Tonight was a tough meeting for Mission Viejo councilman Lance MacLean. About two and a half hours into the council meeting the City Clerk gave her report on the results of the recall petition verification which was followed by one speaker than council comments. Councilman Ledesma made the Motion to approve and was immediately followed by Member Schlicht who seconded the Motion..
This was followed by a lively exchange in which mayor Ury permitted Lance to “campaign” for what seemed like 10 minutes in front of the viewing audience and the room full of families awaiting the debate on a costly animal shelter which Lance had placed on tonight’s Agenda.
In his tirade, refuting some of the bullet points in the recall campaign, Lance called senior councilman John Paul Ledesma, John Paul Lobotomy. At one point Council Member Ledesma stated this was not the appropriate place to respond to Lance’s counter points at which juncture Lance asked JP to step out into the hall or words to that effect. While we waited for the incompetent Mayor to show leadership and request that Lance stop campaigning or shut off his microphone, Frank permitted his friend Lance to ramble on..
Ironically, after the 4-1 vote to authorize payment to the ROV for the cost of the verifications and decision as to which bucket of reserves to remove the money, council member Schlicht requested time for personal privilege which the mayor didn’t wish to grant. He eventually changed course and said she could have a 3 minute break.
The best suggestion I could make is for Juice readers to wait a few days and check the city web site after the meeting video is posted. The above exchanges are all under City Clerks Report Item #16.
You have to wonder about the long term effectiveness of Lance’s “anger management” course.
As you listen to Lance refute the charges you will not hear him utter a single word about his arrest for assaulting a co-worker at UCI where it took 4 or 5 police officers to get his hands off the other person’s neck. This account is from OC Weekly:
“Out of all of Lance Robert MacLean’s many public-relations problems, the most important may be the widely held perception that the Mission Viejo city councilman, if provoked, will choke you. It’s a matter of public record. Right there in the UC Irvine Police Department crime report dated Oct. 26, 2007, is an account of what happened between MacLean and a co-worker:
“After a short verbal altercation (about 30 seconds) between the two men, Maclean [sic] took a step forward and bumped [Jack] McManus against the chest. Maclean then extended both his arms out and placed his hands around McManus’s neck. Maclean then shoved McManus against the wall and started to lift McManus up while his hands were still around McManus’ neck.”
The police report then says it took four cops to break MacLean’s grip, wrestle him to the floor and handcuff him over snarls of “Get the XXXX off of me; get the XXXX off of me.”
Mission Viejo residents. Fasten your seat belts as the sparks will start flying soon.
I don’t have to wait for the video, I watched the meeting. MacLean is a raving lunatic. He was so angry he was out of control. Who paid for those anger management classes? He was spewing about how he hasn’t had a chance to defend himself. He’s had the chance — who has stopped him?
I didn’t catch his inviting Ledesma out into the hallway — probably to pick him up by the neck and choke him. Get MacLean off the council FAST!
Personally speaking………anyone who does not put hi or her name to a comment is not worth reading.
John Paul Lobotomy! Hilarious! I hope its sticks!
While John Paul Ledesma “is not eloquent he is not a lier.”
MacLeans conduct ( multiple outbursts ) during last nights council meeting, and his numerous embarrassing acts in the past is the reason he is being recalled. Whoring himself for votes from the dog park supporters was just another example of MacLean’s self centered act.
I might also add that MacLean not only abandoned and slammed the folks in north Mission Viejo during the Viejo System project (also taking big bucks from Edison ) he has also consistently abandoned the folks in Mission Ridge.
I for one will work hard to remove this cancer from the community.
Video is up, it is at 3:24 or so. The video really doesn’t capture the “feeling” in the chamber last night, but still, it is up for all to see.
The interesting part is, he states that none of the allegations are true, and then proceeds to the “Well the other guys voted for it too” defense. So is it not true, or is “everybody doing it”?
Kudos to Councilman Ledesma for refusing to “Get Dirty” and taking the polite high ground after being directly attacked.
Seems to me that Larry Gilbert has a real dislike for Lance . His red face after giving his two cents worth showed it , and has in the past.Maybe he needs anger control? Taking it out on Lance Maclean seems to work at this point.After listening to his self achievements, he was boring to the point that three munutes was enough.Of course , lets not forget he ran for Council and was not elected some time back. Maybe he is frustrated?
