San Juan Capistrano Tries to Smear Ignacio Lujano

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Posted by Gustavo Arellano in Gunkist Memories

June 18, 2008 2:06 PM

Permalink | Comments (8)

The corrido of Ignacio Lujano, the San Juan Capistrano man who has tended to some of the county's last standing orange groves for the past 40 years, continues. The Los Angeles Times, KCAL-TV Channel 9, and KTLA-TV Channel 5 have covered his battle with the city of San Juan Capistrano to boot him out in favor of a maintenance yard, and each story has provoked increasingly disgusted reactions from readers and viewers aghast that city officials would seek to boot out an 84-year-old man and pave over one of the last remnants of King Citrus.

In the face of public anger, San Juan officials are now busy trying to spin their way out of it. They've now issued a press release seeking to "clear the air" in the face of such scrutiny. Problem is, everything they state has already been reported. And they can't help but to try to spin Lujano as a ward of city residents.

"Over the past few years, the City has had to supplement Lujano’s maintenance of the orchards and surrounding area – at taxpayer’s expense – and the City has transitioned the entire maintenance of the property to its Public Works Department," states the author-less release. San Juan residents would hope the city maintain city-owned property with its coffers, no? And then, they continue.

"Since November 2007, Lujano and his family have been living on the property for free. The City also learned that two adult children and their family members, not permitted under the agreement with Lujano, had taken up residence on the City-owned land."

Look, everyone: welfare-cheating Mexicans! Aren't you glad we're trying to kick this geezer off? What jerks.

The strangest part of the press release, however, is the following:

The City does not intend to build a corporate City maintenance yard at this location. The City will continue to maintain the existing orchard and anticipates restoring portions of the original orchard. The City will use the remainder of the property in the furtherance of other public and open space uses.

That's not what city PR flack Kelly Tokarski told us when we interviewed her for our Lujano story. From my story:

"She said San Juan Capistrano’s open-space master plan called for the Swanner Ranch to become a maintenance yard for the city’s open space and that “this is still the intended use.”

So, which is it, Kelly? And why can't San Juan officials take my phone calls?

Comments (8)

Lisa Alvarez says:
June 18, 2008 15:56

I love your coverage and continuing attention on this story - keep up the pressure! This is what journalism is all about.

Dusty Otero says:
June 18, 2008 17:56

I was at the city council meeting last night in favor of letting him finish his life in the grove...this man taught me how to plant a garden when I was a little boy at 9 years old...I have lived and worked on the farms myself in San Juan Capistrano///My family came to this valley in the early 1840's....The city is wrong...

Therese Gray says:
June 18, 2008 20:24

Thank you for sharing thisstory with others here in Orange County. Ignacio Lujano is my daughter's father in law and I do have somecomments about what the city has said that should be clarified.
Obviously , I am biased in favor of "Nacho" whom I have known for fifteen years to be a hard working man who has led his family by example.
He has never had any money but always seen himself as the caretaker with the utmost respect for the city of San Juan Capistrano and the people who run the city. He has never been disrespectful or demeaning to anyone. He is an American citizen ,first of all,born here but reared in Mexico.
He has NEVER ,ever taken anything in the form of welfare.He has paid cash out of his pocket for the birth and care of his children when he didn't have insurance to pay these costs. He has instilled in his children and grandchildren the value of work.
He leads by example. How many families do you know that spend every Sunday together?They gather to share a meal and be together as their father has encouraged them since they were young. Not many,that I know. He has openly welcomed our family to join his in every holiday celebration. What he lacks in money he makes up for in character.

His son Roy who lives with him has always lived with him and lived there when the city bought the land. They knew he lived there and is a wonderful man who loves and cares for his elderly father.Alex moved back not to long ago when "Dad" required more help.These gentlemen have been helping their Dad do the things their father wouldn't stop doing. They would follow him into the fields to make sure he was ok.I have been there many Sundays watching Alex follow Dad around ,just to make sure he doesn't accidentally fall and injure himself. He still tends those trees he loves ,contrary to what the city asserts. It isn't about money for Nacho ,he truly loves the land and trees.How many of us would have worked for a paltry $500 a month to work 7 days a week on so many acres of trees?
If you have visited the home that is there you can see for yourself that the city has not maintained the property. Please remember these are my words and observations. I know as I write this that Nacho would still be respectful to those who tend to bend the truth to serve their needs. I only hope many of my fellow citizens in Orange County take a drive down to Swanner Ranch and see for themselves what is really going on there.
Therese Gray

Oh Really...... says:
June 18, 2008 22:33

The press mouthpiece, Tokarski, is a worthless PR contractor for several cities....The South cities contract her in put someone in between their politicians and the press....Clueless is she!

Dylan Lujano says:
June 18, 2008 22:38

Thank you for posting this response to the city's press release. I am the son of Alex Lujano, and grandson of Ignacio Lujano. There are many false statements in the press release, including the fact about two adult Lujano's living at the residence. Number one, they are both immediate family, being his sons, and they both tend to the house and most importantly to my grandpa. Just the fact that the city is making a big deal about my 84 year old grandfather wanting to live is life out there, when there are illegal aliens getting more benefits then citizens. My grandfather was born in the united states and has been in orange county for ever. The council is full of cold hearted people, and to think that they are all at least 30 years older than me, and they want to demolish the true san juan capistrano. What are they teaching my generation? They are saying when something gets old, get rid of it. I thought the san juan slogan was to preserve the history? Actions speak louder than words, Much louder.

Red says:
June 19, 2008 08:30

I am so happy that you are following this story. I sent a note to the LATimes writer encouraging him to do the same.

This story just made me cry. An honest, hardworking man who contributed so much for so long looks to be discarded by a city full of wealthy citizens who possibly don't even know that his livlihood is being threatened.

Nice work, Gustavo!

Gustavo Arellano says:
June 19, 2008 12:10

Folks: Gracias to all for your comments and support of Ignacio. Keep the pressure up on those San Juan Capistrano fools!

Susan Swanner Hudson says:
July 19, 2008 17:04

Ignacio and his family are wonderful people. I do not understand why the city of San Juan just can't leave him alone. He has been there for so many years now, what's a few more? At his age, it will be too devastating for him to move. I live in CA now and the Real Estate market here is not doing anyting so what does the city want the properety for now? They aren't going to spend the money to develope it now...so why not let him stay. HE is the reason the property has been kept up all these years.

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