Regression of Print Media
by Larry Gilbert

It was inevitable. A few years ago Terry Horne, former President and Publisher of the Register, told us that the younger generation is getting their news from the Internet, which has a major impact on the print media.

I just received a post pointing out that the SF Chronicle was losing reporters that reduced their coverage at the Capitol. However, as a blogger for the past decade, this is not a new story for me. In the Dec 2006 issue of GOVERNING magazine a headline read: “BlackOut--Big city newspapers aren't telling the citizens the things they need to know,” by Rob Gurwitt. From that issue I quote: “But a few months ago, when Mayor Francis Slay of St. Louis took aim at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he skipped the standard complaints about bias or sensationalism. Instead, he charged in his blog that staff cuts and other changes at the newspaper were hurting the city itself." Reading further: "The paper's current struggling fiscal health and demoralized voice are drags on our own civic renaissance."

Sidebar. One positive note is that Steven Greenhut will be writing for a San Diego paper. We need to clone Steve, whose coverage has always been fair and balanced.

Learn About Agenda 91
SOC912 Meetup, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/127165522/

On Fri., July 19, SOC912 will present a program to inform community members about Agenda 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. SOC912 meets on the third Friday of each month at the Norman Murray Community Center, 249332 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

From SOC912’s announcement:

Agenda 21 is Radical Environmentalism and Much More!

Environmentalism started many years ago (1960s and 1970s - do you remember?), but Agenda 21 originated in the United Nations. President Bush signed on to it in 1992 and because it is "soft law" it did not require Congress to approve it! Later, President Clinton signed on to it and the powers that be with all their money including taxpayer money "encouraged" and propagandized its implementation in the United States without Congressional discussion or approval.

"UN Agenda 21/Sustainable Development is the action plan implemented worldwide to inventory and control all land, all water, all minerals, all plants, all animals, all construction, all means of production, all energy, all education, all information, and all human beings in the world. INVENTORY CONTROL.” – Rosa Koire

Greg Decker is our speaker for the night. He is a dynamic speaker and will explain to us what Agenda 21 is and how specifically our cities have been implementing Agenda 21. He is a Small Business Owner, Freedom Advocate and was recently named Vice President for the newly formed Orange County/San Diego chapter of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights. He has been studying Smart Growth, Sustainability and United Nations Agenda 21 and their effects for the past two years. He previously attended the 11th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in San Diego, the Eagle Forum Conference on Agenda 21 and Sustainability and the American Freedom Alliance on Global Governance vs. National Sovereignty. Greg is currently working with other activists throughout the state and nation in an effort to educate citizens and elected officials on the destructive effects of these initiatives.

We will have an action item for all of us to participate in at the meeting. Cost to attend is $5 at the door; complimentary if it is your first visit to SOC912 Founders' Club.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We start our meeting at 7:00 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. Encourage your friends and family to attend.

We have a library! We have a great assortment of books and DVDs you are welcome to check out. They will be available at this meeting. Please see Nina for more details.

Vet This Candidate
by Larry Gilbert

The July 27 OC Register reports that Mission Viejo councilman Frank Ury is throwing his hat into the ring to replace Pat Bates in the 5th District of the County Board of Supervisors. Anticipating this move by Mr. Ury, I recently posted an article about his being rejected for OC GOP endorsement in last year's city council race based on his opposing all three GOP endorsed candidates by his funding a PAC calling for their defeat.

While I plan to keep most of my powder dry, let me share one of the many reasons why he should not be elected to this position. Unless you have been out of the country, everyone is monitoring our out-of-control public sector benefits, be it excessive pensions or other taxpayer-funded benefits. With Ury’s re-election and his refusal to vote YES on rejecting health care for this part-time job, we were told that said perk would be approximately $250,000 for each of three candidates should they serve for 12 years. Trish Kelley, who is also in her last 4-year term, voted YES to give up that self-serving benefit. The city council vote was 4-1.

Whoever tells you that we have a majority of conservatives serving on our city council needs to do a better job of vetting candidates before simply rewarding our friends with an endorsement. I will withhold my voter recommendation pending the final field as we get closer to the election. During that time I will be adding other issues relating to the track record of Mr. Ury. One disadvantage of being an elected official is your voting record that follows you over your entire career.

In addition I plan to interview and/or evaluate the other candidates later this year.

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.

Recycling Drive at St. Kilian’s Church, Sat., July 20, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org

Mariners Church presents concerts on Saturdays following the 5:00 p.m. service. On July 20 – Lowly Spects; on July 27 – Tyrone Wells. 5001 Newport Coast /drive, Irvine (949) 769-8100, http://www.marinerschurch.org

Music Under the Stars, Sat., July 20, Mission San Juan Capistrano, series of concerts – all on Saturdays – on July 20, Aug. 3, 17 and 31. Concert gates open at 5:30 p.m. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. (949), 234-1315, http://www.missionsjc.com

Concerts at Lake Mission Viejo on Saturdays: Donavon Frankenreiter on July 20, Dennis DeYoung on Aug. 3, Michael Bolton on Aug. 17 and Rock Under the Radar: Delta Rae on Aug. 31. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. and are limited to lake association members and their guests. Call or visit the website for information, 949-770-1313, ext. 311, or http://www.lakemissionviejo.org