#5,
How many folks signed the petition to recall Lance? It wasn’t just Larry.
I have known Larry for years. He is a gentleman and he never gets flustered. He works hard to keep folks informed and we are happy to provide him with a platform to do so here at Orange County’s top political blog.
BTW, didn’t Lance get in trouble for assaulting a guy a few years ago?
Personally , are all these soothsayers who dislike Lance Maclane are squeeky clean?Its easy enough to be on the ‘GIVING ‘ side, but are you willing to “expose’ your whole life before the City?Perhaps all Council members are? [and no cheating now] and the people who are out to recall him.Probably most of you say yes, but there are a lot of closets that need to be opened.It seems most of the ammunition is about his confrontation at U.C.I.?It is being used as a tool in conjuction with a comment used at another City member during a private session.Of Course, the real way to do it is wait until you enter your car then let it rip!He is normal, thats the way it should be.not back stabbing.He made a great Mayor, and now a Councilman. Better the man you know than the man who hides behind the mask.
MacLean is the one who is being recalled, not residents. Does Colin Brake condone violence in the workplace and uncontrolled anger on the council? By the way, MacLean did enter his car and then let it rip. In front of a store where recall petitioners were working, he threw a temper tantrum, then got in his car and laid rubber throughout a parking lot that was crowded with shoppers and their children. Violent people use their cars as weapons.
Really……….then sign your name?
This may be a bit dated , but if one accuses then at least say who you are? MV.RESIDENT? THAT COULD MEAN ONE OF A 100,000?
Sign your name to myour comments?
If thats true , sign it !
colin brake. Whomever you are.
What are you talking about? Red face? Ager control?
I didn’t say a word to or about Lance at last night’s council meeting.
Perhaps you attend or watch our council meetings. If not let me inform you that prior to the Public Comment section of the Agenda mayor Ury instructs all speakers not to engage in personal attacks yet allowed his buddy Lance attack a senior and fellow councilman last night. Frank also gave him a wide open forum in an attempt to refute the reasons listed for his recall yet no one else had the same opportunity including council member Schlicht who requested that he stop Lance’s diatribe.
This was a city council meeting where adults and their children, who had to go to school this morning, had been waited for hours to hear an Agenda item regarding a dog park not a campaign window for Lance.
There is much more to the story beginning with my giving Lance campaign funds directly and indirectly in 2002 which was followed by a letter from him asking for additional money for his campaign. As president of the Saddleback Republican Assembly we mobilized the troops to include him in that election year victory.
Lance and I do have 7 years of history including his broken promises that will come out in due time.
Colin Brake.
I’m happy that Lance has a friend to stand up for him.
Let me remind you that
Over 50 Mission Viejo residents signed the original documentation calling for his recall.
In addition, close to 14,000 MV residents agreed with us and signed petitions to place this issue on the ballot.
For the mayor of the “safest city” in America to be handcuffed and arrested for assault and battery, while not the only recall charge against him, does not fit with the image we send the world in publicizing that ranking.
If he didn’t do anything wrong why don’t you ask him to respond to this remark.
You don’t step down from the level of Lance’s high level position at UCI, a world reknown local University, without having a job to go to unless there is more to the story of his “personal file” at UCI.
In his campaign literature, under “work experience,” it included “UCI Associate Executive Government Director.”
Lance was out of work for some time and shared that minor point with a reporter. You generally don’t leave a job until you have a new one especially as you have a mortgage to pay and a family to feed.
I know of two other issues connected to Lance that were not included due to space limitations of the petition application.
At this point those engaged in the recall have no intention to share any of their future efforts to remove Lance with strangers, especially people like yourself who don’t see the real Lance.
Larry, somewhat old now but with all the fury and rath, he was only 17 votes short of staying!
I live in Mission Viejo, and the most threatening aspects to the residents are in city hall. I watched the council video, and people were pleading with the council not to invade their neighborhood by building a dog park near their homes. Another neighborhood begged the council to help them by stopping an unending construction project that has gone on for 10 years. The council majority did NOTHING to stop the construction project, and they put the dog park next to the homes.
Lance MacLean is a hotheaded bully and an ass. The people who defend him don’t even know him.
Then I take it Delta , you do?
Delta.? are you afraid to put your real name down. For all larry’s misgivings he never once did this.Personally, I never read unsigned comments.
