Angels tie Rangers, lose to Rockies to finish Cactus League schedule

• March 21, 2025

THE GAMES: The Angels finished the Arizona portion of spring training with a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale and a 3-3 tie against the Texas Rangers in Tempe. The Angels are 10-16-4 as they head back to Southern California for the three-game Freeway Series, which starts on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

PITCHING REPORT: In Tempe, right-hander Kyle Hendricks gave up one run in five innings, with four strikeouts and no walks. Hendricks has a 2.41 ERA in 18⅔ innings in Cactus League games. … Left-hander Reid Detmers gave up two runs in 3⅔ innings. Detmers, who is in the running for the No. 5 starter job, finished the Arizona portion of spring training with a 2.79 ERA in 19⅓ innings, with 17 strikeouts and four walks. … In Scottsdale, left-hander Yusei Kikuchi gave up one run in five innings in his final tune-up before taking the ball on Opening Day, next Thursday in Chicago. Kikuchi struck out five and walked two. … Right-hander Ben Joyce gave up one run and struck out three. Joyce has struck out 13 and walked three in seven innings this spring. … Left-hander José Quijada gave up one run on two hits and a walk in his inning. … Left-hander José Suarez worked a scoreless eighth but then threw gave up the winning run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.

HITTING REPORT: In Tempe, Mike Trout doubled and struck out. Trout is 8 for 30 (.267) with a .996 OPS this spring. He has hit two homers and two doubles. … The Angels did not have a hit against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi until the fourth, when Nolan Schanuel singled. The Angels scored a run that inning on a Mickey Moniak sacrifice fly. … Joswa Lugo, the Angels’ 17-year-old shortstop prospect, drove in two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Lugo had played in just one previous Cactus League game, but this was the first game in which he got to the plate. … In Scottsdale, Jo Adell hit his fourth homer of the spring. After an 0-for-22 slump, Adell went 5 for 7 with two homers in his last three games.

DEFENSE REPORT: In Tempe, Trout misjudged a line drive to right field hit by Corey Seager. Trout turned the wrong way and the ball dropped for a double. It was the first misplay of the spring for Trout, who has moved to right from center. … Third baseman J.D. Davis made a sliding catch of a foul pop-up.

UP NEXT: Angels (RHP José Soriano) at Dodgers (TBD), Sunday, 5:10 p.m. PT, FDSN West, 830 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Small Business Administration to reorganize, cut about 2,700 jobs

• March 21, 2025

By MAE ANDERSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Small Business Administration said it will cut its workforce by 43%, or about 2,700 jobs, as part of a reorganization.

The SBA was established in 1953 to offer resources to small businesses and helps administer small business and disaster recovery loans. It played a crucial role during the pandemic, helping distribute small business aid. Now the goal is to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels and cut some programs started during the Biden administration, said the new head of the SBA, Kelly Loeffler.

“By eliminating non-mission-critical positions and consolidating functions, we will revert to the staffing levels of the last Trump Administration,” Loeffler said Friday in a statement.

The SBA said its loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, won’t be affected. The staffing reductions, which will cull 2,700 jobs from the agency’s workforce of 6,500, will be a combination of voluntary resignations, the expiration of COVID-era and other term appointments, and some job cuts.

The layoffs at the federal agency are part of a larger campaign by the Trump Administration to shrink the federal workforce, an effort has been led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Separately on Friday, Trump announced student loans would be handled by the SBA as part of a plan to shift Education Department responsibilities to other federal agencies. The SBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

​ Orange County Register 

Betty Martinez Franco, Irvine City Council District 5 candidate, 2025 special election questionnaire

• March 21, 2025

Ahead of the special election for the Irvine City Council District 5 seat, the Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Betty Martinez Franco

Other political positions held: Immediate past Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee vice-chair for the city of Irvine

City where you reside: Irvine

Also read: As voting begins for Irvine’s Fifth District election, here’s where the candidates stand on issues

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing Irvine? And, what do you plan to do about them?

