tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-369074802012-02-02T15:29:32.686-08:00A FEW FACTS AND A LOT OF OPINION ON LOCAL ISSUES COPYRIGHT © 2006 - 2012 GEOFF WEST - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.comBlogger12681100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-54996282776045595242012-02-02T11:05:00.000-08:002012-02-02T13:06:29.367-08:00

DAVIS FIELD IMPROVEMENTS DEDICATED TODAYThis afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., the City of Costa Mesa will dedicate the new, $520,000 improvements at Davis Field, adjacent to Lions Park.REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FUNDS USEDAccording to the press release, funds from the now-defunct Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency were used for those improvements, which include: A new energy-saving state-of-the-art lighting

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-30391060374123815512012-02-01T21:07:00.000-08:002012-02-01T21:13:40.360-08:00

DR. ROBERT BARBOT NAMED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENTIn a press release early this evening the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, through its Director of Communications, Laura Boss, announced that Dr. Robert Barbot will return to the district as interim superintendent. He replaces disgraced convicted felon, Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, who was fired a week ago following his conviction on two felony charges

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-83191487834583738522012-02-01T01:01:00.000-08:002012-02-01T13:03:38.060-08:00

DON'T BLINK...I'll give them this much. This current council majority never ceases to surprise me. I have learned, though, that it's always worth the wait if you stick around until the very end of any meeting because something VERY important is going to be said by one of them. Usually, as was the case last night, it was by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. You can watch the entire proceeding on

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-88000912440235957432012-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:002012-01-30T21:49:16.702-08:00

FINANCES ARE THE FOCUSTomorrow, Tuesday, January 31st, the Costa Mesa City Council will hold a VERY important study session in the council chambers beginning at 4:30 p.m. Public comments are much more limited in Study Sessions - a maximum of 15 minutes is provided for ALL speakers and no comments will be permitted following the discussion of the issues.POLICIES AND FORECASTSFinance and

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-75907886719822896102012-01-29T23:26:00.000-08:002012-01-30T00:07:55.556-08:00

TWO NOTEWORTHY COMMENTARIESThis weekend, the tail-end of a relatively slow news week in Costa Mesa when compared to the past several months, two commentaries appeared in our local newspaper of record, The Daily Pilot, written by two Costa Mesa residents that, individually and together, require your attention.FIRST, CRISSY...Last Thursday afternoon, January 26th, a commentary by Crissy Brooks -

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-80782897665142111702012-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:002012-01-28T10:50:39.706-08:00

LOOKING FOR LAUGHS?Sometimes the "news of the day" just leaves you wishing for a little more levity in your life, right?CHUCKMEISTER AT YOUR SERVICEWell, as I've reminded you many times in the past, my old pal, Chuck Cassity, always provides a little comic relief on his blog, Chuckmeister Unleashed. . His most recent contribution to the enlightenment of our populace is certainly no exception.

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-60986215198226195272012-01-27T22:15:00.000-08:002012-01-30T16:15:53.440-08:00

BIG PENSION NEWSCity of Costa Mesa Communication Director Bill Lobdell issued a press release Friday afternoon announcing that the city's top leaders have volunteered to pay 39% of their pension costs. The text of that press release is below:City of Costa Mesa leaders volunteer to pay 39% of their pension costs, one of the highest employee contributions in the state COSTA MESA, Calif. -

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-36768660747295987692012-01-27T00:38:00.000-08:002012-01-27T22:44:47.322-08:00

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY...It was a busy afternoon in Costa Mesa yesterday.HAMMETT FIELD COMPLEX DEDICATIONFirst, at 4:30 I joined more than fifty other people at the former Farm Sports Complex as it was dedicated to local hero and municipal legend, Jack R. Hammett. HONOR WELL-EARNEDHammett, a former mayor and Pearl Harbor Survivor, has been instrumental in many of the early-day accomplishments Costa

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-55413631990592663482012-01-25T17:04:00.000-08:002012-01-25T22:46:13.514-08:00

AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTA friend forwarded me a link to the web site of the Lunchpail Republicans, a group of my fellow Republicans in Indiana who feel disenfranchised by their party leaders and have decided to do something about it. You can find their site HERE. But, before you click on that link, take a minute to read the rest of this entry and watch the video clip at the bottom.KINDRED

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-15254567535120016172012-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:002012-01-25T15:44:47.085-08:00

PARKS & REC. COMMISSION TONIGHT AT 6:00 P.M.In case you've forgotten, the Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission under the guidance of Chairman Jeff Mathews meets this evening at 6:00 in City Council Chambers at City Hall. They have a slim agenda and only meet every other month, so if you want to see them in action go to City Hall or watch the meeting televised live on CMTV - Channel 24

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-55566438854285501732012-01-24T21:53:00.000-08:002012-01-24T22:03:15.339-08:00

FINALLYIn a closed session late this afternoon the trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District voted unanimously to fire convicted felon, Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, from his position as superintendent of the district. According to the report by Fermin Leal and Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register, HERE, the action is retroactive to Monday, January 23rd. THE PAYOUT...According to

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-27284377288270074922012-01-24T11:34:00.000-08:002012-01-24T21:03:19.318-08:00

MARIJUANA RAIDSAs most of you know, recently several so-called "medical marijuana dispensaries" in Costa Mesa - and the residences of their operators - were raided, the operators jailed and the "product" confiscated. That meant significant financial trouble for each of them, but it appears their trouble is just beginning.FORFEITURE LAWSUITS FILEDThe following is a

