Board trying to nanny OC e-bike riders

• June 12, 2024

Whenever we see lawmakers rush to impose new regulations, we like to remind readers about one of the core traits of a free society: self-regulation. If most people behave in a reasonable and conscientious manner, there’s little need for government intervention. This concept is the starting point on our thoughts about Orange County’s new e-bike rules.

Orange County’s Board of Supervisors recently passed rules governing those electric-powered bicycles that now are ubiquitous on roads and trails. Supervisor Katrina Foley, who spearheaded the effort, has complained that e-bike accidents have soared 500 percent over four years. Residents have complained about riders speeding on sidewalks – and “street takeovers,” where dozens of riders snarl traffic and pop wheelies.

Those concerns are legitimate, but accidents and complaints are up largely because the usage of e-bikes has increased exponentially over that time. Those street takeovers are annoying, but they are fairly uncommon – and police already have tools available to deal with road-blocking pranksters.

California has been trying to encourage e-bike usage to reduce car reliance, so overregulating their use runs counter to those goals. The OC rules impose speed limits of 28 mph, require helmet use for those under 18, require e-bikes to yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and make a distinction between e-bikes and more-powerful motorized bicycles which already require DMV licensing.

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The code also forbids “unsafe operation” of bicycles or e-bikes. Riders may not operate bikes “in any manner that endangers any person or animal,” the rule explains. Some OC cities passed similar bans on “unsafe” riding. That term seems vague – and the entire package strikes us as unnecessarily complex. We can’t imagine that police agencies will devote the resources to operate bicycle speed traps.

According to the rules, “No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle at a speed that is greater than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for other users and the surface, width and grade of the road.” That’s certainly the right standard, however difficult to enforce. But, seriously, did we really need a new law to say as much?

​ Orange County Register 

Local Jimmy Buffett ‘parrot heads’ are keeping the party going while giving back

• June 12, 2024

Full of Hawaiian shirts and margaritas, the Orange County Parrot Head Club, a Jimmy Buffett-inspired club that assists local organizations, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday with an event giving back to the community.

On June 8, “parrot heads,” a coined name for Buffett fans, gathered at the Elks Lodge in Mission Viejo to support local charities and listen to Buffett-inspired tunes, nine months after his death.

“Although Jimmy passed (recently), his final message to the clubs was to ‘keep the party going,’ and so we are,” Mark Lokovic, vice president of the Orange County Parrot Head Club, said.

The Orange County Parrot Head Club, founded by A.J. Johncox in 1994, is one of over 200 official Parrot Head Clubs in the U.S., all based around helping charities, Lokovic said.

Dubbed “Party with a Purpose,” each chapter throws events where members can flock to learn about Buffett’s life while also helping a good cause. Over the years, the Orange County chapter has helped a wide range of charities, including the Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim, Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation and the Alzheimers Association, according to the club’s website.

The Orange County Parrot Head Club members meet monthly at Lopez and Lefty’s in Anaheim where they fellowship, listen to entertainment and “do good work for our charities,” the website says. Membership fees start at $40 and can be purchased online.

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The charities represented this year at the Orange County event were the Elks’ Purple Pig, the St. Kilian Food Bank and the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. In addition to a live and silent auction, partygoers were asked to bring different items for donations for the charity groups, such as laundry detergent pods for the Orange County Ronald McDonald House and canned food for St. Kilian.

​ Orange County Register 

Man charged with robbing an Anaheim bank one day after his release from prison

• June 12, 2024

SANTA ANA — A 53-year-old man was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of carrying out a takeover-style bank robbery in Anaheim one day after he got out of state prison.

The federal case was filed after the Orange County District Attorney’s Office dismissed state bank robbery charges against Eric Walter Gray on June 4.

Gray is charged in the federal indictment with bank robbery and forced accompaniment. Gray, who is being held without bond, is scheduled for arraignment June 24.