Colin. Lance was recalled on Feb 1, 2010.
According to my new calendar that is almost a full year ago.
Let it go and move on. He has.
Don’t know him you say? You don’t have the courage to put your name next to your comments do you?I do know that its a witch hunt to get this man out. Why don’t you sign your name , at least Larry does that!After living here over 30 years , I know lance by name and reputation only. This bringing in outside acctivities such as UCI. has nothing to do with his present accuations. Just another polical ploy.Wonder where we all would be [lilly white] if all our past was reviealed?.He made a great Mayor,now its time to jump on him for things he did not do inside but outside mission Viejo.
colin. While I don’t know who Delta is you are off base with your opinion that Lance’s altercation at UCI is irrelevant. In fact it is one of the charges of the recall.
You question his “present altercations.” Define present. Did you hear him attack a vote of councilman Ledesma that preceeded Lance’s 2002 election?
In the world of politics everything you have done in the past is subject to discovery and exposure.
People change. Ask Lance how many of the 50 plus who signed his recall documents gave him campaign contributions in 2002. In fact several of us, and I am one of the us, were asked to contribute even more. Are we all off base?
Once elected many officials get caught up in their new positions and power and go to the dark side. In Mission Viejo Lance is in front of the parade.
Larry,
Here you go again!Your past contibutions!.The incident at the store was based on over building at the retirement community of
casa del Sol. then eased into a recall situation by a young man who had no idea who or why he was being so called recalled?When asked , he replied ”I don’t know, I am just collecting signitures?”His inital remarks were Lance Maclane’s situation at UCI.to which I replied,’What else?” He was unable to tell me.Was it a mater of collecting signitures no matter what? This ‘HAVE MORE ON HIM ‘ attitude is so weak that its almost pathetic.
colin.
While I have no way to confirm or refute your account of the volunteer getting petition signatures, my sense is that they were provided basic information that appeared on the petition and were not to function as defense or plaintiff attorneys. They did hand out a short piece of paper listing the reasons for the recall as the voters do not get to keep a copy of the petition which they should read before signing.
Help me out here. What overbuilding at Casta? Are you referring to the possible sale of the golf course?
Without knowing the volunteer in question I can’t respond to his or her in depth knowledge of Lance and the charges. I will say that several of the volunteers have a track record with Lance’s actions and could spend hours with you covering that history.
The petition collectors for the recall were beyond annoying – if MV voters had felt compelled to recall MacClean it wouldn’t have taken months of hounding grocery shoppers to get it done. Some lemmings will sign anything- but I hope voters will remember that name: Larry Gilbert. And resoundingly not vote for him, ever. I am just glad that his contact at the newspaper stopped publishing his weekly diatribes in the editorial section. It was not that long ago that he was standing next to Lance MacLean on the street corners waving their signs, and LG only parts ways when the candidates refuse to be manipulated by him. Hey Larry, we all can see you each week picking the city apart on TV, so why don’t you move???? It’s been years of nothing but glass half empty from you. Perhaps if you read a book, owned a dog, or had children under the age of 30 you would appreciate some of the reasons that other people like the library, the parks, the animal shelter, and MV in general.
Marge.
Folks! Marge is my mother-in-law and she is tired of seeing me spend so much time writing Juice posts.
Marge you know I have no plans to run for elected office so let’s nip that trial balloon in the bud.
As my relative you unfortunatly have to “remember that name.”
As to how long it took volunteers to collect petition signatures. If you had sent some money to the people that organized this effort the petitions might have been gathered two days sooner.
Are you upset that they pushed out Lance’s recall by dragging their feet? Are you upset that some volunteers may have stayed home during that time helping their children with their homework or cooking a hot meal for their spouse. Is there something offensive to you when people exercise their constitutional rights to remove an elected official just as they did in removing governor Davis. Our good friend Darrell Issa forked out upwards of $800,000 to gather signatures in that recall.
My contact at the news stopped publishing my material? Were you looking at my computer while we were in Africa to see how many letters or guest views I sent to the Register?
When you awake tomorrow morning rush out the driveway and pick up our Saddleback Valley News where you just might find a photo and story of our safari vacation.
The truth is that we refused to have you come along on the adventure and left you watching our two Cavalier, King Charles Spaniel, dogs. Yes, we do own two high maintenance dogs as confirmed by our vet bills.
