At Mission Viejo’s annual Nov 11th Veterans Day ceremony, held at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior center, I arrived at the same time as council member Gail Reavis. As she joined the rest of the council on the platform I stood with newly elected council member Cathy Schlicht to partake of the event.
Each council member is given a task be it introduction of VIP’s, the guest speaker or to lead us in the pledge. At this city event council member Gail Reavis was selected to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. However, prior to her saying ready begin, all of us who attended this event heard her recognize Cathy Schlicht in the audience as she was not acknowledged by mayor Kelley who introduced other dignitaries. In watching the replay of that event on MVTV Gail’s comments are only to be found on the cutting room floor. While you hear her say ready begin, her comments about Cathy have been edited out and you do not even see Gail on camera as she spoke.
Shame on whomever was responsible for this slight to a sitting member of our city council and our newest council member. Welcome to the city of brotherly love. And to think we have hired facilitators every few years so that we can all get along in serving our community. What a joke.
This is just a final straw in arrogance against both of these elected council members by one or more members of our 2008 city council or city staff. Manipulating coverage to honor our veterans to what end?
PS: Larry, Veterans Day was two months ago. Why are you reporting this story now? The answer is simple. I generally do not watch the rebroadcast of old city events on our local MVTV channel. It was just observed.
This is really, really serious. What you describe is a rewriting of history. This wasn’t some variety show that can be edited for length this was elected officials in front of their constituents. A historical document if you will. Certainly the decision to rewrite history needs to be examined. How did the “edit” occur and at who’s direction? Is the footage still available and is a more complete record on file somewhere? We cannot allow any level of government to rewrite what has happened so as to mislead the electorate.
Mission Viejo’s city council majority and the city staff have created an empire, not a government. City administrators decide how they want things to be and then shut out or destroy all else, including news, records and attempts to discover facts. The Orange County Register and Saddleback Valley News are failing on their own, and they no longer cover news of the community except what they find on the police blotter. Investigative reporting ended a long time ago. With the city administrators defining what “is,” it is going to be increasingly difficult for anyone to break through their barrier. What’s the answer?
An email from a MV resident summed this up in one word. ARROGANT
Response from our city manager:
The purpose of Veteran’s Day and in turn our ceremony is to honor and show our respect to those veterans who have and continue to serve our country. I am sorry you are upset by the lack of political coverage. I believe our ceremony was a dignified and respectful tribute to our Veterans.. which was its purpose.
My reply to Dennis Wilberg, MV city manager:
Good afternoon Dennis. Are you now admitting to having edited Gail Reavis’s acknowledgment of Cathy Schlicht’s attendance at our Veteran’s Day event?
She was elected on Nov 4th, one week prior to this event.
You are correct. This service is to honor our veterans which is why Cathy, who is very patriotic, attended. As you introduced members of our city commissions and staff, who are not veterans, than how can you ignore our newest council member by cutting out council member Reavis’s recognition?
Perhaps you didn’t read one of the replies to the Orange Juice blog received from an anonymous reader that can be found on our web site. As such here it is verbatim:
Anonyms Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 am edit This is really, really serious. What you describe is a rewriting of history. This wasn’t some variety show that can be edited for length this was elected officials in front of their constituents. A historical document if you will. Certainly the decision to rewrite history needs to be examined. How did the “edit” occur and at who’s direction? Is the footage still available and is a more complete record on file somewhere? We cannot allow any level of government to rewrite what has happened so as to mislead the electorate.
Dennis. Is this an indication that future event or city council coverage might be edited?
I surely hope not!
Larry
In my reply I should have used a single word that sums this up. CENSORSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!
LG said: “Manipulating coverage to honor our veterans to what end?”
I would hazard a guess Larry that Mayor Kelley was embarrassed by neglecting to mention Cathy Schlicht – and that would be the reason that
Gail’s mention of Cathy was editted out.
I would say that it was a faux pax edited out at the request of a small and insecure person.
You know junior, you’re probably right. This is probably innocent. Nevertheless this is a serious discussion about the wisdom of changing history by changing parts of it that are inconvenient or embarrassing.
If you allow this creative license where it is our elected officials in the performance of their duties without a discussion about where to draw the line I think you are headed down the wrong path.
My choice would be to never edit coverage of our elected officials in the performance of their duties or of those duties they have as a result of being an elected official.
Junior and anonymous
After the ceremony ended, and while people socialized, Cathy approached mayor Kelley and while shaking her hand told her “I am not invisible” and left.
I agree that the video recording should not have been edited – for ANY reason.
Sounds as if the MV City Council meetings are going to be pretty interesting.
Of course you never know with politicians – Michelle and Claudia could be “kissin’ cousins” now.
email from Mission Viejo:
The fact that Cathy was cut out of the TV piece does seem too coincidental and perhaps conniving. Makes one feel they should be looking over their shoulder at every turn. This will be an uphill battle for Cathy but worth the effort . She is willing to able and God help her! I am inspired by her convictions and ability to communicate them so well.