The Buzz column, May 9

Councilman Lance MacLean’s campaign finance report, July through December 2005, shows his fundraising activity regarding city vendors and developers. For all of 2005, his primary donors were Steadfast ($2,500) and Fieldstone ($1,749), which are both associated with the housing project he approved on Feb. 20, 2006. MacLean advocated for the developer prior to the vote and ignored residents’ comments and objections, including a petition against the project signed by 3,000 people.

***

Council members say, “It’s a state mandate,” referring to affordable housing goals. What mandate are they talking about, and where did they get such information? The city attorney’s long-winded responses rarely cite case law. Residents should hope the city isn’t depending solely on its attorney’s advice in the lawsuit filed by the Public Law Center.

***

Responding to questions at the May 8 Town Hall meeting about affordable housing and the lawsuit against the city, Councilman Frank Ury indicated it wasn’t his fault. It seems the key to his success is blaming others for his failures. He said the problems occurred “five years ago” when affordable housing issues weren’t addressed. Ury on Feb. 20, 2006, voted for Steadfast’s housing project, which is the basis of the lawsuit. Ury campaigned in 2004 on “leadership.” His supporters should have asked where he was leading.

***

Students in the Capistrano Unified School District can go to the back of the line – behind administrators – again. A district insider said 250 administrators are recipients of new BlackBerry wireless communication devices. Parents should ask why a BlackBerry is essential equipment when they’re raising money for classroom supplies and their children are sitting on the floor to eat lunch.

***

Two more city council candidates are headed for the November showdown. Councilman John Paul Ledesma made it official on May 4 by filing his intent to run – no surprise. On May 8, Dr. Michael Ferrall, a Community Services Commissioner, filed his intent to run.

***

Ferrall several months ago presented concepts to the commission on attracting a private college or private high school to the city. Possibly as a related matter, a college employee said Saddleback College is currently dealing with mold issues, but it is open to discussing a four-year college moving into space formerly occupied by Cal State Fullerton’s satellite campus at Saddleback’s south end. In addition to retrofitted classrooms, amenities would include parking space for 1,000 cars.

***

Sak’s Fifth Avenue at the Shops will remain open. The decision was made at Sak’s New York headquarters following an earlier announcement the store was slated for closure. A press release stated, “The retailer said it decided to keep the Mission Viejo Saks after determining it could meet its profitability standards.”

***

On the payroll: the city of Mission Viejo’s full time equivalent is 135. By contrast, the city of Rancho Santa Margarita, also a contract city, has 16 full-time employees and two part-timers. RSM also contracts with approximately 35 additional workers for services such as planning and engineering to accommodate projects, which vary. An RSM employee said their contract philosophy allows for flexibility.