And They’re Off!
Staff editorial

According to the city clerk, 13 residents have inquired about running for Mission Viejo City Council. As of this writing, eight have pulled papers: Jim Woodin, Michael Ferrall, Trish Kelley, Brian Skalsky, Neil Lonsinger, Lance MacLean, Bill Barker and Justin McCusker. Diane Greenwood earlier filed her intent to run but may have dropped out. Also saying he’ll run is Councilman John Paul Ledesma, whose July 9 wedding may have preempted political activities.

Lonsinger’s jumping in was a surprise to almost everyone. He was appointed to the Planning Commission in January 2005 by Kelley. During his first year on the dais, he did not actively participate in meetings. Unless he garners community support, he increases MacLean’s chance of survival if he pulls any votes away from the other challengers.

Adding irony to the situation, Trish Kelley apparently asked Lonsinger to manage her campaign when no one else would. He said no. Lonsinger does have a reputation for donating $1,000 to his favorite city candidates. Fund-less and floundering, Kelley could use $1,000. Her only fundraiser in four years allegedly netted $5,000. For $5,000, she could send a mailer or buy signs but not both. Kelley appeared to sell her vote to Steadfast, but she wasn’t savvy enough to get nearly what other council members received. Kelley lately is trying to cozy up to supporters of the Capo school board recall. A recall activist said, “It won’t work. She supported Fleming and the trustees throughout the recall and now claims she was neutral. Kelley has flipped on everything else – and now the recall, six months after the fact.”

Councilman Lance MacLean is toast. He’s become almost as unpopular as Susan Withrow and Sherri Butterfield, and he did it in half the time.

Jim Woodin and Michael Ferrall are the two challengers most likely to knock out MacLean and Kelley. Woodin joined the front lines two years ago against high-density housing. Incredibly, the man is campaigning the old-fashioned way, walking precincts and asking residents for their vote. Ferrall serves on the Community Services Commission, and he routinely says no to big government, irresponsible spending and degrading the city with high-density housing. He’s putting his own money into his campaign.

At the shallow end of the political pool, Brian Skalsky is a 20-something kiddo. He’s spoken a couple times at council meetings, and he nicely thanked the council for approving high-density affordable housing on Los Alisos Blvd. According to his three supporters (literally), he’s an affordable housing advocate. If a platform to ruin neighborhoods weren’t the death knell, his few ties to the adult world allegedly go directly to former City Manager Dan Joseph.

Justin McCusker is Councilman Frank Ury’s candidate. Ury has been working on endorsements for McCusker from Republican bigwigs. If anyone cares what a few good old boys think about Mission Viejo politics, they’ll be directing voters to support a virtual unknown who has yet to attend a council meeting. McCusker, accidentally mispronounced by a resident as “McClunker," could follow Ury’s 2004 precedent of getting a ton of campaign cash from San Diego Co.

Bill Barker is another candidate whose reason for running appears to be self-gratification. Regarding his claim of having a Web site, Candidate Barker has registered a domain name, which he plopped on a generic domain parking page. Take a look at . Categories on the page include Gay Dating and other interesting headings that won’t improve Barker’s political stature. Candidate Barker recently made public comments about thoughtless people who park in handicapped spaces. He should be concerned about where careless candidates park their domain names.

Affordable Housing Goals
 News brief

Quotas are given to local cities to build affordable housing units. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has the authority under state law to develop those quotas for cities in our area. SCAG is trying to rush a bill through the state legislature, in the next 30 days, which revises future procedure for establishing those goals. It appears such legislation could weaken input from local cities in determining housing policies. This could create a more oppressive, mandatory system than before. The proposed legislation also fails to provide a transparent model by which goals would be established. It likewise appears to weaken the ability of cities to seek revision of the assigned goals. At its July 24 meeting, the Mission Viejo Planning Commission, on a motion by Brad Morton, unanimously opposed SCAG's proposal. Letters of opposition have been sent to SCAG by the cities of Mission Viejo, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Tustin. http://www.scag.ca.gov/

Where’s Their Conscience?
Letter to the editor

Information is gradually coming out about wrongdoing at Capistrano Unified School District. When will district employees start speaking up about what they’ve witnessed? The trustees have been covering for the superintendent – first denying wrongdoing and then, as evidence comes out, denying laws were broken. Now the evidence of lawbreaking is coming out as well. The problems aren’t going away with the resignation of the superintendent.

