'Tavo, How in the fuck can you proclaim that "..Irvine is a cool town, with lots of parks, great restaurants, and a multicultural community..."? Yeah, it's got plenty of parks and a sprinkling of decent ethnic restaurants. But Irvine a "cool town" with a multicultural community? Man, you either gotta be chino, anglo-SANGRON or, perhaps, Persian just to be allowed into those pearly gates. How many shades of beige does that fucked up stepford community really need? Even the chinos in Garbage Grove drive better than their yuppified clones in Irvine. As for the Persians, I dig their festival because their viejas have nice asses but, come on, didn't Persia rename itself Iran in homage to its Aryan roots? If that doesn't spell Irvine Elitism I don't know what does. Larry Agran may have had decent progressive beginnings but look what happended to him. Pinchi Irvine planned community. Keep your Safest City in America title and but stay the fuck inside your own moat.

I think Irvine is quite possibly one of the most boring cities in Orange County.

Irvine is to Sothern California as AOL is to the internet.

Irvine is to cosmopolitan cities as the Dave Matthews Band is to interesting music.

And a wonderful place to raise a family, make friends, start a business, with great schools, parks, shops, streets and people. Keep underestimating Irvine. We like it that way.

Irvine is full of smug people like the guy above.

Is Dan Chmielewski Miss Irvine? Give me a break. Your city is safe and boring, don't try to fake it.

Hey Irvine:
No one buys your brand of crap. The sewage lines run under your homes too. You are what the whole world would be if the Nazis had won the war.

Boring Irvine: Yes, you can go on vacation and come back to your home in tact. Cops actually show up when you call. The subdivide the city up and police it efficiently.

Gustavo you probably were in Woodbridge? We parked an old trailer there and had a notice on it w/in 5 hours. The neighbors are conditioned to narc on anything that looks out of place.

I was born and raised in Irvine. I know Irvine is boring, but I think it would be more spoiled and entitled of me to complain about it. I moved to the East Bay recently and it’s awful to see elementary school kids hassled by crack heads. I know it’s a bit extremist, but anyone from that neighborhood would be grateful to grow up in Irvine. And out of respect for people who grew up in violent areas, I won't complain about the lack of culture/things to do in Irvine. As far as the NIMBYers: I once pluralized a pedestrian walk sign with a sharpie and a witness called the cops on me. Two cop cars tracked me down and detained me. Also, curfew tickets, tons of 'em. That was shitty.

I totally agree, with the article I've have live in Irvine for 15 years and is just how it is !!!!!!!!!

Irvine has the most corrupt government regime in Southern California. You can be certain that Larry's pals sure live well off of the Great Park. Skunk.

Cheeser: Have you ever had the sangak at Wholesome Choice? That alone makes Irvine better than most of the towns in OC. True what you say about the ethnic makeup, although I've caught Mexicans there who have cash. Irvine ain't racist; it's elitist beyond belief.

Dan: No one underestimates Irvine. Even the easiest slur against it—that it's Stepford Town—is a knowing commendation of how perfect everything seems to be. And what you said is true, but isn't it telling that in a city full of libs, they can't even stomach the thought of an Eldo parked within the limits?

Caged Bird: HILARIOUS!

IHB Fan: Actually, the experience was in University Park; isn't that supposed to be the slum of Irvine following wherever the students live?

Mr. Arellano,

Nice Car! A classic "made in the USA" beauty. Maybe that's the problem ...

Re "Irvine is a cool town" ...

You're too generous.

Irvine's "cool" - like Wonder Bread "helps build strong bodies 12 ways."

I had an opportunity to talk to a homeless person recently, (said they lost their 17 yr job with a local grocery giant due to medical problems).

Said that Irvine is so unfriendly to the disadvantaged - he won't eve ride a bus through that city.

If the powers that be over there hear about this - they'll all be patting themselfs on the back, saying, see what a "great job" we're doing ...

Funny though, how that city is supposedly "liberal" in it's philosophy.

If so, their position is somewhat hypocritical, isn't it?

?

"Hypocrisy is my least favorite sin."
Mark Twain

imo

Mi querido Gustavo,

We might be a boring bunch but we are one of five cities in Orange County that voted Proposition 8 down.

A Latina Irvine Resident for 24 years

They're the loosest in OC--but you didn't hear it from me!

Wow! So many haters...isn't it totally natural and just like human nature to have most people like or defend where they live? But there seems to be some frustration of where some of you live and the life you're leading. And isn't totally easier to project on those that actually plan their life out with goals and strive to achieve them and totally content with where they are then to actually fix your own life? I think so. No doubt, we can't go buy alcohol at midnight from any corner in Irvine, nor do we get the lovely murals (and graffiti) but we're okay with that, we actually like it that way. You guys send your kids to LAUSD and I'll keep mine here in Irvine. Nothing wrong with an education and standards people, seriously.

