The Buzz column, Jan. 19

Several Lake Forest residents made public comments at the Jan. 15 Mission Viejo council meeting. While their motivation wasn't clear, they expressed concern about day laborers gathering in the vicinity of Jeronimo and Los Alisos as well as other sites near retail centers. Perhaps the visitors from Lake Forest mistakenly think council members listen to public input. Despite the pleas of many residents, the council voted unanimously to overturn commercial zoning next to Unisys and permit Steadfast to include affordable housing in its residential development. A former council caused similar problems along Crown Valley Parkway, and the current council deliberately chose to add low-income housing to an already troubled area.

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When Steadfast was desperately seeking support for its housing proposal at Jeronimo and Los Alisos, its employees solicited signatures of business owners in the two nearby retail centers to support a zone change from commercial to high-density residential. Activists followed up to find out if any business owners actually signed a petition in support of ruining their own business environment. Two such business owners were found. Now, one of them is complaining loudly about day labors who hang out on his corner. Did he have a clue what he was signing?

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Anyone who would like to watch a Mission Viejo council meeting via the Internet can do so, either "live" as it's being telecast or by viewing the video after the meeting. Go to the city's Website (mission-viejo.ca.us) and click on the city council link to check out the options. One advantage of watching the video is the ability to fast-forward through any long-winded speech.

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Two speakers making public comments during the Jan. 15 meeting seemed surprised that auto thefts taking place at the Mission Viejo mall weren't brought to the attention of the public. According to a Newport Beach policeman, "Mission Viejo isn't the safest city, it just has the highest number of unreported crimes." Failure to report crimes makes the Sheriff's Dept. and city officials look good. With the Sheriff's Dept. wanting to keep its contract with the city, and with council members wanting to be reelected on the city's record of safety, why would any of them make waves?

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Councilman Frank Ury said awhile back he won't run for Todd Spitzer's Assembly seat when Spitzer terms out in 2008. Republican Party higher-ups are lately saying the same thing -- Ury isn't being considered.

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In last week's Buzz Column, an error appeared regarding Brian Skalsky's appointment to a city commission. Skalsky will serve on the Community Services Commission. The error has been corrected. As an update, Gloria Heer has been reappointed to the Community Services Commission.