- September 9, 2026
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Irvine Watchdog Editorial Board7 Posts
The Editorial Board covers issues aligned with Irvine Watchdog's organizational mission to advocate for transparency, honesty, and accountability in Irvine government.
[Editorial] Eight Years of Local Reporting and Still Going Strong: Why Irvine Watchdog Matters
Eight years ago, a handful of Irvine residents did something quietly radical. Armed with no newsroom budget, no advertising revenue, and no institutional backing, they launched Irvine Watchdog — a volunteer-run, nonprofit publication built on three deceptively simple words: transparency, accountability, and honesty. Founded in May 2018, Irvine Watchdog set out to be a […]
Opinion: City Council Will Attempt To Hire Sean Crumby as Permanent City Manager Without an Open Search Process
Council agenda item 5.1 for the October 28, 2025 meeting asks the council to approve the employment agreement for the current Interim City Manager, Sean Crumby, as a permanent city manager with a salary of $434,242 per year, which was the same salary as the previous city manager, Oliver Chi received. Chi came to the […]
Editorial: Please Vote! Return your ballot today
The final day to cast your election ballot is November 8, 2022. No matter who you support, we encourage everyone to vote. We have seen too many races won and lost by a small number of votes. Every vote is important. In California, registered voters have already received a vote-by-mail ballot. Please take 15 minutes […]
Editorial: Who is Behind Past Lawsuits Filed Against Irvine Candidates?
What’s Past is Prologue In prior elections, local developers and special interests have funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars through a complex web of Political Action Committees (PACs) to fund hit pieces on candidates that do not align with their corporate interests. These vicious mailers often contained gross exaggerations and even outright lies. Unfortunately, this […]
Opinion: A Background Check on Irvine City Manager Finalist, Oliver Chi
Disclaimer: The following article was received anonymously and is being published as an Opinion article as decided upon by the Irvine Watchdog Editorial Board. All references have been verified for accuracy. On November 9th, Irvine City Council will consider appointing Oliver Chi as the 6th City Manager of the City of Irvine. If appointed, Chi […]
Editorial: Oppose the Plan to Repeal Irvine’s Sunshine Ordinance
A government that wants less transparency is a government that cannot be trusted. As the saying goes, “Democracy dies in darkness.” The proposal by Vice-Mayor Tammy Kim and Council Member Mike Carroll to eliminate Irvine’s Sunshine Ordinance is a radical departure from the city’s unanimous position in favor of the ordinance just three years ago. […]
