Monday, May 30, 2011

KPCC’s HotAir Ironic or Delusional?


Posted By CotoBlogzz


Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Today’s topic at KPCC’s AirTalk rhetorically asks if media outlets should strive to achieve the standard of objective journalism, then it proceeds to position Public Radio Broadcasting (NPR) AKA  Parasitic Radio Broadcasting as that standard with MSNC on the left and Fox Network on the right.

Soros’ contribution to NPR is brought up and quickly dealt with as an example of community journalism, while Murdoch’s use of Fox Network as a tool for right-wing propagandist.  Anent propaganda, where does that leave a mainstream media, which arguably has been largely responsible for the irresponsible journalistic standards, include the Hyphenated-American media?


Saturday, May 28, 2011

Orange County Memorial Day Weekend DUI Crackdown Yielding Results


Posted By CotoBlogzz


Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  The Orange County Memorial Day Weekend DUI crackdown has already  resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special Avoid the 38 DUI deployments overnight.

Preliminary figures from 12:01 AM Friday May 27, 2011 through Midnight Friday May 27, 2011 officers representing 38 county law enforcement agencies have arrested 29 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2010 32 DUI arrests occurred during the same time period.

Law enforcement officials are continuing DUI efforts throughout the county and region. Additionally, CHP Areas throughout the state have all available officers patrolling freeways and county roads throughout the weekend.

For Saturday May 28th, the City of Buena Park will conduct a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint. All Avoid the 38 cities will continue to deploy DUI Saturation Patrols nightly. The Avoid the 38 DUI Task Force encourages all motorists to help make your community safer: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Orange County on Memorial Day Weekend DUI Crackdown




Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA –  You decide to drink and drive in Orange County during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the probability that you get caught just went to high alert.  The “Avoid the 38”- Orange County DUI Task Force will be deploying officers this holiday weekend at DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols countywide to arrest impaired drivers who still do not  get it .

While the Memorial Day weekend kicks off summertime recreation and holiday travel, along with many college and high school graduations, history show that next 100 days will  see a rise in deaths and injuries as far too many individuals get behind the wheel impaired.

“The “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force will have a Zero Tolerance policy in effect during the enforcement period” according to  Sgt. Mark Daigle with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Bureau. 

“If you are caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested and taken to jail. The impact a DUI arrest can have on a driver, as well as their family, is devastating. Think twice
before getting behind the wheel and driving impaired”.

The operation begins Friday night with DUI/Drivers License checkpoints in the cities of Anaheim, La Habra and Rancho Santa Margarita, with special DUI Saturation Patrols deploying in the cities of Anaheim and La Habra.

The City of Buena Park will conduct a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Saturday night.

The City of Seal Beach will host a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Sunday night. More local DUI Saturation Patrols will be out during the enforcement period in the cities of Brea, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana and the University of California, Irvine.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be deploying Task Force Members in its contract cities. The California Highway Patrol is deploying all available officers Memorial Day weekend onto freeways and county roads in their jurisdiction.
 “Sobriety Checkpoints are a proven deterrent along with the ‘High Visibility’ enforcement campaigns to change behavior such as drunk driving, driving unrestrained and driving distracted,” according  Chris Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Drivers who know that there is Zero Tolerance when it comes to drunk driving take measures to use a Designated Sober Driver and call 9-1-1 to report a suspected drunk driver weaving down the road ahead of them.”

Law enforcement agencies region-wide are asking for the public’s  support this holiday weekend and all summer with the following recommendations:

  • Be responsible when hosting a party. Don’t allow friends and family to drink to excess

  • Always promote a Designated Sober Driver

  • Report Drunk Drivers. Call 911!



Orange County Avoid the 38 DUI Task Force Memorial Day Weekend Schedule of Operations Sobriety Checkpoint:

FRIDAY, May 27: Anaheim Police Dept: 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the 2300 block of W. Ball Rd.

FRIDAY, May 27: La Habra Police Dept: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Downtown Area.

FRIDAY, May 27: Orange County Sheriff’s Dept: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita.

SATURDAY, May 28: Buena Park Police Dept: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., in the Central Area.

SUNDAY, May 29: Multi- Agency Checkpoint: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the City of Seal Beach
Saturation Patrols:

FRIDAY – MONDAY: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will deploy Avoid DUI Task Force
members in the Sheriff’s Contract Cities.

Extra DUI Roving Patrols will be assigned by police departments within the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana, Yorba Linda and the University of California at Irvine.
California Highway Patrol Maximum Enforcement Period: CHP will assign 80 percent of all available officers to the region’s freeways and unincorporated roads beginning 6 PM Friday through midnight Monday.


