The Pit Bull's Back!
THE REASON WE CELEBRATE
Here's a little something for you to consider as we approach the long, long Independence Day holiday. Most of you will probably be too busy with family fun, fireworks and frivolity to actually think about the reason we celebrate this weekend. One of the things that our founding fathers fought for and won for us was the freedom of speech. Contemplate the following.
REMEMBER THE PIT BULL?
Do you remember back about 10 months ago, when, during the heated City Council campaign being waged by Jim Righeimer, I reported receiving a little "love note" from his lawyer and brother-in-law, Mark Bucher? I characterized it at the time, HERE, as Righeimer unleashing his pit bull. He sent a similar letter to the Costa Mesa Police Association.
THE ORIGINAL THREAT
In
that letter Bucher, who in addition to being related to Righeimer by marriage was and is his political sidekick and is a major mover and shaker within the leadership of the Orange County Republican Party, made not-very-veiled threats to me if I published anything having to do with his client on three issues. Because he forbade me from discussing those issues I didn't identify them in that original post. Subsequently, Righeimer discussed at least one of them in a public forum, so I figured all bets were off and I told my readers that those issues were bankruptcy, drunk in public and foreclosure.
CAMPAIGN TACTIC
I had mentioned Righeimer and bankruptcy many months before, had a
subsequent conversation with him and was satisfied that there was no such issue in his past and never wrote about it again. I had no reason to even think about writing about the other two issues - and have not. I've heard not another word from either Bucher or his client/brother-in-law on that subject since. I concluded that Bucher's letter was simply a campaign tactic - an attempt to violate my right of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution - in order to quiet a critic during the campaign.
BUCHER'S BACK - FOR MENSINGER
However, Tuesday I received yet another little tome from Bucher, this time in his role as attorney for Righeimer's buddy, non-elected Costa Mesa City Councilman, Steve Mensinger. Apparently Mensinger thinks I've inaccurately characterized him and Bucher wants me to correct the record and stop whatever he thinks it is I'm doing.
HE SAYS...
He states in his letter to me, "Recently we became aware that you have written on your blog, "A Bubbling Cauldron" that Mr Mensinger's "...division of SunCal ended up in bankruptcy!" He went on to say, "This statement is demonstrably false and defamatory. No company Mr. Mensinger has been an employee of, including the division of SunCal that he managed, has ever gone bankrupt."
OOPS, VERIFIED
Although I already knew that his accusations were specious, I spent a little time browsing the internet and in a very short time I found more than 20 articles that verified the facts.
SU
NCAL COMPANIES - BANKRUPT
Regarding the first statement - a sentence fragment, taken out of context - SunCal companies has been mired in bankruptcy proceedings for several years, and those proceedings include the Multifamily Division of which Mensinger had been President.
THE BETHANY GROUP - BANKRUPT
In addition, Mensinger was also a Division President with The Bethany Group before he went to SunCal, and that company also filed for bankruptcy.
SHOW ME WHERE I'M WRONG..
I wrote back to Bucher informing him of those facts and invited him to either provide me with more information to support his allegation that I've inaccurately characterized his client or to stop harassing me. Clearly, this is just one more attempt to silence a critic and, as I've said many, many times before, neither Mensinger nor Righeimer likes criticism.
POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOUTH SPORTS
I have written many times about the positive influence Mensinger has had on youth sports in our city. For that he is certainly to be commended. I've also been critical of actions he's taken both as an appointed Planning Commissioner and a non-elected City Councilman when I felt it was warranted. I will continue to do so.
HIS WORK HISTORY IS CLEAR
I don't have personal knowledge about Mensinger's management style or capabilities. The record shows, as chronicled in a recent Daily Pilot article, HERE, that he worked for former Ambassador George L. Argryos at Arnel Development twice for total of nearly two decades, that he left to start a business called "Smart Cart Services" then returned to Arnel as President of a division before moving on to The Bethany Group as a President of a division. From that assignment he moved to SunCal as President of its Multifamily Division and, when he left SunCal, he apparently established some kind of real estate consulting firm using the names of his sons in the title.
WAS HE A GOOD MANAGER, OR NOT?
