The Buzz

Save the date – ACT for America will hold a chapter meeting on Mon., Jan. 14. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Jesse Petrilla of Rancho Santa Margarita will present “The Afghanistan Diaries,” revealing what’s really going on in the war with the Taliban. Jesse serves on the Rancho city council, and he recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the California Army National Guard. ACT for America meets at the Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

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The city made three attempts at repaving a section of Olympiad Road in 2010. With the first two tries, chunks of asphalt came loose soon after the repaving was finished. The third attempt resulted in such a rough surface motorists were concerned about damage to tires. A city official stated that the road would “smooth out with time.” After two years, the road is rough, rippled and deteriorating. Did anyone believe time and traffic would make the road better?

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Another myth from city hall: “The construction on Crown Valley Parkway is finished.” This came from City Manager Dennis Wilberg’s December Newsletter – 11 pages of drivel. As an aside, how many city employees does it take to write an 11-page newsletter? Fact check – construction on Crown Valley is NOT finished. As of this writing, lanes are still closed, concrete railings are still up, and cones are all around the construction area.

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Post from city watchdog Larry Gilbert: “I knew something was wrong when three of us were deputized to administer the Oath of office to Mission Viejo city council member Cathy Schlicht on December 3rd.” A paragraph from the Oath: “And I further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that now advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means..."

Turns out, Larry discovered the paragraph was deemed unconstitutional in 1967. How the city of Mission Viejo dig up the outdated, outlawed material, and is it just a coincidence it showed up in the Oath that was required of Councilwoman Schlicht?

Conclusion from Larry’s post: “I have learned that the Mission Viejo City Clerk may have relied on the (contracted) City Attorney for including this unconstitutional paragraph. Perhaps one of them will respond now that I've done my due diligence in this matter. They, along with the city council and city manager are each receiving copies of this report. At this time I have not decided if I shall take any further action.”