A reader responds: “While the ad hoc housing committee of the council (MacLean and Ury) rushes to find more high-density housing for Mission Viejo, the citizen’s initiative submitted to the ad hoc committee languishes in a snail’s race with the law firm appointment. It took more than 12 months to resolve the city attorney issue; will it take more than 12 months to resolve the citizen’s initiative submittal? GUESS WHAT, it probably won't occur before the November election!”

From another reader: “The Steadfast project is due before the council on Feb 20. It will be interesting to see how many of Steadfast's supporters are in the audience and how many are actual residents. If there are more than 20, the Krakatoa Volcano may erupt.”

Email response from Joe Holtzman: “In your gutless manner of not identifying yourself you have now attacked Frank Ury. Once again you do not know what you are talking about--not unusual though for you. As an insider I am very familiar to what was going on concerning the Viejo System Project and our interfaces with the CPUC. And as I have stated before you and your bunch sat on your fat asses on the sidelines on this vital issue to the city.  On burying the Viejo System Power Lines that issue was won until the Mission Viejo City Council was manipulated by Edison and a former council members into the proposal for a special district. NOPE had the CPUC on its side until Edison pulled off their ploy.  And as I might remind you--Frank Ury was not on the City Council that voted to sell out the community on burying the lines. Get you facts straight--but once again I am sure that does not matter that you distort the facts.”

Blog response to Joe Holtzman: The blog stands by its Feb. 11 column. The time line supporting the blog’s statement is a matter of public record: The California Public Utilities Commission filed a notice to proceed (giving Edison permission to install new lines above ground) on July 15, 2004. SCE began construction on July 19, 2004. Ury filed papers for his council candidacy on Aug. 6, 2004. NOPE’s attorney failed to file a timely application for rehearing on Aug. 17, 2004. Ury’s campaign mailers, stating he would force SCE to bury its lines, were hitting mailboxes in late September and throughout October 2004.

The reader’s implication of backroom machinations that influenced the July 15 CPUC ruling also appears to support the blog’s point that the decision had likely been made before Ury’s campaign began.