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City Hall Isn’t a Marketplace Despite pumping taxpayer dollars into its farmers market, City Hall cannot make it work. The venture was failing when it was held weekly on Friday mornings. City staffers moved the market to Saturday, claiming they were responding to popular demand. Regardless of which day it is held, the market has no visibility, and it is across the street from two popular grocery stores. According to information released by the city staff last week, the farmers market has added “Artisan Alley.” City Hall claims to be business-friendly, but it instead competes with and undermines private enterprise – services, classes and its own marketplace. Mission Viejo resident Joe Holtzman responded by sending a message to City Hall: Subject: Artisan Alley at Saturday’s Farmers Market Time to pull the plug. This venture is a failure. I doubt that a swap meet / Flea Market was part of the resolution to create a farmers market as part of the "Heal" program. We have spent over $12,000 now. This is an egregious abuse of the $500 limit on promotions. Joe Holtzman |
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73rd A.D. Election Update Last week’s campaign finance reports (Form 460) revealed the order of five candidates running to replace Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, who terms out in November 2014. Reporting contributions were: Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Jesse Petrilla -- $69,230 Commentary from a county blog: “In a surprise development, campaign finance reports show Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Jesse Petrilla leads the pack in fundraising in the 73rd Assembly District race. The narrative in AD-73 had generally been that Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Steve Baric, the immediate past Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, would be the top fundraiser in AD-73 and that Petrilla would depend on a low-budget grassroots strategy. Indeed, throwing in former Laguna Niguel Councilman Paul Glaab's fundraising figures, Petrilla raised more than Baric and Glaab combined.” http://ocpolitical.com/2013/08/01/ad-73-surprise-petrilla-leads-fundraising/ |
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Bucknum’s Gravy Train Wendy Bucknum spent $50,000 trying to unseat Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht in the 2012 city election. Bucknum, who came in third for two seats, loaned her campaign $8,000 shortly before Election Day. Bucknum is back – either trying to recover her $8,000 loan or to run again in 2014. On March 25, she had a fundraiser at a restaurant in Kaleidoscope. Observers said the event had few attendees, and several politicians received complimentary tickets to fill seats. Bucknum’s latest campaign finance report, submitted July 31, shows the March 25 event was barely a fundraiser. Only five donors were listed, for a total of $650. Three businesses donated food, total value of $875. The cost of the event was $872. According to Bucknum’s July 31 report, she received other donations amounting to $263 during the same reporting period. One of the businesses donating food ($175) for the March event was Bucknum’s employer, Professional Community Management (PCM). While Bucknum misleads people by claiming she works for Laguna Woods, she’s a lobbyist for PCM. PCM formerly bragged about Bucknum’s lobbying skills, but those references were removed from PCM’s website after this blog published the links during the council campaign. An Orange County political consultant said Bucknum’s 2012 campaign treasury of $50,000 was largely special interest money accumulated through partnering with MV Councilman Frank Ury. The consultant said, “Follow the money and it leads to his financiers, not hers. If she runs again in 2014, she’ll be relying on a lot of $25 and $50 donations from her acquaintances.” |
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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. 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. Art, Jazz, Wine and Chocolate Tasting, Thurs., Aug. 8, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 29 (Aug. 8, 15, 22 and 29), featuring Kendall-Jackson wines and XAN Confections chocolates, $15 with Festival of Arts admission, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 487-3378, http://www.foapom.com/ Music Under the Stars, Sat., Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m., Mission San Juan Capistrano, series of concerts on Saturdays, Aug. 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: 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 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 Student Art Show, “Buoyant Conclusions of the Future,” Concordia University, through Aug. 16, John and Linda Friend Art Gallery, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/aboutcui/campus Recycling Drive at St. Kilian’s Church, Sat., Aug. 17, 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 La Vida Drum Circle, Tues., Aug. 20, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (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/ Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, Aug. 24-25, competitive rodeo events, a country music concert and dance, corner of Ortega Hwy and Antonio/La Pata. Gates open Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m., corner of Ortega Hwy and Antonio/La Pata, visit the website for information, including ticket locations, http://www.rmvrodeo.