Gray had been charged in state court in May with three counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, three counts of resisting arrest and a count of escape by someone in custody with a use of force, all felonies. Those charges were dismissed in state court last week.

Police responded about 4:40 p.m. May 8 to a report of a bank robbery in progress at a BMO branch at 4501 E. La Palma Ave., between Imperial Highway and Lakeview Avenue, according to FBI Special Agent Trevor Twitchell. Gray loitered in the bank “for a long time,” and then told an employee he was waiting for a ride, Twitchell said.

After he returned from a bathroom he leaped a teller counter, announced he had a gun and demanded cash, Twitchell said.

When the teller handed over the cash, Gray stuffed it in his pockets and directed the bank manager and two other employees into a storage room, Twitchell said.

After awhile he let the two employees go, but he kept the bank manager confined for about an hour, the agent said.

Gray eventually surrendered to police, the agent said.

“While in custody at the Anaheim Police Department, Gray was found to have hidden cash and narcotics within his rectal cavity,” Twitchell said.

Police suspected he had more hidden in him, so they took him to a hospital for a CT scan, where he “repeatedly attempted to escape and fought with officers, resulting in multiple injuries to the officers involved,” the agent wrote in an affidavit.

The defendant “has a lengthy criminal history that includes, but is not limited to, grand theft auto, robbery, sexual battery and narcotics-related offenses,” the agent said.

The defendant had been released from San Quentin prison a day before the bank robbery, the agent said.

Gray pleaded guilty to robbery Sept. 12, 2023, according to court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison for the Oct. 4, 2022, robbery.

​ Orange County Register 

Next-Generation Smart Tech Solutions for Multifamily Customers

• June 12, 2024

By Guillermo Rivas

It’s nearly impossible not to notice the changing landscape in Southern California with the continued proliferation of new construction, much of which is in the extremely competitive multi-dwelling unit (MDU) sector. A 2024 survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council found that 87% of renters demand robust connectivity from the properties they live in—and, according to Rent.com, they’re willing to pay $38 more each month to have it. More choices for savvy renters means property owners and managers are challenged to manage rising operating costs while offering the latest and greatest tech to attract prospective residents and retain those they already have.

Enter Cox Communities, a division of Cox Communications, whose continued investment in smart technology is helping address the needs of all stakeholders. While the latest technology must be added to older MDU properties to help them stay competitive, it’s often installed in new builds, which means our work also happens, quite literally, at ground level through long-standing relationships with builders like HomeFed Corporation and Greystar in California.

What is the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers, at its essence, to a network of physical devices—phones, sensors, and cameras, for example—connected to one another and which help owners and residents manage their experience from the curb to the couch. If you’ve rented a storage unit recently, you’re likely able to open the entrance gate through an app on your phone. In an apartment building or complex, you may use an app to access entry to a property, a garage, or even an elevator. With IoT, nearly everything is at your fingertips.

Cox Communities has partnered with Level M, a provider of next-generation smart tech solutions for multifamily customers, to provide the most cutting-edge technology solutions, which leverage Cox’s fiber-powered network and more than 26  [DT1] years of experience in the multifamily space. Level M partners with  Cox to support the multifamily industry including:

Offering comfort, convenience, and control to residents—With a single app, residents can do everything from enter through a main gate, enter a hallway with a secured door, access a particular floor in the elevator, and enter their apartment. Residents can also control their thermostat and lights, reducing their utility bills. Safety, security, and convenience are in the palm of their hand from the start.

Improving efficiency and property management—Gone are the days of triplicate carbon copies or a ring full of keys. Level M alleviates the need to manage property access on-site: Owners can now control everything via app or desktop and provide managers and workers an access code. Where a maintenance worker once had to make multiple trips to address a single trouble ticket, now they can access an apartment at a specified time through an app.

