The Buzz

On Jan. 12, Cong. Gary Miller announced he’ll run in the 31st Congressional District instead of running in the 39th against Cong. Ed Royce. Royce responded with a press release, which included his endorsement of Miller: “It is my belief that Congressman Gary Miller is the correct choice to represent the newly-drawn 31st Congressional District in San Bernardino County.  In his race for the 31st District, Gary Miller has not only my endorsement, but my full support and backing in his upcoming election.”

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During the Capo school district meeting on Jan. 9, Barcelona Elementary parents rallied to object to Oxford Academy’s expansion on the Barcelona campus. Oxford requested raising its current maximum enrollment from 628 students to 728 for the next school year. Despite the takeover by the academy, some neighbors accepted the outcome by saying the glass is half full. The campus is populated with students and thriving rather than being in jeopardy of closing due to dwindling numbers.

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Following then-councilman Lance MacLean’s attempt to strangle a co-worker at UCI, a band of political types supported him in 2009. His supporters became known as “The Dark Side” for their bullying tactics and downright filthy language. MacLean’s foul-mouth bullies are back, promoting their new candidate for council, Wendy Bucknum.

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As of this writing, Gallup Tracking published the most recent poll for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Gallup Tracking for Jan. 9-13 found (in percentages): Romney (35), Gingrich (13), Santorum (14), Paul (13), Perry (5) and Huntsman (3). http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html . Rasmussen shows 21 percent of the nation’s voters Strongly Approving Barack Obama, and 41 percent of voters Strongly Disapproving Obama’s performance. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking _poll

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Kay Graves commented on the political impact of “Delphi meetings,” which are public input meetings where attendees are led to predetermined conclusions. She writes, “Have you wondered where these terms ‘sustainability,’ ‘smart growth’ and ‘high-density urban mixed-use development’ came from? Doesn’t it seem like about 10 years ago you’d never heard of them and now everything seems to include these concepts? Is it just a coincidence that every town, county, state and nation in the world would be changing their land-use/planning codes and government to align themselves with … what?”

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On Jan. 24, OC Supv. John Moorlach will take over the gavel as chair of the Board of Supervisors. Supv. Shawn Nelson will become the new vice chair. From Nelson’s Jan. 13 newsletter: On Tuesday [Jan. 10], the Board heard about coming trigger budget impacts to the County caused by lower-than-expected State revenues. In December, the Department of Finance estimated a revenue shortfall of $2.2 billion, prompting a mid-year reduction of approximately $980 million this month. The cuts affect education, healthcare and public safety. In the County, there are four primary programs that will be affected: the District Attorney, Probation Department, OC Public Libraries and the Social Services Agency.”

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In Wilberg’s Jan. 6 newsletter “The Week That Was,” he gives an update on the Marguerite Recreation Center renovation. The renovation project came about when the club’s members wanted one additional tennis court. Their request was used to create a project that now exceeds $4 million. Residents strongly objected when they learned the project called for 4,000 truckloads of fill dirt, particularly because of the impact on the environment and damage to streets, including Casta Drive. In his Jan. 6 newsletter, Wilberg indicates grading has been scaled back to “address soil availability,” whatever that means.

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Ron Prentice of the California Family Council provided a legislative update last week: “California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) seems to care little for the urgent circumstances of California’s true condition. In fact, it appears he delights in only a few issues - namely the advancement of gender confusion - to the detriment of the state’s families and its future.

“Case in point, Ammiano took a bill from last year, AB 266, gutted its content and resurrected it for consideration as something completely different. In doing so, AB 266 became a “two-year bill” and postponed its rightful death. … Assembly Bill 266, gutted and amended, would require that a student be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs, activities, and facilities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.

“Thankfully, as soon as citizens received word that the bill was scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Education Committee, the bill was pulled from the committee’s docket, and the best reports we can gather suggest AB 266 will not be rearing its ugly head again. However, remain vigilant.”