Irvine is a beautiful city, but the cost of living pushes out the very people who keep it running, like our teachers, nurses, firefighters and students. More than 53% of Irvine residents are renters, yet skyrocketing housing costs leave many struggling. I support Mayor Agran’s idea of setting aside more existing apartments at below-market rates, ensuring our workforce can live in the city they serve. I will advocate for housing solutions that work for both renters and homeowners, keeping Irvine’s economy strong and its neighborhoods thriving.

Small businesses are the heart of our community, but many face high operational costs and limited resources. As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face. That is why I will push for business-friendly policies, streamline permit processes and create more incentives for local businesses to set up shop in Irvine. Investing in small businesses means more jobs, a stronger local economy, and a vibrant city.

Traffic congestion and public safety remain major concerns. We need better public transportation options and safer bike and pedestrian pathways to ease traffic. I will also work closely with law enforcement and community leaders to enhance safety measures that protect all residents.

What is your vision for the city as undeveloped land becomes scarcer but its population continues to grow?

As Irvine continues to grow, we must be proactive in planning for our future. Growth is inevitable, but it must be managed responsibly to preserve our city’s quality of life. Irvine’s master plan has served us well, but it must evolve to meet the demands of a growing population without overburdening our existing infrastructure.

That means developing new housing in strategic locations, such as near shopping centers, public transportation and recreational spaces, so that residents can live, work and enjoy their community without adding unnecessary congestion to our roads. We must also ensure new developments include the schools, parks and services needed to support them so that our classrooms don’t become overcrowded and our neighborhoods remain vibrant.

Responsible growth means avoiding overdevelopment in already dense areas and ensuring that any expansion is paired with the necessary infrastructure — better roads, reliable public transit and well-funded schools.

What do you think the city should do to address homelessness? Are you in support of building and operating a city-run shelter?

Homelessness is a growing challenge in Irvine and across California. We need a compassionate, long-term strategy that prioritizes housing, mental health services, and job opportunities to help people get back on their feet.

I support expanding transitional and permanent supportive housing options so that individuals experiencing homelessness can find stable, safe places to live while receiving the resources they need. This includes partnering with local nonprofits and county agencies to provide wraparound services like mental health care, addiction treatment, and workforce training.

While a city-run shelter could be part of the solution, it cannot be the only answer. Shelters provide temporary relief, but they don’t solve the root causes of homelessness. We need to focus on creating more affordable housing options, especially for individuals at risk of becoming homeless.

Additionally, Irvine should work regionally with surrounding cities and Orange County to ensure that homelessness is addressed in a coordinated way rather than placing the burden solely on one community.

Irvine set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, but staff said last year the city won’t hit that target in time. What are your ideas to make Irvine more energy-efficient and greener?

One of my top priorities is expanding renewable energy adoption. I support increasing incentives for homeowners and businesses to install solar panels and invest in energy-efficient upgrades. We should also explore community solar programs to make clean energy accessible to renters and lower-income households.

Transportation is one of the most significant contributors to emissions. We must improve public transit options, invest in safer biking and walking infrastructure and push for expanded EV charging stations throughout the city. Encouraging businesses to adopt green commuting incentives, like subsidizing transit passes or providing bike-friendly amenities, can also make a difference.

Irvine’s Master Plan has helped keep our city green, but we need to expand urban tree canopy coverage and invest in more sustainable landscaping, such as increasing the use of drought-resistant native plants.

What makes you a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your district and city?

I am a leader who listens, builds bridges and takes action to create meaningful change. As a longtime Irvine resident, I have spent years working to uplift diverse communities. I served on Irvine’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for nearly three years, collaborating with city leaders to ensure all residents feel heard and valued.

Through my multicultural public relations agency, I help industries authentically connect with diverse communities. My job is to find solutions, bring people together and amplify the often overlooked voices. I will bring this same approach to the Irvine City Council, ensuring every resident has a seat at the table, regardless of background.

As the first Latina (woman) ever to run for Irvine City Council, I understand firsthand the importance of representation. Latinos are the third-largest demographic in our city and District 5, yet we have never had a voice in City Hall that reflects our perspective. Representation matters, not just for Latinos, but for every resident who wants a city government that genuinely understands and serves its people.