RELATED STORIES

 The Science of Addiction
 http://www.shatterproof.org/pages/science-of-addiction

 20 Secret Signs of Addiction
 https://www.caring.com/articles/20-secret-signs-of-addiction

 Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction

 Addiction in the Waiting Room: How to Go to the Doctor in Sobriety
 http://www.discoveryplace.info/addiction-waiting-room-how-go-doctor-sobriety

 The Benefits of a Sober Summer and How to Achieve Them
 http://www.narconon.org/blog/sobriety/the-benefits-of-a-sober-summer-and-how-to-achieve-them/

 Runaways and Drug Abuse: 15 Ways to Reach Out and Make a Difference
 http://www.drugrehab.org/runaways-and-drug-abuse-15-ways-to-reach-out-and-make-a-difference/

 7 Tips for Mothers of Adult Addicts
 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/lifetime-connections/201410/7-tips-mothers-adult-addicts



Wednesday, May 25, 2011

OCSD's Sgt. Essoe added to Peace Officer's Memorial Monument

Posted By CotoBlogzz


Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  The name Sergeant Ira Essoe II is being added today to the Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument.  Sergeant Essoe was shot while attempting to stop a car theft on November 6, 1980. He died of injuries received in that shooting on February 4, 2010. The Sergeant's name  will be the 49th peace officer listed on the Memorial, representing 20 different law enforcement
agencies that have had members killed in the line of duty in Orange County.


“Every name on this memorial reminds us of the dangers our peace officers face each and every
day. We will never forget the sacrifice they made to keep us safe. All of them, along with their
families, will forever live in our hearts,” said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.


Colleagues of local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and those they left behind will  gather
in this morning in Santa Ana  at the 25th Annual Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony to honor  Sergeant Ira Essoe II and the other fallen officers.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council established Project 999 to assist the family of
Sergeant Essoe, who was left paralyzed by his wounds. It now serves those families of officers
injured and killed in the line of duty who face unexpected expenses and it ensures they are cared
for in their time of need.

The Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument was dedicated in 1986.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Bad Luck Laguna Nigel DUI Driver


Posted By CotoBlogzz


Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  – Laguna Nigel's  Michael Jones was arrested  on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after he crashed his vehicle into a Sheriff deputy's vehicle at an apartment complex early Saturday according to Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Lt. Jim England
At 12:37 a.m., Michael Jones crashed into a deputy's vehicle patrolling an apartment complex in the 28000 block of Moulton Parkway. Jones turned a corner and struck a curb before crashing into the vehicle with two deputies inside.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Presidential Madness Redux – What Is He Thinking?




Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – In 2004, the US made commitments to Israel, overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress, calling  it unrealistic to expect Israel to return major population centers.  While candidate Obama regularly suggested meeting with enemies without pre-conditions, in a major policy shift, President Obama unilaterally calls  for oxymoronic negotiations based on the pre-1967 borders, with land swaps: “We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states"



While such policy shift is viewed largely as radical by any measure, it is not surprising.  We stated as much in our Presidential March Madness. The Israel rebuke is all the sharper considering it comes on the eve of a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the trashing the Prime Minister received in his previous visit to the White House. 

While the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the US Congress hoping to restore the focus to the threat of Iran, Obama’s rebuke pre-empts the Prime Minister’s Message.

In a statement Netanyahu refuted Obama’s speech point by point.

"The viability of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of the viability of the one and only Jewish state," Netanyahu said, a direct reference to Obama's call for a "viable Palestine, a secure Israel."

The Israeli leader went on to make it clear that the speech did not go far enough in extending the 2004  reassurances to protect Israel's interests during negotiations.  "Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004, which were overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress," the statement said.

Also of concern for Netanyahu was how Obama left out Bush's rejection of a Palestinian "right of return." All Obama would say was that the issues of refugees and Jerusalem were "wrenching and emotional" and should be left for later.
“Israel appreciates President Obama's commitment to peace…That is why Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004, which were overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress”,” reads in part the Prime Minister’s statement

Having had success with the Presidential March Madness Bracket, we can safely argue that President Obama will not only not reaffirm US Commitments made to Israel in 2004, but will in essence embolden Iran and anti-Israeli forces.

The questions is, What is He Thinking?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Law Enforcement seeks help in solving Flower-Chester ave. Murder in Stanton

Posted By CotoBlogzz



Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Orange County law enforcement officials are seeking the public's help in solving the case of man gunned down on Friday, September 17, 2010 shortly before 10:00 p.m.  in the residential tract located in the area of Flower Avenue and Chester Avenue in the City of Stanton near Beach Blvd. and Katella Ave. A $5,000 reward is being offered.

At about 10:03 p.m., OCSD patrol deputies received a “shots fired” call and arrived within seconds.
Despite lifesaving measures by Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) patrol deputies, the victim, 30 year old- Martin Trujillo was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.

