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Too Many Candidates Voters will have an opportunity in the June 5 California Primary to elect their Central Committee representatives. With redistricting, Mission Viejo is now in the 73rd Assembly District, along with Aliso Viejo, Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Each Assembly District has six representatives on a political party’s county Central Committee. For the Orange County Republican Central Committee, the 73rd A.D. has 21 candidates – an unusually high number, but not a record. The following candidates are nearly all incumbents who have done a good job of leading, working for, supporting and growing the Republican Party. In the order they appear on the ballot: Alice Anderson, incumbent, 73rd A.D. Central Committee Many of the other 21 candidates are not involved with the Republican Party of Orange County. They’re not volunteers, they don’t register voters, they’ve never walked their precincts to Get Out The Vote (GOTV), and they don’t attend GOP Central Committee meetings. They are either completely disconnected from the GOP or they only posture as Republicans for the sake of getting into office. According to voter registration data, some of them changed their party to Republican within the last year. A similar group of challengers ran for the GOP Central Committee two years ago – it’s not a coincidence. The political chicanery comes from a club called SOC912. Those who have attended SOC912’s meetings notice the nature of the group: SOC912 is neither Republican nor Democrat, but it attacks Republicans. SOC912 meetings are extremely negative, and their group leaders target elected officials – Republicans -- they intend to remove from office. They have attacked Orange County’s most conservative Republicans. The work of the OC Republican Central Committee is to grow and support the party. It should be troubling to Republican voters – those who want Republicans to win elections – that so-called “Republican” candidates for Central Committee want to lead a party they don’t like. |
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San Onofre is Problematic I excerpted the information below from the San Clemente Times of April 20, 2012. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has shut the San Onofre plant down due to releases of radiation from defective generators which are basically two years old or less. See more details on this problem: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/friends-of-the-earth-san-onofre-report.html I condensed some of the article for brevity’s sake—however it is just another example of how problematic Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station is now and in the recent past. This is yet another example of the poor management/maintenance by Southern California Edison. Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station has the worst safety record of all the nuclear generation stations in the country. See the following details: http://sanonofresafety.org/ It is time to permanently shut this problematic plant down! Joe Holtzman Excerpted and shortened from San Clemente Times A fire in the non-nuclear side of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station at 12:49 p.m. was extinguished but not before plant owner Southern California Edison was forced to declare an unusual event. The fire occurred in an electrical panel in the non-radiological side of Unit 2, according to a news release from SCE. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was immediately notified, the release said. The SONGS fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The unusual event, the lowest of four declarations, was lifted by 1:41 p.m., the release said. "The cause of the fire is now being investigated," the new release said. San Clemente's Emergency Planning Director Jen Tucker said she was quickly made aware of the fire, and at no point was public health and safety threatened. Both Unit 2 and Unit 3 at the power plant have been offline since January. Unit 2 was pulled from service January 9 for planned refueling and upgrades. Unit 3 underwent a rapid shutdown January 31 after a small radiation and water leak was discovered. Plant owner Southern California Edison has since said that steam generator tubes have shown unusual wear from vibrating and rubbing against one another and internal support structures. Since then, investigators with plant owner Southern California Edison, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have been testing the tubes and generators to pinpoint the cause of the premature wear. It's been a challenging year for SONGS not just for its months-long shutdown. Because of its proximity to fault lines, San Onofre has also come under scrutiny, particularly after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Anti-nuclear protesters have continued to call for SONGS closure and organized a rally on the one-year anniversary of the nuclear disaster March 11. Earlier in the day, Mitsubishi also notified the NRC that it would conduct its own investigation into the tube problems and gave itself an August 31 time frame to complete their work. Victor Dricks, an NRC spokesman, said Mitsubishi's notification had no bearing on the time needed for SCE or his agency to complete their investigations and return the power plant to service. He also said the power plant's Chief Nuclear Officer Peter Dietrich sent a letter today to Elmo Collins, the NRC's regional administrator, updating SCE's commitment to finding the causes for the wear and emphasizing they would not seek permission to return the units to service until their investigators understood the problems. |
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Non-government Events Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups. OC Tastefest, Culinary Festival, Fri., May 4, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sat., May 5, 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., inaugural event showcases OC restaurants, continuous live music in the newly renovated Main Mall at the OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, http://octastefest.com/ Soka University International Festival, Sat., May 5, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Jazz Monsters featuring Dmitry Baevsky and David Hazeltine on Wed., May 23, 7:00 p.m., 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu/news_events/events/default.aspx La Vida Drum Circle, Sat., May 5, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon. Drummers are welcome to bring their own drums or use an extra the group has. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/full-moon-drum-circle Mount of Olives Church, “Share – Food Collection,” Sun., May 6, bring non-perishable food donations and place them in marked bins around campus, collecting for South County Outreach and Southwest Community Center, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.info@moochurch.com Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon, Sun., May 6, starting at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive; and Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, http://www.ocmarathon.com/ and cincodemayohalfmarathon.org Mariachis at the Mission, Sat., May 12, and Sat., May 26, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., second and fourth Saturdays each month, free with paid admission to the Mission, Central Courtyard, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://www.missionsjc.com/ Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, 949-830-3557. |
