Streets Require Immediate Attention

Residents continue to compile lists of streets that are in fair to poor condition. In some cases, entire streets need resurfacing. Some homeowners are questioning how often streets are slurried. For example, family members who have lived at the same Mission Viejo address for nearly 25 years say their street has been slurried only twice during that time. The city staff says streets are on a seven-year cycle.

Streets in poorest condition are getting “Band-Aid” treatments with patches on the worst areas. Homeowners report that contractors are fixing potholes without repairing the crumbling asphalt nearby that will soon turn into a pothole.

More than 100 streets have been identified by community watchdogs and other residents as needing immediate attention. Some of these streets are not scheduled for resurfacing for at least two years. Band-Aid repairs are temporary, and the cost of reconstructing streets in poor condition far outstrips the cost of regular maintenance.

Here are the newest additions to the list, with brief descriptions of the damage. These streets represent a neighborhood north of La Paz and south of Jeronimo near Olympiad.

Amargon and Aguirre – extensive cracking at intersection; wide and deep cracks. Aguirre has horizontal cracks in front of each house that run across the entire width of the street.

Ardisa – extensive cracking; cracks in cul-de-sac reopened after being coated with tar.

Boda – many cracks, and the cul-de-sac has weeds growing out of cracks.

Botorrita and Diamonte – sunken areas at intersection, extensive cracks the entire length of both streets; potholes. Tar applied on cracks in cul-de-sac; cracks have reopened.

Cascabel and Ramona – intersection has been patched, and new cracks have opened up.

Chapulin – a longitudinal crack runs the entire length of the street. Horizontal cracks run the entire width of the street at intervals of every 20 feet in some sections.

Escatron and Muela – extensive cracks, which continue the entire length of both streets.

Josephina – a portion of street was recently resurfaced; remainder is extensively cracked.

Lanuza and Tabuenco – significant deterioration at intersection; wide cracks with weeds. Cracks that were covered with tar have reopened and are now wider and deeper. Damage continues along Tabuenca with potholes, extensive cracks and sunken areas of pavement.

Leticia and Graciela – extensive cracking at the intersection; damage continues along Leticia, all cracked up with some sunken areas. Large portions have a mosaic pattern.

Pavion – extensive cracking, nearly the entire length of the street.

Pavion and Botorrita – intersection has extensive cracks with weeds.

Pavion at Casanal – intersection has crumbling asphalt, and damage continues along Casanal. Patch down the middle, pavement failure at edges. Casanal is in poor condition.

Pavion at Caspe – intersection has potholes and extensive cracking.

Pavion and Daroca – intersection has potholes and pavement failure. Daroca looks like slurry was applied over cracks without repairing damage. Questionable quality of work.

Pavion and La Noche – intersection has potholes, wide cracks.

Pavion and Lorente – intersection has extensive cracking.

Pavion and Ronea – intersection has extensive cracking.

Ramona and Estima – pothole in intersection, extensive cracking along Estima.

Ramona and Fleches – extensive cracking at intersection, damage continues along Fleches with a sunken area of pavement; asphalt is worn away in some areas.

Ramona and Gitano – extensive cracking at intersection; crack runs entire length of street. The entire street has a mosaic pattern of cracks; asphalt is failing at curbs.

Sadaba and Graciela – extensive cracking at intersection; mosaic pattern of cracking along Sadaba with areas of wide and deep cracks and potholes.

Silleros at Alazan – extensive cracking at intersection. Alazan is deteriorating to gravel in some spots, and the entire length of the street is cracked.

Silleros and Cascabel – intersection has serious damage, which continues the entire length of both streets. Cascabel is deteriorating with many horizontal cracks.

Tabuenca and Fonda – deep and wide cracks with weeds. Missing portions of asphalt.

Tabuenca and Escatron – extensive cracks and pavement failure.

Tarazona and Lanuza – deterioration at intersection, with extensive wide cracks continuing along Lanuza. Weeds are growing in the cracks.

Tarazona and Silleros – intersection has been patched; wide cracks remain.

Zurita – deep and wide cracks with weeds. Cracks are reappearing through tar “repairs.”

CUSD Update

Ex-superintendent A. Woodrow Carter might finally be through trying to sue the Capo school district. The board of trustees fired him on March 9, 2009. Carter filed his first lawsuit in May 2009, claiming wrongful termination and asking for 18 months’ severance pay.

When Carter’s lawsuit was dismissed by a Superior Court judge in December, he filed a $5.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against the district. The judge ruled on March 19 that Carter had no grounds to support his claim. The March 19 decision was the final ruling, although Carter could still appeal.

In the salary negotiations between the CUSD Board of Trustees and the teachers union (CUEA), an independent negotiator on March 15 released recommendations in a Fact Finding Report. Trustees had asked teachers to take a 10-percent pay cut. The report recommends only a 1-percent pay cut. Also recommended is shortening the school year (cutting three days in 2009-2010 and five days in 2010-2011). Class size would increase by two students.

The 22-page report can be found at http://capistranoinsider.typepad.com/files/fact-finding.pdf

The teachers union accepted the report’s recommendations on March 15. Trustees have the option of implementing the recommendations, returning to the bargaining table or standing by their earlier offer.

No new developments surfaced during the past week about the effort to recall two CUSD trustees, Ken Lopez-Maddox and Mike Winsten. The signature-gathering process is into its third week. Lopez-Maddox issued a press release on March 14, asking the recall supporters to stick with their decision to gather the required number of signatures (22,000 valid ones per trustee) by May 1 or end the recall effort. If enough signatures can be gathered by May 1, the recall would be on the November ballot. Recall supporters initially said they intended to avoid a special election.

ACT Meeting – Save the Date

The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will meet on Mon., April 12. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting will run from 7:30 to 9:30. Guest speaker Roz Rothstein’s topic will be “The New Battlefront for Anti-Semitism: America’s College Campus.”

In February at UCI, the Muslim Student Union disrupted a presentation by Michael Oren, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States. Eleven Muslim students were arrested that evening, and more than 500,000 people have watched the YouTube video of the students’ attempt to suppress free speech. The event focused a worldwide spotlight on UCI’s policy of tolerating organized bullying.

ACT for America is working to protect free speech while countering hate-speech, propaganda and intimidation.

Rothstein, a child of Holocaust Survivors, is the CEO of StandWithUs, an international, non-profit Israel-education organization. She will speak for approximately 40 minutes, followed by 20 minutes for questions and answers.

The meeting location is the Mission Viejo Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way (Sycamore B room). There is no charge for admission, but a $5 donation will be appreciated to help cover costs.

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.

***

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.”

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.