My leadership is rooted in inclusivity, collaboration and problem-solving. I will work tirelessly to address our city’s most pressing challenges, from housing affordability to economic development while ensuring Irvine remains a welcoming, thriving and forward-thinking community for all.

​ Orange County Register 

Anthony Kuo, Irvine City Council District 5 candidate, 2025 special election questionnaire

• March 21, 2025

Ahead of the special election for the Irvine City Council District 5 seat, the Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Anthony Kuo

Other political positions held: Irvine City Council (at-large, 2018-2022)

City where you reside: Irvine

Also read: As voting begins for Irvine’s Fifth District election, here’s where the candidates stand on issues

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing Irvine? And, what do you plan to do about them? 

One of the major driving forces of Irvine’s success and vibrancy as a community is our Master Plan. The idea that neighborhoods can have access to their own schools, recreation, shopping and trails that connect them all is unique and adds to the charm and sense of community in each of our villages. Protecting the Master Plan, especially our open spaces, must be a key priority of the City Council that is balanced against the health of Irvine’s local economy and often overreaching mandates of the state. And, to further enhance neighborhood aesthetics and bolster our commitment to the environment, I support the mayor’s efforts to develop an urban forestation plan and to plant more trees throughout Irvine.

Whether local, state or federal, government’s first responsibility is to keep our residents safe. I’m proud to have partnered with local law enforcement to develop and implement new ideas and seek out resources to curb the rise of crime, including Irvine’s involvement in task forces to stop street racing, halt human trafficking and address property crimes like package and catalytic converter theft. My focus on these issues has earned me the endorsements of Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and the Irvine Police Association.

What is your vision for the city as undeveloped land becomes scarcer but its population continues to grow?

While there are many neighborhoods throughout our community that are already at “build-out,” there are opportunities to bring housing options in areas of our city that don’t impact the traffic, schools and quality of life of existing residents. When new communities get built, more neighbors move in, but the impacts must be mitigated through road improvements, investment in our infrastructure, partnerships with local schools, expansion and improvement to our parks system and more. As new development occurs, we must be smarter about how Irvine executes and lives up to our Master Plan.

There are those who want to move to Irvine and enjoy a more urban lifestyle. I hope that we can work with property owners to address their needs in areas that don’t change the quality of life for those who chose Irvine for its quieter and more subdued villages.

What do you think the city should do to address homelessness? Are you in support of building and operating a city-run shelter?

In 2018, the county of Orange announced a plan to move thousands of homeless individuals living in tents along the Santa Ana Riverbed next to Angel Stadium to the Great Park. I worked with the local neighbors, city staff and county leaders to push back. Together, plans were developed that addressed the real needs of the homeless rather than moving their “tent city” from place to place. Since then, I’ve worked with local food banks, social services non-profits, affordable housing advocates, veterans organizations and others to tackle the greater issues causing homelessness.

I support building a city-managed homeless shelter with services and opportunities to put clients on a pathway. The question is and will always be “where?” and “how?” We must locate the shelter convenient enough for clients to be able to seek out much-needed resources and humanely delivered services, but also not impacting neighborhoods, schools and parks.

Irvine set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, but staff said last year the city won’t hit that target in time. What are your ideas to make Irvine more energy-efficient and greener?

I fully support efforts to explore reducing Irvine’s carbon footprint. Discussions are already underway to establish a city-supported solar rooftop and battery storage program for residents. We must also continue working with local homeowners, businesses and property owners to incentivize investments that reduce their carbon footprints, as well as through new construction methods, better window efficiency and newer and more energy-efficient appliances. These ideas were the driving force behind what is now the “One Irvine” program, providing loan and grant incentives to local homeowners.

As technologies in building, automotive and other uses continue to develop (many of which are developed right here in Irvine), we can quickly adopt innovative ways of being an energy-efficient city.

What makes you a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your district and city?

