Lopez Ventures Back To Costa Mesa - Almost
TRYING TO SET STEVE STRAIGHT
Well, our old buddy, Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, ventured back into Costa Mesa last week to get his mind squared away by our two purveyor's of truth, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Steve Mensinger. Apparently they thought he got it wrong HERE when he wrote previously about their attempt to make up for not being able to implement real pension reform by getting rid of many of those employees who are eligible for those darn pensions. That first column generated over 400 comments and the old hit counter is still spinning.
COFFEE WITH CLOWNS
Lopez presents his view, HERE, of having coffee with the two of them - he refers to them a couple times as "Frick and Frack" - and that reference made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt! Yes, sir - our two wannabe saviors of our city certainly have performed like those two buffoons on ice from yesteryear - except without the skills.
CHOKING DOWN THE "TRUTH"
I suspect R
igheimer and Mensinger will be less than happy with their attempt to set the record straight by enticing Lopez to have coffee across the border in Newport Beach - a rock-throw from my house, by the way. Yes, Kean's coffee is wonderful, but it doesn't help you choke down the kind of stuff they were feeding him - obviously.
THEY WON'T FOLLOW HATCH'S PLANS
So, now we wait until Tuesday, when an extended Study Session will present CEO Tom Hatch's balanced budget and a full explanation of the plan to restructure the Police Department. I don't think the council, headed by the aforementioned "Frick and Frack", (chuckle) will go along with Hatch's plan in either case. I think they are going to continue on with their own plan to gut our once-proud Police Department, ignoring the best professional advice they could find, and leave the residents of our city at the mercy of the criminals among us.
BUDGET DISSATISFACTION
And I think they will demand more cuts by Hatch and his dwindling staff of managers to provide a much larger cash reserve so they can buy up motels throughout the city and make it easier for their developer buddies to make big bucks on them.
ARE WE THAT BLIND AND STUPID?
It's really hard to imagine that they really think the public is so blind and stupid
that they don't see through what they're doing here. They're taking the mantra handed down by the GOP - MY GOP - and use those skills that they used to ride two divisions of SunCal Companies into the ground to do the same for Costa Mesa. I'm not sure what it's going to take for the voters of this city to wise-up.
Well, our old buddy, Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, ventured back into Costa Mesa last week to get his mind squared away by our two purveyor's of truth, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Steve Mensinger. Apparently they thought he got it wrong HERE when he wrote previously about their attempt to make up for not being able to implement real pension reform by getting rid of many of those employees who are eligible for those darn pensions. That first column generated over 400 comments and the old hit counter is still spinning.COFFEE WITH CLOWNS
Lopez presents his view, HERE, of having coffee with the two of them - he refers to them a couple times as "Frick and Frack" - and that reference made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt! Yes, sir - our two wannabe saviors of our city certainly have performed like those two buffoons on ice from yesteryear - except without the skills.
CHOKING DOWN THE "TRUTH"
I suspect R
igheimer and Mensinger will be less than happy with their attempt to set the record straight by enticing Lopez to have coffee across the border in Newport Beach - a rock-throw from my house, by the way. Yes, Kean's coffee is wonderful, but it doesn't help you choke down the kind of stuff they were feeding him - obviously.THEY WON'T FOLLOW HATCH'S PLANS
So, now we wait until Tuesday, when an extended Study Session will present CEO Tom Hatch's balanced budget and a full explanation of the plan to restructure the Police Department. I don't think the council, headed by the aforementioned "Frick and Frack", (chuckle) will go along with Hatch's plan in either case. I think they are going to continue on with their own plan to gut our once-proud Police Department, ignoring the best professional advice they could find, and leave the residents of our city at the mercy of the criminals among us.
BUDGET DISSATISFACTION
And I think they will demand more cuts by Hatch and his dwindling staff of managers to provide a much larger cash reserve so they can buy up motels throughout the city and make it easier for their developer buddies to make big bucks on them.ARE WE THAT BLIND AND STUPID?
It's really hard to imagine that they really think the public is so blind and stupid
that they don't see through what they're doing here. They're taking the mantra handed down by the GOP - MY GOP - and use those skills that they used to ride two divisions of SunCal Companies into the ground to do the same for Costa Mesa. I'm not sure what it's going to take for the voters of this city to wise-up.Labels: Budget Proposal, CMPD, Jim Righeimer, Steve Lopez, Steve Mensinger, Tom Hatch
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 6/11/2011 09:03:00 PM
24 Comments:
Frick and frack is good, but Lopez may find out why Biff is better. I hope Mr Lopez put some of his great investigative skills to work and out these political hacks
Stop whining. What is your viable solution to the budget problem (emphasis on the word "viable")?