The record does demonstrate that two companies in which he served as President subsequently filed for bankruptcy. I don't know how much his presence at either of them contributed to those situations, but I imagine there are folks around who worked with him in those companies who could offer opinions. In my business experience, the President of an organization typically sets the course for the company and, in many cases, takes the helm and steers the organization on that course, making whatever corrections are necessary. I don't know if he set the course to take them over the bankruptcy falls or not. Nor do I know if his hands were still at the wheel when they went over the brink.
IMPATIENT AND VINDICTIVE
What I DO know, from watching him operate as a planning commissioner and council member, is that he's an impatient man who appears to have his opinion locked down before public comments
are presented. He's demonstrated a short fuse in both those assignments and has shown us a vindictive side that does not lend itself to good governance. On the Planning Commission he would attempt to micromanage projects before him, berating project managers in the process.
AN AUTHORITARIAN STYLE
During his brief tenure on the City Council - much too long for me - we've seen Mensinger criticize speakers from the dais, demonstrate an impatience with speakers and staff members and, at times seemed so bored with the proceedings that he'd spend much of the time texting. His management style that's on display for the public to see is that of an impatient authoritarian and, sometimes, a bully. And, of course, there was that difficulty adding 2+5=7 at the last council meeting.
BUCHER'S THREAT
In his threat letter to me, Mr. Bucher, regarding the statement he captioned above - a false statement on his part, by the way - said, "The above statement is enormously damaging to Mr. Mensinger professionally because he makes a living as a manager in the real estate industry. In addition, such a statement is also damaging to Mr. Mensinger's reputation and standing in the community." I can't do anything about that. Mensinger is who he is, with a history all of his own making. I, and other observers, can only report what we know and see. Sometimes the truth does hurt. I don't like people to observe that I'm fat, but it's the truth. If he doesn't like criticism he should stay the heck out of politics, where you're almost guaranteed to make at least half the people mad at you all the time.
A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT HURTS OUR CITY
Sadly, this pattern of behavior with both Mensinger and Righeimer, only further demonstrates their willingness to intimidate and threaten those who disagree with them. Heck, this might be a systemic genetic flaw within the leadership of the Orange County Republican Party. Cost
a Mesa City Hall is stark evidence of their heavy-handedness and threatening style, as several of the senior staff members who have disagreed with them have now departed. This new city council, with its heavy-handedness and irrational preconceived "solutions" to municipal problems, has created a hostile work environment that has chased many outstanding employees out and has many of those who remain looking for a new position elsewhere. If they continue on this path, by the end of the year they will have succeeded in destroying an award-winning, efficient, exemplary city government and will have replaced it with uncaring hired guns in the form of consultants and "outsourcing firms" who have no real concern for the city and its residents. As one speaker before them recently said, this is very much like a hostile takeover of a business.
WHOSE RIGHTS ARE NEXT?
The residents of this city should be very concerned about this kind of behavior by members of the city council. That they would unleash a lawyer with threatening behavior does not bode well for anyone expressing dissent in our city. It's only a matter of time until they attempt to trample your rights, too.
Here's a little something for you to consider as we approach the long, long Independence Day holiday. Most of you will probably be too busy with family fun, fireworks and frivolity to actually think about the reason we celebrate this weekend. One of the things that our founding fathers fought for and won for us was the freedom of speech. Contemplate the following.REMEMBER THE PIT BULL?
Do you remember back about 10 months ago, when, during the heated City Council campaign being waged by Jim Righeimer, I reported receiving a little "love note" from his lawyer and brother-in-law, Mark Bucher? I characterized it at the time, HERE, as Righeimer unleashing his pit bull. He sent a similar letter to the Costa Mesa Police Association.
