It’s been more than 14 months since Orange County voters approved an ethics commission. Still, only one county supervisor – Shawn Nelson – has appointed a board member to the important oversight panel, which has yet to publicize any actions or the appointment process.
Monthly Archives: August 2017
Posted inCommunity Opinion, Education, Santa Ana
Rodríguez: Santa Ana Unified School District Approach on District Security Officers Jeopardizes Student Safety
Rigo Rodríguez, who is a Governing Board Member for the Santa Ana Unified School District, questions implementation of a district plan to shift 25 of 38 District Security Officers (DSOs) from their middle schools and high schools to other sites, urging cooperation, just as labor leaders meet today with school district officials on the shift.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Top Stories
Hundreds of Dollars in ‘Gifts’ From Contractors to Supervisor Nelson Raise Legal Questions
Nelson received $539 worth of wine from Potomac Partners, a Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm, a few weeks after he cast a deciding vote to award them a county contract. He says his approach is legal because he paid the contractors for the items out of campaign funds and will use them at an office event.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OCDA Responds to Grand Jury Report on “Myth” of Jailhouse Informant Scandal
In an official response to the Orange County Grand Jury’s June report, which called the jailhouse informant scandal a “myth,” District Attorney Tony Rackauckas agreed with most of the report’s findings, except for those which criticized his department for a lack of training protocols and procedure.
Posted inPress Releases
Report Finds Opioid Overdoses in Orange County on the Rise
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today released the “Opioid Overdose and Death in Orange County” report. Among key findings: the rate of opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits has more than doubled since 2005.
Posted inPress Releases
OCGOP Applauds Court Order Suspending Unlawful Recall Changes
Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Fred M. Whitaker released the following statement after an appellate court suspended the Democrats’ unlawful and politically driven attempt to save Senator Josh Newman from being recalled by his constituents.
Posted inPress Releases
OCGOP Calls for Investigation into Lake Forest Recall Committee
Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Fred M. Whitaker released the following statement after it was revealed that convicted forger Josue Vizcay is working with ex-Lake Forest City Councilman Adam Nick and the Committee To Recall Lake Forest Councilman Andrew Hamilton 2017.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Why Did It Take So Long for the Sheriff’s Department to Turn Over Jailhouse Informant Records?
It’s one of several questions Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals is considering before ruling Aug. 18 on whether or not confessed mass murderer Scott Evans Dekraai faces the death penalty
Posted inLaguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Mayor Jerry Slusiewicz Unexpectedly Resigns
“To put it bluntly, my colleagues do not want me as the mayor, and I cannot lead a body suffering from the great disability of indifference,” Slusiewicz said in a statement minutes after resigning.
Posted inCommunity Opinion
Rodriguez: Skate Parks Beneficial to Overall Youth Health
Marcos Rodriguez writes that Santa Ana needs to build more skate able features at new city parks such as rails, stairs, small ramps, and ledges.