The Voter Engagement Team leadership is Lorelei and Cathey. 

WE WON THE SPECIAL ELECTION!!!

We did it! The Protect HB Leadership Team credits this win to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly on the Vote YES campaign. The voters in Huntington Beach made it clear that government overreach on the operations of the Huntington Beach Public Libraries was unacceptable. Our Public Libraries do matter and voters, across party lines,overwhelmingly said so with their vote. Let us use this opportunity to find ways to work together to hold our elected officials accountable. Thank you Huntington Beach for supporting Democracy.

LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OC  REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Michael Gates, our former city attorney now at DOJ is investigating the OC Registrar of Voters: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-08-29/orange-county-pushes-back-against-doj-request-for-voter-records

UPDATE ON SYMPHONY OF FLOWERSLAWSUIT

Please see full press release for our victory, although temporary, on the Symphony of Flowers event.  It is postponed so that the organizers can present a current environmental report.  There will be no Symphony of Flowers event this Fall.  It was slated from September 2025 through February 2026: 

For Immediate Release:

September 3, 2025

Protect HB Prevails in Challenge to Central Park Festival of Flowers Project Approval

Huntington Beach, CA – Protect HB (PHB) has successfully safeguarded Huntington Beach Central Park from what could have been serious environmental and financial risks tied to the proposed Symphony of Flowers project for 2025-2026.

On March 27, 2025, PHB filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Orange County Superior Court, citing violations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The petition directly challenged the City of Huntington Beach’s approval of the contract with Flowers of the Sky Entertainment LLC.

At issue was the City’s reliance on a 1999 Environmental Impact Report (EIR)—a master EIR prepared over 25 years ago. The outdated report failed to contemplate or evaluate the scope and impacts of the Symphony of Flowers project. Instead of conducting an initial study, supplemental EIR, or subsequent EIR, the City approved the project with only an addendum to the 1999 master report.

“CEQA requires meaningful public participation and a thorough review of environmental impacts before projects of this magnitude move forward,” said Cathey Ryder, chair, PHB. “The City attempted to bypass these requirements, and our action ensures that Central Park will not be put at risk without proper oversight.”

According to Ryder, “Protect HB will suspend (not dismiss) the petition for a Writ of Mandate. This will allow time to negotiate for a new contract that will do a much better job of protecting Central Park. The good news is that there will be no Symphony of Flowers in Central Park September 2025-February 2026.”

In addition to environmental concerns, PHB raised financial protection issues. The approved contract did not require a performance bond from the promoter. Citing the promoter’s involvement in the contentious termination of a similar event in Canada, PHB warned that a disputed termination in Huntington Beach could have left Central Park damaged, with the City—and taxpayers—bearing the costs of clean-up and restoration or engaging in costly legal disputes.

Protect HB asked the court to rescind the project approval until a complete and transparent environmental review is conducted, accompanied by safeguards such as a performance bond to protect city resources.

This victory underscores PHB’s commitment to ensuring Huntington Beach projects comply with environmental law and protect the community’s financial interests.

Media Contact:
Protect HB
Cathey Ryder

(714) 470-1353

hbcitizensforgoodgovernance@gmail.com

Timeline of Events

3/27/25 Court confirmed that they had received the petition and the legal documents from our

CEQA attorney.

3/31/25 City of HB and the Real Party were served with the notification that the petition had

been filed.

4/3/25 The Court set a status conference for May 2 to discuss procedural matters.

4/4/25 The City “denied” our request to prepare the Administrative Record for this case. This

meant that we would not have to pay to prepare the documents, and that the City would have to

pay for its preparation.

4/25/25 The City wanted to move the Case Management Conference ( CMC) to June 6, which is

after the City existing deadline to prepare the administrative record.

5/30/25 The City requested a 30 day extension to prepare the Administrative Record.

6/2/25 First CMC scheduled for June 5 11am Santa Ana Courthouse.

6/2/25 City announced a Mandatory Settlement Conference for June 10 9am at the City

Attorney’s Office

6/10/25 Mandatory Settlement Conference items proposed by the City and the Real Party were

presented. The Protect HB Team agreed to review and offer our own proposal.

6/12/25 Protect HB Leadership Team met via zoom with our CEQA attorney and determined

that the City and Real Party offer DID NOT adequately address our concerns about protecting

Central Park.The wildlife protection, noise and light mitigation efforts did not meet the standards

proposed by the California Fish and Game Department.

6/20/25 Protect HB Leadership Team sent our counteroffer to our CEQA attorney for review.

