Adam Townsend from the Orange County Register wrote an article on the demolition of the World Citrus plant in Fullerton. Some key points in the article are:
- The city was involved in a year-long lawsuit to obtain the property through eminent domain, finally settling to pay the owners $10.5 million for the property in October 2008.
- The parking garage will be a key component in the city's redevelopment plans for the area, which it calls the Fullerton Transportation Center.
- The Orange County Transportation Authority and state had set aside $43 million in funding for the land, site clearance, remediation, acquisition and construction of the 35-foot structure, city officials have said.
- Before the Fullerton plant closed, workers in Florida filled 50 to 60 5,400-gallon tankers weekly with pure orange juice to haul to Fullerton. The local plant also bottled Arizona Tea.
- 90 jobs or more were lost or moved to Florida
- The move ended Fullerton's link to the citrus industry – it was the last plant processing juice in the county.
This wasn't gentle nudging and negotiation for property; it was an all out legal battle for land. As a result, the City will lose desperately needed tax revenue and jobs so that people, many from neighboring cities, can park their cars and take a train to work, all of which is paid for on the backs of taxpayers. It is difficult to argue that a public parking garage does not benefit the public however, is a public parking structure funded by our tax dollars worth the damage that is caused? Does the end justify the means?
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