It should come as no surprise that overspending and spending someone else’s money without their consent doesn’t go over very well. In the case of the 1.8 billion dollar (2.3 billion dollar)long beach courthouse where both the AOC and Judicial Council took liberties, they’re getting their hands slapped. It is well deserved too.
For those of you who who supported us in our goals of getting the crooks in the AOC out of the construction business it appears that we’ve won round one as well as round two.
From Justice Brad Hill
Good morning:
It is painful to write this email to all of you. On the heels of the Judicial Council action to indefinitely delay seven SB 1407 projects due to the significant ongoing redirection of SB 1407 funds to trial court operations, there is more bad news I must tell you. All indications are that there will not be General Fund dollars available next year to pay for the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse. We have been working for months advocating that this project be paid for by the General Fund and not transferred to the 1407 program. The Long Beach courthouse is scheduled to open in August 2013, at which time the first of ongoing payments become due for the construction, operations, and maintenance of this facility.
We are, unfortunately, left with only one alternative under this scenario. SB 1407 funds must bear the burden of the Long Beach payments. Until we receive an appropriation to fund Long Beach payments, we cannot proceed on upwards of $600 million in planned SB 1407 projects. The branch has a responsibility to move forward with only the projects that we can afford.
This, I know, is devastating news.
Ultimately the Judicial Council will need to decide which projects must be indefinitely delayed to accommodate funding the new courthouse in Long Beach out of SB 1407 funds. In order to support this process, the working group I chair, the Court Facilities Working Group, will be meeting on Thursday December 13th starting at 9:00am to develop its draft recommendations to the Judicial Council. Any of you are welcome to attend the meeting to listen to the working group’s deliberations. We cannot, at this late notice, successfully accommodate members of the courts who wish to call in because we are unable to secure a room with a sufficient sound system. Thanks to you and your staff, and the time you invested in attending the September 5-7, 2012 meeting, we have a voluminous set of materials we can refer to in crafting our very, very difficult recommendations.
The draft recommendations will be posted here http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm for comments. When the draft recommendations are posted, I invite you to provide comments to OCCMComments@jud.ca.gov for the working group to consider while finalizing its recommendations to the Judicial Council, planned for next year.
I recognize you have been working for a long time to plan for a new courthouse to replace one or more courthouses that are unsafe and can no longer meet the functional needs of your court. I know you share my concern that indefinitely delaying more projects—in addition to the seven projects indefinitely delayed due to the $50 million ongoing redirection of SB 1407 funds to the trial courts—is not in the best long term interest of the branch.
Thank you, again, for working with us as we tackle this very difficult issue.
Related articles
- The Long Beach boondoggle gets more press coverage (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- L.A. to close 10 courthouses in the next 8 mos (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- State freezes courthouse projects in Modesto, Los Banos, Sonora (modbee.com)
courtflea
December 3, 2012
Once again you can hear the giant sucking sound from LA. Ya think that the commit t e made this decision to further divide the trrial courts? Would love to hear what the ACJ says about thiis.
Judicial Council Watcher
December 3, 2012
Actually from what I hear on this inside of the AOC it was the AOC and not LASC (whom they loathe) that pushed this project in an effort to silence one of their most vocal critics, Ms. Bonnie Lowenthal. (D – Long Beach) Having the support or Arnie, they figured that they could push this through off-budget much like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plead poor and try to get the state legislature to pick up the tab with a new slate of legislators coming into office.
L.A. Observer
December 3, 2012
JCW. I heard the same. This was totally an AOC boondoggle. LASC had nothing to do with the decision to fund the construction of the courthouse in this manner. In fact, I heard that after telling the AOC that this was going to be a disaster and fiscally irresponsible, the LASC management refused to participate in the process further, lest anyone think they approved of the irresponsible manner this project was developed.
Michael Paul
December 3, 2012
I was working for the AOC during the planning phase of this courthouse. The AOC only sought the permission to build PBI/PPP and never intended to ask, nor did they ever ask, nor did the enabling legislation provide for separate funding for this project. It was always coming out of 1407 funds with a legislative objective down the road of securing additional funding for this project.
For all of this you can thank Mr. Robert Emerson who helped plan this, Mr. Lee Willoughby who directed this, Mr.Ernie Swickard who oversaw this and Mr. Clifford Ham who managed this, along with Bill Vickrey and Ron Overholt. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the sound legal guidance of one Mary Roberts and the stellar foresight exhibited by the former lobbying director Mr. Curtis Child.
And you do recall that Judicial Council vote that approved this expenditure don’t you?
What? You don’t remember? It is because it NEVER HAPPENED.
Expect that they will all be getting raises and passing out awards.
As for other courthouses that will fall by the wayside? You have no one to thank other than those who orchestrated this mess.
courtflea
December 3, 2012
JCW i dont see ths as a victory. Many courts need remodels or new courthouses desperately. The committee should recognize this and tell LA to suck it up.