I often tell people that I credit my very being to Irvine. Having grown up in Irvine and the newly-drawn District 5, I’ve been a direct beneficiary of Irvine’s excellent public schools and amenities that encourage a healthy lifestyle and safe communities. My immigrant grandmother, who helped raise me, took advantage of the walkable community and a community that showed kindness to her despite language barriers. That’s why I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to give back to Irvine.

I’ve contributed my time and talents, and even a few checks, to local PTAs and the Irvine Junior Games to enhance the lives of Irvine’s youth, Irvine’s 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee to honor our service members, and both the Exchange Club of Irvine and Rotary Club of Orange County / LA to find local and international service projects to bring to reality.

What I’m trying to say is that I live and breathe District 5. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I attended public schools, it’s where I worship at church, and where you’ll see me walking my dog. District 5 is where I can take my diverse background and upbringing to have fruitful conversations with my neighbors about keeping Irvine the incredibly special place it’s always been.

​ Orange County Register 

Dana Cornelius, Irvine City Council District 5 candidate, 2025 special election questionnaire

• March 21, 2025

Ahead of the special election for the Irvine City Council District 5 seat, the Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Dana Cornelius

Other political positions held: HOA board member

City where you reside: Irvine

Also read: As voting begins for Irvine’s Fifth District election, here’s where the candidates stand on issues

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing Irvine? And, what do you plan to do about them?

Based on information collected from canvassing over the last several weeks, the No. 1 concern for the residents in District 5 can be summed up in one word: Cars. Folks are complaining about gridlock and parking issues.

A few ways to mitigate this issue:

• More Irvine Connect bus routes. E.g. Michelson from Jeffrey to Jamboree.

• Seek a moratorium on ADUs in Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) District 5 is already maxed out.

• Require a parking permit for households with more cars that can fit into their garage or designated parking space(s)

• To encourage bike use, lower speed limits, improve bike lane barriers or create separate bike lanes that aren’t shared with cars traveling at highway speeds.

No. 2 concern: E-bikes. Education, management and enforcement needs to be re-evaluated so this type of transportation doesn’t continue to scare pedestrians. If it has two wheels and a motor, then it’s a “motorcycle.” Irvine ought to require a license or permit to make it visible to law enforcement and those directly impacted by errant e-bike behaviors. A course and testing, similar to that which is required for a motorcycle license, ought to be required, as well as periodic testing. What the city is doing is good, but it’s not enough. We need better ordinances.

What is your vision for the city as undeveloped land becomes scarcer but its population continues to grow?

Preserving the Master Plan created by the visionaries back in the ’60s and ’70s is one of my top priorities. It’s what attracted me here in 1991 and what keeps me here. We ought to explore ways to convert unused, hard-to-lease office buildings into dwellings for those not yet in the financial place to buy a home. Irvine was designed for the family unit. Each village is equipped with shopping center(s), so restocking the refrigerator is easy and quick. District 5 has the most private parks than any other district. We love to recreate. I shall help protect the retention of these good health-promoting activities.

What do you think the city should do to address homelessness? Are you in support of building and operating a city-run shelter?

I consider it a cruel measure to leave someone out in the hard elements: rain, wind, cold or blazing hot sun. Who in their right mind wants to live without a roof over their heads, food in their stomach or sleep on a comfortable mattress at night? “When I grow up, I want to be homeless,” said no child ever.

I believe in tough love. My idea of tough love will likely involve a combination of explicit and implicit acts of compassion, including both immediate assistance with basic needs and encouragement for independence and motivation to help them rebuild their lives. My approach is designed to support homeless individuals in regaining self-worth and confidence rather than simply removing them from the streets. Everyone wins.

Irvine’s design was made for housing. I.e. four walls and a roof, not for camping.

Irvine was designed for learning. It’s home to one of the most prestigious public institutions in the world, UC Irvine. Irvine is a city of intellect. We love to learn, grow, share and teach.

Irvine was also designed for families to enjoy their children and aging parents. Having a homeless shelter within city limits would have to be decided by the nearby homeowners — not by a panel of seven on the dais, but by the majority of those directly or indirectly impacted. I support sharing the cost to fund them.

