The complaints came after the board tried to shut down a public commenter who was raising complaints about district staff.
Category: SOUTH COUNTY
South Orange County takes in Irvine, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and the master-planned cities around them, where growth and open space keep meeting at the council dais. Every story we have published about south county, newest first.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Mayor Distances Herself From Former Top Democratic Party Official Involved in FBI Probe
While Farrah Khan initially called Melahat Rafiei a “friend and advisor,” this week she announced Rafiei is no longer working for her mayoral campaign.
Posted inAnaheim
Key Witness for FBI Anaheim Probe Disputes Feds’ Account That She Was Arrested Before Cooperating
Melahat Rafiei’s spokeswoman says the FBI got it wrong in their court filings, and that she cooperated completely voluntarily. The FBI says their statements are accurate and declined to comment further.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
FBI Probe Into Anaheim Shines Spotlight on Special Interest Spending in Irvine
While charges are being rolled out in Anaheim, it appears the spark that started the investigation four years ago came from Irvine.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Entire Mission Viejo City Council Now Being Sued For Allegedly Improperly Holding Office
While the cases stretch across two separate lawsuits, they’re all aimed at the same question: did councilmembers illegally extend their own terms?
Posted inPolitics & Elections
A Top California Democratic Party Official Resigns After FBI Arrest Becomes Public
Melehat Rafiei resigned Sunday night after party officials called on her to quit this week following publication of court documents in an FBI corruption probe touching on both Anaheim and Irvine.
Posted inInvestigative
High-Profile CA Democrat and OC Political Consultant Reveals Role as FBI Witness in Anaheim Corruption Probe
In a statement to Voice of OC, Melahat Rafiei is now the first person to publicly confirm she cooperated with an FBI corruption investigation into Anaheim’s city government.
Posted inOutdoors
The Great Park Reboot: Will Residents Get A Voice This Time?
Irvine City Council members are debating creating a resident task force to hear what taxpayers want at the county’s largest civic construction project.
Posted inLaguna Woods
Authorities: Suspect in Laguna Woods Shooting Was Politically Motivated by ‘Hate’ for Taiwanese
OC Sheriff Don Barnes said Sunday’s shooting was politically motivated and indicated the suspect hates Taiwanese people. Federal officials are considering charging him with a hate crime.
Posted inGovernment
Tackling Catalytic Converter Theft: Some Orange County Cities Now Require Proof of Ownership
While local officials are trying to crack down on widespread catalytic converter theft, some cities will require people to prove they own converters that aren’t attached to a car.
