Sign Truth, Taking August Off And More Boondoggle News
SEEKING THE TRUTH
Friday afternoon I had a chance to speak with Jennifer Muir, Communications Director for the Orange County Employee's Association, to try to get a clarification on the issue of the disappearing "Cancel the Layoffs" signs and the allegations that an armed private investigator hired by the OCEA was going door-to-door, harassing young student athletes and their families.
MANY SIGNS STOLEN OR DESTROYED
First, some background. It is a fact that there have been
hundreds of "Cancel The Layoffs" signs placed around the city in the past several weeks. Some of those have been placed in the public right-of-way within the city while others have been placed in lawns of private citizens. It is also a fact that many of those signs have been removed and/or damaged.
SIGNS STORED SEPARATELY TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS
The previous week I spoke with Chief of
Code Enforcement for the City of Costa Mesa, Willa Bowens-Killeen, about the signs. She advised me that those signs illegally placed in the public right-of-way were removed by members of Code Enforcement and placed in a secure room on the 2nd floor of City Hall awaiting the owners to pay the fine - $15.00 - and reclaim them. I asked her why they were not stored with other confiscated illegal signs in the Corporate Yard and was told that stacks of the "Cancel The Layoffs" signs at the Corporate Yard would prove to be a distraction to the employees who work there, so the decision was made to store them at City Hall.
"INTIMIDATION?" - NO, ACCORDING TO WILLA
When I expressed the view that holding the signs at City Hall might be a form of intimidation for folks who might wish to reclaim them, she told me that, regardless where the signs are stored, individuals wishing to reclaim the signs would first be required to visit City Hall and pay the fine. She also opined that most of the signs will probably not be reclaimed because they cost about a third of the cost of the fine - it would be cheaper to make more signs than to reclaim those that had been confiscated.
THOSE PLACING THE SIGNS KNOW THE RULES
According to Muir, the folks who are placing the signs fully understand the legal placement issues and are charged with removing signs from the public right-of-way at the end of the weekend. They also understand that signs on private property that are not within a prescribed distance of certain public buildings may remain there indefinitely. Her concern is primarily with the signs on private property that have been removed or vandalized.
FOUR OPTIONS
Apparently the OCEA has received dozens of telephone calls from concerned residents who reported their "Cancel The Layoffs" signs were being destroyed or repeatedly stolen. According to Muir, the OCEA felt they had four courses of action available to them to deal with this serious, expensive issue.
1) They could have ignored the reports, but felt that was not a practical option because they wanted the vandalism to stop.
2) They could have gone to the police, but they just wanted the vandalism to stop, not to get anyone in trouble. So, they rejected that option immediately.
3) They could have privately appealed to the City Council to intervene, but their recent experience with the council led them to believe that approach would be fruitless.
4) The final option, which they chose, was to discreetly follow-up on the reports themselves, in an attempt to stop the vandalism while, at the same time, keeping the matter private and avoiding any negative legal repercussions to those who may have been responsible.
NO GUN, NO HARASSMENT
Muir told me that the OCEA did, in fact, engage an experienced and professional pr
ivate investigator to follow-up on a rumors and reports they had received about the thefts and vandalism. During the course of his investigation he left his business card at a number of homes and spoke with several members of the community, including one parent of an Estancia High School football player. She also told me that the investigator spoke very briefly to a teenage member of the football team who answered the door at his home. The investigator reported that the conversation was casual, polite and respectful and lasted about a minute. And, contrary to inflammatory rumors going around town, the investigator WAS NOT carrying a gun. Muir told me he did not interrogate or intimidate the young man or anyone else.
RIGHEIMER'S PUBLIC ACCUSATION
Let me pause here to remind you that Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer, speaking on the dais Tuesday, August 2nd, accused the Costa Mesa City Employee's Association of hiring a "gun-toting private investigator" - a blatant perpetuation of a fabrication. You can view that piece of his rant in the clip below:
WHERE ARE THE COMPLAINTS?
