Leece Doesn't Get It!

BEVER WANTS A JOB CENTER
Mayor Eric Bever recently suggested opening a new, improved Job Center as a method of "fixing" the problem of loitering day laborers around town. Gee, that seems like a good idea, since the previous Job Center did precisely that for almost two decades before the City Council, of which Bever was a part, decided to close it a couple years ago.

BEVER WANTS TIGHTER RULES
Bever wants to tighten up our municipal ordinances that cover solicitation and also tighten up the requirements for "clients" of the new Job Center - using the recently enacted rules implemented in the City of Orange.

HASTE CAN MAKE (LEGAL) WASTE
I've read those ordinances and the rules for use of their Resource Center. It seems to me that they can create significant legal problems for our city if enacted. It's my understanding that they are currently being reviewed for legal challenges.

LEECE IS CLUELESS
One thing is sure - at least one of our council members doesn't understand what Orange is doing. Wendy Leece - in a response to a question by the Daily Pilot editorial staff - indicated that Orange requires CITIZENSHIP for any workers hoping to register for work at their Resource Center. This is FALSE! Orange requires a valid ID and documentation verifying the applicant's authorization to work legally in this country - which DOES NOT require citizenship.

Sadly, this is so typical of her comprehension of issues that it's almost scary.

JOINED AT THE HIP
In an interesting sidebar, only she and Allan Mansoor responded to the question, with Bever, Katrina Foley and Linda Dixon choosing not to respond to the question for whatever reason. It doesn't surprise me that Leece and Mansoor responded. They've been practically inseparable since their "conjoined twins" campaign two years ago when they surfed the wave of brown bodies in Costa Mesa to victory.

BETTER STUDY HABITS REQUIRED
As this issue moves forward let's keep our fingers crossed that Leece will study the subject a little more closely before making such blatantly inaccurate statements. Homework, after all, is part of the job.

Election, Predictability, Cows, Budgets, Heart and Gas Attacks

ELECTION? WHAT ELECTION?
Well, in case you hadn't noticed, yesterday there was an election in these parts. I say it that way because, according to the the final returns today by the Orange County Registrar of Voters, of the 1,566,951 registered voters in this county only 274,541 (17.5%) chose to exercise that precious opportunity and of those 172,525 (62.8%) chose to vote by mail. The remainder of you just blew off this election.

SO WHAT?!
"So what?", you say. "The Presidential Primary was held months ago, so what's the big deal?"

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE VOTED
Well, for one thing, this election gave you a chance to express your views on Propositions 98 and 99, which took separate stabs at what I've referred to in the past as the sledgehammer of eminent domain. According to recent news reports, it looks like Prop. 98 was crushed and Prop. 99 will probably carry. If you didn't vote I don't care what your opinion was on these measures. In Orange County it looks like Prop. 98 carried by a thin 3,000 vote margin, while Prop. 99 held a greater than 30,000 vote margin affirmatively.

ANOTHER JOB FOR MANSOOR
If you didn't vote you missed the chance to have a say in which judges will be seated. If you didn't vote you missed the chance to be one of the 7,489 votes cast for Allan Mansoor for a seat on the Republican Central Committee. You Democrats should be giggling - and we Republicans should be shuddering - at the specter of Mansoor having a voice at the table deciding the future of the Orange County Republican Party. Who would have thought that he could ride this far on the backs of brown-skinned immigrants?

A "DON'T BLINK" COUNCIL MEETING
Last night's Costa Mesa City Council meeting was almost over before it began. About a third of the meeting was spent on proclamations and presentations - all well-deserved. They had to do a tap dance for a few minutes, stalling until the magic hour of 7:00 arrived so they could begin with public hearings. The whole thing lasted about 90 minutes.

MESA NORTH WHINER WAS PREDICTABLE
As predicted, one local guy stood before the council and yapped about what a bad idea it would be to place one of the new red-light cameras at the intersection of Harbor and Baker. Apparently he makes several runs each day through that intersection - I wonder how many times he blows the light? - and thought it would be unsafe for there to be a red-light camera placed in that location. Well, my friend, what's good for the goose.... What a cry-baby! I was pleased to see that the council ignored him on that issue.

MANSOOR ALSO PREDICTABLE
Curiously, in yet another example of him ignoring the recommendations of senior law enforcement staff, Mayor Pro Tem Mansoor voted against the motion to place the new cameras. I guess he might have been distracted about the election and the possibility of winning the seat on the Central Committee.

WORRIED ABOUT HIS "DAY JOB"?
Or, maybe, he was worried about his future with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. News earlier in the day told us that the Board of Supervisors had just distilled the candidates for our new Sheriff down to two candidates - Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and retired Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Division Chief Sandra Hutchens. Both these candidates know that the situation with the Orange County Jails is a nightmare and needs prompt, decisive action. Mansoor and his brother have been growing mold in their jobs as jailers for several years. I suspect Mansoor is worried about actually having to go out into the field and, for the first time in his 14+ year career, actually be a law enforcement officer.

