November 28, 2006
The Orange County District Attorney filed charges against a Trabuco Hills High School English teacher Alyssa Ann Johnson, 31, Tustin, for having unlawful sex with a male student. The defendant is currently out on $50,000 bail. She is scheduled to be arraigned December 21, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-2, Harbor Justice Center, Laguna Niguel.
Anyone who has been a victim or with additional information about this case is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Craig Kelsey at 714-347-8794. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Sexual Assault Unit will prosecute this case.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Actress Tawny Kitaen Finley, 45, has been charged with drug possesion
LAGUNA NIGUEL - Actress Tawny Kitaen Finley, 45, has been charged with possessing 15 grams of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano home. She faces one count of the possession of a controlled substance and is eligible for three years in prison if convicted.
On May 21, 2006, police responded to a call at Finley's apartment, where the defendant was home with her two children. Police found 15 grams of cocaine in a restroom in a bedroom.
On May 21, 2006, police responded to a call at Finley's apartment, where the defendant was home with her two children. Police found 15 grams of cocaine in a restroom in a bedroom.
Friday, November 17, 2006
The Orange County Register's Adporting & Coto's Baloney Factor
November 17, 2006
Hello All: In this morning’s Register, Zipperman is reported as saying that the reason for the 2007 CZ dues increase is past CZ Board actions and the minimum wage increase. The so called fuel increase reasoning has gone by the wayside since the cost of gas has come down. If by past CZ Board’s he means the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that has been in office for several years has caused the $850,000 Incompetence Tax, then I could not agree with him more. If by inference he is saying that the Zarian, Glisson or Rose CZ Boards who have been gone for years caused the 2005 and 2007 dues increases then like Mezger, he is full of baloney. Zarian appropriately raised dues that had been place for years. Glisson never raised dues because we were able to get big things done while living within our means. Rose appropriately and substantially raised dues and concluded the street construction defect lawsuit to get our Reserve house in order.
It has been the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that has raised dues because they have failed to control expenses, properly manage our suppliers, generate revenues from freeloaders in our midst and stop and or moderate all the subsidies going to other organizations. So, Steve, let’s at least be clear as to which CZ Board we are talking about concerning both the 2005 and 2007 CZ dues increases. It is the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that you sit on that has caused these dues increases.
Specific the minimum wage red herring. Does anyone at Keystone earn minimum wage? Does anyone at Universal earn minimum wage? I very much doubt that any of the landscape maintenance people earn minimum wage because it is almost impossible to hire anyone in Orange County at minimum wage. Certainly, Harkins and all the high priced Consultants on the payroll do not earn minimum wage. So, Steve please doesn’t insult our intelligence.
The Varo/Mezger CZ Board should put a study group together to explore ways of cutting expenses, dealing with our suppliers, generating revenues from freeloaders and stopping and/or moderating the subsidies going to other organizations which are the real reasons for the 2005 and 2007 dues increases. If these issues are not dealt with, we will experience dues increases every year until kingdom come. So, Steve, what will your excuse be next year? Watch out, it is a trick question. Joe Morabito
P.S. Varo tells us we should be glad that the Incompetence Tax was contained to just 5% in 2007. Well Bob we are not glad we are being forced to pay for your failures.
Hi Joe:
Simply more OC Register adporting - advertising passing as reporting. It is not like the Register needs to spend money on research - all sides of the issue are available to them with the click of a mouse, or a phone call.
You can ask for either a clarification or an errata - since Ed was able to get one from the OCR, why not?
Hello All: In this morning’s Register, Zipperman is reported as saying that the reason for the 2007 CZ dues increase is past CZ Board actions and the minimum wage increase. The so called fuel increase reasoning has gone by the wayside since the cost of gas has come down. If by past CZ Board’s he means the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that has been in office for several years has caused the $850,000 Incompetence Tax, then I could not agree with him more. If by inference he is saying that the Zarian, Glisson or Rose CZ Boards who have been gone for years caused the 2005 and 2007 dues increases then like Mezger, he is full of baloney. Zarian appropriately raised dues that had been place for years. Glisson never raised dues because we were able to get big things done while living within our means. Rose appropriately and substantially raised dues and concluded the street construction defect lawsuit to get our Reserve house in order.
It has been the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that has raised dues because they have failed to control expenses, properly manage our suppliers, generate revenues from freeloaders in our midst and stop and or moderate all the subsidies going to other organizations. So, Steve, let’s at least be clear as to which CZ Board we are talking about concerning both the 2005 and 2007 CZ dues increases. It is the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board that you sit on that has caused these dues increases.
Specific the minimum wage red herring. Does anyone at Keystone earn minimum wage? Does anyone at Universal earn minimum wage? I very much doubt that any of the landscape maintenance people earn minimum wage because it is almost impossible to hire anyone in Orange County at minimum wage. Certainly, Harkins and all the high priced Consultants on the payroll do not earn minimum wage. So, Steve please doesn’t insult our intelligence.
The Varo/Mezger CZ Board should put a study group together to explore ways of cutting expenses, dealing with our suppliers, generating revenues from freeloaders and stopping and/or moderating the subsidies going to other organizations which are the real reasons for the 2005 and 2007 dues increases. If these issues are not dealt with, we will experience dues increases every year until kingdom come. So, Steve, what will your excuse be next year? Watch out, it is a trick question. Joe Morabito
P.S. Varo tells us we should be glad that the Incompetence Tax was contained to just 5% in 2007. Well Bob we are not glad we are being forced to pay for your failures.
Hi Joe:
Simply more OC Register adporting - advertising passing as reporting. It is not like the Register needs to spend money on research - all sides of the issue are available to them with the click of a mouse, or a phone call.
You can ask for either a clarification or an errata - since Ed was able to get one from the OCR, why not?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
HOA Management for Dummies- Joseph Morabito
HOA Management for Dummies
By Joseph Morabito, Former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors.
November 16, 2006
Hello All: With the down turn in the real estate market, I will need to earn a few extra bucks to pay my 2005 and 2007 CZ dues increases that are the result of fiscal mismanagement. Given that the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board has provided so much material, I have decided to write the hilarious book, HOA Management for Dummies. The chapters will be as follows:
Chapter One – Bob & Jerry – Twiddle Dee and Twiddle DumbChapter
Two – Executive Director One – Grumpy Old Men – The Sequel
Chapter Three – Unless treated, VD can lead to insanity
Chapter Four – Laws, What Laws? Is there a shyster in the house?
Chapter Five – Property Management – Cards talk and numbers don’t lie unless they are never reported.
Chapter Six – FREE TREES - Such a deal!
Chapter Seven – Special Assessment – Just Kidding
Chapter Eight - Must be Arizona just over the hill – A case for global warming
Chapter Nine - Board Member Conflict of Interest – For Love and Money
Chapter Ten – Giving away HOA revenues to avoid “non-existent” taxes
Chapter Eleven – Legal Agreements – Poof - Now you see them, now you don’t
Chapter Twelve – CHP – To be or not to be – Lawsuits on our streets
Chapter Thirteen – Firing the largest security company in the world and hiring the smallest. Nothing Universal about it.
Chapter Fourteen – Piggies at the trough – Subsidies and other give-aways
Chapter Fifteen – Conclusion - Rich people must be stupid.
With a little work, I may be able to turn HOA Management for Dummies into a best seller given all the master planned communities in the US . I like to write. So why shouldn’t I make a few bucks off all the fiascos we have experienced with Varo/Mezger? Joe Morabito
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Saddleback College presents Museum, a play imitating theatre imitating art December 1-10, 2006
Saddleback College presents Museum, a play imitating theatre imitating art December 1-10, 2006A COLLAGE OF CHAOS & ODD PAINTINGS IN MUSEUMNovember 14, 2006
The Theatre Arts Department at Saddleback College presents Museum, a play imitating theatre imitating art imitating life on December 1-10 in the Studio Theatre. Directed by Mark McQuown, Museum is set in an unnamed art museum full of unbelievably odd modern paintings and constructions. Tina Howe’s witty satire takes place on the final day of a modern art exhibition ironically titled The Broken Silence where patrons, guards and artists interact and their chaotic behavior itself becomes a kind of work of art. If Mozart had been a TV producer, this is what a Candid Camera segment on art might have looked like. –The Village Voice.
Tickets are $12 general admission, $11 students/seniors, and $6 Saddleback students with current ASG card. Call (949) 582-4656 for tickets and additional information. Dates: December 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 @ 8 p.m. and December 2, 3, 9 & 10 @ 3 p.m.
Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo , just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Parking is available in lot 12. Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Pkwy turn left to the third traffic light, turn right into the campus and take the second left to the Theatre Circle turning right in lot 12.
The Theatre Arts Department serves as an educational base, a vocational training ground and an artistic resource for the community. By combining production excellence with academic achievement, the Department fulfills its role as a leader in the performing arts in Orange County . Each year the Department presents a dynamic and diverse environment of innovation which combines high artistic standards with public appeal, and which challenges and expands the talents of students both on stage and behind the scenes.CONTACT: Nina Welch, Public Information OfficerSaddleback College , Fine Arts Division
Mission Viejo , California
(949)582-4413 (Fax) 347-8653
nwelch@saddleback.edu
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Coto de Caza- Varo/Mezger $850,000 Incompetence Tax
By Joseph Morabito, former member CZ Master Association board of directors.
Hello All: The Varo/Mezger CZ Board raised dues in 2005 to extract about $425,000 from our Members. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board just raised dues again for 2007 to extract another $425,000 from our Members. Both of these dues increases are the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement, failure to properly select and manage suppliers, providing substantial subsidies to other organizations, giving away revenues that legitimately belong to CZ Members and generally expenses that are out of control. The good news is that the Varo/Mezger CZ Board’s incompetence tax can be quantified at $850,000.
We need CZ Board Members who understand the concept if fiduciary responsibility and the need to represent the interests of CZ Members by working smart. It is not just about the number of hours a CZ Board Members serves; but rather the results that are produced. Under Varo/Mezger, we have seen fiasco after fiasco and now we have the highest dues structure in the history of CZ yet the community is not safer or more attractive. If history is our teacher nothing will change until Varo/Mezger has been put out to pasture on the golf course to play with their country club friends. Hopefully, in 2007 others will step forward committed to sound fiscal management and working smarter or else we will see even more dues increases in the future. Joe Morabito
P.S. Current CZ Board Members need to implement many of the suggestions made by me and others to avoid future dues increases; but as long as Varo/Mezger remain on the CZ Board we are not likely to see sound governance. It is what it is for now.
Hi Joe:
To the incompetence tax you mention, perhaps we should add the additional liability soon-to-be monetized either through lawsuits or increased liability insurance.
Not to mention at least two tragic traffic fatalities.
Hello All: The Varo/Mezger CZ Board raised dues in 2005 to extract about $425,000 from our Members. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board just raised dues again for 2007 to extract another $425,000 from our Members. Both of these dues increases are the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement, failure to properly select and manage suppliers, providing substantial subsidies to other organizations, giving away revenues that legitimately belong to CZ Members and generally expenses that are out of control. The good news is that the Varo/Mezger CZ Board’s incompetence tax can be quantified at $850,000.
We need CZ Board Members who understand the concept if fiduciary responsibility and the need to represent the interests of CZ Members by working smart. It is not just about the number of hours a CZ Board Members serves; but rather the results that are produced. Under Varo/Mezger, we have seen fiasco after fiasco and now we have the highest dues structure in the history of CZ yet the community is not safer or more attractive. If history is our teacher nothing will change until Varo/Mezger has been put out to pasture on the golf course to play with their country club friends. Hopefully, in 2007 others will step forward committed to sound fiscal management and working smarter or else we will see even more dues increases in the future. Joe Morabito
P.S. Current CZ Board Members need to implement many of the suggestions made by me and others to avoid future dues increases; but as long as Varo/Mezger remain on the CZ Board we are not likely to see sound governance. It is what it is for now.
Hi Joe:
To the incompetence tax you mention, perhaps we should add the additional liability soon-to-be monetized either through lawsuits or increased liability insurance.
Not to mention at least two tragic traffic fatalities.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Pat Bates is good for Coto de Caza: OCR & Coto de Caza Board of Directors
Pat Bates is good for Coto de Caza: OCR & Coto de Caza Board of Directors
November 10, 2006
Picking up where she left off during her pre-election “reporting”, the Orange County Register’s reporter Peggy Lowe argues that Pat Bates is good for Coto de Caza, and then cites members of the Coto de Caza board of directors as proof.
In the Orange County article titled Bates win supervisors seat dated November 10, 2006, Lowe quotes Bates’ as saying “We really proved grass roots beats big money any day of the week” – what Lowe fails to mention, is the bowing to union pressure, and in a classic “100,000 flies could not be wrong”-fashion, the republican machinery was at Bates' disposal, including the OCR’s adporting.
Lowe quotes former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors Lyle Schlieder as saying “Pat Bates is going to do a lot for Coto. She has more of a handle about what’s going on in the unincorporated areas and try to get things done for us”. Lowe fails to mention that a Pat Bates Celebratory party was held in a CZ Master Association-subsidized exquisite manor, endorsed by the president of the Coto de Caza board of directors. When CotoBuzz asked Pat Bates whether she supported this type of stewardship, her representative’s response was “we are not familiar with the area”!
Lowe also fails to mention that the Coto de Caza board of directors continue to pursue personal agendas asking the County for funds to “sell” the idea of city hood to Coto residents – Bates has not responded to numerous CotoBuzz’s requests for her position on this issue.
During 1995 and 1996, Orange County borrowed $1,039,000,000 ($1,940,000,000 including interest) to resolve bankruptcy claims resulting from the collapse of the Orange County Investment pool in 1994. One of the Superior Court recommendations after the Grand Jury hearings was that “Orange County prepare and publish each fiscal year a detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals; explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus 10%. To date, we have been unable to ascertain whether Orange County is indeed preparing and publishing the recommended “detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent”.
The reason this is relevant, is that Pat Bates has supported the 3%@50 plan for civil servants that will significantly stress the Orange County Finances at a time when the county does not have the financial wherewithal to deliver the quality of services it needs, especially in the public safety area. It is expected Pat Bates will support the annexation of Coto de Caza by a soon to be bankrupt City of Rancho Santa Margarita.
If we learned anything from this last election is that voters have had it with waste, and the over-abundance of ethical breaches. Let’s hope that Pate Bates and the OC Republican party learned the same lesson.
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables. The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of...
Coto de Caza Sports Park Expenses - Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
The country has spoken and has said what most people, democrats or republicans want: We say we want change. We say we want to stop corruption. We say we want more financial restrain, accountability and transparency. We say we want public safety. You...
Community Public Safety Round Up – October 2006
The Morgan Quitno Awards for the 2005 Safest Cities are out and the awards (overall, regardless of population) go to: Mission Viejo in fourth place, Lake Forest at number six and Irvine in 11th place.
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
November 10, 2006
Picking up where she left off during her pre-election “reporting”, the Orange County Register’s reporter Peggy Lowe argues that Pat Bates is good for Coto de Caza, and then cites members of the Coto de Caza board of directors as proof.
In the Orange County article titled Bates win supervisors seat dated November 10, 2006, Lowe quotes Bates’ as saying “We really proved grass roots beats big money any day of the week” – what Lowe fails to mention, is the bowing to union pressure, and in a classic “100,000 flies could not be wrong”-fashion, the republican machinery was at Bates' disposal, including the OCR’s adporting.
