The Buzz column, August 17

When the OC/Register-Saddleback Valley News hosted a get-together on July 26, a dozen residents provided input about community news. Several attendees asked for investigative reporting in Mission Viejo, and nearly everyone suggested more local coverage of city news and events. Apparently, the newspaper staff thought everyone asked for more puff pieces, such as the Aug. 17 article showcasing a dressed-up dog. As long as OCR/SVN continues to focus on fluff, the community will lack newspaper coverage.

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Why did the Capo school district take five days to issue a press release about hiring a new interim superintendent? The trustees apparently made a decision on Aug. 13 during their closed-session meeting. The delay of any word caused suspicion and fueled rumors. In a district where distrust and suspicion abound, CUSD’s public relations department adds to the problem by sitting on news.

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Reader reaction: “Do you find it amusing that the city of Mission Viejo has now joined with the residents of San Juan Capistrano to challenge the proposed US Postal Service depot because of the traffic impact on Avery? While I agree the location is wrong for the project, isn’t this the same Mission Viejo City Council that rejected a $35-million Avery road improvement project from Caltrans in order to allow a car dealership to open? I wonder if the Jag (and now-closed Rover) dealership has contributed anywhere near the $35 million in road-improvement sales taxes. And isn't it still illegal for these dealers to offload cars from their carriers onto Avery? They still do it, despite the law against it.”

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More reader reaction: “I’m reading in the news that Joan Irvine Smith has joined the city of San Juan Capistrano by hiring her own attorney, as the city of San Juan has, to resist widening of Ortega. Her case states it would impact the local serenity. This proposed widening was previously favored by San Juan Capistrano because it allowed traffic to flow up and into Mission Viejo and not through their town. Part of the Ranch plan traffic studies required both the Ortega road widening and toll road expansion. Look whose back yard now has the sandbox with fleas.”

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What should Mission Viejo residents do in the event of a disaster? Don’t bother calling city hall. The city’s disaster plan is a disaster. The following conversation was witnessed when staffers were discussing their own need for food in an emergency situation. With Ralphs grocery store across the street, one of the staffers said it would be no problem – just break into Ralphs if necessary. Wait – isn’t a disaster plan supposed to prevent things like looting of stores? By the way, the survival plan at city hall is only for city hall employees.

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The three council members who voted for the electronic message board (Lance MacLean, Trish Kelley and Frank Ury) made laughable comments during the July 2 discussion. Among other claims, the message board will flash emergency information in case of a disaster. In the event of an earthquake or other emergency, 100,000 residents could pile into their cars and drive down to the message board to see what’s happening.