HOA to City: Repair the Streets

Dear Planning & Transportation Commission & City Council Members,

As President of Mission Viejo Environmental Association with 2,982 homes surrounding the greater Lake Area, we would like to bring to your attention an issue that is impacting the beauty, well-being and safety of those driving and using our streets. We look to your leadership in addressing and fixing the problem and bringing back the visual appeal of our neighborhoods.

I have neighbors who regularly ask when the street repairs for the cracks and overlay refurbishments are going to take place. I continually tell them that this is a City issue that impacts us and that we are at the mercy of when this is scheduled by the City. They are often upset and left wondering where our taxes are going since it often feels like we are being neglected.

I have learned that at the Planning & Transportation Meeting this evening [March 14] there will be a discussion concerning street repairs and I want to kindly ask that the area below Florence Joiner Park in the Andalusia Tract be scheduled promptly for repairs and refurbishment.

A contracted crew did come and repair some dangerous cracks on some streets, but others are left in poor shape. Those streets that had cracks repaired have been left in an unsightly appearance with a patchwork of old and new asphalt for the last several months (7-9 months??) This is unacceptable and has impacted the safety and beauty of our wonderful Mission Viejo neighborhoods.

Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. We ask that the neighborhood be scheduled for repair rapidly to fix the many problems and "street blight" that we must live with in the Andalusia tract of homes. Just a few pictures are being sent for your review. I would attend to give a verbal request but I have a conflict this evening, so please review my email request.

On a separate issue, I would like to thank Mr. Richard Schweinberg for his years of service to the Commission!

Anthony J. Accetta
President, Mission Viejo Environmental Association
Mission Viejo

State of the State

An Oakland firm has been selected to redraw California’s political districts. The state’s 14-member redistricting commission awarded Q2 Data and Research the $510,000 contract. The new districts will be adopted by Aug. 15. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17656014?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Among redistricting outcomes, Mission Viejo could have a new State Assembly representative. Jeff Miller’s 71st Assembly District is the one of the fastest growing. Splitting his district could result in Miller representing only communities in Riverside County. Mission Viejo would become part of a new district in Orange County.

Redistricting could also impact Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s slow-growing 47th Congressional District. A geographic increase would dilute her stronghold of Democrats. http://drunkonpolitics.com/2011/03/14/democrat-sanchez-faces-gop-redistricting-gains

Gov. Jerry Brown failed to get Republican support by March 10 for a special election on June 7. With Brown’s missing his self-imposed deadline, prospects are dimming, but it’s not a guarantee against an election to extend taxes. To meet the two-thirds requirement to put a tax increase on the ballot, Brown needs two Republicans in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

California Republicans held their three-day convention over the weekend in Sacramento. On March 18, incoming chairman of the California Republican Party Tom Del Beccaro said he’s confident Republican legislators will reject Brown’s special election on taxes. While at the convention, Del Beccaro said of the five Republican state senators who have been negotiating with Brown, “That’s the only way we’ll be able to persuade them with our ideas about what truly needs to be done.” http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/18/3487411/california-gop-convention-kicks.html

KFI’s John and Ken are railing daily about putting all five heads on a stick. The five Republican state senators who have been negotiating with Brown are Sam Blakeslee, Anthony Cannella, Tom Harmon, Bill Emmerson and Tom Berryhill.

From a Wall Street Journal article last week, “…Brown might still corral enough stray Republicans to get his budget package before voters this summer. Yet even with the proposed all-mail ballot he wants to use to gin up turnout, its prospects are iffy.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704608504576208470356264808.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise.

World Affairs Council of Orange County, panel discussion, “Revolution in the Arab World: What Does the Future Hold?” Fri., March 25, 11:30 a.m. reception, 12:00 lunch, 12:30 p.m. program, Irvine Marriott Hotel, Tuscany Ballroom, 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, (949) 253-5751, http://www.worldaffairscouncil.org

Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado, Sat., March 26, family-oriented festivities, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Parade begins at 11 a.m., downtown San Juan Capistrano, (949) 493-1976, http://www.swallowsparade.org

Frog and Toad Walk at Richard & Donna O’Neill Conservancy, Sat., March 26,
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., 28672 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 489-9778, http://www.theconservancy.org/Calendar.aspx

Basics of Garden Design, Sat., March 26, 9:00 a.m., Plant Depot, 33413 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 240-2107, http://www.plantdepot.com

Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes

Farmers Market, Laguna Hills, Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Laguna Hills Mall, (714) 573-0374.