Based on multiple interviews and the service of multiple search warrants over the past seven months,
enough information has been developed to bring OCSD Homicide Investigators close to solving this
case. It is believed there were multiple witnesses to the shooting.  . In order to solve this brutal and seemingly unprovoked murder, these witnesses are asked to come forward and provide whatever information they have.

According to the OCSD office, " No amount of information can be considered too small to call OCSD Homicide Investigators. Of particular concern to OCSD is that the suspect(s) in this case used a firearm to recklessly shoot in a residential neighborhood where houses occupied by children were literally feet from where the victim was  killed. This suspect is extremely dangerous and a threat to both the citizens and law enforcement officers."

 The City of Stanton is offering a $5,000.00 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who murdered Mr. Trujillo and jeopardized the lives of many other people.


Tips from the public can be made to 1-866-TIP-OCSD or 714 628-7170 - 24 hours a day

The $2 million SJC Tree-Trimming Fraudsters


Posted by CotoBlogzz



Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - James and  Dorothy  Klinger, husband and wife who own two businesses for gardening and tree-trimming will be arraigned today on charges of committing $2 million in fraud, according to the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) office.

  James Joseph Klinger, 64, and Dorothy Louise Klinger, 63, both of San Juan Capistrano, are each charged with 29 counts of misrepresenting facts to State Compensation Insurance Fund, 28 counts of failing to file a return with intent to evade tax, 28 counts of willful failure to pay taxes, five felony counts of misrepresenting facts to a workers' compensation insurance company and sentencing enhancements for loss over $100,000 and taking involving more than $500,000. Joseph Klinger is additionally charged with 11 felony counts each of filing false tax returns and willful failure to file or make fraudulent tax returns. Dorothy Klinger is additionally charged with 7 felony counts each of filing false tax returns and willful failure to file or make fraudulent tax returns. They are out of custody on $50,000 bail

Joseph Klinger and his wife Dorothy Klinger have co-owned and operated Modern Tree Service, Inc. and Jamo's Gardening since the 1970's as two separate companies. Between 2003 and 2010, they are accused of setting up Jamo's Gardening with the express purpose of hiding Modern Tree Service, Inc. employees' payroll. The defendants are accused of paying almost all of Jamo's Gardening expenses and payroll with money from Modern Tree Services, Inc.

The defendants are accused of fraudulently classifying Jamo's Gardening as a landscape gardening business instead of a tree-trimming business, allowing them to insure tree-trimmers as gardeners to substantially lower the insurance premiums. Due to the nature of the job, the insurance premium for tree-trimmers is a higher cost then the insurance premium for a gardener.

Joseph and Dorothy Klinger are accused of keeping two sets of financial documents, one set of records showing the actual income and payroll expenses for each company and the other showing an edited version, which was used to underreport lower levels of income and wages to the State and insurance companies. They are accused of not reporting over half of the actual payroll for both businesses to the insurance companies or the Employment Development Department (EDD). The defendants are accused of not reporting over $3.6 million in income to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) on the tax returns from 2004 through 2009, and over $3 million in employee wages to the EDD and insurance carriers.

In July 2009, the State Compensation Insurance Fund audited one of the businesses and found large amounts of money transferred from Modern Tree Service, Inc. to Jamo's Gardening to pay for payroll and expenses. Further investigation by FTB and EDD uncovered the tax fraud. The defendants are accused of committing $2 million in fraud, totaling $5.5 million including penalties and interest.

##

Monday, May 16, 2011

Laguna Hills' Rose Charged with turning BB gun on OCSD deputies

Posted by CotoBlogzz




Rancho Santa Margarita -  Randal Jon Rose has been charged with pointing and shooting an imitation firearm at Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies in his Laguna Hills home in an effort to resist being evicted, according to the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) office.

Rose, 46, Laguna Hills, is charged with three felony counts of resisting and deterring an executive officer by force and one misdemeanor count each of brandishing an imitation firearm, assault on a peace officer, and battery on an officer. I

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on May 12, 2011, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Department went to the Laguna Hills home of Rose to enforce an eviction after the defendant failed to move from the home after receiving an eviction notice. Deputies knocked and called for the defendant to come out of his house, but Rose is accused of refusing to respond or comply. After a locksmith was unable to unlock a back door, the deputies broke a window to a spare bedroom to gain entrance into the home.

Rose is accused of waiting for the deputies, kneeling in his living room, and pointing a black BB gun at the deputies as they entered the hallway. Based on the appearance of the BB gun, the deputies believed it to be a firearm. Rose is accused of failing to comply with the deputies' order to drop his weapon and was subsequently Tased by a deputy. The Taser did not stop the defendant.

After being Tased, Rose is accused of shooting at the deputies, hitting one in the hand. One deputy responded by shooting back at the defendant but did not hit him. Another deputy Tased the defendant again and Rose was taken into custody.

