The Buzz

ACT for America will meet on Mon., June 10, at the Norm Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo. The featured speaker will be Brad Dacus, a Constitutional attorney who is founder and president of the Pacific Justice Institute. His topic will be “America Under Siege.” He will discuss the myriad domestic and foreign forces threatening security, liberty and values. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the meeting runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The address of the Community Center is 24932 Veterans Way (Sycamore B Room), Mission Viejo. Sign up for ACT for America chapter announcements at www.act4oc.org

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During the May 20 Mission Viejo council meeting (Agenda Item No. 11), Councilman Dave Leckness wanted to revisit a city street-sweeping contract that went to Athens Services in 2011. The discussion revealed manipulation behind the scenes had led to Athens being the only “qualified” bidder. Councilman Frank Ury wrote his own version of qualifications into the contract. How can one councilman add a contract requirement without the knowledge and approval of the other four council members, plus slip it by the city staff? Ury had the help of city administrator Keith Rattay. If this summary doesn’t indicate that Ury and Rattay’s collusion stinks, watch the video of these clowns tap-dancing. City Attorney Bill Curley joins them, attempting to give cover to Rattay, which doesn’t work. http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=964

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Prior to Athens getting the contract in 2011, Sunset as the city’s street sweeper had performed well enough to be in the running for the new contract. It wasn’t the first time council majority members had engaged in a tug-of-war over street sweeping: http://missionviejodispatch.com/uncategorized/mayor-interfering-with-street-sweeping-bids/ However, Ury is a puppet for a political operative, John Lewis, who is a consultant for Athens. Ury wrote into the 2011 bid process the requirement that a bidder’s street-sweeping equipment could be no older than two years. This clause had little to do with anything except to eliminate all of Athens’ competitors. Ury’s motive was clear, but what was in it for Rattay? It is likely that others in city hall know what happened. Will any employee speak up?

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Mission Viejo watchdog Joe Holtzman sent an update on Southern California Edison’s problems at San Onofre. A letter written by a Carlsbad resident begins,

“As of today [May 24], Southern California Edison still has every intention of restarting San Onofre Nuclear ‘Waste’ Generating Station. Nothing has changed that desire. It seems they will take any risk in order to restart the reactor, and even having to pay for this entire steam generator fiasco from their own pockets won't stop them (though that appears unlikely). A fully adjudicated license amendment proceeding with sworn testimony, expert witnesses, and cross-examination won't stop them. Even if it takes five years, they'll wait -- even if it takes ten. All these delaying tactics are aimed at either the inevitable -- decommissioning -- or the impossible -- continuous operation ad infinitum. If it reopens, it will be impossible to keep it open forever, since the entire plant has degraded, sitting by the sea decade after decade. There will be other problems, there will be license renewal procedures, there will be other major parts replaced. There will inevitably be more emergency shut-downs after something ‘unexpected’ goes wrong. But they want to restart it anyway.” (To read the entire letter, click here.)

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City staffers say they will account for costs of festivals, parties, programs and classes. The response came after this blog announced that concerned citizens are compiling the list of events and expenses. While Mission Viejo taxpayers are unaware of how much they’re paying for the activities – some of which are ridiculous – a city watchdog says Golden Fleece Awards are in order.

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The Laguna Woods Tea Party Sentinels are presenting Dr. Gina Loudon as featured speaker for their meeting on Mon., May 27. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. in Laguna Woods’ Club House 7, 24111 Moulton Pkwy. No security passes are required to enter this gate. From Tea Party leader Dick Palmer’s announcement: Loudon hosts a nationally syndicated show and frequently appears on Fox News and Fox Business. Loudon’s book, “Why the Survival of This Republic Depends on the Revival of Honor,” will be available for sale. Call (949) 458-3939 for additional information.

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Mission Viejo parents of schoolchildren are concerned about an indication that the pay of crossing guards will be reduced by the Mission Viejo City Council. Residents should recognize the city staff’s top priority is to preserve city hall’s bloated bureaucracy. Instead of focusing on essential services for residents, including public safety, city employees are dedicated to throwing parties and duplicating activities that abound in the community. In addition to undermining businesses, the city staff’s classes are already provided by school districts, Saddleback College, Mission Hospital, homeowner associations and private-sector entities.

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Ex-city councilman Roger Faubel is getting heat about a lot of things, including questions from OC Weekly about his conflict of interest when serving as a board member for the Santa Margarita Water District, http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2013/05/roger_faubel_poseidon_resource_1.php . Taxpayers generally have no knowledge of Orange County’s incestuous power club. Check out the contract Faubel just received to create a PR campaign for Vector Control: Agenda Item No. 12: http://www.ocvcd.org/agendas%20and%20minutes/2013Apr.pdf

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Fire hazard maps disappeared from the city’s website last week, following this blog’s post on how readers can find the maps online. Evidently, city staffers think the fire hazard zones (renamed by the city council majority as “Special Fire Protection Areas”) won’t be a controversy if residents can’t find them. (Here’s a link to an article with list of streets in the zones: http://missionviejodispatch.com/uncategorized/25000-residents-thrown-into-fire-zone/ . No one has answered the simple question of why the Fire Authority wanted more homes added to the zones. As the state runs out of money and cuts back fire and safety budgets, the Fire Authority is positioning itself to create its own stream of revenue with fees for inspections and fines for noncompliance.

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Message from Mission Viejo city activist Larry Gilbert: “As we honor veterans this month I would be remiss not to post this photo of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient John P. Baca, whom I met at the dedication of a Vietnam War memorial wall at Saddleback College. President Nixon presented U.S. Army specialist fourth class, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, John Baca the Medal of Honor at the White House on June 15, 1971.”