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Political and Government Events Calendar South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., Apr. 30. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, https://www.socccd.edu Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tues., May 1, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors/Meeting%20Schedule El Toro Water District meetings: Community Advisory Committee on Thurs., May 3, 11:30 a.m.; Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., May 22, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., May 24, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com/ Concert at the Nixon Library: Sun., May 6, Placentia Community Chorus. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concerts are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts/ Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Tues., May 8, 6:30 p.m., at the district office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234. http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Personnel and Salary on Wed., May 9, Engineering and Operations on Mon., May 14, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., May 16, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., May 17, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., May 11, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee Meeting on Fri., May 18, 7:30 p.m.; Board of Directors will meet on Wed., May 23, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html Celebration of Justice, Sat., May 12, V.I.P. reception 5:00 p.m., main event 6:00 p.m., Pacific Justice Institute fundraiser, keynote speaker Scott Rasmussen and honored guest Ben Davies, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim, information and reservations (714) 796-7151, http://www.PJI.org Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., May 16, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., program to be announced, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano, RSVP to Sue Schultz, (949) 240-6799, esue39@cox.net Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., May 17, 7:00 p.m., election of board members. SRA meets on third Thursdays at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717. Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting on Wed., May 14, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, Public Hearing on Kindergarten through Grade 3 Class Size Penalty Waiver Request for Fiscal Year 2012-2013, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/ Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated, Thurs., May 24, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., program to be announced, Aliso Viejo Conference Center, 31 Santa Barbara Drive, Aliso Viejo, RSVP to (949) 859-2818. |
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The Buzz Are Mission Viejo residents aware their City Hall is being challenged by the state for handling of redevelopment funds? http://www.publicceo.com/2012/04/undoing-redevelopment-state-slaps-down-o-c-cities/ The OC Register covered the issue on April 26, stating, “The state Department of Finance is challenging several Orange County cities over redevelopment bills – throwing into question the fate hundreds of millions of dollars that the cities say must be paid, while the state says, not so much.” http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/04/24/undoing-redevelopment-state-slaps-down-o-c-cities/153778/ *** The state’s letter to MV City Manager Dennis Wilberg can be viewed at http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/04/DOF-Mission-Viejo-ROPS.pdf . The state specifically requests evidence of “enforceable obligations” for two agreements the city made after June 27, 2011, when entering into such contracts was prohibited. *** Despite shrinking revenue, Mission Viejo City Hall’s spending spree continues. In addition to a $5,287,002 tennis resort, the city staff’s maneuvering over a non-existent dog park has already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in staff time and legal fees. A library room “remodel” is on the table for $358,344. The big costs are salary and benefits for a bloated staff of 150-plus city employees, along with such city contracts as police services. Parties, festivals and celebrations – created largely by and for city staff members – continue to provide busy work for otherwise idle staffers. *** The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold its monthly meeting on Mon., May 14, at the Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Featured speaker will be Joe Carey, founder of the Radical Truth Ministry. His topic will be “Women in Islam: what Islamists don’t want you to know.” *** Summary on Prop 29 from the 4-27-12 Republican Women Federated Newsletter: Proposition 29, or the Cancer Research Act, will be on California's June 2012 ballot. The proposition will increase taxes on cigarettes by five cents per cigarette and one dollar per package of cigarettes. The supporters of Prop 29 say the revenue from this tax increase would go towards the research and prevention of cancer, but instead the $735 million collected by the tax increase will go towards funding a new state-appointed commission of politicians and bureaucrats. The commission would be run by political appointees and would operate without any oversight from voters or the legislature. In fact only 20 percent of the tax revenue will go towards tobacco prevention while the other 80 percent would go towards administrative costs, real estate investments, construction, recreation resources and a variety of things unrelated to cancer research. Essentially, the result of Proposition 29 would be an unchecked bureaucratic agency working in the interests of career politicians until 2026 while our budget crisis grows worse and our deficit grows larger. Please visit www.noon29.com for more information. *** Gandhi’s Seven Dangers to Human Virtue
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