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The Buzz column An alert M.V. resident noticed something strange on the front page of the Sept. 23 Saddleback Valley News. Did anyone else look at the Marines’ picture, taken at the Saddleback Lanes Bowling Alley? Dave Leckness jumped into the Marines’ foursome and apparently took the bowling ball out of the hands of a young Marine at the far right. Leckness is holding a stars-and-stripes bowling ball emblazoned with the U.S.M.C. Globe and Anchor while the empty-handed Marine stands next to him. *** Repairing roads and slopes in Mission Viejo isn’t just boring to city staffers, it’s expensive. If city employees spent tax dollars on infrastructure and city services (e.g., perhaps books for the library), there would be no money left for fun stuff for employees, such as parties, movies and character posters. City Hall’s new mantra: Make junking up the city your mission. City Hall has put so much junk on the medians along Crown Valley, there’s no room for even one more brick outhouse. The city is currently junking up the Oso medians, spending as much money as possible on gigantic brown jars and banners. Nature trails are so junked up they’re laughable. *** In last week’s Gallup poll, the top Republican presidential candidates didn’t change. Rick Perry led, followed by Mitt Romney. Rasmussen’s generic presidential poll (ending Sept. 18, the most recent as of this writing) shows the generic Republican candidate beating Obama by 5 points (47 percent to 42 percent). In that poll, Romney continues to be the Republican hopeful who runs most competitively with the president. Of Mission Viejo Republicans who got together last week, most said they are still deciding which candidate to support. *** The city of Montebello is in deep trouble because of wasteful spending. The LA Times reports “The city is seeking a short-term loan to avoid running out of cash in its general fund and state audits have found that officials mishandled millions. And the FBI is investigating the city's use of federal housing funds.” ( http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-montebello-20110924,0,324170.story ). The Times reported on Sept. 23 that Montebello city administrators threw away money on such things as “embroidered polo shirts.” Hold the phone – has anyone seen a Mission Viejo city employee who was NOT wearing a taxpayer-provided polo shirt with an embroidered iron tree on the front? The back should be embroidered with “MV taxpayers got soaked for this shirt.” *** Capo Valley RWF members who attended the Sept. 21 meeting in San Juan Capistrano said Ed Sachs was there introducing himself as a Mission Viejo council candidate. A CVRWF member said Sachs paid for the meal but stayed only a few minutes, leaving after he introduced himself. Sachs ran for a seat on the OC Republican Central Committee in June 2010. Among 13 candidates (six incumbents and seven challengers), Sachs placed No. 12. *** Brian Calle’s Sept. 25 OC Register column mentions the California straw poll on Sept. 17 in which Ron Paul got nearly 45 percent – an interesting story that didn’t get much coverage during the California GOP Convention in Los Angeles last weekend. Reports indicate a Ron Paul supporter paid $26,000 in registration fees for rent-a-voters. Calle first described what happened in the Sept. 18 California Political Review ( http://www.capoliticalreview.com/blog/ron-paul-wins-california-gop-straw-poll/ ) *** Just in time for Halloween, City Hall is on the verge of completing another weird icon. The problem is, decorations suitable for Halloween are left up year-round in Mission Viejo. The newest is on Marguerite, just north of Oso. Its twin oddity is near Marguerite and Estanciero, a pillar with the city staff’s iron tree emblem, backlit with a ghoulish orange glow. *** The council majority often asks city staff what other cities are doing. Generally, the question comes up when a majority member (Kelley, Ury or Leckness) is trying to show that council members in other cities are just as irresponsible about wasting money. Instead of having year-round Halloween decorations, here are examples of “normal” cities that celebrate Halloween only in October. Just in case anyone thinks Halloween hasn’t become a big deal, here’s the list
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