To the best of my knowledge - and I've been following this story closely - no member of the public has come forward to say that they actually saw a gun on the investigator. No complaints to the police have been made public about any threats or intimidation by the investigator. Nor have I seen any public pronouncements by members of the OCEA or the CMCEA specifically accusing members of the Estancia High School football team of this vandalism.
COUNCIL MEMBERS USING "KIDS" AS PAWNS
I do know that Jennifer Muir and her colleagues at the OCEA are unhappy about what they feel are false accusations and the complaints vocalized by council members that the "kids should be off limits". She is especially concerned because it was those council members who brought the young men into this situation by enlisting them in campaign activities - something I've commented on here recently, too.
WHO IS LYING?
I don't know what the truth of this matter is. Unless members of the community who had interaction with the investigator step forward to testify to their personal
observations - not spreading unsubstantiated rumors - we may never get to the bottom of it. If the investigator was not carrying a gun, then for members of the City Council to spread that falsehood throughout the community is, at the very least, inflammatory and irresponsible. Unless he can provide unimpeachable evidence that the investigator was carrying a gun during his investigation, Righeimer owes the OCEA and it's membership an apology for his public statement last Tuesday. If he does provide that proof, then I expect an apology from Muir to me and to the community, as well.
***
COUNCIL TAKES AUGUST OFF
Although there has been no press release announcing it, in last Friday's E-Briefing from CEO Tom Hatch there was a note about the City Council Study Session, scheduled for Tuesday, August 9th, being canceled. I checked the City web site and found a similar note. So, our "overworked and underpaid" City Council will have almost the entire month of August off - five weeks straight before they must appear on the dais. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is the day after the Labor Day holiday, Tuesday, September 6th.
A MIXED MESSAGE? DO YOU THINK!?
But, wait a minute! Didn't Righeimer just chastise the President of the Costa Mesa City Employee's Association, Helen Nenedal, from the dais last Tuesday because "her employees" have so many days off each year? Yes, by golly, I think he did. He specifically referenced sick days and vacation days - as if the employees shouldn't be permitted either of those benefits. How does this square with the council now taking more than a month off? Are they all going to be working the Eric Bever part time, part time schedule now?
MORE BOONDOGGLE NEWS
And, of course, from a previous post we all know that Righeimer is off on a week-long junket to China in 10 days - to the magical city of Ordos. Well, "magical" because it's a brand new city and nobody lives or works there! Just what we need - a sister city with no residents! A tip of the hat to reader "Max", who provided us with some links about this debacle. You can read about Ordos HERE and HERE and see a fascinating video clip below. It sure seems like a curious place to go half-way around the world to develop business, doesn't it?
A "DANA" IN TRAINING? LOOKS LIKE IT
So, what's the real reason for this trip? Is Righeimer taking his family along? Is he going to try to single-handedly solve our debt-with-China issue in a week? Does our trainee President know he's going off on one of those "Dana Rohrabacher" kind of trips? You know, like the one where he joined up with the Taliban in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Come to think of it, didn't Righeimer join his pal, Dana, on just such a junket not too long ago? Sure does look like he's building up his "foreign policy" credibility to pad his resume for a near-future run for a Congressional seat. Maybe the Mayan calendar is accurate, because this sure looks like one sign of the apocalypse. I guess we'll see.
Friday afternoon I had a chance to speak with Jennifer Muir, Communications Director for the Orange County Employee's Association, to try to get a clarification on the issue of the disappearing "Cancel the Layoffs" signs and the allegations that an armed private investigator hired by the OCEA was going door-to-door, harassing young student athletes and their families.MANY SIGNS STOLEN OR DESTROYED
First, some background. It is a fact that there have been
hundreds of "Cancel The Layoffs" signs placed around the city in the past several weeks. Some of those have been placed in the public right-of-way within the city while others have been placed in lawns of private citizens. It is also a fact that many of those signs have been removed and/or damaged.SIGNS STORED SEPARATELY TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS
The previous week I spoke with Chief of
Code Enforcement for the City of Costa Mesa, Willa Bowens-Killeen, about the signs. She advised me that those signs illegally placed in the public right-of-way were removed by members of Code Enforcement and placed in a secure room on the 2nd floor of City Hall awaiting the owners to pay the fine - $15.00 - and reclaim them. I asked her why they were not stored with other confiscated illegal signs in the Corporate Yard and was told that stacks of the "Cancel The Layoffs" signs at the Corporate Yard would prove to be a distraction to the employees who work there, so the decision was made to store them at City Hall."INTIMIDATION?" - NO, ACCORDING TO WILLA
When I expressed the view that holding the signs at City Hall might be a form of intimidation for folks who might wish to reclaim them, she told me that, regardless where the signs are stored, individuals wishing to reclaim the signs would first be required to visit City Hall and pay the fine. She also opined that most of the signs will probably not be reclaimed because they cost about a third of the cost of the fine - it would be cheaper to make more signs than to reclaim those that had been confiscated.
