Mensinger's Property Vandalized

FACEBOOK ALERT
Today several friends notified me of a post on non-elected Costa Mesa City Councilman Steve Mensinger's Facebook page that was entered late Saturday evening. Since old Steve decided to "de-friend" me on Facebook I no longer see anything he posts. Here's how the entry read:

"Steve Mensinger
Repair Costa Mesa visited my home last night
Sad Note
On a sad note of story that will not appear in the LA Times, our family was visited by a group of union supporters sometime last night. After they put a "Cancel the layoff " sign in my yard they applied paint to my car and proceeded over to the Pop Warner bins where the scribbled the words " KKK" along with an assortment of other painted designs. Clearly Greg, Nick and Joel and their Union friends have found their stride. Today more than ever I understand why change is needed.
By: Steve Mensinger"

It was followed by a lengthy comment thread offering condolences on the vandalism and some encouraged retaliation.

VENEZIA'S EXCELLENT COVERAGE
Later this afternoon I read Orange County Register Columnist Barbara Venezia's account of this event, including some comments directly from Mensinger. You can read it HERE.


TROUBLING ELEMENTS
Several things trouble me about this situation. It is deplorable that ANYONE would commit such a blatant and inappropriate act of vandalism on anyone's home and truck, much less an elected official. I seem to recall that such crimes against elected officials are felonies and, as such, subject to extreme punishment under the law. And, based on reports, this crime was coupled with a similar act of vandalism of the Pop Warner storage shed at Estancia High School that could qualify as a hate crime if reports are accurate.

WHY DIDN'T HE REPORT IT?
Although I'm not in his shoes, I'm also more than a little concerned about Mensinger's reaction to this vandalism. First, he chose NOT to file a police report, which I find to be curious, indeed, but wrote about it on his Facebook page. If he doesn't trust the Costa Mesa Police Department - as was stated by CEO Tom Hatch during his meeting with CMPD rank-and-file last week - that's one thing. However, this threat SHOULD have been reported, if not to the CMPD, then to the county District Attorney's office.

SON REMOVED THE EVIDENCE
Second, based on reports, his son managed to remove the bright red paint from Mensinger's truck - a white truck, if memory serves. I find myself wondering just how that is possible without leaving damage to the underlying paint. Regardless, the evidence of the vandalism is now apparently gone and with it any possibility of linking the Pop Warner vandalism with it. I'm not sure how it will now be possible to track down and punish the perpetrators.

MENSINGER'S REACTION ALSO TROUBLING
Of greater concern was Mensinger's knee-jerk reaction of accusing - by name - members of employee groups and others who have vocally opposed his plans for the destruction of this city. Only after threats of legal action by the lawyer for the Orange County Employee's Association did he remove his post from his Facebook page.

THESE ACTS ARE WRONG - PERIOD!
I am not, for one millisecond, condoning these acts of vandalism. Whoever did these things should be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

AS IS MENSINGER'S REACTION
However, as a city council member, Mensinger is held to a higher standard of behavior than your average schmuck next door. His reaction in this matter has the potential to cause the city to incur very serious legal consequences.

PART OF A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR
Unfortunately, what we see here is a pattern of behavior that is very troubling. It appears that anyone who speaks out against Mensinger will eventually suffer his wrath. Larry Grihalva, EMS Coordinator for our city who spoke out before the council, now sees his job being eliminated. The Telecommunications Manager who, according to some reports, butted heads with Mensinger recently is being shoved aside and her job filled by a new police lieutenant's job. Sue Lester, a council candidate last fall and operator of a medical marijuana dispensary in our city, has spoken out frequently before the City Council on many matters, only to have her business raided and shut down. A coincidence?

DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE
I fear that these events, and others, are designed to intimidate the opposition - particularly those members of employee groups willing to speak out about this council's tactics. It appears as though certain members of our council will use and abuse their powers to make the lives of the opposition miserable, including tossing them into the trash heap like a used wad of Kleenex.

TUESDAY SHOULD BE INTERESTING
Tuesday's extended Study Session, at which the Budget will be further fleshed-out and the restructuring of the CMPD will be discussed, should be very interesting. I suspect the 4:30 event will play to a pretty full house again, as residents and employees alike listen to the rationale set forth by this council for the destruction of this city.