The Buzz column, Dec. 15

Reader response: “I especially notice Mission Viejo’s traffic problems in the south part of town when I’m driving to Laguna Niguel to shop. If I wanted to buy a car, I might not have to leave Mission Viejo, but for everyday needs I have to drive a bit farther than I'd like. It isn't very "green" is it? I sure wish our city council was concerned about the residents instead of just their campaign funds.”

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A city activist commented on the county GOP’s self-destructive power struggle over two Republicans, Janet Nguyen vs. Trung Nguyen: “The county Republican Party is extremely short-sighted with one faction supporting Trung Nguyen’s effort to derail County Supervisor Janet Nguyen. Janet is the one with a future, and she’d have a chance to move up if those in her own party would stop attacking her. With her grassroots, she could eventually challenge someone like Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Instead of supporting Janet, a few power-mongers in the county party would rather side with a losing candidate they can control than an elected official who can lead.”

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Mission Viejo volunteers who are raising funds for the Modjeska Ranch Animal Rescue would like to thank all those who made donations of cash and garage sale merchandise. The garage sales following the Santiago Fire raised approximately $5,000 for animal care, food and repairs at the shelter. A volunteer reported, “This is an organization where small donations make a difference because all funds go directly to the shelter. People continue to ask if we’ll have another garage sale, and we’re planning one in January.”

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A reader remarked about an item on a recent council agenda to amend the schedule of fines and fees for the Mission Viejo library. He said, “The library must be desperate for money. I had an unpaid fine for an overdue video, and I couldn’t believe how quickly they turned it over to a collections agency.”

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Who in city hall is driving the effort to destroy the city’s Master Plan? Blog staffers have asked council members who’s in back of it, and no one is taking responsibility. Check out Brad Morton’s Mission Viejo Dispatch this week about a plan at city hall (“General Plan Amendment Proposed”) that would drastically change the area around the intersection of La Paz and Marguerite: http://missionviejodispatch.com. The Planning Commission will discuss the issue on Jan. 28. While some retail areas around town are declining, those near La Paz and Marguerite are reasonably maintained and experiencing full occupancy or close to it. Merchants and other business owners leasing space in retail centers near La Paz and Marguerite have repeatedly gone to commission and council meetings and told the city to butt out.

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A reader emailed about the Dec. 3 council meltdown when Councilman Lance MacLean nominated Councilman Frank Ury for 2008 mayor. The email said, “I was very surprised MacLean would support Frank Ury for anything, especially after Ury backed a nasty campaign against him in 2006. I thought MacLean’s nomination of Ury was just a snub of John Paul Ledesma, who was more or less in line by serving as mayor pro tem this year. Dysfunctional as this council is, we should give Ledesma, Reavis and Kelley credit for not allowing Ury become the mayor. He is bad enough trying to run over other council members, directing the city staff and insulting the residents. If he were mayor, he’d be hell on wheels.”