Friday, May 13, 2011

The DeVore-Spitzer Debate & the One Million Dollar OC Man














The DeVore-Spitzer Debate & the One Million Dollar OC Man





Posted By CotoBlogzz May 13, 2011









Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – If you think gas prices are exorbitant, have you seen how much it takes to get a candidate elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors (OCBOS)?






Looking at the open seat in the Orange County Third District as an investment, under what conditions would you buy stock at some 1000 price to earnings (P/E) ratio? Consider that brand-centric companies usually command a 10-30 multiple, whereas financial-centric ones usually go for 1-5 times. Now, Hot Market-Centric Companies Such as the ones listed below, did not get over a 500 times multiple:






Company PE Market Cap


1. AOL 253 $109.4B


2. Yahoo 311 $39.6B


3. Excite 491 $7.3B


4. Amazon -119 $20.2B










Further, according to Forbes, Quarter Ending Date 2011/03 results for Apple Computer, show the following price to earnings ratios:






Current P/E Ratio = 16.7


P/E Ratio 1 Month Ago = 16.0


P/E Ratio 26 Weeks Ago = 20.3


P/E Ratio 52 Weeks Ago = 19.6


12 Month Normalized P/E Ratio = 16.7






Then consider that just this week, a study by Millward Brown a global brands agency found that thanks to the iPhone and iPad Apple, is now worth $153 Billion



























Chuck DeVore



Todd Spitzer












According to an email blast from Third candidate Chuck DeVore, his likely opponent Todd Spitzer “….has a million dollars – money from government unions and special interests,” adding that “with a million dollars, my opponent’s consultant can pump out thousands and thousands of slick mailers attacking me with all kinds of false charges – I know, because my opponent’s consultant was the same consultant my defeated 2004 opponent “






So what is the P/E ratio for the Third District? Roughly close to infinity. Why? Because in this case the E is not earnings, as much as it is entitlements. That is, a taxpayer pays for the price and for the entitlement!






We have been trying to get Mr. DeVore and Mr. Spitzer to have a substantive debate on the issues the county of Orange faces, but to date Mr. Spitzer has been unresponsive and Mr. DeVore’s responses have lacked substance. While we have suggested certain bold initiatives, Mr. DeVore has largely responded with reasons why the proposals are not doable – not with his own bold proposals:






A. Audits – We are calling for an audit of the OCSD. The county apparently does not have the necessary tools. The state is supposed to conduct audits to make sure everything is in the up and up. However, no county or state agency contacted so far has records of any audits performed. Further, law enforcement officials and Governor Brown are asking for a tax increase. Does it make sense to have a tax increase when we cannot trace how the public safety dollar is being managed? Mr. DeVore says that “.. the county has the authority to order its own audits, and it should.” The problem with such a response is analogous to having the fox audit the hen house.






Stephen Connelly, OCSD’s Executive Director of Independent Review, for example, when asked about department accountability, he said “Accountability means different things to different people”. Further, Mr. Connely was aware of tools and or metrics used by management in the department to make sure there was some sort of accountability. And a just-released-OCSD follow-up to a 2008 audit criticizing the OCSD for allowing out-of-control, “ because the department lacked sufficient rules and controls “ misses the mark: The new audit credits new overtime rules with a drop in overtime costs of $21.6 million.. We have asked to county to clarify the rationale used to reach such conclusion, as the evidence indicates the reason is "because the department lacked the proper management"






Then there is the issue of an outdated manual timecard system, which needs to be overhauled, and according to Sheriff’s Executive Director Rick Dostal. A new system could save the county as much as $225,000 a year. We are also asking the county to clarify. After all, most reputable payroll processing services provide timecard systems for free. Worse case, there are plenty of open source solutions at no cost to the county.










B. BRCI - We are asking Third candidates to consider an Orange County bureau realignment and closure initiative, whereby 80% of the bureaucracies should either close or merge – initiative patterned after the military closure initiative. If successful, the notion can be a prototype that can be exported to other counties and the nation. No real response from Mr. DeVore









On a related note, Mr. DeVore’s email blast refers to “…an independent poll taken in March shows me beating my opponent, Todd Spitzer, by 39 percent to 25 percent.” Our proprietary Poldex© Index, a measure of relative popularity in the county, places Mr. DeVore at a major disadvantage with only 15%









While it may be understandable that a substantive debate may be too early, given a one million dollar war chest that can be used for demagoguery, voters deserve better. Particularly when the P/E ratio approximates infinity.





###





RELATED STORIES






DeVore on ANDRES BOCELI - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA- Candidate Obama rightfully demanded that words must mean something. President Obamaregularly parses words not unlike the infamous "it all depends on what is is". Politicians regularly use the terms accountability and transparency, but when pressed as to what they are ready to do, they deflect, deny or ignore, perhaps even lie - that is, the political game of DIDL.


