Topic. Mission Viejo city Council Agenda Item #25. Probolsky Research survey asking voters if we should create our own Mission Viejo school district.
After listening to pollster Adam Probolsky share his survey results at the Oct 19th Mission Viejo city council meeting RW&G attorney Bill Curley responded to a valid question presented by council member Cathy Schlicht. She questioned his selection of Probolsky Research to survey our residents regarding the question of creating a single school district in that the city has been using True North, a known entity, who has conducted several recent surveys for our city for which they were commended..
Attorney Curley responded acknowledging that there are several professional survey polling firms that do this day in and day out. Bill added that “I’ve found it’s good practice to use a multiplicity of professionals…you don’t want to get bound to someone who says..than there’s the criticism that the fix is in…or you know how to mandate what they do. I went to a highly respected professional who would know this community.”
Mind you True North knows this community. Last year they conducted a $22,725 Community Opinion Survey that surely could have included questions about our schools if the city council broadened that effort. All but Council Member Schlicht were in office at that time. This is nothing but a knee jerk reaction to a school closure.
True North also conducted another opinion survey for Mission Viejo four months ago.
As you read the emails from Probolsky Research notice the comment where Adam states “we found some number errors, all in our favor, none called out in the city or other blogs.” Note: The council did not receive this input prior to the meeting.
Oct 19, 2009 3:18 p.m. “Bill, [Mission Viejo city attorney Bill Curley]
Here is the updated DRAFT report (see changes noted below)…we found some number errors, all in our favor, none called out in the city or other blogs.
ap”
Oct 19, 2009 3:40 p.m. Email from Adam:
“Please update the link online for this report ASAP…we updated it today. Note that it is still draft and will be finalized AFTER the council meeting. Thanks. ap”
Read the following email from the city clerk to the council after the council meeting and AFTER Adam Probolsky’s single school district survey results were discussed. Note: This additional data added over 150 additional pages for the council to digest.
Oct 19, 2009 10:33 p.m “This afternoon we received an updated copy of the draft survey results which Adam Probolsky referred to during his presentation this evening. That updated PDF is posted on-line with the Agenda materials and I am transmitting a copy of the same here. Karen”
Professional survey with results all in our favor? Adam, was your Contract directions from our city to sway the people whom you contacted? Anyone can watch and listen to Adam on your computers 24/7 and decide for yourself if his survey was not slanted to achieve a designed outcome.
Another point to consider is that Adam’s firm contacted 325 voters yet two-thirds of them admit not having any children” who currently attend K-12 schools.”
So how are the 2/3rds without children in our K-12 schools in a position to honestly and accurately respond to questions #5 through #10 which ask if they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of:
SVUSD, CUSD, Orange County Board of Education, SVUSD Superintendent Dr. Steven Fish, Capistrano Education Association or the Saddleback Valley Educators Association.
Hello. My sense is that 99% of our residents have never met or heard the name Steven Fish.
Question #12 “Thinking about the job that the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Education is doing, would you say they are doing an excellent, good, fair or poor job?”
Question #13. Same question using the Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Education.
Same argument applies. How can these voters know of the performance of these two voter elected boards if the Mission Viejo voters do not have children in the corresponding programs?
What caught my attention, and led to my decision to write this post, is the attorney’s point about multi-sourcing. Stay tuned. I have another interesting post in the pipeline.
Boy that Adam is just all over the place, now isn’t he?
He must just sit on the phone all day. I cant even believe that chick would date him. He is a fat slob. Must have a lot of money, because he really is a slobbingly fat person. (no offense to overwieght people, he just is gross and lazy.)
California: 58 Counties and 999 School districts.
How’s that for smaller government Adam?
Thats 999 superintendents, secretaries and buyers and maintenance managers.
What a horrible idea, unless of course you are a republican in Villa Park and don’t want your kids being governed by the OUSD.
Folks.
Just a quick heads up. Whenever I include someone by name in these posts they receive a copy. In this case that list included our entire city council, city clerk, city attorney, SVUSD Superintendent Dr. Fish and Adam Probolsky.
Probolsky’s comment (“in our favor”)isn’t the only giveaway. When he was engrossed in private conversations about the survey, he kept saying “we.” He doesn’t live in Mission Viejo, and he was supposed to be an objective third party. Who is “we,” and how did Probolsky become a partner? The driving force is not coming from Mission Viejo.
Is Probolsky connected at the hip to Education Alliance?
Probolsky was paid to do a survey here in Garden Grove. The survey consisted of skewed questions regarding creating a utility or public safety tax.
If the Education Alliance is pushing for MVUSD, then push back! I am a Christian Republican, and the Education Alliance only interferes in elections to promote a certain slate of candidates. The EA tricks the Christian Right into supporting its slate, but what is the purpose except for a power grab? EA is not about ethics, religion or ideology. IT’S ABOUT MONEY!
Robin,
Adam is janets conultant. Adam is a consultant to just about every city council member in the county. he helps them get elected, and they give him contracts. Its that simple. Andrew Do, Tom Nguyen (Bukowski), janet Nguyen. All have been put into power by Adam P.