THE ORIGINAL THREAT
In
that letter Bucher, who in addition to being related to Righeimer by marriage was and is his political sidekick and is a major mover and shaker within the leadership of the Orange County Republican Party, made not-very-veiled threats to me if I published anything having to do with his client on three issues. Because he forbade me from discussing those issues I didn't identify them in that original post. Subsequently, Righeimer discussed at least one of them in a public forum, so I figured all bets were off and I told my readers that those issues were bankruptcy, drunk in public and foreclosure.CAMPAIGN TACTIC
I had mentioned Righeimer and bankruptcy many months before, had a
subsequent conversation with him and was satisfied that there was no such issue in his past and never wrote about it again. I had no reason to even think about writing about the other two issues - and have not. I've heard not another word from either Bucher or his client/brother-in-law on that subject since. I concluded that Bucher's letter was simply a campaign tactic - an attempt to violate my right of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution - in order to quiet a critic during the campaign.BUCHER'S BACK - FOR MENSINGER
However, Tuesday I received yet another little tome from Bucher, this time in his role as attorney for Righeimer's buddy, non-elected Costa Mesa City Councilman, Steve Mensinger. Apparently Mensinger thinks I've inaccurately characterized him and Bucher wants me to correct the record and stop whatever he thinks it is I'm doing.HE SAYS...
He states in his letter to me, "Recently we became aware that you have written on your blog, "A Bubbling Cauldron" that Mr Mensinger's "...division of SunCal ended up in bankruptcy!" He went on to say, "This statement is demonstrably false and defamatory. No company Mr. Mensinger has been an employee of, including the division of SunCal that he managed, has ever gone bankrupt."
OOPS, VERIFIED
Although I already knew that his accusations were specious, I spent a little time browsing the internet and in a very short time I found more than 20 articles that verified the facts.
SU
NCAL COMPANIES - BANKRUPTRegarding the first statement - a sentence fragment, taken out of context - SunCal companies has been mired in bankruptcy proceedings for several years, and those proceedings include the Multifamily Division of which Mensinger had been President.
THE BETHANY GROUP - BANKRUPT
In addition, Mensinger was also a Division President with The Bethany Group before he went to SunCal, and that company also filed for bankruptcy.
SHOW ME WHERE I'M WRONG..
I wrote back to Bucher informing him of those facts and invited him to either provide me with more information to support his allegation that I've inaccurately characterized his client or to stop harassing me. Clearly, this is just one more attempt to silence a critic and, as I've said many, many times before, neither Mensinger nor Righeimer likes criticism.
POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOUTH SPORTS
I have written many times about the positive influence Mensinger has had on youth sports in our city. For that he is certainly to be commended. I've also been critical of actions he's taken both as an appointed Planning Commissioner and a non-elected City Councilman when I felt it was warranted. I will continue to do so.HIS WORK HISTORY IS CLEAR
I don't have personal knowledge about Mensinger's management style or capabilities. The record shows, as chronicled in a recent Daily Pilot article, HERE, that he worked for former Ambassador George L. Argryos at Arnel Development twice for total of nearly two decades, that he left to start a business called "Smart Cart Services" then returned to Arnel as President of a division before moving on to The Bethany Group as a President of a division. From that assignment he moved to SunCal as President of its Multifamily Division and, when he left SunCal, he apparently established some kind of real estate consulting firm using the names of his sons in the title.
WAS HE A GOOD MANAGER, OR NOT?
The record does demonstrate that two companies in which he served as President subsequently filed for bankruptcy. I don't know how much his presence at either of them contributed to those situations, but I imagine there are folks around who worked with him in those companies who could offer opinions. In my business experience, the President of an organization typically sets the course for the company and, in many cases, takes the helm and steers the organization on that course, making whatever corrections are necessary. I don't know if he set the course to take them over the bankruptcy falls or not. Nor do I know if his hands were still at the wheel when they went over the brink.IMPATIENT AND VINDICTIVE
What I DO know, from watching him operate as a planning commissioner and council member, is that he's an impatient man who appears to have his opinion locked down before public comments
are presented. He's demonstrated a short fuse in both those assignments and has shown us a vindictive side that does not lend itself to good governance. On the Planning Commission he would attempt to micromanage projects before him, berating project managers in the process.AN AUTHORITARIAN STYLE
During his brief tenure on the City Council - much too long for me - we've seen Mensinger criticize speakers from the dais, demonstrate an impatience with speakers and staff members and, at times seemed so bored with the proceedings that he'd spend much of the time texting. His management style that's on display for the public to see is that of an impatient authoritarian and, sometimes, a bully. And, of course, there was that difficulty adding 2+5=7 at the last council meeting.