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-41713840100273902262012-01-23T21:02:00.000-08:002012-01-23T22:21:00.543-08:00

TEACHER'S UNION LEADER SPEAKS OUTLate this afternoon Kimberly Claytor, President of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers AFT local 1794 issued a press release regarding the conviction of Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, the now-disgraced Superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. The text of that press release follows:*** Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers AFT 1794 Responds to Guilty

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-63021836805279911932012-01-23T14:28:00.000-08:002012-01-24T07:12:00.732-08:00

TOOK MY OWN ADVICEDidja miss me? I took my own advice to you, http://abubblingcauldron.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-that-time-of-year-again.html, and took a few days to visit the magnificent elephant seal colony just north of Hearst Castle on Highway 1. Now is "prime time", with thousands of those critters on the bluff for easy viewing, including at least 1,000 pups born within the past couple

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-29657842354912239802012-01-23T12:54:00.000-08:002012-01-23T13:21:36.683-08:00

HUBBARD GUILTY!In a press release issued by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District minutes ago, it was announced that Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, Superintendent, was found guilty of some of the charges dealing with his time at the Beverly Hills School District. That press release follows:Newport-Mesa USD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard Found Guilty on Two of Three Felony Charges by Los Angeles

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-80422331936343460992012-01-19T00:32:00.000-08:002012-01-19T01:08:44.686-08:00

HOMELESS TASK FORCE, BUT FIRST...I attended the final meeting of the Costa Mesa Homeless Task Force Wednesday evening and will give you my impressions shortly, but first, some tidying-up.COUNCIL STIPENDSIn my last post I mentioned a comment made by City Clerk Julie Folcik at the council meeting Tuesday night. I said it was unusual and that it referred to the council receiving additional pay

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-91778704587970571532012-01-18T02:12:00.000-08:002012-01-18T07:19:43.703-08:00

FINISHED ON TUESDAY!Well, the Costa Mesa City Council is on a roll! For the second meeting in as many weeks they managed to complete their business without turning over the calendar first! They wrapped things up at 10:55 Tuesday - nearly an hour earlier than their meeting on the 10th.RIGHEIMER AND MONAHAN TARDY FOR CLOSED SESSIONIn an evening which saw the preliminary Closed Session start 35

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-86689325643929237512012-01-17T10:15:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:25:50.040-08:00

RUMORS CONFIRMEDFollowing rumors swirling around Costa Mesa yesterday afternoon, this morning Robin Wachner in the Orange County Fair and Event Center Communications Department issued a press release announcing the pending departure of Dr. Steve Beazley from his position as Chief Executive Officer. CONTROVERSIAL PERIOD AS CEOBeazley is a long-term employee who rose to the top slot four years

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-14982825061130035072012-01-16T21:29:00.000-08:002012-01-16T22:47:15.652-08:00

HERE WE GO AGAIN...As mentioned in an earlier post, HERE, Tuesday is another Costa Mesa City Council meeting and this one, like all the others within the past several months, promises to drag out until the late hours of the evening. CHARTER NOT ON THE AGENDAOne thing that is NOT on the agenda is the new, second draft of Jim Righeimer's Charter. I've gone over this new document - it's a

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-73561338834446365772012-01-13T23:50:00.000-08:002012-01-14T15:06:24.394-08:00

SPLIT PERSONALITIES AHEADThe Costa Mesa City Council meeting next Tuesday, January 17th, with the council scheduled to change personalities more often than a runway model changes outfits, that it might seem it suffers from multiple personality disorder. More about that shortly. HARBOR SOARING EXTENSIONI already mentioned the Warrants and thoroughly vented my spleen on the subject of legal

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-64921519347726130262012-01-13T17:06:00.000-08:002012-01-13T17:26:47.125-08:00

INCOMPLETE AGENDA AVAILABLE FOR VIEWINGThe agenda for the Costa Mesa City Council meeting next Tuesday, January 17, 2012, was released earlier today. Unfortunately, as I type this several staff reports are not available for review yet. In hindsight, I should have known better than to tackle this today...WARRANTS AVAILABLEHowever, the Warrants that are part of the Consent Calendar - that

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-3542354102222017542012-01-13T15:41:00.000-08:002012-01-17T16:24:11.779-08:00

WHERE'S THE PEA? Trying to keep up with all the schedule changes with Costa Mesa meetings these days is kind of like watching a shell game. Remember the old shell game? You know, the one where the guy has three walnut shell halves and a pea and keeps moving the pea from one to another to another until he's sure you've lost track - then asks you to bet on which

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-36734839236209566432012-01-13T08:59:00.000-08:002012-01-14T08:47:14.058-08:00

ROAD TRIP!Some of you will be looking for something to do with your kids this long Martin Luther King holiday weekend, so here's my annual suggestion for you... Jump in the car and motor on up to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal colony for an experience you and your kids will NEVER forget.PIEDRAS BLANCAS ELEPHANT SEALS ARE WAITINGI've written about this experience several times in the past,

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-77142390793362293412012-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:002012-01-12T11:19:04.572-08:00

OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETYIn a press release today the Costa Mesa Police Department announced the receipt of very significant grant funding from the Office of Traffic Safety to be used to improve traffic safety in our city. I've published the text of that press release below, but the titles and emphasis is mine.GOOD NEWS FOR US ALLThis is more good news for the residents of Costa Mesa and the

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-35771948894181746822012-01-11T14:50:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:44:37.494-08:00

