"Transparency" In "Rehab City"? Not So Much...

JUDGE RULES IN COSTA MESA'S FAVOR
Among the balls that got dropped here while I was out of town a couple weeks ago was the acknowledgment of a press release issued on January 23rd from The City of Costa Mesa regarding the dismissal of the group-home lawsuit.

DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE
According to the information provided, Federal Judge James V. Selna ruled that the City's ordinance, passed in October, does NOT discriminate against disabled people.  He said it provides a benefit by giving "individuals with disabilities an alternative housing option in [single-family, residential] zones that is not available to individuals without disabilities."  You can read the full press release HERE.

A GROWING PROBLEM
This rehab home issue has been a festering wound in our city for years, and has become even more pronounced since Newport Beach forced many operators from it's borders.  Those operators just moved across into Costa Mesa, with a vengeance, and set up shop all over town.

ACTIVISTS ANGER OPERATORS - AND STAFFERS, TOO
Activists - particularly a small, but energized, group of Eastside women - have stepped up to monitor group homes and to provide up-to-date information to the City on many of them.  By their count there may be as many as 400 such homes in Costa Mesa.  The City's number is much, much smaller.  And, as one might expect, that activism has rankled more than a few operators and, quite frankly, city staffers, too.  There are stories of group home managers running in front of these women in the street to take photos of their automobiles and their license plates.

A NEW RULE ENACTED
I just learned that a new rule has been put in place - although nobody except City staff knows about it yet, with one exception. That  "exception" is an activist who has never hesitated to ride the elevator in City Hall to the 5th floor, where the Community Improvement Division is domiciled, and chat with the Code Enforcement folks responsible for monitoring rehab homes in the City, to provide and receive information.

STIFLING SPEECH THROUGH INTIMIDATION
This particular person - a long-time resident with no axe to grind except to protect the quality of life in our residential neighborhoods from the growing infestation of group homes - speaks out frequently before the City Council and Planning Commission on this issue.  At a recent Planning Commission meeting, while she prepared a speaker card in the rear of the chambers, an official - a burly bear-of-a-man who is actually a contract employee, although he wears the mantle of city official - encountered her and challenged her about speaking.  He told her she shouldn't be speaking about an issue on the Consent Calendar because it was "a done deal".  This woman felt quite intimidated.  And, she was told flat out that she could no longer present herself to staff on the 5th floor.

IT APPLIES TO ANYONE, WE THINK...
Now we learn of the new rule which will require anyone wishing to speak with a member of the Community Improvement Division to first present themselves to the counter of the Development Services Department on the 2nd floor and ask to speak with someone on the 5th floor.  The reason given for this new rule is that, apparently, there is concern that sensitive, confidential information about people reporting code violations may be laying about on desks or be visible on computer screens on the 5th floor and that information may be compromised by unannounced visitors.  Also cited was the lack of a check-in desk on the 5th floor.  That sounds like a housekeeping issue to me.

MORE BUNKERIZATION
This is just one more example of the bunkerization of the 5th floor of City Hall.  That venue used to welcome ALL visitors, regardless of the reason for their visit.  Before the creation of the private security force that the 5th floor Code Enforcement group has become, there was never a concern about someone coming to visit that location.

TRANSPARENCY?  HA!
The City of Costa Mesa crows about Transparency, but, when the rubber meets the road, this kind of heavy-handed approach to "customers" - concerned residents who have information to share or questions to ask - is anything BUT transparent.

WHEN WILL WE BE TOLD?
I find myself wondering when the public in general will be made aware of this new rule?  At tomorrow's council meeting?  Seems like an appropriate topic for CEO Tom Hatch to present to the public.  Maybe some interested speaker will ask about it during Public Comments.  I guess we'll see.

MEANWHILE, MORE SANDBAGS...
In the meantime, another layer of sandbags just got stacked on the 5th Floor Bunker... very sad.