California's Triple Threat - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - We assert that the sucking sound you hear are all the jobs California is losing to Nevada, Texas and Utah, in large measure do to what we refer to as California's Triple Threat: 1) Public sector organized labor, 2) un-elected, un-checked parasitic bureaucracies and 3) lobbyists.


Economic Freedom and the Triple Constraint - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The Heritage Foundation & The Wall Street Journal compared 183 countries across ten specific freedoms such as trade freedom, business freedom, property rights, investment freedom and others, to come up with the so called The Link Between Economic Opportunity and Prosperity: The 2009 Index of Economic Freedom. Such index ranked Hong Kong at the top, while the United States was relegated to the number six slot


A view of Senator Obama Using a Disgruntled Homeowner Prism During a recent blogging exchange with Assemblyman Todd Spitzer , he referred to a particular constituent as a disgruntled member of a homeowners association. Now, we have heard the term disgruntled employee regularly in employer-employee spats and usually in whistle blowing scenarios. We have also hear the term disgruntled resident in the context of an argument between representatives of a homeowners’ association and the resident itself. Never from a politician to characterize a constituent.


A Winning the Future Moment, or Simply: WTF? - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – President Obama has ditched the car in the ditch metaphor and the Hope & Change slogan in lieu of taking the engine off of an airplane metaphor and Winning the Future slogan . Critics say that the new metaphor does not work, since the airplane is heading to China to mortgage future generations of American, when the airplane has no fuel, while Governor Sarah Palin characterizes the new slogan as “What Were They Thinking” (WWTT) or in the vernacular: WTF?


The 2010 Union Voting Guide - Use at your Own Peril - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - There is a lot of truth in the old adage that "we should not judge a book by its cover." But what if we have access to the Cover, the Table of Contents and the Appendix? Can we get a good idea as to the contents of the book? In other words, using another adage "tell me who you associate with and I will tell you who you are?" and applying the latter to political elections, if we know the candidate's supporters, we should be able to have a good idea about how that candidate will govern. Take for instance Van Jones, Reverend Wright, the National Representative of the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, the Reverend Al Sharpton, terrorist William Charles " Bill" Ayers and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel all supporters of candidate Obama. Should this not have been a good indicator, largely ignored, of the contents of the now Presidential Book?






THE FORUM: Vote "Yes" for 23; support jobs


The California Air Resources Board acknowledges that "no direct public health impacts" are expected from Prop 23. The proposition delays control of greenhouse gas emissions, implicated in global warming. It delays implementation of AB 32 (the global warming solution), which penalizes sources of emissions, especially refineries and fossil fuel power sources.






The 2010 Union Voting Guide - Use at your Own Peril
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - There is a lot of truth in the old adage that "we should not judge a book by its cover." But what if we have access to the Cover, the Table of Contents and the Appendix? Can we get a good idea as to the contents of the book? In other words, using another adage "tell me who you associate with and I will tell you who you are?" and applying the latter to political elections, if we know the candidate's supporters, we should be able to have a good idea about how that candidate will govern. Take for instance Van Jones, Reverend Wright, the National Representative of the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, the Reverend Al Sharpton, terrorist William Charles " Bill" Ayers and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel all supporters of candidate Obama. Should this not have been a good indicator, largely ignored, of the contents of the now Presidential Book?










2010 California Propositions Voters Guide
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - While heuristics indicate that a NO vote in any California's direct special interest democracy is a wise move, following the money may be even better. Below is a list of the 2010 California propositions, their main supporters and our recommendations, including a brief rationale.







Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Your Kids do not go to school, YOU go to Jail




Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - Today, in a first-of-its-kind in the county, law enforcement arrested five parents for allowing their children to be chronically truant despite repeated warnings from the schools and police, according to the  Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office

California law requires school-aged children to be enrolled and attend school and failure to comply with the law can result in juvenile court proceedings for the child or criminal prosecution of the parent(s). The defendants in this case are each charged with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and face a sentence ranging from probation up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines. 

These parent truancy arrests were conducted by the Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (GRIP) teams from the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, and Orange County Probation Department. GRIP is a law enforcement partnership that identifies at-risk youth and aims to increase school attendance and decrease gang activity. 

All arrests were made in the morning after the defendants' children had been taken to school. The defendants were booked into the Orange County Jail and released on their own recognizance prior to the end of the school day to ensure that no child would be left without proper childcare. 

