It’s fitting that the first OC elected to call for the resignation of mega-tarnished Supervisor Andrew Do is the county’s highest-ranking Vietnamese-American official – or I should say, highest-ranking honest Vietnamese-American official, Santa Ana’s Mayor Pro Tem Thai Viet Phan:
“As the first Vietnamese-American elected to the Santa Ana City Council and a leader in the Little Saigon community, I am calling for the immediate resignation of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do.
“As public servants, it is our sworn duty to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent to help everyday residents and to be transparent and accountable to the public. This is especially true during a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic. Supervisor Do and his associates at Viet American Society have failed on all accounts.
“While innocent until proven guilty, Supervisor Do has lost the trust of our community and should not retain power over a $9.3 billion budget. I trust that the FBI and Department of Justice will conduct a thorough and fair investigation, and that we, the public, will learn the truth about Supervisor Do and Viet America Society.”
– Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Thai Viet Phan.
Yeah, Andrew Do does have only five months or so left in his term, but the Register called on the miscreant to resign way back last November, when LAist‘s intrepid Nick Gerda first reported on his nepotistic gifts of public millions, and Frances Marquez (now running to take his place) first spoke out about it in public.
In that November Register column, entitled “Andrew Do Cannot be Trusted. He Should Resign,” the editors focused on
- Do’s then-recent awarding of millions to a nonprofit (Viet America Society, VAS) not legally registered, with much of the millions going to a mental health center led by his daughter Rhiannon, a family connection Do never mentioned;
- his state fine earlier in the year for handing out nearly-million-dollar jobs to cronies while running CalOptima (reminiscent of his mentor Janet Nguyen‘s behavior when SHE ran the agency); and
- an earlier money-laundering allegation. As the Register put it, “it’s hard to ignore the dark cloud around him,” and the latest VAS incident was “the final straw.”
Do then fired back a pissy response, calling “Shame! Shame!” on the paper for “calling for the resignation of Supervisor Andrew Do” [in the third person] without even calling HIM, Andrew Do, to get the REAL facts, but instead relying on (well-documented) “hit pieces” from his nemesis Nick Gerda. A lot of his defense was that he didn’t really have all that much power because others went along with him; he further claimed VAS was INDEED a “legally registered nonprofit,” and that Rhiannon has mental health experience, is bilingual, and “doesn’t handle any of VAS’ finances.” A lot of claims which haven’t survived this year.
“Where there’s smoke…”
Well, yeah, sometimes it’s just some jerkoff vaping, but usually, as they say, “there’s fire.”
And in this case of Andrew Do giving out millions to his daughter’s nonprofit, there turned out to be plenty of fire. Most local news consumers now know that the County is suing these people for spending millions that was supposed to go to feeding seniors during COVD, on homes for themselves – including this Rhiannon Do who her father claimed had so little involvement with finances.
And two days ago the FBI raided all these folks’ houses, including Supervisor Do’s.
But most of you know all of that. What I’d emphasize to OC voters is that ONLY TWO of your five Supervisors have made the slightest effort over these nine months to get to the source of this “smoke” and prevent similar abuses in the future – your Honest Minority of Katrina Foley and Vincent Sarmiento. Stubborn Do allies Doug Chaffee (left) and Don Wagner stymied them at every turn. The County lawsuit was launched by staff alone as there was no Board majority to approve it. Arrogant guardians of institutional privilege, contemptuous of both public and press, Chaffee, Wagner and Do typify the old-school business-as-usual politicians that the OC needs to leave in the dustbin of history.
Until last week, when Chaffee and Wagner… “just couldn’t” any more:
“This is an unconscionable breach of trust and a gross misuse of public resources,” Chaffee wrote in a statement. “I have supported a thorough, and transparent investigation into this matter, and I welcome any state and federal investigation with full accountability.”
“The county does not take this action lightly,” Wagner said in an evening statement. “We will not let stand the abuses outlined in the complaint. Orange County taxpayers deserve their money back.”
SHOCKED, SHOCKED, SHOCKED, at what their friend and ally has been doing all this time, with their backing, just as accused by the press. Sounding like how shocked Trevor O’Neil & Co. were at Sidhu once HE got busted. You’re thinking what I’m thinking?
Well, a song will help us process all this for now, help us deal with our emotions in a mature and productive way. I’m guessing Supervisor Do and Judge Pham named their daughter after the popular Fleetwood Mac song, but even if they didn’t, the YouTube will be out this week, and the BoS performance this Tuesday:
Rhiannon (Do)
to a tune by Stevie Nicks
Rhiannon knows a man named Peter Pham
And her Dad’s a Supervisor
Let’s start a sham non-profit and
No-one will be the wiser!
