Coto de Caza Going To The Dogs

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-28-2010

Coto de Caza, CA

Hello All:  I can't imagine why CZ would waste time or money building a Dog Park on our common area, when we still don't have a multi-generational park in Coto that would meet the needs of our changing demographic.  We gave away our Sports Park to outsiders for peanuts to benefit a few hundred CZ members in Coto.   And, the CZ Board now wants to commit what little decent common area we have left to another few hundred members so they can run their dogs around crapping on our common area land.   There is something very wrong with this picture. 

Be assured, while I am far from an environmental wacko, if I lived in the Villages in a home just 300 feet from this stinky dog park, I would go to court and the county to demand an Environmental Impact Study and tie this up for years.  That particular parcel is in an environmentally sensitive part of Coto because there are both Oaks and a stream bed near by.   Having more fecal matter, than necessary, enter the water shed is not good.   I certainly would not want this stinky, noisy, Dog Park in my backyard.  Though I have no particular problem with dogs, they belong on a leash, or on personal property doing their business not on common area land or public property.   When I served on the Board, we were advised that we should vote NO on this very same Dog Park because it will lead to liability for CZ.   The first time a dog bites someone or causes an accident, CZ will be sued.  This is dumb Board decision. 

Most important, I still do not have my bocce court, or walking trail with exercise stops and other outdoor amenities designed for old guys.   We are not selling our Coto house; but rather making it retirement friendly.   Yet, there is nothing in Coto that is retirement friendly.  I must say the current CZ Board has a real problem with priorities when Dogs are more important than half our members.   Joe Morabito, former director CZ Master Association

Here is the deal.   We have miles of horse trails that can also be used for dog walks on long leashes to get more bang for our Member’s buck.   Since we do not require horse owners, many of whom are not members of CZ to pick up after themselves on the trails; it would seem rather silly to require dog owners to do so if on the trails.  I am opposed to using this other land for dogs because we don’t have a multi-generational park in Coto to better reflect our changing demographic.   Maybe the land designated for a dog park could be better used for walking trails and my bocce court and or other amenities designed for us old geezers; kind of like a low impact exercise yard for seniors since the Sports Park is dominated by outsiders and a few hundred other CZ Members.  As long as we have the trails to maintain and pay for, we don’t need any more common area space for animals.   This dog park would be a misallocation of land and resources.  JM

Hi Joe: But wait, there is more:  While the CZ board is busy dealing with dog issues, a fiscal tsunami of its own making is looming and crime and vandalism is at an all time high in the community!:  With reserves at less than 30% instead of the more fiscally responsible 70% and  subsidies at $3 million/year. In contrast, local governance in the  "safest cities", like Newport Beach, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo have made it a point to respond to residents, whether disgruntled or not, within 24 hours, in the case of Newport Beach, and in the case of Lake Forest and Mission Viejo, looking at ordinances like controlling use of marijuana or social host ordianances, You, more than anyone knows that the CZ board  is not welcomed in San Juan Capistrano (California Highway Patrol offices) or that it has strong support from DUI defense attorneys. Even the OCSD representatives were called extortionists in open board meetings. Consequences? According to OCSD figures, Coto de Caza has the highest crime rate of all times.Consistent with Winstren's Law: Crime goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is well treated.

Congress WILL activate the nuclear option AND will pass Health Care Reform

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-26-2010 07:00 PM

Newsflash:  Congress WILL activate the nuclear option AND will pass Health Care Reform by 51%, with all due respect to Charles Krauthammer who has the odds of passing legislation at only 33%.

It is all about the 2010 elections and a second term.  The status quo has nothing to lose and everything to gain  by using the nuclear option -  the President will throw the unwilling under the bus.  Guido could learn a lot if he was allowed in the smoke-filled back room

The assumption Mr.  Krauthammer and other  pundits are making is that the democrats and the administration will be rational in their deliberations.  Same approach generally  used to determine likely actions to respond to  Kim Jong Il and  or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Paraphrasing R. L. Ackoff, the Democrats and the current administration are not operating with  well-defined problems, but messes (and masses) of interconnected dynamic and mutually excusive issues favored by an eclectic mix of special interest groups.  The same can be said about the Republicans. The decision as to whether to use or not the nuclear option, is not being made by lawmakers using  predictive decision-making models but emerge  from complex social and political interactions that are anything but rational. 

The major motivation for the use of the nuclear option in the final analysis is not significantly  different from Tilikum’s,  the killer whale’s actions.  Instincts.  Power is the ultimate seductive element, and the democrats and the current administration will ultimately resort to their self-preservation instincts.  You saw this during the last Health Care Summit – after all, why would a rational person even consider bring up the topic when an overwhelming majority of the electorate simply want to start from scratc

OCDA Seeking Foothill Ranch Driving Instructor Child Victims

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-26-2010 | 04:00 PM
NEWPORT BEACH, CA  - The Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) is seeking the public's help in identifying potential additional victims of a driving instructor who is charged with making inappropriate sexual comments to two underage girls. Gholamreza Namdari, 55, Foothill Ranch, was charged late yesterday with two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance. If convicted, Namdari faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 15, 2010

Child Annoyance of Jane Doe #1
On the afternoon of July 23, 2009, 16-year-old Jane Doe #1 arrived at her driving school in Laguna Hills to take lessons from Namdari. During the lesson, Namdari is accused of making several inappropriate statements to the victim about her appearance.

