.
In a new MSNBC story released this morning, another court has followed our advice and made an analysis of the AOC’s 700 million dollar wish list. As you may recall, San Diego’s judges were first to call attention to things like $2,500.00 to paint a closet and $210,000 to pave a parking lot that the judicial branch doesn’t even own. In the MSNBC article this morning, the Sacramento courts weighing in with carpeting at $391 per square yard or over 44.00 per square foot, a $155,000.00 kitchenette and $198,000.00 for signage throughout the courthouse.
Our own analysis of all of these Sacramento prices show that these expenses are about ten times what these things should cost which calls into question: Who is getting rich at the expense of court workers jobs? It isn’t the contract workers doing the maintenance because various complaints filed indicate that neither of the previously unlicensed contractors were paying prevailing wages.
These prices reflect only jobs with a priority rating of 2 thru 5 because priority one jobs are automatically approved. Given that the lower priority projects would get more scrutiny than higher ones, it does call into question what the AOC has spent on priority one projects. Luckily for the public, Charles Calderon has formed a select committee to look into the money already spent on priority one and other projects when the legislative session opens after the start of the year. Thank You Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon.
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And what message is the Judicial Council sending to courts, court workers and the general public?
It’s pretty clear to us….
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The next story is about a righteous editorial from Bill Girdner of Courthouse News. While Mr. Girdner does not touch on the point that our billionaire friend from L.A. will leverage a paltry 1% investment into ccms in exchange for some yet undefined benefit, he does an excellent job outlining Colorado’s woes. If there is any benefit to be derived for our L.A. billionaire, this project should go out to bid.
Courthouse News – Smoke and Mirrors by Bill Girdner
Related articles
- A Tribute to the AOC Facilities Management Unit (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
Judicial Council Watcher 
Wendy Darling
November 18, 2011
The AOC, the Judicial Council, and the Office of the Chief Justice should just admit the obvious and change the slogan and the mission of the California Judicial Branch to accurately reflect reality and the truth: “Committed to Access to Justice for all Californians for the Right Price.”
Long live the ACJ.
Been There
November 18, 2011
It is obvious that the AOC, the Judicial Council, and the Office of the Chief Justice are totally out of their collective depth on these projects. There is a total lack of competence.
When will the Legislature or the Governor step up and use the tools at their disposal to save the Judicial Branch from itself?
antonatrail
November 18, 2011
Breaking news: http://www.10news.com/news/29800040/detail.html
(But we all knew this.) Note to RonO: steaks and lobster dinners will tend to make you appear pudgy.
Judicial Council Watcher
November 18, 2011
It’s like swatting flies.
Why doesn’t Mr. Carrizosa and his entourage ever bless us here with their blasphemy?
Emad Tadros MD
November 18, 2011
“Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”
Are our Judiciary aware of these unusually high numbers -especially in this San Diego Court House?
What is the San Diego Court CEO doing about these sky Rocketing ten times the norm estimates?
I would like to read some reliable good answers please…..
Wendy Darling
November 18, 2011
“What is the San Diego Court CEO doing about these sky Rocketing ten times the norm estimates?”
As reported by Maria Dinzeo and Courthouse News, just this Monday, November 14:
“San Diego Superior Court has started an expensive new technology project at a time when California’s courts are complaining loudly of budget shortages. At a cost of $7 million for equipment and more to hire new clerks, the project to scan public documents requires the public to either pay a substantial fee online or see the documents at the courthouse on a delayed basis.”
“The move by San Diego Superior Court comes at a time when most of California’s courts face a severe budget crisis, based on the Legislature’s decision this summer to lop hundreds of millions off the proposed budget item for state courts.”
“The San Diego court’s expensive and ambitious project was started within a couple weeks after the head court clerk, Michael Roddy, described the court’s financial situation in bleak terms, suggesting staff might be furloughed and courtrooms closed.”
“As the court’s chief executive officer, Roddy has led the court through its adoption of an extraordinarily expensive Court Case Management System that is favored by the central Administrative Office of the Courts while being derided by many superior court judges. As a result, say judges in other courts, San Diego is favored by that central corps of administrators who disburse hundreds of millions of public money to local courts and contractors with little public oversight.”
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/14/41421.htm
In other words, the San Diego Court CEO is going full speed ahead and spending money like crazy . . . just like the AOC.
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
November 18, 2011
Posted today, Friday, November 18, from Legal Pad, the legal blog of The Recorder, by Cheryl Miller:
AOC Officials Could Probably Use a Martini
by Cheryl Miller
http://legalpad.typepad.com/
Long live the ACJ.
antonatrail
November 18, 2011
No, not just “a martini. It must be Grey Goose.” Only the finest and most expensive for the pinhead bureaucrats.
Michael Paul
November 22, 2011
What legitimate business need is there in going to Vail? When I worked at the AOC it was common knowledge that out of state anything was discouraged and here we are with a few jet-setters as leaders. Do as I say, not as I do. pfft.
unionman575
November 24, 2011
It’s all graft and corruption from top to bottom at the JC & AOC starship.
unionman575
December 28, 2011
Vail is a nice place to relax Michael and horse around on our public dime.