THOSE PLACING THE SIGNS KNOW THE RULES
According to Muir, the folks who are placing the signs fully understand the legal placement issues and are charged with removing signs from the public right-of-way at the end of the weekend. They also understand that signs on private property that are not within a prescribed distance of certain public buildings may remain there indefinitely. Her concern is primarily with the signs on private property that have been removed or vandalized.
FOUR OPTIONS
Apparently the OCEA has received dozens of telephone calls from concerned residents who reported their "Cancel The Layoffs" signs were being destroyed or repeatedly stolen. According to Muir, the OCEA felt they had four courses of action available to them to deal with this serious, expensive issue.1) They could have ignored the reports, but felt that was not a practical option because they wanted the vandalism to stop.
2) They could have gone to the police, but they just wanted the vandalism to stop, not to get anyone in trouble. So, they rejected that option immediately.
3) They could have privately appealed to the City Council to intervene, but their recent experience with the council led them to believe that approach would be fruitless.
4) The final option, which they chose, was to discreetly follow-up on the reports themselves, in an attempt to stop the vandalism while, at the same time, keeping the matter private and avoiding any negative legal repercussions to those who may have been responsible.
NO GUN, NO HARASSMENT
Muir told me that the OCEA did, in fact, engage an experienced and professional pr
ivate investigator to follow-up on a rumors and reports they had received about the thefts and vandalism. During the course of his investigation he left his business card at a number of homes and spoke with several members of the community, including one parent of an Estancia High School football player. She also told me that the investigator spoke very briefly to a teenage member of the football team who answered the door at his home. The investigator reported that the conversation was casual, polite and respectful and lasted about a minute. And, contrary to inflammatory rumors going around town, the investigator WAS NOT carrying a gun. Muir told me he did not interrogate or intimidate the young man or anyone else.RIGHEIMER'S PUBLIC ACCUSATION
Let me pause here to remind you that Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer, speaking on the dais Tuesday, August 2nd, accused the Costa Mesa City Employee's Association of hiring a "gun-toting private investigator" - a blatant perpetuation of a fabrication. You can view that piece of his rant in the clip below:WHERE ARE THE COMPLAINTS?
To the best of my knowledge - and I've been following this story closely - no member of the public has come forward to say that they actually saw a gun on the investigator. No complaints to the police have been made public about any threats or intimidation by the investigator. Nor have I seen any public pronouncements by members of the OCEA or the CMCEA specifically accusing members of the Estancia High School football team of this vandalism.
COUNCIL MEMBERS USING "KIDS" AS PAWNS
I do know that Jennifer Muir and her colleagues at the OCEA are unhappy about what they feel are false accusations and the complaints vocalized by council members that the "kids should be off limits". She is especially concerned because it was those council members who brought the young men into this situation by enlisting them in campaign activities - something I've commented on here recently, too.WHO IS LYING?