Judicial Council Watcher
December 3, 2012
It may not seem a victory but as most of us know, the county can build and remodel courthouses for a fraction of the cost of the AOC. Local courts can maintain their own courthouses for a fraction of what AOC’s former facilities management unit can maintain them for and finally for every new courthouse that is built comes millions of dollars in more deferred maintenance because the AOC builds them and walks away without having any meaningful budget to prevent them from falling into a state of disrepair.
Michael Paul
December 3, 2012
As L.A. Observer noted, L.A bowed out of this early because they didn’t want to become a party to this. This courthouse design is based on the very deficient 2006 trial court facilities standards. It will cost millions just to move in.
disgusted
December 3, 2012
Okay, totally unrelated question, but does this site have snowballs falling on everyone else’s screen too? Or is it just mine?
Judicial Council Watcher
December 3, 2012
Every year here at JCW it begins to snow on the page on December 1.
disgusted
December 3, 2012
How appropriate with the story above.
Wendy Darling
December 3, 2012
With the full knowledge and consent of judicial branch “administration,” both past and present, it has long been the AOC’s ultimate plan to bank on getting the State Legislature to commit general fund money to ultimately pay for the new Long Beach courthouse, a la “if we build it, the money will come.”
While this might have been misguided plan at the outset, it became a delusional strategy after the release of the audit of CCMS and AOC mis-management practices by Elaine Howle and the BSA. The plan further descended into delusional insanity in the wake of the SEC report, and the Pegasus Global report on the AOC’s OCCM, and the identified AOC mis-management of court construction projects. Regardless of party affiliation, every member of the State Legislature, excepting apparently only Senator Steinberg, knows it would be political suicide at this point to hand the AOC, and current branch “leadership” a pile of public money, and no accountability for it, to spend on anything, even the new Long Beach courthouse. And SWAG bags for incoming new members of the State Assembly and State Senate isn’t going to change that reality.
Justice Hill, the Judicial Council, the Office of the Chief Justice, and the AOC, can look around all they want for a place to lay the blame, including the State Legislature for not giving them general fund money, but the plain truth is that they have no one to blame but themselves.
They made their bed — and peed and defecated in it to boot — now they can lie in it.
As it happens, lying is the one thing they’re all really good at.
Serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.
Long live the ACJ.
Peppermint Pattie
December 3, 2012
The Twelve Days Of A Judicial Branch Christmas 2012
On the first day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
A Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the second day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the third day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Eight new ways to lie to the State Legislature,
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Nine SWAG bags filled with propaganda,
Eight new ways to lie to the State Legislature,
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Ten different Org charts,
Nine SWAG bags filled with propaganda,
Eight new ways to lie to the State Legislature,
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Eleven ways to retaliate against the ACJ,
Ten different ORG charts,
Nine SWAG bags filled with propaganda,
Eight new ways to lie to the State Legislature,
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
The Judicial Branch gave to me
Twelve closed courthouses for sale,
Eleven ways to retaliate against the ACJ,
Ten different ORG charts,
Nine SWAG bags filled with propaganda,
Eight new ways to lie to the State Legislature,
Seven flip-flops of judicial branch policy,
Six self serving awards to themselves,
Five new committees with the same familiar faces,
Four temper tantrums from the Chief Justice,
A three billion dollar Long Beach boondoggle,
Two more layers of AOC upper management,
And a Jahr Head in an empty tree.
wearyant
December 3, 2012
Thanks, Peppermint Pattie! Easy to memorize too!
courtflea
December 3, 2012
OK now i get it thanks guys. This reminds me of the ti m e the AOC urged the trial courts to use SAL funds for on going expenditures like staffing. The idiots never learn and once again the trial cour t s pay the price.
Michael Paul
December 3, 2012
Imagine for a moment that you had an elected representative to the council rather than an appointee who is speaking with one voice to bamboozle you and the legislature. Do you think this would have happened? I doubt it. Democratize the Judicial Council for the sake of the courts and for the sake of the people of California.
wearyant
December 3, 2012
Justice Brad Hill refers to this news as “bad,” “devastating,” and “painful.” I think differently than the judicial elitists residing in ivory towers. IT’S GREAT NEWS! Someone is finally putting their foot down, from somewhere (heh heh), on the AOC’s JC adams apple. HOORAY. Thanks for the early Christmas present, Saint Nick. Cheer up, CourtFlea. This most likely is not a LASC versus the little guys this time. Wendy Darling spelled it out. The AOC’s JC defecated in their own soup and the health department is starting to take notice.
Delilah
December 3, 2012
>>In the case of the 1.8 billion dollar long beach courthouse where both the AOC and Judicial Council took liberties, they’re getting their hands slapped.<<
Aw, poor things. The slap on the hands should have been with cuffs.
This is what they consider "devastating" news? This is the worst thing thing that could happen in the "best long term interest of the branch"? These people never expressed 1/10th this much sorrow, hand-wringing and angst all this time that thousands of court workers were dumped like trash, and courtrooms and courthouses are closing by the hundreds up and down the state. These hucksters in their ivory towers. Boo-hoo. Cry me a river. They have no one to blame but themselves, but of course they'll point fingers anywhere and everywhere else. What they have done and continue to do is an ongoing crime and a moral disgrace.
