Orange County’s Auditor Controller Eric Woolery is locked in a heated battle with county retirement administrators and county executives over a quiet deal struck back in February to retroactively fund a pension for Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s first term in office – one where he publicly fought to refuse a public pension.
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 inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Will OC Supes Expand Office of Independent Review?
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. ponders what expansion of independent oversight to agencies like DA, Public Defender and Probation might look like and whether OC Supervisors have the pocketbook to play.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is it Criminal to be Homeless in Anaheim?
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr. credits Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quesada for calling for a break to rethink homelessness outreach.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Supervisors Get Ethics
Orange County supervisors have moved from attacking a county ethics commission to stepping over themselves to sponsor battling versions of the proposal. A citizen-led ballot drive looms in the background Tuesday as supervisors deliberate on two ordinances.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is Civic Activism Turning the Tide in OC?
Amidst movement on combating homelessness, an animal shelter, an ethics commission and civilian oversight of police, Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. applauds progress but warns residents need to stay engaged for politics to actually work on their behalf.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Will Gov. Brown Go Up on CRONEY?
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. ponders whether Gov. Jerry Brown will approve legislation adopting a new stricter standard for public contracting at counties like the County of Orange, who strengthen labor negotiations transparency.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Fairgrounds Offers Chance for Frank Table Talk on Labor Day
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that the OC Fairgrounds offers a chance for frank discussion on Labor Day, especially in Orange County where a labor war is almost always right around corner.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: No Civilian Oversight Over Police Is Better Than Faux Oversight
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that county supervisors shouldn’t spend $120,000 on studying police oversight models when they already know what to do, but are unwilling to do it.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Supervisors Trash Auditors, Accountability
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr. warns taxpayers about a looming accountability crisis in county government with the County’s Performance Auditor fired, the Office of Independent Review battered, the Internal Audit Department transferred and the abrupt retirement of the county’s Human Resources Director in protest.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: Supervisors Wake Up to Civic Center Homeless Explosion
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that Orange County’s Board of Supervisors finally seem engaged on homelessness in their own backyard at the Santa Ana Civic Center.