Also, having volunteered as a C.A.S.A., I saw first-hand how valuable foster parenting is to displaced youth and society. We ought to explore a similar program for our city’s “disenfranchised.” Get these folks fully vetted and prepared to transition into a temporary home. Give a stipend and a full spectrum of support to the volunteer foster family. This program would surely have a degree of success right out of the starting gate.

To quote Oprah, “Give a leg up, not a handout.”

Irvine set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, but staff said last year the city won’t hit that target in time. What are your ideas to make Irvine more energy-efficient and greener? 

Increase Irvine Connect bus routes. I’d love to use it but would take me 20 minutes just to walk to the closest bus stop. Make riding a bus fun again — take the stigma out of it. Having grown up near Chicago where there were two train lines and an intricate system of bus routes, everyone rode public transit! It’s where you met new friends or decompressed after a long day. I say, make riding public transit fun again. Hire musicians or the like to entertain passengers — get folks to ride the bus and keep their cars at home.

And build more bridges between villages — also make it fun to walk again.

What makes you a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your district and city?

Good leadership requires a calm, clear decisive mind that is willing to speak directly to the constituents in solution-based, compassionate, non-partisan ways. I have that. Over the past few years, there’s been too much emotion in the council chambers and on the dais. Sometimes, when I observed council meetings in person, I felt like part of a live audience at a Hollywood sit-com taping.

Good leadership means keeping things in control and swiftly extinguishing behaviors that could erupt in violence.

I’ve a diverse professional background spanning over 35 years as described in my candidate statement found on the city of Irvine’s Website. Executive management, my last position before retiring seven years ago, will surely serve very well my endeavors to meet the needs of my constituents. My 13-year, 24/7 care-giving duties to my late father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, carved out a special place in my heart for our aging population. Enjoyed many a conversation with patients at the Irvine Medical Center while I pushed them around in wheelchairs. I graduated from Irvine’s Community Police Academy and Community Emergency Responder course (FEMA’s C.E.R.T.). I was trained as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate who routinely delivered in-person reports to the judge at Lamoreaux Justice Center. And now (hopefully) a grand juror (application in process). I’ve been finger-printed and back-ground checked more often than anyone I know!

I enjoy diversity, too. I grew up in East Wilmette, Illinois by two Yale-trained attorneys in a 4,200-square-foot home near Lake Michigan. Chicago was considered then to be America’s melting pot. My mother loved learning about world religions, but due to family obligations had to put her dream of traveling the world on the back burner. So she brought the world to her through foreign exchange students. Learning about Venezuela, Kuwait, China, France, Chile, Mexico, Mongolia, and Canada directly from a native enriched my childhood. And it wasn’t uncommon to see both a Menorah and a Crucifix in our dining room. Didn’t confuse us at all — quite the contrary.

​ Orange County Register 

Why ‘Star Trek’ star LeVar Burton is coming to the Altadena library after the Eaton fire

• March 21, 2025

When LeVar Burton was a child in Sacramento, the library showed up for him. And now, the actor, author and “Reading Rainbow” icon is returning the favor.

“My foundational relationship with libraries was the bookmobile. My mother was a single parent and worked 9-to-5, so the bookmobile came around. My mom didn’t have to take us to the library – the library came to us! And that’s when I fell in love with the library, because of access, because they were there for me,” says Burton, recalling how later the stacks at USC’s Doheny Library became a favorite haunt when he was in college.

“Libraries are hallowed places for me,” he says.

The star of “Roots” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is headlining an all-ages celebration at the Altadena Main Library on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event is to welcome the community back to the library, which reopened on March 4. 

“In the aftermath of the fires, I knew we had something that could be of value in this moment, and we went to William Morris Endeavor, my agents, and asked if they could help us be of service and they got immediately involved,” he says. “Saturday’s event is the outcome.”

Along with readings, arts & crafts, games, music and more, Burton, who was the 2022 Rose Parade grand marshall and awarded a National Endowment of Humanities Medal in 2023, will be reading from his children’s book, “The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm.”