Isn’t it interesting no district employee came forward about the Enemies List? Isn’t it strange no one witnessed Brown Act violations? Claims made by parents who organized the recall are turning out to be true. If it hadn’t been for a so-called disgruntled ex-employee, it may have taken years for anyone to reveal the range of serious problems.

If district employees have information of wrongdoing and they’re concerned about losing their jobs, they can report it confidentially. The District Attorney and Grand Jury are listed in the phone book. I continue to be amazed at those who are willing to look the other way about the knowledge of wrongdoing and cover-up.

Connie Lee
Mission Viejo

Welfare Housing
Letter to the editor

Recently the city of Mission Viejo, as well as Huntington Beach and Dana Point, have been accused by some critics of restricting the building of “affordable” housing units required under state law. Admittedly, there is a lack of clarity in the state law that sets city “affordable” housing goals.

However, it is abundantly clear that selling homes or renting apartments at below-market costs to those who “qualify” for “affordable” housing is simply another form of “welfare housing.” And like other forms of welfare, someone else – taxpayers and other owners – pays the price for this welfare housing.

Builders of these units receive special tax credits that other builders don’t. The buyers who pay less than market value also pay lower property taxes. Cities and school districts get less property-tax revenue from these welfare owners. Those who buy the same home at full market value not only pay a higher mortgage, but they pay higher property taxes to make up for the lower taxes the welfare owners enjoy. Being able to buy a $350,000 condo for $100,000 may be a great bargain, but it’s not “free.” This is another example of welfare run amok.

Homeownership is a major life goal. For nearly all owners who achieve that goal, they succeed by developing good job skills, working hard and saving enough money for the first down payment. They don’t walk around with their hand out waiting for “free” money for “affordable” housing.

Michael Ferrall, Ph. D.
Mission Viejo

Too Little Too Late for Trish Kelley and Lance MacLean
Letter to the editor

Ms. Kelley, after being elected to the council in 2002, said, “I’m beholden to no one because I did it all by myself.” Question: who put up all her campaign signs at 3 a.m. after making them on her behalf? From the beginning of her tenure on the council, we’ve seen fiscal irresponsibility and cost overruns.

As for MacLean’s 2002 campaign, he said, “Investigate and look at all the city expenditures.” Whatever happened to MacLean’s famous comment about putting the former city manager’s $6,000 desk on eBay? What about MacLean’s recent answer to the question during a public meeting, “How much money have you accepted from Steadfast?” Answer: “I forget.”

Kelley and MacLean have reached a point of no return. Just thank these two for the least they offered in financial affairs, band-wagoning by Kelley in the Capo school district’s latest news, and MacLean’s statement that there is nothing wrong with Newhart Intermediate School.

Let’s just let these two politicians fade away, now that we have two new challengers for the city council election this November. Already in the ring are two outstanding candidates regarding financial responsibility and civic policies, namely Jim Woodin and Michael Ferrall.

Councilman John Paul Ledesma deserves to be reelected for consistently being prepared ahead of council meetings. We can well afford to lose the other two incumbents.

William Cruse
Mission Viejo

HOA President Asks for Council’s Help
Open letter to Mission Viejo City Council

As president of Aliso Villas Condominium Association, a 424-unit HOA in Mission Viejo, I am writing to ask your help. 

The bylaws of our association state: “County law and the Association Bylaws state that garages may be used for parking vehicles and storage only, and shall not be converted for living or recreational activities. Also, they are not to be used as playrooms, workshops, mechanic's sheds, offices, sleeping quarters, dog kennels, etc.”

I would like to know how we can go about enforcing the law with regard to residents using their garages as living/sleeping quarters. This has been going on for some time, and we receive complaints from time to time. However, recently we have come across several addresses that have converted their garages into living/sleeping quarters. This has to stop; we are overcrowded as it is without residents/tenants converting their garages into living space. 

Each unit has a garage. There are 106 buildings; of those, 212 units have direct access to their garage. Of the remaining 212, 106 have gas water heaters situated in the garage, and the other 106 are situated at the rear of the building with no direct access, having entry to the garage by walking around the entire building.  

Recently our security company, Patrol One, reported to the board that one of the units had a converted garage. I drove past one day when the garage door was open and took a picture. Our management company, PCM, sent a letter to the onsite homeowner notifying him that he was in violation of the rules – city and association – and he must remove the wall in his garage. The homeowner wrote back stating that was incorrect, and he did not have a room in his garage.

