The year was 1907, but the speaker knew what he was talking about.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

March 19 Council Meeting
Staff editorial

The March 19 council meeting was an endurance test, lasting 4 hours and 33 minutes. Recent meetings don’t rival the 2 a.m. sessions Councilwoman Trish Kelley ran as mayor two years ago, but they’re increasingly drawn out and tedious.

An item of considerable interest to the public was the proposed ordinance requiring the city and its contractors to verify citizenship of employees. Councilman John Paul Ledesma initiated the item at the March 5 council meeting. The only opposition on March 19 was a Costa Mesa resident speaking at the public microphone, referring to illegal aliens as “victims.” Delivering a mixed message from the public microphone was Steve Guess, the campaign manager for Brian Skalsky, who failed to win a council seat in 2006.

Mission Viejo resident Steve Serra spoke eloquently in favor of the ordinance, and community activists Max MacDougal and Carl Schulthess also drew enthusiastic applause for their comments of support.

Schulthess said, “There’s nothing cheap about cheap labor.” He described the high price of illegal immigration to the community – extra burdens on schools, jails and the reemergence of disease that was all but eliminated prior to the flood of illegal immigrants.

Upon hearing the enthusiastic applause for Serra, MacDougal and Schulthess, Council Members Lance MacLean and Trish Kelley jumped in, attempting to repeat what residents said.

The council unanimously passed the ordinance requiring the city and its vendors to participate in the Basic Pilot Program of verifying employment eligibility, as administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

A second item of community interest was the proposed draft ordinance regarding regulations applicable to signs and amending portions of sign standards of the city’s municipal code. The council voted 5-0 to allow monument signs listing the name of the business center and up to three tenants. The council additionally directed city staff to explore an overlay zone for commercial highway businesses. At one point, City Attorney Bill Curley responded to a question about the city government’s exemption from its restrictions. He said, “It’s good to be the king.”

The council also unanimously approved the issuance of tax-exempt obligations for the California Statewide Communities Development Authority to finance medical facilities at Mission Hospital. Comments revealed the tax-exempt financing in no way puts the city at risk.

Continuing to take agenda items out of order, the council next heard a report regarding the city’s audit of the Capistrano Unified School District’s tax monies collected in Mission Viejo – redevelopment, Mello-Roos and Measure A funds. The council approved a $55,000 contract in June 2006 for the audit following public outcry over the deteriorating condition of CUSD schools in Mission Viejo, particularly Newhart Middle School. The auditor reported CUSD’s lack of cooperation, saying he had never before experienced such difficulty accessing public data. The auditor’s report thus far includes CUSD’s refusal to allow access or cooperate with the audit, failure to perform required tracking and reporting and not setting aside funds as required by agreement with the city of Mission Viejo.

Councilwoman Kelley said she was “disappointed” with the revelations. Throughout her history as a PTA member, Kelley supported former Supt. James Fleming, his key administrators and CUSD trustees who diverted funds from Mission Viejo schools to other cities and built a luxurious administration building in San Juan Capistrano. Throughout the 2005 attempt to recall all seven CUSD trustees, Kelley defended Fleming and fawned over the trustees, inviting them to make cameo appearances at Mission Viejo council meetings while parents supporting the recall attempted to get signatures against them.

The council directed city staff members to get cost estimates for developing a dog park. After years of studies, PowerPoint presentations at council meetings, formation of a citizen committee and a great deal of staff time, the potential sites have been narrowed to two. One is near the city’s community center and a second is at Alicia Park.

With almost no one remaining in the audience, the council voted 4-1 (Reavis dissenting) to spend up to $375,220 on a restroom at Melinda Park. The vote could end a controversy that’s gone on for years. Residents living near the park initially asked for enforcement of existing laws after complaining that park visitors were relieving themselves in bushes. Instead of enforcing laws, the city will now spend taxpayer dollars to provide restrooms for visitors. According to public testimony during past council meetings, the primary offenders include soccer players and other sports-team members who come from other cities to use the park.

The Buzz column, March 23

Neighbors of failed 2006 council candidate Justin McCusker report his house sold after many months of being on the market. His campaign manager took high offense last fall when the blog speculated Justin, who has no roots in Mission Viejo, could be gone with the wind.

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Humor from a blog reader: “Question: When people apply for welfare in Mexico, what does their government give them? Answer: A map of the United States.”

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The audience’s sentiment during the March 19 council meeting was nearly unanimous – illegal immigrants may not work for the city of Mission Viejo as employees, city contractors or employees of contractors. The only opposing view came from a Costa Mesa resident, who attended the meeting to tell Mission Viejo how to conduct business. Fortunately, the out-of-towner hadn’t donated large sums to any current council member’s campaign. All five council members sided with their constituents by supporting the proposed ordinance to verify eligibility for employment.

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It’s never too early for politicians to start raising cash for their next campaign. Councilman Frank Ury threw a poorly attended birthday fund-raiser for himself in February. Councilwoman Gail Reavis is having a fund-raiser in April. An activist commented about the lack of resident participation in the campaigns of incumbents. He said, “In 2006, incumbents’ cash beyond their own funds came largely from city vendors, not residents. If the incumbents need bodies carrying campaign signs in 2008, I suggest they call Steadfast and get the same hired hands who came to council meetings to promote affordable housing.” All five council members defied the wishes of residents by voting for Steadfast’s project.

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According to a blog reader who lives near Steadfast’s construction site at Jeronimo and Los Alisos, the developer is making mountains out of molehills. She emailed, “The northwest elevation is similar in appearance to The Matterhorn at Disneyland. Instead of bobsleds on a water ride, we’ll have kids from the affordable housing project racing down the slopes in Target’s shopping carts.”

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Awhile back The Buzz complimented Lake Forest’s city council for its leadership with an ordinance to prevent soliciting work while standing on the sidewalk. Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union zapped Lake Forest by filing a lawsuit, saying the city was infringing on day workers’ free speech. The Lake Forest council rescinded the ordinance on March 20.

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Kaleidoscope has a new surveillance system aimed to discourage teens from acting up or annoying other customers. The new system has 48 cameras and monitors and a price tag of $83,000. Bad publicity about rowdy teens at the shopping center made its way into newspapers last summer and got the city council’s attention. Parents who want to check on their teenagers can access the Webcam at shopkaleidoscope.com.