Soka University concert, Sun., July 21, 2:00 p.m., the iPalputi Orchestra of International Laureates will perform classical music. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu

Concert on the Green, Concordia University, Sun., July 21, 5:00 p.m., “The Silverados,” (949) 854-8002, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, http://www.cui.edu/aboutcui/campus

La Vida Drum Circle, Mon., July 22, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Mon., July 22, Tues., Aug. 20, Thurs., Sept. 19, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/

Laguna Playhouse presents “I Do! I Do!” through Aug. 11, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Pageant of the Masters through Aug. 31, “The Big Picture,” 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 487-3378, http://www.foapom.com/

Sawdust Art & Craft Festival, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily through Sept. 1, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3030, http://www.sawdustartfestival.com/

Political and Government Events Calendar

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., July 15, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., July 17, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., July 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/

Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., July 16, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649

“Meet President Teddy Roosevelt” at the Nixon Library on Tues., July 16, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Nixon Library concert on Sun., July 21, baritone Hershel Green sings Big Band and Sinatra. Doors open at 1:30 and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org

Saddleback Valley Unified School District regular board meeting on Tues., July 16, 6:30 p.m., (third Tuesday due to 4th of July holiday), 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/

Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Finance Committee on Fri., July 19, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., July 24, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com

SOC912 General Meeting, Fri., July 19, 7:00 p.m. SOC912 meets on third Fridays. Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., July 24, 7:00 p.m., district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/

Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will have a potluck dinner in August instead of a general meeting. The dinner will be held on Sat., Aug. 3, 4:00 p.m., at the Laguna Woods clubhouse room, Dining Room 3. Due to the event being held in a privately owned facility, attendees should RSVP prior to July 31 by emailing Chapter President Bruce Mayall at ACT.MV@cox.net with the number in your party.

OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Aug. 14, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp

The Buzz

Musical Chairs Part 1: OC Supervisor Pat Bates is running for Mimi Walters’ state senate seat. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey is running for state Board of Equalization and State Sen. Mimi Walters initially said she would run for Bates’ Board of Supervisors seat. Musical Chairs Part 2: When Cong. John Campbell decided last month he wouldn’t seek reelection, Walters announced she’s running for Congress. With Walters jumping out of the race for OC Supervisor, Harkey is considering jumping in.

***

Readers can vote in a poll for who should replace Cong. John Campbell, http://ocpoliticsblog.com/  Choose from 20 potential candidates: OC Supervisor John Moorlach, State Assemblyman Don Wagner, State Sen. Mimi Walters, retired businessman Quang Pham, OC Supervisor Pat Bates, former State Sen. Dick Ackerman, former Cong. Chris Cox, Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel, former Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu, former Assemblyman Van Tran, businessman John Webb, former OC Supe Gaddi Vasquez, PIMCO executive Neal Kashkiri, businessman Phil Liberatore, Cong. Ed Royce, Cong. Gary Miller, retired Marine Col. Greg Raths and former Laguna Niguel Councilman Paul Glaab.

***

With Walters out of the Board of Supervisors race, Mission Viejo Councilman Frank Ury says he’s in. The county blog refers to him as the “special interest fave,” http://ocpoliticsblog.com/special-interest-fave-frank-ury-to-run-for-pat-bates-supervisorial-seat/  He’s also the “fave” of OC Register columnist Brian Calle, who attempted to portray him as a conservative in the last election. On that topic, the blog says, “The Register just loves Ury. Apparently they appreciate his commitment to over-developing Mission Viejo. But do the residents of that city appreciate the horrible traffic that Ury’s developments have created? To back all this development when we have no extra water and an energy shortage is just plain irresponsible.”

***

Mission Viejo watchdogs compiled a list that included Ury’s voting record, published on this blog prior to the last election: http://www.missionviejoca.org/html/article128.html . OCR refers to Ury as an “engineer.” According to Ury’s claims and the data he provides about his employment, he has worked in sales or computer operations. Whatever his career is, he’s hoping to walk away from it.

***

With water and energy in short supply and roads clogged with traffic, the South County coalition of trough-feeders would like more development. They’ll hold a conference in Aliso Viejo on July 26 to talk about “Housing South OC’s Workforce.” Mission Viejo residents should recognize the topic as more apartments, more affordable housing and more traffic congestion.

***

According to City Manager Dennis Wilberg’s newsletter, city hall’s Character Committee recently threw another self-serving event for itself – a Character Gala. While the photo shows only 28 students participating in the committee, the article says 100 people showed up for the “free” dinner. Children in Mission Viejo who are NOT associated with the Character Committee are learning about character and values at home, and their parents are not asking taxpayers to pay for their dinner and entertainment.

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Saddleback Civic Light Opera and the Department of Theatre Arts are presenting “Fiddler on the Roof” this month at McKinney Theatre. Visit the website, http://www.performingartslive.com/Events/Fiddler-on-the-Roof-512013182846 . Event phone: 949-582-4656. Address: McKinney Theatre/Studio Theatre, 28000 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo. Performance dates and times: July 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7:30 p.m.; July 21, 28 at 2:30 p.m. Ticket information: 949-582-4656; www.saddleback.edu/arts

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