Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/stephen-faessel/)
The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce got a $425,000 no-bid contract from the city, but it isn’t a gift of public funds, according to a government ethics expert. Mayor Harry Sidhu, who pushed the contract, answered no questions about it from Councilwoman Denise Barnes.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu instituted a rule that limits City Council discussion to two five-minute intervals on agenda items and his rule change caused issues as the last council meeting wore on.
Anaheim First, a private group that’s going to make spending recommendations to the city on $250 million over the next decade, is facing heavy criticism for a lack of transparency and close business ties.
Seniors living at Rancho La Paz mobile home park will have to address the upcoming rent increases with the owner and without direct help from Anaheim after City Council members voted April 16 to indefinitely postpone a proposed six-month rent control ordinance.
The Angels, Anaheim’s baseball team may be looking to leave, but the city’s hockey team, the Anaheim Ducks, are negotiating a new 25-year lease and development project around the Honda Center.
West Anaheim’s Maxwell Park is facing a spike in homeless people staying in and around the park and homeless-related crimes, according to Anaheim Deputy Police Chief Julian Harvey.
Several Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine and other city council members and candidates reported robust fundraising for the first six months of 2017, according to the latest campaign finance disclosures.
Anaheim City Council members failed to endorse an existing anti-camping ordinance aimed at people living on the streets, tabling a request by Councilwoman Kris Murray to “reaffirm” the city’s existing approach to addressing homelessness.