Nathaniel Woodhull
December 4, 2012
It this what poor Brad is really thinking???? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zDAmPIq29ro
Wendy Darling
December 4, 2012
Too funny, General Woodhull! Thanks for the laugh; it was needed.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
December 3, 2012
We cannot, at this late notice, successfully accommodate members of the courts who wish to call in because we are unable to secure a room with a sufficient sound system.
Uh huh…right!
unionman575
December 3, 2012
As I sit here enjoying a nice Vodka Tonic, I’d like to dedicate this catchy tune to Justice Hill and all the others that have contributed oh so much to our Branch’s ongoing issues…
As they say in the U.S. Military this is F.U.B.A.R….
.
unionman575
December 3, 2012
You can’t find a room with a sufficient sound system BUT you always have AOC Bucks to rent rooms…
Meanwhile back in AOC Land…
http://www.courts.ca.gov/20070.htm
Labor Relations Academy RFP Number: CRS TD 038
The Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Conference Services Unit seeks proposals from hotels for a room block only in April, 2013 in Sacramento.
Any questions must be directed to conferencesolicitations@jud.ca.gov by 5:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday, December 10, 2012.
Proposals must be received by END OF BUSINESS DAY Pacific Time, Thursday, December 20, 2012.
Hard copy proposals must be delivered to:
Judicial Council of California
Administrative Office of the Courts
Attn: John Remington, RFP No. CRS TD 038
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
Further information regarding this solicitation is set forth in Request for Proposals (RFP) No. CRS TD 038
.
The Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Conference & Registration Services does not retain the services of third party or outsourced representation. All quoted rates are to be net, not commissionable.
The OBT
December 3, 2012
What they can’t accommodate is the shear number of calls from those angered by the poor planning by the AOC and JC that led to this latest financial disaster. The Long Beach courthouse is the CCMS of 2013. Who would have ever believed that it was appropriate to spend 1.8 billion dollars on one courthouse? This is exactly why we need a democratically elected JC. The mess created by those in the tower at 455 Golden Gate needs reformation now.
unionman575
December 3, 2012
Here’s a reminder to the Death Star…
http://www.courts.ca.gov/2027.htm
Senate Bill 1407
Landmark Law Finances Unprecedented Courthouse Rebuilding Program
(Stats. 2008, ch. 311)
This legislation, signed into law on September 26, 2008, launched an unprecedented courthouse rebuilding program in California by designating judicial branch revenues to fund up to $5 billion in lease-revenue bonds that will finance new construction and renovation projects. It has been estimated that 104,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created by the projects funded by Senate Bill 1407.
The law created a revenue stream from court fees, penalties, and assessments to finance courthouse construction and renovations, ensuring that these projects would be paid for from within the judicial branch rather than drawing on the state’s general fund.
Here goes another one out to to all you Death Star whizzes…
😉
unionman575
December 3, 2012
😉
The law created a revenue stream from court fees, penalties, and assessments to finance courthouse construction and renovations, ensuring that these projects would be paid for from within the judicial branch rather than drawing on the state’s general fund.
Wendy Darling
December 3, 2012
“The mess created by those in the tower at 455 Golden Gate needs reformation now.”
And those responsible at 455 Golden Gate Avenue need rehabilitation now. As in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
December 3, 2012
http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
December 4, 2012
ADX Florence. The better choice.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5101352n
Lando
December 3, 2012
Hello All : Nice to see Woodhull back and many of the comments above provide significant and very helpful insight into how we got to this point. The similarities between the CCMS and Long Beach boondoggles are stunning. A critical issue I am most concerned about is the exact date of the Judicial Council meeting wherein the Long Beach courthouse and funding for it were approved by the Judicial Council. My guess is that like CCMS there is no such vote. If there was a vote it would be fascinating to see what the AOC provided to the Judicial Council by way of specifics. The sad reality is that now multi billions are potentially being wasted on one court building while those billions could have gone to keeping the courts we have open and our employees employed. I will ask again, is anyone in the legislature listening ?
unionman575
December 3, 2012
No vote as pointed out by Michael Paul.
wearyant
December 3, 2012
No vote? AGAIN?! Somebody needs to go to jail. Oh, you may arrest them/him/her first. Set a high bail. We, the beleaguered taxpayers, are footing the bill — AGAIN.
courtflea
December 4, 2012
And is it the sad truth after paying all of this money for one courthouse that it won’t even be owed by the branch?
wearyant
December 5, 2012
Yes, court flea, just like they didn’t own the code for CCMS. What hapless bunglers for supposedly highly intelligent people. We desperately need the AOC’S JC out of the construction business.
Stuart MIchael
December 5, 2012
Thanks JCW for explaining the snow – and for everything else you help explain
I was afraid I was getting glaucoma – despite trying to convince my parents many years ago that smoking the green leafy substance helped prevent it.
too bad the JC/AOC folks didn’t try it – it might have helped mellow their evil ways
The Executive & Legislative folks must not have tried it either – now they’ve got glaucoma about what’s needed to rescue the Judicial Branch from itself