BUCHER'S THREAT
In his threat letter to me, Mr. Bucher, regarding the statement he captioned above - a false statement on his part, by the way - said, "The above statement is enormously damaging to Mr. Mensinger professionally because he makes a living as a manager in the real estate industry. In addition, such a statement is also damaging to Mr. Mensinger's reputation and standing in the community." I can't do anything about that. Mensinger is who he is, with a history all of his own making. I, and other observers, can only report what we know and see. Sometimes the truth does hurt. I don't like people to observe that I'm fat, but it's the truth. If he doesn't like criticism he should stay the heck out of politics, where you're almost guaranteed to make at least half the people mad at you all the time.A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT HURTS OUR CITY
Sadly, this pattern of behavior with both Mensinger and Righeimer, only further demonstrates their willingness to intimidate and threaten those who disagree with them. Heck, this might be a systemic genetic flaw within the leadership of the Orange County Republican Party. Cost
a Mesa City Hall is stark evidence of their heavy-handedness and threatening style, as several of the senior staff members who have disagreed with them have now departed. This new city council, with its heavy-handedness and irrational preconceived "solutions" to municipal problems, has created a hostile work environment that has chased many outstanding employees out and has many of those who remain looking for a new position elsewhere. If they continue on this path, by the end of the year they will have succeeded in destroying an award-winning, efficient, exemplary city government and will have replaced it with uncaring hired guns in the form of consultants and "outsourcing firms" who have no real concern for the city and its residents. As one speaker before them recently said, this is very much like a hostile takeover of a business.WHOSE RIGHTS ARE NEXT?
The residents of this city should be very concerned about this kind of behavior by members of the city council. That they would unleash a lawyer with threatening behavior does not bode well for anyone expressing dissent in our city. It's only a matter of time until they attempt to trample your rights, too.Labels: Jim Righeimer, Mark Bucher, Steve Mensinger
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 7/01/2011 12:14:00 PM
37 Comments:
Geoff,
When you tell the truth and people don't like it, they need to do something to divert attention.
This is clearly a case of you telling the truth and lil Stevie running home to tell Daddy. Daddy then calls YOU the bully, and threatens YOU!
Don't let them "chest bump" you into submission!
lighten up on the OCGOP bashing. it has many wonderful people, patriots, and, yes, Vietnam vets in it. People dedicated to America who want to keep it safe and financially sound. It would be difficult to find a more patriotic group of people.
It's imperative for Americans to know the truth about our politicians. Imagine if Obama maliciously threatened anyone who questioned his birth certificate. That's a perfectly valid question and it's ok to have your opinion about whether or not Obama is telling the truth.
It's sad to see Mensinger resort to something as un-American as trying to silence the voice of a citizen seeking the truth about our government. I applaud this blog for questioning our government and hope someone sues Mensinger and Bucher for their malicious attacks against our freedoms. This isn't an attack against this blog as much as it's an attack against our rights to question our government!
I always thought Righeimer moved to the wrong city. It appears maybe Mensinger moved to the wrong country. He needs to move to a country that allows civil rights abuse of its citizens.
If he didn't want people questioning his background, he shouldn't have gotten into the extremely public life of politicians. I guess that's why he was appointed instead of being voted in like everyone else? He didn't want people to know the truth that tends to come out during a campaign?
It's only fair that we need to know the truth of our public officials. If someone has a history of physical violence against children, do you want them babysitting your kids? If a politician has personal financial problems, do you want them to be in charge of your tax dollars?
I don't see how what Mensinger and Bucher did could possibly be legal. We have every right to speak out against a government we think is dishonest or untruthful or unjust! They are infringing on our rights by doing what they just did! Doing something that un-American goes beyond all political ideology and tears at the very fabric of our great democracy.
Geoff,
This is what happens when you offend the king. Maybe the extremists want the USA to be just like Thailand:
http://morallowground.com/2011/05/29/american-arrested-in-thailand-for-insulting-king/
Are you ready to be a Democrat yet? :)
Geoff..you just got chest bumped! Nice!
Is this incidence the 3rd strike or just a foul tip?
Sticking his chin out to public employees in the city hall elevator minutes after the Pham death -strike 1
Chest bump and run crying to the schoolboard -Strike 2
Supposedly his truck was attacked and didnt call authorities -foul tip
Didnt he pay $2500 to Riggy's campaign? -Foul tip.
