Steven White No Longer City Employee

BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT
In a terse announcement today from Communication Director Bill Lobdell, the City of Costa Mesa announced that Steven White is no longer a city employee.  The full text of that announcement reads as follows: "Effective today, January 25, 2013, Steven White is no longer employed by the City of Costa Mesa." 

WAS HE FIRED?
Although it was not specifically stated in the announcement, it is logical to assume that White was fired by The City as a result of the decision by the District Attorney to charge him in this case and the city's own internal personnel investigation.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARGED HIM

You will recall that earlier this week the Orange County District Attorney announced that White will be charged with various crimes in connection with supposed vandalism of political signs during the run-up to the November election.  You can read the Daily Pilot coverage of that story HERE.

COSTA MESA TAXPAYER'S ASSOCIATION VIDEO
White had been on paid administrative leave ever since he was identified on a very grainy video shown on the Costa Mesa Taxpayer's Association account on YouTube.  You can view it HERE.  The photo above is enhanced from that video.

A VERY, STUPID, COSTLY ACT

It is highly unlikely that any other sign vandals will be apprehended since most trails will have gone cold - if any existed in the first place.  If White did perform these acts of vandalism it was a very foolish act on his part.  According to the Daily Pilot account of the charges being filed, if convicted White faces the possibility of a year in jail, $1,000 fine and restitution.  The charge was misdemeanor vandalism.

Another "Fitzy" Echo

LIKE GUM STUCK ON YOUR SHOE...

As if his self-aggrandizing commentary in the Daily Pilot earlier this week wasn't enough, de-frocked Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director Jim Fitzpatrick produced another whiney rant in The Current, the weekly supplement in the Orange County Register today.  It's hard to find online, but if you really want to read it, click HERE, then maneuver to page 7, where his little bit of drivel is tucked down below important, worthwhile commentaries by Wendy Leece and Becks Heyhoe.  There you will find his "guest column".  Check your gag reflex at the door.

NEGLECTS THE TRUTH 
Once again Fitzpatrick paints one side of the story and assumes the readers will buy into it.  Once again he conveniently neglects to tell the readers that he's no longer on the Sanitary District Board because he violated the law by holding that seat and an incompatible seat on the Costa Mesa Planning Commission simultaneously.  Once again he fails to mention that he was paid for both jobs simultaneously.

DOUBLE STANDARD
Once again he rants about saving money, but has cost the rate payers of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary legal fees.  Selective memory is a wonderful thing.

 

EVERY PULPIT!

So, I guess this is how it's going to be.  Fitzpatrick will jump up onto any and every pulpit or soap box he sees to pontificate about how oppressed he is.  One can only hope he will eventually grow up and begin acting like an adult, not like some spoiled kid looking for someone besides himself to blame for his misfortune.  Look in the mirror, Jimbo.

I'M TIRED OF IT, TOO
I know you're getting tired of reading about this - I'm getting tired of writing about it, too.  However, as long as he whines and moans about how abused he has been we'll set the record straight.
 

REPLACEMENT TO BE NAMED NEXT MONTH

The Sanitary District Board discussed Fitzpatrick's vacancy at their regular meeting last night.  Specifications for the job and the process by which interested individuals may apply will be finalized within a few days.  Apparently they hope to announce a replacement next month.

Fitzy's Sour Grapes

TIRESOME, BOGUS WHINING

In a commentary in the Daily Pilot former Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director and former and current Costa Mesa Planning Commission Jim Fitzpatrick keeps picking at the scab off his bogus complaints about the way the directors of the Sanitary District Board operate the business.  His non-stop harping about long term trash contracts has gotten very tiresome over the past couple years, especially so since the philosophy behind those contracts has been explained more than once.

MAKES NO SENSE 

His convoluted commentary, which attempts to somehow equate whether General Manager Scott Carroll will get a raise or not to his view about the current trash hauling contract, is so nonsensical that it almost defies description - almost.  You can read his drivel HERE and form your own opinion.

IGNORING LEGAL OPINION

Fitzpatrick, who despite solid legal opinions to the contrary, chose to violate the law by holding incompatible positions as both a Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner and an elected member of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board, has demonstrated a petulant disregard for those decisions and forced the Sanitary District Board to take the only position they could - to pursue legal remedies for his transgression.  That was resolved when Fitzpatrick, after racking up significant legal costs for the District and himself, finally resigned his seat on the Board.  He had previously resigned his seat on the Planning Commission last year.  His pals on the City Council re-appointed him to a brand new four year term on the Planning Commission last week - a true demonstration of the value of boot licking.

PETULANT SOUR GRAPES

His commentary is clearly a mouthful of sour grapes from Fitzpatrick.  Even though he fancies himself - in addition to being the final word on "green" technology - some kind of a management guru, he was unable to build consensus on many issues during his tour on the Sanitary District Board.  Rumors abound about his heavy-handed management "style" - just ask members of the Sanitary District staff, or the city staff, too, for that matter.

WHAT'S HIS GOAL?

It's unclear what Fitzpatrick had hoped to accomplish with his venom-filled tirade in the Daily Pilot - perhaps some level of self-aggrandizement.  It certainly isn't going to convince even the most casual reader of the validity of his position.


WHINEY LAWYER, TOO
You may also notice that the very first comment appended to Fitzpatrick's commentary is by the newest planning commissioner, whiney Auto Club lawyer, Timothy Sesler.  Timmy has become a regular presence in the Daily Pilot lately, as he attempts to carry the water for the power elite on the City Council.  It's going to be very interesting to watch him in action with Fitzpatrick.

BACK ON THE BULLY PULPIT

So, with his new position on the Planning Commission, Fitzpatrick will be able to use that bully pulpit to, again, demonstrate to us all just what a pitiful, pathetic, fanny-smooching caricature he has become.  How sad for us all.  
 

HOW TO REPLACE FITZPATRICK?
Tonight the Directors of the Sanitary District 
will discuss the methodology of replacing Fitzpatrick on the Board.  It's unlikely they will select a special election, especially after Fitzpatrick forced them to spend so much on legal fees.  I suspect they will craft a process that will invite interested applicants, then select one of them to complete Fitzpatrick's term.  We'll know later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Estancia Thespians Soar!

THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN FOOTBALL
Remember these kids?  The Estancia High School Drama group was honored by the City of Costa Mesa at a recent meeting for their outstanding accomplishments.  This is how they looked that night.

THEY "KICKED IT"...
Well, that amazing group of young people - to use the words of one especially proud parent - "kicked  it" at the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) festival this weekend.  You can read about CETA HERE.  This is how the group looked after their smashing performance of "A Midsummer Nights Dream"

AWARDS
According to reports from those in attendance, a coveted "Mainstage Award", special California State acknowledgement for Tech to Alexey Bonca and Director Pauline Maranian. The Special Flip Reade Award to Jermaine Sanders for outstanding theatrical movement and top festival honors to Sterling Gates for Best Supporting Actor and Danielle Ridge for Best Actress.

KUDOS TO ALL
Congratulations to Pauline Maranian and the entire Estancia High School Drama group, including all those hard-working parents who volunteer to help create these wonderful programs.  You all make the entire city very proud.