Thursday, October 28, 2010

Leece Inquisition Canceled & Fairgrounds News

SCHEDULING CONFLICTS CANCELS MEETING
I received word from Wendy Leece this afternoon to inform us all that the Orange County Republican Party Ethics Committee meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today, Thursday, did not happen. It seems that there were scheduling conflicts. Leece intended to take her lawyer with her, but couldn't do it at the previously scheduled time.

WHAT NEXT?
It was not p
ossible to re-schedule and, according to a note from Scott Baugh, the inquisition, er, interview had to take place within 24 hours of the original complaint because of the proximity to the election. So, nobody seems to know what will happen next - if anything. I checked their bylaws and there doesn't seem to be any prescribed punishment for simply doing her job as a Costa Mesa council member. I was looking for something about flogging in the public square, or being placed in stocks. We'll see...

***

FAIR
BOARD PLANNING LEGAL ACTION?
In other news, apparently the Orange County Fair Board is considering legal action because of dispute over who actually owns the Fairgrounds. And, at their meeting today - which I did not attend - there was an agenda item to be discussed about late payment of rents by the operators of the Orange County MarketPlace, TelPhil Enterprises. You will recall that Jeff Teller of TelPhil was part of a group bidding on the Fairgrounds - both times around. It's possible that the MarketPlace will be found to be in default and asked to vacate the premises. Wouldn't that be an interesting turn of events?

WHAT ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S FAIR?

Also, we understand that newly-elected Fair Board Chairman Dave Ellis and member Da
le Dykema have been tasked to reach out to the successful bidders, Facilities Management West, to ascertain their plans for next year's Fair should the deal actually go through. So much confusion swirling around and the Department of General Services still thinks they can close the deal by the end of November! Ha! Never a dull moment with the Fairgrounds...

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22 Comments:

Anonymous Beach Boys Rocked the Ampitheatre in 1986 said...

Seriously, i hope they make the whole fairgrounds into a big outlet type of mall or something with restaurants, etc.

How else will that big chunk of wasteland make the city any money?

Motorcross? The Gem Fair? All those are worthless.

The yearly fair is the only reason people are in uproar over this. But sentimental value to a once a year event is not worth keeping the fairgrounds land as is.

Lets make some money off of the land somehow in a way that benefits the quality of life here.

But a Bella Terra there like HB has.

10/28/2010 11:22:00 PM  
Blogger PeterMeuter said...

Fairgrounds, when they are gone,
OCC needs 40 million for a new parking structure
...keep that in mind.
www.VoteforPeter.US
www.PeterMeuter.com

10/29/2010 08:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Not Voting for McEvoy Anymore said...

I'm not voting at all for City Council. I liked Chris because he was fresh, then we got the Jeff Teller phone call where he said Chris was a good conservative? If Chris is not accepting financial support, how come he has not come out to denounce the ads for him. He lost my vote. He's really no different than Leece or Righeimer who take money. You can't sit back and say just because he didn't ask for the support it's okay if they give it to him. Why has he been quiet on this? Speak up and out against this PAC that is allegedly supporting him. We need leadership and Chris has not shown me he can lead.

10/29/2010 08:26:00 AM  
Anonymous OCLonghair said...

I'm not voting for Carly Fiorina because my neighbor's, brother's, best friend's, wife's, sister-in-law's, Doctor's, dad said she was a Lesbian in the 60's.

I think it makes perfect since.

"Not Voting"...

If you don't like a man's/woman's politics, don't vote for them; but DON'T allow what's in your heart to be swayed by a "talking head" and his money.

10/29/2010 10:19:00 AM  
Anonymous OCLonghair said...

Geoff, why did the Pilot's article in the Friday 10-29 edition (Front Page) about Leese and her "issues" with the OCGOP sound like it happened and didn't go well for her?

I don't know how far in advance they print, but this could have a negitive affect on Leese's narrow margin.

Maybe they will print an update in Next Friday's edition...

10/29/2010 10:29:00 AM  
Anonymous curiousgeorge said...

The only effect it will have is more votes!

It's about time Wendy stood up to the incompetent clowns that have run our city into the ground!

IF YOU CARE ABOUT COSTA MESA VOTE LEECE & VOTE McEVOY!!!

10/29/2010 10:53:00 AM  
Blogger Gericault said...

Mansoor got $75,000 from the GOP two days ago for his struggling campaign.....trust me he'll owe them big time.
Chris McEvoy has promised nothing, signed no pledges, and will lead unincumbered by political strings.

He owes no one. That's why he has garnered so much support. He will put the city of Costa Mesa first.

So Not Voting....are you still voting for Mansoor? Or are you going to apply this same standard to every candidate?

10/29/2010 11:46:00 AM  
Anonymous OCLonghair said...

You tell 'em George!!!

10/29/2010 11:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Diogenes said...

Geoff--
Has it occurred to anybody at all that the Leece inquisition is an illegal interference in Wendy's sworn duties as a Costa Mesa councilperson? I wonder if it could even be termed bribery or extortion?

In addition, what about Bever and Mansoor? Do they serve us, the people, or do they heel to the leash of another master? If Mansoor has indeed accepted seventy-five grand from an influence-buyer, regardless of whether it's the GOP or a Mafia Capo trying to fix a ticket, isn't that prohibited by LAWS?

Is there a District Attorney or a grand jury somewhere nearby that can perhaps do something for our community?