On Wed. July 19, at 10:19 a.m., during our regular weekly property walk, my property manager and I noticed a blanket sticking out from under the pedestrian door to the garage in this over-the-garage unit. This also happens to be a unit with a gas water heater inside the garage. Noting what appeared to be a new doorknob and deadbolt on the pedestrian door, I knocked several times. After about the third time, the door was opened by a male. I asked what he was doing in there. He obviously was living and sleeping in the garage. A moment later a young female came into view. I asked the male how old he was, he replied he was 18. The female declined to state her age, and when I asked if she also lived there, the male said she was his girlfriend, and he rented the room and was not aware of any rules about living/sleeping in a converted garage.

I replied that the owner would be notified by the HOA and the city. The HOA has within its power to fine and request compliance; however, we need the council to get behind us to force removal and, I hope, impose stiffer fines through the city.

This is but one address where it’s a problem. Residents need to be aware that breaking the law is not an option, nor is living/sleeping in the garage.

What can the council do to help this Mission Viejo neighborhood? Thank you.

Kathy Miramontes
President, Aliso Villas Condominium Association
Mission Viejo

City Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Letter to the editor

Residents should be aware that Mission Viejo will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Aug. 4-5. This will be a very worthwhile program put on by the city and the various committees aimed at celebrating the groundbreaking of the expansion for the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center. All residents are invited to attend, and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra will perform following the groundbreaking ceremony.

A fine concert series has been ongoing all summer, and a Country Western band will perform on Aug. 4 at Oso Viejo Community Park. A Latin/Salsa band will be featured at the Kershaw Garden at the Civic Center on Aug. 18. The John Jorgenson Quintet will perform Aug. 19 at the Civic Center as part of the cultural arts program, and tickets are $25.

Many of our citizens and performers make tremendous effort to bring to the city of Mission Viejo outstanding programs. Our Heritage Committee, Cultural Arts Committee and the city staff need to be congratulated on the effort put forth in these performances and events, including the July 4th Street Faire.

We should all get a nice break from the heat of the summer by enjoying all that our city has to offer.

James Edward Woodin
Mission Viejo

The Buzz column, July 25, 2006

News of Councilman Frank Ury’s emergency gall bladder surgery traveled quickly throughout city hall. Those who were talking about it said the surgery took place on July 25, and one person said he is expected to be back on the job soon.

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Are too many candidates lining up to replace three Capistrano USD trustees in the November election? In addition to Ellen Addonizio of Mission Viejo, Larry Christensen and Jack Brick, another Mission Viejo resident pulled papers last week. Charles “Chuck” Salisbury of Mission Viejo appears to be running, causing concern about splitting the vote. Salisbury is certain to receive a blast from various recall groups if he decides to jump in. One person who is not supporting him suggested a campaign slogan: “Chuck Salisbury – where’s the beef?”

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Just like the Delta House miscreants at Faber College, Supt. James Fleming decided to take a road trip. With public opinion in the dumper, it’s a good time to hit the road. Fleming is in South America, allegedly helping his daughter move. “No, no, no,” said a parent who recently prevailed in a lawsuit against the district, “He’s running away to Argentina because they have no extradition.” The parent is convinced criminal charges will be filed against Fleming and the trustees. The parent had filed suit to get special education for her child. She said, “We were getting nowhere until we hired a big-name lawyer. The settlement came almost immediately, and it was like money falling off trees.”

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Is it true CUSD has hired the same contractor to look for mold every time a complaint is made about mold in portable classrooms? If so, how much is he being paid not to find any problem? Isn’t it interesting how often mold turns up in office buildings, restaurants, homes and even Saddleback College, but never at CUSD?

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A big stink continues over CUSD’s planned school, San Juan Hills High School, to be built next to a dump in San Juan Capistrano. Parents have long objected to the outrageous expense (more than $120 million) and health concerns. District officials claim there’s really no problem with methane belching from the dump because the wind never blows. A contractor who graded the area said he had trouble getting a crew to work eight-hour days because of the overwhelming stench.

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Or. Co. Register reporter Tony Saavedra has done an outstanding job of building the case against CUSD trustees and Supt. Fleming. A public relations disaster at CUSD – the revelation of an Enemies List of parents who supported the recall – has grown into an investigation of CUSD’s false statements about Fleming’s annual compensation (understated by $64,000) and allegations of Brown Act violations. Clearly, there’s more to come. Taxpayers should hope former CUSD employee David Smollar has already turned over evidence of criminal matters to the District Attorney.