Independence Day in Mission Viejo

On July 4, thousands of Mission Viejo residents attended the city’s Street Faire, participated in a political protest and/or watched the fireworks display. The tax protest was sponsored by Saddleback Republican Assembly, which is a local unit of the California Republican Assembly.

At SRA’s tables at the east and west ends of the Faire, hundreds of people signed two letters of protest and a petition to recall Mission Viejo Councilman Lance MacLean. Citizens added their names to letters opposing socialized healthcare and the Cap and Trade initiative. Copies of the letters will be mailed to key elected officials. Recall supporters said hundreds of Mission Viejo voters signed the recall petition on July 4.

To hold a TEA Party, members of SRA said they successfully cleared the city’s hurdles. A week ago, SRA President Matt Corrigan received a call from a police officer. The message wasn’t about public safety or law enforcement. City administrators, by way of the Sheriff’s Dept., said SRA would not be allowed to set up a table between the driveway to the lake and Marguerite Parkway. The strip along Olympiad Road near Marguerite Parkway appears to be either public property or lake property. Despite the city closing off an adjacent portion of Olympiad for the Street Faire, such closing has no impact on the rights of citizens or the nature of public or private property.

As another attempt to thwart the TEA Party, city officials demanded that SRA get a permit for a special event. The city said such an event on public property required a permit because a vocalist would provide amplified live music. An attorney associated with CRA said no such permit is needed to have a public event on public property.

Because SRA learned of the city’s demands days prior to the event, its representatives decided to pay the $25 fee for a permit instead of arguing about principle. As soon as SRA agreed to pay, a city employee told the group it would need insurance for the event. The Republican Party of California provided proof of insurance for SRA and endorsed the city of Mission Viejo so the singer could use a microphone.

An SRA member emailed other TEA party participants: “The demands were inconsistent. This is our third TEA Party in four months, and the Sheriff’s Dept. has told us three times we don’t need a permit. Note the city administrators’ lack of communication with our group. When they had the police relay a message that had nothing to do with police business, what was their intent besides intimidation?”

During the TEA Party, emcee Jeff Morrow of Aliso Viejo frequently shared the microphone with participants. Many of them made spirited remarks, saying government is headed in the wrong direction. Tina Neukirch read an original poem she composed for the TEA Party. Among speakers were Council Members Cathy Schlicht and John Paul Ledesma, SRA President Matt Corrigan, former SRA President Larry Gilbert and CRA Vice President Karl Heft.