IRVINE- The City of Irvine is accepting nominations for individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses for the City’s Wall of Recognition from November 1 through December 30.
The Wall of Recognition, established in 2006 at Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the community. This year’s honorees will join the more than 420 individuals and organizations that have been added to the Wall of Recognition and will be recognized during a ceremony in the spring.
To be eligible for consideration, individual nominees must be or have been a person living, working, or attending school within the City. Groups, businesses, and organizations must be or have been located in Irvine.
Additional criteria include:
- Demonstrated creativity and/or initiative in providing service to the community;
- Provided long-term service to the community, state, or nation;
- Made unique contributions marked by excellence and worthy of honor;
- Made distinct, significant contribution(s) for the betterment of the City;
- Demonstrated exceptional determination, character, commitment, and leadership; and/or
- Nominee died in the line of duty serving the City, the state, or the nation.
No more than three nominations may be submitted by any one individual or group. Forms are available online at cityofirvine.org/publicrecognition or at the Community & Library Services Department at Civic Center West, 17101 Armstrong Ave.
Completed applications must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, and submitted by one of the following methods:
- By mail: City of Irvine City Clerk, P.O. Box 19575, Irvine, CA 92623-9575
- By email: clerk@cityofirvine.org(link sends e-mail)
- In person: Irvine City Hall, Attn: City Clerk, 1 Civic Center Plaza, first floor reception desk
For more information, visit cityofirvine.org/publicrecognition.
I had written to the Irvine City Manager to formally object to the proposed inclusion of ANN HWU on the City of Irvine’s Wall of Recognition. Council member, Melinda Liu has nominated her with no justification as to her contributions to the City of Irvine.
The Wall of Recognition is intended to honor individuals whose contributions to the city are clear, widely respected, and reflective of Irvine’s core values—particularly transparency, integrity, and service to the public. Based on publicly available information, Ms. Hwu’s involvement in matters connected to the city does not meet that standard.
Ms. Hwu has been affiliated with a company called Noodoe, the EV charging supplier associated with the City’s contract with Casco Construction. That contract remains one of the more controversial procurement decisions in recent years. It involved the City Council overriding a formal RFP process, relied on revenue and performance projections that did not materialize, and has been widely criticized for failing to deliver the promised public benefit. It was also discovered that Noodoe contracted out the EV Chargers to a Tiawan manufacturer when the deal was made on the condition that the manufacturer would be local. The city is losing approximately $2 million a year in revenue. (The contract is for 10 years.) Meanwhile, over 100 EV Charging Stations are at the Great Park that are slow and outdated, taking up valuable parking spaces.
In addition, Ms. Hwu’s participation in political fundraising activity connected to a former councilmember following the award of that contract raises serious concerns regarding the appearance of pay-to-play dynamics. Regardless of legality, the Wall of Recognition should be held to a higher ethical standard than merely avoiding legal violations. It should reflect unquestioned public trust.
The connection between the former councilmember (who was convicted of voter fraud), and sitting councilmember, Melinda Liu, along with Ann Hwu only raises further concerns. Recognizing an individual tied to a disputed procurement outcome risks undermining confidence in the City’s commitment to fair, merit-based decision-making. It sends a troubling message that controversial results and unresolved public concerns do not disqualify an individual from receiving one of the City’s highest forms of recognition.
Furthermore, the timing of this recognition is premature. The outcomes associated with the EV charging program have not demonstrated clear, lasting public benefit, and the broader concerns surrounding the decision-making process have not been meaningfully resolved in the public sphere. Recognition should follow demonstrated success and sustained positive impact—not unfulfilled projections.
Irvine is home to many educators, veterans, public safety professionals, and long-serving community members whose records of service are beyond question and deserving of recognition. Ann Hwu is not one of these individuals.