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/ |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Personnel and Salary on Wed., Aug. 7, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,; Engineering and Operations on Mon., Aug. 12, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Aug. 14, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Aug. 15, 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/ Nixon Library concert on Sun., Aug. 11, Krechkovsky/Loucks, violin and piano, featuring the debut of famed 1689 Baumgartner Stradivari violin. Doors open at 1:30 and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m. “Meet President Richard Nixon,” at the Nixon Library on Tues., Aug. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Aug. 13, 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 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 Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Aug. 14, 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/ Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., Aug. 16, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., Aug. 23, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., Aug. 28, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com SOC912 General Meeting, Fri., Aug. 16, 7:00 p.m. SOC912 meets on third Fridays. Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/ Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Sept. 9. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. The organization meets on the second Monday of the month. Saddleback Valley Unified School District regular board meeting on Tues., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ |
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The Buzz In last week’s poll, 290 people responded to a county blog’s question, “Who do you support for the 5th Supervisorial District in 2014?” With only two announced candidates – Robert Ming and Frank Ury – the suspense was whether Ury would finish in third or fourth place. http://ocpoliticsblog.com/poll-who-do-you-support-for-o-c-s-fifth-supervisorial-district-in-2014/?fb_source=pubv1
*** Slogan adopted by a city watchdog: “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept!” *** Announcement from Pat Bush, President, Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated: “It's August and AVRWF kicks off its fall program with An Evening Under The Stars wine tasting fundraiser event on Sat., Aug. 24. Join us for an evening of good company and stimulating conversation while enjoying a variety of wines and tasty delights! Your support helps AVRWF achieve its mission of educating the next generation of conservative leaders, volunteerism, military support and voter registration. What a great night to introduce your friends to AVRWF! Invite one or two or more! The more, the merrier! I look forward to seeing you on the 24th.” The fundraiser is at the Mission Viejo home of Pat and Greg Bush. RSVP to (949) 859-5607. Cost is $40/individual, $70/couple. *** From Senator Rand Paul’s effort to end the IRS: “The IRS code is outrageously large, unreadable and unfair. It’s time for the code to be scrapped – along with the entire IRS. And with Members of Congress set to head back home for the August recess, there’s never been a better time for you and me to show them you and I are serious about enacting BIG solutions to address our country’s big problems. As you’ll see, I’ve created a special END THE IRS petition to your Congressman and U.S. Senators: http://www.rand-2016.com/ati.aspx?pid=0801 But I hope you won’t just sign it. I hope you’ll forward to every friend and family member you have as well. *** Forwarded by a Mission Viejo patriot: “Michigan has the highest population of Muslims in the United States. When President Obama took office, the United States paid several million dollars to have a large number of Palestinians (all Muslim) emigrated here from Palestine. Why? I have no idea, do you? We don’t pay for other people to come here, and I’m sure that some of those Muslims moved into Michigan with the large current number of Muslims already established there. So now in Michigan when you call the Public Assistance office, you are told to Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Spanish, or Press 3 for Arabic! Check it out. Here’s the number: 1-888-678-8914.” *** The OC Register on Aug 8 made reference to Mission Viejo’s “$888,000 dog park.” Apparently, OCR’s adding machine starts over each time a new reporter is assigned to cover city hall. The amount of $888,888 is only for the current contract. It doesn’t include hundreds of thousands of dollars the city has already spent on NOT building a dog park, such as the legal fees NOT to build one in Oso Park. It also doesn’t include the cost of the land swap with the county – a losing proposition for Mission Viejo taxpayers. To estimate the cost of completing the current contract, multiply $888,888 by two. *** On Aug 2, Larry Gilbert wrote: “Is this latest exposure revealing Obama Contra? CIA ‘running arms smuggling team in Benghazi when consulate was attacked’” – www.telegraph.co.uk By Damien McElroy, “Up to 35 CIA operatives were working in the city during the attack last September on the US consulate that resulted in the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, according to CNN. …” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/10218288/CIA-running-arms-smuggling-team-in-Benghazi-when-consulate-was-attacked.html *** Save the date: South OC Friends of NRA will hold a fundraiser on Sept. 11, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., to benefit the NRA Foundation. From the invitation: “Join other champions of the 2nd Amendment for dinner, raffles, auctions with a chance to win exclusive NRA logo guns, gear, décor and collectibles.” The location will be the SJC Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. Order tickets online at http://www.friendsofnra.org/ca |
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