Dear Residents of Irvine:

I’m taking this opportunity to share what I’ve been working on and say thank you for your support. This is a pivotal time in our City’s history, and together we can make good progress.

Since becoming your council member, I have been championing three issues that will have a long-term impact on the City’s legacy, public health and sustainability.

Should you ever want to talk about City matters, you can check in with my team and me at larryagran@cityofirvine.org.

Here’s what I am tackling:

Veterans Memorial Park  

The City is beginning demolition on the 125-acre ARDA site and is preserving historic features that could become the foundation of a true Veterans Memorial Park. This should continue, and I will keep working alongside you, the residents, to keep veterans part of the Great Park. 

Our veterans need our help to ensure that the Great Park's ARDA site memorializes their service and sacrifice. Without the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and the men, women, and families who served there, there would be no Great Park today. 

Safeguarding Public Health 

For 15 months, I have been meeting with residents of North Irvine to resolve a public health crisis — the presence of elevated carcinogenic toxins emanating from All American Asphalt’s (AAA) operations. Thanks to community groups like Stop Toxic Asphalt Pollutants (STAP Irvine) and Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, our goals are clear:

1. To relocate the plant in a safe place outside of Irvine

2. Identify a short-term mitigation plan until the plant is relocated 

I’ve proposed an emergency injunction and special legal counsel to strengthen our legal posture. Every Irvine household needs to support the residents of North Irvine in this cause.

Orange County Power Authority (OCPA)

Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is a multi-city agency that, starting this year, will buy power for residents and businesses in Irvine. To date, our City has invested $7.75 million into this startup. OCPA is intended to offer cleaner, cheaper electricity from more-sustainable energy sources. 

But OCPA’s operations have worried me. Frankly, I believe they are mishandling this high-risk enterprise. We need the kind of transparency and communication that assures our tax dollars are funding the right sustainability efforts and the most-effective ones.

As the entity’s lender, I have exercised our right to call for a comprehensive audit of OCPA and have made a public records request. OCPA’s launch — April 1 for businesses and October 1 for residents — affects your electricity bill and our City’s climate action goals, so holding OCPA accountable is urgent and vital. 

Save the Date!

Saturday, May 14 outdoors at Heritage Park, come participate in “Invest in Our Future: Starting an Earth Year.” This free event is open to the public. Stay tuned for more details!