ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Sen. Craven’s Loud Alarm Bell

State Sen. William A. Craven’s unhappiness with Orange County officials over what he saw as their failure to keep him advised of all their efforts to work out of the bankruptcy may have had a political component, but it was disturbing for what it suggested about the status of state assistance and cooperation for Orange County.

Craven (R-Oceanside) has much of South County in his district, and some of his constituents are concerned about a part of the county’s recovery plan that would raise garbage fees and increase garbage truck traffic. He has been a rare strong ally in helping the county on the road back to solvency, in sharp contrast with many other members of the county’s delegation in Sacramento. This week Craven said that because of a lack of information and help from the county, he would drop bills he was carrying that were a key part of the county’s attempt toavoid defaulting on more than $1 billion in bond payments coming due this summer. A Craven staffer said the action was a “wake-up call,” and the senator since has backed off. But the exchange certainly should have sounded the alarm at the Hall of Administration.

The county needs to explain to everyone in Sacramento what it is doing to recover from the bankruptcy. County officials have worked hard to come up with the recovery plan of asset sales, privatization of operations, massive layoffs of county workers and a sales tax increase on the ballot in June. These are signs that the days of business as usual are over, but they need a strong selling effort as well--to the voters at home and the legislators in the capital.

State legislators from Orange County should be helping with these explanations. Instead, some have staked out ideological positions, such as inflexible opposition to the sales tax increase. That is no help. The county’s plan is fragile, but workable. It needs unified support. Orange County officials promised to try to allay Craven’s concerns. They must. Miscommunications cost precious time, with bond repayment deadlines approaching.