MARATHON OR NOT?We learned a few things during last night's marathon Costa Mesa City Council meeting. Is it still a "marathon" if it ends short of midnight? Last night they finally wrapped things up at 11:50, so maybe it was only a "mini-marathon" I just know that I was thoroughly wrung out, having arrived at council chambers at 4:45 to be sure I had a place to sit. You can watch the

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-52286346350124649022012-01-11T08:57:00.000-08:002012-01-11T09:10:21.979-08:00

MORE STRANGE DAYSAt the beginning of what turned out to be yet another surreal evening in the Costa Mesa City Council chambers, an unanticipated large crowd heard legal counsel Celeste Brady describe the pending demise of the Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency."TIME" FOUL-UP PRODUCES A CROWDI say "unanticipated" because most Redevelopment Agency meetings are attended by only a few of us "usual

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-19669725127442347152012-01-09T23:59:00.000-08:002012-01-10T08:45:45.692-08:00

BRAIN TRUST TO MEET AND PLOT...According to a source close to the Orange County Republican Central Committee, that group will meet on January 16th and consider an agenda that will consider three additional endorsements. They will support an ineffectual, lame current Assemblyman, a "union-busting" initiative and furthering their takeover of the City of Costa Mesa. Those endorsements are:

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-61498535801287768932012-01-08T22:41:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:26:57.155-08:00

A LESS-HECTIC WEEK AHEAD?The week beginning Monday, January 9th could not possibly be as hectic as the previous one, which had three meetings of major importance to Costa Mesans on three consecutive nights. This week there are only two biggies - piece of cake for those of us who actually attend them. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MONDAYMonday the Planning Commission

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-22800461870792746532012-01-08T10:50:00.000-08:002012-01-09T18:58:03.070-08:00

THE QUESTION OF THE DAYJust how desperate is Gary Monahan to get re-elected to his council seat next fall? I think that question answered itself today.HOSTING A POT RALLYToday, Sunday, January 8, 2012, our Mayor will host a rally from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at his gin mill, Skosh Monahan's, apparently in support of the many medical marijuana dispensaries that infest Costa Mesa these days.KOCI

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-80458496252790894742012-01-06T13:43:00.000-08:002012-01-06T22:07:19.640-08:00

SPEED BUMPS ON THE ROAD TO NIRVANAThis morning Interim Communication Director Bill Lobdell issued a press release, the text of which will be found below, that presents us with links to 66 suggestions and proposed amendments to Jim Righeimer's Charter. The link also includes the text of that first draft - the cut and paste version that he's trying to foist off on the voters of this city as

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-47635981473299868302012-01-06T01:22:00.000-08:002012-01-06T10:42:54.633-08:00

HAVING FUN IN HUNTINGTON BEACHIf you thought some of the "outsourcing" City Council meetings in Costa Mesa last year were raucous, you should have been at the meeting about the 19th Street Bridge at Eader Elementary School in Huntington Beach last night! Holy Cow! Once the meeting got underway the crowd was noisy and impatient, alternately cheering and jeering and shouting out at speakers.

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-23845287763896664492012-01-05T01:47:00.000-08:002012-01-05T11:02:04.790-08:00

MOORLACH'S MEETINGAs previously mentioned, tonight, Thursday, January 5, 2912, Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach will conduct a town hall-type meeting in Huntington Beach at which the possibility of the construction of a bridge over the Santa Ana River between 19th Street in Costa Mesa and Banning Avenue in Huntington Beach will be discussed.EADER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLThe meeting has been

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-80596417762341560162012-01-05T00:21:00.000-08:002012-01-05T10:12:05.933-08:00

LACK OF INTEREST = A RIGHEIMER WINIf the turnout at the informational meeting on the proposed City Charter at the Neighborhood Community Center last night is any indication, Jim Righeimer's plot to takeover the city is a slam dunk. Wednesday night fewer than 100 residents showed up to gather information on this scheme and to leave comments. The City staff members counted 90 heads that were

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-37857167776672111062012-01-04T16:14:00.000-08:002012-01-05T11:09:37.684-08:00

AND THE NEW YEAR GAMES BEGIN...The Costa Mesa City Council meeting last night was another interesting adventure in municipal governance.RIGHEIMER ABSENTThe proceedings began on time, but without Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer in attendance. No mention was made about his absence, but that's OK. As it turned out, considering his penchant for long-windedness, had he been there the meeting would

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-10945829588366998602012-01-03T15:41:00.000-08:002012-01-04T01:36:46.096-08:00

IN ANTICIPATION...OK, sports fans.... just in case I'm too thrashed from tonight's City Council meeting to post anything, here's a reminder.INFORMATION ONLYTomorrow, Wednesday, January 4th, the City Staff will present an informational meeting on the proposed Charter scheme being pushed by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 7:00 at the Neighborhood

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-16997699301028016212012-01-02T23:12:00.000-08:002012-01-02T23:27:33.347-08:00

DOWN!... SET!... HUT! HUT! HUT!Oops, sorry... too much football this weekend. Of course, when your a college football fan, there's no such thing as "too much football". What an exciting weekend!FIRST MEETING OF THE YEARTuesday the Costa Mesa City Council holds its first meeting of the new year and, as I've mentioned in an earlier entry, it's full of interesting items. Suffice it to say that

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-3083820982928819072012-01-01T23:26:00.000-08:002012-01-02T11:35:45.973-08:00

HERE WE GO AGAIN...Happy New Year to you all. Now it's time to take a big breath and get ready for 2012 because, as I've mentioned before, this year's going to be another doozy!KUDOS, PILOTEERSKudos to our friends at the Daily Pilot for beginning the year (or ending it, depending on when you read these articles) by publishing in print this morning (online last night