The defendants, scheduled to be arraigned June 7, 2011 include  Alice and her husband Ayman Haddadin who  have a middle school student in the Capistrano Unified School District.  By April 2011, the defendants' child had accumulated 12 unexcused absences during the current school year. Beginning in December 2010, Ayman and Alice Haddadin were sent four separate notices by the school and school district requesting contact and setting up a meeting to discuss the attendance problem. The defendants are accused of failing to respond or attend the meeting. The defendants are accused of having additional knowledge that their son had attendance problems because the minor was subject to GRIP truancy sweeps in January 2010 and 2011 and the parents were advised that they could be prosecuted for continuing to fail to have their child attend school. Ayman and Alice Haddadin are accused of allowing their child to have attendance problems dating back three school years. 

 Other defendants are Porfirio Ascencio and Natividad Arteaga who have a middle school student in the Orange Unified School District. The defendants' are accused of failing to enroll their child in the middle school for the first three weeks of the school year. By May 2011, the defendants' child had accumulated 10 unexcused absences and 28 late arrivals. The defendants are accused of having knowledge that their child had attendance problems by completing an attendance review board meeting, where they were informed about State attendance laws. They are accused of having a separate personal meeting with a police officer, who advised the defendants that their child's continued attendance problems could result in prosecution of the parents. 

 Claudia Diaz Perez has an elementary school student in the Magnolia School District. By May 2011, the defendant's child had accumulated 30 absences during the school year, eight of which were unexcused and the remaining were sick days that were not justified with a doctor's note. Perez is accused of having knowledge that her child had attendance problems because she has met multiple times with a teacher from the school regarding the issue and has had personal contact with a police officer regarding her child's attendance. Perez is accused of allowing her son to have attendance and tardiness problems going back to the 2nd grade

##

Saturday, May 07, 2011

The 100K Read in Red




Posted by CotoBlogzz




Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The CotoBuzz Journal has logged its 100,000 read in the Red County.  The Red County positions itself  as "...unlike any other publication, Red County provides comprehensive state and local political news and analysis, as well. And our hyper-local coverage is spreading quickly, county-by-county, across the nation."


Considering that the content submitted for publication to the Red County is a small fraction of the total content published in the CotoBuzz Journal, the 100K mark may not be that small of a milestone - you think?.

Most recent pieces published in the Red County are





Latest Articles

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Yashwant Balgiri Giri, Anesthesiologist charged with assaulting unconscious patients


 Posted By CotoBlogzz




The OCDA is seeking the public's help in identifying potential additional victims

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA- - The Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) Office has filed charges against 
Yashwant Balgiri Giri, an anesthesiologist for sexually assaulting two female patients while they were unconscious. 


Giri, 58, Cypress, was charged yesterday, May 4, 2011, with one felony count each of sexual battery on an institutionalized victim for Jane Doe #1 and sexual assault on an unconscious victim Jane Doe #2. The defendant was arrested in Cypress today, May 5, 2011, by the Placentia Police Department (PPD), who investigated this case. 

Giri is an anesthesiologist at the Placentia-Linda Hospital. Giri has worked at other hospitals in Southern California including Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Anaheim Regional Medical Center, West Anaheim Medical Center, and Western Medical Center, Anaheim.

Between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009, Giri is accused of administering anesthesia to 16-year-old Jane Doe #2 while she was unconscious from medication. He is accused of molesting  the victim while a scrub nurse was preparing the surgery tools with her back turned. The nurse witnessed the sexual assault and immediately reported the incident to a director at the Placentia-Linda Hospital. The hospital failed to report the incident to police at that time.

On March 18, 2011, Giri is accused of molesting 36-year-old Jane Doe #1 while she was unconscious under anesthesia during an outpatient surgery procedure. A hospital employee, who had looked into the operating room window to see how the surgery was progressing, witnessed the incident  while the procedure was taking place. The hospital employee reported the sexual assault to a hospital director and PPD was contacted. Shortly after PPD began their investigation, Giri resigned. During the investigation into the sexual assault of Jane Doe #1, PPD learned of the unreported sexual assault of Jane Doe #2 a year earlier.

Due to the defendant's work history, the OCDA is seeking the public's help identifying potential additional victims. Anyone with additional information or who thinks they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.

Cinco de No DUI in The OC


Posted By CotoBlogzz


Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) announced extra patrols for today May 5, 2011 on time for the Cinco de Mayo celebrations.  While “ Cinco de Mayo is a special opportunity to gather with friends and co-workers for chips, salsa and Margaritas, celebrating California’s rich cultural diversity. It is also a night when dangerous and often deadly outcomes occur because another impaired driver hits the road drunk,” states the OCSD announcement, adding that the Orange County Avoid the 38”DUI Task Force will be deploying overtime patrols in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra Laguna Beach, La Palma, Placentia, Santa Ana and Westminster, as well as the Sheriff’s Department’s Contract Cities, such as Rancho Santa Margarita.