Lowe quotes former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors Lyle Schlieder as saying “Pat Bates is going to do a lot for Coto. She has more of a handle about what’s going on in the unincorporated areas and try to get things done for us”. Lowe fails to mention that a Pat Bates Celebratory party was held in a CZ Master Association-subsidized exquisite manor, endorsed by the president of the Coto de Caza board of directors. When CotoBuzz asked Pat Bates whether she supported this type of stewardship, her representative’s response was “we are not familiar with the area”!
Lowe also fails to mention that the Coto de Caza board of directors continue to pursue personal agendas asking the County for funds to “sell” the idea of city hood to Coto residents – Bates has not responded to numerous CotoBuzz’s requests for her position on this issue.
During 1995 and 1996, Orange County borrowed $1,039,000,000 ($1,940,000,000 including interest) to resolve bankruptcy claims resulting from the collapse of the Orange County Investment pool in 1994. One of the Superior Court recommendations after the Grand Jury hearings was that “Orange County prepare and publish each fiscal year a detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals; explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus 10%. To date, we have been unable to ascertain whether Orange County is indeed preparing and publishing the recommended “detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent”.
The reason this is relevant, is that Pat Bates has supported the 3%@50 plan for civil servants that will significantly stress the Orange County Finances at a time when the county does not have the financial wherewithal to deliver the quality of services it needs, especially in the public safety area. It is expected Pat Bates will support the annexation of Coto de Caza by a soon to be bankrupt City of Rancho Santa Margarita.
If we learned anything from this last election is that voters have had it with waste, and the over-abundance of ethical breaches. Let’s hope that Pate Bates and the OC Republican party learned the same lesson.
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables. The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of...
Coto de Caza Sports Park Expenses - Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
The country has spoken and has said what most people, democrats or republicans want: We say we want change. We say we want to stop corruption. We say we want more financial restrain, accountability and transparency. We say we want public safety. You...
Community Public Safety Round Up – October 2006
The Morgan Quitno Awards for the 2005 Safest Cities are out and the awards (overall, regardless of population) go to: Mission Viejo in fourth place, Lake Forest at number six and Irvine in 11th place.
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
CZ - An Attempted Rape in Coto de Caza? Safety an Issue
CZ - An Attempted Rape in Coto de Caza? Safety an Issue?
November 8, 2006
Hello All: It was apparently reported that there was an attempted rape in Coto. We need confirmation and more information. CZ Board Members and Vinnie, what do you know? Is this true? Joe Morabito, former member Coto de Caza BOD.
Hi Joe:
This is what appears in the CZ website and below it are our comments relating this incident and the budget process.
Intruder Incident (CZ WEBSITE 11-08-2006)
An intruder incident was reported in the news regarding a man arrested on November 7, 2006 for breaking into a home in Coto de Caza. Please note that the incident happened in the Village community and the intruder was a renter living in the Village.
Is this incident any different than a UPS Guard sleeping in the Guard house overnight or sleeping in his Car in a Coto de Caza Guard parking lot?
What we posted Tuesday Nov 7, 2006:
Most people are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody, alleged to be a worker at the stables.
The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/ year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of customized passes. The problem is that the community is not getting its money’s worth. The gate access process currently in place is the most liberal we have seen in the last 14 years – perhaps the gates should be open, as Varo/Mezgar have done with Oaknoll/Oakwood gates – much more efficient and anyone can come in and go as they please without bothering anyone, including the gate guards.
For those interested in an independent view of the gate access process, refer to former security director William Pilot’s State of Security White Paper found under HOA Resources in the cotobuzz.com website.
More disturbing is the fact that the board has refused to even look into guard training and guard card irregularities. All we can say is, remember this intruder incident! - Buzz
Buzz: Bob Varo has spent the last several years openingly bad mouthing the CHP telling us that the Orange County Sheriff is who we should be looking to for security and traffic patrol. Obviously, we have never gotten the traffic patrols from the Sheriff's department; hence the need for the CHP. Now specific to crime prevention, Varo/Mezger who fired the largest security firm in the world and hired one of the smallest because of a "compelling offer" that we all now know was bogus and who believe the Sheriff is our great protector need to call both Universal and the Sheriff's department and hold them responsible and accountable for crimes in Coto. If our gates don't provide us more security for higher CZ dues in 2005 and shortly in 2007, then what is the point of our gates?
Better yet, what is the polnt of Varo/Mezger? Does anyone in Coto really believe that CZ Members are better off today under Varo/Mezger than they were under Zarian/Glisson/ Rose. We have had tragic deaths on our streets under Varo/Mezger and a pending lawsuit that could cost us all money one way or another. Shortly, we will have two dues increases under Varo/Mezger and our landscaping has never looked worse and we are not safer. When I say that Varo/Mezger have been the most incomptent CZ Board Members in the history of Coto, proof from all the fiascos abounds. Joe Morabito
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables. The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of...
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
November 8, 2006
Hello All: It was apparently reported that there was an attempted rape in Coto. We need confirmation and more information. CZ Board Members and Vinnie, what do you know? Is this true? Joe Morabito, former member Coto de Caza BOD.
Hi Joe:
This is what appears in the CZ website and below it are our comments relating this incident and the budget process.
Intruder Incident (CZ WEBSITE 11-08-2006)
An intruder incident was reported in the news regarding a man arrested on November 7, 2006 for breaking into a home in Coto de Caza. Please note that the incident happened in the Village community and the intruder was a renter living in the Village.
Is this incident any different than a UPS Guard sleeping in the Guard house overnight or sleeping in his Car in a Coto de Caza Guard parking lot?
What we posted Tuesday Nov 7, 2006:
Most people are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody, alleged to be a worker at the stables.
The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/ year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of customized passes. The problem is that the community is not getting its money’s worth. The gate access process currently in place is the most liberal we have seen in the last 14 years – perhaps the gates should be open, as Varo/Mezgar have done with Oaknoll/Oakwood gates – much more efficient and anyone can come in and go as they please without bothering anyone, including the gate guards.
For those interested in an independent view of the gate access process, refer to former security director William Pilot’s State of Security White Paper found under HOA Resources in the cotobuzz.com website.
More disturbing is the fact that the board has refused to even look into guard training and guard card irregularities. All we can say is, remember this intruder incident! - Buzz
Buzz: Bob Varo has spent the last several years openingly bad mouthing the CHP telling us that the Orange County Sheriff is who we should be looking to for security and traffic patrol. Obviously, we have never gotten the traffic patrols from the Sheriff's department; hence the need for the CHP. Now specific to crime prevention, Varo/Mezger who fired the largest security firm in the world and hired one of the smallest because of a "compelling offer" that we all now know was bogus and who believe the Sheriff is our great protector need to call both Universal and the Sheriff's department and hold them responsible and accountable for crimes in Coto. If our gates don't provide us more security for higher CZ dues in 2005 and shortly in 2007, then what is the point of our gates?
Better yet, what is the polnt of Varo/Mezger? Does anyone in Coto really believe that CZ Members are better off today under Varo/Mezger than they were under Zarian/Glisson/ Rose. We have had tragic deaths on our streets under Varo/Mezger and a pending lawsuit that could cost us all money one way or another. Shortly, we will have two dues increases under Varo/Mezger and our landscaping has never looked worse and we are not safer. When I say that Varo/Mezger have been the most incomptent CZ Board Members in the history of Coto, proof from all the fiascos abounds. Joe Morabito
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables. The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of...
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Coto de Caza Sports Park Expenses - Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
Coto de Caza Sports Park Expenses - Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
November 8, 2006
The country has spoken and has said what most people, democrats or republicans want: We say we want change. We say we want to stop corruption. We say we want more financial restrain, accountability and transparency. We say we want public safety. You know, the same thing Coto residents want!
Then we elect a good number of tax and spend liberals, a centrist governor in California and a life-long politician in Bates. At least Bates’ campaign manager and the OCR will continue to be paid!
During 1995 and 1996, Orange County borrowed $1,039,000,000 ($1,940,000,000 including interest) to resolve bankruptcy claims resulting from the collapse of the Orange County Investment pool in 1994. To date, we have been unable to ascertain whether Orange County is indeed preparing and publishing the recommended “detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent” .
The Coto property manager says that fiscal management is an optional business decision, and thus understanding expenses associated with the mis-management of the Sports Park is not important.
Hold on to your wallets! – What we should have said before the election is, “lie to me and make me feel good” – which the election results reflect we want! Which is what Coto is getting. Soon, the Headlines: Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
Subject: RE: Sports Park Expenses - Look Again
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 08:44:58 -0800
From: Morabito, Joe"
To: "Vinnie Davis"
Vinnie: The $29,804 you reference in the 2002 budget had to be for maintenance of the Sports Park not construction. The construction was done while I served on the Board and it was a whole lot more money that this amount. Go back to 1999 and you will see a separate line item for Sport Park maintenance. Further, since this is not general landscaping maintenance, we even had a separate contract in place at one time to maintain the Sports Park . In any case, it is inexcusable that Keystone is not segregating these expenses. The Sports Park maintenance is a major expenditure different than general landscaping. If the Board does not know what a major expense is, it cannot be managed. Clearly, the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board does not want the real numbers published because it will demonstrate the huge subsidy that is going to the Sports Leagues. So, Vinnie when you try to make a case for a CZ dues increase, you better have a good understanding of where are current monies are going because otherwise you look like you don’t know what you are talking about which is the case specific to the Sports Park. Joe Morabito
P.S. If you don’t figure out what we are spending on Sports Park maintenance, I can make some assumptions and get there pretty quick. I suspect it is somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000 a year and maybe more with all allocations. In 2006, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board reporting about $6,000 in revenues for the Sports Park; one hell of a deal for the Sports Leagues that ended their year in surplus and bragged about it.
From: Vinnie Davis
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:16 PM
To: Morabito, Joe
Subject: Sports Park Expenses
Dear Joe,
Thank you for your written request in this matter. In reviewing past budgets, I find there was a line item in 2001 and 2002 for the Sports Park construction. The budget formulated in the fall of 2002 for fiscal year 2003 did not have an expense line item for the Sports Park . This would lead me to believe that the project was completed in 2002 at a total line item cost for that year of $29,804 and thereafter the Sports Park was not budgeted as an expense line item in the 2003 fiscal year. There has not been an expense line item in the budget for the Sports Park since 2002 and the completion to the Sports Park project for enhancements. If you kept the yearly budgets mailed with your association records, you would be able to verify this.
Hope this is helpful.
Vinnie
General Manager, CZ Master Association
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
November 8, 2006
The country has spoken and has said what most people, democrats or republicans want: We say we want change. We say we want to stop corruption. We say we want more financial restrain, accountability and transparency. We say we want public safety. You know, the same thing Coto residents want!
Then we elect a good number of tax and spend liberals, a centrist governor in California and a life-long politician in Bates. At least Bates’ campaign manager and the OCR will continue to be paid!
During 1995 and 1996, Orange County borrowed $1,039,000,000 ($1,940,000,000 including interest) to resolve bankruptcy claims resulting from the collapse of the Orange County Investment pool in 1994. To date, we have been unable to ascertain whether Orange County is indeed preparing and publishing the recommended “detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent” .
The Coto property manager says that fiscal management is an optional business decision, and thus understanding expenses associated with the mis-management of the Sports Park is not important.
Hold on to your wallets! – What we should have said before the election is, “lie to me and make me feel good” – which the election results reflect we want! Which is what Coto is getting. Soon, the Headlines: Orange County Bankrupt Again. RSM Annexes Coto, RSM files for Bankruptcy!
Subject: RE: Sports Park Expenses - Look Again
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 08:44:58 -0800
From: Morabito, Joe"
To: "Vinnie Davis"
Vinnie: The $29,804 you reference in the 2002 budget had to be for maintenance of the Sports Park not construction. The construction was done while I served on the Board and it was a whole lot more money that this amount. Go back to 1999 and you will see a separate line item for Sport Park maintenance. Further, since this is not general landscaping maintenance, we even had a separate contract in place at one time to maintain the Sports Park . In any case, it is inexcusable that Keystone is not segregating these expenses. The Sports Park maintenance is a major expenditure different than general landscaping. If the Board does not know what a major expense is, it cannot be managed. Clearly, the incompetent Varo/Mezger CZ Board does not want the real numbers published because it will demonstrate the huge subsidy that is going to the Sports Leagues. So, Vinnie when you try to make a case for a CZ dues increase, you better have a good understanding of where are current monies are going because otherwise you look like you don’t know what you are talking about which is the case specific to the Sports Park. Joe Morabito
P.S. If you don’t figure out what we are spending on Sports Park maintenance, I can make some assumptions and get there pretty quick. I suspect it is somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000 a year and maybe more with all allocations. In 2006, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board reporting about $6,000 in revenues for the Sports Park; one hell of a deal for the Sports Leagues that ended their year in surplus and bragged about it.
From: Vinnie Davis
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:16 PM
To: Morabito, Joe
Subject: Sports Park Expenses
Dear Joe,
Thank you for your written request in this matter. In reviewing past budgets, I find there was a line item in 2001 and 2002 for the Sports Park construction. The budget formulated in the fall of 2002 for fiscal year 2003 did not have an expense line item for the Sports Park . This would lead me to believe that the project was completed in 2002 at a total line item cost for that year of $29,804 and thereafter the Sports Park was not budgeted as an expense line item in the 2003 fiscal year. There has not been an expense line item in the budget for the Sports Park since 2002 and the completion to the Sports Park project for enhancements. If you kept the yearly budgets mailed with your association records, you would be able to verify this.
Hope this is helpful.
Vinnie
General Manager, CZ Master Association
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
Coto de Caza Intruder, Gate Access and the Coto de Caza Budget
November 7, 2006
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables.
The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of customized passes. The problem is that the community is not getting its money’s worth. The gate access process currently in place is the most liberal we have seen in the last 14 years – perhaps the gates should be open, as Varo/Mezgar have done with Oaknoll/Oakwood gates – much more efficient and anyone can come in and go as they please without bothering anyone, including the gate guards.
For those interested in an independent view of the gate access process, refer to former security director William Pilot’s State of Security White Paper found under HOA Resources in the cotobuzz.com website.
More disturbing is the fact that the board has refused to even look into guar training and guard card irregularities. All we can say is, remember this intruder incident!
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
November 7, 2006
Most Coto de Caza residents are now familiar with the intruder taken into custody today, alleged to be a worker at the stables.
The association is spending close to $2,000.000.00/year on private security. Something like $150,000.00 alone for printing of customized passes. The problem is that the community is not getting its money’s worth. The gate access process currently in place is the most liberal we have seen in the last 14 years – perhaps the gates should be open, as Varo/Mezgar have done with Oaknoll/Oakwood gates – much more efficient and anyone can come in and go as they please without bothering anyone, including the gate guards.
For those interested in an independent view of the gate access process, refer to former security director William Pilot’s State of Security White Paper found under HOA Resources in the cotobuzz.com website.
More disturbing is the fact that the board has refused to even look into guar training and guard card irregularities. All we can say is, remember this intruder incident!
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Community Public Safety Round Up – October 2006
Community Public Safety Round Up – October 2006
November 3, 2006
The Morgan Quitno Awards for the 2005 Safest Cities are out and the awards (overall, regardless of population) go to: Mission Viejo in fourth place, Lake Forest at number six and Irvine in 11th place.
