Development, for good or bad, is one of the things that affects people the most in an urban/suburban environment. Construction of a new shopping center, housing project, restaurant, etc. can influence things […]
The shape of things to come … maybe
Retorts: Skating on the edge of theater
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by a “sport” called roller derby. The illegitimate cousin of professional “wrestling,” this cheesy enterprise was broadcast on Channel 13 and involved a bunch […]
Retorts: Many great GG neighborhoods
No good deed goes unpunished. That’s clear from this week’s reaction to Garden Grove City Councilman (and mayor pro tem) Kris Beard’s latest initiative. He wrote a proposed resolution to declare that […]
Retorts: Sift SB 54 facts from rumor
At every public meeting of city councils in Orange County, whenever the subject of sanctuary cities comes up, there seems to be a lot more heat than light. As I write this, […]
Calm down and make a better case
The biggest thing in Orange County this week – other than Shohei Ohtani – is the struggles surrounding SB 54, which bars local law enforcement from communicating in some ways with federal […]
Retorts: An early season election primer
It’s only March, but the political season is already underway. Huge signs are popping up at every street corner advertising the two-word platform of the candidate: MY NAME. A little later in […]
Retorts: Missing snowballs in the spring
The coming of baseball season always leads to a singing of that most popular of sporting songs, “Take Me Out To the Ball Game.” Estimated to be the third most-commonly sung tune […]
Retorts: Blaming past is easy, but in vain
The Americans took California from the Mexicans. The Mexicans took it from the Spanish. The Spanish took it from the natives. Those natives took it from … does it matter? America used […]
Umberg vs. Nguyen in senate battle?
If it’s an even-numbered year, it must be time for election mania. Candidates are throwing their baseball caps into the ring, and interesting matchups are developing. On Wednesday, former state Assemblyman Tom […]
Retorts: Cruel dilemma of guns in the U.S.
Editor’s note: Jim Tortolano wrote this column in October 2017 after the Las Vegas killings. He thinks it’s still appropriate in the wake of today’s mass shooting at a school in Florida. […]
