The Buzz

Bumper sticker that should be standard fare in Mission Viejo: If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

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Kudos to Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht for shining a light on the council majority’s self-enrichment. Under her comments for the June 21 council meeting, she is proposing the Elimination of Lifetime Healthcare Benefits for the Remaining Eligible Council Members. With council majority members Trish Kelley and Frank Ury treating the benefits as a political football, perhaps they’ll flip again, “giving up” their benefits long enough for Kelley to run for reelection on November 2. Of course, a council majority could reinstate the benefits immediately after the election. For additional information, read Brad Morton’s article, http://missionviejodispatch.com/?p=16871

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The Orange County Register is continuing to congratulate itself for fooling the majority of Mission Viejo voters on June 8. The June 20 OCR editorial, “Primary results: We know our voters,” was likely written by Brian Calle, an acquaintance of Frank Ury. With another lie, the author states, “The measure would have been a blow to property rights as it would have required a majority vote by residents before virtually any development or enhancement to any property in the city.” That’s false. Did the OCR author of this hoax ever read the text of the Measure? If OCR wants to congratulate itself for anything, it should be the ability to misinform its readers.

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Check out Larry Gilbert’s June 18 post on Orange Juice the premier county blog, http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/06/supreme-court-ruling-on-employee-texting Gilbert explains that the Supreme Court “rejected a broad right of privacy for workers and said a supervisor may read through a public employee’s text messages if he or she suspects work rules are being violated.” Gilbert adds a reference to Mission Viejo. “This Court ruling reminds me of a Mission Viejo citizen request to access our city manager’s cell phone during the 2010 recall of mayor Lance MacLean. That request was denied. I am suggesting that this unnamed resident, whom I personally know, should make a second request based on yesterday’s court decision.”

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TEA Partiers will reunite on July 4th in Mission Viejo. Organizers say they’re ready to rally on Independence Day. Watch this blog, the Mission Viejo Dispatch and OrangeJuiceBlog.com for announcements about time and location.