The Buzz

Thanks to a Mission Viejo resident, “Bill,” for a news tip. On April 4, Bill talked with volunteers who were gathering signatures at a storefront to recall Councilman Lance MacLean. Bill asked if anyone could address his observation, as he didn’t know who to call. He can expect a blog story with photos, which will dovetail nicely with MacLean’s recall.

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In the effort to recall MacLean, is he solely responsible for voters’ ire? Discussion at storefronts reveals that residents want to recall all three majority council members (MacLean, Frank Ury and Trish Kelley) because the MUKsters were equal partners in many objectionable decisions. As one example, the MUK members voted to reinstate lifetime healthcare benefits for three terms of part-time service. By removing MacLean from office and electing a responsible adult, the majority would change, and that’s a primary point of recalling only MacLean. However, MacLean acted alone when he assaulted a co-worker. His anger issues are unresolved – reason enough to recall him.

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To what degree have city staff members contributed to the recall’s momentum? MacLean is being held responsible (as he should be) for an out-of-control city staff. Residents are strongly reacting to traffic issues along Crown Valley, deteriorating slopes and a long list of problems that would take more than one paragraph to describe. The council has failed to rein in two key city staffers: the city manager and the director of public services. The city manager doesn’t run a tight ship, and he’s failed to keep projects on schedule and within budget. As another example, city staffers and a contractor celebrated Earth Day a year ago by trashing a hillside with hundreds of broken easels and remnants of signs saying “Be a Green Machine.” The director of public services, Keith Rattay, has been a central figure in well-documented city snafus, contributing to the voters’ will to dump a council member who rubberstamps whatever city employees put before him.

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A recent city mailing to residents, “City of Mission Viejo Annual Report 2008,” is getting such bad reviews that it merits an article. It’s coming. Taxpayers strongly object to government mailers that resemble pricey corporate-image pieces. The 20-page, full-color brochure flaunts the council’s wasteful ways and documents reasons for the recall. A photo of the $400,000 Rose Parade float occupies the inside front cover, but the text makes no mention of cost to taxpayers. The brochure names the few new businesses that have opened but offers no balance with the long list of businesses that have closed. A particularly odd choice is a full-page photo of an ocean cruiser opposite the page titled “Public Works.”

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As follow up to the press release in this issue about the recall, go to http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/03/is-mission-viejo-councilwoman-trish-kelley-interfering-in-the-maclean-recall/ Excellent coverage is provided by Larry Gilbert, who writes for the county blog.