Fears of deportation sweeps are increasing in Orange County after Supreme Court Justices blocked a temporary restraining order that curbed widespread immigration enforcement throughout most of Southern California.
The restraining order stems from an ongoing federal lawsuit that alleges federal agents were racially profiling people in their deportation efforts – a court battle that a handful of OC cities are looking to either join or support.
Locally, Costa Mesa City Council members are looking to roll out a $200,000 immigrant legal aid fund to help represent people caught up in the deportation sweeps. They’re also looking to submit supporting documents in the federal lawsuit against the widespread deportation efforts.
It all comes at a time when legal aid funds are growing throughout Orange County.
CalOptima – the county’s public healthcare plan for the poor – is facing growing calls to release a secret corruption probe into disgraced former OC Supervisor Andrew Do, who used to sit on the board and is now serving a five-year prison term for a bribery scheme stemming from his work as a supervisor.
During his time on the CalOptima board, Do faced a series of controversies: a $12,000 fine for trying to steer contracts to campaign contributors and a controversial hiring of his former top aide to be CalOptima’s chief of staff.
Anaheim voters could decide whether or not they want to institute a gate tax on Disneyland and other entertainment venues after Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava proposed the idea as officials grapple with a $64 million budget deficit.
A panel of judges said that Huntington Beach could see a court-appointed receiver take over where and how to build new housing in the city after council members have resisted adopting a state-mandated housing plan for years, marking another chapter in Surf City’s battle against state housing mandates.
The Orange County Fire Authority continues raising concerns that county officials improperly contracted with a private ambulance company instead of the authority, with Chief Brian Fennessy sending a stern letter to OC Supervisors. County officials deny any impropriety surrounding the contracting process and have denied OCFA’s request for a formal review.
Some Lake Forest residents are protesting three proposed warehouses that could be built next to their neighborhood – a development they say will increase noise, traffic and pollution.
Another Orange County city is cracking down on whippets as Costa Mesa banned retail sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use.
In Newport Beach, residents continue pushing for what they consider fair mooring fees – another chapter in the ongoing saga of how to best manage a public mooring.
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.