Orland Fire Protection District (ECWd) –
We previously reported on the $432,000 spent on media relations in the past few years.
Since January 2025 (including July), the Orland Fire Protection District paid $28,000.00 to Ray Hanania’s “Urban Strategies,” continuing their spending of your tax money on media relations – money that could be put to better use, like with the ambulance service they provide.
There were 18 press releases published since February of 2025, which were provided to us under the Freedom of Information Act with considerable prodding on our part. The district initially stated they had no such records when we requested them.
There were four fire-related releases (where the district provided the photos), and fourteen releases related to the district board, events held at the district, or educational events. This costs the fire district taxpayers $4000 each month, for an average of about three press releases each month.
In addition, they have paid out $42,500.00 since January (through June) to All-CIRCO for lobbying fees, paid at $7,500.00 per month, with one month being $5,000.00
You can view these payments on the district’s webpage (here).
2 Comments
Perry Albin
Posted at 21:47h, 16 JulyI am a taxpayer in the Oakland Fire Protection District. What are names and contact info of the current Trustees? They should explain to us why these amounts for PR have been wasted. Their tax rate is higher than any others in the area. Will the rate be reduced as the restitution is recovered? They should have a meeting and explain.
Scott L
Posted at 12:37h, 15 JulyIf you knew Ray Hannania you would know that he is one the most respected minority journalists for over a generation in the southland Chicag0 area. He has both reported on and consulted for an incredible number of government entities and officeholders. Whatever he is paid, it is a bargain for the amount of institutional knowledge he brings any official or organization he works with. He is perhaps the most successful Arab-American political journalist in Chicago hisotory.