Orange County supervisor John Moorlach has been described by local media columnists as the only politician solid enough  to have accumulated sufficient political capital to take on the powerful  Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. A few weeks ago, supervisor John Moorlach, announced his plan to cut pension benefits retroactively paid to members of the sheriff's deputies union by arguing they are an illegal "gratuity" that must be rescinded.  On Tuesday, the board voted  unanimously to retain the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis to file a legal challenge to the existing pension, indicating that the supervisor was serious.  In contrast, the CZ Master Association outsources decision-making to legal counsel. For example, some estimate that 30% of the close to $10 million per year CZ Master Association budget goes to support non CZ residents - according to the CZ board "this is the agreement", yet no one on the board had even seen such an agreement.

In another sign that supervisor Moorlach has sufficient social capital, he has called on long time friend Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street to step down or else loose investment oversight responsibilities.

For Moorlach skeptics, the latest  Orange County Board of Supervisors’s action can be viewed as supervisor Moorlach simply pouring it on.   The board unanimously voted to increase their own retirement accounts by 2 percent, roughly doubled the number of annual leave hours they may cash in for a salary jump and increased their monthly car stipend to $765:  On your face Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs! - Do As I Say Not as I Do! – Moorlach et al

 Who on CZ’s Board is going to take on non-members to avoid the next dues increase?  That is the million dollar question.  Joe Morabito

Hi Joe:

The next time a CZ Board considers a dues increase some one on that Board better deal with the subsidy issue first to avoid the town’s people with the pitch forks and the tar and feathers with me at the lead.  I have provided suggestions that would raise a million dollars or more in new revenues to avoid the next dues increase.  Shame on the Board if they do it to us again rather than deal with non-members who continue to cost us money.  Joe Morabito

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OCSD Overly “vested” – Orange County Sup.  Moorlach - As described by the failed bid by Cassie Young’s for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County’s pension plan, in dire financial straits,  would soon  erupt.   The eruption heard around OC law enforcement community was heard Friday July 18, 2007 when Supervisor John Moorlach, announced his plan to cut pension benefits retroactively

Coto de Caza Supplier Management, Fleming and Street on the Street - As is usually the case, there seems to be at least two sides to every story.  Such is the case with embattled Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street, who has been fending off accusations of fiscal irresponsibility triggered by a 1.5 million dollar office remodeling, paralleling the street traveled by Capistrano Unified Superintendent James Fleming who faces criminal charges related to the creation of an enemies lists. In May, Fleming and former Assistant Superintendent Susan McGill were charged with using taxpayer money to create two lists of political opponents.

Coto de Caza Board of Directors and Pat Bates Make a GREAT TEAM! - 

The South Orange County Welfare Services Leadership Board The Coto de Caza subsidizes the Estates and the Villages at the tune of over  $1,000,000/year. Pat Bates voted to raise pensions to public employees by a whopping 50% (SB 400).   This Bill set the stage for the 3% at 50 benefit package that financially threatens the viability of  Orange and San Diego Counties

You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time. Trickle down economics:  Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once.  Writing is on the wall to do it again!

CHP DOES ITS JOB – CZ BOARD PLEASE DO YOURS! -  Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP is doing its job:  Trend for accident rate is down and close to pre-firing levels.   Just as important, the number of Coto residents arrested for DUI is down. See chart below for actual accident rate.

Taxes, Taxes, err Community Investments, Now Invest $26,000 To See Where Coto de Caza Taxes Go! - Taxes?  What Taxes?  Where do the CZ Master Association Taxes Go?, Let's Tax residents so we can find out!

The CZ Master Association Board of directors has announced that the County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pitch in with some $20,000 of the roughly $26,000 budgeted to "figure out where the association taxes go" - The County Clerk has no record of any request for funding from the board.  Further, this "where the taxes" go is simply a way to develop propaganda to convince Coto Residents to turn Coto de Caza into a city!

Law Enforcement – Evil, Necessary Evil, Or Noble Profession and Role Model? In open societies, we posit that law enforcement follows Winstren’s Law:  Law Enforcement Goes Where it is Needed and Stays Where it is Wanted

And The Pâté Bates' Gravy Train Keeps Rolling The Sheriff Union’s Political Action Committee (AOCSD) has spent in excess of $200,000 in Independent Expenditures in favor of Bates.  Guess why the AOCSD is spending such money on a candidate – other than having great expectations that they will have Bates' support, as in the Bates’ 3%-50 pension plan!

Coto de Caza is Not an Orange County Island! – Or is it? Following up on comments from Joseph Morabito,  former member of the CZ Master Association board of directors on what Coto de Caza needs from the Orange County board of supervisors, we asked the President of the Orange County Taxpayers Association, Reed Royalty what he thought of Mr. Morabito’s suggestions. He declined to comment because he did not have “first-hand knowledge of the issues raised in Mr. Morabito’s letter” to Supervisor Pat Bates’ spokesperson.