City Circus Update

Mission Viejo City Hall’s primary technique of “balancing” the budget is to ignore the infrastructure. There’s enough money either to continue the activities at City Hall for the bloated staff of 150 employees or to take care of the city, but not both.

Last December, a busload of Laguna Woods residents drove through neighborhoods of million-dollar homes to view Christmas decorations. For the grand finale, the bus drove along three blocks of trees wrapped in lights on La Paz in Mission Viejo. While no city staffer has stated the annual cost of Mission Viejo’s Christmas decorations, the estimate is more than $100,000. And that was prior to another $16,000 (thus far) on the check register for new lights this year. City contractors begin blocking lanes of traffic in October for their annual wrapping of jacaranda trees.

Here’s some insight from a discussion on July 6, 2009. “The Proposed 2009-11 Budget reflects a $25,000 reduction in the holiday lighting program by eliminating the installation of lights on the trees around the Civic Center perimeter. If Council does not want to draw down General Fund reserves by the proposed $1.5-$1.6 million each year, then staff would propose to further reduce the holiday lighting program by $85,000 per year by not installing lights on the jacaranda trees on La Paz Road and at the La Paz and Marguerite quad.” http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/cache/2/lixpuf555jrm5b3rtegsbg55/20621371217201109220942 1.PDF

Reaction of the Laguna Woods residents on the bus: “Oooooh, it’s beautiful.” For $85,000 of jacaranda wrapping, it should be beautiful.

Council members – at least the council majority – are supposed to hold the City Manager accountable, but they don’t. At least three members of the council are directed, instructed, informed or influenced by the city staff. The City Manager is supposed to direct the staff, but he doesn’t. From all appearances, contractors are running the city while administrative chiefs are focused on festivals, decorations, press releases and controlling what goes into the Saddleback Valley News and OC Register.

During the Dec. 5 council meeting, Councilman Frank Ury was selected by other council members to become the mayor for 2012. For nearly eight years, Ury has indicated he’s sitting on the council while waiting his turn to run for higher office, but what office? His record as a Republican is abominable. For example, he voted to give himself lifetime healthcare benefits, and he endorsed a Democrat twice in 2010. No one seems to know what he does for a living or who he works for – information he is required to provide as an elected official. In his most recent disclosure, he says his employer is Lake Servicing – try Googling it.

As another of City Hall’s budget-balancing techniques, it identifies money on paper (e.g, in-lieu fees from developers it has never received) and spends it. Because the money doesn’t exist and it’s still on paper, the city can spend the same money again. With the city’s diminishing revenue and dramatic increases in operating expenses, residents should ask how long City Hall can continue its spendathon. City Manager Dennis Wilberg is nearing retirement, and the shell game could go on until he’s out the door – if he leaves fairly soon.

As with other levels of government, the biggest problem is the high number of voters who aren’t paying attention.

Menorah Will Be Lit Dec. 20

Celebrate the first night of Chanuka on Tues., Dec. 20, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Mission Viejo. This public lighting will take place at The Four Corners, La Paz and Chrisanta.

A member of the Chabad Jewish Center wrote, “Doug Long of A-Z Tech in Mission Viejo has been working hard to build a beautiful and large Menorah for the Four Corners. Doug is a very talented man and is also a great Menorah builder. The large Menorah in Ladera Ranch was his first large Menorah.

“The Menorah will be lit the first night of Chanukah with a real flame and will have electric lighting for the rest of Chanuka. Join the celebration on Tuesday for the grand inauguration and lighting of this beautiful menorah. A big thank-you to Doug for this great gift to the community.”

The celebration will include music, a special gift for every child who attends, face painting, dreidel-cookie decorating, latkes, a raffle and more.

For additional information, call the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo, (949) 770-1270, or visit the website, http://www.chabadofmv.com.

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 and non-profit groups.

Kaleidoscope’s Iceless Ice Skating Rink’s holiday hours, Dec. 19-30, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., closed Dec. 24-25, and open Dec. 31 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The schedule can be found at http://gokaleidoscope.com/f/events.html. Enjoy the Charles Dickens Carolers on Fri., Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, http://gokaleidoscope.com

Holiday Organ Spectacular, Pacific Symphony with soprano Lynn Eustis, Tues., Dec. 20, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 755-5799, http://pacificsymphony.org

Roger’s Gardens, “The Artisans of Christmas,” Christmas 2011, ongoing, including sale items at 30 percent off, 2301 San Juan Hills Road, Corona del Mar, (949) 640-5800, http://www.rogersgardens.com

“The Eight: Reindeer Monologues,” through Dec. 23, The Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, (714) 777-3033, http://chancetheater.com

“This Wonderful Life,” through Dec. 24, Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 946-5556, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Moore’s sewing events: Sew Fun Club, Mon., Dec. 26, 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sew Fun Club, Tues., Dec. 27, 9:00 a.m., 25390 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 580-2520, http://www.moores-sew.com

“New Year’s Eve Broadway Time,” fundraiser with dinner provided by Vito’s Italian Ristorante, Dec. 31, Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, (949) 489-8082, http://caminorealplayhouse.org

“The Science of Gingerbread,” through Jan. 1, kitchen science, decorating demos and award-winning gingerbread houses, Discovery Science Center, 2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, (714) 542-2823, http://www.discoverycube.org

