A newly released audit shows disgraced former OC Supervisor Andrew Do steered public contracts to businesses and people, many of whom were wrapped up in an earlier federal corruption probe centered on a program to feed the elderly.
Do, who’s in prison for bribery, awarded contracts to businesses connected to Peter Pham – a key figure in the corruption probe who’s facing 15 federal charges and is on the lam.
Meanwhile, a freshly built mental health campus sits empty in Irvine as the county and Mind OC battle each other in a lawsuit.
Mind OC – which was supposed to help the county open a series of mental health centers – says the county is trying to steal the Irvine building.
County officials say the nonprofit defrauded taxpayers, along with alleging that Mind OC has ties to Do’s corruption scandal through a $275,000 contract.
County supervisors largely dismissed an OC Grand Jury report that was critical of their raises, with one supervisor saying he regretted voting for the raises, but reversing them would violate state law.
Animal advocates are sending warning letters to shelters across California, alleging a host of unlawful practices and demanding reforms.
OC Animal Care officials responded by saying the county shelter follows all state laws.
Officials in Anaheim are looking to see how they can enforce the state rent control laws as local efforts could land a city rent control proposal on the November ballot.
In Costa Mesa, a community group is pushing elected officials to track evictions and the rental market through a rental registry.
A controversial six-story apartment expansion is coming to Mission Viejo despite resident pushback after city officials said denying the move could lead to even more buildings under California’s statewide housing mandates.
Santa Ana is the latest OC city to take a hard look at illicit activities reportedly happening at smokeshops, with officials moving to crack down on alleged gambling and black market cannabis operations.
Newport Beach could bulldoze a section of the city’s sculpture garden by city hall to make room for a new police headquarters after officials voted to study the idea, but many residents are pushing back on that proposal.
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.
