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Each week I read with some amusement the writings of the Mission Viejo gadflys. The problem with this ill formed and rather fluid group is that it is that they shoot at everything so it is hard to tell when you are supposed to take them seriously and when you are simply supposed to laugh. I am all for fiscal care with public tax dollars but I do recognize the benefit and function of government. As far as I can tell, these folks simply want the City to put tax dollars in a pillow to save for a rainy day.
In the latest burst of misplaced attack Alan Pilger used Brad Morton’s blog to rail against decorative and attractive banner fixtures that have been place on a prominent street intersection. These attractive banner poles are used to announce periodic community events. The problem is the darn things are simply too attractive acording to detractors. In addition, the City actually has invested in NICE landscaping . . . can you believe it??? According to Mr. Pilger:
Friends of mine active in the Mission Viejo Environmental Assn, the largest private homeowners association in the city, have long contended that Keith Rattay’s (of the City of Mission Viejo) landscaping projects are designed to look lavish upon completion..
Can you believe it? The City wants to look lush and attractive – the travesty!!
The nonsense continues over at Dale Tyler’s blog this week where we hear renewed rants about the proposed City dog park. Though not well articulated, the argument appears to be that unless it is something used by everyone (like streets) projects should be solely funded by the groups interested in the activity. The dog park should be funded by dog loving folks, tennis by tennis folks, etc.
Mission Viejo has about 52 parks and is a beautiful place to live. I like it that way. I am happy that the City is investing in a positive “look and feel.” That is one of the touches that make you happy to live some place. Are there times that City officials spend too much money? Of course. It is very difficult to ferret out from the materials produced by the gadflys the issues that are of serious concern and those that simply make the gadflys look like clowns. What is the crimnal penalty for having a city look too lush?
Love the pic!
Totally clicked just for the pic.
Good story GW. Unlike the above folks I almost DIDN’T read it because of the title. It looks like you’re still dealing with anti-government extremists down there, Grover Norquist drown-it-in-the-bathtub types. I agree that it’s entirely appropriate for a city to put some money into making itself beautiful, and that does benefit all residents in fairly obvious ways.
Vern. Two minutes of fame. Yes, we spent around $300,000 to showcase MV in a Rose Parade float. After further review that money could have been better spent for the dog park. Wait a minute. Our city manager, who promoted our participation in the event, is a member of the Tournament of Roses Board.
Larry. Don’t pick on Dennis. The float story was yesterdays news. You beat it to death. That’s true. Think about it. A dog park will exist long after the initial outlay. That is not the case with a rented truck in Pasadena to haul our moving swimming pool display on New Years day. Talk about “timeshares” that don’t pencil out. And how many tourists visited MV after that expenditure? Or how many homes were sold as a result of MVs participation?
Folks. This what we call a “feel good” project. Spending OPM during the height of the recession instead of utilizing the taxpayers money to get the best bang for the buck.
Larry, my point is that the average reader has to sift through a lot of alleged smoke to see if any of it is real or imaginary. Complaining about too many plants along the streets or the size and cost of office furniture distracts from what could be real issues – at least subjects worthy of real debate.
It sounds like Larry opposed the parade float, but is not opposing the Dog Park? If that’s the case he doesn’t qualify as one of the extremists “naysayers.”