Here are some of the stories our friends are covering that we are following at TheLiberalOC.
Voice of OC — Anaheim Mayor Calls for Second Meeting on Hotel Subsidies
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, in response to complaints from city residents that they weren’t given proper notice about a City Council action last week to grant $158-million in subsidies to a hotel developer, has called for a special council meeting Tuesday to possibly rescind the move. Read More.
OCRegister — Williams chose retirement date to boost pension, county says
John S. Williams, Orange County’s locked-out public administrator, selected a retirement date that would boost his pension income when he negotiated his departure with the county’s leadership, the county said in court papers Monday. Read More.
Voice of OC — For Now, County May Keep the Locks on Williams’ Door
An Orange County Superior Court judge Monday refused to grant Orange County Public Administrator John Williams the temporary restraining order he was seeking to force county officials to let him back into his office. Read More.
Voice of OC — Costa Mesa’s Outsourcing Legal Bills Top $400,000
Costa Mesa has spent $409,000 so far in attorneys’ fees defending against a lawsuit challenging its plan to outsource numerous city services, according to the Orange County Register. The vast majority of the work is being done by the Jones Day law firm, which the city is paying nearly $500 per hour, the paper reported. Read More.
Voice of OC — Buffa Bill Clears State Senate
A bill by Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) to close the “revolving door” that allowed non-elected board members of local agencies and commissions to lobby their former colleagues as soon as they left office has been unanimously approved by the state Senate and sent to the Assembly. Read More.
OC Register: Reader rebuttal (Nick Berardino)—County pensions
“It’s not surprising that Supervisor John Moorlach spent the vast majority of his inaugural State of the County speech Tuesday beating his tattered anti-pension drum [“Pension battle ahead,” Editorial, Jan. 25]. It is deeply troubling, though, that the so-called “pension reform” proposal he unveiled for Orange County Employees Association members during his presentation makes absolutely no sense: It’s illegal, would have no impact on the county’s fiscal health or unfunded liabilities, and would do nothing toward what taxpayers have been demanding when it comes to pension reform – that everyone pays their fair share.” Read More.