The Buzz Column, March 1

Among contests in the California Primary in June, voters will elect Central Committee members for their respective parties. At least six Mission Viejo residents have pulled papers for the Republican Party Central Committee in Assembly District 71: incumbent John Williams and challengers Sally Connolly, Michael Ferrall, Ann Hagerty, Dorothy Wedel and Rick Reavis. At least three additional incumbents and two more challengers appear to be running, including Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, who terms out of office in November.

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An item on the March 3 council agenda could result in the prominent display of the words “In God We Trust” in the council chamber. If the council approves the item, how about displaying the motto in a spot where council members are looking directly at it? Put it in flashing lights for their benefit, just in case the motto has any influence on moral behavior. This city has also been peppered with “character words” with the implication it’s the community, not the council that has character defects.

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Another item the council will discuss on March 3 is a half-hearted voter initiative. It would require voter approval for zoning changes, but only for recreational or open-space land. Why not do it right? The initiative should include ALL rezoning issues. By limiting voter decisions to recreational or open-space land, it implies the council can be trusted on other rezoning issues, and that is profoundly wrong. The biggest problems have resulted from this council rezoning commercial space to high-density residential.

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Can this council be trusted with a voter initiative after selling out the residents on every other issue? Mission Viejo voters would also have to trust the inept city attorney to advise the council on an initiative. As good news, community activist Dale Tyler is proceeding with the Mission Viejo Right To Vote. All residents of Mission Viejo deserve to be protected from this city council.

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Reader response following the EMF presentation at the Feb. 18 council meeting: “What I observed was four Mission Viejo bullies trying to hijack the meeting. Diane Greenwood and her three campaigners act like schoolyard bullies stealing everyone’s lunch money. Will the city now have to pay for her council campaign by fighting a lawsuit over power lines?”

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Isn’t it interesting the power line issue only comes up prior to city elections? Councilman Frank Ury won a seat in 2004 by proclaiming he would get the lines buried. After winning his election, he didn’t mention the power lines again for more than three years. With his term ending this November, he would like to get in front of the issue again, but just long enough to get reelected. This is an IQ test for Mission Viejo voters.