Shame on you for forgetting your grandaughter who lives with us who is under 30. I won’t let her see your diatribe.
Let’s be honest here. You simply want me to interview you and put your picture on the Internet. Sorry but I will not expose you to the many strange calls that interview would generate.
PS: We will check in with you after you awake tomorrow to confirm taking you to the beach this weekend. Remember to bring your sunscreen and sun hat.
Marge dear.
Where did you put my Nanny State hard cover book? It has a picture of the United States sitting on a baby carriage on the cover.
Although I finished reading it you have been sitting on it for several months. It was a birthday gift from Smokey and the Bandit so please return it. Thanks and good night.
Larry is doing the public a great service by highlighting the many failings of Mission Viejo Government.
Mr. Brake can choose to be ignorant of the many reasons why Lance should not be on the city council. All of these were listed in the Notice of Recall:
1) Voted to raise taxes (Measure K ballot proponent) after promising not to do so in his 2002 elextion bid.
2) Voted to give himself lifetime medical benefits at a cost exceeding $375,000.
3) Voted to double his council pay to $1000/mo. during times when the city was running a significant deficit.
4) Called residents “racists” in a LA Times interview
Of course apologists like Mr. Brake will minimize these and other its or claim that other council members voted for #2 and #3. That logic is that of a 5 year old who attempts to deflect responsibility from his actions.
The fact is that Lance is a poor representative of the people of Mission Viejo and damages all of us every time he attends a council meeting.
Maybe Mr. Brake and his supporters should start a petition to keep Lance. When they get 14,0000 signatures, I will be willing to acknowledge Lance is a great guy and I was wrong. Until then, Mr. Brakes comments are mere puffery.
At least you put your name in there m/s Tyler!Lets face it, even Larrys Mother in law has a problem with him.OH,thanks for letting us know you were on a safari with the family and left Marge at home to look after the dogs!Everyone, please look for Larry in the Saddleback news!Dale, I hope you find someone else to vent your anger on because I don’t. Many more people feel he should stay too.
On his recall he was 17 votes short? Does that answer your question?
Colin. I’m jumping in on your current comment without benefit of the thread. Let me simply report that removing any sitting mayor is not an easy task.
Add to that over $100,000 from the Assoc of OC Deputy Sheriffs in support of Lance. The margin of victory by itself doesn’t tell the whole story. I don’t remember how much the recall proponents spent but it surely was less than $10,000.
Look back to the BOS race in the 1st District. Janet Nguyen won by nine votes. A “W” is still a “W” regardless of the margin of victory. Ask any professional or college sports coach or manager.
Dale,
He is a good guy if he stays, and not if he goes?You somewhat flip flop don’t you?Its very difficlt to make a promise in 2002 and have to break it in 2009 wouldn’t you say? If you had known the economy was heading would you just sit there and do nothing about your personal affairs?No, of course not,you would have made a withdrawl of your stock if you have any.
Stop this witch hunt, it only hurts the City .The man trying to keep up the reputation of the City and some promises that were made cannot be kept at this time.However, when the dark dayd are over I am sure he will do his best as he did as Mayor of this City.
Colin. For the record. Marge in not my mother-in-law.In fact I have no idea who she is if in fact Marge is a woman. Notice how she has disappeared from this post after my replies. Perhaps she has no come back to her “wing it” attack.
I was making a point to refute all of her remarks such as getting a dog, having a young adult in my life, and reading books, all of which were honestly mentioned in my rebuttal.
And if you live in south county and get the Register’s SV News they did include a photo and text of our trip.
Sorry if you decide not to travel. Unlike elected officials we did not fly on the taxpayer dime.
This blog is a great place for debate. However, while I have no intention of debating Mr MacLean’s damage control effort I will respond to one comment made by Mr. Tyler.
Lance Maclean Nov 2002 candidate statement which reads in part. “My Pledge. End the bickering and return to conservative fiscal managment.” Under “The issues, his last bullet point reads: “Oppose all tax increases or special assessments.”
Let’s now go to the Nov 2004 Ballot where the argument in favor of Measure K, which related to a “tax increase”,was co-authored by the same Lance MacLean who also co-authored the Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure K. Taking the opposing view in this Nov 2004 ballot Measure was MV councilman John Paul Ledesma.
If you wish to see those documents simply give me a call and we can meet for coffee at Bagels and Brew near Flo Jo Park.