The idea for a picture book, which he created with collaborators Susan Schaefer Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher, came to him during a dark time. He’d been working on material for the Reading Rainbow app when he heard that there’d been a mass shooting in another state. 

“I thought if Fred Rogers were here, he would be addressing this in an age-appropriate manner with kids,” he says, referring to the late host of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “Fred was gone, and I thought, You know what? I’m going to take a shot at this because I think it’s something that we need to do. We need to give our kids and their families this kind of resource.”  

When asked about the challenges libraries currently face, from book bans to slashed funding, Burton sounds uncharacteristically downbeat. 

“To me, it’s evidence of a civilization in decline. And it’s sad. It saddens me,” he says. “Libraries used to be upheld – and in some circles and for some folks, they still are upheld – as these bastions, repositories of all that’s good about humanity and all that’s possible for us as human beings and to have that goodness and possibility accessible to everyone.

“The attacks on libraries, the attacks on librarians, the attacks on literature, the attacks on the truth and the attacks on our history as a nation are fundamentally, in my eyes, evidence of the decline of this empire, the American empire,” he says. 

As he considered the ways in which he could continue to support libraries and literature, the former seminary student returned to a word he used often: “service.”

“I’m going to continue to be who I am and do what it is I do because, at the end of the day, I believe that I am here to be of service.”

He says a friend helped him during a recent news cycle.

“It was the day when Black Lives Matter Plaza was dismantled, and it hit me hard,” he says, referring to the removal of the Washington D.C. mural and installation earlier this month. “She said, ‘Well, we just have to find the joy.’

“I couldn’t, in that moment, access my joy,” he says.

So he looked for and found something else. “What I realized is that it’s my purpose in life that brings me joy,” he says. 

“I’m a firm believer in doing what we can from where we stand. I’m taking comfort and inspiration from knowing that I am in my purpose, and I’m going to continue to do exactly that as long and as loudly as I can.”

As a parent and grandfather, he sees leaving the world a better place as part of our duty.

“Our forebears did that on our behalf – for us, right? – and to not recognize our duty to continue that cycle makes no sense to me. It’s why we’re here,” he says. “Every generation owes a debt to the one that follows.”

That desire to think about the future led to one of his lasting achievements – more than 23 years as host of the Peabody Award-winning “Reading Rainbow.” The series, like the bookmobile that had provided access to books in his youth, aimed to help kids continue reading during the summer months.

“We were a summer show,” says Burton. “Our goal was to take a child who could read and turn them into a reader for life, and our first mission was to do that and to address what teachers now refer to as the ‘summer slide’” – the period when kids’ reading skill deteriorate during their time out of school. 

“In the ’80s, we knew where kids were hanging out. If they weren’t outside, they were sitting in front of a television,” he says, laughing at the idea of promoting reading on television. “That was the brilliance, I think, of ‘Reading Rainbow.’ And of course, we were on long enough to be on year-round on most PBS stations that carried the show, but we were initially designed and developed as a summer program.”

Then as today, that philosophy of encouraging reading remains the same – whether on TV, a phone app or an appearance at a library that miraculously survived a wildfire.

“You gotta meet them where they are,” he says, “before you can take them where you want them to go.”

For more information, go to the Altadena Public Library website

​ Orange County Register 

As voting begins for Irvine’s Fifth District election, here’s where the candidates stand on issues

• March 21, 2025

Voters in Irvine’s Fifth District have been receiving ballots this week they can vote by mail or later at ballot boxes to decide who will represent them on the City Council. 

In-person polling centers will open in April, and voting will close on the evening of April 15. 

Irvine’s Fifth District includes Woodbridge, University Park and other neighborhoods straddling the 405 Freeway.

The special election will decide who fills the newly expanded Irvine City Council’s seventh seat through 2026. 

The position is open because Mayor Larry Agran vacated his citywide council seat after winning his election for mayor in November. 

The unusual process to switch — midterm — a citywide council seat to a district-elected seat was approved by Irvine voters in 2024 in a ballot measure that laid out how the city would transition from a five-member council with citywide elections to a seven-member council with by-district elections. (The mayor is still elected citywide.)