We had to take a second look, because these figures seemed eerily familiar. And in fact, there was a reason these figures are familiar. This is exactly what we published in the November 2004 issue of CotoBuzz: “It should be comforting to know that recently Three Orange County cities are among the safest cities in the country, according to an annual ranking based on the FBI's 2003 crime statistics. Mission Viejo and Lake Forest were ranked the fourth- and sixth-safest cities, respectively. Irvine ranked 11th. And just as quickly, reality sets in when comparing Coto de Caza crime figures with those of its non-gated neighbors (source: CNN Money)” - Cotobuzz Nov., 2004
Another city that is consistently ranked at the top of the safest cities’list is Thousand Oaks, coming in at number 7 for 2005. “As the mayor pro tem of Thousand Oaks, one of the safest cities in the US might say: "Public safety is our primary concern. We will do everything in our power to keep our city safe"” CotoBuzz, Nov., 2004. “"That's fantastic," said Mayor Lance Maclean via telephone Sunday. "This speaks to the quality of our residents and dedication to public safety in our community." Reports Kathryn Nguyen in the Orange County Register article titled Irvine, Lake Forest also achieve high rankings in survey. Published October 30, 2006
We have consistently argued that public safety is not an accident, but a commitment involving the community, elected officials, and local law enforcement agencies – a message the Coto de Caza board of directors have received with disdain. Accordingly, the crime rate in the community continues to exceed that of other neighboring communities, gated or not.
On a related subject, the CHP Public Arrest log for the Week Ending 10-30-2006 shows a total number of arrest of 20, including the arrests of Trabuco Canyon resident R. Gregario and Ladera Ranch resident 20-year old D. Lamitie. Ladera Ranch has now tied Mission Viejo as the top 10 community with most arrests.
COTO DE CAZA DATE –Cotobuzz Nov., 2004
Population: 13,597
Crime about crime data
City
Stats
Natl.
Avg.
Rank from
Lo to Hi
(out of 1260)
Personal crime risk
(index based on 100 average;
lower is better)
59
100
777
Property crime risk
(index based on 100 average;
lower is better)
41
100
282
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
November 3, 2006
The Morgan Quitno Awards for the 2005 Safest Cities are out and the awards (overall, regardless of population) go to: Mission Viejo in fourth place, Lake Forest at number six and Irvine in 11th place.
We had to take a second look, because these figures seemed eerily familiar. And in fact, there was a reason these figures are familiar. This is exactly what we published in the November 2004 issue of CotoBuzz: “It should be comforting to know that recently Three Orange County cities are among the safest cities in the country, according to an annual ranking based on the FBI's 2003 crime statistics. Mission Viejo and Lake Forest were ranked the fourth- and sixth-safest cities, respectively. Irvine ranked 11th. And just as quickly, reality sets in when comparing Coto de Caza crime figures with those of its non-gated neighbors (source: CNN Money)” - Cotobuzz Nov., 2004
Another city that is consistently ranked at the top of the safest cities’list is Thousand Oaks, coming in at number 7 for 2005. “As the mayor pro tem of Thousand Oaks, one of the safest cities in the US might say: "Public safety is our primary concern. We will do everything in our power to keep our city safe"” CotoBuzz, Nov., 2004. “"That's fantastic," said Mayor Lance Maclean via telephone Sunday. "This speaks to the quality of our residents and dedication to public safety in our community." Reports Kathryn Nguyen in the Orange County Register article titled Irvine, Lake Forest also achieve high rankings in survey. Published October 30, 2006
We have consistently argued that public safety is not an accident, but a commitment involving the community, elected officials, and local law enforcement agencies – a message the Coto de Caza board of directors have received with disdain. Accordingly, the crime rate in the community continues to exceed that of other neighboring communities, gated or not.
On a related subject, the CHP Public Arrest log for the Week Ending 10-30-2006 shows a total number of arrest of 20, including the arrests of Trabuco Canyon resident R. Gregario and Ladera Ranch resident 20-year old D. Lamitie. Ladera Ranch has now tied Mission Viejo as the top 10 community with most arrests.
COTO DE CAZA DATE –Cotobuzz Nov., 2004
Population: 13,597
Crime about crime data
City
Stats
Natl.
Avg.
Rank from
Lo to Hi
(out of 1260)
Personal crime risk
(index based on 100 average;
lower is better)
59
100
777
Property crime risk
(index based on 100 average;
lower is better)
41
100
282
RELATED STORIES
Why live in a Gated Community such as Coto de Caza?
According to the conclusion of the international conference on private urban governance, more then half of all new homes in the U.S. are guarded in some way. This might seem like a somewhat extreme reaction on the American anxiety, but the whole trend towards gated communities could actually be a good thing and a revival of the old Greek ideal of the city-state
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Profiles in Coto de Caza Board of Directors Budgeting Process!
Profiles in Coto de Caza Board of Directors Budgeting Process!
October 28, 2006
Former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors Joseph Morabito has argued vehemently against a monthly dues increase for months, especially after the Varo/Mezger board of directors have squandered the association money every which way, including accepting "free" trees that ended up costing more than $45,000.00.
Additionally, the current board has continued subsidizing "exquisite manors" at the Estates at the tune of over $1,500,000.00 per year, while at the same time, the Estates looks at the feasibility of building a gate-within-a-gate to keep association residents funding such subsidy out. Then there is the "free" online registration application that in theory is supposed to be "central" to the private security plan, and funded by commercializing the CZ association - something long-time residents and previous boards have refused to do. To add insult to injury, this "free" service is costing the association over $150,000.00/year to maintain, not to mention that it is also used as a vehicle to promote a director's spouses' business.
This discussion does not even address the institutionalized welfare system, better addressed by Mr. Morabito himself:
Hello All: In the next few weeks the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will announce the 2007 dues increase. Rather than look for other ways to legitimately generate revenues or installing the very same procurement processes implemented by all major companies to reduce expenses, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will again raise dues the same as occurred in 2005 just two years ago. The pending 2007 dues increase like the one in 2005 is the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement and nothing else. The current CZ Board is lazy and incompetent and it is going to cost us all money.
Best of all, Vinnie Davis our new Executive Director also made the case for a dues increase in her newsletter this month. Let’s face it; Vinnie stands to benefit from higher dues because it means more income for her and less work. In fact, property management professionals and companies are part of the problem not the solution. While I like all of the people I worked with at Keystone and Merit, they are not tough minded business people. They are go along to get along types who work to advance the entire property management industry which includes all the other support suppliers. The people I worked with at both Keystone and Merit while serving on the CZ Board did not have solid procurement experience. From what I saw of CJ Klug he was just more of the same. They do not know how to buy goods and services. And, to be frank they are not going to push hard for lower fees and charges from support suppliers because they all know each other and are all part of the same industry. This is the reason we went outside the industry for an attorney to develop generic contracts for CZ which have probably been abandoned by the Varo/Mezger CZ Board. In addition, people who work in the HOA property management industry are administrator’s not strong business men and women.
Only the CZ Board can manage the business of CZ. If CZ Board Members don’t make sure that expenses are controlled through proper procurement processes, it will not happen. Hence, the reason for both the 2005 and pending 2007 Varo/Mezger CZ Board dues increases. No one is minding the store. It is just that simple. Joe Morabito
P.S. Pending lawsuits exposing our Members to liability are the next shoe to drop. Hold on to your wallets because it could get ugly.
Zipperman (who argues for a dues increase on behalf of the Varo/Mezger board of directors)) erroneously believes that because Coto is an upscale community and CZ Members have “high expectations” that the only way to meet those expectations is through another dues increase. Of course, perish the thought that Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members should meet our expectations by working smarter to generate revenues that legitimately belong to our Members and cutting expenses through competitive bidding. Zipperman must believe that CZ Members made our money by being stupid. Go figure. Let’s face it. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board is just too damn lazy and incompetent to do the heavy lifting and make the tough decisions necessary to avoid a dues increase in 2007. I have provided very specific suggestions that would absolutely prevent a dues increase without cutting monies going into core Association functions including more money for landscaping replacement and the CHP. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are tax and spend liberals and very poor managers who do not understand the concept of fiduciary responsibility. It really is that simple. We are seeing what will happen if the Democrats gain control of Congress. What is happening in CZ is just a preview of the show in Washington DC that will occur if Nancy Pelosi, that San Francisco left wing Democrat becomes the Speaker of the House and that crook Harry Reid from Nevada becomes the leader of the Senate. Joe Morabito
RELATED STORIES
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
Coto de Caza Welfare Leadership Alliance
You know there is something seriously wrong when the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) endorses former California Governor Jerry MoonBeam Brown. Governor MoonBeam is the same individual who called the war on drugs a scam, opposed...
Federal, Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita & Coto de Caza Online Budget
A few years back, the federal government used to buy $600.00 toilet seats and $1,200.00 hammers (the same we could buy off the shelf at Sears® for $25.00 and $15.00 respectively)Today, (September 26, 2006) the President signed a bill to allow...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
Varo For Mayor, The Orange County Register and Pat Bates Common Denominator?
Pat Bates' claim to fame according to her website is that “She was the driving force behind Laguna Niguel’s cityhood campaign and became the first Mayor upon the city’s incorporation in 1989.” The Varo for Mayor Committee should be...
Coto de Caza Board of Directors Touched by a Woman
Trying very hard to find something positive to say about the Coto de Caza board of directors, former director Joseph Morabito writes: “For the past several years, I have argued that we needed a woman on the CZ Board. Varo, Mezger, Hill, Thagard and...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
October 28, 2006
Former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors Joseph Morabito has argued vehemently against a monthly dues increase for months, especially after the Varo/Mezger board of directors have squandered the association money every which way, including accepting "free" trees that ended up costing more than $45,000.00.
Additionally, the current board has continued subsidizing "exquisite manors" at the Estates at the tune of over $1,500,000.00 per year, while at the same time, the Estates looks at the feasibility of building a gate-within-a-gate to keep association residents funding such subsidy out. Then there is the "free" online registration application that in theory is supposed to be "central" to the private security plan, and funded by commercializing the CZ association - something long-time residents and previous boards have refused to do. To add insult to injury, this "free" service is costing the association over $150,000.00/year to maintain, not to mention that it is also used as a vehicle to promote a director's spouses' business.
This discussion does not even address the institutionalized welfare system, better addressed by Mr. Morabito himself:
Hello All: In the next few weeks the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will announce the 2007 dues increase. Rather than look for other ways to legitimately generate revenues or installing the very same procurement processes implemented by all major companies to reduce expenses, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will again raise dues the same as occurred in 2005 just two years ago. The pending 2007 dues increase like the one in 2005 is the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement and nothing else. The current CZ Board is lazy and incompetent and it is going to cost us all money.
Best of all, Vinnie Davis our new Executive Director also made the case for a dues increase in her newsletter this month. Let’s face it; Vinnie stands to benefit from higher dues because it means more income for her and less work. In fact, property management professionals and companies are part of the problem not the solution. While I like all of the people I worked with at Keystone and Merit, they are not tough minded business people. They are go along to get along types who work to advance the entire property management industry which includes all the other support suppliers. The people I worked with at both Keystone and Merit while serving on the CZ Board did not have solid procurement experience. From what I saw of CJ Klug he was just more of the same. They do not know how to buy goods and services. And, to be frank they are not going to push hard for lower fees and charges from support suppliers because they all know each other and are all part of the same industry. This is the reason we went outside the industry for an attorney to develop generic contracts for CZ which have probably been abandoned by the Varo/Mezger CZ Board. In addition, people who work in the HOA property management industry are administrator’s not strong business men and women.
Only the CZ Board can manage the business of CZ. If CZ Board Members don’t make sure that expenses are controlled through proper procurement processes, it will not happen. Hence, the reason for both the 2005 and pending 2007 Varo/Mezger CZ Board dues increases. No one is minding the store. It is just that simple. Joe Morabito
P.S. Pending lawsuits exposing our Members to liability are the next shoe to drop. Hold on to your wallets because it could get ugly.
Zipperman (who argues for a dues increase on behalf of the Varo/Mezger board of directors)) erroneously believes that because Coto is an upscale community and CZ Members have “high expectations” that the only way to meet those expectations is through another dues increase. Of course, perish the thought that Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members should meet our expectations by working smarter to generate revenues that legitimately belong to our Members and cutting expenses through competitive bidding. Zipperman must believe that CZ Members made our money by being stupid. Go figure. Let’s face it. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board is just too damn lazy and incompetent to do the heavy lifting and make the tough decisions necessary to avoid a dues increase in 2007. I have provided very specific suggestions that would absolutely prevent a dues increase without cutting monies going into core Association functions including more money for landscaping replacement and the CHP. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are tax and spend liberals and very poor managers who do not understand the concept of fiduciary responsibility. It really is that simple. We are seeing what will happen if the Democrats gain control of Congress. What is happening in CZ is just a preview of the show in Washington DC that will occur if Nancy Pelosi, that San Francisco left wing Democrat becomes the Speaker of the House and that crook Harry Reid from Nevada becomes the leader of the Senate. Joe Morabito
RELATED STORIES
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few...
Coto de Caza Welfare Leadership Alliance
You know there is something seriously wrong when the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) endorses former California Governor Jerry MoonBeam Brown. Governor MoonBeam is the same individual who called the war on drugs a scam, opposed...
Federal, Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita & Coto de Caza Online Budget
A few years back, the federal government used to buy $600.00 toilet seats and $1,200.00 hammers (the same we could buy off the shelf at Sears® for $25.00 and $15.00 respectively)Today, (September 26, 2006) the President signed a bill to allow...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
Varo For Mayor, The Orange County Register and Pat Bates Common Denominator?
Pat Bates' claim to fame according to her website is that “She was the driving force behind Laguna Niguel’s cityhood campaign and became the first Mayor upon the city’s incorporation in 1989.” The Varo for Mayor Committee should be...
Coto de Caza Board of Directors Touched by a Woman
Trying very hard to find something positive to say about the Coto de Caza board of directors, former director Joseph Morabito writes: “For the past several years, I have argued that we needed a woman on the CZ Board. Varo, Mezger, Hill, Thagard and...
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category...
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Veni Vidi Vinci or Vinnie, Vidi, Bandini (fertilizer)
Veni Vidi Vinci or Vinnie, Vidi, Bandini (Fertilizer)
Veni Vidi Vinci or Vinnie, Vidi, Bandini
October 28, 2006
We usually wait at least 100 days to collect enough information to determine if a service provider has any potential. Once we have enough evidence, then we feel comfortable publishing the results and our own predictions. The process has proved to be bullet proof for the past four-plus years.
In this case, we have enough information to project that the property manager’s new Coto de Caza manager’s tenure will be at best rocky. For starters, she is picking up where CJ Klug left off: Refusing to engage certain residents in a dialogue pertaining to the running of association affairs, and closing here eyes to evidence of irregularities pertaining to public safety, among other things.
Secondly, regardless of Vinnie’s management capabilities, she is between a rock and a hard spot: On the one hand, she is employed by Keystone Pacific (or as Jerry Mezger might say, she is an employee of Keystone, but she is not an employee of Keystone), not held in high esteem by many Coto residents, including CotoBuzz, AND she reports directly to the Coto de Caza board of directors (unless the issue is accountability, then she is a Keystone employee!
In this case Coto de Caza residents will be getting a full dose of Vinnie, Vidi and Bandini!
Veni Vidi Vinci or Vinnie, Vidi, Bandini
October 28, 2006
We usually wait at least 100 days to collect enough information to determine if a service provider has any potential. Once we have enough evidence, then we feel comfortable publishing the results and our own predictions. The process has proved to be bullet proof for the past four-plus years.