Your whining is annoying said....what budget problem? Hatch will be presenting a balanced budget to the council. The only way there is a budget problem is if the unfab four decide to spend more money.
Funny how when something isn't favorable to your guys, everyone is "whining" or "crying"...etc. The article showed them to be the disingenuous buffoons they are. Costa Mesa businesses is soooo important...let's meet in Newport. In fact, isn't Jimmy's office in Newport? I bet a Costa Mesa landlord would love to rent him a suite.
If you are not a CM resident, you are noise...unless it suits my needs. Heck, most of Jimmy's big money for campaigns comes from Newport, and that is verifiable.
These guys are lying, disingenuous d-bags. It wouldn't matter if they were bearing absolute pearls of wisdom at this point, they have zero credibility.
Thanks for these reflections ... you are a voice in the Orange Wilderness. The bumbling and bungling of big biz is astounding, yet so many Americans are willing to turn their future over to these self-anointed "leaders." Money has never once made a man, and many a man who makes money is easily led astray by his own self-importance.
To "Your whining about..." Nice rant, particularly the personal attacks. Too bad it won't put any money in Costa Mesa's bank account. This long time CM resident is still waiting for your viable solutions...
Now that's the type of column I expect from S-Lo... much more bite than last weekend, but an easy target. Loved the 'so he could hold his hand' and 'arrived as if on cue in a cinnamon Corvette' lines...
Why don't you tell the truth for a change, West -- you were dissed. You're unhappy, per your Facebook post, that you weren't invited. Why's that? Maybe no one gives a frick or a frack about your informed, whiny opinion?
What's your take on this, West? http://republicofcostamesa.com/category/news-from-costa-mesa/
For some reason, people are blind to what is happening in Costa Mesa. There is not a budget problem people. Hatch is going to present a balanced budget before the responses to the RFP are returned. This means that employees do not have to lose their jobs. The City and the employees can continue to negotiate reforms that will insure financial stability. I feel the Council will have to go through with the layoffs in order to appease the OC GOP regardless of what is best for the City.
panges, my comment was tongue-in-cheek. I had some quality time with Lopez the previous week and he wanted to meet this time around but our schedules didn't work - he was too busy getting indoctrinated by Frick & Frack and dazzled by Campbell's red 'vette.. :-)
Sure...
nontis, I've see that blog before. Looks like Will Swaim still can turn a phrase like a knife between the ribs, just as he did while at the OCWeekly. If you mean "what did I think of that entry?, well, I don't disagree with most of his assessment of Jennifer Muir's work for the OCEA. I think their tactics are backfiring on them.
If you meant "what do I think of the "Republic of Costa Mesa" in general, well I find myself wondering who's funding it? There's a strong anti-union bias and, hence, a strong anti-employee bias, so I find myself wondering if this thing is getting bucks from the OC GOP.
It's just one more ingredient in the commentary stew that is boiling around town these days. Will I read it often? Not sure - it depends on whether it provides information instead of vitriol. We'll see...
Reasonable response re. Swaim's commentary -- it does sound like him (flowery, too cool by half writing style with links to non-sensical literary references we ALL should appreciate since we're as overeducated and well-read as he is) -- but it does look like he's done his homework.
Muir couldn't quite make it at as a big-time well-paid Register writer, so it's not surprising that she batted her eyelashes and pushed our her chest at Berardino and got herself a job telling lies for the union. She reposts crap from Repair Costa Mesa too, instead of outright plagerizing it -- to her credit I guess, but it says nothing about her ability to be original. She'll be on the street again (maybe to do something she might even be good at) when the union's tired of her. Goes to show you how far a degree from a party school (Pepperdine) can take you.
Jennifer needs to dye her hair blonde and get into television before her looks give out. Or dye it black, change her name to Muiroza and get a job as an Hispanic weather girl before that trends peters out.
Ouch! Meanness does not become you, nontis. I like Jennifer, but she's doing what she's hired to do - be a PR shill for the OCEA. I know many such PR types and like all of them. I don't necessarily like what they have to do in their jobs, though.
The line between Repair Costa Mesa and the OCEA is non-existent. They not only share words but probably share a brain, too. Don't like their tactics... but that's just one guy's opinion.
