O.C. IN BANKRUPTCY : Citron Fends Off Christmas Grinch : Notebook: The former treasurer-tax collector sends cards as usual, but the county’s fiscal pinch is felt by other Yule events, along with some more earthly activities.
Season’s greetings: He may be holed up in his Santa Ana home. And he may be refusing interviews after resigning Dec. 7 as the county’s treasurer-tax collector. But one thing’s for sure--Robert L. Citron didn’t lose the holiday spirit.
In spite of a financial debacle largely created by his risky investment strategy, Citron still mailed out season’s greetings last week to county workers and officials. Wishing recipients “Happy Holidays,” the simple card showed Citron and his wife, Terry, standing in their living room next to a small Christmas tree.
Said County Supervisor William G. Steiner, who received one of the Citron cards: “It was lovely.”
Bathroom backup: For students in the Rancho Santiago Community College District, the county budget crisis has transformed bathrooms into an unwelcome hangout. Students have been waiting in long lines all week after a funding freeze left the district unable to reopen most campus restrooms, which had been shut down for a construction project.
“For people who have been working bathrooms, it’s been rough to have people bombarding their buildings and lining up,” said Chancellor Vivian Blevins. “There’s always someone in there and always someone waiting to get in there.”
Relief is in sight, however. Exams are over this week, and the campus will soon be empty.
Added Blevins: “People have been telling me, ‘Vivian, there’s a lot of things we can do without, but we can’t live without the bathrooms.’ ”
Catering to the elite: With cutbacks, layoffs and hiring freezes looming for county government, Salomon Bros., the county’s financial adviser, has nevertheless been feeding at the public trough this week. For three straight days, the county has served up catered lunches of sandwiches and pasta to the financial trouble-shooters. “The bankrupt county is buying them lunch,” said one county staffer of the meals billed to taxpayers. “It’s annoying (the) staff.”
A Christmas carol: Unlike Christmases past when throngs of carolers cheered holiday travelers at John Wayne Airport, Christmas present will probably see just one Yuletide singing group at the airport. Because of the county financial disaster, the airport, which is owned and operated by the county, has canceled its holiday performances.
For the last four years, the airport divided about $3,000 among about a dozen community caroling groups to lift holiday spirits before takeoffs and after landings.
But not this year.
“Due to the county’s current financial crisis,” said Airport Manager Jan Mittermeier, “I do not feel it would be prudent to underwrite the performances this year.”
So far, only one group has said it will perform even without the airport’s traditional stipend. The Golden West Carolers of Golden West College in Huntington Beach are scheduled to roam the terminals singing seasonal favorites from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday.
“It’s heartening to see people in Orange County rolling up their sleeves and making sure the holidays are still pleasant,” said Pat Ware, an airport spokeswoman.
O Christmas tree: The County Treecyling Program, which turns discarded Christmas trees into mulch, has fallen to the county cutback ax. County officials whacked the annual environmental undertaking, calling it a “nonessential seasonal program.” The program was scheduled for Jan. 7 and 8 at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley. Most cities, however, are expected to continue their Christmas tree recycling programs, said county officials.
Eastern cold front: Placentia resident Dale Goodman has found herself the target of jabs from East Coasters this week following Orange County’s financial woes.
“People back east are calling me, laughing,” said the 52-year-old who recently failed in her bid for election to the City Council. “They say, ‘Sure, you have good weather, but we’re fiscally sound.’ ”
