Orange County Government Archives - Page 14 of 29 - Friends For Fullerton's Future

September 1, 2010September 1, 2010Dead heads

Hairball Reveals All!

SidhuFlasher — Assclown and Fast Food Clown. You decide which is which.

Today I got an e-mail from Hide And Seek Harry Sidhu “unveiling” a completely empty “economic plan” meant to suggest that Sidhu can grasp anything more complicated than a flame-broiled chicken. Here it is, hollow as a rotten log and undoubtedly crafted by a member of the team that at least has a grasp of the English language:

Harry Sidhu’s Action Plan for Economic Renewal

Creating Jobs

Reduce Government Bureaucracy—Streamline county operations to eliminate costly government red tape that prevents employers from hiring more workers.
Support Tax Relief—Lower the county’s excessive permit and business fees to help small businesses thrive and attract new companies to Orange County.
Encourage Investment—Support a reduction in capital gains taxes to increase private investment monies available for business expansion and new construction.
Expand Job Training—Create new apprenticeship and training partnerships with Orange County employers and universities to provide more opportunities for our youth. Organize County Business Fairs to help local residents find jobs.
Support Local Businesses—Comprehensively review the County Economic Development Strategy. Assist employers in finding new customer markets for their products and services.
Promote International Opportunities—Attract international trade and professional jobs by actively promoting Orange County as a preferred business destination for overseas firms.
Stop Lawsuit Abuse—Crack down on lawyers who file frivolous “class action” lawsuits. These lawsuits cost taxpayers and small businesses millions of dollars every year.

Reforming County Government

No Pensions for County Politicians—Oppose government pensions for county politicians. Harry has signed a binding pledge NOT to accept a pension as our County Supervisor.
Eliminate Wasteful Spending—Cut excessive salaries, travel and perks for county administrators. Require performance audits for all county agencies to identify budget savings.
Reduce County Pension Debt—Support financial reforms to reduce unsustainable county pension debt.
Oppose Government Bailouts—Public dollars should NOT be used to reward private mismanagement!
No Tax Hikes—Harry has signed a “No Tax Increase” Pledge. He believes North Orange County families are already paying too much.

As you can see, not a single specific item on the list. Just warmed-over campaign hash coughed up by his new campaign gouger, a John Lewis operative named Chris Jones.

When Hairball is done “supporting” a capital gains tax reduction (!) I’ve got to wonder how many jobs he will have created.

If you’ve ever seen a car wreck you know they always seem to appear to occur in slow motion. That’s Sidhu’s Crew to a T.

August 30, 2010September 3, 2010Behind Closed Doors

Spitzer For Supervisor?

by admin15 Comments

The dynamics of OC politics may have changed when DA Tony Rackaukas fired his supposed successor, Todd Spitzer, last week.

The guy with a million bucks in the bank had the DA heir apparent rug pulled out from under him, and now may be contemplating something that a lot of people will very well fear. And loathe. Another coupla Spitzer terms as an Orange County Supervisor.

Yes, indeedy, Spitzer was the Third District Supe from1995 through 2002 and drove everybody bonkers. Well, he may figure that controlling the DA’s budget and jerking the DA around at every opportunity is much more fun than being DA.

Of course this would be a major bummer for the Lewis/Pringle/Campbell troika that is grooming Orange’s dishwater mayor, Carolyn Cavecche to replace Uncle Bill.

Spitzer for Supe in 2012? Stranger things have happened!

August 27, 2010September 3, 2010OC's Fourth District

Sheriff Hutchens and District Attorney Rackauckas Endorse Shawn Nelson

by admin31 Comments

This just came over the transom:

FULLERTON, CA – – Supervisor Shawn Nelson has garnered the support of Orange County’s top law enforcement leaders – Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

“Supervisor Nelson understands the vital public safety issues facing Orange County,” said Sheriff Hutchens. “He is working diligently to make sure safe homes, schools and neighborhoods are a priority of Orange County government.”

Shawn Nelson was elected in June to finish the term of former Supervisor Chris Norby. He is on the November ballot for a four year term. His opponent is the second place finisher from the June ballot.

Nelson easily won in June in spite of a record-breaking $1.4 million campaign from public employee unions promoting his opponents. He is a former Fullerton City Councilman and a youth sports coach. Shawn and his family reside in Fullerton.

August 20, 2010About Us

Nelson’s News E-Letter Drops On Doorsteps. Again.

by The Fullerton Shadow17 Comments

Like the monotonous tick of a clock in a quiet room, the annoying newsletter from Shawn Nelson’s 4th District office fell into our mailbox this PM.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the bi-monthly missive was, well, a tad light in the loafers. Today’s issue isn’t any better. Yikes! Corn Festivals, Restaurants of the Week, and tours of city halls with rotund functionaries. Pets of the Week. Certificates for…what did they do again? Thankfully there was no Art Walk touting the aesthetic creations of staff underlings.

Well here it is, anyway:

View the newsletter

Got to admit, this is my fave image:

GiveTil ItHurts — This feels better than what the Voice of OC is doing to me!