This guy is in the public way to much for the WRONG reasons.
Oh well, whatever... These clowns are destroying our city, I guess if my property value goes down my property taxes will too...
Bucher should stick to his fight against equal rights for all people.
The man is a bigot.
Yes, that also is public record.
Checkyoursix...I'm sure the OCGOP is full of patriots and veterans. So what? I am a veteran, I am a patriot, and I was a long time Republican. I voted the party line...always. Until thes guys. They opened my eyes. The OCGOP has alienated so many people with their extremest views, that many lifelong Republicans I know have left that party.
It has always been the party of law and order, justice, and a strong defense. But when you have the likes of Jim Righeimer saying "we could double the number of cops and it won't bring down crime rates. we will only get double the number of speeding tickets written on Harbor Bl." Or how about the issue of policing problem motels "it's simple, we just write a check, tear it down and turn it into a pocket park". So, rather than fix the problem with our constitutionally held legal remedies, we just buy it up to fix the problem? Those statements are counter to every conservative belief I have ever held and it's just plain idiotic.
Their argument against pensions has merit. However, no matter how much merit it has, they are going about it the wrong way. period. They have shown themselves to be unreasonable. Wen they can not even admit that ANYTHING "the other side" says could be right, yet the "other side" frequently says "I see your point", who is objective and reasonable?
They are disassembling a city, its heritage, its history and its identity. Things for which they call "emotional argument". I'm sorry, but patriotism is an emotion my friend. It's intangible, and it is a FEELING. So are they not patriotic? They are dismissing their constituants "feelings", their beliefs about these issues.
To argue that speaking out against a party, a movement a belief or even a person you don't believe in is unpatriotic is absurd. It's probably one of the most patriotic things you can do. It's something that is Constitutionally guaranteed to us.
I suspect reasonable, conservatives (and I'm talking about constitutional, 2nd amendment loving conservatives such as me) will continue to fall away from the Republican party and fools like these so long as they continue as they have.
I hope they sue you.........I'll donate.......I get a percentage when we win.....
Gericault, and would you feel the same way if YOU were the one being threatened? Don't think so...
It's all fun and games until you get to "discolsure".....Yeh.....I'm in. The last thing I fear is legal threats from these miscreants. At this point , legal action from the city against the residents is exactly what would rain the shit storm down on them.
Bucher is all bark..........there is NO Bite!
It’s worth noting again that Jim Righeimer and brother-in-law Mark Bucher, along with Frank Ury, authored a statewide initiative way back in 1998. Had it passed, it would have greatly weakened every union in California by crippling their ability to raise funds.
As the master politician Jesse Unruh observed years ago, "Money is the mother's milk of politics."
Looking at Mr. Righeimer’s long track record of animus towards unions and the meat axe he’s wielding now that he has finally won an elective office, one has to wonder if he has Costa Mesa’s best interests at heart. Or is it his and his extremist Republican politicians’ interests that are driving him to make a hash of our city?
As evidence, here are the first three paragraphs of his remarks to the SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE in the then-Republican-majority House of Representatives. http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/edu/hedcew5-24.000/hedcew5-24.htm
“Mr. Chairman, Members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for allowing me here to testify today.
“My name is Jim Righeimer. I'm here representing the authors of the reform initiative. There are actually three authors, Mark Bucher Frank Ury and myself. On November 13th, less than a month ago, we turned in almost 800,000 signatures to place the California Campaign Reform Initiative on the June 1998 ballot.
“This initiative has a very simple intent; it would require that employers and labor unions get written permission, before they can take money for political expenditures out of an employee or member's paycheck as defined by the California Political Reform Act. This permission is to be in writing and renewed every 12 months.”
the unelected whines from the dias,now he has an attorney to protect him, He doesn't call the cops when his house is vandlized. Will the city be paying for the attorney fees on this, maybe as a special consultant to duarte. Riggy can aprove it. Hatch can cut cops to cover it. The gop has chosen the wrong poster boys. Having these guys in the press is the best thing for the other parties.
RECALL these bozos!! If we can unload Piggy and Bumper, Monahan and Beaver will dry up and blow away on their own. I expect Bever to start voting by proxie soon anyway, then he can stay home and grow his ponytail back.