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-37193168128679700262011-12-31T00:28:00.000-08:002011-12-31T08:54:02.520-08:00

FINALLY!Well, the much anticipated DP 103, the Daily Pilot's annual roster of folks and things the editors feel have been influential in the Newport-Mesa communities has been published. Those of you who subscribe to the Los Angeles Times and, as a result, also receive the Daily Pilot should find that segment in your morning newspaper. For those who do not, you can read the list online HERE

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-65936186391633566052011-12-28T21:21:00.000-08:002011-12-31T08:49:05.794-08:00

THEY'RE RUNNING...For the residents of the City of Costa Mesa the new year will break fast out of the gate. Before the year is two weeks old residents will have at least four very important meetings to consider. Here's a rundown on each.FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF NEW YEAROn Tuesday, January 3, 2012 the City Council will hold its first meeting of the new year. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-62711285868367521592011-12-23T10:23:00.000-08:002011-12-23T10:47:44.736-08:00

SIMMERING, BUT STILL FUMINGWell, folks, it's time to turn the old Cauldron down to simmer again for the holiday. I'm not sure how much I'll be posting between now and the new year, but, before I bank the fire and let the embers retain the heat, there are still some things that need to be said.NOTHING LIKE IT BEFOREIt's been a very stressful year in Costa Mesa, my

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-84171128606704789132011-12-22T12:39:00.000-08:002011-12-22T13:00:30.141-08:00

SLOWING NEWS...OK, folks... we're getting closer to Christmas and the news is slowing down..CITY HALL HOLIDAY CLOSURESToday Bill Lobdell, who is still Interim Communication Director for the City of Costa Mesa, sent a little love note out to let us know that City Hall will be closed from December 26th through January 2nd. He also advised that there will be a small number of employees on duty

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-54974160344103996382011-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:002011-12-21T11:35:30.715-08:00

THE 19TH STREET BRIDGE!Looks like you just can't keep a bad idea down. Now it's the 19th Street Bridge over the Santa Ana River between Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach.SCHEDULE CONFLICT RESOLVEDIn an earlier post I mentioned the Charter informational meeting. Well, since Monday the Costa Mesa city staff has been scrambling to re-schedule that meeting from the original date on January 5th

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-14829155737504517852011-12-21T10:27:00.000-08:002011-12-21T10:39:40.893-08:00

CHARTER MEETING MOVED UPThe City of Costa Mesa, through Interim Communication Director Bill Lobdell, this morning issued a press release announcing an informational meeting on the proposed Charter City scheme being pushed by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. This will be the first - and maybe the only - such meeting as Righeimer tries to fast-track this issue to get it on the June, 2012 ballot.

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-62687247520154788062011-12-19T18:01:00.000-08:002011-12-19T18:08:06.099-08:00

GOOD BUDGET NEWS FOR A CHANGEIn a press release today the City of Costa Mesa announced that it had recorded a budget surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011 of $3.8 million. This is good news, since members of the current City Council have been wailing about our dire financial condition, with the word bankruptcy frequently mentioned by them and their sycophants in the Costa

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-6982721886741244392011-12-19T10:01:00.000-08:002011-12-19T10:07:31.159-08:00

SANTA AT CITY HALLLast night, Sunday, we cruised past City Hall with our dinner guests to show them the Snoopy House display and found the place humming with activity. It apparently was the first night of Santa's visits - he's going to be there each night through December 23rd - and there were around 40 people in line with their small children, patiently waiting to see that "jolly old elf".

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-63096469012124022232011-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-19T00:14:46.272-08:00

I AM ONE LUCKY GUY... Yesterday, as most of my wife's wonderful family gathered at our home for our annual Christmas brunch, I looked around that crowd of terrific people with whom I've shared the holidays for more than four decades and realized what a very lucky man I am. Her three brothers are successful businessmen, loving husbands, fathers and grandfathers and

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-29933144721254816902011-12-17T00:59:00.000-08:002011-12-17T01:03:03.536-08:00

FEELIN' GRUMPYWith just 8 days to go until Christmas I'm feeling more like The Grinch than one of Santa's elves these days, so I find myself in need of some "perking up". After all, I don't want that jolly old fella to leave me a lump of coal in my stocking, do I? SMILES GUARANTEEDSo, here's a little early Christmas cheer for you. I gave you this "gift" a couple years ago, so you might

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-31466825066940954632011-12-16T00:28:00.000-08:002011-12-16T00:48:18.485-08:00

GOOD-BYE, SNOOPY - HELLO, GRINCHWell, nobody is going to mistake Orange County Employee Association (OCEA) General Manager Nick Berardino for "Old Saint Nick"! Less than 48 hours after the euphoric launch of the Snoopy House display, which brought together hundreds of Costa Mesans on the City Hall lawn to sing Christmas carols and praise The City for salvaging that important piece of Costa

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-74241682057830562322011-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:002011-12-15T17:17:00.212-08:00

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT...Yeah, you're right. I just can't get enough of this Snoopy House Christmas spirit. Sorry, it's infectious.VIDEO CLIP NOW AVAILABLEThe City of Costa Mesa has produced a 23 minute video clip of the festivities Tuesday evening when the Snoopy House display was officially launched. You can view that clip HERE. REPLAY SCHEDULEYou can also watch it on Costa Mesa TV,

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-50533348082152093992011-12-14T09:19:00.000-08:002011-12-14T09:24:50.035-08:00