In this case, we have enough information to project that the property manager’s new Coto de Caza manager’s tenure will be at best rocky. For starters, she is picking up where CJ Klug left off: Refusing to engage certain residents in a dialogue pertaining to the running of association affairs, and closing here eyes to evidence of irregularities pertaining to public safety, among other things.
Secondly, regardless of Vinnie’s management capabilities, she is between a rock and a hard spot: On the one hand, she is employed by Keystone Pacific (or as Jerry Mezger might say, she is an employee of Keystone, but she is not an employee of Keystone), not held in high esteem by many Coto residents, including CotoBuzz, AND she reports directly to the Coto de Caza board of directors (unless the issue is accountability, then she is a Keystone employee!
In this case Coto de Caza residents will be getting a full dose of Vinnie, Vidi and Bandini!
What a difference Law and Order culture makes: RSM Vs Coto de Caza
What a difference Law and Order culture makes: RSM Vs Coto de Caza
October 27, 2006
The October 27, 2006 issue of the OCR article on Concerned residents request traffic control at Tijeras Creek. Describes how after two accidents around Tijeras creek, RSM residents to take action and spoke during a city council meeting: “ The City Council took immediate action and voted 4-0, with Councilman Neil Blais absent, to add more law enforcement in the suggested neighborhoods and to provide a temporary three-way stop sign on Valeroso and Via Villario while city staff scans the area for alternatives that will help alleviate the problems” – OCR Oct 27, 2006
What has the Coto de Caza board of directors done after two traffic fatalities?
First, residents coerce the board into bringing back the CHP for proactive patrol immediately after the first fatality in December of 2005 – this is after the board fired the CHP without a suitable alternative.
Soon thereafter, the Coto de Caza board of directors let road certification expire so no law enforcement agency can do pro-active traffic patrol in this private community. They blame this fiasco on a missing tickler file allegedly in the possession of the property manager fired six years earlier!
Then the president of the board of directors calls CHP management extortionists, during an open board of directors meeting.
Then fire a volunteer public safety chairperson for refusing to place the board of directors private agenda (of turning Coto into a city), ahead of public safety.
As recent as a few days ago, the property manager informs the CHP management that the Coto de Caza board of directs has found funds “to give the gardener and the private security guards a raise, but does not seem to find the finds to renew the CHP contract”
And to top it off, in the November 2006 President’s letter, the president of the Coto de Caza board of directors continues the verbal attack against the CHP!
October 27, 2006
The October 27, 2006 issue of the OCR article on Concerned residents request traffic control at Tijeras Creek. Describes how after two accidents around Tijeras creek, RSM residents to take action and spoke during a city council meeting: “ The City Council took immediate action and voted 4-0, with Councilman Neil Blais absent, to add more law enforcement in the suggested neighborhoods and to provide a temporary three-way stop sign on Valeroso and Via Villario while city staff scans the area for alternatives that will help alleviate the problems” – OCR Oct 27, 2006
What has the Coto de Caza board of directors done after two traffic fatalities?
First, residents coerce the board into bringing back the CHP for proactive patrol immediately after the first fatality in December of 2005 – this is after the board fired the CHP without a suitable alternative.
Soon thereafter, the Coto de Caza board of directors let road certification expire so no law enforcement agency can do pro-active traffic patrol in this private community. They blame this fiasco on a missing tickler file allegedly in the possession of the property manager fired six years earlier!
Then the president of the board of directors calls CHP management extortionists, during an open board of directors meeting.
Then fire a volunteer public safety chairperson for refusing to place the board of directors private agenda (of turning Coto into a city), ahead of public safety.
As recent as a few days ago, the property manager informs the CHP management that the Coto de Caza board of directs has found funds “to give the gardener and the private security guards a raise, but does not seem to find the finds to renew the CHP contract”
And to top it off, in the November 2006 President’s letter, the president of the Coto de Caza board of directors continues the verbal attack against the CHP!
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
October 22, 2006
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few years to let individuals give or lend small amounts to others, who post their funding needs. According to the October 21/22 2006 issue of the WSJ, “the investment group of eBay founder Pierre Omidyr has funded many of the services and borrows liberally from the auction site’s open-market model”
If you are a donor:
donorschoose.org – public school teachers post wish lists for supplies and resources their budget will not cover:
ModestNeeds.org - Modest Needs works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses like those we've all encountered before: the unexpected auto repair, the unanticipated trip to the doctor, the unusually large winter heating bill.
For BreakEveners:
Kiva.org – The loan does not interest and defaults could be possible, though none have registered so far.
For MoneyMakers:
Proposer. Com
For a chart of who gets your loot according to the WSJ, click here:
For Coto de Caza Handouts:
Now, if you want money from the Coto de Caza board of directors, the process is much easier. For example, say your exquisite manor needs to be gated so that Coto de Caza intruders do not vandalize your prized possessions – who do you go to, to subsidize your lifestyle for free? The Coto de Caza board of directors.
What if you want to promote your real estate business and need to differentiate yourself via premium ad placements? You simple lobby your spouse in the Coto de Caza board of directors to subsidize a “newspaper” to help those with exquisite manors get exclusive gates.
What if your children do not have playtime at your local city’s park? Easy, you get the Coto de Caza board of directors to subsidize the park and pre-empt Coto resident’s children.
What if you are a city with a landscaping renovation project and want to get rid of mature sycamore trees? You go to the Coto de Caza board of directors for “free” $45,000.00 charge.
Likewise, if you are a guest registration service who is hungry for business. You simply go to the Coto de Caza board of directors and offer them a “free” service and you end up getting over $125,000/year!
What if you are a fledgling private security company (or landscaping)company for that matter – you now know the drill!
I know what you are thinking. I can understand micro financing for the dis-advantaged, but what about those who simple want a handout. Who does the financing? According to the Coto de Caza board of directors, it is a perception issue.
The October 20, 2006 issue of the Orange County Register quotes a member of the Coto de Caza board of directors saying: “It’s a foregone conclusion that to bring the community up to our standards that there is going to be a dues increase,” – Apparently “our standards” mean the standards of those who get a hand out from the Coto de Caza residents, including those who own exquisite manors – otherwise, what standards would those be?
Oh, oh, and what about public safety within Coto de Caza, you may ask? According to the Coto de Caza board of directors, and consistent with the welfare system already mentioned, the gardener and the private security guard need to be paid, before the California Highway Patrol is even considered!
Move over Janus – we can see a Nobel Peace Price coming to the Varo/Mezger- led Coto de Caza board of directors!
From: Marc
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:36 PM
To:CotoBuzz@yahoogroup s.com
Cc: 'Mark Eades'
Subject: RE: Varo/Mezger & CZ Board - PROVE YOURSELVES!
I firmly believe that the Board has to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a dues increase is necessary. Although our CC&R’s provide for the Board to raise dues within the allowed percentage increase without general member approval, I find it abhorrent that this is being done without showing what the Board has done or can do to prevent such an increase. If our reserve position is as strong as Mr. Mezger has suggested in previous emails then there must and I’m sure that there exists other ways to continue to beef up our reserves position and prop up our budget allotments in other area’s without raising dues. My G-D, you guys just raised our dues 2 years ago! Exactly what the hell are you doing to fiscally manage our revenues in order to prevent a dues increase? It is readily apparent Messrs. Varo, Mezger and other Board members that you are falling back on a safe position because you don’t have to account for a decision to raise dues. Prove to the members at large that you can reduce costs, increase revenues and manage our overall community properly over the course of the next six months. Then and only then, if a dues increase is warranted, by all means you have the proof to do so. By not “taxing” the owners that reside in the Village and Los Rancho’s Estates for using all of Coto’s infrastructure is simply folly. They benefit from this kind of arrangement and we experience any number of costs. Similar to any other leech. What about surcharging the user’s of the sport’s park at a higher rate? Or cease from subsidizing COTOCAN? I understand about the $45,000 free tree issue but others have made comments that show that for the money, we could have received a lot more in return over a much larger area within Coto for the money spent. So far, I see concrete/stone infills on Coto drive. This is not a bucolic experience. Maybe a cost cutting feature. But at what expense? Why not keep costs down until we can afford all that concrete, materials and labor and find another way to deal with not having to water the boulevard grass area’s? Prove to us that you, our Board, are spending our money wisely and I’ll be glad to ante up when you ask for an increase in dues. Until then, I protest what you have done, what you propose to do to us that have to pay for your mismanagement and what you continue to do until you do something outside of the box! - Mark
----- Original Message ----
From: "Morabito, Joe" <
To: CotoBuzz@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Mark Eades
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:09:25 PM
Subject: [COTO] Varo/Mezger CZ Board - Tax and Spend Incompetent Liberals
Zipperman erroneously believes that because Coto is an upscale community and CZ Members have “high expectations” that the only way to meet those expectations is through another dues increase. Of course, perish the thought that Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members should meet our expectations by working smarter to generate revenues that legitimately belong to our Members and cutting expenses through competitive bidding. Zipperman must believe that CZ Members made our money by being stupid. Go figure. Let’s face it. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board is just too damn lazy and incompetent to do the heavy lifting and make the tough decisions necessary to avoid a dues increase in 2007. I have provided very specific suggestions that would absolutely prevent a dues increase without cutting monies going into core Association functions including more money for landscaping replacement and the CHP. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are tax and spend liberals and very poor managers who do not understand the concept of fiduciary responsibility. It really is that simple. We are seeing what will happen if the Democrats gain control of Congress. What is happening in CZ is just a preview of the show in Washington DC that will occur if Nancy Pelosi, that San Francisco left wing Democrat becomes the Speaker of the House and that crook Harry Reid from Nevada becomes the leader of the Senate. Joe Morabito
From: CotoBuzz@yahoogroup s.com [mailto:CotoBuzz@ yahoogroups. com]
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:32 AM
To: cotobuzz@yahoogroup s.com
Cc: Mark Eades ,OCR>
Subject: [COTO] Re: CZ Needs Proper Procurement Procedures & Help from thhe OCR
Hi Joe:
Your proposals make a lot of sense. We have expressed some of our own, and even others in this discussion forum have expressed outrage at the way this board has handled the budget process in general, and public safety in particular. So why is it the the “community journalism” coming out of the Orange County Register is to simply parrot Stevie – “ “It’s a foregone conclusion that to bring the community up to our standards that there is going to be a dues increase,” said Zipperman.”: OCR October 20, 2006 – rather than ask the tough questions being asked in this forum?
"Morabito, Joe" < > wrote:
Hello All: A few weeks ago I offered Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members a booklet outlining proper supplier selection and contract management procedures. This booklet was primarily written by procurement managers from Fortune 1000 companies (not me) though the procedures indicated in this booklet are the very same procedures that I personally implemented as a billable consultant working with major companies and that we use today at my company to select and manage hundreds of suppliers around the world. The information in this booklet is really valuable. Yet not one CZ Board Member has contacted me for a copy.
After reviewing the materials, when I advised Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members that the process used to select Universal Security was not a proper due diligence process to give out a $1.5 million dollar contract, I provided that criticism not as Joe Morabito, not as a former CZ Board Member; but rather as a professional in business for 25 years who has managed many procurement projects to buy perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars in goods and services.
Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members just don’t understand how to implement proper procurement procedures which is the reason I thought this booklet would be very illustrative and helpful. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members think using proper procurement procedures is all about securing the lowest price. In fact, implementation of proper procurement procedures is really about buying the highest quality goods and services at the most competitive price. The most competitive price is not always the lowest price. However, the real issue is the need to implement a proper due diligence systematic process to buy goods and services so that other factors like who is having drinks at the country club is not a variable. Proper procurement processes get at what a supplier knows not who a supplier knows.
In the next few weeks, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will announce the second dues increase in just two years that is the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement and stubbornness. I have been begging the Varo/Mezger CZ Board to appoint a Supplier Selection and Contract Management standing committee to properly select and manage suppliers in order to get CZ expenses under control. If Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members would just take an hour to review the booklet that I can provide they will immediately see the need to professionalize our procurement processes. However, if history is our teacher, Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are just too smart to accept advice from anyone, unless they are paying for a high priced Consultant, even when that advice is just common sense and based on years of experience. Instead, Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are going to raise dues again rather than just admit that they need help to avoid it. Joe Morabito
The Nobel Peace Prize and Coto de Caza Budget Process
October 22, 2006
Just over one week ago, Muhammad Yanus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work making small loans to poor people with big dreams. Something he started to do in his native Bangladesh some 30-plus years ago.
Several Web sites have sprung up in the last few years to let individuals give or lend small amounts to others, who post their funding needs. According to the October 21/22 2006 issue of the WSJ, “the investment group of eBay founder Pierre Omidyr has funded many of the services and borrows liberally from the auction site’s open-market model”
If you are a donor:
donorschoose.org – public school teachers post wish lists for supplies and resources their budget will not cover:
ModestNeeds.org - Modest Needs works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses like those we've all encountered before: the unexpected auto repair, the unanticipated trip to the doctor, the unusually large winter heating bill.
For BreakEveners:
Kiva.org – The loan does not interest and defaults could be possible, though none have registered so far.
For MoneyMakers:
Proposer. Com
For a chart of who gets your loot according to the WSJ, click here:
For Coto de Caza Handouts:
Now, if you want money from the Coto de Caza board of directors, the process is much easier. For example, say your exquisite manor needs to be gated so that Coto de Caza intruders do not vandalize your prized possessions – who do you go to, to subsidize your lifestyle for free? The Coto de Caza board of directors.
What if you want to promote your real estate business and need to differentiate yourself via premium ad placements? You simple lobby your spouse in the Coto de Caza board of directors to subsidize a “newspaper” to help those with exquisite manors get exclusive gates.
What if your children do not have playtime at your local city’s park? Easy, you get the Coto de Caza board of directors to subsidize the park and pre-empt Coto resident’s children.
What if you are a city with a landscaping renovation project and want to get rid of mature sycamore trees? You go to the Coto de Caza board of directors for “free” $45,000.00 charge.
Likewise, if you are a guest registration service who is hungry for business. You simply go to the Coto de Caza board of directors and offer them a “free” service and you end up getting over $125,000/year!
What if you are a fledgling private security company (or landscaping)company for that matter – you now know the drill!
I know what you are thinking. I can understand micro financing for the dis-advantaged, but what about those who simple want a handout. Who does the financing? According to the Coto de Caza board of directors, it is a perception issue.
The October 20, 2006 issue of the Orange County Register quotes a member of the Coto de Caza board of directors saying: “It’s a foregone conclusion that to bring the community up to our standards that there is going to be a dues increase,” – Apparently “our standards” mean the standards of those who get a hand out from the Coto de Caza residents, including those who own exquisite manors – otherwise, what standards would those be?
Oh, oh, and what about public safety within Coto de Caza, you may ask? According to the Coto de Caza board of directors, and consistent with the welfare system already mentioned, the gardener and the private security guard need to be paid, before the California Highway Patrol is even considered!
Move over Janus – we can see a Nobel Peace Price coming to the Varo/Mezger- led Coto de Caza board of directors!
From: Marc
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:36 PM
To:CotoBuzz@yahoogroup s.com
Cc: 'Mark Eades'
Subject: RE: Varo/Mezger & CZ Board - PROVE YOURSELVES!
