OK, About Those Claims...

 (Photo Courtesy of Kevin Chang, Daily Pilot)

SIGH, IT'S ABOUT TIME...
Well, I suppose it's time to address the issue of the sparsely-attended news conference Thursday at the Newport Beach Superior Court held by John Manly - lawyer for Mayor Jim Righeimer, his wife and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger in their bogus lawsuit against, among others, the members of the Costa Mesa Police Officers Association (CMPOA).  You can read the Daily Pilot article about the news conference HERE.  You can also read an earlier article about the revelation that a GPS tracking device had been attached to Mensinger's truck last year HERE.

FAUX OUTRAGE
The thrust of that news conference was to (1) renew their expression of outrage that a GPS tracking device was apparently attached to the truck driven by Mensinger over a year ago, during his campaign to retain his council seat and, (2) to express new outrage that the CMPOA has asked for their legal costs to be paid by The City.

REALLY, JIM?
You'll find the comment threads on both articles to be enlightening.  Both are lengthy and include caustic comments on both sides of the issues.  I was particularly amused by the complaint of Bootlicker-in-Chief - Planning Commission Chair and President of the Costa Mesa Taxpayers Association (the OC GOP shill organization in Costa Mesa) - Jim Fitzpatrick against the editors of the Daily Pilot for (1) chosing the headline for the latest article and (2) chosing the photograph used to illustrate the event.  In actuality, both perfectly suited the coverage of the event.  I'm afraid Fitzy may be worried that someone might confuse the photo of Manly in mid-rant with him.

RECUSAL IS APPROPRIATE
In a Closed Session at the Costa Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 19th beginning at 4:30 p.m., the council will consider a claim by the CMPOA to pay the fees involved in defending themselves in the lawsuit.  It's my view that neither Righeimer nor Mensinger should be permitted to participate in the discussions or vote on that issue since they clearly have a conflict of interest and potential personal gain involved.  Neither should they be permitted to be involved in the discussions and/or vote on Consent Calendar Item #14, a decision on pay rates that involve members of the CMPOA.

LET THE LEGAL SYSTEM DECIDE
I have no idea how this will all shake out, but if it is PROVEN in a court of law that any member of the Costa Mesa Police Department was complicit in the original bogus DUI call and/or the alleged placement of the GPS device on Mensinger's vehicle, the full force of the law should be imposed on that person or persons.  As far as I know, nobody has presented proof of ANY association with Chris Lanzillo - the PI who made the Righeimer DUI call - and the CMPD.  And, as far as I know, nobody has presented evidence that anyone within the CMPD was in any way involved in the alleged GPS event.

WAIT FOR PROOF

Until then, express all the outrage you wish, but wait for PROOF before attempting to condemn the women and men of the CMPD.  Yeah, yeah - you'll say we're not condemning the rank and file cops, only their "union".  Well, the men and women of the Costa Mesa Police Department ARE the association!  There are no professional "union bosses", lurking in some smoke-filled room strategizing their next move.  When you sue the association you're suing every single member of the CMPD rank and file staff.

(Click on image to enlarge photo)