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{"source_url": "https://voiceofoc.org", "url": "https://voiceofoc.org/2019/12/top-2019-stories-of-fraud-waste-and-abuse-in-orange-county/", "title": "Top 2019 Stories of Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Orange County", "top_image": "https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28.jpg", "meta_img": "https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28.jpg", "images": ["https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AP_9466EDIT-771x434.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/themes/largo/img/inn_dark.svg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/centralmensjail.EDIT_-771x434.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Gerry-Serrano-in-DA-campaign-ad-for-web-771x434.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/9F3617F2-EC52-43C3-8847-B1887B04BAE4-771x434.jpeg", "https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_2714EDIT-140x140.jpg", "https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1873216659661772&ev=PageView&noscript=1", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FullertonCitycouncil.201907.photo_.EDIT-3-e1563512082600-140x140.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RackPulido-1-771x434.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28-1170x658.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/sonyasquare-60x60.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FullertonRecords.2019.11.EDIT_-771x434.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DONATENOW2-771x159.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/VoiceofOC.notag_-1170x266.png", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DONATENOW2.jpg", "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSCN1952EDIT-771x434.jpg"], "movies": [], "text": "13 Shares Email\n\nVoice of OC continues to be a media leader in taking an investigative approach to every daily story that examines Orange County\u2019s institutions \u2014 from city hall to the county jail, from arts centers to community projects.\n\nAnd in 2019, Orange County\u2019s nonprofit newsroom yet again set a new standard for uncovering waste and abuse across the county \u2014 reporting out a huge batch of accountability stories that readers won\u2019t find anywhere else.\n\nRead the stories below to see our most shared and most read investigative stories of the year. We invite readers to tell us what they think was the most impactful accountability reporting of the year in the comments section.\n\nSanta Ana Approves $25 Million Police Raise, But Not Funding\n\nFeb. 7 Santa Ana City Council members granted raises to police officers and sergeants totaling $25 million over the next two and a half years, without the ability to actually pay the $4.3 million cost for this fiscal year. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nJESSICA RUIZ, Voice of OC\n\nWestminster Police Chief Placed on Administrative Leave\n\nFeb. 20 Westminster\u2019s police chief, Ralph Ornelas, is on administrative leave pending the results of an outside investigation into \u201cpossible policy violations,\u201d according to city officials. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOrange Sued for Allegedly Violating State Election Law\n\nMarch 5 District elections could be implemented in Orange, following a voting rights lawsuit claiming the city\u2019s current at-large election method disenfranchises the Latino electorate and hinders the election of Latino candidates. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nSanta Ana Prepares to Sell Off Dozens of Public Land Parcels for Development\n\nMarch 8 Council members opted this week to send 23 of the city\u2019s 88 undeveloped, public land parcels out for private real estate bids \u2014 continuing a years-long battle between city officials pushing for commercial growth through development and affordable housing advocates who see a built-out city already feeling the effects of gentrification and lack of community spaces. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Gives Sheriff Sole Control of Crime Lab, Against National Recommendations\n\nApril 10 The move to put the crime lab scientists under a law enforcement agency directly contradicts the national best practices Sheriff Don Barnes and DA Todd Spitzer cited to justify the change. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nADAM ELMAHREK, Voice of OC\n\nSanta Ana Mayor Accused of Personally Renting Out City Property and Interfering in Pot Shop Enforcement\n\nApril 24 In sworn testimony, Mayor Miguel Pulido was accused of running a side business personally renting out city-owned property and interfering with police decisions about which illegal pot shops to raid. Pulido denies the allegations. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nPolice Union Bribery Alleged Under Oath by Two Officials\n\nApril 24 Two top Santa Ana officials, including a former police chief, alleged under oath the city\u2019s police union leader engaged in bribery of City Council candidates in 2016, saying Sgt. Gerry Serrano told candidates they had to agree to fire then-Police Chief Carlos Rojas in order to benefit from $400,000 in campaign spending. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nSurveillance of Councilman Gathered Evidence of Felony Residence Fraud, DA Said\n\nApril 30 It\u2019s first time in years Orange County DA officials have been known to place a politician under surveillance for alleged residency fraud. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nPrivate Anaheim Spending Advisory Group Criticized for Ties to Business and Lack of Transparency\n\nMay 7 Anaheim First, a private group that\u2019s 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. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nThree Westminster Police Officers File More Bullying and Retaliation Claims\n\nMay 16 The Westminster Police Department fostered a culture of bullying and retaliation for years under former police chief Ralph Ornelas, three police officers allege in separate legal claims filed against the city. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nJESSICA RUIZ, Voice of OC\n\nGrand Jury Finds Lack of Sheriff\u2019s Department Oversight in Illegal Jail Phone Recordings\n\nJune 4 A lack of oversight allowed the illegal recording of more than 30,000 phone calls between inmates and their attorneys inside county jails, according to the Orange County Grand Jury. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nGrand Jury: A Simple Vitals Check Could Prevent Inmate Deaths\n\nJune 6 A simple check of inmates\u2019 vital signs as they come into Orange County jail facilities could save their lives, according to a new Orange County Grand Jury report. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nRackauckas Secretly Cleared Deputies Accused of Lying About Informants\n\nJune 11 Former District Attorney Tony Rackauckas quietly decided last year to not have prosecutors tell defense attorneys about 10 sheriff deputies suspected of lying about or concealing records about jail informants. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nDA Records Refute Public Reason for Not Prosecuting Santa Ana Police Sgt. Gerry Serrano\n\nJuly 2 DA records contradict its public statements for why the DA\u2019s office did not file DUI hit-and-run charges against Santa Ana police Sgt. Gerry Serrano, who now leads the city\u2019s influential officers\u2019 union. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nJudge Rules Against OC\u2019s Immediate Destruction of Public Records\n\nJuly 3 Orange County officials likely are breaking the law with a policy allowing immediate destruction of public records and another rule banning public commenters from asking questions of county supervisors or addressing supervisors by name unless they have permission, a Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nIrvine Becomes Latest OC City To Adopt Controversial Agenda-Setting Policy\n\nJuly 11 The Irvine City Council, joining at least six other Orange County cities, has adopted a controversial temporary policy that potentially shuts some council members out of holding public discussions on issues that others on the dais don\u2019t want. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nEx-Santa Ana Police Officer Faces Federal Charges Over Videotaped Beating\n\nAug. 2 A federal grand jury indicted former Officer Brian Booker with three felonies for allegedly beating a man who was complying with police commands and then lying about it in official reports. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nAuditor-Controller Eric Woolery Apparently Died in Kansas, Not OC\n\nAug. 16 A county statement last week that Woolery apparently died in Orange was not corrected until Voice of OC inquired Friday afternoon. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Picks Lowest-Ranked Firm of 5 for Airport Food Spot\n\nSept. 10 Two supervisors succeeded in overriding the results of a competitive bidding process for a lucrative food spot at John Wayne Airport. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Approves New Policy to Immediately Destroy Public Records\n\nSept. 16 The policy change comes after a judge found the county failed to cite a valid legal justification to destroy records before two years. ACLU lawyers say the new policy goes against the court ruling, while county officials say it\u2019s entirely legal. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Moves Millions From Health Agency to Help Cover Sheriff Overruns\n\nOct. 1 Orange County Sheriff\u2019s officials outspent their revenues by $33 million during this last fiscal year \u2013 prompting county officials to pull millions of dollars from other departments like the Health Care Agency to cover the shortfall. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nSPENCER CUSTODIO, Voice of OC\n\nOC Fairgrounds Gave More than $100K in State Money to Private College while Fairgrounds CEO Sat on the School\u2019s Fundraising Board\n\nOct. 9 Orange County Fairgrounds CEO Kathy Kramer joined the fundraising board for Vanguard University, a private Christian college, in 2017. Since then, the fairgrounds has paid the school over $100,000 in contracts and sponsorship deals brought up to the fairgrounds Board of Directors by her staff. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Fairgrounds CEO Kathy Kramer to Leave Post\n\nOct. 15 Fair officials confirmed Kramer\u2019s departure, which comes after Voice of OC revealed Kramer sat on the fundraising board for a private college that the fairgrounds has given state money to. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nCriminal Probe Underway Into OC Fire Authority Event With Political Candidates\n\nOct. 16 The Sheriff\u2019s Department is examining an event at the fire agency\u2019s headquarters that triggered concerns about using government resources for political campaigning. