City Of San Clemente: Grand Jury Supports All Actions Taken By The City Relating To The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA)

Press release from the City of San Clemente:

06/22/2021 10:54 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT FROM THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE

Regarding the Orange County Grand Jury’s Report “$28 Billion for a $2.8 Billion Road” released yesterday:

6/22/2021…San Clemente, California…The Orange County Grand Jury’s second report supports all of the actions taken relating to the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) by the City of San Clemente over the past five years. The report explains, in simple detail, why the TCA should pay off its billions in debt and go out of business. The City’s recent decision to withdraw from the TCA and stop paying new Development Impact Fees (DIFs) was predicated on the exact findings later made by the Grand Jury.

“The independent report of the Grand Jury is a complete validation of the City of San Clemente’s activities. Every city in Orange County owes San Clemente a debt of gratitude for turning a bright light on the TCA’s nefarious activities. By following our lead, we will actually be reducing the cost of housing throughout the County,” stated San Clemente Mayor Kathleen Ward.

For too long, the TCA has allowed toll money to go from Orange County residents using the toll roads to “…the favorite charities of city councilmembers who sit on the Board.” Furthermore, as stated in the Grand Jury Report “…millions have gone to advocacy groups that are free to politically support certain TCA Board members and undermine others.”

“How many reports does the Orange County Grand Jury need to release before the TCA starts to implement long-needed basic reforms? Our hard-earned taxpayer dollars aren’t some slush fund to be used by elected officials in other cities to enrich their friends and allies while undermining others, such as myself. It’s time to stop the cronyism of overly generous contract awards, halt the theft of public dollars and prohibit all charitable donations by the TCA,” stated San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Gene James.

We call on the TCA to implement all recommendations of the Grand Jury, which include:

1. Develop and implement a written plan to pay off all debt by 2040;
2. Eliminate DIFs for any new construction and allow them only to repay debt; and
3. Merging the two TCA Toll Road agencies to reduce administrative waste.

Furthermore, the City of San Clemente calls on the TCA to stop all political giving and payment to politically-connected consultants and law firms and conduct an audit of all such bribes.

In the past, the TCA and its leadership (which includes elected officials, staff members and highly-paid outside consultants and lawyers) have fought against any and all recommendations to finally reform the corrupt TCA and prevent the waste of billions more taxpayer dollars. We hope that they finally stop fighting to maintain its own existence and instead do what’s right for Orange County and its residents.

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Press Release - 2021 Grand Jury

Press Release - 2021 Grand Jury

This press release was produced by the City of San Clemente. The views expressed here are the author’s own.