The Buzz

Are TEA Partiers trying to form a third party? According to a Feb. 17 email from the group’s national organizers, they are not: “Tea Party Patriots is issuing this statement in order to make it clear that we are not associated with any attempts to form a third party. Additionally, we believe that such efforts are unproductive and unwise at this time. The history of third party movements in this country is one of division and defeat. We believe that it is instead time for all Americans to rise up and demand appropriate reform within their own parties. The mechanisms exist for citizens to participate in their parties, and to drive their parties in the right direction.” National team members include Debbie Dooley, Mike Gaske, Kellen Giuda, Ryan Hecker, Jenny Beth Martin, Mark Meckler, Sally Oljar, Diana Reimer, Billie Tucker and Dawn Wildman.

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If homeowners associations could be awarded for civic awareness, Casta del Sol and Palmia would be tops in Mission Viejo. Both HOAs scored well on voter turnout for the Feb. 2 recall election in which Lance MacLean was removed from the city council. Voters in all precincts in Casta del Sol and Palmia overwhelming supported the recall. Congratulations to these civic-minded residents who weren’t fooled by a deputies’ union or stink bombs launched by the ex-majority of MacLean, Ury and Kelley.

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City Manager Dennis Wilberg compiled a few eclectic paragraphs for his Feb. 19 insider newsletter, “The Week That Was.” One of his topics was the retail center on the northeast corner of La Paz and Marguerite Parkway. Ralphs completed its store renovations last fall, and ARCO has a proposal before the Planning Commission to add a 24-hour convenience store. The entire retail area – from Ralphs to Trader Joe’s and beyond – has become an obsession for city hall. Any talk about apartments on top of stores has been swept under the carpet, but that’s temporary until voters pass the Right To Vote in June.

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Wilberg also mentioned the completion of some road repairs and a plan to repave portions of Alicia Parkway, Olympiad Road and Trabuco Road. Streets in greatest need of repair can be found in many neighborhoods throughout the city. Residents should call city hall, (949) 470-8405 to report street damage. Otherwise, potholes and wide cracks in the roads less traveled could remain indefinitely.

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Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht has made a formal request to appeal a Planning and Transportation Commission decision (Resolution No. 2010-11482). The subject is the city’s plan to expand the Marguerite Tennis Center. To add 20 parking places and space for basketball courts, the plan calls for bringing in 4,000 truckloads of dirt. Some residents are astounded that the commission approved the plan without an Environmental Impact Report. Read more about the issue on Brad Morton’s Mission Viejo Dispatch, http://missionviejodispatch.com/?p=14941

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A resident calculated the impact of the dirt-hauling project alone: “If it truly is 4,000 truckloads of soil, then that would be 40 business days at 100 loads per day. 100 loads per day would be 12 loads per hour during an 8.5-hour workday (assume 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).  That would mean a truckload every 5 minutes for an eight-week period (two months) assuming no weekend work.”