The Buzz

During the Dec. 7 council meeting, Richard Sandzimier spoke into the public microphone, claiming a faction of watchdogs is trying to take over city hall. Even if it were possible, would residents be alarmed if someone with genuine concerns about the city of Mission Viejo got on the council? Thus far, those who have “taken over” city hall cast their votes for special interest and out-of-towners. When it comes to lining up three votes, no one has done it better than the current council majority – Lance MacLean, Frank Ury and Trish Kelley (M-U-K). Contrary to Sandzimier’s claim, records show minority members John Paul Ledesma and Cathy Schlicht don’t often vote together. It is difficult to follow how a minority “takeover” would occur when Ledesma and Schlicht are frequently not on the same page.

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If voters need any help deciding how to vote in the Feb. 2 recall election, they should watch the video of the Dec. 7 council meeting. The attack Schlicht endured on agenda items was brutal. Even when she tried to appoint a representative to a commission, she was blocked by the MUKsters. For this reason, Schlicht currently has no representative on the Planning Commission. Although she has nominated several appointees, the MUKsters have rejected each one. Sometimes the MUKsters follow up with public commentary to humiliate the residents Schlicht is trying to appoint.

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According to the rhetoric coming from the campaign of Dave Leckness (probably written by Sherri Butterfield), the animal shelter could be shut down. Is it true animals will be let out into the street if a “radical group” of activists has its way? Wait, that’s exactly backwards. A Mission Viejo resident at a council meeting awhile back reported what he saw. He said an animal control truck was driving from one neighborhood to the next, and a city employee was letting cats out on the street. By the way, closing the animal shelter is not a topic of conversation among the city’s watchdogs, although one person asked if a privately owned animal shelter would be more financially feasible than a city-owned one. City staff members acknowledged that animal cruelty by a city employee – releasing cats into neighborhoods – was factual.

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What should residents expect if MacLean manages to survive the recall? Razing the shopping center at La Paz and Marguerite (CVS, SteinMart, Trader Joe’s, etc.) had the enthusiastic support of MacLean, Ury and Kelley when it was discussed in a presentation by Urban Land Institute at a council meeting. A year later, Kelley and MacLean falsely denied they supported razing the structures and then rebuilding the shopping center with apartments on top. Schools have closed in Mission Viejo. Residents should be aware that MacLean is the third vote if the current council majority pushes for more high-density housing if the school district decides to sell the parcels. The owner of Unisys already offered his property as a future site of high-density affordable housing.