The Buzz column, April 7

Reader feedback: “Christy” wrote, “Why doesn’t Mission Viejo have a dog park? You’d think with all the parks we have and all the families, there’d be a dog park where we could all socialize as well.”

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Another reader emailed, “Please get me any and all information on ordinances put in place by the city to keep illegals off the streets. I am trying to shut down another city’s Day Labor Center, and I need help finding the legal strength of city ordinances.”

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 “MV Homeowner” wrote, “I am one disgusted neighbor living in the Barcelona housing tract. When I come home at the end of the day and drive through the neighborhood, I see a bunch of neglected homes. I don’t live in the ghetto – I live in Mission Viejo. If you care about our neighborhood and/or if you’re as concerned about your property values as I am, please help. I can’t do this by myself. I’m enclosing a list of laws and rules pertaining to maintenance for homes in Mission Viejo. This information is available on the City of Mission Viejo Website, http://cityofmissionviejo.org/depts/cd/ce.html, or you can call the City of Mission Viejo Code Enforcement Division at (949) 470-3055. I have reported numerous violations, and the city responds quickly by inspecting the property and enforcing the rules. All it takes is a phone call – no need to worry about anyone finding out, as it is completely anonymous. With your help, we can clean up this neighborhood and make it a nice place to live. I have figured out a way to improve things if you will please do these two things: 1) Make 10 copies of this letter and send it to other people in our neighborhood, 2) Commit to calling in at least one complaint a week.”

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Another reader informed The Buzz about numerous break-ins and thefts in a neighborhood near the lake, stating that young people are the likely culprits. The reader gave a specific address and added, “I think drugs are involved. No one at [house number and street] works, and numerous expensive cars are frequently parked in front of the house. One teenage visitor seems to be driving a different car each week. I reported all this to police officers, who told me no one else in the neighborhood has filed a complaint. I find it difficult to believe that no one is reporting crimes. If something isn’t done about it, the problem will get worse.”

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The Buzz has repeatedly quoted a police officer who works for the city of Newport Beach, which has its own police force. He said, “Mission Viejo isn’t the safest city, it just has the highest number of unreported crimes.” This assessment is consistent with residents’ emails to the blog about drug activity in their neighborhoods, including marijuana being grown in attics and back yards. To make sure a complaint gets into the record, check the Sheriff’s blotter at http://ocsd.org. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select eServices. Choose “Sheriff’s blotter” and then select Mission Viejo when prompted to name a city. A call for police action should correspond with an entry on the blotter.

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Vision test: Buzz readers commented about city banners decorating poles along Marguerite Parkway, adding they’re not well designed or attractive. If a driver is going 45 m.p.h., the banners appear to say: “(unreadable) SPRING (unreadable).” The small print should read, “Your tax dollars paid for this distraction.”

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Some city activists are still pondering the November 2006 council election. One wrote, “With the incumbents being unpopular, someone should have been able to knock them out. Diane Greenwood had all the advantages a challenger could hope for. She was No. 1 on the ballot, which is a huge advantage. Only two women ran for three open seats, another huge advantage. Her campaign had out-of-town money and funding from a lobbyist, as well as professional consulting. Council Member Frank Ury gave money and stood on street corners for her – an acclaimed conservative promoting a pro-abortion, lifelong Democrat. She was the only real Democrat among 10 candidates in the election. How could anyone lose with that many advantages?”

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A reader informed the Buzz that cow-plop jokes aren’t just for junior high kids. “Bill” pointed to a fund-raiser for Capo High School, in which attendees can buy bingo squares on a field. The winning square is wherever a cow first plops. Bill’s assessment, “Get the cow-plop back where it belongs … at City Hall.”