Coalition fights the expansion of a controversial Orange County jail
Orange County plans to add nearly 900 beds at the minimum-security James A. Musick jail in Irvine.
(File Photo)
April 14, 2021 5:19 PM PT
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A coalition of social justice organizations in Orange County is working to halt the expansion of the James A. Musick jail near Irvine.
Members of the Stop the Musick Coalition believe the $289 million not including operating costs devoted to the addition of nearly 900 new beds to the facility are unnecessary because the county’s jail population has decreased.
The coalition also believes that incarceration is not an effective treatment for social ills, and the money could be better spent on social programs that address the root causes of crime.
If You’re Happy and You Know It, You Might Live in Irvine
Irvine’s eternal summer, abundance of green space, diversity, and top-notch schools have landed it a top spot as one of the nation’s most joyous cities.
The central Orange County, Calif. city was No. 12 in a Wallethub listing of the happiest cities in the United States. The personal finance website compared 182 of the largest cities.
“[Ranking] No. 12 nationwide is great, but we can be better,” Mayor Farrah Khan told The Epoch Times March 16 via email.
“The City of Irvine strives to provide the best in quality of life for our residents, businesses and workers. It’s no surprise that we rank in the top 15 when it comes to being one of the happiest cities. … I look forward to working to move Irvine toward the No. 1 spot.”
Irvine Officials Say State Housing Mandates Penalize Economic Success
Officials in Irvine, California, say the state has imposed burdensome housing quotas on the city because it has successfully created transportation hubs around major job centers as desired.
State mandates will require Irvine to build nearly 24,000 housing units by 2029. City planners liken the requirement to a punishment for economic success, and indicate they are being assessed on transportation hubs that are unlikely to be built for decades.
“To build over 23,000 units when a third of our city is dedicated permanent open space puts a weight that is probably close to, if not absolutely, unbearable on the master plan of the city,” Councilman Mike Carroll said.
Irvine’s ‘Hero Pay’ for Grocery Workers Begins in March
A pay boost for eligible Irvine grocery workers will go into effect next month after city council on Feb. 26 finalized its hero pay ordinance.
Beginning March 25, grocery store workers at certain stores who work at least two hours per week will receive a mandated $4 per hour increase to their regular pay.
Councilmember Anthony Kuo wanted to postpone finalizing the ordinance until a list of eligible retailers was available for review.
He said it is unclear which stores were included and which were exempt from the ordinance.
The citywide mandate applies to stores with 20 or more employees, or more than 500 workers nationwide. It also applies to stores that are 85,000 square feet or more in size; stores less than 15,000 square feet would be exempt.