I don't know what the truth of this matter is. Unless members of the community who had interaction with the investigator step forward to testify to their personal
observations - not spreading unsubstantiated rumors - we may never get to the bottom of it. If the investigator was not carrying a gun, then for members of the City Council to spread that falsehood throughout the community is, at the very least, inflammatory and irresponsible. Unless he can provide unimpeachable evidence that the investigator was carrying a gun during his investigation, Righeimer owes the OCEA and it's membership an apology for his public statement last Tuesday. If he does provide that proof, then I expect an apology from Muir to me and to the community, as well.***
COUNCIL TAKES AUGUST OFF
Although there has been no press release announcing it, in last Friday's E-Briefing from CEO Tom Hatch there was a note about the City Council Study Session, scheduled for Tuesday, August 9th, being canceled. I checked the City web site and found a similar note. So, our "overworked and underpaid" City Council will have almost the entire month of August off - five weeks straight before they must appear on the dais. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is the day after the Labor Day holiday, Tuesday, September 6th.A MIXED MESSAGE? DO YOU THINK!?
But, wait a minute! Didn't Righeimer just chastise the President of the Costa Mesa City Employee's Association, Helen Nenedal, from the dais last Tuesday because "her employees" have so many days off each year? Yes, by golly, I think he did. He specifically referenced sick days and vacation days - as if the employees shouldn't be permitted either of those benefits. How does this square with the council now taking more than a month off? Are they all going to be working the Eric Bever part time, part time schedule now?
MORE BOONDOGGLE NEWS
And, of course, from a previous post we all know that Righeimer is off on a week-long junket to China in 10 days - to the magical city of Ordos. Well, "magical" because it's a brand new city and nobody lives or works there! Just what we need - a sister city with no residents! A tip of the hat to reader "Max", who provided us with some links about this debacle. You can read about Ordos HERE and HERE and see a fascinating video clip below. It sure seems like a curious place to go half-way around the world to develop business, doesn't it?A "DANA" IN TRAINING? LOOKS LIKE IT
So, what's the real reason for this trip? Is Righeimer taking his family along? Is he going to try to single-handedly solve our debt-with-China issue in a week? Does our trainee President know he's going off on one of those "Dana Rohrabacher" kind of trips? You know, like the one where he joined up with the Taliban in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Come to think of it, didn't Righeimer join his pal, Dana, on just such a junket not too long ago? Sure does look like he's building up his "foreign policy" credibility to pad his resume for a near-future run for a Congressional seat. Maybe the Mayan calendar is accurate, because this sure looks like one sign of the apocalypse. I guess we'll see.Labels: Dana Rohrabacher, Helen Nenedal, Jennifer Muir, Jim Righeimer, Willa Bowens-Killeen
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 8/06/2011 01:51:00 PM
54 Comments:
All you knuckleheads wanted Wendy as Mayor.
Here is what I propose. We send Wendy to China. We evaluate here performance.
Better yet, we send CM 24 TV, and do a reality show.
Think of the ratings and revenue.
This could be big. What should we name it?
Righeimer's big plan: To build his ideal Costa Mesa and destroy the current Costa Mesa, because it's not good enough for him...so he's going to China to get ideas ;)
Yes the ideal Costa Mesa full of underpaid, over worked immigrants who work 14 hours a day in sweat shop conditions with one day off and no vacation or sick days even for things like pregnancy or cancer. What a utopia- for big business and Walmart consumers.
Speaking of Code Enforcement and days off: Willa is about to start her 6th week of vacation this week. Yes, her sixth week in one year! What a JOKE our City employees and their criminal union have become!
I think Righeimer is going to teach the Chinese how to dead beat on their bills, like he has for years. It is amazing how Righeimer and Messenger can be so absolutely two faced. They say the city should be run more like a business. More like one of the businesses that Righeimer failed to pay money rightly owed too.
Righeimer wouldn't make something up like a "gun-toting private investigator" unless he saw a gun right?
A reporter should ask Righeimer, what the gun looked like. It's only fair that Righeimer clears this up since he's going on TV and telling people around town about a gun-toting private investigator.
Righeimer is most likely either lying or spreading rumors. It's in his best interest to clear up his statements.
Max, you are asking the wrong person. It is the Union you should be asking for clarification.
You could confirm that they paid an investigator to go to kids home. If the Union cared of the parent was home. And if the investigator was armed.
The Union has been embarrassingly silent on the issue.
The Union can clarify everything. Why not ask Jennifer Muir?
Max, ask the union...
Did you read this post? I asked Muir and she answered. She said the guy WAS NOT packing heat! Read the darn post!