Larry,
I find it hard for you to even have a mother in law!However, it could have been true.Saw your picture in the Saddleback news. Theere was a lot of information given I assume it to be true.How can you run a City without increases in taxes?Times and situations do change Larry.
Colin. Wait til I tell my mother-in-law of your comment. She lives in LA. Glad you confirmed that the SV News did include our photo and text today as I said in my reply to that unknown woman.
Are you questioning the information regarding our trip?. Why would I lie? I did visit the Register office and showed them many of our photos.
How can you run a city witout increases in taxes? For starters we have sales taxes, property taxes and other sources of income. You create a budget and when your revenue begins to decline you have some choices to make. Go into reserves, freeze hiring or reduce staffand put off unnecessary CIP’s like spending $400,000 on a Rose Parade float for two minutes of exposure while we are not a destination like Anaheim or Long Beach or spending or around $450,000 for a toilet at Melinda Park when the CIP could have been half that cost.
Larry,
I know you were with friends holding the Saddleback news in last weeks edition……….The paper wants anyone away from Mission Viejo to do the same. Yes I believe you after accually seeing it!How do you make promises and not keep them ? Easy, can you control resession? Personally I thought a float was a good idea, it brings Mission Veijo back into people’s minds again.Plus the award they won.As for City sales taxes, they are down, Freeze’s are applied but having a crystal ball is always difficult wouldn’t you say?
As you have said , you have no intention to run for City Council again? Did you bring a pet Elephant back with you from Africa?
Colin. You are to be commended for keeping an eye on our city and challenging me with your comments.
Perhaps you did not see my series of cities participating with floats in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.
There are cities that should market their tourism destinations such as Anaheim which has a baseball stadium, a huge convention center, a small resort called Disneyland and Arrowhead Pond. Do you have any idea how much money Anaheim gets in bed taxes alone from out of town visitors to these venues. I won’t even throw in sales taxes on food and beverages.
Let’s now look at the master planned bedroom community of Mission Viejo which has none of these venues.
Do you have any clue as to how much Mission Viejo gets in annual bed taxes? Perhaps $575,000 while spending $400,000 for a feel good 20th birthday.
Prior to becoming a city the Mission Viejo Company entered floats almost every year when they were promoting the “California Promise” with thousands of homes to be sold. Did we have any new housing development in Mission Viejo in the past few years that needed promoting? NO!
Another minor point. Winning awards?? Is that what is in the best interest of the taxpayers, many of whom live on fixed income in our two senior communities whose bank savings accounts have been shrinking? Having signed both the front and back of corporate checks I may have an advantage over you in terms of the expression, ROI, return on investment.
Let’s compare Anaheim’s $80 million in TOT taxes versus Mission Viejo who in FYE June 2008 collected $575,000.
The city of Anaheim’s budget for their 2009 float was $150,000, not $300,000 to eventually $400,000 net spent.
Three years ago Anaheim won the mayors award and two years ago the governors award.
Another southern CA destination city is Long Beach which has a convention center, acquarium of the pacific, the Queen Mary and the Long Beach Grand Prix.
Their “not to exceed budget” for the “design and construction” of their city float was $115,000, not $300,000 plus.
Need I say more???????
My Orange Juice Series on the 2009 Parade of Roses float entries was published last August.
The city of Sierra Madre’s float is “self built by a non-profit, all volunteer organization, dedicated to entering a float in the annual Tournamen of Roses Parade. We are totally “self built”–we design, construct, decorate and raise the necessary funds to produce our float every year. Funding is achieved through donations, memberships and local fundraising activities.”
Yup. You like awards. The city of Sierra Madre won the award for “Bollywood Dreams” without using any taxpayer funds. That’s a real winner and group effort to be commended.
Zippo, nada, taxpayer funds
larry,
So sorry I missed your report last August on the Parades. Are you aware at long Beach,” Queen Mary ”has run at a big loss to the City since it was moored there in 1967?The Grand Prix is an annual event .Having talked to long Beach Council they totally agreed with Mission Viejo having a float.The Aquarium is not a money maker by the way.
It was leased out and the leasor refused to rent it out to film makers! They are of course now as before , in bankrupcy. !However, thats beside the point.
True, that money spent on the float could have been used elsewhere however,Thousands of people watched it and it was a moral builder for the makers and volunteer participants.
