Mensinger Assails Goldmann

COURTEOUS CRITICISM... 
On June 21st Tamar Goldmann - long-time Costa Mesa resident and renowned Orange Coast College instructor, HERE - published a letter in the Daily Pilot, HERE, in which she criticized the current Costa Mesa City Council for decisions they've been making.  It is not the first such criticism offered by Mrs. Goldmann, who has become a frequent speaker before City Council meetings over the past couple years, nor do I expect it to be the last.

...WITH CLARITY AND PRECISION
Consistent with her personality and training, Mrs. Goldmann delivers her message - whether in person or in writing - with respect, courtesy and clarity.  And, for her trouble, she is frequently interrupted and/or chided by members of the council simply because she disagrees with them.  Her most recent commentary evoked precisely that kind of a response from non-elected councilman and presumed council candidate Steve Mensinger in the pages of the Daily Pilot today, HERE.

A MAN OF SOME "RENOWN", TOO
Mensinger, is also "renowned" by those of us who watch council proceedings - for not paying attention to issues at hand, for his inability to grasp and use the English language and for the difficulty he sometimes has adding numbers like 5+2, for example.  He IS also renowned for tinkering with his cell phone or his Ipad, sending and receiving text messages or emails and surfing the web, while business is being conducted.
WHO?
Back to the business at hand, Mensinger's criticism of Mrs. Goldmann's criticism.  In his first paragraph he identifies Mrs. Goldmann as his "friend", then consistently misspells her name throughout the piece.


SPIN ATTEMPT FAILS

In his second paragraph he quotes Mrs. Goldmann as saying crime is up in Costa Mesa, but doesn't refute her allegation and confirms that "property crimes are up 11%" after saying "violent crime is actually down".  Well, old Steve has not been paying attention, as indicated in the recent rash of violent crimes described HERE.  I'm not sure the older couple on Baker Street who were attacked recently or the young man who was shot in the chest coming to the aid of his father on Cabrillo Street or the jewelers who were robbed at gunpoint a week ago would see things his way.

BUY HIGH, SELL LOW...
Later he attempts to justify the recent decision by the City Council to squirrel away a half-million dollars "just in case" one of the "problem properties" (motels) should come available for purchase.  I guess, based on the comments made from the dais recently, the plan would be to buy a motel, then sell it at a loss to a developer.  Did I mention that Mensinger and his buddy, Jim Righeimer, are developers?

COULD HIRE MORE COPS INSTEAD
That $500,000 would be enough to fund hiring a few more police officers at a time when we sorely need them.  Councilwoman Wendy Leece outlined this from the dais and on her blog OC Public Square, HERE.  Mensinger and his majority on the council have refused to permit Police Chief Tom Gazsi to hire replacements for departed officers or for those officers who will be retiring in the very near future.  It takes at least fifteen months to identify, qualify and train a new police officer and it's becoming VERY difficult to attract "lateral" officers to our department because of the uncertainty of our compensation plans and the hostile work environment this council - including Mensinger - have created.  Despite that, Gazsi has launched a three-part recruitment effort that includes some "hedge" language, just to get the ball rolling.

SAFETY FIRST!
Mensinger, in response to Mrs. Goldmann's comments, tells us that he and the council are "repairing the crumbling infrastructure, repaving pot-hole-laced streets and replanting barren sports fields.", indicating that "These are the type of things that will continue to attract more young families who want to make Costa Mesa their home."  Well, that may be true, but any family - young or old - FIRST wants the city to be SAFE.  Costa Mesa is NOT a safe city today - a fact supported by the numbers.  But then, unless Mensinger takes his shoes off to aid counting, he may not understand those numbers.

WHAT I SAID...
Near the end of his letter Mensinger says, "Tamar makes her living as a teacher, where precession and clarity are essential.  I believe her commentary misses the mark in these areas."  That emphasis is mine and demonstrates precisely what I said at the beginning of this post.  I suspect Mensinger meant "precision", but we'll probably never know.

THE "HEAD FAKE"
In his final paragraph Mensinger tells us the council majority will "address the needs of all the residents, not just the wishes of organized labor."  What he fails to tell you is that this council majority has focused on meeting the partisan political aspirations of the Orange County Republican Party as orchestrated by Scott Baugh and implemented by his pal, Righeimer.  In this effort Mensinger has become a willing dupe - a term I don't use lightly.  His comments are "disingenuous" (see HERE) at best.

PRAISE USED AS A DISTRACTION
As I've observed in the past, when Mensinger begins a comment with glowing praise of an individual - as he did in his letter in the Daily Pilot - that person had better be careful of what's coming next.  That friendly arm on your shoulder is only used to pull you closer so he can slide the stiletto in between your ribs and twist it over and over again.  Beware of the big, sappy grin - that's how it begins.