The race to fill the seat took another unusual turn after former councilmember Tammy Kim dropped out in February amid a lawsuit challenging her residency in the district. 

Now, three candidates remain in the running: HOA board member Dana Cornelius, small business owner Betty Martinez Franco and former councilmember/businessman Anthony Kuo.

The Orange County Register reached out to all three with a questionnaire for its voter guide, asking about development, leadership and other issues facing the city. This story pulls from their answers.

Kuo previously served on the nonpartisan City Council from 2018 through 2022. He ran for state assembly last year as a Republican and, since 2017, has also worked in the Orange County Auditor-Controller’s office.

Kuo said public safety and protecting Irvine’s master plan are top of mind for him in a potential return to the dais. 

He promised to work with the Irvine Police Department to crack down on retail crime, catalytic converter theft and porch pirating. 

On his campaign website, he also promises to “take a fine-toothed comb to Irvine’s finances to root out fraud, waste and abuse.” 

Martinez Franco said she sees traffic congestion, public safety, small business support and cost of living as the biggest issues facing Irvine. 

“As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face,” she said. “That is why I will push for business-friendly policies, streamline permit processes and create more incentives for local businesses to set up shop in Irvine.”

Martinez Franco runs a boutique public affairs firm. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from USC. 

“Through my multicultural public relations agency, I help industries authentically connect with diverse communities,” she said. “My job is to find solutions, bring people together and amplify the often overlooked voices. I will bring this same approach to the Irvine City Council, ensuring every resident has a seat at the table, regardless of background.”

Cornelius agreed that traffic congestion is a major issue facing Irvine. 

To combat gridlock, she proposes expanding Irvine Connect bus routes and improving Irvine’s bike lanes.

While she supports a moratorium on accessory dwelling units in District 5, she encourages a novel way to add housing — turning office space into homes.

“We ought to explore ways to convert unused, hard-to-lease office buildings into dwellings for those not yet in the financial place to buy a home,” she said.

On the issue of homelessness, the City Council has recently equivocated about whether and where to open a bridge housing shelter. 

Kuo says he supports a city-managed shelter. 

Martinez Franco says a city-run shelter could be part of Irvine’s solution to address the issue. 

Cornelius, meanwhile, said she’d like to see the decision to have a shelter within city limits decided by nearby homeowners — not by the City Council. 

Irvine has also grappled recently with how to become a greener city after staff announced last year the city will not meet its target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Kuo and Martinez Franco both mentioned priorities that align with Mayor Agran’s platform to establish a city-supported solar rooftop and battery storage program for residents and his reforestation plan to plant 200,000 trees in the city. 

Cornelius restated her preference for more bus routes. 

Ultimately, when asked about their connections to Irvine and what makes them a good leader, each candidate had a different story to tell. Kuo and Martinez Franco emphasized their previous city leadership roles, while Cornelius positioned herself as an outsider who’d shake things up. 

Aside from discussing his previous council term, Kuo touted his lifelong connection to Irvine. 

“I live and breathe District 5,” Kuo said. “It’s where I grew up, it’s where I attended public schools, it’s where I worship at church and where you’ll see me walking my dog.”

Martinez Franco focused on her professional bona fides and commitment to inclusivity. 

“As a longtime Irvine resident, I have spent years working to uplift diverse communities,” she said. “I served on Irvine’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for nearly three years, collaborating with city leaders to ensure all residents feel heard and valued.”

And, Cornelius said she’d bring a decisive attitude to the dais.

“Over the past few years, there’s been too much emotion in the council chambers and on the dais,” she said. “Sometimes, when I observed council meetings in person, I felt like part of a live audience at a Hollywood sitcom taping.”

A vote center will open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily starting April 5, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through April 14, at Irvine City Hall; another center will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily starting April 12 at University Park Community Center. Both will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  on Election Day, April 15. Ballot drop boxes have also opened, get more information on locations at ocvote.gov/votecenter.

