Orange County strike disrupts services as contract talks stall

More than 400 Orange County workers are on strike amid stalled contract negotiations, disrupting services at county landfills and the animal shelter, according to Voice of OC. Landfills are closed to residents but remain open to waste haulers.

The distinction matters for residents seeking to use county disposal facilities: Voice of OC reported that the county did not publicly disclose the different access rules. The disruption comes as cities elsewhere in the county face budget pressures and a coastal highway lane remains closed.

Negotiations between the Teamsters union and Orange County have stalled, according to Voice of OC. Union and state labor officials say the county failed to bargain in good faith on a new contract.

The service disruptions include the county animal shelter as well as landfills. Voice of OC reported that waste haulers can continue using the disposal facilities despite the closure to residents.

In Anaheim, the City Council approved police raises approaching 17% over three years without public discussion, the publication reported. The stated cost is $45 million. Separately, a projected budget deficit is expected to absorb half of the $120 million becoming available from freed-up bond repayment money.

Along the coast, Caltrans indefinitely closed a southbound Pacific Coast Highway lane between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach after a large crack developed beneath the road, according to Voice of OC. Both cities also experienced flooding after a tropical storm pushed tides higher over the weekend.

Election spending is another focus of the roundup. Voice of OC reported that spending in Newport Beach City Council elections has exceeded $2 million, with more than half coming from a local developer promoting four ballot initiatives. In Huntington Beach, the police union’s political action committee is spending against two council incumbents who opposed police raises.

Candidates for the Orange County Board of Supervisors are also answering Voice of OC questionnaires on corruption investigations, public safety, budgets and transparency.