This is not adding to my positive experience as a new resident of MV. Why is it that people feel the need to manipulate city issues in order to end up in their favor? After experiencing this personally, I’m now seeing it over and over in this city. Can someone tell me what it is they are gaining?
Glow, wow — good question. IMO, there are two sources of manipulation: Frank Ury and Keith Rattay. Ury is the council king (because Trish Kelley and Lance MacLean are both so stupid they empowered him). Rattay is running city hall. Wilberg is the boss, but he is a figurehead and incompetent as a leader.
Ury wants power and money. He thinks he’s above MV, but there’s no higher office in his future. Rattay has been building his empire for years — bigger govt., insane projects, complete mismanagement — and no one to stop him.
The last time residents revolted (2002), they threw out the old council majority, and the former city manager got the axe. Manipulation and sleight of hand are needed so that the residents are fooled into thinking Ury and city hall are actually taking care of business.
For a newcomer, you have caught on FAST.
Is it true that Probolsky did some “free” work for Ury’s 2008 re-election campaign? If so, taxpayers just got billed for it.
I would not stop at saying Ury and Rattay are manipulators. They are liars and just plain corrupt.
So, again Larry – why are you so indifferent to 83% of MV tax dollars being siphoned off to other cities?
I am tired of the Johnny Come Lately types like you showing up in MV and claiming to be concerned for us.
So why won’t you answer the question?
#12 – Please do NOT spam our boards. You had the very same message on a whole lot of posting threads. Please pick one or two threads to post exact messages – more than that is just too much. I realize it is frustrating when you want an answer from another poster, but duplicate messages bog the discussions down.
I have deleted all other duplicate posts from you, except this one on line 12. Please use basic net courtesy when contemplating spam. Thank you Rv- –
My apologies. Another poster is dodging an answer, and being new to the blogs, I thought that would get his attention. I will not do it again – and in no way did I mean to spam your board. I am sorry.
#13 GLTWT: I totally got it. I know you must have been frustrated – I know I’ve been there. Your questions are perfectly reasonable, yet you are not getting answers. People who follow those particular threads will be watching. I hope that Larry takes some time to answer back. But that’s up to him and of course NO ONE here is obligated to respond to anyone at any time here at OJ.
You are generous to apologize – it doesn’t happen often and I put you at the top of the honor roll for that one! 😉
Carry on! Rv – –
Red.
You bet it’s my call on responding to anyone on the Juice blog. As a sister on this blog do you have any idea how many hours I devote to these stories and follow up?
I have no plans to further engage this unknown writer with his attempted diversion from the basic topic of Probolsky polling. He might even be Adam himself trying to change the focus which I simply shall not permit. If he has any question that directly relates to this story than I will consider a response.
Thank you. But no one has to defend me and my duties and obligations to the Juice.
Larry,
You can handle yourself just fine! MY focus was keeping OJ orderly is all. 😉
Carry on! Rv – –
I am not Adam. I have not even heard of that polling company until a few weeks ago.
All I am is a very disgusted parent with SVUSD and wonder why you attack CC, but not SVUSD. Fish/ Atkins / SVUSD has engaged in many corrupt and illegal acts (detailed on another thread.)
Ideally, any poll should contact non student residents / citizens as a control. Weight should be given to those who are either have students in SVUSD, or are property owners / have an property interest in MV as their values will be directly affected. That is true of even of non-student but yet own property in MV.
The real issue is the slash and burn attacks Atkins / Fish / and SVUSD have taken against high quality education for our children.
By your own admittance, this poll has no validity b/c anyone without a student currently in SVUSD unqualified to respond. So therefore, your own attacks are irrelevant. You bounce all over the place, looking to attack CC, but no one else, even when SVUSD mismanages 1/2 (other is CVUSD) of MV’s education. You claim you won’t respond b/c my counterpoints are not about the polling, but the real issue of SVUSD competency.
Another charter school is trying to set up. The meeting is at Norman P Murray center on Tuesday, Nov 3rd, at 6 pm.
If you actually responded on the other thread, it would have been easier. But since you want to discuss polling – fine. You have no right to argue against it b/c you are one of those parents whose children are no longer in SVUSD. Your view is out of date.
I find it hard to believe you spend “many hours I devote to these stories and follow up.”
Gilbert Loves to Waste Taxes!
Didn’t you hear Red’s comment about SPAM? You did apologize but was it only for last week? Keep it up and all future comments from you will be deleted.
See you Monday. I’m busy preparing my presentation and attending a memorial service for an American hero. You and your angst are not on my radar screen today!
Larry,
The spam problem was because the poster posted the EXACT same message on different boards. I believe it was out of frustration b/c you refuse to answer their direct question.
IF you answered their question, I believe the whole conversation could move forward. IF YOU want to censor someone because they are trying to hold you accountable on this blog and on your own crafted thread, Larry, You’re going to look like a guy who is as brittle and clueless as that dolt at RED County, Matt “Jerbal” Cunningham. Ignore the poster or just Man up, Larry.
Hey Red. Take a hike. I just came from a memorial service in Riverside only to learn that another close friend died this morning. That’s three deaths in one week.