Riggy lie? You mean like he did about his truck being vandalized by union members? He is nothing, if not a liar. He's a little man with a Napoleon complex.
Messy couldn't tell the truth if he had to. Remember the blame he tried to put on union members when his truck was vandalized by high school kids? He's a little man with a Napoleon complex.
Speaking of Willa- she has been with the city 30 years. Yes, 30 years. Her knowlege of Planning and Development Services is outstanding and second to none. Do not criticize an employee with an exceptional record of service to the City of Costa Mesa. Willa is a gem with entire history of City of Costa Mesa at her fingertips. She has a proven record of leadership.
Why is the OCEA required to pony up the $15 per sign fine when no other political party, realtor, or yard sale violator has ever had to pay any fine to reclaim their signs? Sounds a bit dodgy to say the least.
Once upon a time, Republicans were mostly sane. I remember people like William F. Buckley and his brother James who could carry on a thoroughly researched and reasoned debate for hours on end. Despite weirdness like bow ties and tweed, they were highly intelligent and honest.
Nowadays we have people like Limbaugh bellowing propaganda and nonsense with many people believing this is true conservatism or Republicanism.
Here in Costa Mesa we have little ideological extremists like Riggy and Menssy who call themselves good Republicans.
As I've said before, the one good thing about the rise of the Riggmarshal and his brown shirts is that it's brought out the good, honest, and sane Republicans. People like Sandy Genis, Geoff West, and Wendy Leece. Given the large Republican vs. Democratic voter registration in this part of Orange County, it is obvious that it will take sane Republicans, not Democrats, to save our city from destructive extremism.
The following short piece by former Bush Sr. advisor David Frum, called "Smashing System Doesn't Fix It," is wholly relevant to Costa Mesa:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/01/frum.debt.republicans/index.html?iref=allsearch
Since Muir has lied about so many issues she is not to be believed on anything. Righeimer's claim that he had a gun was unnecessary, it doesn't even matter, the point was a union hired PI was snooping around. Why do the union signs get better treatment anyway? At city yard they are outside and exposed to sun, dirt, and rain. Probably all nice and cozy at city hall. Plus the unions only have to pay the ransom at finance desk and pick them up right there instead of having to make an appointment at city yard to reclaim. Special treatment for the union but of course Gericalut will complain. Complaints are their life. Solutions, uh, not so much.
Patrick..
How long has Willa worked for the city? 28+ years..
As a taxpayer I say to you, Willa, enjoy the time off.. you deserve it..
Do not hate Patrick.
THE PI'S ALLEGED GUN
So is there an independent report of whether or not he had one, or do we need to file this latest claim under "Dubious," along with the Monahan brick, the Mensinger vehicle vandalism, the Costa Mesa Budget Crisis, and Bever's hairdo?
I can't imagine these upstanding men lying to further their own political agenda, as that would be morally reprehensible.
Oh, wait, they've been doing that all along?
I don't believe anything on this blog anymore. This blog posted incorrect information about Mensinger's business past and refuses to apologize for damaging his reputation, so why should I believe any of this? Muir has no credibility, either. She will say whatever it takes to make the union appear squeaky clean.
The only person who has damaged mensingers so called reputation is mensinger himself. He is a well known hot head, bully and lout. I can't believe the school allows him near impressionable youths.
One More:
Now picture the Riggmarshal's face on Walsh:
http://www.politicsplus.org/blog/?p=5550
Joe, I agree. Conservative values are great. However, I don't vote for neo-con new world order types like Righeimer where money and greed are more important than American culture and values. Made in China? Sure, that's great as long as we can make a quick buck. Outsource to illegal immigrants? Sure, that's great too. It's all about reckless quick fixes setting us up for more problems down the road.
I'm not surprised that Righeimer would choose a sister city of a country that ranks high on the corruption scale over one that is one of the lowest:
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results
I hope Righeimer realizes that Ordos, China is a great place for him to move to. The new city looks like a HOA paradise and yet greed is still king. Plus, there is government encouraged abortion, no religious freedom, human rights abuses, and cheap labor. You can also get a look at all of the things America used to manufacture in their factories until it was all outsourced to China thanks to people like Righeimer who will sell us out at the drop of a hat (or for at least a dollar).
