Mensinger Blasts The Daily Pilot

CHARLIE MOONEY'S COMMENTARY STRIKES A NERVE
Last week Costa Mesa activist Charles Mooney published a commentary in the Daily Pilot titled, "I see shades of Bell in Costa Mesa", which you can read HERE.  In that excellent commentary Mooney provided a sort of mini-primer for the readers, comparing how the whole City of Bell debacle unfolded and provided warning signs for those of us in Costa Mesa who may be asked to consider a charter proposal next year some time.

WE KNEW THEY WOULDN'T LIKE IT
I thought Mooney did a great public service with his commentary, but knew that the current power elite in Costa Mesa wouldn't like it one bit.  I was right.

SYCOPHANTS WAKE UP AND ATTACK
The very first comment posted on Mooney's piece was by sycophant Dennis Popp, the operator of a boring blog that attempts to convince his readers that Jim Righeimer and Steve Mensinger have all the right ideas before they nod off.  He's one of the cadre of Pit Yorkies that yap the party line when opposing views are expressed.  From there it became an experience very much like watching a professional badminton match - back and forth, back and forth with an almost dizzying pace.  As I type this 61 comments have accumulated as both sides of the issue in a spirited "debate".

MENSINGER'S MANTRA
Then today, our mayor pro tem wrote a scathing commentary that is published in the Daily Pilot, too.  It is titled, "Bell-Costa Mesa comparison is irresponsible" and can be read HERE.  In this angry epistle Mensinger doesn't really attack Mooney for what he said more than he attacks the editors of the Daily Pilot for daring to publish an opinion piece that carries a message different from his world view.

OH, NO - SAUL ALINSKY!
He conjures up the specter of Saul Alinsky - he and his pals have been doing that a lot lately to attempt to discredit the opinions of critics - accusing Mooney of ridiculing the current charter process.  His pathetic attempt to debunk Mooney's presentation is almost juvenile as he tries to deflect the readers from the importance of this issue by throwing out red herrings - more "worthwhile debates", as he calls them.  He cites the budget, infrastructure, Fairview Park, unfunded pension liabilities, schools, attracting young professionals and seniors as more important issues than the charter discussion.

MENSINGER MISCHARACTERIZES MOONEY
In his commentary Mooney does not say Costa Mesa is Bell, he provides chapter and verse for the readers to assess how Bell got where it was when the wheels came off as an alert for those paying attention to the current charter process... to be aware of the possibilities of municipal malfeasance if a proper charter is not created.

REALLY?
In summation Mensinger accuses Mooney of "practicing politics as usual" - like he's not with his commentary.  He then says, "But blame lies with the Pilot editors, who should know better.  They are the gatekeepers of the community debate and shouldn't mindlessly publish everything that comes across their desks."

NO VIEWS BUT HIS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED
So, let me see if I've got this right.  The Mayor Pro Tem doesn't want the editors of the Daily Pilot to publish anything he disagrees with, right?  That's how I read what Mensinger wrote.  The editors should not "mindlessly" publish things that express an opinion opposing the current power elite.  How idiotically arrogant!

ALL VIEWS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED
Let me be clear about something.  Because the conversion of Costa Mesa from a General Law city to a Charter City is singularly the most important issue facing this council and the voters today, ANY credible opinion on this issue should be published.  For the editors of the Daily Pilot to do otherwise would be a violation of the public trust.  Heck, they published yours, Steve.

YOUR DECISIONS STINK!
Mensinger complains that Mooney is, "also not a fan of the City Council majority and our attempt to rein in out-of-control local government and reset priorities."  Well, gee, Steve, I wonder why?  Could it be that your decisions actually stink?

WRONG FROM THE BEGINNING
From the very beginning, when you decided to send illegal layoff notices to more than 200 employees that resulted in legal challenges that cost the city millions in unnecessary fees, through almost every single overture you've made since then, each has been stamped with a big FAIL!  The tactics your group uses have caused this once-proud, vibrant city to become an unsafe and toxic workplace for city employees.  They are followed - stalked, as it were - and been forced to work unconscionable overtime hours to compensate for your arbitrary unwillingness to properly staff public safety positions, then are vilified as being greedy for working that overtime!  You've referred to a highly-skilled employee with three decades of dedicated service to the city as a "Jiffy Lube Guy".  You refer to a battalion chief as a "$350,000 firefighter", but neglect to acknowledge that your policies required him to work more than 4,000 hours in a year to provide coverage to keep our residents safe.  I'm having a hard time deciding whether your actions are vindictive or just the result of stupidity - or maybe both.

CHARTER IS MORE IMPORTANT
All those issues Mensinger tries to use as distractions - in his words, "shiny objects" - to shift the focus of the importance of Mooney's message are certainly important.  But, even if taken as a whole, they are nowhere as important to the future of this city than the decision about converting to a Charter City, and the content of that charter.  And the City of Bell debacle demonstrates that very clearly.  If the charter that is being painstakingly cobbled together by the Charter Committee produces a work product that does not address the issues important to the residents of the city - if it is focused on the political priorities of a very small group among us - the results could be every bit as cataclysmic as Bell.

GET A JOB!
Mensinger made an oblique reference to how little council members get paid for meetings that stretch into the wee hours.  Well, perhaps he should get a job to supplement that $904.40 he receives each month like other council members do and quite trying to be a martyr.  He signed up for this gig, so if he doesn't like it, he should step down.  There are several other hardworking members of the community willing to take that seat and do some good with it - not try to tear the city apart.

CRITICS WILL NOT BE SILENCED
So, let Mayor Jim Righeimer and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger be advised.  The opposition views will not cease just because you don't like them.  Critics will continue to express their views, so get used to it.  You both were elected to represent ALL the residents of Costa Mesa - more than 110,000 souls, with varying needs and priorities.  Those people will continue to demand their right to express their views to you.  They have every right to expect that you will hear them with courtesy and not chide them for their willingness to speak out.


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