Farmers Market, San Juan Capistrano, Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Historic Town Center Park, (949) 493-4700.

Lewis & Clark Exhibit, throughout March, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1315, http://www.missionsjc.com

Renee Fleming, Soprano, Tues., April 5, 8 p.m., Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2121, http://www.scfta.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1132&NavID=132

Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” through April 10, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Art Exhibit, “Reflections from the Garden,” Joseph Raffel, through April 15, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Soka University, Founders Hall, First Floor, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4237, free, http://www.soka.edu/default.aspx

ACT for America – Save the Date

On March 30, ACT for America will host U.S. Prosecutor and best-selling author Andrew C. McCarthy as its guest speaker. The meeting will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

Andrew C. McCarthy is a member of the Sharia Plan II B group and a key contributor to a newly released book, “Sharia, the Threat to America.” He is the author of two other New York Times bestsellers, “Willful Blindness” and “The Grand Jihad.” He is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and a contributing editor at National Review.

For 18 years he was an assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. In 1995 he led the successful terrorism prosecution against the “Blind Sheikh” (Omar Abdel Rahman) and the jihadist cell that carried out the World Trade Center bombing and plotted to attack New York City landmarks. After the 9/11 attacks he supervised the U. S. Attorney’s command post near Ground Zero.

The cost to attend the March 30 meeting is $10 at the door. A limited number of books will be available for purchase and signing by McCarthy.

RSVP is required for those wanting to attend. Please reserve a seat by emailing kajoie@yahoo.com

The Buzz

A blog reader emailed a question, “Why is the city’s Character Committee advertising free movies in the Pennysaver? Are attendance and interest so lacking?” The Pennysaver ad ran numerous times, touting the March 20 showing of “Pinocchio.” With the origin of the committee – Councilwoman Trish Kelley’s lie that it wouldn’t involve tax dollars – “Pinocchio” was an interesting choice for a movie.

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Anyone wanting a display of lying can attend a council meeting. Along with Kelley, Councilman Frank Ury’s lies at meetings are well documented. He lied in his ballot statement as well http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2008/10/mission-viejo-councilman-frank-ury-lied-in-his-candidate-statement , and a judge struck down false and misleading information when Ury wrote the argument against Measure D http://missionviejodispatch.com/city-aestheics/right-to-vote-ledesma-exposes-urys-lie . Instead of having a nose that grows, each time Ury lies, he needs a wider chair.

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Ury was the county GOP’s rising star when he won a seat on the Saddleback Valley school board in the 1990s. He no longer gets a mention from county leaders, especially after he endorsed a Democrat for city council in 2010.

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When the OC Register published an item about poor street conditions http://articles.ocregister.com/2010-09-27/local/24640220_1_roads-poor-condition-motorists , Mission Viejo ranked No. 21 among the nation’s worst. A corresponding chart showed Mission Viejo residents pay an average of $526 annually to repair vehicle damage caused by poorly maintained streets.

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Has Mission Viejo’s Rotary Club become a launch pad for council candidates? Bill Craycraft is a longtime Rotary member, and Mayor Hee Haw Leckness wants a donation box on public property for his Rotary Club. Brian Skalsky joined the Rotary Club and has run twice for a council seat. Wendy Bucknum appears to be campaigning for city council, and her husband recently joined the Rotary. Several others who participate in city politics are in the same club – all for the sake of humanitarianism, of course.

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California Republicans who convened in Sacramento on March 18-21 heard from potential 2012 presidential candidates. Had all the contenders shown up, they would still be talking. Potential candidates include Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Mike Pence, Herman Cain, Fred Karger, Jimmy McMillan, Buddy Roemer, Michele Bachmann, Haley Barbour, John Bolton, Mitch Daniels, Rudy Giuliani, Jon Huntsman Jr., Gary E. Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Donald Trump, John Thune, Jim DeMint, Chris Christie, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal and George Pataki.