The Buzz

A Mission Viejo resident who lives near Oso questions what the city is building: “I see squares of concrete on the medians where roadwork is being done on Marguerite at Oso. I hope the foundations are for lighting and not more clutter like on Crown Valley Parkway. I have also seen the city post its signs about its events on the medians. I thought the medians could only be used for traffic signs. If garage sale signs and other residents’ signs aren’t permitted on the medians, the city should abide by the same standards.”

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Residents say street-resurfacing is substandard in the city’s northwest section, completed only eight months ago. Comments include complaints about the asphalt’s rough, uneven surface causing wear and tear on tires. When the pavement has problems after only eight months, imagine how it will look at the end of the seven-year cycle. For a view of six years of deterioration, check the potholes and all-over cracks on neighborhood streets west of Olympiad and Felipe near La Paz.

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Forwarded by a Mission Viejo watchdog: “Reminder – on Tues., May 31, at 1:30 p.m., there is an Ad Hoc meeting of the Planning and Transportation Commission to review the UDR and Watermarke apartment developments.” If Palmia homeowners aren’t already on high alert about this project, they should be. With the Oso Reservoir above the project, it’s the best future slum by a dam site.

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If Measure D (Mission Viejo Right-To-Vote initiative) had been approved in the June 2010 election, voters would have the final say on rezoning. UDR’s proposed change from condos to apartments would have been subject to a popular vote. Several Palmia residents who campaigned for Measure D correctly believed it was the best option to protect their neighborhood from such negative impacts as UDR’s proposed apartments. However, the majority of Palmia homeowners helped defeat the ballot measure. Totals for Palmia’s two precincts (47-251 and 47-255) totaled 257 “yes” votes and 611 “no” votes.

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Without the Right-To-Vote on rezoning issues, residents wanting to protect their neighborhoods can do the usual – rally their troops and try to fill the council chambers when zoning issues arise. Such rallies have had no influence on council members who accept thousands of dollars in “campaign donations” from developers. Palmia residents, particularly those on the HOA board who proclaimed they would trust councilmembers like Frank Ury and Trish Kelley to represent them, can now see how that works.

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Learn the Basics – Learn Your Rights: Attend the class “The Declaration & U.S. Constitution.” No advance signup is required, and no advance study is needed. Free admission; interactive educational format. Sundays, June 5, 19 and 26, from 2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.. Non-religious/non-political/non-partisan. Heritage Park Library, Community Room, 14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine, 92604, (949) 936-4040. Some things you will learn and discover: What caused the American Revolution? What were the two basic grievances against England? What was the sequence of Historical Events of the American Revolutionary War? Who wrote the Declaration? The Constitution? How are the Declaration and Constitution related? Teaching the class will be F. Robert ‘Bob’ Serrao, master’s degree in education, graduate studies, Pepperdine University, Author/Producer/Distributor.

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Forwarded by Tea Party Patriot Sally, “One man with courage is a majority.” – Thomas Jefferson.