Lucy Gonzalez, Senior Risk Manager for many of the Authority’s Orange County members, will be working directly with the city. “I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the City of Stanton. The staff is committed to mitigating risk through the proactive implementation of safety and risk control measures for their residents and employees.”

 “The City of Stanton has a motto: Community Pride and Forward Vision. That slogan demonstrates the city’s focus on continued revitalization,” said California JPIA Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull. “The Authority looks forward to supporting Stanton as the city provides its facilities and services for the betterment of its residents.”

 Grove City College Professor of Political Science Dr. Samuel S. Stanton has been appointed an associate editor of the journal Global Security Review.

 Stanton will serve as an associate editor for the deterrence and foreign policy section of the journal. In addition to selecting and editing submissions about what is shaping American nuclear modernization, nuclear strategy, policy, and operations, Stanton will be writing about the nexus of nuclear modernization and foreign policy.

 Professor Stanton is very well suited to this role,” Dr. Michael Coulter, chair of the Political Science Department, said. “He's been an active participant in academic conferences as a presenter and one who comments on research presented by others – and he's extremely well read in the scholarly works related to deterrence and foreign policy. This role will also enhance his teaching as he'll be engaging with new scholarly work and sharing it with students.

 Global Security Review was recently acquired by the National Institute for Deterrence Studies – an organization that provides national security analysis, policy solutions, and deterrence education – and relaunched as a venue for publishing articles related to nuclear deterrence. Stanton is a senior fellow with the Institute.

 Stanton’s research focuses on international security issues, ethnic conflict, terrorism/counterterrorism, and South China Sea conflict. He teaches International Relations, Great Power Politics, National Security, African Politics, Asian Politics, and Research Methods.

 Before any Stanton jokes, understand that its residents have done what few communities could pull off – they voted themselves a sales tax increase.

 Yes, this community has so much pride, so much moxie that in November voters chose to have the highest sales tax in the county. And already the desperately needed revenue is changing Orange County’s poorest – and scrappiest – city.

 The placard on the visitor’s counter at Stanton City Hall captures this comeback story. It says that by boosting sales tax from 8 percent to 9 percent, the city has restored personnel to handle 911 calls.

 To survive, the city cut deep into bone. And to keep the city in the black, the formula is simple: The city has only 28 full-time staff and watches dollars by contracting out as much as possible, including law enforcement, fire and ambulance service.

 But even during the city’s worst days, residents rose up to save their city. And not just Boy Scout types.

 Without getting anything more than sweat, Barrios rode atop a mower and cut the lawn in Hollenbeck Park, a 10-acre swath of land.

 That decision revealed a lot, considering that Stanton has thousands of residents who live in apartments and has one of the densest populations in the county.

 How dense? Mission Viejo spreads 96,000 residents over nearly 18 square miles. Stanton packs more than 38,000 people into 3.1 square miles.

 In his office off Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue – two of the county’s busiest thoroughfares – City Manager Jim Box admits, “For seven years we were not able to balance the budget.”

 Box points to a newly created strategic plan for the city, emphasizing such goals as providing a safe community, a strong local economy, transparent government. As Box talks, he details the focus – and bringing the plans to fruition.

 Transparency? On Stanton’s website, you can easily find the curious (the city flower is bird of paradise) and the serious (the city budget, which totals nearly $34 million).

 Safe? The littlest city that can – thanks to the sales tax increase – also has added a code enforcer and two part-time “park rangers.”

David Shawver

 The rangers are not sworn officers and don’t carry firearms. Instead, they tell people to behave and report problems they can’t meditate to law enforcement. In the past 12 months, rangers handled 1,248 incidents and interactions.

 But Box says a $1.5 million crime-prevention grant, two neighborhood injunctions preventing gang members from associating and efforts by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies have decreased property crimes.

 Violent crimes are holding steady. Stanton had 1,661 property crimes five years ago, according to Lt. Jim England, chief of police, and last year that dropped to 1,095.

 Dotson Park’s makeover boasts state-of-the-art play equipment and includes a mock pirate ship. Veterans Memorial Park is beautifully landscaped with drought-resistant plants. And once it’s completed, the new Stanton Central Park should boast sports fields, a skate park, tennis courts, a water feature for children and a rec center.

 Park Avenue restaurant features steaks and chops and has a sterling reputation in the city, although the Register’s food critic takes exception. The restaurant also has a four-star recommendation on Yelp with more than 700 reviews.

 Straddling the Stanton-Anaheim border, historic and funky Hobby City covers nearly 12 acres with a down-home mix of shops hawking everything from baseball cards to model cars, as well as a doll and toy museum.

 Adventure City, next to Hobby City, offers thrills for wee ones. Box mentions he recently took his niece and reports a cozy, safe, secure atmosphere perfect for a child learning to venture out.

 Sure, Adventure City is no Disney California Adventure. But that’s part of its charm. Among other things, Adventure City includes a petting farm, a roller-coaster, a carousel, as well as firetruck, plane and balloon rides.