By Edward Ring, includes “With rare exceptions, most cities in California are run by public sector unions. There is the appearance of democracy, with public employees accountable to elected officials, who in turn are accountable to voters, but appearances can be deceiving. … A recent analysis by Truth in Accounting (TIA), a nonprofit government finance watchdog group, gave Santa Ana a ‘D’ grade for its fiscal health. But like a sick person with a glowing suntan, Santa Ana does not show obvious signs of financial distress.”