The Buzz Column, July 4

The two remaining members of the Edison-haters club spoke at the July 3 council meeting to enlighten everyone about Electromagnetic Field readings under the power lines in north Mission Viejo. They took readings on their own and compared EMF numbers under the new, taller poles with previous readings taken under the old, shorter poles. SCE claimed putting the lines on taller poles would reduce EMF readings on the ground. The council directed staff to follow up by measuring EMF. Following the meeting, a council member said the readings should be lower with the new poles, and it’s a problem if the numbers are actually higher.

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Regarding EMF readings taken by the two residents, SCE added three new lines on the taller poles. If SCE truly added the new lines and bigger poles to meet consumer demand – not just to make people mad – maybe increased EMF is the result of more electricity going through the wires at peak periods on the hottest days of the year. As a thought about alternatives, if SCE added no lines in the area, EMF readings would be zero during a power failure. Between the city staff and possibly the FBI, CIA and the black helicopters, perhaps additional data will explain what’s up.

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Councilwoman Trish Kelley has a brand-new policy. She’s telling people she wants a “clean” city council campaign this year. This would be in sharp contrast to the mud-slinging and slash-and-burn personal attacks she participated in two years ago when Councilwoman Gail Reavis was up for reelection. Kelley would now like everyone to play nice since her own reputation, image and reelection are at stake.

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Sierra neighborhood residents noticed the potholes on a street near Kelley’s home have been repaired. Other streets in the vicinity didn’t get needed attention, but a road crew was apparently available to fix a couple of “special” spots.

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Councilwoman Kelley doesn’t seem to be enjoying The Buzz as much as some other readers. “Lies!” she said. “It’s all lies!” In 10 months of publication, the Mission Viejo news blog has received no credible information contradicting any of its statements or reports. When the blog publishes information about awful behavior of council members, it’s the awful truth. All information in the blog is documented, either through public records, eyewitness reports or reliable sources. Opinion pieces are presented as opinion, and all letters are verified.

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A resident suggested in a letter to SVN and from the public microphone at council meetings that the Mission Viejo Community Foundation should be shut down by the city for lack of fundraising. However, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that doesn’t answer to the city. A more reasonable alternative would be the resignation of the $9,000/month director, who might know a thing or two about setting up a foundation, but he can’t raise money.

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With 18 weeks to go until the November election, the city council race may be narrowing with two potential candidates dropping out. Still in are the three incumbents (Ledesma, Kelley and MacLean), Jim Woodin, Michael Ferrall, Bill Barker and Justin McCusker. Another young man (about the same age as McCusker) has spoken twice at council meetings and appears to be testing the water. As an entirely new approach to running for city council, McCusker has yet to attend a meeting.