The Buzz

Update on fundraiser: Mission Viejo’s volunteers at Modjeska Ranch Animal Rescue are planning a garage-sale to benefit the shelter. The sale date has been changed to Sat., April 11. Watch The Buzz for announcements about the start and end times and location to drop off donations.

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On Fri., March 12, commuters on the southbound 5 freeway may have noticed large campaign signs above overpasses. Supporters of Bill Hunt, who is running for OC Sheriff, posted the signs and stood alongside them, waving flags from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Those participating in the activity said the response was good, with honks and waves from commuters. Because the signs were visible only from the freeway, drivers on the overpass streets couldn’t tell what the rallies were about. A Hunt supporter said, “We were waving American flags, and we probably looked like a TEA Party. Drivers were honking in support as they drove past us. They probably thought we were out there to oppose the healthcare vote.”

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As an odd combination, the city is holding a “green” expo alongside Fun With Chalk on April 24-25. The art festival is celebrating its 12th anniversary of street painting. No reason has been given for the city staff adding its pseudo-green message. Two years ago, the staff wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on a yearlong anniversary party. The crowning anti-green activity was Easelgate, in which 500 custom-built easels were trashed on city property after the staff failed to engage residents in a photo exhibit. In 2009, the city presented a skit on global warming as part of another event.

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Other examples of city staff confusion can be found in the annual planting effort on April 24. The entire state is running out of water, and residents long ago ran out of interest in the city’s planting activity. In recent years, the city claimed that thousands of plants were “donated” by vendors, despite questions about the true costs. Dwindling numbers of residents would arrive on the designed Saturday to attempt to dig holes in soil so rocky and dry it was virtually non-tillable. The bulk of plants remained in pots, and contract landscapers would then spend weeks finishing the job.

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What are the four seasons in Southern California? Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Taxpayers get dinged $10,000 every time a city contractor changes banners along Marguerite Parkway. One set of particularly unattractive flags is dedicated to seasons of weather that other parts of the world experience.

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If the city is awash in cash (as claimed by the city manager during the recall of Lance MacLean), why is the city staff recommending cutbacks in basic services? MacLean’s supporters promoted blatant lies that recall proponents would “gut the city” by closing the library and animal shelter. One month after the anti-recall hysteria ended, the city staff proposed cuts to the library and animal shelter.