I firmly believe that the Board has to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a dues increase is necessary. Although our CC&R’s provide for the Board to raise dues within the allowed percentage increase without general member approval, I find it abhorrent that this is being done without showing what the Board has done or can do to prevent such an increase. If our reserve position is as strong as Mr. Mezger has suggested in previous emails then there must and I’m sure that there exists other ways to continue to beef up our reserves position and prop up our budget allotments in other area’s without raising dues. My G-D, you guys just raised our dues 2 years ago! Exactly what the hell are you doing to fiscally manage our revenues in order to prevent a dues increase? It is readily apparent Messrs. Varo, Mezger and other Board members that you are falling back on a safe position because you don’t have to account for a decision to raise dues. Prove to the members at large that you can reduce costs, increase revenues and manage our overall community properly over the course of the next six months. Then and only then, if a dues increase is warranted, by all means you have the proof to do so. By not “taxing” the owners that reside in the Village and Los Rancho’s Estates for using all of Coto’s infrastructure is simply folly. They benefit from this kind of arrangement and we experience any number of costs. Similar to any other leech. What about surcharging the user’s of the sport’s park at a higher rate? Or cease from subsidizing COTOCAN? I understand about the $45,000 free tree issue but others have made comments that show that for the money, we could have received a lot more in return over a much larger area within Coto for the money spent. So far, I see concrete/stone infills on Coto drive. This is not a bucolic experience. Maybe a cost cutting feature. But at what expense? Why not keep costs down until we can afford all that concrete, materials and labor and find another way to deal with not having to water the boulevard grass area’s? Prove to us that you, our Board, are spending our money wisely and I’ll be glad to ante up when you ask for an increase in dues. Until then, I protest what you have done, what you propose to do to us that have to pay for your mismanagement and what you continue to do until you do something outside of the box! - Mark
----- Original Message ----
From: "Morabito, Joe" <
To: CotoBuzz@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Mark Eades
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:09:25 PM
Subject: [COTO] Varo/Mezger CZ Board - Tax and Spend Incompetent Liberals
Zipperman erroneously believes that because Coto is an upscale community and CZ Members have “high expectations” that the only way to meet those expectations is through another dues increase. Of course, perish the thought that Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members should meet our expectations by working smarter to generate revenues that legitimately belong to our Members and cutting expenses through competitive bidding. Zipperman must believe that CZ Members made our money by being stupid. Go figure. Let’s face it. The Varo/Mezger CZ Board is just too damn lazy and incompetent to do the heavy lifting and make the tough decisions necessary to avoid a dues increase in 2007. I have provided very specific suggestions that would absolutely prevent a dues increase without cutting monies going into core Association functions including more money for landscaping replacement and the CHP. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are tax and spend liberals and very poor managers who do not understand the concept of fiduciary responsibility. It really is that simple. We are seeing what will happen if the Democrats gain control of Congress. What is happening in CZ is just a preview of the show in Washington DC that will occur if Nancy Pelosi, that San Francisco left wing Democrat becomes the Speaker of the House and that crook Harry Reid from Nevada becomes the leader of the Senate. Joe Morabito
From: CotoBuzz@yahoogroup s.com [mailto:CotoBuzz@ yahoogroups. com]
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:32 AM
To: cotobuzz@yahoogroup s.com
Cc: Mark Eades ,OCR>
Subject: [COTO] Re: CZ Needs Proper Procurement Procedures & Help from thhe OCR
Hi Joe:
Your proposals make a lot of sense. We have expressed some of our own, and even others in this discussion forum have expressed outrage at the way this board has handled the budget process in general, and public safety in particular. So why is it the the “community journalism” coming out of the Orange County Register is to simply parrot Stevie – “ “It’s a foregone conclusion that to bring the community up to our standards that there is going to be a dues increase,” said Zipperman.”: OCR October 20, 2006 – rather than ask the tough questions being asked in this forum?
"Morabito, Joe" < > wrote:
Hello All: A few weeks ago I offered Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members a booklet outlining proper supplier selection and contract management procedures. This booklet was primarily written by procurement managers from Fortune 1000 companies (not me) though the procedures indicated in this booklet are the very same procedures that I personally implemented as a billable consultant working with major companies and that we use today at my company to select and manage hundreds of suppliers around the world. The information in this booklet is really valuable. Yet not one CZ Board Member has contacted me for a copy.
After reviewing the materials, when I advised Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members that the process used to select Universal Security was not a proper due diligence process to give out a $1.5 million dollar contract, I provided that criticism not as Joe Morabito, not as a former CZ Board Member; but rather as a professional in business for 25 years who has managed many procurement projects to buy perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars in goods and services.
Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members just don’t understand how to implement proper procurement procedures which is the reason I thought this booklet would be very illustrative and helpful. Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members think using proper procurement procedures is all about securing the lowest price. In fact, implementation of proper procurement procedures is really about buying the highest quality goods and services at the most competitive price. The most competitive price is not always the lowest price. However, the real issue is the need to implement a proper due diligence systematic process to buy goods and services so that other factors like who is having drinks at the country club is not a variable. Proper procurement processes get at what a supplier knows not who a supplier knows.
In the next few weeks, the Varo/Mezger CZ Board will announce the second dues increase in just two years that is the result of blatant fiscal mismanagement and stubbornness. I have been begging the Varo/Mezger CZ Board to appoint a Supplier Selection and Contract Management standing committee to properly select and manage suppliers in order to get CZ expenses under control. If Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members would just take an hour to review the booklet that I can provide they will immediately see the need to professionalize our procurement processes. However, if history is our teacher, Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are just too smart to accept advice from anyone, unless they are paying for a high priced Consultant, even when that advice is just common sense and based on years of experience. Instead, Varo/Mezger CZ Board Members are going to raise dues again rather than just admit that they need help to avoid it. Joe Morabito
Coto is Very Safe: Coto de Caza Board of Directors - Coto Has A Drug Problem, OCSD
Coto is Very Safe: Coto de Caza Board of Directors - Coto Has A Drug Problem, OCSD
The OC Sheriff's Dept’s Deputy Finley states that Coto de Caza has a a serious teenage drug problem. Coto teenagers are involved in nearly 99% of all teenage drug incidents in the areas he serves. Which is consistent with what CotoBuzz has been reporting for the last four years, but contrary to what residents have been led to believe by the current board.
Drugs, money and spoiled kids go hand in hand. I suspect we have a lot of them in Coto like all other wealthy communities. However, that is not a CZ responsibility. The CZ Board needs to focus on the business of CZ as described in our governing documents and in accordance with the laws governing HOA’s. Remember, CZ is not a city or a social service agency contrary to Varo/Mezger popular belief. Joe Morabito (former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors)
Hi Joe:
We have a different perspective.
Oppressed, disadvantaged communities are not immune to drug abuse by teenagers.
We believe that concerned for public safety should be the thread that links every community and the single issue that mostly unifies such.
We have argued in the past, and continue to do so, that public safety starts with community culture and it is all about law and order. You may recall that earlier this year, the Varo/Mezger board denied us access to community facilities to hold a security town hall meeting, when association resources are made available to and have been made to, to friends of homeowners.
A comprehensive public safety plan includes measuring “chatter” associated with crime, vandalism, traffic incidents and invasion of privacy – people may be surprised that this chatter can be correlated to terrorism. What is needed is coordination between the community (such as the newly energized neighborhood watch) and the various local law enforcement agencies as well as county and state – after all, there are millions of (unspent) dollars available to California for such effort. Buzz
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza, CA. - Public Safety Invitations
If you are as concerned as we are about safety (accident prevention, crime prevention, vandalism and invasion of privacy), please join us January 10th at 9:30 am on the first floor of the Board Hearing Room at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana, CA. where...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
Ladera Ranch Residents Seek More Traffic Patrols to Deter Unsafe Driving
Aggressive driving, including speeding and disregard for traffic laws are top traffic safety issues in Ladera Ranch, according to a recent survey of residents conducted by the Ladera Ranch Transportation Club. Along with this message, the residents also...
CZ MASTER ASSOCIATION (COTO DE CAZA BOD) FORMAL COMPLAINT
I am writing on behalf of Coto De Caza Concerned Citizens and as a former Board Member of the CZ Master Association, a 3,500 member homeowners association located in Orange County, California. This letter constitutes a formal complaint against the CZ...
CHP DOES ITS JOB – CZ BOARD PLEASE DO YOURS!
Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP is doing its job: Trend for accident rate is...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Newly enacted California law, criminalizes underage drinking effective January 2007
According to a recent study, underage drinking costs the United States nearly $62 billion a year. Published in the July 2006 edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, the study notes that underage drinking leads to nearly 3,200 deaths each year. For...
WHAT IS THE STATE FOR AND PORAC's NON-POLITICAL, POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) "Official Law Enforcement Voter Guide" goes out of its way to note that the guide is not and official political party organization, that "endorsements are non-partisan and cannot be bought nor...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
The OC Sheriff's Dept’s Deputy Finley states that Coto de Caza has a a serious teenage drug problem. Coto teenagers are involved in nearly 99% of all teenage drug incidents in the areas he serves. Which is consistent with what CotoBuzz has been reporting for the last four years, but contrary to what residents have been led to believe by the current board.
Drugs, money and spoiled kids go hand in hand. I suspect we have a lot of them in Coto like all other wealthy communities. However, that is not a CZ responsibility. The CZ Board needs to focus on the business of CZ as described in our governing documents and in accordance with the laws governing HOA’s. Remember, CZ is not a city or a social service agency contrary to Varo/Mezger popular belief. Joe Morabito (former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors)
Hi Joe:
We have a different perspective.
Oppressed, disadvantaged communities are not immune to drug abuse by teenagers.
We believe that concerned for public safety should be the thread that links every community and the single issue that mostly unifies such.
We have argued in the past, and continue to do so, that public safety starts with community culture and it is all about law and order. You may recall that earlier this year, the Varo/Mezger board denied us access to community facilities to hold a security town hall meeting, when association resources are made available to and have been made to, to friends of homeowners.
A comprehensive public safety plan includes measuring “chatter” associated with crime, vandalism, traffic incidents and invasion of privacy – people may be surprised that this chatter can be correlated to terrorism. What is needed is coordination between the community (such as the newly energized neighborhood watch) and the various local law enforcement agencies as well as county and state – after all, there are millions of (unspent) dollars available to California for such effort. Buzz
RELATED STORIES
Coto de Caza, CA. - Public Safety Invitations
If you are as concerned as we are about safety (accident prevention, crime prevention, vandalism and invasion of privacy), please join us January 10th at 9:30 am on the first floor of the Board Hearing Room at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana, CA. where...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
Ladera Ranch Residents Seek More Traffic Patrols to Deter Unsafe Driving
Aggressive driving, including speeding and disregard for traffic laws are top traffic safety issues in Ladera Ranch, according to a recent survey of residents conducted by the Ladera Ranch Transportation Club. Along with this message, the residents also...
CZ MASTER ASSOCIATION (COTO DE CAZA BOD) FORMAL COMPLAINT
I am writing on behalf of Coto De Caza Concerned Citizens and as a former Board Member of the CZ Master Association, a 3,500 member homeowners association located in Orange County, California. This letter constitutes a formal complaint against the CZ...
CHP DOES ITS JOB – CZ BOARD PLEASE DO YOURS!
Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP is doing its job: Trend for accident rate is...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Newly enacted California law, criminalizes underage drinking effective January 2007
According to a recent study, underage drinking costs the United States nearly $62 billion a year. Published in the July 2006 edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, the study notes that underage drinking leads to nearly 3,200 deaths each year. For...
WHAT IS THE STATE FOR AND PORAC's NON-POLITICAL, POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) "Official Law Enforcement Voter Guide" goes out of its way to note that the guide is not and official political party organization, that "endorsements are non-partisan and cannot be bought nor...
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of...
CHP Public Arrest WE9-24 and the Varo For Mayor Flawed Arguments
With more than a few data points under Coto’s belt, we can officially declare that there is a positive downward trend in the number of Coto residents arrested by the CHP since we started this report!
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Vinnie Davis
vdavis@kesytonepacific.com
CZ Master Association Property Manager
Keystone Pacific Property Management, Inc.
29883 Santa Margarita Parkway, Ste. 600
Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. 92688
(949) 838-3205, Fax: (949) 833-0919
Disclaimer: The fact that this signature block uses the name of the CZ Master Association’s property management company and email address, (instead of using an email address with the association’s domain name), Keystone, in no way implies that the user of this signature block works for, cares for, listens to, is reprimanded by or represents said company. In fact, the only thing this means is that Keystone has agreed to process this user’s paycheck, as well as that of all service providers. For that matter, the company cannot fire this user for any reason. The only think the company does IS to collect monthly dues from CZ master residents, distribute welfare checks to others, process check for service providers (and not that well at all), misplaced procurement agreements, and lend personnel to manipulate elections, or for charity purposes on behalf of the board.
When the user of this signature block states that “I will forward this to the CZ Master Board of directors”, it really means that I was told not to do anything about these matters and the board simply wants to ignore, delay or deny. The fact of the matter is that what this user tells residents comes directly from the board of directors and NOT the property manager.
COTO DE CAZA SIGNATURE BLOCK PROPOSAL
To make sure Coto residents understand what they get when they see a signature block as the one listed below, we are proposing a disclaimer that should be included within that signature block:
Vinnie Davis
vdavis@kesytonepacific.com
CZ Master Association Property Manager
Keystone Pacific Property Management, Inc.
29883 Santa Margarita Parkway, Ste. 600
Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. 92688
(949) 838-3205, Fax: (949) 833-0919
Disclaimer: The fact that this signature block uses the name of the CZ Master Association’s property management company and email address, (instead of using an email address with the association’s domain name), Keystone, in no way implies that the user of this signature block works for, cares for, listens to, is reprimanded by or represents said company. In fact, the only thing this means is that Keystone has agreed to process this user’s paycheck, as well as that of all service providers. For that matter, the company cannot fire this user for any reason. The only think the company does IS to collect monthly dues from CZ master residents, distribute welfare checks to others, process check for service providers (and not that well at all), misplaced procurement agreements, and lend personnel to manipulate elections, or for charity purposes on behalf of the board.
When the user of this signature block states that “I will forward this to the CZ Master Board of directors”, it really means that I was told not to do anything about these matters and the board simply wants to ignore, delay or deny. The fact of the matter is that what this user tells residents comes directly from the board of directors and NOT the property manager.
The Shot That Was Not Heard Around the Globe – But Should Have!
The Shot That Was Not Heard Around the Globe – But Should Have!
October 10, 2006
On October 5, 2006, according to the Associated Press, The London Sun newspaper reported that London police excused a Muslim officer, Alexander Omar Basha, from standing guard at the Israeli Embassy
“because of moral objections to Israel's bombing of Lebanon…. The decision set off a furious debate, with critics saying duty should come before personal beliefs.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair ordered an urgent review of the decision amid fears the impartiality of the police force could be compromised.
“What happens if a Greek officer doesn't want to guard the Turkish Embassy, or an anti-hunting officer refuses to protect pro-hunt demonstrators?” asked David Hockney, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, an oversight body”
So what is the fuss about? California schools have set up special prayer rooms for Muslim students, while at the same time vilifying Christian students whenever possible.
Canada is considering setting up districts where Muslim residents can rule themselves, according to Muslim law.
The Estates, while being subsidized by CZ master association residents, want to build a fence-within a fence.
In Mendez v. Westminster , Judge McCormick relying not just on legal precedent but on social science and education research ruled that separate is never equal!
The Brits decision to excuse an officer from standing guard at the Israeli Embassy is bad news for democracy and this shot should have been heard all around the globe!
October 10, 2006
On October 5, 2006, according to the Associated Press, The London Sun newspaper reported that London police excused a Muslim officer, Alexander Omar Basha, from standing guard at the Israeli Embassy
“because of moral objections to Israel's bombing of Lebanon…. The decision set off a furious debate, with critics saying duty should come before personal beliefs.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair ordered an urgent review of the decision amid fears the impartiality of the police force could be compromised.