6/30/25 Protect HB counteroffer was emailed to the City Attorney.

7/17/25 City Attorney set up a call with the Protect HB CEQA Attorney.

7/28/25 The City and the Real Party responded to the counteroffer and still did not protect

Central Park. The contract states that the Real Party will engage their own legal representative,

but no such person appeared to exist.

7/31/25 Protect HB Leadership Team met with our CEQA attorney via zoom to review the City

and Real Party redline of our proposal. Once again, we determined that it did not protect Central

Park.

8/4/25 Protect HB submitted a counteroffer that still asked that the City and Real Party to follow

the mitigation standards recommended by the California Department of Fish and Game.

8/11/25 The City Attorney communicated via email to our CEQA attorney that they were waiting

for a response from the Real Party to our counteroffer.

8/18/25 Email from City Attorney to our CEQA attorney that read as follows:

“Hi Michelle, Mr. Becerra outlined the following as a possible path forward. I am paraphrasing his words, some of which you and I will have to discuss lawsuit implications.

Protect HB to suspend (not dismiss) their lawsuit to give all parties the next few months to work

together to address the issues raised in the Lawsuit. Working together we can address in a new

contract the issues of community meetings, neighborhood parking protections, bike parking and

other community focused issues. The final solutions can be addressed in the new contract

between the City and Symphony of Flowers. We are not proposing to operate during the bird

nesting season. We believe working together we can address the sound, light and water basin

concerns. If an agreement is possible that Protect HB is comfortable with, Protect HB will

withdraw their lawsuit at the adoption of the new contract. . .let’s discuss ASAP when you have a moment.”

8/24/25 The City Attorney sent an email to our CEQA attorney stating “Hi Michelle. We received an email from Glen indicating they will not be doing a show this year. Let’s discuss next steps this week.”

9/3/25 Protect HB will suspend (not dismiss) the Writ of Mandate. This will allow PHB, the City and the Real Party (the promoter) an opportunity to come to an agreement on a new contract to protect Central Park. There will be no no Symphony of Flowers event this year.

 

Michael Gates Update

In his role at the US Department of Justice he has brought suit against the OC Registrar of Voters alleging fraud. 

ROGUE CITY COUNCIL

The HB city council has been violating the Brown Act many times.  The Brown Act states that elected bodies must meet in public to discuss issues.  They cannot make deals amongst themselves in private.  The ACLU has decided to join our issue:

Attorney General's Newsletter on HB Voter ID law: sites.google.com/d/17yFvPB36VcadzJ-8ZCktFIGPplBT8rjr/p/111Pu102k48USl4SQuc0pBr7DEe1QpeCV/edit 

PROTECT HUNTINGTON BEACH

PROTECTHB.ORG is a new PAC whose mission is to defeat the Charter Amendments on the ballot this March.  Please support this organization.  Go to their website, learn more about it and donate whatever you can.  Hopefully you can volunteer to write postcards and knock on doors to defeat the madness that the F5 have set upon us.  The Editorial Board of the Orange County Register endorsed our cause on January 16: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vi6pmz91l82e894c5p61o/24-01-16-OCR-Endorsement-End-Huntington-Beach-comic-political-theater.pdf?rlkey=psnhs6engedece7r1hhymoh17&dl=0 On January 21, 2024, Steve Lopez, acclaimed LATimes columnist wrote about us in his paper: edition.pagesuite.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=b0effe4d-be72-4a77-bde9-b164a4e19aba&v=sdk .  Also see a video on their YouTube channel.  Subscribe to that channel for more videos.

STEVE LOPEZ, ACCLAIMED LATIMES CAME TO HB AND WROTE ABOUT US ON 1/21/24: edition.pagesuite.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=b0effe4d-be72-4a77-bde9-b164a4e19aba&v=sdk 

He followed up with a video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=43EAlZb6geo 

LETTER FROM ACLU TO HB CITY COUNCIL

HOLDING ELECTED LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE

In February we sponsored a program on this extremely timely topic.  HB is a hot spot right now, but other governmental entities are also vulnerable.  In any case, the right thing to do being concerned citizens is to keep informed and act on issues we care about on behalf of ourselves and our community.  The program slides are available by clicking here.  Learn how to

•  Find your city council's agendas and subscribe to them

•  Offer comments at meetings 

•  Contact your representatives and more.