Minerva: Don't misquote me! I said Irvine was cool, not boring. And while you might vote down Prop. 8 (and good for Irvine on that!), you can't tolerate the mere appearance of poverty in your town. Not very liberal!

Benn: You make absolutely no sense. What does LAUSD have to do with anything?

Gustavo: Its a known fact that the Irvine School District is one of the best in the state and ranks extremely high nationally, while the LAUSD, well, does not.

Education is the key component here, there is a high percentage of Irvine residents who are college educated and that lends them to value the process of goal-setting and goal-attainment, very much the way our education system works. In which planning is a major aspect and which Irvine does so well.

So its got allot to do with education and values and a vast majority of Irvine residents share these commonalities and agree to uphold these basic values, that not everybody (apparently) esteem.

These values lead to an appreciation for planned communities, safe neighborhoods, good schools and low crime. Your readers should look up "the broken windows" theory to learn why Irvine does this, basically, if things are kept nice and clean than criminals are less likely to act in those areas because it sends a tacit subconscious message that people live here who care and are watching. Hope that clarified things.

And Gustavo, if you didn't want your car ticketed than you should have had the girl you spent the night with print you out a parking pass and save yourself the headache because I guarantee you Irvine has a process and procedure for that. Its about being "educated" as to what that process is (wink-wink). After all, knowledge is power.

Hey, Ben-dejo,

It ain't Gustavo's fault that your wife didn't 'print' him a parking pass for him. Are you shitting me? Printing a parking permit for one night? Irvine: Land of Policy and Procedure. My compadre attended UCI and he was 'written' up for having the wrong shade of beige on his bedroom shutters. What crap.

Benn: There's nothing more I despise than an apologist, and you are most definitely one. "Being educated"? Are you kidding me? Funny how when I parked overnight in my Camry, I never once got a ticket—and even better, I'd leave it parked there for days on end!

And for you to bring up LAUSD instead of the local example, Santa Ana Unified, shows me you truly live in a bubble. Obviously, you have no problem with that—good luck facing the real world!

Cesar's comments aren't worth the time or energy to respond to, so I won't.

But you Gustavo surprise me, its not an Irvine thing, its an inconspicuous thing. And that boat of a vehicle you have does just the opposite, it sticks out like a soar thumb and that's why you got the note.

You can't have it both ways bud, you can't get the looks from the girls and the pats on the back from the guys without that same "attention grabbing" issue bringing negative or shall we say, "undesirable" attention as well. So suck it up and chock it up to the high profile of the vehicle, not the city.

Lastly, I don't know anyone who doesn't fall prey to some apologetic rendering so to paint me uncommon is unfair and deceitful to the readers. Besides, with all the hate your article conjured from the readership somebody needed to step in and defend the apparent minority view and I was glad to do it.

The "real world" is the world you create. And that's why Irvine works because people have made it the way they want it, so don't hate on people for being successful and getting what they want, that's just pathetic.

And for the record, Santa Ana Unified is not the Irvine School District so the point still holds that Irvine is great for kids and education whether its SAU or LAUSD.

Bullshit, Benn. As I noted above, guaranteed I would've been left alone if it was, say, a Packard or a more "classic" (read: preferred by gabachos) classic car. And the question remains: why not my Camry that was left for days? You're making apologies for the worst NIMBYers in OC, but hey: at least Irvine isn't the hell known as Laguna Niguel!

Gustavo - I'm not trying to say it doesn't suck getting a ticket but I am saying there are more stealth ways of not getting one and "the boat" ain't one of them.

And seriously dude, you got a warning ticket. Hardly cruel and unusual punishment. I can't think of a time or story I've EVER heard of anyone in LA getting a "warning" ticket. All of mine have been the real deal.

Here's the other thing, how can you be so sure the residents ratted you out? The tow trucks and association watchdogs are on daily/hourly routine routes. Ever consider that?

At least we can both agree on Laguna Parking enforcement sucking (lol). But I, unlike you, will not blame the city but my own impatient attitude that compels me to get frustrated and park wherever the hell I can. But I accept that character flaw and am aware of it and will work to improve it. Ohm-shanti.

A warning ticket for no reason, Benn. Again: I parked overnight, not for 72 hours. Take off your bubble glasses.

So much hatred toward Irvine when all it does it sit there and look pretty. Irvine is proof that economic status is the great equalizer.

Thank you Wade, finally, a voice of reason!

Gustavo - Not sure what area of Irvine it was specifically but in the town homes and apartments the parking is tight and residents are told to fill out an overnight pass for guests or their own vehicles if they're going to park outside.

Not saying that was the case but it very well could be.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Answer me again why my Camry never got ticketed? It's okay if your city is Orwellian in its monitoring; no one is perfect. Hell, the best town in Orange County is Anacrime!

Gus - we've been over this, your Camry never got a ticket because it was inconspicuous and didn't alert the attention of the neighborhood watch or the neighbors themselves (which I'm not totally convinced threw the rat).

