It’s truly sad when we have local reporters who simply lack topic information or go with the flow to keep future stories coming from city hall staff. Report whatever they say without engaging in a simple example of investigative reporting.
Case in point. A few years ago members of our city SCAT team wanted to opt out of a volunteer activity of manually changing our community message board that was located at a major intersection in town across from the Mission Viejo library. Hearing that concern during a council meeting I offered to create a team of volunteers who performed that task for around 18 months until we were asked to stop performing the weekly Vanna White changes. Shortly before we were removed the city spent taxpayer funds performing repairs that we had recommended. After that date the sign was in perfect condition.
Following is part of the text written by our local Saddleback Valley News beat reporter Amanda Glowish. Take particular notice of the bottom line. It’s lie, and no one had the courage to call them on it. That’s one advantage we who write blog posts can do without fear of retribution (unless your an appointed Commissioner in Santa Ana).
“City events will soon be electronically displayed on the corner of La Paz Road and Marguerite Parkway.
Construction has begun on a $143,030 electronic message board which is replacing a 15-year-old manual sign on the corner. The electronic board will be about 5 by 15 feet and surrounded by a brick display with potted plants.
The City Council approved the electronic message board in July with the opposition of some residents. The city sees the new sign as a way to upgrade the corner and be up to date with technology. Those in favor of keeping the manual sign see the electronic sign as a safety hazard and an unnecessary expense.
More than 30 e-mails were sent to the Council from residents who don’t want to see the manual sign replaced with a “Las Vegas style flashing sign,” when it was approved in July.
The manual sign was rotting and could not be saved, according to city staffers. “
Note: I am sending a copy of this post to the reporter and city staff inside Mission Viejo’s Taj Mahal City hall.
Gilbert note. I have stated this before and it’s worth repeating. If you are a reporter covering a city you need a constant flow of data for future stories. If you challenge or burn someone in power you can kiss off establishing any relationship with that person unless you are high enough up the food chain to demand respect.
Perhaps that’s the reason why several local articles are turning into “puff pieces” to make you feel good and let the city have a favorable slant. To me that is not reporting. You end up becoming an extension of their PR department.
Question. Can you site examples of similar stories in your city. As is our policy, you are not required to post your name on any response to Juice posts.
Let me wing it with this one. We recently read about the mega million dollar commitment in Santa Ana to finally repair some roads. Did the reporter question the city as to why some of said repairs were neglected for so long. Didn’t we set aside a bucket of money for slurry sealing where the eventual cost would have been much lower? Perhaps I am wrong but it was a question for the media to present.
Larry:
The removal of the manual sign from the corner of la Paz and Margaruite Parkway is just another example of a city staffer eruditely inflicting his Irvine model/mentality on Mission Viejo.
It started with the removal of the signature rocks that had previously marked the entrances to much of our neighborhoods in the northern part of the city. The Mission Vijeo Company placed them–the city staffer has now dispatched them to a rubble heap in the Corporate Yard.
A study originally directed for the Crown Valley road expansion has now morphed into a “Re-Branding” directive for our fair city. As a result– the “Robespierre of Mission Viejo” is sending the “California Promise” to the guillotine.
You call for “Truth” the Fourth Estate has disappeared in Mission Viejo–you might be the last of a breed Larry.
Joe Holtzman
Mission Viejo–26 years
Internal email between members of the volunteers who changed the sign
Frank:
Very well stated—when we were summarily–without explanation –dismissed from our volunteer sign changing duties nothing on, our about that sign was rotting. Most likely the only thing “rotting” was the city staffer who wanted us out of his hair.
I had personally lubricated all the slide mechanisms and the door hinges. Indeed the city had spent funds to rehab it about a year before they discarded us–I think it smacks of age discrimination.
Joe
even though i was only capable of comprehending snippits at a time of my assignment from my co-horts on those early monday mornings, there was never any evidence of rotting on the sign. in fact, a year ago november, the sign was totally re-painted, and the painter told me that the sign was in great shape.
the council and staff have lied about this project from the beginning. we were told that it was not going to be like the flashy saddleback college sign, but it turns out to be the exact same model, except it is BIGGER. we were told there were no bidders, so it was awarded to a favored city contractor. two “no” votes ? good grief, there was not any debate offered by a single council member in support of residents concerns. neither of the two “no” voters attempted to pursue staff for answers to the questions raised during public comments. welcome to mission viegas. where did i leave my keys? cathy schlicht