Author: ICNV Staff
Irvine to Receive $56 Million from the American Rescue Plan Budget: How Will the Funds be Spent?
As part of the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the City of Irvine is receiving $56 million to be spent on civic improvements over the next three years.
The federal funds are intended to help cities “Build Back Better” by rebuilding and improving infrastructure, and strengthening and expanding direct human services that have been badly damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
City staff has drafted a plan for allocating the funds, divided into five areas. The recommended plan will be presented to the City Council for discussion and action at the Council’s October 12th meeting.
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Why Haven’t Irvine Residents Been Updated on the Orange County Power Authority … Even Though Irvine Taxpayer Money is Funding the Project?
In November 2020, environmental advocates were excited to learn that the City of Irvine was leading the effort to establish a California Community Choice Energy program, known now as the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA). The City of Irvine is funding the project through 2022.
Irvine City Councilmember Mike Carroll is the Chairman of the five-member OCPA Board. Mayor Farrah Khan also sits on the Board.
Now, nearly a year after the OCPA was established, clean energy advocates are voicing serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency and a series of questionable decisions by the OCPA Board, including the hiring of an inexperienced CEO who is being paid $239,000. And Irvine taxpayers — who are funding the OCPA — have been kept in the dark as to how their money is being spent. (So far, Irvine has advanced $7.5 million to the OCPA and will be responsible for millions more over the next year.)
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