Blissfully oblivious to suspicions this arouses,
With all this COVID money flowin’,
Let’s buy ourselves some houses!
Million-dollar houses!
Frances Marquez means what she says,
Nick Gerda’s at your doorstep.
What’ll it take to pry you off this Board?
Will someone pass the forceps?
In the annals of OC corruption,
the Do Clan takes the cake now!
The FBI’s pounding down your door,
And even Todd’s awake now.
Yes, even Todd’s awake now.
Rhia—nnon Do,
Give ba—ck the dough!
An—drew Do,
It’s ti—me to go!
Let’s not forget Do has had our Supervisor, Sleepy/Crooked Doug Chaffee, by the nuts for years. I wonder about his level of complicity in this.
‘Do Must Go’!!
The History of the OC Board of Supervisors, and for that matter most of the county offices have had some kind of shenanigans resignations illegal dealings going way back.
If Do does resign, the rest of the supervisors, should leave the seat vacant, since there is an election in November.
Do has been corrupt from day one. Dragging his young daughter into this is unconscionable. Think about all the corrupt staff Do has mentored and trained over the years too…Brian Probolsky, Van Tran, the list goes on and on. My guess is that Do wont resign and will just miss meetings. If you call his office, it goes right to voicemail. How is he supposed to be helping his constituents? Oh wait he never did, only the ones that seek to enrich themselves and him.
Yeah, he won’t be there. But his enablers Wagner and Chaffee will be there and deserve a special shout out.
There – a little Fleetwood Mac, a little Rogers & Hammerstein, Homer Simpson at the end… all ready for tomorrow’s Board meeting!
That’s funny.
You missed your calling Vern.
Not really. This IS my calling.
I should get some equipment to make my recordings better though, better than a cell phone.
Will Doh show at the BoS meeting tomorrow or will he have Covid???
Here is something to make you think differently about your equipment and music writing.
https://youtube.com/shorts/-_pXl8jrzGs?si=_bFUXsJQ_v74bD6w
Some supes call for Do to resign. The chair calls for a vote for his removal.
https://laist.com/news/politics/two-fellow-oc-supervisors-call-for-andrew-dos-removal-from-power
I don’t think anybody will be seeing much of Bowtie Boy in the coming months.
He should be stripped of his salary, car allowance, etc.
In the Voice my demented Supervisor – Bud Chaffee is calling for his colleagues to quit demanding Do’s resignation and let the courts handle this, because “separation of powers.” I kid you not.
Sure enough, no bow-tie boy. I had to introduce my song: “I had prepared a musical comment for Doug’s mentor, but apparently he’s home collecting his salary.” Doug looked up startled and irritated.
I’m told Counsel Leon Page was really enjoying the song, I hadn’t thought to look at him. Also, the guards out front said it was the best thing they’d heard. And Gerda showed up to videotape it – possibly his first appearance in a song! “Even Todd’s awake now” got the most laughter.
There is a new gang of rightwing conspiracy nuts that cluster in a couple of aisles near the back, and give each other lots of applause. They are mostly concerned with VOTER FRAUD in Orange County – why else would Republicans be doing so bad here? – and insisting on all kinds of draconian reforms. They also object to almost all companies and agencies the County contracts with, because they talk about diversity and equity, and some of the principals aren’t even clear on their gender!
Steve Rocco was bouncing around the audience letting everyone know he’s running for school board again.
Somebody put it on Reddit, and there are lots of good comments there. I’m kind of new to Reddit. Wanted to just save that link here….
https://www.reddit.com/r/orangecounty/comments/1f2rl4q/board_got_musical_today_about_supervisor_do/?sort=top
Umm the election fraud squad have been at the BoS meeting for sometime now. Thanks for the recap of the meeting including how your presentation went. No Frances … Marquez sighting?
Yeah, hadn’t been down there in a while. Last time I did a musical comment at the BoS was in the middle of the Delta Variant surge when I knew the place was mobbed with Anti-Vaxxers and Anti-Maskers, and I figured I had to go down there and sing my “Delta John.”
I didn’t know how to feel about the fact that all the nutjobs loved my song.
The composition is slightly better than the lyrics. But enjoyable and timely nonetheless.
That was kind of an AI-generated sounding review. You know the original song, right?
This new one is less political, more about a timeless, universal, very human issue:
Rhiannon was interning for Spitzer’s office from mid January through mid April 2024.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-29/supervisors-daughter-investigation-ocda-internship
Yeah… over a month after this VAS grant was known about and questioned.
