The Buzz

According to OC Register business columnist Jan Norman’s Jan. 16 article, California Enterprise Zones “don’t create new jobs and may even reduce the number of businesses within their boundaries.” She adds, “The Franchise Tax Board estimates enterprise zone incentives and tax breaks allowed participating businesses to avoid $330 million in state taxes in 2005. Critics claim the businesses would have implemented the programs without any incentives.” Read on at http://jan.freedomblogging.com/2009/01/16/states-enterprise-zones-dont-work/7590 There’s a message in it for Mission Viejo’s city officials who think they should use taxpayer funds to meddle in private enterprise.

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Those wrapping up Mission Viejo’s Right-To-Vote initiative are now collecting all petitions and verifying signatures. Everyone should get the petitions turned in as soon as possible. Those who still have petitions with signatures should call (949) 837-1997 to coordinate getting them in.

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What’s the No. 1 topic among Mission Viejo residents regarding their city government? Volunteers working at storefronts gathering Right-To-Vote signatures say it’s still the Rose Parade float. A resident last week said, “The city might think it can persuade everyone to believe there’s no outcry. All the PR and newspaper articles aren’t changing anyone’s mind. I’m tired of the in-your-face barrage of stories, and they just make me angrier.”

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Cause-Effect: Take a look at the stream of press releases emanating from city hall about the float. On Aug. 21, the Register printed an article, “Officials aim to raise city profile through Rose Parade entry.” City Manager Dennis Wilberg was quoted, and Lance MacLean was “credited” with initiating the float. On Jan. 7, the Register posted a poll asking readers to vote on what the city gained from the float. At the end of the first day, the choice of “An improve image and a higher profile” trailed badly. Whoa, not a good outcome for Wilberg, MacLean and crew who pushed the hoax on taxpayers. Which white knight came to the rescue and pumped in hundreds of votes for this choice on Jan. 8, bringing up the percentage from single digits to 28 percent?

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Readers who saw the Register’s Jan. 7 online story about the float may have noticed a comment from someone posting anonymously as Shannistew on Jan. 8. The comment was in response to other readers who panned the float as an inappropriate use of tax funds. Shannistew began: “Oh puhleeeze. Criticizing a great city management team for finding a unique branding and marketing idea that also generated tremendous community spirit is just wrong.” City officials might as well put their names on their posts.

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Wilberg’s weekly newsletter intended for city hall insiders is being widely circulated. In stark contrast to the city’s puff pieces for public consumption, Wilberg’s insider notes sometimes depart from happy talk. His Jan. 16 post describes the impact of the state’s cash crunch on the city’s receiving payments: “… starting February 1 the State may start issuing IOUs for many of our revenues that we receive from them … .” With city officials scurrying to liquidate assets in 2008 before the state’s problems came crashing down on them, what will they do next to make ends meet? Clearly, trimming costs and cutting back on the bloated city staff numbers are not considerations.