State Office Building Sale - Plaintiffs Lack Standing, Not Merit, in Case

Documents We're Waiting On

Things We're Waiting For: Tracing $8 Million Sent to CCA During Fairgrounds Sale - Pacific Progressive
Nossaman did research on how to use Fairgrounds money to provide opening capital for the Fair Foundation. $8 million was sent to the California Construction Authority during the sale, and there is documentation that indicates this could be the money for the opening capital. We've asked for the money to be traced, and Interim CEO Doug Lofstrom is giving us the run around.

On December 11, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard ruled that the plaintiffs in the case to stop the sale of state office buildings lacked standing to bring the suit and did not rule on the merits of the case. Joseph Crotchett, the attorney bringing the suit on behalf the two men, will appeal the ruling.

The judge's ruling does not confirm that the Legislature and governor are correct and have legal standing to sell the office buildings. The ruling only means that the judge believes the wrong people showed up in court to bring the suit because they cannot show how they will be impacted by the sale of the office buildings.

The sale has been controversial. Mayor Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana said in a deposition that he could receive $500,000 in success fees if the sales closed as planned but later retracted that statement. Research is showing that successful bidders have ties to Gov, Schwarzenegger thru campaign contributions and one may be a UC Regent. State Controller John Chiang and Treasure Bill Lockyer have come out against the sale saying the taxpayers will be the loser in the long run because of the relatively high interest rate (10%) being paid on the sale.

The sale of the state office buildings was authorized by ABX4 22, the same bill which put the Orange County Fairgrounds up for sale.

Coverage of the sale office buildings:

Link to draft leases, economic analysis, offers, and proposals for sale of state office buildings

Dec 11, 2010 - LA Times - Judge Refuses to Halt Sale of Two Dozen State Government Buildings

Dec 10, 2010 - Voice of OC - Judge OKs Pulido-Involved Property Sale

Dec 9, 2010 - California's Capitol - More Information on Who is Buying 11 State Office Buildings

Dec 7, 2010 - LA Times - $500,000 'Success Fee' Revealed in Proposed Sale of State Buildings

Dec 3, 2010 - UCLA Faculty Association - Bad Deal for State Involves UC Regent

Dec 2, 1010 - California's Capitol - Is Capital Pacific Holding Helping to Buy 11 State Buildings?

Nov 23, 2010 - LA Times - Judge May Bar Sale of 24 California Buildings

Nov 20, 2010 - Huffington Post - Could a California Budget Fix Threaten National Security?

Nov 16, 2010 - KPCC - California Board Clears Way for Sale of State Buildings