Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas faces a $21,000 fine from the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for failing to publicly report more than $190,000 he solicited for a charity he heads, according to the FPPC board meeting agenda released Monday.
Monthly Archives: September 2017
Posted inCommunity Opinion
Curry: Newport Beach State Gas Tax Reversal Highlights Power of Debate in Democracy
Former Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry credits city council members for voting to reverse track this month on their decision to forgo state gas tax funds. Yet it was the public and columnists like Tom Johnson and Barbara Venezia, Curry writes, that really moved the ball. Curry notes the experience underscores the need for strong public comment, debate and engagement in Orange County’s civic life.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Wellness, Top Stories
CalOptima Takes Mental Health Administration In-House
CalOptima, the county’s health care plan for low-income and elderly residents, will now administer its own mental health care services, after the agency voted to phase out its $41 million-a-year contract with Magellan Health.
Posted inLaguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Proceeds With Slusiewicz Investigation
Although Councilman Jerry Slusiewicz resigned as mayor last month, the council moved forward with an investigation into bullying and intimidation claims against him.
Posted inCommunity Opinion
Burgoyne: Riprapping Democracy
Westminster resident Keith Burgoyne writes that citizens of a representative democracy have ownership responsibility for the operation of their government but government officials undermine that role when they engage in efforts to obscure information from the citizen-owners of our government.
Posted inCommunity Opinion
Curry: Political Posturing Costs Newport Taxpayers Hundreds of Thousands
Former City Councilman Keith Curry criticizes a recent decision by the Newport Beach City Council to turn down nearly $500,000 in state funding because of their opposition to the state’s recent gas tax hike. Curry writes that council members were irresponsible to defer much needed infrastructure funding for locals just to send an ideological message to Sacramento.
Posted inWestminster
Former Westminster Planning Commissioner Found Guilty of Accepting $15,000 Bribe
David Vo, a former Westminster Planning Commissioner, was found guilty by a federal jury Thursday of one count of bribery for accepting a $15,000 bribe to help push through a liquor license.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana City Council Calls DACA Repeal “Appalling,” Will Urge Congress to Support DREAM Act
The council action came as demonstrators also gathered in a Santa Ana park to protest the scheduled elimination of the six-year-old program.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Top Stories
Don’t Let Edie’s Death From Valley Fever Be In Vain, Her Sister Pleads
Edie Preller had been an in-home health care worker, taking care of other people who were ill. Then, in her 50s, she ended up in a losing battle for her own life, spending her last three years in and out of a hospital. Awareness campaigns could help prevent misdiagnosis.
Posted inPress Releases
Poseidon’s Carlsbad Desalination Plant Plagued by Problems Huntington Beach Proposal Faces Steep Opposition
Poseidon Water, and its Canadian-owned parent company Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, have spent millions trying lobbying for approval of a new desalination plant in Huntington Beach. The billion dollar facility would be the twin of a Carlsbad plant Poseidon built in December 2015, which has been plagued with problems since its opening.