Avoiding unexpected expenses for owners—The average leak can cost an owner as much as $35k, and with insurance premiums and deductibles on the rise, it’s never been more important to mitigate the impact of leaks. Enter Smart Tech Leak Detection: Leaks will trigger an app or portal notification through a device placed on water heaters and pipes underneath sinks (some insurance companies offer a discount for leak protection). In addition, smart thermostats and lighting systems reduce energy consumption and lead to significant cost savings for both owners and residents.

Making move-in a breeze for everyone—The revolutionary smart-building connectivity of IoT translates to unmatched reliability, affordability, and flexibility. Gone are the days of scheduling and then waiting two weeks for a cable installer. With Cox’s pre-installed internet program, residents can be connected within minutes of move-in and enjoy fast, reliable internet—and a suite of smart apartment amenities—so they can be online on move-in day.

Of course, these are just a few examples of the many ways smart apartment technologies impact the growing MDU market, and more change is coming. The evolution and integration of artificial intelligence and virtual reality with existing infrastructure holds endless promise of what’s possible when it comes to supporting the extremely competitive housing industry. As developers shift to affordable single-family “build-to-rent” communities with the latest technology, Cox is helping owners of existing properties update their technology. Upgrading older properties with the latest Smart Tech enables them to remain relevant as a viable choice for renters and be a positive contributor in growing communities.

Southern California is always growing, and the Smart Tech that feeds our multifamily homes is enhancing the rental experience across the board. As a partner, Cox Communities will continue to innovate while providing robust services, best-in-class connectivity, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to build a better future for all.

Guillermo Rivas is Vice President of New Business Development for Cox Communities. In this role, he spearheads the development of strategies for multifamily owners to maximize their return on investment by leveraging Cox’s advanced fiber to the home network, Managed Wi-Fi and IoT network solutions that improve the resident experience.

​ Orange County Register 

Juvenile’s 25th anniversary of ‘Back That Azz Up’ will bring an October show to Anaheim

• June 12, 2024

Anyone who’s been at a nightclub in the last 25 years has likely danced to rapper Juvenile’s party anthem “Back That Azz Up.” The timeless hit has become such a staple that it’s getting its own nationwide tour celebration.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the song, Juvenile and the 400 Degreez Band will bring their tour to House of Blues Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 20. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at livenation.com.

Fans in Anaheim can share their favorite memories of the anthem or create new ones using the #BackThatAzzUpDay hashtag to win free tickets for the House of Blues show in October. Juvenile will select one participant from Anaheim who uses the hashtag on any social media platform.

On Tuesday, June 11, the rapper’s hometown of New Orleans celebrated its first “Back That Azz Up Day,” recognizing the song that’s become a cultural phenomenon and a staple of the city’s vibrant musical heritage.

“I am beyond excited to celebrate 25 years of ‘Back That Azz Up’ with my fans,” Juvenile said in a press release announcing the tour. “This song has been a huge part of my musical journey, and it’s amazing to see it still resonate with people today and I can’t wait for the moment each night of the tour when the song drops.”

The hit track, produced by Mannie Fresh and featuring fellow rapper Lil Wayne, has made an indelible mark on pop culture, appearing in movies, TV, sporting events, celebrations, and memes. In 2021, it was listed as one of Rolling Stone’s “Top 500 Best Songs of All Time.” Last year in June, Juvenile performed a set of his greatest hits on NPR’s Tiny Desk with The 400 Degreez Band and said in a press release that he loved it so much fans will likely never catch him performing without a live band again.

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​ Orange County Register 

NOFX’s final shows in San Pedro include Dropkick Murphys, Descendents and Pennywise

• June 12, 2024

It’s been nearly two years since the Los Angeles punk rock band NOFX announced they were hanging up their combat boots with a final tour and three stops slated at Berth 46 in San Pedro on Oct. 4-6.

The band has been headlining its Punk in Drublic music festival tour and added the last dates to the NOFX Final Tour: 40 Years 40 Cities 40 Songs Per Day outing back in November, revealing that it will all wrap up in San Pedro in October. The final tour, which began on April 22 in Austin, Texas, includes full albums and rarities while not repeating setlists.