Lets get it done! Expensive? Let's use some of the funds ABLE had saved up. What a fitting tribute to ABLE it would be seeing that money used to cancel the rain of terror on our city.
Woody, I like your post. Don't forget Righeimer will be using our taxpayer money to buy up those hotels. I trust these guys less and less. The decisions they are making are horrible regardless of what party they are affiliated with. Bad decisions are bad decisions.
I get just as emotional about our city as everyone should. We had a great city until Righeimer came along! Glad to see there are other people that will fight to protect our unique culture, heritage, and identity.
Diogenes,
Way, way, way beyond the line, amigo.... sorry. The thought was great, the delivery.. not so much.
Your judgment, friend; your call. Sometimes I get carried away...
Keep it up!
6- you say OCGOP'rs are the most patriotic but I know them to be the most racist, backward, homophobic, sexist, money hungry, immoral, hypocritical, unethical, liars that I have ever had the displeasure of knowing, speaking to, or watching. Unfortunately, since this is America the rest of us have to put up with it. Even worse, those guys like to claim they are the biggest patriots because apparently holding a weapon in each hand, eliminating social programs to help the needy, questioning citizenship for those born on USA soil based on the residency status of their parents, and supporting absurd tax breaks for only the wealthy and big business makes you more of a patriot than the guy who fought in Iraq, was killed, and awarded his citizenship posthumously or the cops who will be working this Fourth of July but whom we should now all hate because they get decent pay and a good pension without stock options, yearly bonuses, or any other cool perk... oh wait, but they get medical insurance partially paid for too; how unAmerican are those thieves?!?! (I dare someone to try to write a longer run-on sentence than that)
And while I am at it, drinking budweiser, displaying a confederate flag sticker or iron cross sticker on your car, and wearing light blue wrangler jeans does not make you a bigger patriot than the rest the US population, it makes you an ignorant fool with poor taste in clothing and beer.
Don't mind checkyoursix aka watchyoursix, he/she is an improver.
Wow! Right on run-on sentences or not. I have been a voting Republican since 1957, but Piggy and Bumper make me wonder why. My wife and daughters have already switched and are now Democrats because of Piggy and Bumper. They are making more switch everyday.
Sure, Democrats seem to pork everything that walks or holds still long enough, but at least they seem to listen to their constituency. I always thought my party listened too until lately around here. Councils used to be non-partisan and for good reason. They are elected to represent their community views, not serve the party line.
Patriotic? I sure am and raised my daughters to be as well. Most folks I know at my age are very patriotic from either party, but "run-on" nailed some really valid points. I would like to shake his/her hand.
God Bless America. Happy 4th of July.
Riggy talks about buying up the motels and building "pocket parks."
Aside from the issue of whose money would be used for this big buy, do you REALLY believe this developer and/or his pals will build PARKS??
Now riddle me this:
Whose Bar/Restaurant is on the same stretch of road near these bad terrible dirty mean old motels on prime land?
Tom Egan: Too bad that plan didn't pass. If it had, the unions would have been forced to spend those tens of millions on - OMG! - member benefits and we may not be having the fight here in Costa Mesa today. Instead, they raise money to elect politicians who prostitute themselves for union votes and the payback is the sweet deals they have been given that threaten the fiscal health of CM and many other cities.
So Mensinger has his mind made up before public comments? Grow up - they all do. Even Foley, and I like her.
"My View": 1. How many "tens of millions" of dollars do you think the "unions" here in Costa Mesa have raised?
2. How could any money "the unions" spent have purchased benefits as you assert?
You see, if we were talking about actual unions, (SEIU, Teamsters, UAW etc you might actually be right). Those are actual unions. The members get their benefits from the union. Such as when you see these schmucks out picketing. Many are out of work union members, who are required to put in hours on behalf of the union to maintain their benefits.
However, here in Costa Mesa, the employees belong to associations. Granted general employees are involved with OCEA, which is more of a traditioal union (I will give you that).
The employees don't get any benefits (health, dental,etc) through "the union". Employee benefits are purchased by the employee through plans offered by the city (their employer). Association representatives are actual employees who volunteer to serve on the association boards. There is no additional pay and they dervie nothing from "the union". Contrast that to the Teamsters for instance, whose representaives work for "the union", are paid by "the union" (hence they have an incentive to fight for higher dues and more "union friendly" electeds). In other words, actual "union" folks job is to be a "union representative". They fill no other actual role in most cases.
