Op-Ed: 3 Steps To Fight Corruption in Irvine

July 10, 2019, 12:05 pm America/Los_Angeles

Irvine’s city government once had a sterling reputation… but no longer.

For quite some time there has been a creeping increase in corruption in Irvine’s decision making process. In the last year, voters have been deprived of the right to vote for representatives to fill a city council and mayoral vacancy. Our City Council has acted to thwart the will of Irvine voters.

Confirming that Irvine is now a Company Town, Mayor Shea and Emille Haddad, Chairman and CEO of FivePoint, described as a Great Park funding partner, using Irvine city letterhead, lobbied in Sacramento for the golf course site for the Veterans’ cemetery without City Council approval. Our city council actually voted to increase the power and authority of the Mayor while reducing the power and authority of city council members and reducing residents’ access to representation. Council member Carroll opined on his belief that Irvine should not be expected to have higher policy standards than other Orange county cities. I disagree: I, like many Irvine residents who are your constituents and your voters moved to Irvine for its higher standards.

It is time to take action to bring transparency, honesty and accountability back to the city of Irvine. How?

Improve the ethics enforcement process.
Currently, the city attorney’s job includes overseeing and enforcing Irvine’s Code of Ethics. This puts him in a bit of a quandary: don’t enforce the code of ethics and keep his job, or enforce and risk losing his job. Irvine must create an independent citizen’s ethics commission to take over the investigation and enforcement responsibility, as many other cities have done, in order to reduce corruption and conflict of interest in the city’s decision making process.
Voters should have sole authority to fill mayoral and city council vacancies.
Filling City Council vacancies by appointment and selection must cease. We must change the city bylaws to ensure we always elect our council members.
Reduce Campaign Costs and Dependence on Special Interest InfluenceAs political campaigns are extremely expensive, we need to reduce campaign costs and dependence on special interest influence by amending our city charter to both increase the size of our city council to seven or more members and to change from at-large representation to district representation as other cities the size of Irvine have done.

2 Comments

Gail Lewis
July 11, 2019 at 5:13 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more, Susan. We are now a company town. Knowing this we must still hold our council members responsible. Farrah voted against having an election for the open seat, knowing full well (or is she really this naive??) that without an election 5Pt would be one choosing who is on the council How undemocratic!!! THANKS FARRAH!!!
I like your suggestions Susan and achieving the 3 suggestions would go a long way to stopping this corruption. My only question is how do we make this a reality.
nancyfrye
July 16, 2019 at 8:11 am
7-9-2019 City Council Meeting
The city council changed its procedure to require approvals from either 2 council members or the mayor to place an item on a meeting agenda.
What is wrong with this change:
1. The procedural change was clearly aimed at council member Melissa Fox who planned to be on vacation. Her fellow council members ganged up on her when she was not present. I my opinion it was punishment for her Pride presentation.
2. The current mayor is appointed and not elected to the position. By this procedure she can add agenda items while other members cannot. This unelected position should not be given more privilege than other council members.
3. It will put a minority member of the council into a box and stifle debate
4. Every council member should be able to present ideas to the full council and to the public even though they may be in the minority. Minority voices should be heard
5. Many people spoke on this subject and not one of them endorsed this change. It was descried as “small and petty” and it is.
6. The council unanimously approved the procedure change in spite of the public opposition.
7. Appointed councilperson Carroll noted the cities who have similar requirements. I for one don’t care. Let everyone on the council have an equal opportunity to present their items for consideration.
8. The council added a sunset clause to this change. Does not make a difference when it should have not been enacted to begin with, “petty and small.”