MORE FODDER FOR THE PENSION CANNONAt the risk of ripping off the scab that has been trying to form on this open wound here in Costa Mesa, today I present to you - without editorial comment - the response CalPERS issued yesterday to a recent Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research study. According to news reports HERE and HERE, this study, released yesterday, studied California's

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-41643533289007784172011-12-14T01:09:00.000-08:002011-12-14T08:31:43.221-08:00

FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWSIn a year which has seen the City of Costa Mesa in turmoil - with budget concerns causing new council members to initiate ill-advised and illegal schemes to outsource most city services and issue premature layoff notices to nearly half the staff and political opportunists attempting to re-construct city government - it looks like it might draw to a close with positive

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-78660255649088434032011-12-13T10:28:00.000-08:002011-12-13T14:26:57.024-08:00

SLOW NEWS PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIESExcept for the great community "coming together" event - the placement of the Snoopy House on the lawn at City Hall - it's been a pretty slow news week so far. (Grand Lighting event at 5:30 today) That gives us a chance to look around and see what's happening in other arenas of local interest.SANITARY DISTRICT MEETING THURSDAYOn Thursday, December 15th, the

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-76208718926241562842011-12-12T12:17:00.000-08:002011-12-12T12:33:37.931-08:00

SNOOPY HOUSE GRAND UNVEILING TOMORROWIn a press release this morning Interim Communications Director Bill Lobdell announced that the Snoopy House display on the front lawn of the Costa Mesa City Hall will have a Grand unveiling and lighting ceremony tomorrow, Tuesday, December 13th at 5:30 p.m.HARD WORK PAID OFFVolunteers worked tirelessly over the weekend to construct the various components

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-29894820998513000282011-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:002011-12-10T22:02:09.196-08:00

CHECKING THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSAlthough we had a prior social engagement out of town, my wife and I made a stop at City Hall this morning around 10:30 and found a veritable beehive of activity, with many volunteers working hard to get the various components of the Snoopy House display placed on the lawn. Among the hardworkers I saw Steve

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-26432885899967090222011-12-09T16:34:00.000-08:002011-12-10T17:14:53.106-08:00

LOOKING FOR PROGRESSI took a quick trip to City Hall this afternoon to see what progress was being made with the placement of the Snoopy House displays on the front lawn. If all goes well, the construction will be completed over this weekend and the grand lighting ceremony will take place on Tuesday.NOT ALONE SNOOPING AROUNDI found the various components - or, at least, most of them, scattered

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-34980679636618729462011-12-08T23:34:00.000-08:002011-12-08T23:47:43.924-08:00

JUMPING THE GUNWhile Costa Mesa - the city he's trying to take over - is in turmoil, with illegal outsourcing and a complete re-vamp of the city municipal government structure by the imposition of a Charter, carpetbagging Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer is on the campaign trail!RE-FILLING HIS COFFERSYep, even though his term does not end until 2014, Righeimer is having a fund raiser next week.

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-13542903090095964442011-12-08T22:37:00.000-08:002011-12-08T22:44:04.267-08:00

HERE'S A CHANCE TO GET IT BACK...OK, boys and girls... looking for a way to REALLY get into the old holiday spirit AND dredge up some wonderful memories from your youth? Well, have I got a deal for you!BILL MEDLEY IN CONCERT!Next week, on Thursday, December 15, 2011, Santa Ana High School presents 1958 alumnus and American music icon, Bill Medley, in concert one night only to benefit the

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-72858374997123019662011-12-08T21:53:00.000-08:002011-12-09T09:00:05.013-08:00

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEERIn a press release this afternoon, the text of which is below, Interim Communications Director announced that volunteers are needed for a variety of activities related to the set-up, operation and tear-down of the Snoopy House display on the City Hall front lawn. Here's the text:The Jordan family—whose Eastside home was the site of the famous

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-33468167067960072362011-12-07T16:25:00.000-08:002011-12-08T09:01:17.143-08:00

A DAY TO REMEMBER...I cannot let this day fade without recalling that this day, December 7, 2011, is the 70th anniversary of the attack by the Japanese Empire on our Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - the attack that launched us into World War II. That conflict, both in Europe and in the Pacific, eventually took more than 400,000 American lives during the slightly more than three and a

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-82832966056971807182011-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:002011-12-08T08:47:26.157-08:00

IT STARTED OUT WARM AND FUZZYI had a good feeling about last night's City Council meeting when it started - before a standing-room-only crowd - with a presentation to a Pop Warner Flag Football team - a group of tykes coached by a city employee who had an outstanding year. Members of the League Champion Estancia High School Eagle football team - all dressed up in their traveling blazers -

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-52597264932190599292011-12-05T13:45:00.000-08:002011-12-05T13:48:52.855-08:00

CITY SAVES A HOLIDAY ICONIn a press release this morning, Interim Communications Director Bill Lobdell advised the world that Charlie Brown has been saved! Here's the text of that announcement:COSTA MESA, CALIF. - There will be a Charlie Brown Christmas in Costa Mesa after all this year, thanks to a deal struck today by the City and Jim Jordan, whose family for 44 years has put up an elaborate

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-32130888930810485112011-12-05T11:27:00.000-08:002011-12-05T11:52:26.548-08:00

SLOWING DOWN, BUT STILL EVENTFULDecember promises to be a slow month for City business, but it hasn't screeched to a halt just yet. Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, December 6th, the City Council will meet in what should be their final scheduled meeting of the year. The agenda has been published and there likely will be some interesting discussions before they adjourn for 2011. Wednesday there

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-72042593122342704152011-12-04T11:18:00.000-08:002011-12-07T02:16:40.536-08:00

