The Buzz

With the June 5 Primary Election this week, voters are realizing Prop 28 is a sham that pretends to impose term limits. John Fleischman wrote in his June 1 FlashReport, “As we close in on election day, we can see in successive polls that the popularity of Proposition 28 is dropping — with the Los Angeles Times/USC poll showing that the measure no longer enjoys a support of a majority of likely California voters. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/06/as-voters-understand-that-prop-28-guts-term-limits-its-support-is-dropping/

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Attend a rally for religious freedom in Santa Ana on Fri., June 8, starting at noon. Location is the Plaza of the Flags, behind 700 Civic Center Drive. Parking lots are available on Flower Street south of Civic Center Drive and at Santa Ana Drive and Parton. From the announcement: “On June 8, tens of thousands of faithful citizens will gather in prayer and public witness in cities and towns all across the United States to oppose the HHS Mandate and stand up in defense of our religious freedom.” The Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandate under the Affordable Care Act will force all employer health plans to include free contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of moral or religious objections. Phone number of a Mission Viejo rally captain: (949) 748-6714, or visit http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ for information.

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Council meeting alert: On Mon., June 4, property managers for Kaleidoscope will make their third public presentation for adding seven electronic billboards (EBBs) to the Kaleidoscope building. Residents are urged to attend this council meeting and make their concerns known. The property managers are also asking for allowance of offsite advertising on the giant high-tech television screens. Colby Durnin (of Sentinel Development) has created and submitted for approval a new sign ordinance designating a special sign district for adding EBBs from approximately Avery to La Paz. These signs will have a huge impact on the aesthetics of the city.

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Reacting to the proposed sign ordinance change in Mission Viejo, the Laguna Niguel City council held a special meeting on May 31. From their letter to the Mission Viejo council, “The proposed Kaleidoscope Sign Program will significantly change the visual character of the I-5 corridor. The introduction of multiple large electronic display ad signs for tenants and off-site businesses is unprecedented in South Orange County. The proposal is truly out of character for our beautiful planned communities which have been free from traditional billboards and this new form of advertising. Our City Council is also concerned that the proposed electronic displays may affect driver and traffic safety on the I-5 and have light and glare impacts on existing and future Laguna Niguel residents.”

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Email from B.G. on the proposed Kaleidoscope signs: “The Kaleidoscope at Avery wants to put up a bunch of Times Square electronic billboards along the 5 Freeway from Avery to La Paz. Well, maybe it won't be Times Square down there – how about Las Vegas strip instead? There are plenty of tactful ads they can use--not these glaring ones. We don't want these businesses to close down because nobody knows about them, but the way this is done is of utmost importance.

It is very important that residents send an e-mail before 3 p.m. on Monday to the city clerk, Karen Hamman, at KHamman@cityofmissionviejo.org expressing your concerns.