“What happens if a Greek officer doesn't want to guard the Turkish Embassy, or an anti-hunting officer refuses to protect pro-hunt demonstrators?” asked David Hockney, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, an oversight body”
So what is the fuss about? California schools have set up special prayer rooms for Muslim students, while at the same time vilifying Christian students whenever possible.
Canada is considering setting up districts where Muslim residents can rule themselves, according to Muslim law.
The Estates, while being subsidized by CZ master association residents, want to build a fence-within a fence.
In Mendez v. Westminster , Judge McCormick relying not just on legal precedent but on social science and education research ruled that separate is never equal!
The Brits decision to excuse an officer from standing guard at the Israeli Embassy is bad news for democracy and this shot should have been heard all around the globe!
(aking control: As seen through the Orange County Register's Adporting (advertising passing as reporting - known in television as product integration)
Taking control: As seen through the Orange County Register's Adporting (advertising passing as reporting - known in television as product integration)
October 10, 2006
In traditional adporting (advertising passing as reporting – in television, it is called product integration) ), the October 6, 2006 issue of the Orange County Register’s CanyonLife runs an article sub-titled: A surge in speed related teen fatalities causes parents to wonder what can be done. Then in the body of the “report”, the article provides contact information for a couple of training facilities.
In this forum, we have argued ad nausea that public safety is not rocket science. It starts with the very simple Secretary Rumsfeld Rule: If it is important, you need to measure it, followed by LEEO – described below:
Additionally, there are a number of programs coordinated by the various local law-enforcement agencies (under the second E in LEEO – education), such as the CHPs Start Smart Program and the Sheriff’s Orange County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC),.
IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM:
L – Leadership - Firing volunteers for not agreeing to pursue personal agendas and to give up free speech is NOT leadership! When members of the Coto de Caza board of directors call law enforcement agents "extortionists", then resort to name calling and legal threats to silence critics and even engage in anti-social behaviors, THAT is not leadership!
When Coto de Caza mothers drive teens around the neighborhood to engage in "vandalizing parties", what does that say about leadership and accountability?
E – Engineering – that is, streets need to be certified for patrol and certification needs to be current. Even then, Kids will fail to stop and even speed up the closer they are to getting home - that is, road certification is necessary but not sufficient. For example, there are blind corners within Coto De Caza as a result of landscaping. What has been done about it? Put the landscaping priorities over public safety!
E- Education – self-awareness program to educate residents on the importance of respecting law and order. Then Model Law and Order – that is, Do as I Do!
E – Engagement – coordination between law enforcement agencies and residents. It is amazing that not even the Sheriff's office can provide us with a management tool to tell us if as a community we are being effective and responsible in our actions. Requires personal accountability. Parents need to set clear boundaries for kids, with consequences.
O – organization - Need we say anymore?
RELATED STORIES
Agenda Journalism by the Orange County Register or Adporting?
The January 25, 2006 issue of the OC Register reports that “ Residents living in unincorporated areas of the county will get more law enforcement on their streets by the end of February”. Here we are, October 2006 and guess what happened? Nothing, Zilch, Nada!
CotoBuzz January 2006 Newsletter
CZ MASTERS BOD/ OC REGISTER CONSPIRACY – CZ MAFIA? YOU BE THE JUDGE! As CotoBuzz readers know, we have been working for some time on a model to help us understand the relationship between the CZ Board’s multiple breaches, and the output from...
INTENSIVE VS. PENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY: COTO DE CAZA Vs. LADERA RANCH
Intensive Versus Pensive
CZ board member, Metzger has characterized the current Coto de Caza traffic patrol as “intensive” – only after the board was coerced into bringing back the CHP – the problem is that since the association has...
COTO DE CAZA LEADERSHIP MODELING
Disturbed by the feedback the board is getting about service providers, the board president writes in the May 2006 issue of the CZ President’s Letter: “what makes matters worse is that one would think that these individuals would know...
JUSTICE, COTO DE CAZA STYLE
We just had a constructive, and at times very heated, conversation with Orange County’s Deputy District Attorney, Susan Schroeder regarding the tragic accident that occurred March 12, 2006 at the intersection of North Hampton Place and Lexington Way...
COTO DE CAZA PUBLIC SAFETY STATISTICS – A BRIEF OVERVIEW
In the words of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani from his speech at DMD New York in June 2002 when he was asked by an audience member how he got crime under control, he replied the city set up the right tracking metrics and benchmarks. Giuliani said, "If...
COTO DE CAZA TICKLER FILE ITEM- PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD STATUS
The Coto de Caza board of directors has blamed the current state of patrol unworthy Coto de Caza streets on previous property manager, even though the current property manager has been on the job for over five years! - So we hare recommending a tickler...
Italian Publisher Expands Add-On Business To Teach Orange County Newspapers to Sell Real Estate
The May 24, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal reports that in 1993 the Italian newspaper La Repubblica conjured up an incentive to increase circulation – sexual-education tapes for children, which la Repubblica sold every week with the daily...
COTOBUZZ RELEASES CRIME & VANDALISM MANAGEMENT TOOL
In its continued commitment to public safety, on June 1, 2006, CotoBuzz unveiled a Crime and Vandalism Management tool (see below for first installment), containing key metrics and a side-by-side comparison between Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch....
COTO DE CAZA- SecurityAreNotUs
In today's Canyon Life, there was an article about Lyle Schlieder's leaving the BOD. Lyle was quoted as follows: "There are no patrols anymore. I am not sure if what we are dealing with is just a pretty face at the gate that we pay a lot of money for." So...
SHERIFF IS NO HELP: A CASE FOR A COTO DE CAZA PRO-ACTIVE VANDALISM PREVENTION PROGRAM - Perhaps the Orange County Register’s columnist may view 20 Coto teens playing with toy guns in local parks as totally innocent. Maybe even draw a parallel with the banned lemonade stands. There are many problems with this line of reasoning:
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Lawless, Clueless Coto de Caza
Last night, December 12, 2006, the CZ homeowner’s association board of directors held their regularly scheduled open session meeting. Present were representatives from the LA Times and Freedom Communications.
Coto de Caza Late Breaking News from the Los Angeles Times
In an article published January 23, 2006, Daniel Yi, LA Times Staff Reporter has done what the OC Register has been unable to do in over two years: present a balanced view of traffic control within Coto de Caza.
Breaking News: According to CZ BOD, Sheriff Extortionist! - As soon as the Bob Varo/Jerry Mezger took over the Coto de Caza board of directors, they fired the CHP for proactive traffic control, without a suitable replacement. Very soon thereafter, the traffic accident rate within Coto de Caza started to balloon. To add salt to the wound, the board, without any previous open discussion and without any warning, fired Securitas – the largest private security company in the world, and replaced it with one of the smallest one in the region – Universal Protection Services (UPS). The consequences could not have been more disastrous. We filed a complaint with Freedom Communications Board of Directors with regards to their reporting – following is a brief excerpt.
Lawless, Values-less, Spiritual-less Coto de Caza
When we first moved to Coto de Caza over 12 years ago, we really thought there was No Place Like Coto. Shortly thereafter CNN/Money discovered Coto as well and included it in their list of One of the Best Places to Live/Best Places to Retire.
EVIDENCE OF WMD FOUND IN COTO DE CAZA! - Through effective use of the OC Register and a carrot and stick, the CZ BOD has convinced a number of followers that the only way in which the CZ board can provide traffic control, is by turning Coto into a City. One month the board simply says, "The Sheriff is coming, the Sheriff is coming". Then the next month the board argues that they cannot contract directly for patrol services - instead, the residents need to approve Coto turning into a City.
Dummy Wanted, ventriloquist in place
The objective is to Safely take Coto de Caza and turn it into a city. You see, Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson already met his end of the bargain by repealing an ordinance that lets the Sheriff patrol unincorporated areas such as Coto. So now the board needs to keep their end of the bargain! – soon!
October 10, 2006
In traditional adporting (advertising passing as reporting – in television, it is called product integration) ), the October 6, 2006 issue of the Orange County Register’s CanyonLife runs an article sub-titled: A surge in speed related teen fatalities causes parents to wonder what can be done. Then in the body of the “report”, the article provides contact information for a couple of training facilities.
In this forum, we have argued ad nausea that public safety is not rocket science. It starts with the very simple Secretary Rumsfeld Rule: If it is important, you need to measure it, followed by LEEO – described below:
Additionally, there are a number of programs coordinated by the various local law-enforcement agencies (under the second E in LEEO – education), such as the CHPs Start Smart Program and the Sheriff’s Orange County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC),.
IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM:
L – Leadership - Firing volunteers for not agreeing to pursue personal agendas and to give up free speech is NOT leadership! When members of the Coto de Caza board of directors call law enforcement agents "extortionists", then resort to name calling and legal threats to silence critics and even engage in anti-social behaviors, THAT is not leadership!
When Coto de Caza mothers drive teens around the neighborhood to engage in "vandalizing parties", what does that say about leadership and accountability?
E – Engineering – that is, streets need to be certified for patrol and certification needs to be current. Even then, Kids will fail to stop and even speed up the closer they are to getting home - that is, road certification is necessary but not sufficient. For example, there are blind corners within Coto De Caza as a result of landscaping. What has been done about it? Put the landscaping priorities over public safety!
E- Education – self-awareness program to educate residents on the importance of respecting law and order. Then Model Law and Order – that is, Do as I Do!
E – Engagement – coordination between law enforcement agencies and residents. It is amazing that not even the Sheriff's office can provide us with a management tool to tell us if as a community we are being effective and responsible in our actions. Requires personal accountability. Parents need to set clear boundaries for kids, with consequences.
O – organization - Need we say anymore?
RELATED STORIES
Agenda Journalism by the Orange County Register or Adporting?
The January 25, 2006 issue of the OC Register reports that “ Residents living in unincorporated areas of the county will get more law enforcement on their streets by the end of February”. Here we are, October 2006 and guess what happened? Nothing, Zilch, Nada!
CotoBuzz January 2006 Newsletter
CZ MASTERS BOD/ OC REGISTER CONSPIRACY – CZ MAFIA? YOU BE THE JUDGE! As CotoBuzz readers know, we have been working for some time on a model to help us understand the relationship between the CZ Board’s multiple breaches, and the output from...
INTENSIVE VS. PENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY: COTO DE CAZA Vs. LADERA RANCH
Intensive Versus Pensive
CZ board member, Metzger has characterized the current Coto de Caza traffic patrol as “intensive” – only after the board was coerced into bringing back the CHP – the problem is that since the association has...
COTO DE CAZA LEADERSHIP MODELING
Disturbed by the feedback the board is getting about service providers, the board president writes in the May 2006 issue of the CZ President’s Letter: “what makes matters worse is that one would think that these individuals would know...
JUSTICE, COTO DE CAZA STYLE
We just had a constructive, and at times very heated, conversation with Orange County’s Deputy District Attorney, Susan Schroeder regarding the tragic accident that occurred March 12, 2006 at the intersection of North Hampton Place and Lexington Way...
COTO DE CAZA PUBLIC SAFETY STATISTICS – A BRIEF OVERVIEW
In the words of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani from his speech at DMD New York in June 2002 when he was asked by an audience member how he got crime under control, he replied the city set up the right tracking metrics and benchmarks. Giuliani said, "If...
COTO DE CAZA TICKLER FILE ITEM- PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD STATUS
The Coto de Caza board of directors has blamed the current state of patrol unworthy Coto de Caza streets on previous property manager, even though the current property manager has been on the job for over five years! - So we hare recommending a tickler...
Italian Publisher Expands Add-On Business To Teach Orange County Newspapers to Sell Real Estate
The May 24, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal reports that in 1993 the Italian newspaper La Repubblica conjured up an incentive to increase circulation – sexual-education tapes for children, which la Repubblica sold every week with the daily...
COTOBUZZ RELEASES CRIME & VANDALISM MANAGEMENT TOOL
In its continued commitment to public safety, on June 1, 2006, CotoBuzz unveiled a Crime and Vandalism Management tool (see below for first installment), containing key metrics and a side-by-side comparison between Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch....
COTO DE CAZA- SecurityAreNotUs
In today's Canyon Life, there was an article about Lyle Schlieder's leaving the BOD. Lyle was quoted as follows: "There are no patrols anymore. I am not sure if what we are dealing with is just a pretty face at the gate that we pay a lot of money for." So...
SHERIFF IS NO HELP: A CASE FOR A COTO DE CAZA PRO-ACTIVE VANDALISM PREVENTION PROGRAM - Perhaps the Orange County Register’s columnist may view 20 Coto teens playing with toy guns in local parks as totally innocent. Maybe even draw a parallel with the banned lemonade stands. There are many problems with this line of reasoning:
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Lawless, Clueless Coto de Caza
Last night, December 12, 2006, the CZ homeowner’s association board of directors held their regularly scheduled open session meeting. Present were representatives from the LA Times and Freedom Communications.
Coto de Caza Late Breaking News from the Los Angeles Times
In an article published January 23, 2006, Daniel Yi, LA Times Staff Reporter has done what the OC Register has been unable to do in over two years: present a balanced view of traffic control within Coto de Caza.
Breaking News: According to CZ BOD, Sheriff Extortionist! - As soon as the Bob Varo/Jerry Mezger took over the Coto de Caza board of directors, they fired the CHP for proactive traffic control, without a suitable replacement. Very soon thereafter, the traffic accident rate within Coto de Caza started to balloon. To add salt to the wound, the board, without any previous open discussion and without any warning, fired Securitas – the largest private security company in the world, and replaced it with one of the smallest one in the region – Universal Protection Services (UPS). The consequences could not have been more disastrous. We filed a complaint with Freedom Communications Board of Directors with regards to their reporting – following is a brief excerpt.
Lawless, Values-less, Spiritual-less Coto de Caza
When we first moved to Coto de Caza over 12 years ago, we really thought there was No Place Like Coto. Shortly thereafter CNN/Money discovered Coto as well and included it in their list of One of the Best Places to Live/Best Places to Retire.
EVIDENCE OF WMD FOUND IN COTO DE CAZA! - Through effective use of the OC Register and a carrot and stick, the CZ BOD has convinced a number of followers that the only way in which the CZ board can provide traffic control, is by turning Coto into a City. One month the board simply says, "The Sheriff is coming, the Sheriff is coming". Then the next month the board argues that they cannot contract directly for patrol services - instead, the residents need to approve Coto turning into a City.
Dummy Wanted, ventriloquist in place
The objective is to Safely take Coto de Caza and turn it into a city. You see, Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson already met his end of the bargain by repealing an ordinance that lets the Sheriff patrol unincorporated areas such as Coto. So now the board needs to keep their end of the bargain! – soon!
Coto de Caza Welfare Leadership Alliance
Coto de Caza Welfare Leadership Alliance
October 8, 2006
You know there is something seriously wrong when the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) endorses former California Governor Jerry MoonBeam Brown. Governor MoonBeam is the same individual who called the war on drugs a scam, opposed the execution of "freeway killer" William Bonin, described lethal injection as a "Nazi-style" form of sanitized execution and suggested that banning capital punishment would elevate society to a "higher state of consciousness."
You know there is something wrong when in a gubernatorial debate, Phil Angelides rebukes people who want politicians to be held accountable. The Angelides makes a big deal of a higher education costs going up 3% per year (implying that every California resident should be entitled to every possible social service without working for it)
You know there is something wrong when, two of the most corrupt members of Congress (as reported by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics - 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress) represent Orange County (Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona). To make it more interesting, these gentlemen, backed by Pate Bates are strongly pushing for development of a multibillion dollar Terrible Tunnel connecting Orange and Riverside counties – From traffic congestion to traffic constipation to benefit professional politicians.
