Reaction to Signs
Published with permission of the writer

MISSION VIEJO SIGNS
Mission Viejo signs “bug” me! But I’m hoping that by putting my irritations down on paper I won’t have to think about them any more.

THE CHRISTMAS SIGNS
First, there were the Christmas banners. So retro, shall we say. Certainly not my taste! I thought there must be someone down in City Hall who had a case of nostalgia, someone even older than I am. These were smudgy, tired images from the ‘40s like the assortments of old patterns now sold in thrift-card boxes. They weren’t the crisp, sharp graphics I’d seen in neighboring communities that projected energy and happiness. I said something to my family about the dated image they presented of our city; but it was Christmastime, and the happiness and bustle of the season overrode the irritation.

CROWN VALLEY STAKE SIGNS
Then there were the Crown Valley stake “signs” informing speeding cars jostling for position that there were businesses along the road that were still operating despite the alterations taking place on the parkway. The multistory buildings were still standing along the road, obviously in good repair. No reason in my mind to assume that they were abandoned. But here were these puny signs (And I use the word “signs” advisedly.) – signs only slightly larger than typing paper, hanging at the side of the road with print so small I have never been able to make out their words. (And I wear corrective glasses that give me twenty-twenty vision.) I don’t want to know how much these totally worthless things cost us, I thought. One day they’ll come down, and most people probably haven’t even noticed them. So why make an issue out of it.

“IT’S SPRING” SIGNS
Then there were the “It’s spring!” signs on Marguerite. It was a beautiful time of year, a beautiful street. Why not let spring speak for itself? Why did City Hall find it necessary to guild the lily, to mar the beauty, to place graffiti on spring? These things, these signs, were not passable as retro; these signs were flat-out pass‚. No more rationalizing. And these were, I discovered, the same images used in the Big Lots window. (Don’t get me wrong; I have shopped there and picked up some things. But let’s face it: Big Lots sells leftovers.) Good for the company that made some money off of them, but “shame, shame” on Mission Viejo for picking them.

I just did not want to look at those signs. I decided I would avert my eyes. But occasionally I would catch a glimpse of them. So better still, I thought, I would avoid Marguerite Parkway entirely, go out of my way and use the 5 to travel north and south. But time and the price of gas prevented me. So I tried to avert my eyes.

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE SIGNS
And now we have new Marguerite signs for something-or-other. The print size again is not large enough for graphics along a parkway. The best I can make out is that we have a design that suggests Islamic religious beliefs — a crescent and a star. But what that has to do with a race against cancer and the color purple I can’t figure out. Whatever! But spare me!

Do we have a pattern here? Is it best described as inept? Spare me! Please!

ELECTRONIC SIGNS
While we’re on the subject, I’ll have to bring up more. Excuse me; I’m still purging. Those electronic signs at the entrance to Saddleback College — placed on what looks like an abandoned, vacant lot, no less! Dirt and weeds graced with computer electronics! Hardly charming. Certainly, this entrance does not represent what is a very worthy institution. I guess the city could not have asked for a total removal of the garish electronic signs because, as I understand it, the city wants to put up another of those garish signs at La Paz and Marguerite at the heart of our city. But at the very least, Mission Viejo’s $5,000 contribution to the $200,000 War Memorial art project at Saddleback should have included a proviso that the college do some artful improvement on its Marguerite entrance.

The out-of-synchronization computer electronic signs (now somewhat corrected) drove me wild when I approached them dead-on at the intersection. Where was one to look? Upon which sign was one to fix one’s gaze? How could a driver then and how can a driver now really absorb the flipping information? What with cross-traffic, red lights, green arrows and all. These signs should be deemed distracting traffic hazards. At the very least, they could incite some poor soul to road rage.

And what will happen at the intersection of Marguerite and La Paz? Will City Hall realize that for easy viewing the new computer electronics sign there will have to be hoisted 20 feet up — like the Mission Viejo High School sign along a lovely neighborhood street. And maybe just one of those two-legged monsters will not be enough. Maybe we’ll have to have an additional one situated so that it can be viewed from another approach to the intersection. Why not all four approaches? Talk about in-your-face advertising. Talk about roadside hazards. And what business is it anyway of the government to provide us with movies or bingo games or childrearing instruction, all so endlessly posted at the intersection.

Don’t ask me about Mission Viejo’s past and future regulations concerning retail store signs. We don’t want to go there with me. However, in light of all the new technologies, will the day come when every little business will have signs, signs, and more signs -- computer-electronic or flipping graphics or both? We have a combination of both now every few feet at the Shops in Mission Viejo, clinging to the walls, hanging from the ceilings, and rising out of the floors. Spare me. Spare me.

CROWN VALLEY ART
And I don’t want to think about what monsters may be slouching toward Crown Valley to be borne, to be endured, to be erected as “art,” those pieces that will be positioned along the sides of the road to be endured by those whizzing by or stuck in traffic. Will they be like the eyesores and the waste of money Mission Viejo has chosen in the past?

Give me green trees, green grass, a few flowers, God’s designs, and I’ll be happy. Give me softness on an already hard-edged road with hard-edged buildings. Give me something truly lovely. Please.

(Permission to publish given with condition of anonymity)                    

May 7 Council Meeting Summary
Editorial staff

All those who attended or watched the May 7 council meeting should have reached the same conclusion: Mission Viejo residents have no representation in city government. Almost without exception, the council voted against residents who made public comments or sent in written remarks. All five council members supported the views of anyone living in another city who stated an opinion opposite the residents.