The OCSD reminds “everyone, including hosts, local bars and restaurants to  be sure to promote designated sober drivers in advance, before the  party begins and provides the following tips:

1.  Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins.
2.  Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks to the Designated Driver.
3.  Party hosts and servers must limit drinks to your guests or patrons. Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours.
4.  Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food.
It you see dangerous driving, Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1!

Despite claims from a DUI defense law firm to provide potential clients arrested and charged with DUI anywhere in Southern California with “aggressive legal representation they can count on,” it is fair to say that  if such charges are filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office, the promises may be just that.  “Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but  the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant. “Violators often face jail time, the loss of
their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of otherexpenses. So don’t take the chance,” said Sgt Mark Daigle of the Sheriff’s Department Traffic Bureau 

If you are still not convinced about the cost-benefit ratio of DUI, check out Sr. Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos’  recent recognition as  Defender of Justice Award   The message from Orange County law enforcement agencies should be loud and clear- zero tolerance for DUI.

“Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic
Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

SJC Golf Tournament w/Coastal Mountain Youth Academy



Posted By CotoBlogzz



San Juan Capistrano, CA - the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce is announcing the Golf Tournament with the Coastal Mountain Youth Academy at the  San Juan Hills Golf Course Monday, May 16, 2011



The SJCChamber's Four Core Objectives are to 1)  Work to create a strong local economy 2)  Promote the community 3) Provide networking opportunities AND 4) Represent the interests of business with government.

The tournament is scheduled for 1:00 pm Shotgun Start.

$150 per Golfer / $550 Foursome
$40 Dinner Only

Sponsorship opportunities available

For Registration & Sponsorship Info:  www.cmya.org/events.html

Monday, May 02, 2011

Biby, 9th-striker sex offender faces trial - thanks to serendipity



Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - Vaughn Robert Biby , a sex offender with nine prior strike convictions faces trial tomorrow for being in possession of hundreds of thousands of pornographic pictures and videos of children, as well as books and magazines on torture, rape and murder of children, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office.

The OCDA’s office offered no plausible explanation as to why a 9th-striker is on the streets.

Vaughn Robert Biby, 47, Fullerton, is charged with one felony count each possession and control of child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a child. Biby is also charged with sentencing enhancements for nine prior strike convictions for lewd and lascivious acts on minors in Orange and Los Angeles Counties in 1995 and a prison prior for child molest.

Between November 2009 and March 2010, Biby is accused of being in possession of hundreds of thousands of digital images of child pornography on his computer and photographic images in his Fullerton home. He is also accused of having in his possession magazines about child rape, torture and murder, and how-to books for pedophiles.

Biby is accused of having Chuck E. Cheese tokens to lure children and possessing several different library cards. He is accused of having recently worked as a truck driver for a portable toilets company and delivering the portable toilets to parks and venues where children congregate.

On March 25, 2010, the Fullerton Police Department and the Department of Probation conducted Sex Offender Compliance Check searches on selected high-risk sex offenders, including Biby's residence, and discovered the child pornography.

Hammering around Laguna Woods Village - Curtis, Feldstein et al vindicated


 Posted by CotoBlogzz

Laguna Woods Village, CA  – we are going to make the case that the April 16, 2011 United Mutual Press release supports the argument that  Laguna Woods Village governance continues to hammer around the community, that HOA Hero Mike Curtis has been vindicated and that Stanley Feldstein,  the Ely’s and other community activists have been right all along

While we give the United Mutual an A for effort for pro-actively looking into theThird Laguna Woods Mutual  lawsuit against PCM, Milt John,  and PCM’s Financial Services and Finance and Administration Director Janet Price, we give it a F for its hammer approach:  “If the only tool I have is a hammer, I tend to see everything as a nail” – Maslow.  Let me explain:

The United Press Release acknowledges that the Third complaint alleged “serious and profound fraud and abuse” arising out of a “Pay for Results” incentive compensation plan originated by and utilized by PCM between 1996 and 2007,” and  “because of the seriousness of the allegations in the Third Mutual lawsuit, United retained David F. Feingold, Esq. and the law firm of Ragghianti Freitas LLP as Special Independent Counsel to investigate the Incentive Plan on behalf of  United. The board’s mandate to Mr. Feingold: Complete a comprehensive investigation of Third’s allegations and provide an unbiased report as to whether United should/must take action against PCM, Johns and Price, and/or any and all of them.” 

Feingold’s own website states that he  “ ,,,,,has been in practice since 1986. The majority of his practice is devoted to representing community associations and homeowners in construction and real estate related issues.”  This is akin to LA Dodger’s owner Frank McCourt hiring an attorney specializing in intellectual property to advice him on how to proceed with his messy marriage, for instance.

