Having received feedback from both current Mission Viejo Mayor Gail Reavis and Vice Mayor John Paul Ledesma let me add a few comments on the decision to replace our manual message board with the electronic sign which I reported on earlier. For starters it is appropriate to go on record saying that both John Paul and Gail voted against wasting $147,000 taxpayer dollars for this unnecessary sign that may result in vehicular accidents as drivers passing or turning at this major intersection attempt to read the sign as it changes rather than the prior fixed messages.
Those responsible for this waste, each of whom claim to be fiscal conservatives, are Frank Ury, Lance Mac Lean and Trish Kelley. Sorry folks. Although I helped each of them get elected I must admit that I was a poor judge of their future ambitions and spending habits of OPM.
The city staff lied to the Register reporter regarding the sign’s condition as I covered in my post as well as comments which were added by local citizens. Sadly it has been torn down. Therefore the evidence is no longer there for you to see and decide it’s condition for yourselves. What the reporter failed to include were any comments on the sign across the street which lists all of our service groups such as the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. That should have been part of gathering information for a complete report. Both signs were installed at the same time yet no member of our staff or council has commented on what will become of that board. Stay tuned.
In Santa Ana we face serious crime problems,corruption at city hall and lack of decent affordable housing. Your big deal is an electronic sign? Larry, arent you crying wolf a little too often?
email response:
I agree with you 100%, I think both Frank and Lance are both terrible men of poor character. Trish is nothing special. Spending that kind of money for a sign is outrageous! I do appreciate your being active and showing concern for the residents of MV.
This staff is over paid and under worked. I think the city manager spends most of his time looking for ways to give employees of the city more money, more percs. and more holidays!
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Anon #1.
The reason for this follow up was based on emails from our mayor and vice mayor today to notify readers as to who voted for projects while pretending to be fiscal conservatives. I have no problem with praising and chastizing our city’s elected officials and staff.
Their votes should be made public as we blog.
With regard to Santa Ana’s crime and other issues we have multiple members of this blog who live in the city, attend all of the open meetings, and do a commendable job covering the issues you cite. I have also pointed out Santa Ana in a few of my own posts or have commented on other blogger reports.
Your city is not the only one being challenged to provide affordable housing. Our council and city staff are trying to find a solution acceptable to all sides in a rather heated effort to satisfy our bogus obligations.
The primary issue is integrity. Candidates misrepresented themselves, and staff members misrepresented facts (in the examples above and many others). MV’s dysfunctional council has demonstrated it can’t solve small problems, and it tries to cover up big ones. The council and staff can’t be trusted.
ok, gail and jp, you have your panties all in a twist because staff lied to the reporter, so what are you going to do about it?
this isn’t the first time lies have been told in city hall.
the city manager is responsible for his staff, what is he going to do about it, besides coming up with a prefabricated explanation.
or is this just simply standard procedure to cover the backsides of the council, who realize that the public is not going to be happy with this councils steady march in destroying the ambiance of mission viejo. cathy schlicht