The Buzz column, March 7

As 177,000 petition signatures were stacking up to recall CUSD trustees, the trustees’ PR guy, Roger Faubel, hatched a “brilliant” plan. For only $38,000, he masterminded rescission postcards, whereby voters who signed the recall petition could withdraw their signatures. How many people jumped at the chance to rescind? The grand total was 36 voters who signed the petition – at a cost of more than $1,000 per postcard.

***

What else is Roger up to? The M.V. council recently awarded him a $100,000 contract to “educate” residents that Crown Valley Pkwy is being widened. Faubel received public criticism for wanting to burn $20,000 of taxpayer money on a balloon fest and catered lunch for VIPs for the official road opening. As public ire grew, he scaled back the cost … sort of. To compensate for the so-called shortfall, city vendors were pressed to donate to this civic circus. As usual, residents won’t be invited to the party.

***

Roughly translated, the five phases of a project are enthusiasm, confusion, panic, punishing the innocent and rewarding non-participants. With the CUSD recall signature drive completed and the District Attorney’s investigation under way, would any non-participant like to stand up and take credit for someone else’s work? Frank Ury has put his name on the effort. Did he even sign the petition?

***

Ury has a history of taking credit for the labor of others. In the 10-year-long anti-airport battle, he was nowhere. As mentioned in earlier blogs, Ury falsely claimed he was “an anti-airport fighter from the beginning.” If Ury has accomplished anything on his own, why did he lie about his involvement fighting an airport?

***

This week’s Pants on Fire award goes to Mayor MacLean, who was blatantly campaigning when County Treasurer John Moorlach spoke at Casta Del Sol on Feb. 26. In front of more than 100 people, MacLean touted the city’s fiscal accountability. Here’s an example of MacLean’s views on finance. Instead of responsibly budgeting the city’s $2-million to $5-million underfunded retiree healthcare benefit obligations, MacLean led the council on March 6 in punting the obligation into 2006. Considering the rising cost of healthcare, deferring payment can exponentially increase the amount due.

***

One item mentioned by the geographically challenged council during the budget discussion on March 6 was a dog park. Isn’t the new dog park locale the same area as the soccer field that is alternately displaced and then reinstated in the community center expansion plans? When the council deals with parents, it’s a potential soccer field; when the council deals with dog owners, it’s a potential dog park. Why not both? It would teach children to be extra careful not to fall down while playing soccer. Estimated cost of a dog park (fence and grass): $660,000.

***

Councilwoman Kelley has supported the CUSD trustees throughout the turmoil of boundaries, a recall effort and, now, a criminal investigation by the District Attorney. What’s the net worth of Kelley’s getting endorsements from people wearing orange jumpsuits? Following the bombshell last week of the D.A.’s investigation, a rumor emerged that Trustee Mike Darnold is doubtful he’ll run for another term. Since his term doesn’t expire until 2008, such a rumor would be more interesting if it involved trustees up for reelection this fall: John Casabianca, Sheila Henness and Crystal Kochendorfer.