The Buzz column, June 15

Blog readers responded following this week’s receipt of a pricey 16-page color mailer: City of Mission Viejo Annual Report 2006. Here’s a sampling of printable feedback: “Does the city think it’s a big corporation with a slush fund for puff pieces?” “We already receive ‘The Outlook’ city newsletter, and the annual report could have been included.” “The council members put their names on it. It should have instead said it was printed at the expense of taxpayers.”

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The 16-page brochure included 27 photos and only one page of relevant financial data. Residents of Mission Viejo don’t need to pay for photos of buildings they drive by on a daily basis. One resident responded, “I don’t need a picture of road construction on Crown Valley since I’m stopped in it every time I drive down the street.” Which P.R. agency received city cash for this empty brochure, and who approved the cost? Following receipt of the junk mailer, residents also paid the city trash collector to haul it away.

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The Dedicated Animal Welfare Group – DAWG – will present its 13th annual pet faire, dog adoption and dog walk on Sat., June 23, at the Potocki Center in Mission Viejo. Walk registration begins at 7 a.m., and the walk begins at 8:30. Call (949) 929-9342 for information or visit the Website, www.dawg.org.

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Former Capo school district chief James Fleming and former assistant superintendent Susan McGill made an appearance in court on Fri., June 15, for a short hearing. Their arraignment, originally scheduled for June 15, was postponed until July 13 to give their lawyers more time to prepare. Grand jury findings – the basis for felony charges against Fleming and McGill – were opened during the past week and are still not available to the public.

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Fleming has an explanation, which he emailed to some CUSD parents regarding all the felony charges: he’s innocent. According to those who have seen copies of the evidence – including lists of enemies compiled by school personnel and paid for with tax dollars – the lists were requested by Fleming. McGill’s notes to Fleming indicate she was delivering the lists he requested. In response to grand jury questions, Fleming took the Fifth Amendment. A CUSD parent asked, “Does that sound like innocence to you?” McGill chose to respond to grand jury questions, and she’s now charged with perjury.

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Recent grand jury findings are not the first regarding CUSD officials. A similar scandal erupted in 1991 regarding an investigation of Brown Act violations, improper use of student records, improper application of public funds and improprieties regarding political activities on school property while district employees were at work. Quote from the 1991 report: "In the opinion of the Grand Jury, it would appear that the District is far from inexperienced in conducting political campaigns and, in fact, the District's behavior in this case shows a carefully planned and often secretive effort to push the law to the limit. Moreover, the District did not willingly file its reports when notified of the obligation. It did so under protest. Finally, the fact that the District attempted to conceal its advocacy under the guise of ‘informational’ activity, evidences a more sophisticated approach than just an innocent mistake." Grand Jury 1990-91 Docs 

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When the blog published an item during the 2006 city campaign, one of the campaign managers objected. The blog stated Justin McCusker’s house was up for sale and mentioned he might move out of town following the election. His campaign manager responded – how dare the blog make such an accusation? She claimed McCusker would relocate in his beloved hometown of Mission Viejo (where he had lived for all of two years). McCusker’s Mission Viejo home, which had been on the market for months, sold shortly after the election, and he moved to Rancho Santa Margarita.