The event’s promoters, Orange County-based Brew Ha Ha Productions, shared several acts set to perform with a poster on the festival’s official Instagram page in February. However, several bigger names on that poster were blacked out until today, revealing most of the entire lineup (a surprise band is set for the last show on Oct. 6) with Dropkick Murphys, Descendents, and Pennywise topping the festival’s bill alongside NOFX.

NOFX chose all the bands, and the final dates in San Pedro will feature two stages with no overlapping set times. General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now at punkindrublicfest.com. Options include GA single-day tickets starting at $125, VIP single-day tickets starting at $249, and weekend tickets starting at $350.

The daily band lineups for the NOFX Final Tour in San Pedro are as follows:

Friday, October 4: 

NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, MxPx, Bouncing Souls, Sick Of It All, 7 Seconds, DOA, D.I., Luicidal, The Last Gang and KnuckleHeadz

Saturday, October 5: 

NOFX, Descendents, Less Than Jake, Lagwagon, Strung Out, Good Riddance, Mad Caddies, Swingin’ Utters, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Get Dead and Poli Van Dam

Sunday, October 6: “The Final Show:”

NOFX, Pennywise, The Vandals, Subhumans, Fishbone, Codefendents, The Flatliners, surprise band TBA, We Are The Union, Das Klown.

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​ Orange County Register 

Father’s Day 2024: Steak, gift cards and other dining deals for dad

• June 12, 2024

Restaurants are using gift card deals to lure dad away from the grill this Father’s Day weekend, but there’s also bacon, beer and, at one chain, really large steaks.

The holiday falls on Sunday, June 16, but many deals start early and run longer.

Here are some of the promotions restaurant chains have announced in news releases or on their websites.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Dads who buy a $50 e-gift card June 15-16 will get a 20% off VIP card to redeem from June 17 to July 8 and a specialty pint glass. bjsrestaurants.com

Duck Donuts: Dad Dozen or Half Dozen, available through June 16, includes such flavors as maple bacon and a limited time bourbon caramel drizzle. duckdonuts.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: A three-course meal features petite filet mignon, a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye or a 35-ounce tomahawk steak as well as shrimp scampi or lobster tail for $93-$147. It’s available June 14-17. flemingssteakhouse.com

Mountain Mike’s Pizza: The chain will be baking heart-shaped pizzas June 13-16. mountainmikespizza.com

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Panda Express: Through June 16, customers who buy $30 in gift cards on the chain’s website can get a free Panda Bowl offer. A redemption code will be sent via email. pandaexpress.com

Pieology: Loyalty members can get two free perks with a Create Your Own Pizza, Salad or Calzone purchase June 16-18. pieology.com

Smashburger: The purchase of a $60 e-gift card online through June 16 will trigger the gift of an additional $15 coupon. smashburger.com

The Halal Guys: Guests can get 25% off orders in-store, online or through the chain’s app on June 16. The offer excludes family meals and catering. thehalalguys.com

Wahoo’s Fish Taco: Guests can buy one entrée and receive a second for half price with any purchase on June 16. The Tustin-based chain is also offering 99-cent Pacifico or Modelo beer with the purchase of any item after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at participating locations for a limited time. The offer is limited to one beer per person per transaction and of course only for guests age 21 and older. wahoos.com

​ Orange County Register 

New UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk takes charge: What his appointment means for the Bruins

• June 12, 2024

Moments after the University of California regents approved his appointment Wednesday morning, new UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk addressed the system’s governing board.

Frenk touched on his personal background and life in public service, UCLA’s mission and history of innovation, the challenges facing higher education and more.

It all made perfect sense for a physician who was born in Mexico City, served as the country’s secretary of health, became a Harvard dean and has been the president of the University of Miami for the past nine years.

Frenk also noted that he has always considered himself “a boundary-spanner.”