MORE MOO COWS COMIN' THIS YEAR!
On the positive side, we found out that we will be having another cattle drive in conjunction with this year's Orange County Fair. The route was announced - it's the same one as last year.

BUDGET WORKSHOPS NEXT WEEK
Just a reminder, next week the City Council will hear the presentation of the new city budget at their study session on Tuesday, June 10th at 4:30 in Conference Room 1A. Public attendance and comment is invited. Later that week, on Thursday, June 12th at 6:00 a public budget workshop will be held in the same venue, but without the attendance of the council. I've attended these presentations for the past several years - I've been among the two or three of us who did so. It's a great way to get some understanding about how "your" money is being managed. In years past the excellent city staff - they've got a whole trophy case full of awards for their budget presentations in past years - has patiently gone through their presentation and, because of the small size of the group, answered any and all questions. We really do have a chance to influence the budget process in this workshop - the final budget will be voted on during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 17th. Put the workshop on your calendar. I'll remind you again next week.

THIS JUST IN! PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAM
In case you don't subscribe to the Press Releases from the City of Costa Mesa, here's a link to one that just came in over the transom regarding the city's new Public Access Defibrillation Program. I won't re-state the information - it's clearly presented if read the release, HERE.

THIS JUST IN! (PART 2) EL CAMINO CENTER DEMOLITION HALTED!
The Daily Pilot online is reporting this afternoon that the much-delayed demolition at El Camino Center in Mesa Del Mar was halted today when a demolition worker punctured a natural gas line. Several neighboring homes were evacuated for fear of an explosion. Geez, will we ever get that place leveled?! Check the Daily Pilot for updates.

Red-Light Cameras, Paranoia, Nosy Leece and a Female Sheriff (Maybe)

COUNCIL TONIGHT
No doubt tonight's Costa Mesa City Council Meeting will provide us with some blog fodder. There appears to be nothing particularly earth-shattering on the agenda, but one never knows what kind of controversial rabbit the members of the majority will pull out of their hats these days.

NEW RED-LIGHT CAMERAS PLANNED
One item on the agenda is the vote to add red-light cameras a more Costa Mesa intersections. Although some think it smacks of "Big Brotherism", I'm for the red light cameras. As a society we seem to have gotten much too lax when it comes to driving intelligently, particularly during rush hours. Costa Mesa has some of the busiest intersections in our county. If the red-light cameras can rein in the inconsiderate among us, that serves us all well.

MORE JOY IN MY HEART
On that subject, another Costa Mesa-based blogger doesn't think it's a good idea. Of course, these new lights being proposed are mainly in his end of town. One can logically assume that this fellow is among those inconsiderate jerks who regularly run red lights as he scampers from crime scene to crime scene in his "pressmobile". Snagging him a few times with a red-light camera would have the added advantage of bringing a smile to my face.

PARANOIA IN MESA NORTH
Speaking of him, which I don't do much any more, he seems to be going off the deep end these days. Several of his most recent posts reflect a man with a whole lot of paranoia going on. Now he complains of being stalked, for goodness sake! I assume he is feeling the pressure brought on by the challenge by another relatively new blogger, CMTRUTH, who takes none of his bullying and guff. Perhaps he'll be feeling better tonight when, as is his practice, he sits on his "Perch of Pontification" back in the last row of the council chambers and awaits his sycophants to pass and offer homage to him while he waits, like a hawk atop a pole, to swoop down to the speaker's podium and attack whatever issue, person, council member is his victim du jour. One can only feel sad for this fella - who seems to be in early-onset dementia.

WENDY CONTINUES TO SKULK AROUND SENIOR CENTER
Speaking of older people - I can do that because I am one myself - it seems that councilwoman Wendy Leece continues to harass the staff of the Senior Center with her little nit pick in hand. Some have said that Leece should just keep on nosing around the Senior Center, stirring up controversy where none exists. Horse Manure! That's not her job! Her job as the council liaison is to be just that - a liaison between the City Council and the Senior Center Board of Directors. They, the board, are the ones responsible for running the show at the Senior Center, NOT Ms. Leece. Her role is a NON-VOTING role. She seems unable to distinguish important issues from those brought up by one or two disgruntled patrons of the center. Rather than help things at the Senior Center, her actions have been the cause of much strife and that certainly doesn't serve the patrons well. My suggestion to Leece is to get a life, woman!

A FEMALE SHERIFF - MAYBE
Finally, I noted today that the county Board of Supervisors has winnowed the candidates for Sheriff from nine to two, with Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and retired Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Division Chief Sandra Hutchens left standing as the final two. Looks like Riggy's prognostication about Ralph Martin and Walters being the final two is only half-right - pretty good for Riggy. As I've said before, on paper and as a result of the interview process, Hutchens looked like the strongest candidate. Do I think a woman can fix the Orange County Sheriff's Department? Well, not ANY woman, but I think THIS woman can. Everything in her background demonstrates that she has the kind of intelligence and leadership that it will take to get the job done. I don't care about the "political correctness" of this situation - I want the best person for the job, male or female, period. Let's see what kind of cojones the Board of Supervisors have on this one...