Hopefully they will do it again this year.
By the way Larry, was it an Elephant or a Camel you brought back from Africa ? [one hump or two!]
Little,little men with little, little lives, and little, little…minds. You show your true colors, and your vindictive spirits bring back to your lives all the venom you spew out. I see there is just a flood of people stepping up to support you…or is that just Joe again? No worries, I only returned to check commens to see if this was a real political forum and now I see it is just another one of your personal playgrounds. You have no idea how you are mocked when you step up to the podium with your endless complaints.
colin.
Let’s recap. Anaheim $80 million TOT dollars vs Mission Viejo $575,000
Somehow you choose not to respond to or credit Anaheim whose award winning floats are one third the MV cost while getting $79 million more than our city in TOT tax revenues?
Your silence is deafening.
And what about Sierra Madre where no taxpayer money was spent? We call that “cherry picking.”
Sad to disappoint you but a Mission Viejo Tournament of Roses float is not entered this year. If you truly followed our local politics you would have known that rather than you comment that “hopefully they will do that again this year”. You have only jumped into this post to support your friend Lance. Perhaps you can create your own float fundraiser group to fund this feel good project. Try contacting the MV Community Foundation who pledged to raise millions of dollars for projects in our city. A complete disaster for which we fronted them around $400,000
Hey Marge. We missed you.
In fact several friends have asked me if I have heard from you since my last response t one of your comments.
Marge. As a first time Orange Juice participant let me say that there is no better political forum for discourse than this blog.
Juice writers can freely cover any topic based on our leaning to the left, right and center while covering or commenting on stories from Santa Ana to Sacramento and Afghanistan. Quite often we even debate each other.
Let’s do a math check. You have now submitted three comments each of which we accepted and posted. Did you know that several of us, myself included, have administrative powers to reject your comments?
And finally. We have approved and posted over 50,000 comments so I guess that confirms the Juice being one of the best forums in CA to debate public policy issues. While I like the Register and have several friends who write for that paper, how many letters a week do you think they are able to publish? Blogs have no limits which gives everyone a guarantee that your comments will appear as long as you avoid personal attacks or use of language that my grandkids should not be exposed to.
We even give you the freedom to participate in the dialogue while using whatever name you choose to identify yourself. As such we don’t even know if you are a male or female nor do we care.
PS: As I look back at your earlier comment you have once again put foot in mouth. My weekly diatribes to the Register? Once again you have a problem. You have no idea as to whether or not I am still sending material to the Register yet try to give readers the impression that my unknown letters have been rejected for some reason.
Having researched and posted close to 1,000 articles on the Juice over the past two years I would remind you that there are ony 24 hours on my desk clock.
Further was your comment that you wish I had a life when stating in #16 above
“Perhaps if you read a book, owned a dog, or had children under the age of 30” all of which I do yet you want me to write “weekly diatribes to the paper”? As someone concerned for my health and welfare I am truly disappointed to read that you are now asking me to neglect our family just to give you a letter to read in the Register.
Larry , 1,000 postings submitted to the register? You mean the mission viejo local paper which is owned by the Register? Marge is right,maybe they are getting sick of being poite , so say something positive for a change maybe you might find more people will listen to you.Seems even your friends at the paper are getting a little tired.
Colin. What are you talking about? The number close to 1,000 refer to my Orange Juice blog stories that others read on this blog. That effort does not leave much time for me to submit letters to the editor of any newspaper.
You are clueless regarding my relationship with both “beat” and “commentary” reporters at the Register.
Think about your closing comment for a moment. Apparently you acknowledge that I do have “friends” at the Register. Not bad. You got one right.
Feeling good right now having watched the Angels come from behind to sweep the Red Sox.
Larry,
stay with watching the games.You make more sense!
Oh Colin. It’s OK for you to challenge me yet fail to respond to my rebuttals.
How many letters did I submit to the Register? No problemo. It’s OK. You really do not need to apologize for leaving your reading glasses on top of your head. I know having done so myself. As I just wrote about our high speed train I need to give the keyboard a break and look forward to our friendly exchanges next week.
Larry,
just for your information……….Most of the hotels in Anaheim are cutting back drastically. And I mean including 5 star ones Oh , you must have friends at the Register[mission Viejo version] Maybe thats why they print when you send something in? As for the blog……………let me have a list of my rebuttles to your questions than we can part . This is too waring.Hate to live next door to you!Find yourself a used punching bag, works great if you have frustrations!.
