May 16, 2014
To: Orange County Employees
From: Chairman Shawn Nelson, Supervisor, 4th District
Michael B. Giancola, County Executive Officer
Subject: Bustamante Case
On Monday, a preliminary hearing will begin in the criminal case against former OC Public Works executive Carlos Bustamante. Mr. Bustamante is charged with 12 felony counts for alleged conduct between 2003 and 2011 when he worked for the County, including sexual assault, false imprisonment and stalking.
Preliminary hearings are held in criminal cases to determine if there is enough evidence to justify taking the defendant to trial on the charges. You will very likely be reading and hearing reports about the hearing, including comments and opinions about the County, its policies and procedures, and specific County employees, either past or current. We expect that all of the victims will be testifying.
There have been multiple changes in County government since Mr. Bustamante was arrested nearly two years ago. Simply put, the environment under which Mr. Bustamante operated while he was employed here no longer exists. For example:
- New processes have been established to ensure that reporting and investigation of misconduct is vigorously pursued.
- Human Resource Services has been centralized under the CEO’s office to increase accountability and provide an independent review of complaints.
- An oversight committee of three department heads now tracks, monitors and ensures that job-discrimination complaints are properly processed.
- New in-person discrimination awareness training is required for managers and supervisors. More training will be provided for all employees later this year.
- Our new OC Public Works director has reorganized the department and is making positive strides toward rebuilding one of the finest professional organizations in the state.
Our priority throughout this process has been to support those identified as victims and provide full assistance to the District Attorney’s investigation. We are committed to providing a safe, healthy and fulfilling place to work free from fear or harassment for all employees.
We are extremely proud of every one of you who faithfully and diligently serve the many needs of our community. When any one of our employees is harmed, it harms us all. The actions of a single individual does not, and should not, define County government.
Amid any news coverage generated by the upcoming court proceeding, please keep in mind all of the good works accomplished by County employees every day.
Thank you for all that you do for the County of Orange.
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Every time I think the Board of Supervisors and CEO Mike Giancola can sink no lower, they prove me wrong.
The Voice of OC’s coverage on Kathy Tahilramani’s complaint and lawsuit documented quite well what the county does to employees who follow these new procedures and safeguards. Tahilramani was viciously attacked by County Counsel, Giancola and former Deputy CEO Alisa Drakodadis. (In a bit of irony and hypocrisy, Drakodadis is now suing the county for whistleblower retaliation.) In her lawsuit, Tahilramani names other employees whose careers were destroyed by senior managers for having the courage to come forward as whistleblowers using this “improved” protection process.
While the protection measures mentioned in Nelson and Giancola’s memo to employees may sound good on the surface, you need to look deeper. Every person responsible for implementing those measures reports to Giancola directly, or HR Director Steve Danley. Danley was instrumental in enabling and later covering up Carlos Bustamante’s criminal behavior. Giancola was also deeply involved in the Bustamante cover up, as well as providing special favors to one of Bustamante’s mistresses who worked in Giancola’s trash department. Do you really think Giancola, Danley, or the BOS want any senior managers implicated or disciplined for criminal behavior?
Under Nelson, Giancola and Danley, the fox guarding the hen house…again.
Good point and these same people are trying to get Eric Woolery, another good old boy OC GOP insider elected to the post of OC Auditor-Controller. Of course they want to make sure that the OC Auditor-Controller isn’t going to be investigating what they are up to!