The "union" issue was actually a non-issue here in Costa Mesa. Righeimer, Mensinger and to a lesser extent Bever and Monahan, made it an issue and made something that just didn't exist.
The "unions" here were simply employees representing their fellow employees for negotiations. It was a local effort, by local employees (who are not affiliated with any larger state or national groups), dealing with local officials. It was simple and it worked.
You have let yourself be led to believe there is/was a problem that just did not exist. Now all anyone hears about is "the unions", "union thugs"...blah, blah, blah. It's getting old and it is almost becoming a caracature or a joke. They would have you believe there is some "evil union thug" hiding behind trees, bushes and blind corners just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting Costa Mesa resident and fleece them.
You can call it "My View" if you like, but clearly you have done no research or thinking for yourself. Perhaps you should just call it "Their View". Then you can just own that you are a follower, and not a thinker or a leader.
--My View--
We do elect individuals (hopefully) that can make decisions on issues that affect EVERY CM citizen. We want those elected to make up their minds and make those sometimes difficult decisions.
What we don't want are individuals that communicate outside the parameters of Federal, State and Local laws that govern how decisions, a consensus of the whole, were reached. Unfortunately the majority on our present council has no desire and sees no need in following the laws that govern how they do business.
AND
NO... YOU GROW UP!
A Confederacy of Dunces, these guys...
And completely unrelated, but did anyone notice how loud that HB helicopter was last night? I'm one street over from Mensy, and Riggy's behind that across a fairway, but that was excruciatingly loud! I hope it kept them up late like it did me and gave them second thoughts, even though it's too late.
OC Longhair and Mark C.: Justify the unions all you want. What you fail to acknowledge is that anti-union sentiment is happening all across the country, not just here in Costa Mesa. The pendulum has swung the other way. Unions need to cut the best deal they can, then lay low until Americans hit the malls again to buy more stuff they don't need. When that happens, the prostitute politicians will have money to spend on unions again.
Before unions there were business owners and civil jobs that abuse the employee. Managers and politicians like riggy and the menace are the reason for unions. I am not for unions but when people like this slip thru the cracks of democracy and get appointed , the checks and balances go to heck. The more they crack the whip , the more abuse, the more cops who go on gang calls with no back up or are asked to work thirty hour shifts, the dispatcher who can't stay awake. This is the value of the union. Menace thinks he can pull his gun if crime comes his way but it's the cop on the street day in and day out that will run into someone who shoots back. Who will be there for him, the politician, bull, the union will make sure he's not put in the situation to begin with.
These guys are abusive to everyone . It won't stop, Voters are a union too.
View - First I have never supported and will never support any type of unionization of government workers; Geoff knows this to be true. I loved it when R Reagan dismantled the Air Traffic Union.
What I refuse to accept is ANY Politian that believes "the Ends justify the means". Law maker should not be the Law Breakers!
Look at what NPBch just did with the Lifeguards. NO media, NO threats, NO major layoffs, NO outsourcing… just go old fashioned, honest negotiation; with a generous side of concessions.
My View: I haven' failed to acknowledge a thing, and you just proved my point. yes anti-union rhetoric IS happening all across the US. Because it is happening across the US, does not mean it needs to be drug into our local conversation.
It has been done and continues to be done, because it is the popular topic of the moment. What you have failed to acknowledge, is that because we take aim at these large national unions (again, SEIU, Teamsters etc) what do THEY have to do with our city? Where are they involved in our city? Where has anything any of those unions have done involved our city? Simply put, they don't. But if the local employees can be lumped into those groups (wrongfully), then they can be drug into the national conversation, which has nothing to dowith CM municipal employees.
Look, unions didn't crash our economy, did they? Yet the woes of society todayare being put squarely on their shoulders, simply because they are an easy target. It's easy to paint "the unions" to be suffering lessthan others, and the situation is ripe to have those who are suffering more (for whatever reason) to jump on the bandwagon and place blame. It's group think psychology, and you have fallen squarely for it.
I'm not a union guy, I just know how to do my own research and think for myself.
