The theme of this past election season was expressed in a single word. Change. Well, sad to report that one member of our Mission Viejo city council, Mayor Trish Kelley, doesn’t see it that way. In Oct challenger for city council Cathy Schlicht began promoting the www.ocalert.com mass notification system to keep us informed when an emergency occurs.
Up until that time we had no knowledge of the county (or any other) system. Cathy recognized that the fires, which approached Saddleback Church, occurred exactly one year prior and we were entering another fire season. In fact her first announcement was prior to the fires which just hit the Southland.
She promoted this countywide system at the Oct 20th and Nov 3rd city council meeting, sent two thousand flyers to our residents via an insert in one paper and mailed thousands to other Mission Viejo residents prior to the general election.
Fast forward to the Nov 6th meeting of (Laguna Woods Village) Residents Voice where Orange County Sheriff Sandra S. Hutchens handed us a unique business card. No, not from the traditional sheriff’s card file but one that I have often quoted which reads: “There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”–Ronald Reagan.
Fast forward to Monday’s council meeting where Mayor Trish Kelley pointed out that we were going to have an alert system in Mission Viejo but decided to join the county program. Was that Dec 1 remark really necessary?
For all those who blamed Gail Reavis for the conflict between Gail and Trish I would argue that Trish’s jumping in to take credit for the alert program tells the real story. And I commend Cathy for following the sound advise of Ronald Reagan last Monday when she did not let this issue of taking credit for the idea stand in the way of our eventual participation.
The www.missionviejodispatch.com local Internet news has a report of the meeting and permits readers to join the discussion with comments. I strongly recommend this site for news not controlled by our city staff.
My advise to council woman Trish Kelley, and the other senior members, is if you wish to have any form of harmony with the newest member of our city council, and it is ours, not yours, than my advise is to consider what sheriff Hutchens is promoting.
Part of the timing of this post is to give you a heads up to the December 15th “Goals and Objectives” joint council and staff meeting with the hired facilitator. Hopefully that person will send the same message in her presentation.
Gilbert note. I plan to attend the Dec 15th workshop. Stay tuned.
Kelley tries taking credit for the sun rising in Mission Viejo, so it’s no surprise she stole the thunder from Cathy Schlicht, who has been proactive on safety issues for many years. As for change in the Nov. 4 election, I agree Kelley hasn’t changed — she’s still incompetent. However, I’d add to the list: Councilmembers Ury and MacLean, City Mgr. Dennis Wilberg, City Attny Bill Curley and the top administrators haven’t changed at all.
MacLean, Ury and Kelley (MUK) are still the majority, and they pay no attention to what the staff does. The staff runs the city, mostly into the ground, while majority members enrich themselves and act like royalty. Change can be found in two words: recall MacLean.
Councilmember Kelley does have a solid fan base among those residents who are church goers; and she fills a role for those who like to hear good news, pomp & circumstance.
That is a valid city function; to celebrate accomplishments and acknowledge hard work. Trish is good at that.
She exhibits graceful etiquette and a certain charm in her smile and her ability to exhibit emotion on cue.
For those who like to believe that all is well in Maybury; they have the perfect figure head in Trish.
However, what is most disturbing here, is that Trish is also extremely shrewd, ambitious and politically hungry, but hides behind a veil of righteosness and goodness.
In Trish’s OCalert statment, we see her jealousy exposed and her attempts to maneuver the spotlight onto herself.
A verse from Jesus comes to mind: “For they are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of all uncleanness”.
MV Citizen. Word on the street is that there may be a RECALL effort of one or more city council members in Mission Viejo. As you know we recently had a successful recall in one of our two local school districts. At this time I am not able to name names. Stay tuned!
Get over it. go to her if you haev a problem
Haxer. This post is old news but I will respond with four opening words written by Pastor Rick Warren in his best seller “The Purpose Driven Life” that apply to our council as they serve us.
“It’s not about you.”