HomeMy WebLinkAboutMichelle Schumacher From: Michelle Schumacher
To: Michelle Schumacher
Subject: Public Comments for next City Council Meeting please read into the record.
Date: Friday,April 24,2020 5:28:10 PM
As Council Members how do you feel about the following activity
of the TCA - the toll roads, a joint powers agreement in Orange
County? It is imperative that cities stop allowing this to continue.
Do you support the TCA spending $35,000 for one dinner?
Do you think $5,000 dollars for a golf game is an acceptable
expenditure? If so how often?
Why is the TCA funding and funneling so much money to local
non profits (run by the same few people) that are involved in
electioneering in Orange County?
If the TCA expects Orange County residents to afford the ever
increasing tolls, now set to automatically increase 2% annually,
why do they regularly approve multi-million dollar contracts with
vendors outside of our state? Would it not be better to keep this
money in California? At least this way residents could afford to
drive them.
The CEO just retired but was making more than the President of
the United States and adding to California pensions problems,
OC residents average pay is $86,000 a year, how is this
extraordinary high compensation responsible for government
agency employee that manages less than 90 people?
The TCA is not responding to public records requests? What do
you have to hide?
Do you think it is ok to expense a $50 seabass, a filet,
appetizers, and dessert, and fail to list who the second person
was on the expense report?
TCA's Ad Hoc Committees are making policies and taking action
without the Board approval? Why is the army of Lobbyists and
consultants the TCA employs allowed to attend the Ad Hoc
meetings yet the public not welcome?
Why is the TCA new CEO the President of another organization
that the TCA reimburses him personally for his INTERNATIONAL
airfare lodging meals to be on another organizations board?
Did you know that the TCA is taking debt off the books with the
bond refinance/remarketing to look better for the rating agencies
and putting this debt in escrow accounts — this is the same shady
thing Enron did.
Do you think $4.7 Billion dollars which the TCA owes today is an
acceptable debt balance?
Did you know that once the debt is actually paid it will cost 11
Billion Dollars? Are you comfortable with this debt level?
Did you know the TCA was paying a Consultant $185 an hour to
read the news to the tune of $230,000 dollars last year and billing
for 26 hour work days according to a LA Times report last year?
Did you know in 2014 the OC Grand Jury Issued a solvency
warning to the TCA they carry over 64% of the OC JPA debt?
I think it is time that you consider the TCA and it large debt
burden and start them on a proper path and intent of paying
down the bonds. They are embarking on mission creep and
want to build un tolled roads for private developers and get
involved in other projects — however the 11 billion owed on the
bonds by 2053 should stop these foolish plans from ever starting.
Taxpayers depend on your leadership.
Thank you