Colin. So your solution for Anaheim Mayor Pringle and their city council is to simply put their heads in the sand and stop promoting their city due to the current recession? Somehow I doubt that you have ever passed a course in marketing. And by the way you have not commented on Mission Viejo spending at least twice as much for our float. Another way to assess this expenditure is when Lance and Trish wanted to increase the very same TOT tax in the Nov 2004 election where the same bucket of bucks was wasted on Jan 1st. How appropriate. Question. Did you even vote in 2004? And if so did you support that proposed (and defeated) tax increase?
You seem to have a hang up about the Register. Is it because you only read the Times?
The Register prints what they feel their readers want to read. They do not give any preference to someone because they know them. Last Friday’s photo and text is offered to anyone who takes the paper along on a vacation and includes a photo of that destination that includes your holding the edition. You can do the same thing if you desire. If I am not mistaken there were two others published.
Punching bag? If you read some of the comments we each get on this open forum you might realize that we are the ones taking the blows and are still standing.
Larry,
seems a very limited amount of replies come through your blog?
However,as for passing a course in marketing yes, in four Countries I worked in but that really doesn’t matter.As for the spending on the float. Yes, it was well worth while! Everyone I spoke to thought it was great, and very original. Sometimes one has to go over budget to achieve the ultimate end.Yes I did vote!
[got me!]After tonights meeting go and have you blood pressure tested [CVS] are open until late at night.We might want to see you holding a copy of the Saddleback news in some other distant land.!
True to my county, I do take the Register every day .Although I think I am close to the only one doing that.[no choice with the Saddleback news,] one come’s with the paper and the other is thrown on the lawn!
As you probably know with your [marketing background] all news papers are almost extinct.Maybe your Blog will take over this County after all!
Colin. Although I am one of the writers on this blog let me bring you up to speed by reporting that as of now we have had close to one million hits. Not exactly chump change.
Story comments by themselves is not an indication that readers oppose or support the reports. Many stories speak for themselves while we have had over 1,000 on SAUSD issues.
You continue to avoid my compare and contrast challenge between Anaheim, who should enter a float every year, and Mission Viejo where it is not justified. As you are slightly younger than myself I can report that one of my sons worked on the MV company float while attending MVHS over 20 years ago. My point is that while he enjoyed the opportunity to join others gluing flowers on that years entry, he also recognized that no taxpayer monies were spent.
Also discovering that you are a liberal Democrat neighbor of Lance helps me to better understand your free wheeling of our tax dollars.
And to your final point. Even the Register publisher recognizes the shift in readership habits and ages which is why his beat reporters also post stories on their Register blogs.
larry,
Since you are older than I, [75]It seems you have been spending your time looking me up.? I hope it was done legally?.[as you say;after discovering?].?A matter of public record is it?I don’t think so?
Why don’t you do something more constructive?Whether I lived next door to lance, it would make absolutely no difference to me.Marge is right. Get something constructive going in your life.As for my political views you are again wrong!
Get a life!I am not interested in yours thats for sure.!
Colin. I did something constructive last night. Thanks for the suggestion. Instead of sitting in my recliner watching former MV Diablo Mark Sanchez and the NY Jets play in Miami I attended and spoke at the MV Planning Commission meeting regarding a new cell tower application.
For someone who pretends to care about our city you were probably asleep by the time I came home. You surely were not in the building.
Larry , how would you know?
Colin. At this point we are heading off the reservation. This post is about Lance MacLean.
As I prepare some historical data on Mission Viejo it is worth sharing that with our carrying him along in the 2002 election Lance received 15,114 votes (from that year’s 54,703 registered voters).
In 2006 incumbent councilman Lance MacLean lost almost half of his support by squeaking by newcomer Diane Greenwood by 94 votes as he finished with 8,574 (from our 59,563 registered voters.) A little trivia. Frank Ury ran three candidates to unseat his peers in that election. They all lost.
Take note that there were 5,000 more voters in 2006 while Lance’s vote total dropped by 6,541.
Final points. Several years back I did a study on the success of incumbents who were not termed out of office. Over 90 percent win their re-election bids. That is why former Register reporter Steve Greenhut called our “grass roots” efforts in the 2002 city council election, where we trounced both a sitting mayor and mayor pro tem, ” a revolution.”
