THE PACIFIC AIRSHOW over Huntington Beach near the city pier (File photo).

Orange County Tribune

In the latest rejection of the City of Huntington Beach’s claimed right as a charter city to defy the authority of the State of California, an Orange County Superior Court judge has ruled that “Surf City” must cooperate with State Auditor Grant Parks in his investigation into the settlement over the early closure of the 2021 air show.

Judge Carmen Luege issued the order on July 30 requiring the city to allow access to all city records requested by Parks in the wake of the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee’s decision to audit the deal between the city and Pacific Air Show struck in 2023.
The air show was cut short by one day because of an oil leak into the water at the Huntington Beach shoreline, where visitors watching the display of aerial feats and acrobatics gathered.

According to published reports, the settlement called for the city to pay the operator – Pacific Airshow LLC – $4.9 million and grant the rights to the show for decades.

The City of Huntington Beach sought to defy the request for records on the grounds that its legal status exempted the municipality from a requirement to comply with the audit.

That was the same principle the city – promoted by then-City Attorney Michael Gates – pursued in its unsuccessful effort to not comply with the state’s requirement that Huntington Beach submit a “housing element” to its general plan calling for it to zone for – but not necessarily build – over 13,000 in new housing units.