Locals lauding state's decision to reject fairground bids

The Orange County Fair Preservation Society held a press conference this morning praising the decision by the State of California to reject all bids to purchase the grounds.

Sandy Genis, an instrumental leader of the OCFPS, and former Mayor for the City of Costa Mesa, said the fairgrounds needs to operate in "openness, with accountability and with a long-term goal of preserving the property."

Cosa Mesa City Council member Katrina Foley called the fairgrounds "a great public asset, that needs to include a marketplace, a fairgrounds and an equestrian center."

"We need to talk with the state and determine next step plans," Foley added.

Speculation is that the city of Costa Mesa will continue to work with local groups and, perhaps, the County of Orange, to complete a long-term deal with the state to operate under local control..

To that affect, the Costa Mesa City Council is putting a measure (C) on the ballot in June designed to preserve the fair property for its continued long-term use.