The Buzz column, Sept. 27

The Sept. 22 toll road hearing was a workday for many Orange County politicians. However, they weren’t working for their constituents. With very few exceptions, politicians were paying back toll-road lobbyists, developers and contractors who fund their campaigns and influence the Transportation Corridor Agency. The politician who was booed the most during pro-TCA speeches was Mission Viejo’s very own Lance MacLean.

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Many politicians at the hearing, including all council members from Mission Viejo who made public comments, appeared to be reading a TCA script. They cited “overwhelming numbers in favor” of the proposed extension. Opponents of the proposed route referred to a different poll, which found that two-thirds of those polled are against the proposed route. The TCA and its developer backers probably could have had their extension approved by now if they hadn’t become greedy and tried to push it through a state park. Opponents of the route say the proposed extension won’t relieve traffic congestion as claimed, and it’s downright destructive to the environment.

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Mission Viejo activist comment: “Despite some residents and their children involving themselves in decorating the Rose Parade float, most adults I hear from are pretty mad about it. The expense of $300,000 is one matter, and I’m envisioning how a gigantic tank of water will slosh along the parade route. With city hall’s tradition of manmade disasters, is Pasadena prepared for Mission Viejo’s water bomb?” Another activist sent an email: “The water feature was designed by fruitcakes, not engineers. They’re creating a tsunami on wheels.”

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Reaction from a blog reader: “Is city hall not aware of Southern California’s water shortage? The city council has decided to show the world what Mission Viejo thinks of conservation. What about all those signs created by city employees that say ‘Be a Green Machine’?”

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The Buzz is still checking allegations that council candidate Richard Atkinson falsely claimed he has the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly. One of his supporters said he may have merely misspoken. She claimed he may have meant to say he has the endorsement of the Lincoln Club. A witness disagrees, saying that Atkinson claimed it was the CRA. Atkinson’s Lincoln Club endorsement should be noted by anyone who lives near Unisys. A key person in the Lincoln Club owns the Unisys property, and he wants his parcel rezoned for apartments. The property owner has worked for more than two years toward buying a council majority, including the loyalty of Councilman Frank Ury. Voters beware: Dump Ury and reject Atkinson. Vote instead for Cathy Schlicht and Neil Lonsinger, who oppose housing development.

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A complaint was filed on Sept. 15 with the Attorney General of California, stating that the Capo school district engaged in illegal gifting and wasted public funds with regard to the $150-million San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano. Mission Viejo resident and attorney Wayne Tate was among those preparing the complaint, which states that $6 million to $10 million in taxpayer dollars went toward improving the private property of developer Dennis Gage. Tate requested an investigation, and he sent copies of the complaint to CUSD Supt. Woodrow Carter and the board of trustees. More information can be found at www.thecapistranodispatch.com