For those not familiar with that 2002 council race here’s the hard numbers.
Incumbent Mayor Withrow 1998 13,479 votes. 2002 4,781 votes
Incumbent Mayor Pro-tem Butterfield 1998 13,591 votes. 2002 5,487 votes
Stay tuned. The Oct 19th city council meeting will set the date for the official recall election, our second in this city. In 1990, two years after we became a city, there was an effort to remove councilman Bob Curtis that was defeated by 60% of the voters. I opposed that recall.
Larry,
Just as a fairwell………to have all the information you have[which is wrong] I will be looking into it .Especially where it was aquired.Age , political asperations,
and most of all your interpritation of my address.That’s stalking?
So be prepared for some communication on this.
Very good Larry,
But that does not and I mean not, excuse your probing into my personal information……….All of it wrong may I add.If you continue I will persue it and I have nothing to hide , however, you need to get a better sourse of information.Where you recieved that last lot is all wrong!
Colin. Do you truly believe that I am waking up in the middle of the night to check your background? Let me remind you that this is a blog not an inquisition by the OC Grand Jury. You found us. I surely did not seek you out and invite you to join the debate.
Once you hit the enter key on your keyboard you do become fair game, especially as you have some insider information on the topic.
Larry,
providing everything you have done is legal you have no worries do you?
That’s correct. I will not lose any sleep over my comments on this post.
Again. Come to city hall on Monday. It will be a memorable evening.
Larry,
See you there .However, we have met before………….remember?
Then we can take you over to CVS and have your blood pressure tested afterward!
Colin. If we have met, and I have met hundreds of people in Mission Viejo over the past 30 years, it surely did not make a lasting impression with me.
Larry,
Neither you on me except listening to the comments “here he comes again”! Keep up the badmouthing, CVS is open late just for you!Bring the [Camel with you!]
Colin. What are you talking about? What comments?
lARRY,
YOU can get an ‘outside ” view of someone who really knows you if you look up ‘City Hall Meeting Oct. 5. Even I would not describe you that way…………….Good Night.!
Colin. The only “someone who really knows me” is the man I see in the mirror with my wife coming in second. Having been attacked multiple times with bogus charges in my campaigns I take it all with a grain of salt.
i.e. A statement appeared in the local Register/SV News newspaper “quoting me making a statement on a CIP at a Republican endorsing meeting. The only problem was that I was almost 3,000 miles away at that time in the Orlando FL area. A few weeks later, after I called them on it, the Register issued a correction buried in the back pages of that later issue. One problem. The mayor’s campaign manager used the bogus quote in one of the hit pieces mass mailed against me in that council race. Larry quickly discovered that politics is a contact sport especially when the incumbent gets nervous. Years later we trounced that mayor and removed her from office never to be seen again at a council meeting.
Larry,
We need a watchdog like you I suppose, Lance said it too, at the oct5 meeting. Why not wait and save the money it will cost to make the effort to recall me? It is just another year or less, and is close to the cost of the float?Good point? Is it just politics not cost then?
Larry, relax, go on another safari, Brazil supposed to be good? I will fill you in when you get back. Why have elevated blood pressure when you don’t have too?[serious] We are not indispensable you know. This is visable from one end of the City hall to the other.If you say its normal , thats fine and your choice.
Colin. First you now tell me to relax yet couldn’t wait to add another useful comment 12 minutes after your prior input. As they say, get a life.
See you at the Walk Against Drugs tomorrow morning.
Larry , I forgot to include it.Maybe I should have forgotten it.?
Its your life.No , you won’t see me at the walk against drugs Saturday since I will not be here.Just leaving on a trip for the weekend.Hope it achieves something.
Colin. It was starting to warm up this morning but the weather was perfect. The Rotary Club of Mission Viejo had volunteers throwing “free” hot dogs from their booth to the kids, and some of the adults who approached their booth. Dave L told me they had 2,000 dogs to give away but none of them were Dodger dogs so I didn’t take one.
Supervisor Patricia Bates, who was introduced by Frank Ury, did address those at the Murray Center after the opening ceremony. MIA were Lance and JP
Larry,
Thank’s for the update.Glad you left the non Dodger dogs uneaten.
However,I am sure they were consumed somewhere along the way.