We often hear or read words that jump off the page. Earlier today a fellow Mission Viejo concerned citizen and myself drove over to visit the expanded Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center which officially opens tomorrow with a ribbon cutting ceremony. After touring both inside and the site grounds we agreed on the word of the day, “opulence.”
Two years ago my wife and I visited the city of Barcelona, Spain which is world famous for the creativity of Antoni Gaudi’s designs. One of his historic works is Park Geull that was designed specifically for Spain’s aristocracy. In the park you will find the world famous serpentine bench with its dazzling, multi colored, mosaic tiles.
Well, readers I have some good news for you. You will not require a passport to see Mission Viejo’s version of this Gaudi designed bench/wall that can be found outside the rear area of the 13,000 square foot addition. In fact, unlike Gaudi’s version ours has a built-in waterfall. No wonder the CIP cost escalated from $5.5 million (city press release October 29, 2004) to over $15.1 million dollars. After all, we are all “aristocrats” in Mission Viejo. The only remaining question is how many awards this new building additional will capture.
There is a term worth following called “acts of omission.” Don’t volunteer any data. Specifically, while we were told the estimated cost of the addition at $5.5 million, they failed to mention minor items such as F & F or museum pieces that were added later. Shame on us for not being more diligent.
Note: As we have a waiting list of families seeking affordable housing the center has over sized cabana’s in that same outside area with drop down curtains for privacy that I guess can be used by some of our homeless in the evenings.
The sad story is that according to Yahoo we have over 300 homes in foreclosure in Mission Viejo while the five alleged Republican “fiscal conservatives” on our city council continue rubber stamping this city management’s “opulent” project with a record setting 15 or 16 costly Change Orders. Before entering the building be sure to check out some of the rather costly outdoor furniture that is better than any house I have visited. Oh, but we had to pay more in order for the lounges to last with all of the anticipated wear and tear. Sure.
And take note of the outdoor sculptures or the artwork and museum pieces found inside the expansion.
The city flier reads in part: “A late afternoon concert performed by the South Coast Symphony will feature Broadway music and a closing ceremonial performance” which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. “The celebration concludes with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the center” that is scheduled for 6 p.m.
I toured the community center, and it is way overdone, particularly for a government building. Despite blowing $15 million on what should have been a functional expansion without frills, I don’t see more than, say, $5-million worth of construction and furnishings. It is a monument to waste and poor management. Above all, the appearance demonstrates that no one is watching the store. The city has council members who focus on fighting with each other and pronouncing “character” words. Apparently, one of the words isn’t accountability.
This council has grown into the irresponsible empire that was thrown out of city hall in 2002. The city staff revels in having no oversight, and staff members are free to move about the city, destroying whatever traditions they don’t like and wasting taxpayer dollars on sand-blasted rock gardens and “wave walls.”
email reply:
Larry:
Your too kind–but you forgot the “Love Nests” on the patio area.
Joe
FAQ: Why Joe and others can’t respond directly to the blog?…. Why email?
WHAAAA! I wish my city was so well to do that it can afford to build me and my neighbors a beautiful community center that will be the crown jewel of the City. WHAAA! I wish my political leadership and capable city staff members had the foresight and knowledge to build a facility that will see a useful life of several generations. WHAAAAA! WHAAAAA! I wish I could afford to live in a town like Mission Viejo because they have so many beautiful parks and tons of open space, and their government provides so many great programs and services, it’s like living in Disneyland…. WHAAAAAAA! WHAAAAAAA, WHAAAAAAA
Larry, you are such a crybaby. Find a hobbie. The residents of Mission Viejo don’t need your help. Go write one-liners for Andy Rooney.
ANON 4:13 pm
In addition to posting my stories on this blog I also send out hundreds of emails around the county, state and beyond depending on the topic.
Every member of the Juice family is immediately copied in this fashion.
If it is easier for those who receive this story by email to simply hit the response key with their comments I will continue to post their input, uncensored, to my reports. There are not adequate hours in the day for me to call them and ask that they go directly to the Juice blog rather than the method which they prefer using.