HE DID IT!At noon on Saturday a couple dozen of Kent Treptow's friends and family members, including his "five readers" (running inside joke), met him along the shore at Huntington Beach as he finished his solo trek across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific.(Greeting Friends)(Maybe more) BREATH-TAKING! (Tracking the journey) (The Friends) As one who was among those "

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-57057471638321676472011-12-02T16:08:00.000-08:002011-12-02T16:13:18.454-08:00

FRANCIS HIRING CONFIRMEDIn a press release late today, Interim Communication Director Bill Lobdell confirmed what we reported HERE yesterday - that Supervisor John Moorlach's Chief of Staff, Rick Francis, has been hired as Costa Mesa's Assistant Chief Executive Officer. According to Lobdell, Francis will be paid $144,048 in annual salary. The complete text of Lobdell's press release follows:

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-36265213954793030772011-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:002011-12-02T15:48:54.865-08:00

UH-OH, BRUINS!First, tonight the hapless UCLA Bruins, under the guidance of lame duck coach Rick Neuheisel, travel to Eugene, Oregon to play the vaunted Oregon Ducks in the first ever Pac-12 Championship game. If the Bruins' performance against USC last weekend is any indication - I think it is - the 50 points the Trojans scored on them will be nothing compared to the thrashing the Ducks

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-29169902101479706272011-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:002011-12-01T10:27:56.210-08:00

RICK FRANCIS AS COSTA MESA ASSISTANT CEO?In an entry today, HERE, Voice of OC Managing Editor Norberto Santana, Jr., announced that Supervisor John Moorlach's chief of staff, Rick Francis, has been selected as the new Assistant Chief Executive Officer for the City of Costa Mesa.A STEP BACK?This is an interesting turn of events since this move can only be viewed as a step backward in Francis'

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-81661403451367010442011-11-30T22:55:00.000-08:002011-11-30T23:07:18.553-08:00

WAKE UP, GUYS!Yoo Hoo, City Council! Are you paying attention? Remember these names - Michelle Simpson and Bonnie Copeland. They've provided the womb for yet another group of concerned residents to meet, talk and strategize about issues important to them. It will be interesting to see what happens to this embryo of concern.NEW FACES, NEW ANGERBased on reports from the scene, last night an

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-49119215903838206222011-11-30T11:22:00.000-08:002011-11-30T12:24:36.101-08:00

NOW IT BEGINS!In a Daily Pilot commentary online HERE, Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer tells us that he's going to propose to the City Council that they immediately begin the process of converting Costa Mesa from a General Law city to a Charter City. We reported on his plan to do this HERE and in a commentary in the Daily Pilot HERE.NO SURPRISEThis move comes as no surprise, but, like

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-77022002658582849522011-11-29T00:53:00.000-08:002011-11-29T01:06:15.792-08:00

THINGS ARE SLOW, BUT NOT COMPLETELY STOPPEDIn an earlier post I mentioned that this was a slow week for City business, but it's not completely devoid of activity.SANITARY DISTRICT MEETING WEDNESDAYFor example, on Wednesday, November 30th, the Costa Mesa Sanitary District - those wonderful folks who pick up our trash and make sure our sewers work - will hold their regular meeting at District

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-35862687565255696962011-11-28T19:30:00.000-08:002011-11-28T19:38:28.547-08:00

"CELEBRATE COSTA MESA"Late this afternoon Interim Communication Director, Bill Lobdell, announced the inaugural Celebrate Costa Mesa photo contest. The text of his announcement is below. OH, BOY!...This could be a lot of fun, especially if you decide to enter the "Altered images" category. That presents so many opportunities that it already has me salivating. THE ANNOUNCEMENT...COSTA

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-10584974412989685022011-11-27T00:25:00.000-08:002011-11-27T00:33:25.851-08:00

STILL DROWZY...I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you're like me, you are still suffering from the tryptophan stupor that gorging on too much turkey creates. You have my sympathy...ALL FOOTBALL, ALL THE TIMEMy solution was full-immersion football-watching for two, going on three, days straight. It might not help the stupor, but the football was great - especially the USC-UCLA

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-28160916210066630792011-11-22T20:06:00.000-08:002011-11-22T23:18:50.153-08:00

GOOD NEWS FOR COSTA MESA EMPLOYEESIn a decision guaranteed to make Thanksgiving just a little nicer for employees of the City of Costa Mesa, today Judge Barbara Tam Nomoto Schumann rejected a request from lawyers for the City to dispose of two of the four causes of action in the lawsuit filed on behalf of city employees. You can read the Daily Pilot report on this decision HERE.OCEA STATEMENTAs

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-39812122337536945472011-11-18T21:18:00.000-08:002011-11-18T21:22:10.934-08:00

ANTICIPATING THANKSGIVINGThis weekend begins what is normally a big vacation time for us, so the old Cauldron will be turned down to simmer for a few days. I might post something - or not - for the next few days. It also might take just a little longer for your comments to get posted as we do Christmas shopping.SOMETHING TO PUT YOU IN THE MOODWe here at A Bubbling Cauldron hope you all have

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-46479956674661788392011-11-17T15:18:00.000-08:002011-11-17T15:24:19.452-08:00

NOW AVAILABLEOur friends, Dane Bora and Brad Long of Costa Mesa Television, have released the coverage of the epic "Battle of the Bell" football game between Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools that was played on Friday, November 11, 2011. SCHEDULE FOLLOWSTheir coverage of the game, plus some bonus footage of halftime activities provided by each high school, is now up and available for