She was an intern?
I read someplace that she claimed she worked hard for that house of hers. Presumably she wasn’t talking about honest work.
Intern and law student.
That shit must pay real well.
And I think she getting a good legal education right about now. But it isn’t coming cheap.
This will make changing the venue to Los Angeles REALLY easy!
Just checking in to let you know I am reading all of your articles, Vern. Thank you so much for your service to Anaheim and the OC. Happy Labor Day to all, and I hope everyone gets to take a needed break.
UCI law school dean Austin Parrish sure was pleased [innuendo deleted]
… FARRAH … KHAN… piles on the Do resignation train claiming she was calling for it during her campaign (< 3/5/2024) for supervisor and demands an audit. I call bs re her earlier calls for Do’s resignation.
https://x.com/MayorofIrvine/status/1829593535370444873?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Yeah, I sure don’t remember her saying anything about that.
It’s the new black. I’ve moved on. Moved on to connecting Do to Janet Nguyen and Michelle Steel, to help Frances and Derek.
Maybe Do has some thoughts he’d now be willing to share about Janet’s “management” of CalOptima…
Follow the path of Melahat, Supervizier Do!
Great, Stones-from-a-glass-house fight!
I don’t think Do’s in the mood to be co-operative with anyone, but I am trying to get my hands on a nice picture of Andrew and Janet when they were chummy (if Norberto would let me use this https://i0.wp.com/voiceofoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DSC_0449.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1 it would be a lot simpler) … for my “The Nerve of Janet, Who is Worse than Andrew Do” piece.
You obviously don’t understand intellectual property law. If you are using the photo for news reporting, the picture is subject to fair use considerations.
Well, you and Greg agree on that, but Norberto was very threatening recently when we used a couple of his photos.
If Frances goes around acting like an anti-corruption advocate [remainder deleted]
Actually I thought Eric made a good point. It was hard for a corruption fighter like Jose Moreno, as it’s been for Kathleen Treseder, to make alliances with colleagues who are used to business as usual. But as far as Frances goes, I think she’ll fit right in with Foley and Sarmiento.
Frances’ lawsuit seems like a loser. If her council member colleagues were privileged to censure her, that immunity should transfer to the city attorney and the city. I’d imagine there is going to be a motion battle in the pleading stage. Seems like bellyaching over politics.
I kind of agree. I don’t know if it’s a loser or justified or if she’ll win, but I wouldn’t-a made it part of her campaign. She shouldn’t be presenting herself as a perpetually squeaky wheel. But I don’t tell her what to do.
Gotta write my Janet attacks this week….
Surf City goes all no confidence on Do!!
https://laist.com/news/politics/huntington-beach-andrew-do-city-council-vote
You know if Do was convicted of stealing public funds in his homeland, it would likely be the end of him.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68778636.amp (billionaire sentenced to death in Vietnam for bank fraud)
Another CA dem jumps ship.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/longtime-california-democratic-leader-flames-party-she-registers-gop-adios.amp
HAHAHA Gloria Romero, I knew it. The only question is what took her so long? The Charter School Queen. We had it out on these very pages a year ago, she is ridiculous. And FOX News calls her “longtime Democrat leader” – try “longtime Democrat laughing stock.”
https://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2023/09/cecilia-flores-beats-lucille-krings-planning-commission-and-a-charter-school-goes-down/
(Good fun story by the way)
Je-Zeus!, you swallowed the Gloria Romero bait!
Dems may be in trouble attracting the Latino vote. Maybe that’s the October surprise. I like Romero’s attack of the Green Party and pro electrification types.
Dershbag jumps off the Democratic freedom and democracy train. https://m.jpost.com/american-politics/article-819067
Frances Marquez’s attorney in the action against cypress is none other than Lee Fink.
Case# 8:24-cv-01835
Lee is getting the lion’s share of the great cases these days, often along with Brea resident and former District Attorney candidate Brett Murdock!
Lee may be largely a part of the DPOC/CDP/DNC faction that wants to suppress the Bernie/AOC left — while worthy goals like women’s, LGBT, and worker’s rights engulf all of the meaning of what it means to be a “progressive” — but of those in that faction he has the most redeeming qualities. He’s an easy endorsement in Orange.
[…] EN said it.
Washington Post jumps onboard Do’s runaway train and what about the Vietnam War Memorial.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/11/orange-county-pandemic-relief-money/
https://laist.com/news/politics/orange-county-vietnam-war-memorial-andrew-do-viet-america-society