With the Mesa Water District board of directors ready to vote tonight on spiking water rates, questions linger about expensive lobbying and public affairs spending, high executive salaries and recent board compensation hikes.
Category: Norberto Santana Jr.
Columns by Norberto Santana Jr., Voice of OC’s publisher, on Orange County government, public records and the habits of the people who run the county. He has written this column since the newsroom started.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Could Seek as Much as $45 Million in Public Subsidies
With Orange County supervisors poised to approve a developer to remake Dana Point Harbor this week, two different approaches appear for a public/private sector partnership to build hotels, docks and shops at the harbor. One bidder – Dana Point Partners – wants a $45 million subsidy from taxpayers while another, Dana Point Harbor Partners, seeks $20 million, both largely to fund parking garages and potential nearby street improvements.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Could OC College Republicans Save the GOP?
With a car tax recall potentially on the ballot next year, four congressional races in Orange County and a campus-friendly central committee, young Republicans like UCI’s Ariana Rowlands could become a force on the local campaign scene across Orange County. Could they make the difference in 2018 for the GOP?
Posted inIrvine, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Vets Cemetery in Irvine Stuck?
Irvine City staff are asking questions about the future of idle portions of a proposed 125-acre veterans’ cemetery – possibly eyeing vacant parcels for commercial development. Veteran leaders are publicly worrying that an expected Tuesday vote to finalize a controversial land swap for the vets cemetery could be in doubt along with key aspects of the deal to bring a state veterans’ cemetery to Irvine.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr., Santa Ana
Santana: Inaction Can Kill
Orange County Supervisors keep wasting precious time with an anemic response to the homelessness explosion along the Santa Ana riverbed and downtown civic center. With Hep A outbreaks prompting action in both LA and San Diego Counties, how much longer will it take county supervisors to step up and protect public safety in Orange County?
Posted inCountywide, Mission Viejo, Norberto Santana Jr., Safety, Security & Justice
Santana: OC Contract Cities Rebuke County Supervisors Over Spiraling Sheriff Costs
Following significant salary hikes granted by Orange County Supervisors to Sheriff Deputies, fueling a 33 percent increase in costs over the past decade, contract cities are now starting to publicly question whether they need to look into alternatives. OC’s biggest contract city, Mission Viejo, takes leadership on a new audit of Sheriff’s patrol services. Big questions also loom over whether city or county taxpayers own the long-term pension obligations for both Deputy Sheriff’s and Firefighters if cities bolt from current regional policing and fire protection models.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Orange County Faces a Public Safety Leadership Crisis
Orange County’s Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ credibility has been destroyed by Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals. Meanwhile, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas stands accused of political corruption by his own senior investigators. Regional fire service also is in full crisis mode after executives at the Orange County Fire Authority apparently ousted Fire Chief Jeff Bowman against the will of rank and file firefighters.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Workers Get A Front Row Seat at the OC Fairgrounds
This month, Orange County’s state fairgrounds in Costa Mesa formally opened a memorial to agricultural workers – a far cry from where the agency stood nearly a decade ago when fair board members led the charge to privatize what they termed “an underutilized asset.”
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The Lack of Ethics Commission
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.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Public Wins, Politicians Lose on Secrecy in OC
Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that Orange County supervisors should reimburse local taxpayers for the more than $120,000 in legal fees they just had to pay Voice of OC after losing a public records lawsuit. It likely won’t be the last time the courts are needed to pry public records loose and Santana says Voice of OC will stay on the case.