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-33596891161872313832011-11-17T11:27:00.000-08:002011-11-17T11:33:55.709-08:00

UNANIMOUS VOTE TODAYSources from the meeting of the 32nd District Agriculture Association (Orange County Fair Board) today advised me that the Board voted unanimously to rescind the termination notice previously issued to four-decade swap meet operator, Tel-Phil Enterprises. Apparently Dave Ellis and Dale Dykema were absent from this meeting. Sounds to me like they were able to wet their

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-81058863785248194132011-11-16T22:25:00.000-08:002011-11-16T22:34:26.038-08:00

COMMISSIONERS SAY NO!Tonight the Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission, after hearing significant public input, denied the request from the Harbor Soaring Society to more than double the graded area they currently use as a "flying field" in Fairview Park. In a motion initiated by commissioner Ethan Temianka, the commissioners did approve the one-year extension of their

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-75171645205662631212011-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:002011-11-18T09:06:23.053-08:00

UNBELIEVABLE!Sometimes I leave Costa Mesa City Council meetings just shaking my head in disbelief. Last night was one of those times. There's so much to talk about and so little space! So, with a deep sigh, here we go...AS PREDICTED...As mentioned in an earlier post, the meeting was preceded by a special closed session to discuss labor negotiations. As I speculated earlier, this was done

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-33315416133228164882011-11-15T14:25:00.000-08:002011-11-15T14:48:48.841-08:00

FINAL REGULAR MEETING THIS YEARTomorrow, Wednesday, November 16th, the Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission will hold it's final regular meeting of the year beginning at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. (There is supposedly a joint meeting with Newport Beach folks to discuss the re-landscaping of the median along Irvine Avenue where more than 100 eucalyptus trees were removed

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-30102519144160967232011-11-15T00:20:00.000-08:002011-11-16T08:45:55.203-08:00

PLANNING COMMISSION ASKS FOR STAFF TIMEOK, before we launch off into the discussion of Tuesday's City Council agenda, some unfinished business. The Planning Commission voted to request staff time to work on two items covered in the previous post - Commercial Vehicles parked on city streets and Garage Conversions. It was VERY clear from the discussion of the former that Colin McCarthy wants

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-6303273785994770382011-11-14T10:32:00.000-08:002011-11-14T10:44:11.907-08:00

BUSY WEEK AHEAD AT CITY HALLIf you watched the Costa Mesa Minute this morning - over there on the right side of this page - then you saw Dane Bora tell us that we've got an extraordinary menu of meetings this week. Today the Planning Commission meets at 6:00 in City Council Chambers. Tomorrow the City Council meets at the same time in the same venue and on Wednesday the Parks and

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-8242591446608012012011-11-13T00:20:00.000-08:002011-11-13T00:32:19.900-08:00

CIVIL THINKING...Bruce Krochman, operator of the Civil Thinking blog, has kept a pretty low profile in recent months. He doesn't post very frequently on his blog, so we get out of the habit of checking in on it. However, when he does post it is always worth reading and considering, just as are his occasional comments posted here. They always enhance the discussion of important

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-62458240651803114022011-11-12T11:05:00.000-08:002011-11-12T11:14:19.283-08:00

BARBARA REPORTS A TRUCEIn her column in the Orange County Register today, the vivacious, bodacious and sometimes efficacious Barbara Venezia has reported that there that the rolling boil of antagonism between Jeff and Bob Teller, the operators of the Orange County MarketPlace and their landlords, the 32nd District Agriculture Association Board (Orange

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-59322596558143201232011-11-10T22:32:00.000-08:002011-11-10T22:42:42.429-08:00

REMEMBERING BRAVERY AND SACRIFICEOnce again we celebrate Veterans Day - a day when we should pause to remember the men and women who have served our country with pride and valor, both during times of war and in peace time. This link may help you understand this holiday. And, if you need a little more information, this short video clip from the History Channel will help you understand what

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-81445910122933283382011-11-10T00:45:00.000-08:002011-11-10T23:06:08.529-08:00

KUDOSThe Town Hall meeting hosted by councilwoman Wendy Leece Wednesday night at Pomona Elementary School in Costa Mesa was a success. It was a standing-room-only crowd, with more than 150 people in attendance and at least half of those were Latinos, including many families.OFFICIALS ATTENDINGOfficials in attendance included councilwoman Leece as the moderator, plus Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-55661652731087710502011-11-09T01:01:00.000-08:002011-11-09T01:05:51.421-08:00

MY PREVIOUS ENTRY....In an entry last week, HERE, I mentioned that there might be a move afoot to pave over part of Fairview Park - a section that includes protected vernal pools. I identified that section as being near Estancia High School and the Waldorf School. I mentioned that this issue would be on the Parks and Recreation Commission agenda next week.NOT ONLY 'NO', BUT...Tuesday I

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-3021758529012880822011-11-08T09:58:00.000-08:002011-11-08T10:05:24.394-08:00

JUST A REMINDER FOR YOUTomorrow, starting at 7:00 p.m., councilwoman Wendy Leece and Mika Development Corporation will hold a Town Hall at Pomona Elementary School. The specifics of this public outreach event is included on the flier below. To the best of my knowledge, no other member of the City Council plans to attend this event. (Click on the image to make it bigger)

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-15035558126291960122011-11-07T22:10:00.000-08:002011-11-07T22:22:21.577-08:00

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOWA few weeks ago Costa Mesa resident, educator and frequent speaker before the City Council, Tamar Goldmann, addressed the council with a long list of questions dealing with the outsourcing scheme in our city and some that are, in some way, related to that subject. Ms. Goldmann has shared the reply she recently received from Interim

