Red County /OC Blog News Roundup -- December 26, 2006

Today's (and a few of yesterday's) top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Martin Wiscol's The Buzz: Talking To Themselves? -- OCR
New GOP magazine for business, lifestyle and politics goes heavy on contributions from the Lincoln Club.

Battle Over Hills Rages Near Brea -- OCR
Officials clash over possible massive development at the county border.

Garden Grove Is Both Hopeful And Pessimistic About Its Future -- LAT
City leaders have long searched for a project that would brand the city and add to its tax base.

Some Development Plans May Be Unrealistic -- OCR
Some proposed projects next to Angel Stadium far exceed existing zoning and lease limitations.

Steve Greenhut: Hey Ingrates, Don't Question The Badge -- OCR (12/25/06)
No one doubts that deputies do an important job, but such importance should not give them a pass from accountability, oversight and fiscal responsibility.

Before The Ocean Rises -- OCR
Two years after Indonesia's devastating quake, O.C.'s disaster plans put it on course of being the state's first 'TsunamiReady' county. Maybe we can put that on the proposed "Welcome to Orange County" sign for the LA-OC boundary.

Prospective Renters Hope For Edge -- OCR
Because there are fewer tenants out hunting for houses or apartments this time of year, landlords can be known to make deals.

Anaheim Looking For Helpers To Decorate Rose Parade Float -- OCR
The city has scheduled two shifts of 85 people each, Wednesday through Saturday.

Interim Ocean View School Superintendent Upbeat -- OCR
Resignations, teacher contract negotiations, a sexual harassment lawsuit and school construction woes didn't stop Ed Sussman from accepting the challenge.

Foundation Donations May Not Be Tax-Deductible -- OCR
Organizer of Snowball Express says he and his wife failed to file a key form with the IRS.

Half-Year Mark At Crystal Cove -- OCR
About 11,000 people have stayed in the cottages since they opened to the public.

McKnight Errant -- OC Weekly
Famed Mater Dei basketball coach helped pedophile get a job—at Mater Dei.

The Bong Arm Of The Law -- OC Weekly
OC Pot Crusader May Face Trial as Drug Dealer.

Snowballed Again -- OC Weekly
National media picks up Weekly story on deadbeat dad

Comments

[Elroy El]

I have to agree with Greenhut on this one.

Millions of taxpayer dollars are going to this fund. I see nothing wrong with county officials ensuring it is going to its intended uses.

[Anon. Deputy]

FYI. The money although is "Taxpayer Funded" It is a part of MY Salary. Do you want to go into my PRIVATE retirement account too?? The Union's Medical Benefit Fund is managed better than the county manages their's. There are safegaurds in place so that the money can not be used for anything other than it's intended purpose. Once the county "pays" my benefits via my Union the money is MINE or OURS. Period. If the County wanted to keep tabs on the money they should not have relinquished the responsibilty to the Union. Former Asst. Storm made false accusations about the fund a few years ago and that got Norby(anit-cop)hot and bothered.

[Private vs. Public]

I agree with the previous poster. If the county wants to control the fund then they should manage it. My guess is that the deputies union gets a bigger bang for their buck than the other county employess get for the one managed by the county.

If the deputies can do more with their fund than the county can with theirs, then maybe the answer isn't for the county to manage the other county employees, maybe they should just provide a dollar amount and let the chips fall where they may. That way the unions are responsible for their medical benefits and the county/union can simply negotiate any future reductions/raises to the fund as part of a contract negotiation.

Private management tends to do the job better anyway.

[Elroy El]

Anon. That is sort of true. However, the funds are given to your union with a specific purpose in mind. To claim the funds are akin to your salary is a specious argument. The county determines your salary and pays you accordingly. That is where the trail ends. If the county was claiming it was paying you (and all other employees) a certain wage, but was actually paying a different (and lower or higher) number I would argue to investigate/audit the county's use of the funds committed to employee's salaries. The county pays your union a certain level of funding to ensure a proper level of health care is being provided. The taxpayer (that's me) doesn't owe any employee group a windfall if that group can negotiate a better rate.