Today, the substantial gap between a balanced budget and wishful thinking gimmicks was closed in principle just as we believed it might be – with an additional 300 million dollars in budget cuts to the judicial branch by diverting 300 million dollars in construction funds.
How could this be? Well, think about what you did not hear.
You did not hear that the AOC was willing to abandon the spruce goose we call CCMS.
You did not hear that the AOC was willing to delay building empty courthouses that no one can afford to staff.
You did not hear that the AOC was willing to go after all 300 million paid to the unlicensed contractors.
You did not hear that the AOC was willing to have their court construction projects subject to public contract code.
So what you did hear was a strong rebuke from the other two branches of government who have no sympathy for the failed leadership that represents the Cantil-Sakauye administration in the form of a staggering 650 million dollars in budget cuts.
But you just go right along pretending all is well in your little world Chief Justice Mini-mimi because everyone else is paying the price of your denial.
Ouch.
Construction programs are to be delayed at least a year. That should be ample time to spin them off to DGS and start cleaning up this mess.
Tani, do you think it is time yet for some leadership?
_______________________________________________________________
Budget Deal Delivers Double Blow to Courts
Cheryl Miller
The Recorder
June 27, 2011
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative Democrats announced a new state budget deal today that contains a double dose of bad news for the judiciary.
The budget restores the $150 million reduction to the judicial branch that Brown vetoed earlier this month, according to legislative staffers who briefed reporters this afternoon. It also takes $300 million from the branch’s construction fund and will delay projects for one year.
Judicial Council Watcher 
JusticeCalifornia
June 28, 2011
Like a spoiled child, Tani ‘s brand of leadership has involved unrestrained spending; throwing public tantrums; failure to do her housecleaning chores, and a refusal to listen to reason. She has been hanging out with the wrong crowd (including a group of bullies on the wrong side of the law), and she and her gang of thieves have been publicly smacking the legislature, ACJ and concerned others around.
Like a spoiled child, Tani has been sent to the corner, and lost her allowance.
SF Whistle
June 28, 2011
The Judicial Branch has achieved a well-earned distiction as emblematic of inept management–
There truly are implications and direct results of pissing away hundreds of millions of dollars.
The facts are the facts—-there are NO true managers or talented executives at work within the branch.
As example: “CEO” KIm Turner in Marin County—? Can anyone identify for me what qualifies her as an “executive”…what are her business skills?—This provides explanation for how she has managed to squander court resource on the Marin computer system from hell.
The entire branch has operated on a management strategy that is predicated upon access to unlimited funding and being accountable to no one—
Jim
June 28, 2011
SF Whistle, I think that you paint the branch with too broad a brush. I think that there are many talented managers and executives at work within the branch. Some are at work at the individual trial courts as we speak.
Judicial Council Watcher
June 28, 2011
I would agree with the too broad of a brush statement. Even the AOC has some talented, experienced managers.
SF Whistle
June 28, 2011
Please tell me what analytical metric one might apply that would cause anyone to view the California Judicial Branch in any other way than a failed organization.
We seem to pay no regard to the fact that if the branch is looked at by any applicable business standard it is an out of control, corrupt failure.—–a total abysmal failure run by a cocktail waitress / blackjack dealer that has NO real world business experience.
If I am being too harsh—–Please provide one example that represents sound business accumen? Please correct me with a recent example ….any decision that reflects skillful, resourceful management??? I am at a loss to cite one act or initiative that reflects the turnaround that is essential—
There is no way that we can simply ignore the facts–
Please—I would welcome being corrected—what results have the “many talented managers at work within the branch” brought about…?
Talented managers and executives typically are very frustrated and unhappy in organizations with inept superiors—It seems that Minimimi has managed to keep things limping along—let’s fire court staff and hire more AOC staff and give them all pay raises?
michael paul
June 28, 2011
I agree with your last post but I also agree that the AOC has a bunch of talented managers.
Unfortunately, they are not in charge and get paid a crap load of money to look the other way at impropriety and do so on a regular basis.
They too want to keep their jobs.
SF Whistle
June 28, 2011
I’ve spent a few decades in real world business —-
My observation would hold that truly talented people don’t stick around in failing organizations–
Badly run entities have a stench—truly talented people want to thrive–want to succeed —want to create solutions—want to take on problems–
Truly talented people can NOT be paid enough to compromise integrity and principles–there are undoubtedly job openings in organized crime for the “bunch of talented managers” you describe–
Again—-anyone—Please–Please—cite a real example of CJ “Cocktails anyone?” management skill????——I guess it’s cool that someone that formerly lived on gratuity income now runs the largest judiciary in the western world—-I’d like to give her a tip—(have your moral compass de-magnetized)
Michael Paul
June 28, 2011
P.S. I am a business owner and have owned businesses on and off for years. I stuck around to provide a public service and took a pay cut to do so. I was allowed to succeed, to create solutions and to tackle some of the branch’s most challenging technical problems in virtual autonomy and minimal oversight for eight years.
All of that changed because I refused to compromise my integrity and principles, so you’re partly right in your observations.
JusticeCalifornia
June 28, 2011
sf whistle
I echo your invitation for ANYONE to give an example of minimimi’s judicial adminstrative management skills. Right here, on JCW.
Speak up, y’all.
Meanwhile, I do believe the budget deal passed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/california-budget-passed_n_886639.html
Michael Paul
June 28, 2011
Sweeping the construction funds. Hmmm. There’s about 200 jobs in the AOC tied to those construction funds. Only half of them are in OCCM. I wonder what that means. Will they take the 25 million to pay these people from somewhere else for a year or do what the trial courts have been forced to do and actually lay someone off?
courtflea
June 28, 2011
SF Whistle: I think you forget that in these economic times leaving an job is not always financially possible. Also some folks are not as brave as those who have blown the whistle. Believe it or not, is much harder to work at a job you hate working for people you cannot respect and eating crap and smelling that “stench” every day so you can feed your kids or not have to sleep in a cardboard box. That being said, the AOC has been a revolving door for many talented managers/staff for some of the very reasons you mention, for many years. Frankly you cannot convince me that anyone at the AOC has any real authority except Bill or Ron O. The AOC is run by extreme micromanagement.