What I hate to see, is that these guys who are painted to be great patriots are pitting neighbor against neighbor, American against American and exloiting the crummy economy to get our own countrymen to be filled with such vitriol and hate against one another.
Meanwhile, there is still evil out there and people outside of our own country who frankly hate us. They are basking in glory that we are infighting and hating on each other.
Continuing to feed the "Cold Civil War" that is happening is hardly patriotic. That's my view
An ode to A.B.L.E.
or
You CAN Keep A Good Man Down
Moving with grace they flew through the night
Ready, willing and A.B.L.E. to fight the good fight.
The early morn hour’s now tranquil and silent
Replaced with calm whispers of “be self reliant”
Moved over head with speed, style and grace
In a moment, no… less jumped into a chase.
A suspect to track, assist with a fire
Now sets on her pad, forced to retire.
Still willing, still A.B.L.E. to serve and protect
Still willing, not A.B.L.E. funds stamped with…
A big, fat, stink’n, bush-league, self-serving, unnecessary…
“REJECT”!
+1, Mark C
Pattern:
Monahan and the "thrown brick" incident;
Menssy and the "vandalism" incident;
Beck and the "attack" incident:
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/626651/did_glenn_beck_lie_about_%22attack%22_in_nyc_to_drum_up_publicity_for_new_show/
Extremists of a feather.
First, I second OCLonghair's "Ode". Beautifully put. But before I continue the off topic curve: Geoff, I commiserate with you on facing a legal threat, however bogus. It's not fun. I admire how resolute and unflinching you are in continuing to speak the truth and uphold your right to do so. If anyone sues to try to silence a member of the publilc from speaking out its a S.L.A.P. Suit, like what Rutter Development tried to do to a few of us not long ago. They dropped it, of course. It can be big bucks to a citizen because such suits are illegal. Hey, tell Bucher to go ahead, it could be like winning the lottery.
Since the comments wandered back to A.B.L.E. I'll resubmit what I posted late to your last article. I think people should know Newport followed our lead, and did not abandon ABLE because they wanted to. Up until the close of the Costa Mesa hearing, I understood they were still willing to partner with us. Two weeks prior to the Costa Mesa vote I asked Mr. Mensinger and Mr. Righeimer if they would please carefully consider extending ABLE. Jim told me "you have to understand, the thing with Newport is a done deal." I don't know where Jim got that impression, but it was mistaken. I am of the Ronald Reagan school of thought: "Trust, but verify." So prior to the public hearing I spoke with the Newport Beach ABLE Commander and asked if what I heard was true. He answered "No". Newport had talked with HB and the County, but had not signed anything or made any decision. "We are waiting to see what you do tonight." During the public hearing I told Jim and the rest what I had learned. I thought the Newport information and the fact that ABLE was fully funded for the next two years and did not need a cent of new City money might encourage them to keep this needful program in the air. Well, we know what they did that night. One surprise, the vote was 3-2, not 4-1. Leece and Mensinger voted no.
I was in Newport Beach tonight when the very noisy Huntington Beach bird flew over before dusk. After dark, when the illegal bottle rockets started flying all around, they were nowhere near. disbanding ABLE is possibly the most shortsighted action by this reckless and irresponsible council, but it's really hard to pick just one.
Geoff,
Don't worry, you will be able to prove your innocence in court with your own lawyer. Or more correctly, they will have to prove you did it, you won't have to prove anything. That's why we have the justice system we do. The pit bull can sue you all he wants and you can go right into court and defend yourself. Is this a great country or what.
Kent, Oh, yeah. And one of the fun parts of this is that the rules applying to SLAPP lawsuits have very, very significant penalties for those who file such suits to quash free speech.
Keep up the good good work. The truth always wins out. . .may take some time to sweep these powermongers out. . but that's the great part about our country: If you're not happy with the direction, change it by voting in new people.
Speaking of voting and free speech, how about this: we vote with our pocketbooks. By this I mean, "why don't we have people picketing in front of Skosh's" letting all of the city know about his lame leadership. Those are public sidewalks -- certainly would send a message that free speech is alive and well in Costa Mesa.
Pretty sure that would not only get his and his pocket book's attention, but force these fools to understand that they don't run the city -- the people do.
Just a thought.
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