The Buzz

A Mission Viejo resident who lives near the former Kmart site on Los Alisos forwarded an alert about the April 16 council agenda. UDR is back with its housing project after the council voted it could not dump the affordable units. Since UDR claimed from the beginning the project should be built to meet the city’s affordable housing quota, the outcome was fair that UDR should build the affordable units. UDR now is asking for a “minor revision.” The resident’s message says the revision might sound minor because it adds no new units. However, it increases the number of bedrooms. Additionally, UDR has indicated it will demolish the old Kmart facility by breaking up the asphalt and concrete onsite rather than taking it elsewhere to create a dust storm. UDR continues to be a bad neighbor after allowing the property to decline for years.

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Should residents expect representation from council majority members – Frank Ury, Trish Kelley and Dave Leckness – who sold out to housing developers? Kelley surprised some people by voting with Cathy Schlicht and Rhonda Reardon to make UDR build its affordable units. However, look at Kelley’s history. She has said for nearly 10 years that she doesn’t want more affordable housing in “her” neighborhood – south Mission Viejo. Her vote on Monday could support UDR’s increased density, as she has consistently voted on behalf of developers for more housing. To contact council members about the vote on Monday, email them individually: fury@cityofmissionviejo.org , tkelley@cityofmissionviejo.org , dleckness@cityofmissionviejo.org , cschlicht@cityofmissionviejo.org , rbreardon@cityofmissionviejo.org

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From OC Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s April 13 newsletter: “This year, taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 17, to file their 2011 income tax returns and pay any tax due. This is because April 15 falls on a Sunday and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls on Monday, April 16. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do. Therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file their 2012 tax returns.”

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Are Obama fans claiming his popularity is improving? Here’s the latest from Rasmussen: “The Rasmussen daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sun., Apr. 15, shows that 22 percent of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18. In a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup, presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney earns 48 percent of the vote, while President Obama attracts support from 44 percent.” http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_ poll

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Gems from Kevin Jackson’s Black Sphere: “Obama has told us that Reagan would be disappointed in today's Republicans. Obama knows as much about Republicans as a hillbilly knows about opera.” “Reaganomics – start a billion-dollar business in your parents’ garage. Obamanomics – live in your parents’ garage.” http://theblacksphere.net