Governor Brown Signs Bill Prohibiting Sale of OC Fair & Event Center Property
Costa Mesa, Calif. (September 13, 2016) – Governor Jerry Brown has signed AB 1907, legislation authored by Anaheim Assemblymember Tom Daly, which prohibits the State of California from selling the State property that the OC Fair & Event Center currently operates on and closing a 7-year-old loophole that gave the Department of General Services the authority to sell the 150-acre fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.
Formally known as Sections 3884.1 and 3884.2 of the Food and Agricultural Code, the California Department of General Services was given the legal authority in 2009 by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sell a variety of State-owned sites to close what was a $42 billion state budget deficit. Daly’s bill repeals the 2009 provision that created District 32a covering the property the OC Fair & Event Center (aka 32nd District Agricultural Association) operates on and allowed the property to be sold in whole or any portion by the Department of General Services.
“This clears any doubt that has lingered over the OC Fair & Event Center since 2009. We can continue to focus on providing quality entertainment and educational opportunities to our guests without the worry of the property being sold off at a moment’s notice,” said OC Fair & Event Center CEO Kathy Kramer.
In celebration of AB 1907’s approval, the OC Fair & Event Center’s Board of Directors and management team will hold a small celebration during the annual Community Open House scheduled for September 22 in the Administration Building. The Open House starts at 7 pm and allows for neighbors and interested parties to have an open dialogue with key staff about this year’s OC Fair. It is free and open to the public.
AB 1907 is co-authored by Assembly members Ling-Ling Chang and Young Kim, as well as Senators Patricia Bates, Bob Huff, Tony Mendoza and Janet Nguyen.
The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA, is home to the annual OC Fair and year-round Centennial Farm and with 150 acres of diverse, flexible event space, it’s also host of a variety of events throughout the year for arts, crafts, cars, cultural celebrations, pets, collectibles and more. Every summer, the OC Fair offers 23 days of food, exhibits, rides, shopping, action sports, tribute bands and headline entertainment in the Pacific Amphitheatre. Throughout the year, the Centennial Farm offers free opportunities for locals to experience first-hand Orange County’s rich agricultural history. For more information, please visit ocfair.com, become a fan on Facebook.com/OCFair, follow us at twitter.com/ocfair or call (714) 708-1500.