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-40575026359929424242011-11-07T00:55:00.000-08:002011-11-07T22:34:00.392-08:00

THE REGISTER'S BURIED PENSION TREASURESunday's Orange County Register was a treasure trove for those among us who believe drastic action must be taken to reform pensions in California.GREENHUT ON BROWN'S PENSION PROPOSALSSteven Greenhut, editor of www.calwatchdog.com, presents us with a commentary on the editorial pages titled "Odds against Jerry on pensions", HERE, that addresses Governor

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-17600677238337524472011-11-05T23:56:00.000-07:002011-11-07T10:15:42.655-08:00

"TRANSPARENCY" IS A LITTLE BIT OPAQUEDespite all this "transparency" stuff, it's getting harder and harder to figure out what's going on at Costa Mesa City Hall these days.*NOTE: In response to my inquiry last week, CEO Tom Hatch informed me early Monday morning that the change in the Tuesday schedule was his idea. Apparently the issues he had planned to present were not quite ready due to the

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MORE OF ME ON THE "CHARTER CITY" ISSUEOK, by the time most of you locals read this on Friday you may already know that the Daily Pilot published a commentary of mine on their pages. You've already seen this issue discussed here earlier, HERE, but I thought - since you just can't get enough of what I write - you may wish to read this essay, too. HERE. HYPERTENSION ALERT: All you Righeimer

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-45435900814193094142011-11-02T21:04:00.000-07:002011-11-03T00:34:38.051-07:00

THE CLOCK IS TICKING...Flipping my calendar over yesterday jogged my recollection that in 53 short weeks we will be voting to elect a majority on the Costa Mesa City Council. Oh, yeah, we'll be electing a President, too, but that's a subject for another time.3 SEATS AVAILABLENext year there will be three seats up for grabs in Costa Mesa - those presently occupied

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RIGHEIMER DROPS THE BOMBAt the very tail end of a much-longer-than-expected Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday night - after all but a handful of observers had departed and local reporters had already filed their stories - Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer detonated what amounted to a nuclear device in the council chambers - he called for contract City Attorney Tom Duarte to bring back "in

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OOPS - MY BADLost in the shuffle from the last council meeting was the fact that the City of Costa Mesa, through the hard work and grant-writing skill of our folks in the Transportation Services side of City Hall, has received a couple grants totaling more than $1.6 million. SUCCESSFUL BIDDING BY STAFFAccording to Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman, the State of California

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-17053533526230671572011-10-30T23:42:00.000-07:002011-10-31T00:01:35.080-07:00

A SCARY WEEKAfter Halloween greets us Monday, we have a chance to shift gears on Tuesday, begin a new month and prepare ourselves for another Costa Mesa City Council meeting. Based on a peek at the agenda published late last Friday, it looks like this one may be brief... it all depends on what kind of shenanigans the council has up it's collective sleeve during Council Member comments. But

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-21262461241561897482011-10-28T17:38:00.000-07:002011-10-28T17:45:53.220-07:00

A NEW "HONOR" FOR LOBDELLHere's a little chuckle for you for the weekend. Those of you that harbor ill will for my friend, Bill Lobdell, because he's the messenger of some news you don't particularly want to hear will get a kick out of this.SCARY FOLKSThe OC Weekly, in it's "OC's Scariest People 2011" edition yesterday, HERE, included Bill in their roster. Included in the roster are Scott

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-28065755845877886922011-10-27T22:51:00.000-07:002011-10-27T23:10:05.978-07:00

APRIL 9, 2012This afternoon I was informed, on good authority, that Judge Barbara Tam Nomoto Schumann's court has set a trial date of April 9, 2012 in the litigation by the Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA) against The City of Costa Mesa.INJUNCTION REMAINS IN PLACEAccording to my source, there has been no other change in the status of the litigation. The preliminary injunction

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DANA AND RHONDA IN THE OC WEEKLYIf you happened to be at Gary Monahan's re-election fund raiser at his gin mill this evening and stumbled across Representative Dana Rohrabacher, I hope you asked Dana about the article from the OC Weekly yesterday, HERE, that tells us that his wife, Rhonda, has been pocketing about half his campaign contributions under the guise that she's his "campaign manager

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NINE DECADES!My wife and I just returned from a 90th birthday celebration for our friend - long-time Newport Beach resident, WWII bomber pilot, member of The Greatest Generation and local historian of note - George Grupe, shown here with his wife, Martha. Among the small group in attendance that was regaled by George's many stories was former Costa Mesa mayor Jack Hammett and other WWII heroes.

The Pot Stirrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561445581111656693noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36907480.post-75802777288263797882011-10-25T09:16:00.000-07:002011-10-25T11:14:16.205-07:00

PREMIERE SCREENINGThe public is invited to a premiere screening of Patrol Base Jaker, about 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, the city's adopted Marine battalion. The award-winning movie will be screened at the Triangle Square Cinemas in Costa Mesa this Friday, October 28th, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 with a popcorn and soda or $20.00 for the movie only.SEATING WILL BE LIMITEDProceeds from

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ANAHEIM'S CONTRACTING COMPLICATIONA tip of the old hat to Chris Prevatt over at The LiberalOC blog, who addresses an interesting subject that is being faced by the City of Anaheim - one that has potential impacts here in Costa Mesa. In his piece today titled "What's The Matter With Anaheim?", HERE, he expands on an excellent investigative piece written yesterday by Adam Elmahrek at the

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