As the new boss in Westwood, he certainly will be that.

Frenk’s tenure, which begins in January, will have massive ramifications for UCLA athletics and perhaps college sports on the West Coast.

Before we explain the implications, let’s be clear: This could have been much, much worse for the Bruins.

In all their wisdom, the regents could have hired a chancellor lacking experience with major college sports — a medieval literature professor from Swarthmore College, for example, or an engineering dean from the University of Chicago.

Instead, the regents selected a sitting university president who hired Mario Cristobal, understands the significance of NIL and is familiar with the NCAA’s roiling landscape (thanks, in part, to his colleagues at Florida State and Clemson).

In fact, Frenk’s tenure on the ACC’s board of directors overlapped with UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond’s tenure in the conference (at Boston College).

“During my time in the ACC, I observed Chancellor Frenk’s leadership and support of the value of athletics at the University of Miami and was very impressed with his vision,” Jarmond said in a statement released by the Bruins.

“I am looking forward to introducing him to the great traditions of UCLA Athletics and partnering with him and his leadership team as we embark upon this new era of collegiate athletics.”

Outgoing UCLA chancellor Gene Block doesn’t know if footballs are inflated or stuffed. Even worse, he doesn’t care.

In theory, Frenk knows — and cares. But to what extent will he devote the resources necessary to ensure UCLA’s competitive success in the Big Ten?

Painted with broad strokes, the numbers create a challenging future for the Bruins …

(Our apologies if you thought there would be no math.)

UCLA’s revenue from the Big Ten’s media rights contract with Fox, CBS and NBC will increase by roughly $40 million per year compared to what the Bruins have been receiving in the Pac-12. (What they would have earned if the Pac-12 had stayed intact is a different calculation.)

And their annual intake from the expanded College Football Playoff will increase by about $15 million starting in 2026, when the event’s new contract kicks in.

That’s approximately $55 million from UCLA’s primary, conference-driven revenue sources.

Meanwhile, operational costs are about to soar:

— The Bruins will incur at least $10 million in new travel expenses, according to their own estimates.

— They must subsidize Cal’s athletic department to the tune of $10 million annually for at least three years, per the UC regents’ directive.

— They must pay $20 million annually in a revenue-sharing agreement with athletes, according to the settlement terms of the House antitrust lawsuit.

— And that same settlement is expected to increase scholarship costs by about $10 million for schools in the power conferences.

Those line items total $50 million in expenses.

In other words, much of the new revenue headed to Westwood from the Big Ten is accounted for.

If it’s not a wash, it’s reasonably close.

That’s potentially problematic, because the Bruins ran a $37 million operational deficit in 2023 and have accumulated massive debt over the course of several years.

Their deep red number comes with limited university support. Unlike so many Pac-12 athletic departments, including Cal, the Bruins do not receive tens of millions annually in direct campus support. The university funnels about $2 million in student fees to athletics, and that’s it.

If the Block funding model continues under Frenk, it’s difficult to envision the Bruins having the fiscal flexibility to thrive on the fields and courts (and pools and tracks) in the Big Ten.

And if this high-priced, cross-country experiment flounders, what becomes of UCLA athletics over the long haul?

Would the Bruins stay in the Big Ten, content with a second-class existence?

Would they be invited into a college football super league that could emerge in the 2030s?

Would they reverse course and place their Olympic sports, so critical to the school’s athletic ethos, in a reformed Pac-12?

Would all their teams return to a reconstituted Pac-12 that assuredly would be enticing to the Bay Area schools?

Several scenarios are feasible.

Nothing is a given.

The only clarity in college sports comes when looking in the rearview mirror.

Many of the potential outcomes could carry implications for Cal, Stanford and other athletic departments on the West Coast.

All of them will depend, inextricably and indisputably, on the level of support the Bruins receive from their new chancellor.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to [email protected] or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow me on Twitter/X: @WilnerHotline

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.

​ Orange County Register