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The Buzz Column, Dec. 1 A couple of politicians appear to be involved in the formation of phony organizations to endorse themselves. The California Republican Assembly has experienced a surge of new units, with several springing up in south Orange County. The pseudo-clubs have “presidents,” but they don’t hold meetings. Part of the strategy of forming such clubs is stuffing the ballot box to manipulate state and county CRA endorsements. Phony units get the same number of voting delegates as real clubs. The endorsements didn’t carry much weight in the first place, and they can backfire when people find out the truth. *** Shoppers at Mission Viejo’s mall might have a dim view of “The Safest City” if their SUVs were stolen. The recent thefts of four vehicles at The Shops quickly hit the news, compared with a six-month period in 2006 when the theft of nearly 30 vehicles at the same location was kept quiet. Activists in 2006 said the cover-up coincided with a city election on the horizon, in which incumbents touted the city’s low crime rate. As another angle, the Or. Co. Sheriff probably isn’t eager to tell the media about a rash of thefts in a city that’s paying more than $1 million per month for law enforcement. *** Innocent until proven broke? Sheriff Mike Carona’s backers continue trying to circle the wagons in the county GOP. Carona’s bigwig supporters occasionally lob a grenade at the OC Register’s opinion writers who have the audacity to criticize Caronyism. Carona’s PR machine appears to have dwindled to his legal adviser, Mike Schroeder, lobbyist John Lewis and writers at the county’s “Red” blog – political advertising disguised as news. Another supporter says Carona has no money, despite his political ties and the appearance of financial backers. *** The most frequent questions to this blog lately have been about the voter initiative being proposed by the blog’s publisher, Dale Tyler. It’s in progress. With no appearance of support from any council member (the council could put the initiative on the ballot and eliminate the need to gather signatures), it will be up to residents to move it forward. *** Those posturing for the next council election include the two incumbents, Frank Ury and Gail Reavis. Other possible candidates include Ury’s appointee to the Planning Commission, Mynette Beauchamp, who works in the developer industry. With Ury’s recent career change to the building industry, Beauchamp and Ury would give developers two potential representatives on the Mission Viejo City Council. That’s two more representatives than residents have. *** The winter issue of the City Outlook newsletter arrived in Mission Viejo mailboxes in November. Despite barbs from The Buzz, city staff writers apparently couldn’t find room in the Outlook to enlighten the public about the city’s alleged emergency plan. Instead, two full pages (plus part of a third page) were devoted to senior taxicab rides. Senior citizens who have commented to The Buzz say they have no use for the city’s taxi program because it doesn’t cover where they want to go. A quick call to a competitor of the city’s taxicab partner revealed it has a senior discount of 10 percent, and no one needs the help of the government to receive it. *** As an alternative to the city’s subsidized taxi program, The Buzz suggests that taxpayers would have been well ahead if the city had written 200 checks of $1,000 each to the most deserving seniors in need of a ride. Seniors could have taken a cab where they needed to go, received a discount just by asking for it and eliminated the municipal middleman. It would have served every purpose except for providing Councilwoman Trish Kelley with a campaign claim she was doing something. *** For those wanting to thank the troops, Walter Reed is no longer participating in giving cards, packages or gifts to soldiers. However, the Walter Reed Website (http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/Lists/WRNews/DispForm.aspx?Id=25&) lists numerous other organizations, including the USO and Red Cross, which will help citizens express their gratitude to servicemen and women. Here’s another similar link for those who would like to thank the troops: |
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