In the Aug 21st OC Register’s Saddleback Valley News, the mayor of Mission Viejo justifies spending $300,000 for a float as “it’s another example of what we try to do in pulling the community together.” Sorry to report but anyone watching our city council in action know that we can’t even bring five council members to work together.
Perhaps the mayor should have her council peers look in the mirror before tooling down Colorado Blvd. with taxpayer money.
Let me take the readers back to a city sponsored “team building” workshop with all five MV city council members and upper city staff that was conducted by Len Wood five months after newcomers Trish Kelley and Lance MacLean took office. Up until that time author/facilitator Len Wood had served as interim city manager at several southern CA cities. His challenge was to try and fix our dysfunctional city leadership.
This all day, off-site, training session included a 16 point self assessment listing of “typical behavior patterns.” A great deal of time was devoted to understanding and dealing with conflict that was rampant in Mission Viejo at that time. Sadly, that effort of “community togetherness” was a failure.
Fast forward to Feb 2008 when we read in the OC Register that UCI Associate Executive Government Director Lance MacLean is arrested for “assault and battery” where he was charged with pinning UCI Hospitality & Dining Services Director Jackson Burdette McManus “up against a wall” because he didn’t unlock a rest room during a UCI concert. I recall reading that it took 3 or 4 officers to restrain Lance. As a result of that incident Lance was charged in Harbor Justice Center with assault and battery. Rather than risk spending a maximum of six months in jail with a trial, he took door number two and was tasked with completing a court approved “anger management” course. As of this date I do not know if he passed or not.
Sadly, Mayor Kelley simply does not get it. We already have a spirit of community in Mission Viejo that can be traced back20 years to our second mayor Bill Craycraft who started our MV Walk Against Drugs that is still highly popular every fall. For the past 10 years we also have been the host city for the world renown Fun With Chalk festival that is another highly attended local activity. Tierra Nativa had also enjoyed community togetherness for 10 years where parents and children participate in planting trees and shrubs along a creek behind the Murray Center. Having participated in each of these free activities, be it as a member of our Rotary Club, or serving on the Fun With Chalk Advisory Board, I have seen thousands of our residents in friendly, positive community togetherness for over a decade.
One major difference. Each of these are local and “free” activities.
Before closing let me comment on today’s OC Register’s front page, lead story that reads “Santa Ana fights back.”
Without knowledge of the the facts of the story I notice a quote from police Cpl Jose Gonzales that reads. “We want people to know we’re part of your community.” With all of the violent crime reported in Santa Ana I would opine that this represents a more important case for community involvement than a Rose Parade Float.
Let’s put our priorities in a proper perspective. If Operation Restore Peace, with community involvement, results in safer neighborhoods for the residents, the added cost of that public safety effort is surely a justified action.
Residents could add that Kelley ran on a platform of bringing harmony to the council. Instead, she has engaged in a civil war against Gail Reavis. The council’s purpose should be taking care of business, but the city now wants the role of purveyor of entertainment and togetherness. The main source of turmoil is the city council and the “Make-Lying-Your-Mission” city staff.
Kelley, MacLean and Ury act like the Three Stooges. It would be no surprise if they would start hitting each other with frying pans during a council meeting.
They had to wait and save their money before they even thought of a decent (PARK OR ROAD) home. Wait? Wait for what?! Just remember this, Mr. (GILBERT) Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent (PARKS, STREETS, COMMUNITY CENTER, EVENTS) rooms and a bath? Anyway, my (COUNCIL) father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him (THE COUNCIL) , but to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be.
(GILBERT) Potter : I’m not interested in your book. I’m talkin’ about the (BOOK OF LARRY) Building and Loan.
(MISSION VIEJO COMMUNITY) Bailey: I know very well what you’re talking about. You’re talking about something you can’t get your fingers on, and it’s galling you.
I love a Jimmy Stewart reference. Thats the candidate we need!
Thank you George, “Wonderful Life,” Bailey.
If nothing else I find your text to be very creative and amusing.
PS: My gall bladder was removed many years ago. Therefore nothing can gall me, including yourself.
Many years ago a high profile state elected official shared his wisdom for activists with three words:
“Agitate, agitate, agitate.”
You can be as clever as you wish in your comments but you will never see me on the beach with my head in the sand while conservative “pretenders” go overboard in CIP’s.
And yes, no one is perfect, including myself.
Mr. Bailry. Not to completely avoid your inputs.
1. Parks. The park across the street from our house was to cost $one million dollars. The final cost, around $3 million. But it is nice. When I suggested using grass seed, we couldn’t wait and purchased $100,000 worth of sod.
2. Community centers. A highly respected 10 membre Design Task Force, that included tow former mayors, devoted extensive time and effort, in cooperation with the eventual architect to propose the expansion of the Murray Center. That roughly $5.5 million CIP project, under the close eye of our city council, endured a dozen costly uncontested Change Orders while the eventual project cost skyrocketed to over $15 million. We even added costly cabana’s with curtains behind the building in the back for our homeless. That’s what I call being “compassionate conservatives.”
Juice readers. While the building may be closed should you visit before or after hours, you can still visit and sit in these vital city areas.
And a bath. No, while we did add a large toilet in the park across the street from our home, it does not contain a shower. It does have one distinction in that it is probably twice the size, and half the cost, of the $400,000 two holer “out-house” recently added in Melinda Park.
email response:
Larry,
The Rose Parade isn’t even in Mission Viejo. If they are going for spirit of community, the efforts and money should be put IN our community, not on four wheels in a city over an hour away.
What a waste of money. Our schools are so strapped for money, and they have cut out all but the basics. Field trips have been deemed too expensive, and the art and music programs are becoming a thing of the past. Just think where that money could have gone instead of down Colorado Blvd.
This city and council have one main concern; Looking good; not doing good.
“George Baily” should go back to transcribing movies or going back to the mirror again to check if he still looks good.
The bloated floated egos of this city know no bounds.