Community activist Paul Loughery has been trying to educate the community that in order to dismiss  and or prove fraud, a forensics expert is required.  As to the compensation issue, that is why there are so many competent compensation experts.  Skeptics can argue that either the Third board is really dumb, or it is simply availed itself of an insurance policy, by being exonerated by a non-expert in the field.  However, what happens to that insurance policy  if the IRS, HUD  the DOJ and or other government agencies find merit on the multiple whistle-blowing incidents?

Nore Damning however is that Mr. Finegold’s own findings do not reveal anything new bu are more like a subset of what has been documented in the Red Book.

For instance, the United Press Release states that some of Mr. Finegold’s findings include:

 “The United Board of Directors “knew” of the Incentive Plan when the relevant management contracts between United and PCM were executed. Corporations are held to knowledge that their directors or officers, acting as agents for the corporation, receive relating to material factual issues."

 Noteknew” is legalize for “we provide you with misleading information, it is up to you to discern whether you understand it or not, if you don’t, don’t sue us”  This is exactly the Enron defense and what the Sarbanes-Oxely Act intended to avoid:  1)  Have management sign reports certifying  it “knows.”  2)  Have management certify it “knows” to be correct and 3)  certify it knows, it is correct and a process is in place to avoid problems in the future.


The reported findings also state that “ The relevant management agreement included language that was broad enough to permit a pass-through of all PCM compensation-related expenses, including Incentive Plan payments.  The 2007-2011 agreement expressly allowed a pass through of Incentive Plan payments. That agreement was approved by United’s then legal counsel.

Note:  In this case the operative statement is “broad language” and approved by “then United’s legal counsel.”  So, who’s on first?  Who’s on Thrid?

But wait, there is more findings:  “ Although not transparent, nor easy to understand, the Incentive Plan was developed in 1996 with the involvement of a professional consultant and in consultation with the Presidents of the corporations. The Incentive Plan was utilized by PCM on a company-wide basis, with every Division participating, and a large percentage of eligible PCM employees receiving Incentive Plan payments.  While the justification for some of the almost 1,000 Incentive Plan payments made between 1996 and 2007 may be subject to question, the Plan provided a process by which Plan payments were approved and evaluated, including an analysis as to whether financial savings or service."

The message is clear:  HOA need to be independently competent and tell service providers what they want, not the other way around.

The Vindication of Mike Curtis and Stanley Feldstein

Part of Mr. Feingold’s criticism is that  “during the years that the Incentive Plan was in effect, PCM did not disclose to the Presidents or the Boards of Directors the actual payments made under the Incentive Plan, even in an aggregate or general manner. With the typical turnover of Board members, this resulted in many Directors being unaware of the Plan’s existence, let alone Plan payments. The lack of transparency can be explained in part by the unique history of the community and its “pass-through” management cost structure. However, a general disclosure of Plan payments to the Boards on an annual basis could have been made without adverse legal consequences."

Do you recall what Stanley Feldstein, a former  member of the Third Mutual Board said about the lawsuit?  “Maybe even worse than the actual fraud they committed, the defendants counted on mental confusion, memory lapses, and foreshortened life spans of Board members to count in their favor.  They relied on the fact that there would be no one who could connect the dots over the years to find out about the hidden plan, and how much money they awarded themselves.”  And by the way, this artifact is common to a HOA/CID environment and not unique to Laguna Woods.

Other criticism contained in the press release includes: 1. PCM did not provide information to the Boards of Directors regarding consistent Incentive Plan payments to certain employees when reporting on PCM salary levels and 2)  Independent Counsel did have criticism of the manner in which PCM responded to questions and provided information regarding the Plan when it became controversial in late 2006.  The intense controversy over the Incentive Plan was and is real, he did find that PCM failed to ensure that the Plan was administered in a transparent manner and that meaningful disclosures were made to the Boards as to Plan payments.

The shared management for the Laguna Woods Village communities and the unique “pass through” of all management expenses has existed since the inception of the community almost fifty years ago. It was developed as a way to take advantage of the large economies of scale and has certain advantages. This system also requires meaningful financial oversight by the Boards of Directors, who are the stewards of the communities’ trust. The Boards necessarily rely on management to provide all relevant information so that they can provide that oversight. In regards to the Incentive Plan.

So what is the board going to do?  “  In the future, the United Board of Directors will be taking a more active role in annually receiving and reviewing information regarding management staff compensation, including salaries, benefits, and any and all incentive or bonus programs. A requirement that management provide this information so that the Board can carry out a meaningful review, without any adverse legal consequences, will be included in any future management agreements.”  Akin to wallowing in the never never nebulosities of open ended possibilities.

The fundamental question is, what specifically is local governance going to do to repair a broken system, when all it seems to have is a hammer?  What happens when it encounters "broad language approved by legal counsel," for example?

Editor's Note:  We have contacted representatives from the boards of  all of the Laguna Woods Village's Mutuals - we have yet to hear from them.