During public comments at the beginning of the meeting, one speaker presented an ongoing argument (continued from the last meeting) against the council’s shutting out the public when making decisions. She also complained about the city contract with ATS Communications to develop a Wireless Master Plan. The blog revealed last week that Councilman Frank Ury not only brought ATS Communications to the city trough, he was the one pushing the plan. The speaker, a self-proclaimed Ury shill, apparently can’t figure out Ury isn’t on her side. Ury didn’t act alone regarding ATS, as Bill Barker (a failed council candidate in the 2006 city election) introduced ATS to Ury. The public speaker complaining about ATS was also a key worker in Bill Barker’s campaign, going door to door with literature promoting him.

Speaking of those on the losing side, the Palmia residential community also took it in the shorts on Monday night. Attempting to protect their neighborhood from a proposed slum across the street, many residents spoke or handed in written comments in opposition to rezoning commercial property near their homes. Councilwoman Gail Reavis recused herself because she lives within 500 feet of the subject property, and the other four council members voted for the zone change. Councilman Lance MacLean described Palmia’s concerns as hysteria, and Ury said, essentially, “trust me” as he voted against residents’ wishes. Palmia residents should keep in mind Ury is the same person they trusted to bury the power lines after they carried him around on their shoulders during his campaign. Ury didn’t deliberately ruin their neighborhood with power lines because he couldn’t have stopped the lines even if he gave a rip. He did, however, throw Palmia residents under the bus Monday night regarding the zone change.

Palmia residents received no special treatment or mistreatment, as the council voted to approve all four zone changes before them. Readers should wonder about the intent, as the city goal outlined by the state is for 94 affordable units. With all four properties being rezoned to R-30 (a total of 26.84 acres times 30 units per acre), that’s a potential of approximately 800 new units. With the council voting to allow 800 units when the goal is only 94, one should conclude Mission Viejo’s council is not too swift at doing the math. With two council members up for reelection and in need of campaign cash, having four properties in play should attract developer donations, and perhaps that’s the intent. Candidates can’t expect trash haulers and other city contractors to pay all the campaign bills, and developers have no shortage of pay-to-play money.

The potential of 800 new housing units could result in several thousand new residents for Mission Viejo. Council remarks toward the end of the very long meeting (5 hours, 44 minutes) were particularly telling with regard to the highly confused thinking of Councilwoman Trish Kelley. She voted for all four zone changes, and three the properties are in Capistrano Unified School District. She made remarks during a subsequent item, expressing her “concerns” about things that are happening in CUSD. Parents who are complaining about overcrowding at Newhart Middle School should take note that Kelley is a major contributor to the problem. As an additional example of Kelley’s confusion, she gleefully said, “Newhart is getting newer older portables, which is good.”

If Newhart were a trailer park instead of a school, additional trailers of any age might be good. Additional trailers on a school campus – “newer older” or even older newer – would not be good. Adding busloads of new students from apartment projects would also not be good.

The Buzz column, May 8

Excerpt from info forwarded to The Buzz, a letter to a U.S. Senator: “As a U.S. citizen and excellent customer of the IRS, I am asking for your assistance. I have contacted the Dept. of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien. According to a bill recently passed by the Senate, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one. Additionally, as an illegal alien, I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary healthcare provider. Illegal status would relieve me of renewing my driver’s license and making car insurance payments. If you would tell me of the process of becoming illegal, I would be most appreciative.”

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Isn’t it about time for Councilman Frank Ury to come up with another phony campaign to save the city? With his reelection on the horizon – November 2008 – and a record of zero accomplishments, he needs a gimmick. In 2004, he claimed he would get the power lines buried – at almost no cost to residents, of course. The scheme fooled so many people that two other candidates (Diane Greenwood and Justin McCusker) tried it again in 2006. McCusker had a secret plan to get the lines buried, based on closed-session information that was likely leaked by his mentor, Frank Ury. After McCusker lost his bid, he moved to Rancho Santa Margarita and took the secret plan with him.

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The Buzz asked several blog readers for suggestions to help Ury with a campaign slogan for 2008. In 2004, he used a group calling itself No Overhead Powerlines by Edison – N.O.P.E. A city activist informed The Buzz that Ury is lately focused on city sports and recreation supporters, particularly Little League. Residents should remember Ury proposed a regional sports complex, likely to pay back one of his campaign financiers from San Diego County. Perhaps he can run on a recreation platform this time with one of the following acronyms: Ballplayers And Recreation Fans for Frank – B.A.R.F.F.; Combining Recreation And Politics – C.R.A.P.; Boost Ury with Little Leaguers – B.U.L.L.

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Reader reaction to the rumor Justin McCusker got a job in Supervisor Pat Bates’ office: “That will come in real handy. The next time he becomes a candidate, he can say he was a county supervisor. In 2006 he said he was a college professor after teaching one part-time class at Saddleback. He worked as a go-fer in Bill Morrow’s office and said he had experience negotiating with the governor. His whole campaign was hot air.”

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Reader reaction to a Buzz item about city signs with council members’ names: “I saw the signs along Felipe where council members have their names listed as if they’re taking credit for any project funded by taxpayers. Is it not enough that each city building has a set of large color portraits of the council members? I practically gag every time I walk into the community center or library. If they want to put their names on every project taxpayers pay for, I am eagerly awaiting a sign in Melinda Park acknowledging this council’s decision to pay $375,000 for a public toilet. I won’t be surprised if they want their official portraits in the new city outhouse.”