The look and size of your "boat" caught their attention and they opted to enforce the parking policy.

It wasn't personal, it was just residents not appreciating your taste in classic cars.

BTW - nice touch posting a sweet picture of your car's model but all cherry. I'm envisioning now a huge "hoopty" that drips oil and sticks out way too much.

Good, so you finally admit class bias exists in Irvine! You obviously didn't read the post close enough, though, which states my name and the condition of my car, both of which you got wrong. So much for that lauded Irvine education...

Didn't realize you were SO sensitive about your name, I guess you're just a sensitive guy considering your emotional over reaction to the parking incidence. In which you didn't even receive an actual citation and which cost you no real money, but I guess your "feelings" got hurt.

Grow up and quit whining about some supposed middle class injustice you believe you suffered because you got a couple parking notices.

Fix your car up or get a permit for parking so you won't keep shunning your responsibilities on others, "oh, its Irvine's fault their streets are so clean and their residents care".

That gets old real quick in relationships but something tells me you already knew that.

Let me guess, you "never" do anything wrong and this was the mean Irvine authorities persecuting you for your avant-guard taste in automobiles?

Ya right, you sound more like a sniveling momma's boy who is so use to not getting called on his crap and so use to getting his way he can't take responsibility for himself and his actions.

Not that you failed to pay attention the FIRST 2 notices you received, sounds like Irvine was WAY to gracious on you and you should have gotten a ticket.

Plus, the over reach you just made on class biasness is way out of line. For the record, class bias (which this wasn't, just some guy who likes to whine and doesn't follow procedure) exist in just about every society on the planet and throughout history.

So to try and paint Irvine as the epicenter is ridiculous and shows the ax you're trying to grind because not everybody thinks your car is so great and don't want it dripping oil in their clean streets.

Speak of being sensitive! I just made a crack at your lack or reading skills, and you throw a hissy fit! You STILL can't accept that what happened was wrong, can you? Tell me: why should someone get a warning when they've done nothing wrong? Is that right? In your fevered Irvine mind, yes; to the rest of humanity with a sense of decency, you and your ilk are NIMBY nitwits. Enjoy your palpitating heart the next time you have to drive into SanTana!

Hey Gustavo,
Your piece was funny but the premise is whack. My beamer got ticketed in Uni Park and I live there! Irvine and your readers could benefit from less knee jerk analysis.

Are you kidding me? That's just FURTHER confirmation of my premise! Geez, what a crazy city!!!

Irvine? The city that when I could drive for medical reasons I avoided like the plague?

While anything south of SA was not pedestrian friendly, Irvine ruled the herd. Between the walking distances and the time it takes to get anyplace on a bus, there is no place for someone without a car.

How can it be called safe when the city itself is openly stealing peoples property rights? You pay for the property yet you can't decide which tint of beige to paint it? At least most corrupt cities try to keep these kinds of things under-the-covers.

Irvine? The city that embodies progressive ideals as Hilter's Germany did. But then it's "local socialism" isn't national yet.

But then I don't belong there because I don't have enough college and can't keep up with their plastic standards.

I hate irvine. There's not much open space. The streets go a long way. Walls of houses lined up side by side or gigantic apartment complexes make it seem closed in. Try walking down the street. You'll get tired just walking from one intersection to the next. Being trapped on a sidewalk that seems to go on forever forward and backwards but no sideways direction in sight gets frustrating. Add to that trying to cross the 8-lane streets because there are too many people/cars in irvine. Everything is corporate. Lots of paved parking lots, not alot of grass. It's a lot better than Santa Anna though.

Irvine is a stale place to live, for many of the reasons listed above. What many of its own residents don't even know is that they have among the most polluted water in California. They use soo many pesticides and fertilizers to keep their trees tall and grass green--their water run-off alone could kill a whale. Many residents have gotten mysteriously sick, tumors, thyroid problems, hair loss, and death--much of it has to do with the big cover-up regarding the illegal disposal of jet-fuel engine the air force base that used to sit on Irvine committed. It now seeps into your water. They dug up barrels and barrels of toxic chemicals. El Toro base, same thing. Irvines great park sits on a chemical waste dump that the city does not want its own residents or visitors to realize because it would tarnish their name and cost them too much $$ to clean up. Irvine is among the fastest growing cities in the US--overwhelming our streets and freeways with new camrys, but they were the only city to reject the 28 mile long orange county light rail center line system because they didnt want "those people" coming into their city. Get a clue Irvine, all your neighbors hate you and don't ever want to visit your city. I don't even visit my friend who moved there anymore, she lives too far to drive IN THIS ECONOMY where buses don't reach AND SHE'S LOSING HER HAIR w/ NO EXPLANATION! I haven't even started about the acres of pristine and endangered coastal sage scrub ecosystem that irvine plowed over to build more houses on. irvine company is an awful monster.