
For years, a resident warned the city that a WWII memorial in Fullerton was deteriorating.
When nothing was done, he restored the faded names himself. The city responded with a cease-and-desist.
Even councilmembers later called the response “excessive” and “heavy handed.”

At a Fullerton City Council meeting, community members and business owners submitted overwhelming support for keeping Walk on Wilshire as a pedestrian plaza, including nearly 2,000 signatures and support from ~70 businesses.

On 2/25/26, Fullerton Planning Commission voted 4-1 to deny a 32-unit, 3-story condo project on an empty lot. Commissioners Tutor, Dino, Valadez, and Wehn voted to deny, while Commissioner Fleenor voted to approve. The project was proposed under California’s Builder’s Remedy housing law, which limits when cities can deny housing proposals. The developer’s attorney warned that denying the project without a valid health or safety finding could expose the city to mandatory attorney fees and legal penalties under state housing law.

Fullerton discovered $2.9 million was in the wrong fund since 2022. The amended budget now shows a ~$10 million swing, and reserves could fall to 2% within 14 months. Councilmembers clashed over how serious this is and how it went unnoticed for years

In 2021, as Fullerton faced a $10 million budget deficit and discussed austerity, City Council debated whether councilmembers should have private offices. This is part of that discussion.

The City of Fullerton raised outdoor dining patio rents by 90%. This sudden increase prompted the owner of Les Amis to speak out during public comment. Councilmembers requested a public discussion, and the city granted a temporary stay pending that discussion. Months passed without the item being heard. In October, Les Amis' patio was removed by the city before the council ever voted on the fees. These clips show how the issue unfolded on the record

A moment during public comment raised questions about decorum, speaking time, and who public space belongs to. These tensions are part of how local democracy functions