​ Orange County Register 

Deportees from the US in Panama go embassy to embassy in desperate scramble to seek asylum

• March 21, 2025

By MATÍAS DELACROIX and MEGAN JANETSKY

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran and China deported from the United States and dropped into limbo in Panama hopped door-to-door at embassies and consulates this week in a desperate attempt to seek asylum in any country that would accept them.

The focus of international humanitarian concern just weeks before, the deportees now say they’re increasingly worried that with little legal and humanitarian assistance and no clear pathway forward offered by authorities, they may be forgotten.

“After this, we don’t know what we’ll do,” said 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 after the Taliban takeover.

In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from mostly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American ally was supposed to be a stopover for migrants from countries that were more challenging for the U.S. to deport to as the Trump administration tried to accelerate deportations. Some agreed to voluntarily return to their countries from Panama, but others refused out of fear of persecution and were sent to a remote camp in the Darien jungle for weeks.

Earlier this month, Panama released those remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave Panama. The government said they had declined assistance from international organizations, instead choosing to make their own arrangements. But with limited money, no familiarity with Panama and little to no Spanish, the migrants have struggled.

Seeking asylum door-to-door

On Tuesday, about a dozen migrants began visiting foreign missions in Panama’s capital, including the Canadian and British embassies, and the Swiss and Australian consulates with the hope of starting the process to seek refuge in those countries. They were either turned away or told that they would need to call or reach out to embassies by email. Messages were met with no response or a generic response saying embassies couldn’t help.

In one email, Omagh detailed why he had to flee his country, writing “please don’t let me be sent back to Afghanistan, a place where there is no way for me to survive.”

“The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, not either services for refugee. Nor are we allowed to answer any questions in regards to visa or immigration,” the response read.

At the British Embassy, a security guard handed asylum-seekers a pamphlet reading “Emergency Help for British People.” The Swiss consulate told the group they would have to reach out to the embassy in Costa Rica, and handed the migrants a piece of paper with general phone lines and emails printed from the embassy’s website.

Canadian, British and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied that they turned away the asylum-seekers.

Panama limbo

The migrants had travelled halfway across the globe, reached the U.S. border where they sought asylum and instead found themselves in Panama, a country some had traversed months earlier on their way to the U.S.

Many of the deportees said they would be open to seeking asylum in Panama, but had been told both by international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be granted refuge in the Central American nation.

Álvaro Botero, among those advocating for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he wasn’t surprised that they were turned away from embassies, as such help is often only offered in extreme cases of political persecution, and that other governments may fear tensions with the Trump administration.

“It’s crucial that these people are not forgotten,” Botero said. “They never asked to be sent to Panama, and now they’re in Panama with no idea what to do, without knowing what their future will be and unable to return to their countries.”

The Trump administration has simultaneously closed legal pathways to the U.S. at its southern border, ramped up its deportation program, suspended its refugee resettlement program, as well as funding for organizations that could potentially aid the migrants now stuck in Panama.

Over the weekend, the Trump administration sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be held in a maximum-security gang prison, alleging that those expelled were part the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang without providing evidence.

Limited options remain

On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh said they were told that the agency could not help them seek asylum in other countries due to restrictions by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could help start the asylum process in Panama, but warned that it was very unlikely that Panama’s government would accept their claim, Omagh said.

The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP.

The same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, warned that aid cuts by the U.S. government would hurt refugee services around the world.

“We appeal to member States to honor their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat,” Grandi said in a statement.

Deportees including Omagh worried that foreign governments and aid organizations were washing their hands of them.

Omagh said that as an atheist and member of an ethnic minority group in Afghanistan known as the Hazara, returning home under the rule of the Taliban would mean death. He only went to the U.S. after trying for years to live in Pakistan, Iran and other countries but being denied visas.

Russian Aleksandr Surgin, also among the group seeking help at the embassies, said he left his country because he openly opposed the war in Ukraine on social media, and was told by government officials he could either be jailed or fight with Russian troops in Ukraine.

When asked Thursday what he would do next, he responded simply: “I don’t hope for anything anymore.”

Janetsky reported from Mexico City.

​ Orange County Register