No credibility said
I don't believe anything on this blog anymore. This blog posted incorrect information about Mensinger's business past and refuses to apologize for damaging his reputation, so why should I believe any of this?...
Yet, here you are.. Awesome.
No credibility, are you talking about SunCal? Is that the company that Costa Mesa should be more like?
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lehman-resists-suncal-end-run-around-bankruptcy-2011-05-25
feral390, so because he is a bully that makes it OK to post inaccurate information about him, then refuse to acknowledge it? I don't think this blogger intentionally tried to mislead anyone, he was just sloppy. If those of us who oppose the tactics of folks like Mensinger do not take the high ground, we are no different from them.
Geoff,you raise so many provocative topics here! First I want to say how encouraged I was by the eloquence and courage of several speakers at the last Council meeting. Sadly, the Council majority ignored any of their well-reasoned remarks. In a new development, they actively attacked members of the public from the dais. In all the years of council meetings I’ve watched, I’ve never seen Council members call out and demean individuals. The public often criticizes Council, sometimes rudely, but heretofore Council members have retained some dignity and not responded personally to individuals. Obviously the public remarks made them feel very defensive. It was a new low, even for these guys.
By shooting their mouths off about this unverified gun thing they will probably end up shooting themselves in the foot. They jumped the gun with unverified information and it demonstrates more of their irresponsible Fire, Ready, Aim creed: don’t research a thing, no fact finding effort, lets exaggerate, sensationalize and dramatize everything. But these guys are not straight shooters. My opinion is they could have been right on target had they taken advantage of the opportunity differently and used good leadership to teach young adults about values like sportsmanship, respect for private property, respect for differences of opinion in a Democracy, honesty…
It’s true that 100’s of signs were stolen or vandalized—they’ve disappeared from my property 3 times and were ripped up and left in my yard 2 others. The most stupid and dangerous was one time kids threw them in the middle of a busy street where they could have damaged cars. In my opinion the men on council had a great opportunity but failed to lead in a positive direction.
Maybe nocredability understands that if they go against the grain messy may either pull a gun or make fun of their weight.
Mensinger damaged his reputation with his actions and words. Riggy has done the same to his reputation, adding in the non-stop lies he spews on TV, to the press and from the dais. It's embarrassing to have Righeimer representing Costa Mesa.
The hypocrisy and double standard of the councilmen is infuriating.
No Righeimer, you do NOT care!
The first time you uttered " It doesn't matter how many people speak at the podium" at a council meeting that much was crystal clear to me.
We are lucky to have a blog like this because the Daily Pilot doesn't take the time to do the research and ask the questions that Geoff does.
The important point that is being missed is that the story was researched, not left to speculation based on ideology and wishful devotion. But there are people on both sides of our city's complicated issues that will refuse to accept any information that challenges their preconceived notions.
I think the hateful speech and deep rifts that are fracturing our city could be quelled if we all maintained a healthy level of skepticism and open minds. Since we have no paragons of virtue running our city, let's admit their shortcomings when revealed. How we choose to rate the shortcomings is a different topic.
Geoff has done some leg work and unless Mr. Righeimer can do the same and produce proof to contrary, I agree that Ms. Muir, the union, the PI firm and the its investigator, as well as the people of Costa Mesa are do an apology AND an explanation for so reckless a statement.
Through all of these comments one thing remains clear - Costa Mesa Employees Association is doing everything legal that they can do to save their jobs. They are standing up in the face of illegal acts put forth by the council. If one chooses to go back to the council meeting where the council considered the layoffs in March the Attorney for the OCEA told the council that their actions were illegal. The County courts later affirmed that statement.
If any of the readers of this blog were faced with the loss of their employment, termination of their benefits and a threat of losing their retirement how would they react? Would they just roll up their effects and leave the office or would they stand and fight for their jobs.
The employees are fighting for their jobs, it is as simple as that.
Union members, do what you need to do to save your job and City Council please do what ever it takes to save our city.