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nFullerton City Officials Target Local Bloggers in Lawsuit, Want to Search Private Computers\n\nOct. 25 Fullerton city attorneys are asking an OC Superior Court judge to keep local resident Joshua Ferguson, and the blog he writes for, from deleting confidential records and to appoint someone to look through electronics to find the records. Ferguson filed a public records lawsuit against the city last week. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Deputy Sheriff Inmate Shackling Policy Draws Public Protests\n\nNov. 25 On Sunday, a host of community members came out to the Theo Lacy jail facility in Orange to support judicial restraint of a new policy by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes to shackle inmates while they are transported to court and while they await court hearings in holding cells. Sheriff Barnes appealed the decision, arguing restraints are safer for inmates being transported to court. An appellate court decision is expected next month. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nState Investigating Secretive Group That Routed $170,000 to Santa Ana Election\n\nNov. 27 The investigation centers on Californians for Ethical Patient Care, which was one of the largest spenders in the Nov. 6 Santa Ana City Council election. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nJULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC\n\nOC Sheriff Kept Evidence Booking Crisis Secret for Almost Two Years\n\nDec. 4 Sheriff Don Barnes\u2019 spokeswoman declined to say why county supervisors and the district attorney weren\u2019t told of the scale of the issue sooner. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nSanta Ana Councilman Publicly Calls Out Dark Money Campaign, Welcomes FBI Interview\n\nDec. 9 Councilman Juan Villegas, who also works as a special officer at the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Department, is publicly alleging that one the key people behind the controversial 2525 N. Main St. project admitted to him their involvement in a dark money campaign to influence the 2018 Santa Ana city council elections \u2013 which involved hiding $320,000 in campaign money through a shell company. Read the Story \u00bb\n\nOC Supervisors Accused of Failing to Hold Sheriff\u2019s Department Accountable\n\nDec. 11 The Sheriff\u2019s Department has faced controversy in recent weeks over revelations that an internal audit found hundreds of cases where deputies failed to follow policy in booking drugs, cash, photos, and videos in criminal cases by the end of their shift. Read the Story \u00bb", "keywords": [], "meta_keywords": [""], "tags": ["Angels Negotiations", "Evidence Booking Scandal", "Election 2020"], "authors": ["Sonya Quick"], "publish_date": "Tue Dec 31 06:48:26 2019", "summary": "", "article_html": "", "meta_description": "Voice of OC continues to be a leader in taking an investigative approach to every daily story that examines Orange County's institutions -- from city hall to the county jail, from arts centers to community projects.", "meta_lang": "en", "meta_favicon": "https://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/VoiceofOC.icon_.small_.jpg", "meta_data": {"viewport": "width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0", "og": {"description": "Voice of OC continues to be a leader in taking an investigative approach to every daily story that examines Orange County's institutions -- from city hall to the county jail, from arts centers to community projects.", "title": "Top 2019 Stories of Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Orange County", "image": "https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28-1170x658.jpg", "type": "article", "url": "https://voiceofoc.org/2019/12/top-2019-stories-of-fraud-waste-and-abuse-in-orange-county/", "site_name": "Voice of OC", "updated_time": "2019-12-31T06:48:26+00:00"}, "article_publisher": "https://www.facebook.com/voiceofoc/", "fb": {"app_id": 529576650555031}, "article": {"published_time": "2019-12-31T06:48:26+00:00", "modified_time": "2019-12-31T06:48:26+00:00"}, "twitter": {"title": "Top 2019 Stories of Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Orange County", "description": "Voice of OC continues to be a leader in taking an investigative approach to every daily story that examines Orange County's institutions -- from city hall to the county jail, from arts centers to community projects.", "image": "https://voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marketing.2019.10.OG-28.jpg", "site": "@VoiceofOC", "creator": "@sonyanews", "card": "summary"}, "tec-api-version": "v1", "tec-api-origin": "https://voiceofoc.org", "description": "Voice of OC continues to be a leader in taking an investigative approach to every daily story that examines Orange County's institutions -- from city hall to the county jail, from arts centers to community projects.", "news_keywords": "Countywide", "original-source": "https://voiceofoc.org/2019/12/top-2019-stories-of-fraud-waste-and-abuse-in-orange-county/", "syndication-source": "https://voiceofoc.org/2019/12/top-2019-stories-of-fraud-waste-and-abuse-in-orange-county/"}, "canonical_link": "https://voiceofoc.org/2019/12/top-2019-stories-of-fraud-waste-and-abuse-in-orange-county/"} |