Classes: “Create a Succulent Wreath,” (reservations required) Sat., Jan. 14, 10:00 a.m., and “Plant a Bird Cage” on Sun., Jan 15, 11:00 a.m., 31720 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, (949) 493-3920, http://cottage-home-and-garden.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

Political and Government Events Calendar

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tues., Dec. 20, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. No meeting on Dec. 27. http://www.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors

El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com

Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors, Dec. 28, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html

Great Park Family New Year’s Eve Party, Dec. 31, 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Balloon Park (use the Trabuco entrance). No admission charge, but parking is $10. Enjoy crafts activities for children, live music, dancing, refreshments, carousel rides and a display of military vehicles and vintage cars, http://www.ocgp.org/2011/11/make-new-year%E2%80%99s-eve-a-great-night/

The 2011 Holiday Festival of Trains at the Nixon Library, through Jan. 2, 2012, Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org

Nixon Library: Celebrate the President’s 99th Birthday, including a formal wreath-laying ceremony, Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m., and the Annual Nixon Legacy Program with a live broadcast of the Hugh Hewitt Show from the East Room at 2:45 p.m., Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161,

http://events.nixonfoundation.org/2011/12/08/celebrate-the-presidents-99th-birthday/

ACT for America, Mon., Jan. 9, guest speaker to be announced. The meeting will be held at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting Mon., Jan. 9, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Investments on Jan. 11, 9:00 a.m., Engineering and Operations on Jan. 16, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Jan. 18, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, Tues., Jan. 17, 6:15 p.m. (moved to the third Tuesday due to winter recess). The board workshop on board policies will begin at 4:30 p.m., and it is open to the public. The district office will be closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2 for winter recess, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us

Saddleback Republican Assembly does not meet in December. SRA’s next meeting will be Jan. 19, 2012. For information call (949) 360-1717.

South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, January meeting date TBA. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m.., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, https://www.socccd.edu

The Buzz

Reminder from blog reader G.H.: “Cell phone numbers go public this month, with cell phone numbers being released to telemarketing companies. By calling (888) 382-1222 from your cell phone, you can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call List.” Call the number above or get the same result in 20 seconds by registering cell or other phone numbers on https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

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From OC Supv. Shawn Nelson’s Dec. 16 newsletter, “California’s High Speed Rail Off the Tracks: At Monday’s OCTA meeting, the Board of Directors voted to send a letter to the California High Speed Rail Authority (CaHSRA) regarding concerns over the rising cost, prolonged schedule and dubious funding sources within the authority’s business plan. Among these crucial issues mentioned during the meeting, Supervisor Nelson added that the CaHSRA also failed to address the rail gap existing from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, which currently requires bus service to connect passengers between Northern and Southern California.”

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The latest poll among Republican presidential candidates as of this writing is Gallup Tracking, Dec. 11-16, which shows (in percentages) Gingrich 28, Romney 24, Paul 10, Bachmann 8, Perry 6, Santorum 4 and Huntsman 2. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html

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Message from Tea Party Patriot Rick Farinelli, “I hope we have not forgotten our goal of getting 700,000 signatures to the office of Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (another Patriot) by the end of the month [to stop the Dream Act]. I have been told that over 3,000,000 petitions have been sent out; please do not let them collect dust.” In Orange County, the Republican headquarters in Tustin is a collection point. On Monday, Dec. 26, the momentum will increase to get all petitions in, either by mailing them to the address printed on the petition or taking them to the GOP office, 1422 Edinger, Suite 110, Tustin 92780, (714) 453-0900.

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From Bob G. of Mission Viejo, “Don't buy or refinance a house next year. You will be paying for your own payroll tax cut. It will cost you $17 per month on a $200,000 loan or $34 per month on a $400,000 loan. Instead of borrowing from China, this time they are stealing it from homeowners. So if you got a $17 per month increase in your paycheck because of the temporary payroll tax deduction and you refinanced your house, YOU are paying your payroll increase back. Except the payroll tax increase will end after two months or maybe a year if it is extended. But your 30-year mortgage won't end until you have paid on it for 30 years at $17 or more per month. So if you paid for 30 years at $17 per month that's $204 per year or $6,120 for a cut that would only be for a year unless it is extended for 10 years - chances of that are zero.”
http://www.suntimes.com/news/9504742-418/payroll-tax-cut-extension-adds-17-a-month-to-typical-mortgage.html

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Mission Viejo residents who believe the fictional accounts they read in Saddleback Valley News can now buy a bridge. Not the Brooklyn Bridge but the one being proposed at Camino Real at the south end of the city. The Planning Commission will take up the issue in February. Taxpayers should question the purpose of the bridge, including who it will benefit. The project is emerging alongside Laguna Niguel’s super high-density apartment project.

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When Frank Ury began running for a council seat in early 2002, he abruptly ended his campaign when he moved several months later to take a job in Northern California. Those who were supporting him learned he was simultaneously looking for a house while saying he would live in Mission Viejo until he “pushed up daisies.” By itself, it was an odd statement for a 40-something person, but his charade gave him a few more weeks in the limelight as a phony candidate. He moved and then returned late in 2002, only to start campaigning again for the 2004 council race. A few of his 2002 supporters resumed campaigning for him, only to be burned a second time. He spit in their face after they carried him on their shoulders, and they branded him “a fake and a fraud.”