It seems about 1 in 3 CM citizens have rejected the propaganda claiming there's a budget crisis, another 1 in three believe it, and the third one is totally out of touch and hasn't heard anything of what's happening, perhaps because so many in our city are short-term renters.
People will not "wake up," because they either don't care (the last group)or they have drunk so much right-wing Kool-Aid they'll believe anything that comes out of the right-wing propaganda machine.
Sadly, I think it will take many years to undo the damage that the Gang of Four are doing now.
I am disappointed with our Police Department. Last week Chief trots out Gogerty for a totally contrived award when Hatch comes over for a meeting. Huggins is finally gone. Is for the best.
My opinion is do not let Hatch hire from within the Department. If you want any respect from the rank and file fire Staveley now.
Eleanor, I definitely believe there is a budget crisis, and with good cause.
Yes, we might be able to balance the budget OK next week, but what about the weeks, months and years that follow? What about the unfunded pension liabilities that are owed now, and will continue to grow? What if our future revenue can't cover them? Continued reckless spending now will only make matters worse in the future. That's how we got in this mess to start with, our past city councils decimated the reserves we used to have in place.
However, the real reason I am firmly behind our city council is because we have absolutely NO reserves or contingency fund in case of a catastrophic emergency. What household can possibly survive without such a fund? A city is no different.
Just consider all the damage that has happened across our country this Spring due to the tornadoes, the hurricanes and the fires. Then, consider the fact that Southern California is way overdue for a seismic event of epic proportions.
We have to be ready for anything nature might throw our way at any given moment. Try to think ahead. That's what our city council is doing. It is the responsible thing to do.
To Gail:
There is an "emergency fund" for emergencies that arise. We have often wondered if the "economic crisis" wasn't the time to pull out some of the money. Also, what about the 1.2 million or so money from the RDA that the City Council ignored and chose not to use. You are extremely naive if you think this City Council is motivated by anything other than what the GOP considers an adjective. You have an atmosphere of hate being generated by the City Council toward employee unions. It would shock you at the reality of life at City Hall is.
Big Blue Wall....your city/department is 0 for its last 2 chiefs. Hensley was a compulsive liar and Shawkey apparently thought he didn't have to be in his office and his city issued credit card was filling up the gas tanks of his personal cars. Let me see....oh, thats right, they both came from outside the department. This is not to say CMPD should not look outside and see what the candidates look like, but maybe someone like Captain Gogerty who has the respect of the rank and file would have a better chance of implementing the vision of both the city and department. The last two were utter failures.
Gail -- I like the idea of thinking ahead, but we also have to think WITH our head. Examples of this Council's thinking: Tell employees they will be laid off and THEN start to research how much it will cost to outsource their services; cancel the ABLE program, direct staff to sell the assets, and THEN start to work on a regional helicopter program (which we might use our assets to buy into).
I imagine most people would agree that the pension issue deserves serious attention. The difference is in where and how to do it. My suggestions: seriously and honestly negotiate with employee associations (both sides have to be willing to do this); work with CalPERS and/or State legislators to effect meaningful, but fair, pension reform. Don't just lay off employees and say you've accomplished something.
Also, don't forget the revenue side of the equation. Start now to bring our business tax rates into the 21st century. So far, all the Councils have done is say, "it's too late for this year" and continue to "kick the can down the road." And, look at other revenue options, too. That's what a business would do, isn't it?
Gail an unfunded liability is not due now, it is the maximum that will be due in the future. Economics 101. Well unless the outsourcing happens. Then we have to figure out where to come up with $300 million immediately.
If you are a council person that is proud of your city and its citizens and businesses, show a little civic pride and meet a reporter at a Costa Mesa business. Is that too much too ask?
I think Jim Righeimer once wrote an article about how he loves smoking cigars in Newport. It sounds like that's where he spends most of his time. He never looked like one of us to begin with. He seems like one of those guys that tells people he lives in Newport out of shame.
Pot Stirrer, I agree that what the union is doing is backfiring. I wish they would spend less time on jewel encrusted badges and more time on how horrible parting out our city will be. Like a lot of people, I'm not a big fan of unions. However, the last thing I want to see is having everything outsourced while someone like Righeimer is on our council. I don't trust that guy at all while with million dollar contracts up for grabs. I also don't trust any of his friends like Scott Baugh or Dave Ellis.
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