You know there is something wrong when Pat Bates takes credit for a pension plan
You know there is something wrong when the Varo For Mayor committee keep pushing for Rancho Santa Margarita to annex Coto de Caza – when RSM is projected to be a-soon-to-be bankrupt city.
You know there is something wrong when the Coto de Caza board of directors in conjunction with the Estates and Villages endorse a Pat Bates’ celebratory meeting held in a CZ association-subsidized exquisite manor.
You know there is something wrong when guards are ordered to pass out sales collateral to benefit a director’s spouses.
You know there is something wrong when a board of directors continue to subsidize a community that wants to be exclusionary.
You know there is something wrong when a “free” online registration services is costing the association over $150,000.00 per year.
You know there is something wrong when “free’ trees end up costing the CZ association over $45,000.00
You know there is something wrong when the Varo for Mayor committee “makes nice” to the Sheriff in hopes of getting “free” services, by providing a free desk in the Welcome Home Center – and at the same time thumb their nose at the CHP management – the only tried and true traffic enforcement agency.
The general mentality is that every one is entitled to any and all social services for free. At some point in time the Coto de Caza board of directors and residents alike, need to wake up and realize that in order to get services, we all have to work to get them!
If you would like to help elect Mayor DeYoung, contact:
CotoBuzz
cotobuzz@yahoo.com
Box 154, Trabuco Canyon, CA
92678
(509) 355-8895
Cathryn DeYoung Campaign Headquarters
31105 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 10
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 949-276-6901
Fax: 949-276-6903
Email: info@electdeyoung. com
October 8, 2006
You know there is something seriously wrong when the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) endorses former California Governor Jerry MoonBeam Brown. Governor MoonBeam is the same individual who called the war on drugs a scam, opposed the execution of "freeway killer" William Bonin, described lethal injection as a "Nazi-style" form of sanitized execution and suggested that banning capital punishment would elevate society to a "higher state of consciousness."
You know there is something wrong when in a gubernatorial debate, Phil Angelides rebukes people who want politicians to be held accountable. The Angelides makes a big deal of a higher education costs going up 3% per year (implying that every California resident should be entitled to every possible social service without working for it)
You know there is something wrong when, two of the most corrupt members of Congress (as reported by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics - 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress) represent Orange County (Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona). To make it more interesting, these gentlemen, backed by Pate Bates are strongly pushing for development of a multibillion dollar Terrible Tunnel connecting Orange and Riverside counties – From traffic congestion to traffic constipation to benefit professional politicians.
You know there is something wrong when Pat Bates takes credit for a pension plan
You know there is something wrong when the Varo For Mayor committee keep pushing for Rancho Santa Margarita to annex Coto de Caza – when RSM is projected to be a-soon-to-be bankrupt city.
You know there is something wrong when the Coto de Caza board of directors in conjunction with the Estates and Villages endorse a Pat Bates’ celebratory meeting held in a CZ association-subsidized exquisite manor.
You know there is something wrong when guards are ordered to pass out sales collateral to benefit a director’s spouses.
You know there is something wrong when a board of directors continue to subsidize a community that wants to be exclusionary.
You know there is something wrong when a “free” online registration services is costing the association over $150,000.00 per year.
You know there is something wrong when “free’ trees end up costing the CZ association over $45,000.00
You know there is something wrong when the Varo for Mayor committee “makes nice” to the Sheriff in hopes of getting “free” services, by providing a free desk in the Welcome Home Center – and at the same time thumb their nose at the CHP management – the only tried and true traffic enforcement agency.
The general mentality is that every one is entitled to any and all social services for free. At some point in time the Coto de Caza board of directors and residents alike, need to wake up and realize that in order to get services, we all have to work to get them!
If you would like to help elect Mayor DeYoung, contact:
CotoBuzz
cotobuzz@yahoo.com
Box 154, Trabuco Canyon, CA
92678
(509) 355-8895
Cathryn DeYoung Campaign Headquarters
31105 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 10
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 949-276-6901
Fax: 949-276-6903
Email: info@electdeyoung. com
Federal, Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita & Coto de Caza Online Budget
Federal, Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita & Coto de Caza Online Budget
October 5, 2006
A few years back, the federal government used to buy $600.00 toilet seats and $1,200.00 hammers (the same we could buy off the shelf at Sears® for $25.00 and $15.00 respectively)
Today, (September 26, 2006) the President signed a bill to allow taxpayers to view government spending online. According to the Associated Press, “The law is aimed preventing wasteful spending by opening the federal budget to greater scrutiny. The information is already available, but the Web site would make it easier for those who aren't experts on the process to see how taxpayer dollars are being spent”
Can you imagine what would happen if the Orange County Budget was available online? One could see how bureaucrats, such as members of SAMLARC spend tax-payer’s hard earned money by traveling around the state to get “smarter” and using propaganda to make tax-payers feel good about how their money is being wasted. But then again, since Orange County last declared bankruptcy, a commission recommended the preparation and periodic reporting of budget variances. The problem is, that concerned residents have been unable to see it!
What about the Rancho Santa Margarita Budget? Would it then show the fiscal capability of the current administration? Would it show that the City is in financial straight? Would it show what would happen if Rancho Santa Margarita annexed Coto de Caza?
Just imagine what Coto residents could learn if the Coto de Caza board of directors (CZ Master Association) was transparent with an online budget? Perhaps then we would learn that the $45,000.00 “free trees” are more expensive than that. We would also learn that using the “free” online registration service GateWorks printed passes for guests cost more per year than what the CHP gets for pro-active patrol to save lives and prevent accidents, “ And, let’s not forget that we don’t know and can’t tell how much we are spending to maintain the Sports Park because Varo/Mezger are intentionally hiding the real numbers from us because when compared with what we generate in revenues for use of the Sports Park, I suspect we would be shocked to learn the truth” as former board of directors Joe Morabito (former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors) would say.
Even if the budget was posted online, we know that the information would not be accurate. The “real” spending is hidden behind the chart of accounts managed by Keystone – which is why they were able to overpay the security company $168,000.00 “transparently”
October 5, 2006
A few years back, the federal government used to buy $600.00 toilet seats and $1,200.00 hammers (the same we could buy off the shelf at Sears® for $25.00 and $15.00 respectively)
Today, (September 26, 2006) the President signed a bill to allow taxpayers to view government spending online. According to the Associated Press, “The law is aimed preventing wasteful spending by opening the federal budget to greater scrutiny. The information is already available, but the Web site would make it easier for those who aren't experts on the process to see how taxpayer dollars are being spent”
Can you imagine what would happen if the Orange County Budget was available online? One could see how bureaucrats, such as members of SAMLARC spend tax-payer’s hard earned money by traveling around the state to get “smarter” and using propaganda to make tax-payers feel good about how their money is being wasted. But then again, since Orange County last declared bankruptcy, a commission recommended the preparation and periodic reporting of budget variances. The problem is, that concerned residents have been unable to see it!
What about the Rancho Santa Margarita Budget? Would it then show the fiscal capability of the current administration? Would it show that the City is in financial straight? Would it show what would happen if Rancho Santa Margarita annexed Coto de Caza?
Just imagine what Coto residents could learn if the Coto de Caza board of directors (CZ Master Association) was transparent with an online budget? Perhaps then we would learn that the $45,000.00 “free trees” are more expensive than that. We would also learn that using the “free” online registration service GateWorks printed passes for guests cost more per year than what the CHP gets for pro-active patrol to save lives and prevent accidents, “ And, let’s not forget that we don’t know and can’t tell how much we are spending to maintain the Sports Park because Varo/Mezger are intentionally hiding the real numbers from us because when compared with what we generate in revenues for use of the Sports Park, I suspect we would be shocked to learn the truth” as former board of directors Joe Morabito (former member of the Coto de Caza board of directors) would say.
Even if the budget was posted online, we know that the information would not be accurate. The “real” spending is hidden behind the chart of accounts managed by Keystone – which is why they were able to overpay the security company $168,000.00 “transparently”
Like Coto de Caza Board of Directors, Like Suppliers
Like Coto de Caza Board of Directors, Like Suppliers
October 5, 2006
Given the current environment where the Coto de Caza board of directors do not seem to distinguish between best business practices and conflict of interest and after we were alerted that a reputable business search engine was returning interesting results relating to the board of directors and Keystone, the Coto de Caza property manager, we sent an inquiry to Keystone’s executive Cary Treff for verification, and in case the information was wrong, Keystone could be pro-active, and contact the search engine so that they could then refine their search algorithm.
The unexpected response we received is very consistent with the treatment CotoBuzz has received from the board of directors: “Where does this information show up on the Internet? Your attachment seems to indicate that the Key People are involved with the operations and/or direction of Keystone Pacific….. Would you please check you facts in the future before you distribute false information about Keystone Pacific”
After a couple of email exchanges where the Keystone executive called us names, just like the Coto de Caza board of directors, and after former board member Joseph Morabito interceded and asked us to provide the source, we obliged and the Keystone’s tone changed to: “Buzz - Thank you for the website link. The information about Keystone Pacific board members is incorrect.
It appears the website to which you referred me has taken all the information and combined it into one incorrect reference that lists Bob and Xochitl as Keystone Pacific board members”
Thank you very much Keystone and Coto Board. We are glad to be of service!
Like Board, Like Service Providers!
October 5, 2006
Given the current environment where the Coto de Caza board of directors do not seem to distinguish between best business practices and conflict of interest and after we were alerted that a reputable business search engine was returning interesting results relating to the board of directors and Keystone, the Coto de Caza property manager, we sent an inquiry to Keystone’s executive Cary Treff for verification, and in case the information was wrong, Keystone could be pro-active, and contact the search engine so that they could then refine their search algorithm.
The unexpected response we received is very consistent with the treatment CotoBuzz has received from the board of directors: “Where does this information show up on the Internet? Your attachment seems to indicate that the Key People are involved with the operations and/or direction of Keystone Pacific….. Would you please check you facts in the future before you distribute false information about Keystone Pacific”
After a couple of email exchanges where the Keystone executive called us names, just like the Coto de Caza board of directors, and after former board member Joseph Morabito interceded and asked us to provide the source, we obliged and the Keystone’s tone changed to: “Buzz - Thank you for the website link. The information about Keystone Pacific board members is incorrect.
It appears the website to which you referred me has taken all the information and combined it into one incorrect reference that lists Bob and Xochitl as Keystone Pacific board members”
Thank you very much Keystone and Coto Board. We are glad to be of service!
Like Board, Like Service Providers!
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
REQUEST TO COTO DE CAZA BOD TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT FROM MR. MANIAN'S NEXT OF KIN
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of the year. As you may know, my father, Mr. Morteza Manian was tragically killed in March 2006. I strongly urge you to renew the CHP contract without hesitation
A. Manian
RELATED STORIES:
Second Coto de Caza Traffic Fatality In Three Months- Coto de Caza recorded its first traffic accident fatality in ten years in December of 2005. In less than three months, the second fatality has occurred.
CHP DOES ITS JOB – CZ BOARD PLEASE DO YOURS!
Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP is doing its job: Trend for accident rate is...
Requiem in Pasce: Rosalyn Gast and Morteza Manian
Rosalyn Gast passed away August 25th in Littleton Colorado of a cardiac arrest heart attack.
September 12, 2006 marked the sixth-month anniversary of the tragic death of Mr. Manian. Mr. Manian was born on Dec,16h 1930 and passed away on March 12th 2005...
COTO DE CAZA- SecurityAreNotUs
In today's Canyon Life, there was an article about Lyle Schlieder's leaving the BOD. Lyle was quoted as follows: "There are no patrols anymore. I am not sure if what we are dealing with is just a pretty face at the gate that we pay a lot of money for." So...
ITS SECURITY STUPID - For the last two years we have been flogging a dead horse – come to think of it, perhaps it is a jackass!
The issue is not about money – heck, the current board subsidizes groups that when added up would pay for the Sheriff, the CHP and perhaps some FBI, CIA and Homeland Security services combined!
Teen Driver Safety: CHP's StartSmart Program
According to the CHP, Teen drivers are found at fault in 66% of ALL FATAL collisions that they are involved in, although they only represent 4% of the state's licensed drivers, and the leading cause of DEATH for Americans
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Coto de Caza, CA. - Public Safety Invitations
If you are as concerned as we are about safety (accident prevention, crime prevention, vandalism and invasion of privacy), please join us January 10th at 9:30 am on the first floor of the Board Hearing Room at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana, CA. where...
OF MADD, THE CHP AND DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE - As you know, the CHP and other law enforcement agencies are focused on minimizing accidents attributable to DUI during year-end festivities.
COTO CRIME RATE UPDATE - As of November 2004, three Orange County cities were ranked among the safest cities in the country, according to an annual ranking based on the FBI's 2003 crime statistics. Mission Viejo and Lake Forest were ranked the fourth- and sixth-safest cities, respectively. Irvine ranked 11th. Coto de Caza did poorly
BREAKING NEWS: COTO IS SAFER THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES:
The April 21 issue of the CanyonLife reports that “Fred Lisanti of Pacific Oak Security, security consultants to the ( Coto de Caza) board, presented a report indicating the official crime...
Focus on Coto de Caza Public's Safety
According to the April 20, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal, in February 2006, the Justice Department named Jane Horvath its first privacy and civil liberties officer, making her responsible for developing and...
Breaking News: South Orange County Public Safety Round Up
RSM- During the April 12, 2006, Rancho Santa Margarita City Council meeting, the council adopted an ordinance that will prohibit people from walking on city street medians. Under the ordinance, pedestrians will not be allowed to step, stand, sit or...
COTO DE CAZA TICKLER FILE ITEM- PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD STATUS
The Coto de Caza board of directors has blamed the current state of patrol unworthy Coto de Caza streets on previous property manager, even though the current property manager has been on the job for over five years! - So we hare recommending a tickler...
COTO DE CAZA PUBLIC SAFETY STATISTICS – A BRIEF OVERVIEW
In the words of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani from his speech at DMD New York in June 2002 when he was asked by an audience member how he got crime under control, he replied the city set up the right tracking metrics and benchmarks. Giuliani said, "If...
To: Coto de Caza Board of Directors
From: A. Manian
Subject: REQUEST TO RENEW CHP CONTRACT
I understand that the CZ Master Association board of directors is seriously considering terminating the CHP contract for pro-active traffic control by the end of the year. As you may know, my father, Mr. Morteza Manian was tragically killed in March 2006. I strongly urge you to renew the CHP contract without hesitation
A. Manian
RELATED STORIES:
Second Coto de Caza Traffic Fatality In Three Months- Coto de Caza recorded its first traffic accident fatality in ten years in December of 2005. In less than three months, the second fatality has occurred.
CHP DOES ITS JOB – CZ BOARD PLEASE DO YOURS!
Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP is doing its job: Trend for accident rate is...
Requiem in Pasce: Rosalyn Gast and Morteza Manian
Rosalyn Gast passed away August 25th in Littleton Colorado of a cardiac arrest heart attack.
September 12, 2006 marked the sixth-month anniversary of the tragic death of Mr. Manian. Mr. Manian was born on Dec,16h 1930 and passed away on March 12th 2005...