The thread was broken the minute the mystery person went off the tracks introducing return on investment of our tax dollars as it related to education.
And who appointed you to be the editor & ombudsman of this blog anyway?
lol, Larry! You are such a card….. 😉
Apparently your adversaries know where to find you and how to get under your skin, too. No need to get so sore.
larry –
are you such an intellectual coward that you now delete opposing views?
Good job Stalin.
I don’t believe that Larry has actually deleted opposing posts, has he?
It looks like he’s left everything in tact.
Good job Stalin. Heh! Rv- –
Red,
I deleted a very rude post. We are happy to provide an open forum here but I draw the line when anon commenters try to take over this blog with comments they would not repeat in mixed company. No trolls allowed. If the fellow in question wants to do that let him start his own blog.
Okay Art, I guess I missed all that. My job here is done…..
😉
Looks like he has – I responded to his last post.
It was listed on the site, and on the “Recent Comments” post. I posted after both you and he did. I have no idea who Matt “Jerbal” Cunningham is, but obviously you folks do.
Ask larry. Or maybe he is upset about his recent losses, and wants to lash out. Maybe it is safer for him to vent against me.
Art –
There was nothing rude about the post. No foul language, no nothing. I only questioned Gilbert’s motive’s and excuses.
Or since Red Vixen chastised Larry, did he run and cry to you?
I guess I hurt the feelings of the “old boy” network.
Art –
PS – What is a “troll” in internet speak.
#28,
You called Larry “fat” which is crazy since he is in great shape. And you compared him to Jerbal. That is quite the low blow.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/07/are-you-a-blog-troll/
Art –
1. Thank you for the definition of an internet troll. Unlike you and larry, I do not sit in front of the computer all day. My first experience with blogs is this, and if you are typical, then blogs are not what they are cracked up to be.
2. Obviously, larry cried to you about Red Vixen’s chastisement. It is funny how you allow larry to foul on everyone, yet when he has to deal with it, you cover his rear end. Further, it is okay for anoyn posters to post if they agree with him, but if anoyn posters disagree with him, it is suddenly suspect. Nice double standard.
3. “Fat” is not a term to be used in mixed company??!! Wow. You are delusional. That is not foul language. Look up the 7 dirty words. That is inappropriate. Thank you Mr. PC.
4. I would not know if larry is “in great shape.” Is there something btwn you two that the rest of us are not aware of?
5. Once again, I have no idea who Matt “Jerbal” Cunningham is, but obviously you folks do. For your net moderator to use his name as a threat to larry gilbert obviously tells a reader it is a slur. But to delete a poster’s comments because of it is outright hypocrisy.
6. So what exactly did I write that was not appropriate for mixed company? What was “very rude”? Or are you a Stalinist Censor?
7. Unless you function at the same low level larry does, I bet you don’t have the courage or guts to replace my original post. Let your readers decide.
Gilbert Loves to Waste Taxes!
Whomever you are.
#1. Yes, Art and I spend hours providing these stories for others to read at no cost as a public service. As you have admitted you are new to blogs. As such you might ask around to the people who rate the Orange Juice as one of the best blogs in CA.
#2. Larry Gilbert does not run to Art for protection as any regular reader of these story comments can attest.
#3 & #4. Once again Art may have the advantage here in that we attended two functions in the past two weeks. Other Juice bloggers were in attendance and they would assure you that I am not fat. I am clueless as to the origin of the fat comment but have been called much worse even though I do not qualify under the traditional definition of the word.
Are we getting ugly. “Something between you two?” Yes we both have a limited tolernace for obnoxious people. Get ugly and you will be gone.
#5. While I have been at the same functions with, and generally disagree with, Matt Cunningham, (aka Jerbal) on many issues I don’t get the linkage between us in your remark
#6. When and if I do an Op Ed on the SVUSD school district managment and finances that you disagree with feel free to add your anonymous comments. You have taken this post, that was bullet train from Santa Ana to San Francisco and have attempted to hijack it to Philadelphia. Unless you have something new to add on the Probolsy polling story get off this thread.
#7. I operate at a low level? and you still want me to engage with you ? Are you nuts???
Your post?. When did Juice founder Art Pedroza appoint you to become a contributing reporter on the Orange Juice blog?
Final point. Courage. You have demonstrated good? judgement challenging our editor. If you want to write stories follow Mayor Frank Ury and create your own blog. In fact until he flipped on some of us we were his major contributors.
FYI. Art Pedroza has NEVER questioned my work nor does he give me topic guidelines to follow. All that being said if we did such a poor job in providing this free access web site we would not have had one million hits without at least one person who is unhappy. You have now joined in that huge minority.
#31,
Larry did not complain to me. Your comment was ridiculous and no, I am not putting it up.
You are the definition of a blog troll. It is hard to believe how many comments you have put up here – and yet you complain about this blog. If you hate it so much, why keep coming back?
Larry puts his name on everything he writes. He takes a stand and does not have to resort to lame put downs. I suspect you are peeved because he is a very effective leader while you are just an anonymous worm.
This is my blog and I will delete what I want – and if you don’t shape up you will find yourself banned. Don’t like that? Too bad.