Those two goals are NOT mutually exclusive...
Max wrote:
" people like Righeimer who will sell us out at the drop of a hat (or for at least a dollar."
Me:
Ironically, there is one person who could turn things around if he had the cogliones:
Gary Monahan.
Despite his disgraceful behavior on the day Huy Pham died and again a couple of weeks ago when he tried to muzzle Terry Koken, Monahan is still the mayor in title.
He could offer a sincere apology for his past mistakes, not only to the people of Costa Mesa, but to Ms. Leece as well.
Then he could take a stand with the city's employees and citizens and stop supporting the Riggmarshal and his henchmen.
People would forgive and call him a hero.
The old Gary who cared about Costa Mesa would be back.
Riiiinng! There goes my alarm clock.
Never mind.
Tell that to the Union
Joe, I totally agree! Monahan used to put Costa Mesa first. I personally think he's one of the better council members we have had over the years. However, that was until Righeimer came along.
Monahan sold out long ago, well before Riggy came calling. I don't think he's a big enough man to take the high road... sorry, couldn't resist.
I think you people have never understood Monahan.
Monahan puts Monahan first.In the past sometimes the city and his own interests weren't mutually exclusive. Occasionally those interests aligned.
I've seen Gary vote directly into his pocket on more times than I can count, bit let me try.......
The towing contracts for his business partners, the banner signs on his business, the lifetime benefits he recieves, the Fairgrounds( Righeimer and he, were pushing that sale from the very begininng), there were people after they threw the deal to FMW that saw Gary at the Swap Meet the very next weekend telling vendors "Don't worry, I'll be running this now". That letter he wrote as Mayor for FMW , even when the city was no longer partnered with them was a clear violation and abuse of staff and office.
Brietbart threw a fundraiser at $250 a plate at that grease pit. Not too mention the CM Taxpayer fundraiser kickoffs. You can bet on it.....Gary has been promised something.
Do you find it interesting that Riggy is going to China and THEIR economy has it's worst day ever? Ha!
Not being from Costa Mesa (thank God), I have never seen Riggie in action until this film clip. Does he understand what a blowhard he looks like?
And, to all of you Riggie supporters: Here is a man who can't keep his lies straight. He hates public employees and hates the public in general because they get in the way of his goals. I am sure he aspires to higher office. Over here in Tustin, we had a mayor that aspired to higher office and he couldn't get off the ground with his own party. I seriously doubt anyone looking at this egotist will want him wandering the halls of the state legislature or Congress, for that matter.
Gericault, that's a very good point. Plus Monahan was in on that 2 person under the radar meeting with Righeimer that decided to recklessly (and likely illegally) issue the layoffs in the first place.
However, wouldn't you agree that Righeimer has done (and will likely do more) damage than any other council person?
I hope we get some good people in 2012 and then just for fun, recall Righeimer even if he has a minority seat.
Strange that the investigator himself hasn't denied he carried a gun.
Gericault/GR:
"I think you people have never understood Monahan."
G,
I pretty much get it. But I also understand that every person has a limit and just maybe Gary has reached his. Maybe the things he's been promised will never make up for the public humiliation of being viewed as a hapless puppet/tool forever.
Maybe he gets that he didn't have to do the wrong thing on 3/17/11 while Riggy and his smirkmarshal appeared at City Hall and made statements.
Maybe he gets that authorities like the State AG and Feds won't let any improprieties that develop just slide by..
And if he's as self-centered as you suggest, maybe he'll be able to see the writing on the wall, reverse course and save himself and our city. I'll take the better result regardless of the motivation..
Randall said...
Strange that the investigator himself hasn't denied he carried a gun.
I am willing to bet any amount of money that the investigator did NOT have a gun.
Hey Joe, I wish it were that way, because it would show character, but I suspect it's $$$. I live next to his bar and business has been lousy for this summer.
Well, very interesting development. I met a former fraternity brother of Mensinger's at a dinner party the other evening. Turns out Mensy had quite a NOSE for partying while at USC. My dinner mate was very open about his time at USC and the fraternity escapades of Stevie boy. I told him about this blog and he said he would be reading and posting soon..