Rectality is, or should be, its own reward. Vote early, and as often as you are entitled to vote!

10/29/2010 02:32:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Diogenes, You've got me spinning.. please define "rectality"

10/29/2010 02:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Diogenes said...

Rectality: the quality or state of being like an asshole. Back-formation from "rectal".

Maybe you ought not to publish this, as it's rather indelicate. However, it seems to me that it's a characteristic of some of our councilpersons, on occasion, when they serve another master than us. See, for example, Bever's entirely nugatory set of excuses for acting contrary to Costa Mesa's interest on Tuesday last.

10/29/2010 03:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Vicki said...

The only people pushing Wendy's buttons at that city council meeting were the police union and Allan Roeder. Roeder did everything but strong arm her!

I can't believe no one noticed.

There is no need to go ballistic Geoff, just because I, too, have an opinon.

10/29/2010 03:42:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Ah, Vicki, still drinking that CM Press Kool-Aid, huh? Roeder didn't "strong-arm" anybody. The only options to the decision Wendy, Katrina and Gary made would have been to reject the agreements or continue them to a future meeting (basically the same result). To push them out until January, when a new council would address them, would cost the city $250,000+ per month for however long it took. The ONLY way to change the pay scales and pension agreements would be for the city to file for bankruptcy, which would be like chopping off your leg because you have a bunion! Let the bully Baugh experiment with his own town, not mine.

10/29/2010 04:16:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Diogenes, I decided, in the interest of clarity, to publish your explanation. :-) Sorry I didn't know the word - I do now and you are correct, it seems perfectly appropriate when applied as you suggest.

10/29/2010 04:19:00 PM  
Anonymous flyonthewall said...

I know I must not be doing the math right, that I must be missing part of the equation so someone please give me clarity. The associations gave up approx 4 million of the 9 million needed. If we did not sign the deal it would cost us 250K/mo., or 3 million per year. contract lengths are 3 years and 4 years. If we save 3 million per year for three years there is the whole 9 million we need??? Yet we are still short 6 million by signing?

10/29/2010 05:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Rob Dickson said...

Gericault, seriously? I am genuinely curious how you distinguish the GOP's support, in a partisan race, for Mansoor's assembly campaign from the reported $75,000 or more of Costa Mesa employee association supporty for Foley in past elections.

In all seriousness, the latter is a far more corrosive influence in my opinion.

10/29/2010 05:09:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

flyonthewall, we need $9.5 million THIS YEAR! You're right, you were doing the math wrong. If the entire $9.5 million were spread out over all the 489 employees equally, each would have to lose over $19,000 to balance the budget. That's not happening! Unknowns are the impact of Measure "L", if it passes, and how much the economy is going to rebound during this fiscal year to contribute sales tax dollars to our coffers.

10/29/2010 05:15:00 PM  
Anonymous OCLonghair said...

Geoff, ol buddy ol pal...

You keep saying the only other alternative is bankruptcy.

Raise taxes, fees, levees and higher fines; we don't have to file bankruptcy.

Raise parking tickets and traffic violation fees. Charge money to park at city hall, hell, I’d drop a quart. Put in a toll booth at the end of the 55 fwy; charge those rich Newport Beach people and beach goers to travel through OUR quaint city. Charge the SNA a fee for noise and that sticky, black soot from the Commercial Jets. Implement a fee on trash, water and waste. I have been working on conserving use of all three; conservation brings less revenue; so we who conserve should be penalized and made to pay the same as those who overuse these luxuries.

Give me some time and I will be able to get “real” money coming into our city.

What about parking meters at South Coast Plaza? Now there’s an idea… I’d drop a quarter.

10/29/2010 05:42:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

OCLonghair, trust me, any council with Bever and Righeimer on it will not be likely to initiate ANY of your suggestions. Mansoor will be gone (finally) but if Righeimer is elected it will be replacing one dense lock step lemming with one with a brain. We can't increase the business license fees for two more years, so we missed that opportunity here.

10/29/2010 05:50:00 PM  
Blogger Bruce Krochman said...

Did anyone notice that Mansoor all but gave Leece a pass to vote FOR the contracts?

He sat up there and said that "if there is anyone who does not bend to political pressure it is Wendy, she makes her own independent decisions.... I have known Wendy for a long time and she will do what she feels is right"

10/29/2010 08:57:00 PM  
Anonymous CuriousGeorge said...

Yes Vicki and you know what they say about opinions.

10/30/2010 02:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Rob Dickson said...

To Gericault, Geoff and everyone else who has been whining about the OC Gops "influence" in this election. Please read the linked OC Register article:

http://www.ocregister.com/news/mesa-273593-costa-righeimer.html

There are some truly shocking fascts in there, here are some excerpts:

"Public safety unions have spent more than $125,000 opposing Jim Righeimer's candidacy for City Council, more than doubling what all five candidates combined have spent.

They also donated $26,000 to a group supporting incumbent Wendy Leece the day before a crucial vote on union contracts.

Most of their spending - some $80,000 - has been in direct attacks on Righeimer, but the other $45,000 has been in donations to a committee called Costa Mesa First, which is supporting two of Righeimer's rivals, Leece and Chris McEvoy.

In comparison, Righeimer had raised $40,517 for his campaign through Oct. 16, the most of any candidate."

10/30/2010 10:31:00 AM  

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