City of Fullerton City Council meeting February 4th, 2025 Public Comments.

Todd Harrison: Some time ago, around the middle of last year, the City Council established the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee. Unfortunately, we had been limited in our progress due to meeting only once every three months, which had resulted in some inertia in getting things done.
That past Tuesday at 11:00 AM, we held our third session right there. After our first meeting, where we figured out our roles and purpose, and our second meeting, where we worked on having effective discussions on our agenda, I believed that our next session would be productive.
Eventually, there was a report from the committee, which I chaired, to the City Council, as we were there to provide advice on matters related to senior citizens. I encouraged anyone listening to join us that Tuesday at 11:00 AM and watch us live. Very few of the people we served could attend in person, but thanks to the IT team and city staff, our first two sessions were made available for download. I was very grateful for their efforts in resolving the previous delays.
If anyone was interested in what the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee had done and what we planned to do, I urged them to visit the Fullerton City website to watch those videos. In any case, I asked everyone to consider joining us or watching our session that Tuesday, which was less than a week away.

A resident of Fullerton: I was a college student at Cal State Fullerton, I had never spoken at a City Hall meeting before, but I felt compelled to come that day to say happy Black History Month and to acknowledge Rosa Parks on her birthday. I was particularly appalled by the Council’s decision not to include this recognition on the agenda, which motivated me to attend.
Additionally, I wanted to express my discontent with the City Council’s decision to end the “Walk on Wilshire” initiative and reopen the area to car traffic. We already lived in a car-centric society, and removing urban social spaces like Walk on Wilshire sent a clear message that they did not prioritize thriving community spaces; instead, it suggested a preference for vehicle traffic.

Sueling: I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Lunar New Year! Every day was worth celebrating, and every day was a gift. The previous Wednesday, January 29th, marked the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake. Our community came together to celebrate, and I wanted to thank the library for hosting a wonderful reading event on January 28th at Hunt Library. There were many arts and crafts activities for everyone to enjoy.
Additionally, on Saturday, February 1st, we had the pleasure of having Council Member Valencia, the Police Chief, and several captains join us to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Whether you could join us or not, I wish everyone a very happy Lunar New Year!

Reverend Tonya (Summarized): The speaker expressed gratitude for support and shared that they were no longer homeless, having moved to the Illumination Foundation in Fullerton, CA. They celebrated Rosa Parks’ birthday and mentioned the significance of the Age of Aquarius. The speaker thanked the staff and fellow clients at the Foundation for their help and support, highlighting the positive environment despite some challenges. They specifically appreciated Chef Katie and various staff members while also acknowledging the strong community among the women in their dorm. Lastly, they noted the need for clothing donations in women’s sizes in preparation for Valentine’s Day and International Women’s Day. The message ended with an affirmation of love and support.

George Bushala Jr. (summarized): He addressed a past incident from February 4th, 2020, March 5th, 2020, and September 20th, 2020. He highlighted that Mr. Ahmad Zahra, a council member, was accused of plagiarism in articles published in the Fullerton Observer regarding water issues, which were allegedly written by an Orange County Water District employee. The speaker detailed that these articles, published under Zahra’s name on three occasions, were found to be nearly identical to the bureaucratic work of the employee. No clarifications, corrections, or apologies were made by either Zahra or the Observer. Furthermore, the speaker asserted that Zahra misrepresented himself as an expert on water issues, with Mayor Jan Flory even citing the articles as evidence of his expertise, which the speaker claimed was dishonorable and misleading for his reelection campaign.

Zee: He began by acknowledging Black History Month and reminded everyone of the mental health hotline, 988. He expressed gratitude towards Mr. Zahra for a prior apology and commended him for sharing his experience with the Fullerton Police Department. He also recently participated in a ride-along with the police, highlighting the department’s dedication to finding a missing 10-year-old boy, whom they located safely. He encouraged other City Council members to hold office hours, noting the productive meeting he had with Dr. Charles. He also appreciated the use of Wilshire Blvd for traffic after taxpayer funding and mentioned upcoming plans for an outdoor area by Angelo and Vinci’s, encouraging patience for future developments.

Josh Ferguson (summarized): He inquired about the status of a boutique hotel project in District 5, which had been discussed favorably in January 2023. He mentioned that TA Partnerships defaulted on $200 million in loans and was now facing bankruptcy court issues. The speaker requested updates on measures being taken to protect against potential losses and criticized the council for not conducting due diligence or ensuring accountability. He emphasized the need for transparency and asked how the council planned to address the situation, given the project’s initial promise to benefit the community.

Diane Vena: She wanted to express her thoughts on the closing of Walk and Wilshire. Honestly, her heart was heavy. That morning, she drove down a street that used to be something beautiful, but it had now been reduced to just an ordinary little street. She had come to love Walk on Wilshire, especially the lake area, and appreciated seeing how many others loved it too.
She was there with a friend on Friday when they were dismantling everything; it might have been Thursday, but she couldn’t remember for sure. As she watched them take it all apart, she cried because she couldn’t help it. She disagreed with one of the previous speakers: many people paid taxes, and roads should serve all of us, including those who walked, those who could not drive, and those who simply preferred not to.
She believed they had lost something beautiful. That morning, all she saw was about 200 feet of road with cars driving through, and there wasn’t much traffic or activity. Normally, that space would have been filled with people enjoying breakfast, walking their dogs, or simply strolling along. She saw it as a tragedy that they had lost such a vibrant community space.

Yolanda Harrison (summarized): She expressed disappointment over the teaching of Rosa Parks and reflected on the lesson of quiet resistance they learned from her. She recounted a personal experience in high school where she refused to leave the classroom when accused of being a disturbance, demonstrating her peaceful stand despite the presence of school authorities. She emphasized the importance of fighting for justice, sharing that her grandfathers fought in the military for future generations to avoid repeating past struggles. She acknowledged the potential for protests and violence in the coming years, hoping for a peaceful resolution while addressing someone named Doctor Charles with a firm remark, “Never again.”

Curtis Gamble (summarized): He discussed several key points, beginning with the celebration of Rosa Parks’ birthday on February 4, 2024, when the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) offered free bus rides. He reflected on his service history, including time in the Navy and as an OCTA bus driver. He commended the council for the Navigation Center, “It works great.”