I asked him if there were others that witnessed all the goings on and of course there were. I'm sure Mensinger wouldn't want his kids to do what he did. As I didn't witness this behavior personally, I will leave it to your imagination.
I am quite sure others will pick up on this and WEED out the truth soon.
OCGOP: Thank You for all you have done and we are looking forward to having the voters speak even louder at the next election. Again, as in the past elections, an improver will ascend to council and lead this city to greatness. Return to Reason learned this the hard way. Costa Mesa First may not get it because Wendy won and they don't realize many of us already had cast our absentee ballots before she turned. Without those votes, she loses. McEvoy wins, of course, but only because we didn't run a third candidate, just Righeimer and Leece. We got leeced and in hindsight should have known it because of her vote for 3@50 a year earlier but we believed her lies. Never Again, Don't Stop.
Tommy Trojan,
Your friend can try to post here if he wishes, but your message is as close as we're going to get to your implications here without proof.
Tommy Trojan:
"..fraternity escapades of Stevie boy.."
In light of this I immediately emailed my classmates from college in Florida, and sure enough, there was a Riggy connection!
The problem though is that since it was Florida, there were 144 graduates from our Boss Hog School of Business, the records were last seen in the trunk of an orange Dodge Charger and are now "lost," and we can't identify which graduate may have become the present day Righeimer...
Because Mensinger is now a "public figure" even though in a non-elected position, I plan to delve deeply into what I heard the other evening abut his alleged activities. When next I post, it will be with eye witness accounts. There were many at the dinner party and the stories were flowing..I listened and learned. All of this will be common knowledge (if proven) come election time, 2012.
IF true, he clearly slept through college DARE class. Costa Mesa should know their elected officials.
Tommy Trojan,
As persistent as you might be, don't expect everything you submit on this subject to automatically be posted. Go to the Register or the Daily Pilot of that's your plan - it's not happening here. Proof means exactly that, not quarter-century-old frat boy stories.
Frat boy?
That explains the the continuing trend of PAYING for friends.
Frat Boy HAHAHAHAHA
Pot Stirer: Your point is valid. I will either put up or shut up. I am NOT saying this is fact. However, IF I and/or others prove involvement with drugs (and we WILL be finding out) it doesn't matter if he was just a college boy, it is pertinent to his electibility and credibility so I would hope you would air the info. He is apparently a big influence on local kids after all.
I want to make it clear to all your bloggers, I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS TRUE,ONLY THAT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
This is all so Moonbeam can look over what went wrong with the sale; for when the time comes, and it surely will, for him to do the same. He will use these findings, hoping not make the same mistakes as his predecessor. When he submits to again sale, or maybe follow in the boot-steps of our own wise world traveler and outsource the OCF; he doesn’t want to end up in court like Uncle Arnold… all his ducks in a row.
Nazis’ Geoff, I'm not saying that Quilter use to be a man or that Gericault REALLY means he worships dead German Natzis... but we should surely investigate!
(spelling was intentional... making a point... get over it)
What worries me about this trip to China is that Costa Mesa will probably end up with a higher percentage of foreign property owners that only care about making money off of their investment. We already have a huge problem with absentee landlords. Just imagine if they buy the building the Grant Boys is in. I'm sure they would kick them out in a second for a fast food place or Starbucks. We need to stop Righeimer from ruining our city ASAP.
The Top 10 Reasons Why Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Righeimer Is Traveling To China (drumroll please):
10. He wants to start a 23rd fake Apple store.
9. He heard about how great their HOA laws are.
8. China makes great toupees.
7. He wants to shut down DUI checkpoints worldwide.
6. Foreigners think he tells the truth.
5. He likes how Chinese citizens don't complain about government corruption.
4. He can take a break from all of the 1 finger salutes in Costa Mesa.
3. China needs his help to sell The Great Wall to some friends for $30M tops.
2. China has a government transparency model he wants to learn more about.
1. He wants to sell Costa Mesa to Chinese businesses just to get rid of any shred of dignity Costa Mesa once had.
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