COTO DE CAZA- SecurityAreNotUs
In today's Canyon Life, there was an article about Lyle Schlieder's leaving the BOD. Lyle was quoted as follows: "There are no patrols anymore. I am not sure if what we are dealing with is just a pretty face at the gate that we pay a lot of money for." So...
ITS SECURITY STUPID - For the last two years we have been flogging a dead horse – come to think of it, perhaps it is a jackass!
The issue is not about money – heck, the current board subsidizes groups that when added up would pay for the Sheriff, the CHP and perhaps some FBI, CIA and Homeland Security services combined!
Teen Driver Safety: CHP's StartSmart Program
According to the CHP, Teen drivers are found at fault in 66% of ALL FATAL collisions that they are involved in, although they only represent 4% of the state's licensed drivers, and the leading cause of DEATH for Americans
CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...
Coto de Caza, CA. - Public Safety Invitations
If you are as concerned as we are about safety (accident prevention, crime prevention, vandalism and invasion of privacy), please join us January 10th at 9:30 am on the first floor of the Board Hearing Room at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana, CA. where...
OF MADD, THE CHP AND DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE - As you know, the CHP and other law enforcement agencies are focused on minimizing accidents attributable to DUI during year-end festivities.
COTO CRIME RATE UPDATE - As of November 2004, three Orange County cities were ranked among the safest cities in the country, according to an annual ranking based on the FBI's 2003 crime statistics. Mission Viejo and Lake Forest were ranked the fourth- and sixth-safest cities, respectively. Irvine ranked 11th. Coto de Caza did poorly
BREAKING NEWS: COTO IS SAFER THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES:
The April 21 issue of the CanyonLife reports that “Fred Lisanti of Pacific Oak Security, security consultants to the ( Coto de Caza) board, presented a report indicating the official crime...
Focus on Coto de Caza Public's Safety
According to the April 20, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal, in February 2006, the Justice Department named Jane Horvath its first privacy and civil liberties officer, making her responsible for developing and...
Breaking News: South Orange County Public Safety Round Up
RSM- During the April 12, 2006, Rancho Santa Margarita City Council meeting, the council adopted an ordinance that will prohibit people from walking on city street medians. Under the ordinance, pedestrians will not be allowed to step, stand, sit or...
COTO DE CAZA TICKLER FILE ITEM- PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD STATUS
The Coto de Caza board of directors has blamed the current state of patrol unworthy Coto de Caza streets on previous property manager, even though the current property manager has been on the job for over five years! - So we hare recommending a tickler...
COTO DE CAZA PUBLIC SAFETY STATISTICS – A BRIEF OVERVIEW
In the words of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani from his speech at DMD New York in June 2002 when he was asked by an audience member how he got crime under control, he replied the city set up the right tracking metrics and benchmarks. Giuliani said, "If...
Varo For Mayor, The Orange County Register and Pat Bates Common Denominator?
Varo For Mayor, The Orange County Register and Pat Bates Common Denominator?
October 4, 2006
Pat Bates' claim to fame according to her website is that “She was the driving force behind Laguna Niguel’s cityhood campaign and became the first Mayor upon the city’s incorporation in 1989.”
The Varo for Mayor Committee should be that much more inspired to turn Coto into a City – What are the chances that Wilson will fund his Trojan Horse at the tune of $25K-45K consultant study that will show that Coto is better off as a city? – you know, like the procurement process used by the Coto de Caza board to fire the CHP, or to fire the Security Director, or to Fire the largest security company in the world, only to replace it with the one of the smallest in the region – that is, no evidence of due diligence.
Bates uses the OCR’s Martin Wisckol “reporting” to support her campaign.
Bates supports the Terrible Tunnel – a tunnel that would connect Orange and Riverside counties and relieve traffic congestion in one place and create constipation in Orange County by dumping an estimated 120,000 cars per day from Riverside into traffic saturated South and Central Orange County) - and so do certain members of Congress actively trying to fund it – These same members are listed in the recently released Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics List of the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress: Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona.
The Mayor of the soon-to-be-bankrupt City of Rancho Santa Margarita and the Coto de Caza board of directors support Pat Bates
Now this is your brain…..
Any questions?
October 4, 2006
Pat Bates' claim to fame according to her website is that “She was the driving force behind Laguna Niguel’s cityhood campaign and became the first Mayor upon the city’s incorporation in 1989.”
The Varo for Mayor Committee should be that much more inspired to turn Coto into a City – What are the chances that Wilson will fund his Trojan Horse at the tune of $25K-45K consultant study that will show that Coto is better off as a city? – you know, like the procurement process used by the Coto de Caza board to fire the CHP, or to fire the Security Director, or to Fire the largest security company in the world, only to replace it with the one of the smallest in the region – that is, no evidence of due diligence.
Bates uses the OCR’s Martin Wisckol “reporting” to support her campaign.
Bates supports the Terrible Tunnel – a tunnel that would connect Orange and Riverside counties and relieve traffic congestion in one place and create constipation in Orange County by dumping an estimated 120,000 cars per day from Riverside into traffic saturated South and Central Orange County) - and so do certain members of Congress actively trying to fund it – These same members are listed in the recently released Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics List of the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress: Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona.
The Mayor of the soon-to-be-bankrupt City of Rancho Santa Margarita and the Coto de Caza board of directors support Pat Bates
Now this is your brain…..
Any questions?
Coto de Caza Board of Directors Touched by a Woman
Coto de Caza Board of Directors Touched by a Woman
October 4, 2006
Trying very hard to find something positive to say about the Coto de Caza board of directors, former director Joseph Morabito writes:
“For the past several years, I have argued that we needed a woman on the CZ Board. Varo, Mezger, Hill, Thagard and Larkin have often been color blind and tone deaf while serving on the Board. And frankly, these old guys have caused many fiascos in the past five years because they just have not done their homework. They have been lazy and sloppy. Since I worked with two strong, hands-on, detailed oriented women when I served on the CZ Board, I came to appreciate their ability to get things done. Xochitl Yocham may be cut from the same suit. I know that Xochi has been involved in the most recent plantings in our parkways on Coto de Caza Drive . Some of the new plantings with carpet roses and flowers, instead of those ridiculous Arizona desert plants, look great.
The Boys on the CZ Board have acted like they were running General Motors delegating away decisions to outside Consultants and others that they should be making themselves. The end result was those Arizona desert plants and many other fiascos and squandered money. Ok, Xochi, now you have to do something about those Arizona desert plants. I would ask the high priced Consultants who chose those plants to remove them at their expense and to install the same palate that has been put in down the street so it actually looks like our plant palate has been coordinated by a landscape architect who knows what he is doing. In any case, it is nice to have a CZ Board Member with some taste and common sense for a change.
Why not appoint another woman to get more balance on the CZ Board. The last thing we need is another old man who needs help with matching his sox. And, take note of the crumbling streets on Coto de Caza Drive that were just repaired. The CZ Board needs to go back to the contractor for remedy. I hope this was not one of Varo's "compelling offers".
However, as much as we love diversity and natural beauty and we agree that pretty flowers are inspiring, we prefer to focus on substance – pretty flowers do not a pretty board make:
Condoning name calling (and engaging) and anti-social behavior does not constitute an effective board.
When it is said that the board is doing great things, but these things are simply not visible, is disingenuous, despotic and insults resident’s intelligence
In a day and age when the role of directors (for profit and not-for-profit corporations) is changing, we prefer a constructive public discourse and engagement of residents and directors on the most important issues of the community, rather than the secretive, close-door deal making that has characterized the Varo/Mezger boards.
Consider that the USC’ Center for Effective Organization research, as reported by the October 2, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal, describes how directors are increasingly showing more backbone and speaking up. The extreme is the unfolding HP debacle. Following is a tabulation of such research:
2 0 0 3 2 0 0 6
Yes Yes
Do board members voice opinions that 17% 24%
conflict with the CEO’s views?
Do board members act with courage and take 29% 37%
appropriate action as needed?
We continue to appreciate all the hard-working volunteers dedicated to improve the community. But as we used to constantly tell Paul Young (a self-described community activist who supported the election of Varo/Mezger, who was the “official ballot counter” and who had unprecedented access to association facilities and funds, only to have Mzger claimed not to know anything about it) while he was here: “ everything that is hidden will be revealed”
Analogous to the Paper Roses song - pretty flower are merely an imitation of how a board should be run...So we posit that Conflict can be Healthy, if there is a culture of Law and Order, Tolerance and Fairness. Plant more flowers, but make sure public safety is priority one!
October 4, 2006
Trying very hard to find something positive to say about the Coto de Caza board of directors, former director Joseph Morabito writes:
“For the past several years, I have argued that we needed a woman on the CZ Board. Varo, Mezger, Hill, Thagard and Larkin have often been color blind and tone deaf while serving on the Board. And frankly, these old guys have caused many fiascos in the past five years because they just have not done their homework. They have been lazy and sloppy. Since I worked with two strong, hands-on, detailed oriented women when I served on the CZ Board, I came to appreciate their ability to get things done. Xochitl Yocham may be cut from the same suit. I know that Xochi has been involved in the most recent plantings in our parkways on Coto de Caza Drive . Some of the new plantings with carpet roses and flowers, instead of those ridiculous Arizona desert plants, look great.
The Boys on the CZ Board have acted like they were running General Motors delegating away decisions to outside Consultants and others that they should be making themselves. The end result was those Arizona desert plants and many other fiascos and squandered money. Ok, Xochi, now you have to do something about those Arizona desert plants. I would ask the high priced Consultants who chose those plants to remove them at their expense and to install the same palate that has been put in down the street so it actually looks like our plant palate has been coordinated by a landscape architect who knows what he is doing. In any case, it is nice to have a CZ Board Member with some taste and common sense for a change.
Why not appoint another woman to get more balance on the CZ Board. The last thing we need is another old man who needs help with matching his sox. And, take note of the crumbling streets on Coto de Caza Drive that were just repaired. The CZ Board needs to go back to the contractor for remedy. I hope this was not one of Varo's "compelling offers".
However, as much as we love diversity and natural beauty and we agree that pretty flowers are inspiring, we prefer to focus on substance – pretty flowers do not a pretty board make:
Condoning name calling (and engaging) and anti-social behavior does not constitute an effective board.
When it is said that the board is doing great things, but these things are simply not visible, is disingenuous, despotic and insults resident’s intelligence
In a day and age when the role of directors (for profit and not-for-profit corporations) is changing, we prefer a constructive public discourse and engagement of residents and directors on the most important issues of the community, rather than the secretive, close-door deal making that has characterized the Varo/Mezger boards.
Consider that the USC’ Center for Effective Organization research, as reported by the October 2, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal, describes how directors are increasingly showing more backbone and speaking up. The extreme is the unfolding HP debacle. Following is a tabulation of such research:
2 0 0 3 2 0 0 6
Yes Yes
Do board members voice opinions that 17% 24%
conflict with the CEO’s views?
Do board members act with courage and take 29% 37%
appropriate action as needed?
We continue to appreciate all the hard-working volunteers dedicated to improve the community. But as we used to constantly tell Paul Young (a self-described community activist who supported the election of Varo/Mezger, who was the “official ballot counter” and who had unprecedented access to association facilities and funds, only to have Mzger claimed not to know anything about it) while he was here: “ everything that is hidden will be revealed”
Analogous to the Paper Roses song - pretty flower are merely an imitation of how a board should be run...So we posit that Conflict can be Healthy, if there is a culture of Law and Order, Tolerance and Fairness. Plant more flowers, but make sure public safety is priority one!
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
You Can Foley Some People Some of the Time, But You Cannot Foley All the People All of the Time.
October 4, 2006
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category after the debacle, a recommendation is made to prepare and publish the a "detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent" to prevent future fiascos – such analysis in nowhere to be found.
Then, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington releases its list of the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress. Orange County is represented on the list by Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona. These honorable gentlemen happened to be the ones strongly pushing for development of a multibillion dollar Terrible Tunnel - The same ones who have also endorsed, Pat Bates, another tunnel supporter (a tunnel that would connect Orange and Riverside counties and relieve traffic congestion in one place and create constipation in Orange County by dumping an estimated 120,000 cars per day from Riverside into traffic saturated South and Central Orange County).
And what does the media say? Los Angeles Times, CQPolitics.com, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, FOXNEWS.com, the SD Union-Tribune online, KTLA, the Club for Growth's blog and KCBS-TV, all oppose the process and the decision. Except, you guessed it: The Orange County Register! - In fact, Pat Bates is using the Orange County "reporting" as sales collateral! Remember the El Toro Airport debate? Similar dynamics, similar players!
The OC Sheriff is a few steps away from bankruptcy, and so is the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. Pat Bates voted for a most generous social service 3%-50 package that will help drive OC once again into bankruptcy – and yes, the Sheriff’s Union and the Mayor of the City of Rancho Santa Margarita endorse Pat Bates.
Two decades ago, the Massachusetts congressional delegation intensely lobbied colleagues to overturn a presidential veto by a single vote in the Senate, prying open the federal money spigot to launch the Big Dig project in 1987.
Ever since, political maneuvering by lawmakers, state officials and private contractors has kept the problem-plagued project awash in public money — despite critics who brand the Big Dig a $14.6 billion boondoggle.
Coto de Caza board of directors hosted a celebratory party for Pat Bates in an exquisite manor subsidized by CZ residents. The same board who has relentlessly pursued turning Coto de Caza into a city over public safety.
Foley me once, shame on you, Foley me twice, shame on me!
October 4, 2006
Trickle down economics: Incompetent/corrupt politicians bankrupted Orange County once. Writing is on the wall to do it again!
First, Orange County is driven into bankruptcy by incompetent/corrupt politicians. In the “lessons learned” category after the debacle, a recommendation is made to prepare and publish the a "detailed analysis comparing original estimates with year-end actuals and explaining any variation consisting of plus or minus ten percent" to prevent future fiascos – such analysis in nowhere to be found.
Then, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington releases its list of the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress. Orange County is represented on the list by Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona. These honorable gentlemen happened to be the ones strongly pushing for development of a multibillion dollar Terrible Tunnel - The same ones who have also endorsed, Pat Bates, another tunnel supporter (a tunnel that would connect Orange and Riverside counties and relieve traffic congestion in one place and create constipation in Orange County by dumping an estimated 120,000 cars per day from Riverside into traffic saturated South and Central Orange County).
And what does the media say? Los Angeles Times, CQPolitics.com, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, FOXNEWS.com, the SD Union-Tribune online, KTLA, the Club for Growth's blog and KCBS-TV, all oppose the process and the decision. Except, you guessed it: The Orange County Register! - In fact, Pat Bates is using the Orange County "reporting" as sales collateral! Remember the El Toro Airport debate? Similar dynamics, similar players!
The OC Sheriff is a few steps away from bankruptcy, and so is the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. Pat Bates voted for a most generous social service 3%-50 package that will help drive OC once again into bankruptcy – and yes, the Sheriff’s Union and the Mayor of the City of Rancho Santa Margarita endorse Pat Bates.
Two decades ago, the Massachusetts congressional delegation intensely lobbied colleagues to overturn a presidential veto by a single vote in the Senate, prying open the federal money spigot to launch the Big Dig project in 1987.
Ever since, political maneuvering by lawmakers, state officials and private contractors has kept the problem-plagued project awash in public money — despite critics who brand the Big Dig a $14.6 billion boondoggle.
Coto de Caza board of directors hosted a celebratory party for Pat Bates in an exquisite manor subsidized by CZ residents. The same board who has relentlessly pursued turning Coto de Caza into a city over public safety.
Foley me once, shame on you, Foley me twice, shame on me!
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