Java or Kool-Aid?
by Larry Gilbert

Fact checking. We all see it. The instant scrutiny after every political speech is what we can expect from both print and broadcast media in the 24-hour news cycle.

That being said, I received a copy of an email sent out by a resident of the Casta del Sol gated community in Mission Viejo that had some misleading information. That Newsletter clearly expressed support for Mayor Frank Ury with a lessor acknowledgment to the other members of our council. Frank is up for re-election in November.

After receiving a copy from a friend who lives in this community, I contacted the author and shared my city documents which back up my fact checking of his report. His response to my request for a clarification was that he didn't want to get political. He did offer to receive my data and possibly consider issuing an update. That data in now in our USPO mailbox.

In his email the author describes the completion of our Marguerite Tennis Resort where we added one new court, new lighting and rebuilt the clubhouse. He wrote: "As the Tennis and Aquatic Center project neared completion, the city was notified that construction costs would come in under budget. Upon receiving this great news, Frank Ury, as President of our city council …” etc.

Let's start the fact checking. The project is complete. I am sending him Our Agenda Report for the Marguerite Tennis Center Renovation Project (CIP 501) dated 9/6/2011. In the fiscal analysis it states: "The approved budget is $3,700,050." I am also providing The Budget Summary-CIP 501 dated April 16, 2012, and a more recent copy dated June 4, 2012, which reports $5,299,130.11 as the "Total Expenses/Encumbrances" for this project.

While the author writes the "construction" costs, that is not the "total project cost," such as the $556,126.03 paid to RJM Design Group.

For starters his emailed Newsletter was dated August 23, 2012. If you are going to be a reporter or blogger, my suggestion is simple. "Trust, but verify" what you are given. Simply go to our city website where all of my facts were provided. The project was COMPLETED when his report was issued. As an aside, this is not the Tennis and Aquatic Center project. The tennis center just opened with a formal Grand Opening in September.

Folks. This Mission Viejo project is 50% OVER budget. It is NOT under budget .Sadly I do not have the email addresses of those who received his misleading Morning Cup of Java newsletter.