACKING, CAR RECOVERED Motorist is confronted at gunpoint
OUTDOOR DINING GOES FROM TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT ... Garden Grove City Council approves a new ordinance
GG council votes to make outdoor dining permanent
All four major metrics used to track the status of the coronavirus in Orange County showed improvement in Tuesday’s report. According to the county health care agency, cases dropped to 199 on Tuesday from Monday’s three-day average of 390.
The council voted 7-0 to move the status of al fresco dining – now mostly along Main Street in the downtown area – from their temporary status. Businesses now operating on that basis would need to apply for a permanent permit. “I’m excited to see this become permanent,” said Mayor Steve Jones. “It’s one of the few silver linings to come out of the coronavirus pandemic.” The ordinance, which requires a second reading and final approval in order to become law, creates development standards for outdoor dining not only in commercial areas but also in mixed-use, office professional, industrial and open space zones. Also on Tuesday night, the
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
By Jim Tortolano An ordinance permanent outdoor uses was approved Garden Grove City Tuesday night.
making dining by the Council
COVID stats show a turn for the better
Wednesday is mask mandate in California Today will be “Wear a Mask Wednesday.” For the next month, the State of California is imposing an order requiring the wearing of face coverings in indoor public locations such as restaurants, stores, bars, and gymnasiums. The mandate will run until Jan. 15. The intent is to provide additional protection against transmission of the coronavirus, which is surging across the state and nation. A combination of cool weather – driving people indoors – and holiday crowding from shopping and celebrating – may be the force behind the spikes both in new cases and deaths.
A carjacking incident early Sunday morning in Garden Grove resulted in the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of the vehicle. According to Detective Sgt. Evan Beresford of the GGPD, the suspect was identified as Denny Cruz, a resident of Brea. The incident occurred at 1 a.m. in the area of Flower Street and Central Avenue. A man was sleeping in his vehicle when a man opened the unlocked passenger door and pointed a black handgun at him, demanding that he exit the vehicle. Then the suspect took control of the Nissan Frontier pickup truck and drove away in a southbound direction. It contained several thousand dollars worth of painting equipment in the truck bed.
DENNY CRUZ Carjack suspect The stolen truck was later spotted in the 11000 block of Stonecress Avenue in Fountain Valley. The vehicle was “occupied and several subjects were removing items from Nissan and into a UHaul truck,” which was then Continued on page 2
Stanton development deal in Tina-Pacific advances An exclusive negotiating agreement for the development of highdensity residential units in the Tina-Pacific area was approved by the Stanton City Council at its meeting Tuesday night. With Councilmember Carol Warren absent, the council voted 4-0 in favor of seeking to negotiate a deal with Brandywine Homes to
build 116 townhomes for sale at market rates, and with C&C Development and National Core to build 108 units of affordable rental housing on a 10.77-acre site. Also on Tuesday night, the council: • approved an amendment to the municipal code regarding accessory Continued on page 2
Catch up with local news every day at www.orangecountytribune.com