Join the Voter Engagement Team by emailing: voters@orangecoasthuddle.com 

GET TO KNOW YOUR DEMOCRAT NEIGHBORS

The California Democratic Party has a great tool that will help up build the ground effort to inform Democrats and get out the vote.  They have created an app called Neighbor to Neighbor.  Once you dowloaded and enter your information it gives you names and addresses of registered Democrats in your neighborhood.  We need to get to know them, let them know about the issues and get them out to vote.  

Watch a tutorial on the app here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiAMGKTFPBk 

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

HOW CAN DEMOCRATS/PROGRESSIVES WIN ELECTIONS?

Watch this seminar to learn how an activist group is seeking to reach the greater population that is not focused on political issues and unaware of how politics affects their community.  It is a model geared to busy people who have access to social media and targeted to communities in battleground states.  The premise is to create news communitieas via local journalists reporting on community news that will include political issues.  The group is the Courier Newsroom.  Take a look; it's inspiring work.

Tony Strickland  CA Senate 36 – Republican

Diane Dixon      CA Assembly 72 – Republican 

Tri Ta                 CA Assembly 70 – Republican 

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Doug Chaffee, Chairman, 4th District:  Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton, portions of Anaheim, and unincorporated communities.  

Donald P. Wagner, Vice-Chairman, 3rd District: Anaheim (portions of), Irvine (portions of), Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Orange (portions of), Rancho Santa Margarita, Tustin (portions of), Villa Park, Yorba Linda, and the Unincorporated Communities of Modjeska, North Tustin, Silverado, Trabuco Canyon and Williams Canyon

Janet Nguyen, 1st District, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove (portions of), Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Seal Beach, Westminster, and the Unincorporated Communities of Midway City and Rossmoor

Vicente Sarmiento 2nd District. Anaheim (portions of), Garden Grove (portions of), Orange (portions of), Santa Ana, Tustin (portions of), and the Unincorporated Communities of North Tustin

Katrina Foley, 5th District, The Cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Irvine (portions of), Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, and Rancho Mission Viejo

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Tony Strickland,             Term ends in 2026 

Gracey Van Der Mark,   Term ends in 2026 

Pat Burns,                      Mayor, Term ends in 2026 

Casey McKeon,             Mayor, Pro Tem,Term ends in 2026 

Don Kennedy                Term ends in 2028 

Butch Twining                Term ends in 2028 

Chad Williams               Term ends in 2024

FOUNTAIN  VALLEY CITY COUNCIL

Kim Constantine, Mayor, Term expires 2026 

Glen Grandis,     Mayor Pro Tem, Term expires 2024 

Ted Bui,               Term expires 2024 

Jim Cunneen       Term expires 2026 

Patrick Harper     Term expires 2026

COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL

John Stephens,   Mayor, Term expires 2024 

Jeffrey Harlan,     Mayor Pro Tem, Term expires 2024 

Andrea Marr,       Term expires 2026 

Manuel Chavez,  Term expires 2026 

Loren Gameros   Term expires 2024 

Don Harper         Term expires 2024 

Arlis Reynolds     Term expires 2026

NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Noah Blom, District 5,         Mayor, Term expires 2024

Will O’Neill, District 7,          Mayor Pro Tem, Term expires 2024

Joe Stapleton, District 1,     Term expires 2026 

Brad Avery, District 2,          Term expires 2024

Eric Weigan, District 3,        Term expires 2026 

Robyn Grant, District 4,       Term expires 2026 

Lauren Kleiman, District 6,  Term expires 2026

SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Thomas Moore,  District Two (Leisure World, College Park West & Rossmoor Center), Mayor, Term expires in 2024

Schelly Sustarsic - 2023 Mayor Pro Tem, 2020 Mayor, District Four (College Park East & Town Center), Term expires in 2024

Joe Kalmick - Council Member, 2021, 2022 Mayor, District One (Old Town & Surfside Colony), Term expires in 2026

 Lisa Landau - Council Member, District Three (Hill, Coves, Bridgeport & Heron Pointe), Term expires in 2026

Nathan Steele - Council Member, District Five (Leisure World), Term expires in 2026 

Sign here to ask your city council members to make it easier for households to switch to solar. 

DEMS WIN IF WE VOTE! 

See March Primary voting data below

Keep up with local city news by going to the Huntington Beach City Manager’s newsletter at: https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/announcements/announcement.cfm?id=1579 and clicking on the PDF file. 

OC District 2 Supervisor Katrina Foley has a newsletter which you can find at http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy2kf/newsletters/vol1issue2.html    (This district is in flux.  Updates will follow.)