Those who have followed me on a multitude of Orange County blogs know that I never post without using my real name. Very often I will print out a hard copy of their replies in case I am ever challenged. Hopefully that answers your concern.
anon 5:56 pm
As you “Wish you could afford to live in a town like Mission Viejo” (or pretend not too as you hide your identity) than you do not have an investment in our city.
Therefore your comment is irrelevant.
“A useful life of several generations.” If that was true than why did we gut the original building that was first opened in April of 1989, only 19 years ago, not exactly “generations.”
For someone who claims to not live in MV I am impressed that you know about all of our “great programs and services?” Nice try!
PS: Obviously my “hobby,” posting on this blog, is keeping you entertained. Like any program on your TV set you can always turn off my posts rather than engaging in personal attacks. Shall I identify you for our readers? It’s your call neighbor!
In case anyone believes MV residents are all wealthy, let me clear up that misconception. Many families are trying to make ends meet, and a high number of senior citizens are on fixed incomes. People who can barely afford to stay in their homes pay taxes through the nose. I’m not impressed as Poster No. 4 implies. I’m angry that an irresponsible city government took money from everyone and spent it on high-priced furniture, fountains and decorative items that don’t improve life for anyone. A video is on the OC Register’s Website of this new building. What I saw was empty chairs, empty ballrooms, empty halls and empty gardens. The city staff was making a big deal of trying to get the community there, and no one went. It is an overpriced building that most MV residents will never set foot in.
After touring the center last night at the grand opening celebration I guess I would have to say I am embarrassed by what has been done at the center.
I have lived in the city for over 30 years and hoped the center would have been expanded to service the needs of the community. Instead I saw outside furniture that will soon deteriorate, planting that will not be maintained, and poorly laid out areas that will not be functional once placed into service. I addition many items were not done or working.
I wonder who is running the city ??
Bill
Email reply:
walked the area last Sunday early AM. What could they be thinking. The outdoor furniture surely can’t stand up to the elements and are they opening some variety of outdoor restuarants or what are all of those facilities for and who will use them? At least the library is useful.and I dond’t think its cost overruns were this astronomical! Carol
our fiscally conservative voters rejected a sham special assessment district because the assessment charged was going to be more than double the actual cost to bury the powerlines.
does this council really believe that the public is going to be happy that the Murray Center expansion is almost three times over the projected $5.5 million cost, which included the relocation of two soccer fields?
how much longer can the city afford our fiscally arrogant leaders in city hall? wanting to reward city contractors for their campaign donations, we have a council that approved each and every change order brought forward. after all, non-bid change orders are profit centers for the contractors.
we also cannot ignore the city’s top manager’s hands in this either. if they cannot do their jobs and work within their budgets, they should be replaced with people that can. cathy schlicht
Good morning Cathy.
In response to your comment I will add the following clarrification.
At the last city council meeting, that included a Change Order for around $350,000, I challenged the council to show some fiscal restraint and simply vote NO.
Councilmember Reavis showed courage on this popular project and agreed with my presentation. She was the only member to oppose this latest increase as they were only going through the formality in that the project is already completed. In my view, and I could be wrong, this Routine Consent Calendar vote gives our city Finance Director the green light to put a postage stamp on an envelope containing a check that had already been written for work previously performed just like our check registers. If not, and the majority had voted no, I wonder what we would find today as the expanded center officially opens.
Larry,
The agreed word of the day should not be “opulence” but “Class,” something you lack! You continue to prove your irrelevance locally and countywide by your commentary -keep up the good work no one listens to you.
Aon::
3/31/08 @3:23PM
Class??? You know nothing about class. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone that would endorse the latest debacle perpetrated by the “Clown Council” as class is wearing very thin rose colored glasses. Larry Gilbert has contributed more to the Mission Viejo than the collective members of the Clown Council.
Smell the coffee——
Grover
anon 3:23: today is certainly your day. it is not only apparent that you are jealous of larry’s many abilities to peel back the onion to expose the folly of our public officials, but you are also a fool if you believe that spending over $15 million on $5.5 million government project to buy class is acceptable.
keep up the good work, larry. the taxpayers truly appreciate it !!
Anon3:23 pm.
As no one is listening I guess you are. If not what are you doing spending your quality time responding to one of my posts?