August 20, 2010August 20, 2010OC's Fourth District

16 Minutes of Pure Agony

by Mr. Peabody32 Comments

Enjoy these two clips that feature an exchange between County Supervisors Shawn Nelson and Janet Nguyen. The issue is pulling the plug on the moribund Civic Center Joint Powers Authority, an agency that was created when Lyndon Johnson was president, and that has served no legal or practical function for almost ten years.

You would think that supposed “conservatives” would pile on to the opportunity of killing a government entity, especially one that doesn’t do anything. Well, you would have to think again. Just listen to the drivel that escapes the Board Chair’s lips and dribbles down her chin. Ay, ay, ay!

August 13, 2010August 13, 2010Orange County Government

Noob Accidentally Highlights Pension Reform Failure

by Travis39 Comments

By taking the more generous retirement plan that was presented to him as a County employee, Supervisor Shawn Nelson has created an onslaught of Internet outrage from the Blue and Red blogs.

Nelson says it was an accident. Was it? County policy requires that all new employees sign up for one of two plans: the old 2.7 @ 55 or the new 1.62 @ 65 that so far, almost nobody has signed up for at all. If you don’t choose, they will choose for you – 1.62 @ 65. Every single new hire in the County government is presented with this scenario.

In any case, Nelson’s decision highlights the dismal failure of Orange County’s alleged pension reform. When presented with two disparate retirement choices, what rational human being would pick the lesser?

If a guy like Shawn Nelson won’t do it, why would ANY public employee go for the option that is ultimately less generous – except, most likely, long-time employee pension abusers?

When union leaders originally hatched this goofy alternative plan, pension experts warned that new employees would not select a 401(k) style plan when offered alongside a traditional, elaborate government pension. Boy, were they right. But the unions and the supervisors went along with it anyway, just so they could notch pension reform in their pathetic pistol grips.

The bottom line: nobody wants a lesser benefit when they can choose a better one. Orange County’s much ballyhooed pension reform has completely failed because employees can simply avoid it altogether. What a joke.

But back to Nelson. He was presumably elected to represent taxpayers in union negotiations. I do not recall Nelson making any promises regarding his own pension. That would have been nothing more than a distraction from the real issue, as evidenced by Supervisor Pat Bates. Bates promised to not take a pension and followed through with it, but subsequently has done nothing to stop the real problem: runaway entitlements for every employee in the county! All 20,000 of them.

August 9, 2010August 9, 2010OC's Fourth District

Nelson’s Newsletter Lands on E-Doorsteps

by The Fullerton Shadow9 Comments

I received a copy of recently elected Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s newsletter in my electronic in-basket Friday afternoon.

Other than the redistricting issue that we reported on here, the thing’s all about art walks and pets of the week and the Lion’s Field astro turf. Sort of light in the loafers, issues-wise, but I guess we can cut Nelson some slack since he just got into office a few weeks ago and may not have much to report. Still, the puffery on events and wonderful County parks, etc. really needs to be condensed into something a lot more substantive.

Oops, got the date and the month wrong, too!

Anyway, here it is:

View the newsletter

August 1, 2010August 2, 2010About Us

C-Span Features Fullerton’s Friend & Fighter Jack Dean in Washington

by admin1 Comment

Dear Friends: The issue of Pension Abuse continues to dominate the National, State and local scene. If you haven’t already heard Jack Dean with Pension Tsunami speak on this important topic, hopefully today is a great relaxing day to do just that. Happy August 1st, 2010!

July 27, 2010July 27, 2010Big Brother

Moorlach Tells It Like It Is!

by admin3 Comments

Dear Friends, the video clip below is another in the series in the “must watch” category. Please watch and listen to Leslie Dutton of Full Disclosure Network interview Orange County Supervisor, Tax Fighter and Friend John Moorlach on the topic: Will Unions Destroy California?

July 22, 2010July 22, 2010Dead heads

A Power Grab By Madam Chair

by Mr. Peabody4 Comments

The Voice of OC is reporting on a plan by County Board of Supervisors Chair Janet Nguyen to create a redistricting committee of which she will be Chair, and Supervisor Bill Campbell, Vice Chair. The remaining three positions will be filled by appointment by the other Supes.

Apparently this little plan was not well-received by the three dissed supervisors – for obvious reasons. Although Brown Act issues have been raised, the real question seems to be how the Empress thought she’d ever get this ticket validated: the Census won’t be complete and published until 2011 when she won’t even be Chair any more; she is also running for re-election in 2012 and the idea of her manipulating this process to shed unwanted Latino votes from her district must have occurred to just about everybody.

Supervisors Shawn Nelson and John Moorlach proposed the redistricting model pursued in 2000 which seems to have been the only one in recent memory that avoided legal challenge, and in which supervisor’s staff members participated with the public in designing new districts.

This issue isn’t over. Next week the County Counsel Nicholas Chrisos will report back on Brown Act implications and the full Board will take up the matter again.