What Was Removed From City Hall Friday?

WHAT'S UP?

Several sources have confirmed that, around the noon hour on Friday, August 9th, an unidentified group of men were observed making multiple trips removing boxes of "stuff" - files, computers and other items -  on carts from City Hall and rolling them to the adjacent Costa Mesa Police Headquarters building.  It is not known whether this movement of materials is related to the placement of two employees on administrative leave last week, nor is it known whether those men moving the materials were city employees or representatives of an outside investigative organization.  Local media outlets have previously reported that the circumstances of those administrative actions would be investigated by an outside organization.

5TH FLOOR ITEMS?

It is presumed, but would not be confirmed by City officials, that this "stuff" was the contents of Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce and his assistant, Christine Cordon's offices on the 5th floor.  I spoke with persons known to be present in the 5th floor Executive Offices at the time, but they would not "confirm" our presumptions.  I had the impression that, under the circumstances, they wouldn't confirm the sky was blue.  Such refusals to confirm the obvious are not unexpected when an investigation is on-going.  If, for example, this was a routine "destruction of records" procedure nobody would feign ignorance - they would admit it and defuse this issue.

EVIDENCE PRESERVATION?

If, in fact, the items removed to the police department were from the Public Affairs offices and, perhaps, elsewhere on the 5th Floor, one might presume they were taken to preserve whatever evidence might be contained therein.  That's just speculation on my part.



MORE SPECULATION

In fact, most of us will speculate that now - even more than we already have since Joyce and Cordon were abruptly placed on leave last Tuesday afternoon - it appears a serious investigation may have been undertaken.  And, if recent history is borne out, we will hear virtually nothing from city officials on this matter - even after it is closed.

HOW FAR UP?

If this issue, as some are speculating, involves misuse of public funds, mistreatment of volunteers and/or violation of rules and ordinances, I have a BIG problem with not disclosing to the public the results of the investigation.  And, if the investigation of this issue leads further up the food chain at City Hall, we are entitled to know about it.  Everybody in that building - including elected officials - works for US, the taxpayers of this community.
   
A FATAL INFECTION?

The longer information is withheld, the more this issue will fester and, continuing the nasty health metaphor, could lead to a fatal infection in the organization.  While a fair, impartial assessment of the facts is very important, timely disclosure of the facts to the public is also important.  We hope those in charge will listen before it's too late.