The Buzz

An item on the Feb. 3 Mission Viejo City Council agenda involves the controversy of the November 2013 wheelchair tennis tournament. Last July, the city staff recommended that the council approve the use of the city-owned Marguerite Tennis Center to host the tournament (referred to as “ITF” – International Tennis Federation tournament). No one should get the idea ITF is a charity or the tourney warrants taxpayer funds. In addition to allowing ITF to use the city facility at no charge, the staff asked for $55,000 – which was supposed to be reimbursed through sponsorships and ticket sales.

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The ITF tournament has cost $239,000, and bills are still surfacing. For unexplained reasons, the city is paying a significant portion of the bills. City employees were also involved in fundraising (“getting sponsors”) – likely on taxpayers’ time, e.g., shaking down local restaurants for a total of $45,000 in meals for the 125 so-called guests connected with the 36 professional tennis players. Is the entire package not a gift of public funds? Orchestrating the train wreck is City Manager Dennis Wilberg, who now says he doesn’t know how it got so expensive. The only council member who is tracking costs and asking questions is Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht. Incredibly, Wilberg is asking the council on Feb. 3 to host another ITF tournament this year.

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What if city hall were limited to providing essential municipal services for its residents? If that happened, the city could downsize from 275 employees to approximately 75 to run a contract city of 95,000 residents. A tax reduction should follow, or the city could return excess taxes to residents, as has been proposed by City Commissioner Steve Magdziak ( http://www.ccsense.com/2013/09/city-should-return-surplus-to-residents.html ). Mission Viejo residents are getting no value by having city hall inappropriately dabble in health fairs, a failed grocery market in front of city hall, a wide variety of classes that compete with schools and private enterprise, and constant city hall parties. All it takes to end the city circus is three responsible adults on the council. The next city election is Nov. 4.

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Another proposal on the Feb. 3 council agenda, No. 7, should be rejected if residents speak up. Some military veterans want banners depicting military personnel on light poles in Mission Viejo. The city already has hundreds of banners, costing tens of thousands of dollars each year just to put up and take down. Regardless of the subject matter on the banners, they collectively create a junky, cluttered look that degrades the scenery, distracts drivers and gives an impression of low economic status. The target site of the banners is alongside Lake Mission Viejo – the city’s most photogenic feature. Residents who have heard of the attempt to add banners have suggested the veterans group should find another way – a more meaningful one that actually helps the military and their families. A Vietnam vet said, “If you want to show appreciation for a vet, visit one in a hospital.”

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Campaign finance reports were due on Jan. 31, causing a flurry on political blogs. Some reports weren’t available online at the time of this writing. If Facebook comments are reliable, Robert Ming has more than $100,000 on hand for his OC Board of Supervisors campaign. Ming’s opponents are Frank Ury ($30,000 on hand) and Lisa Bartlett ($50,000 on hand). In the 73rd Assembly District race, Jesse Petrilla raised more than $100,000 for his campaign. By comparison in that race, Bill Brough has $29,000 on hand. Mission Viejo residents can vote in Ming’s Fifth District Supervisorial race and Petrilla’s 73rd Assembly District race.

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Attend the Free Speech Picnic in San Juan Capistrano on Sat., Feb. 8, noon until 3:00 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy patriotic music and energized speakers. The location is C. Russell Cook Park, 28202 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/

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Save the date, Thurs., March 13, 6:00 p.m.: Attend the 2014 OC Friends of NRA fundraiser while supporting the future of the 2nd Amendment. The location is Laguna Hills Hotel, 25205 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills. For additional information, call (714) 368-0451 or email mdavis@nrahg.org  http://www.friendsofnra.org/Events.aspx?sid=5&sc=CA