The drama of Westminster council needs to end – Orange County Register
Westminster is in a financial hole, but City Council members seem more interested in fighting each other over petty and symbolic issues. For many long and tiring hours board meetings, members hurled insults, investigated each other about land transactions, and argued over allegations made on Vietnamese-language TV.
For outside observers, it is difficult to understand the nature of the controversies and to keep track of the changing loyalties, but City Council It is necessary to stop treating the city of 91,000 people like a high school drama club and take their responsibilities seriously. The distinction is shameful.
“(T) he wars of words at the regular Westminster city meetings as a reality TV show,” Written Susan Christian Goulding of The Register, a reporter with the impossible task of covering up feuds. “How long can this spectacle last, all against the backdrop of a looming financial cliff that seems almost an afterthought?”
That’s the $19 million question — that’s the size of the deficit the city will face in 2024-2025. When members compete over a proposal Quang Tri Monument Commemorating a Vietnam War battle 50 years ago and criticizing a councilor for using the word “crap”, this budget mess continues.
It’s hard to stay focused on budgeting, sales tax proposals, public service delivery and pension accountability when council members are busy censoring each other or fending off recall efforts. Take a look at some of the top news stories about the city from the past few months. There was a leadership vacuum as city staff headed the exits.
In late October, several City Council members called for “requiring that public servants at City Hall come forward alleging being unduly influenced by elected officials or suffering a hostile environment.” hostile workplace,” like VoiceofOC reported. Even debates on legitimate issues – such as the Civic Center redevelopment plan – have a bent advertising opinion.
In the end, Westminster voters decided they had enough of what the Register called “comedy or tragedy” and elected council members who would put the needs of the city above their duties. their personal service.
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/01/12/westminster-council-drama-needs-to-end/ The drama of Westminster council needs to end – Orange County Register