On the afternoon of July 27, 2009, during the driving lesson and after they arrived at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office on Moulton Parkway in Irvine, Namdari is accused of asking sexual questions about Jane Doe #1. The defendant is accused of instructing Jane Doe #1 where to drive and asking her to park the car in front of his house. He is accused of asking the victim if she wanted to go inside his home. After Jane Doe #1 refused and they drove away, Namdari is accused of touching the victim's leg. 

On Aug. 5, 2009, Namdari is accused of leaving Jane Doe #1 two messages with inappropriate sexual comments on her cellular phone. Five days later, Jane Doe #1 reported the incidents to the Irvine Police Department.

Child Annoyance of Jane Doe #2
On the afternoon of July 23, 2009, Namdari is accused of taking pictures of himself and 15-year-old Jane Doe #2 during her lesson while she was driving. He is accused of making inappropriate statements about her appearance.

On July 26, 2009, during Jane Doe #2's second lesson, Namdari is accused of asking inappropriate sexual questions to the victim. He is accused of instructing Jane Doe #2 to drive to his house and asking her if she wanted to go inside. Jane Doe #2 told her mother what had happened and reported the incidents to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carl Waddell at (714) 834-7538.

Man gets 40 years for killing Lake Forest man over a girl

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-26-2010 | 11:00 AM

SANTA ANA, CA - dgar Calvillo was sentenced today to 40 years to life in state prison for shooting and murdering a Lake Forest man outside of his home after a dispute over a girlfriend and a vandalized car. Two co-defendants are awaiting trial in this case. Edgar Calvillo, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 25, 2009, of one felony count of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for murder by drive-by shooting and the personal discharge of a firearm causing death.

Co-defendants Santos Escamilla, 21, Santa Ana, and Alfredo Cruz, 23, Aliso Viejo, are each charged with one felony count of murder. Each faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Escamilla and Cruz are being held on $1 million bail and are scheduled for jury trial April 12, 2010

During the jury trial, the People presented the following evidence: On the evening of March 20, 2008, Calvillo, Escamilla, and Cruz drove to the Lake Forest home of 22-year-old Luis Rivera and parked outside of the house to wait for the victim. Calvillo brought a semi-automatic rifle with him in the car. The defendants waited to confront Rivera because the victim had told people in the neighborhood that Calvillo, Escamilla, and Cruz had vandalized his car a week earlier over a dispute about Cruz's girlfriend.

When Rivera arrived at his house, the three defendants got out of their car and approached the victim. Calvillo pointed the firearm at Rivera as Escamilla punched him. A neighbor came out of his home and tried to diffuse the attack, and the three defendants got back in their car to leave.

As the defendants began to drive away, Calvillo pointed the firearm out of the car window and shot several times at Rivera, hitting him once. The victim's mother heard the shot from inside the house and ran out to find Rivera lying outside. The victim, who was father to a 17-month-old boy, died at the scene in his mother's arms.

Laguna Woods New GM: Ethical Issues

LETTERS

Click Here: Video Tape 5 minutes "Excessive Benefits"

Ethical Questions

So PCM's Disbro wants Jerry Storage to be our new General Manager. Why! When he violates the basic ethical rule of not using exempt property without paying for it. How can we trust someone who intimidates a 75 year old women who loves her job and needs the extra money. See the video

Wasn't jerry Storage one of the managers who abused the credit card and the one who had the most frequent uses? Did he pay the IRS on this added income on your 1040 form. If you didn't he will be fined by the IRS for triple the purchase amount plus interest.

As per the video this man is just like another Milt Johns and his management style looks to be corrupt.

Isn't Mr. Storage being sued by employees (Ray Maiorano) for wrongful termination?

How much fair market rent/lease is Jerry Storage paying for the use of non-profit PCM security facilities? I bet you anything he is violating Section 214 of the State Board of Equalization codes and subject to fines and penalties.

(be) Excess benefit defined.

An excess benefit is the amount by which the value of the economic benefit provided by an applicable tax-exempt organization directly or indirectly to or for the use of any disqualified person (PCM) exceeds the value of the consideration (including the performance of services) received for providing such benefit.

(4) Knowing – Board of Directors are held responsibility EX: Incentive Plan for PCMs excessive benefits payback and including fines. OUCH!

(ii) In general.

For purposes of section 4958(a)(2) and this paragraph (d), a manager participates in a transaction knowingly only if the person –

Has actual knowledge of sufficient facts so that, based solely upon those facts, such transaction would be an excess benefit transaction;

Is aware that such a transaction under these circumstances may violate the provisions of Federal tax law governing excess benefit transactions; and

Negligently fails to make reasonable attempts to ascertain whether the transaction is an excess benefit transaction, or the manager is in fact aware that it is such a transaction.

(ii) Amplification of general rule.

Knowing does not mean having reason to know. However, evidence tending to show that a manager has reason to know of a particular fact or particular rule is relevant in determining whether the manager had actual knowledge of such a fact or rule. Thus, for example, evidence tending to show that a manager has reason to know of sufficient facts so that, based solely upon such facts, a transaction would be an excess benefit transaction is relevant in determining whether the manager has actual knowledge of such facts.

Grace Foster has written document from Jerry Storage refusing to do anything about her unethical and dishonest compliant against PCM.

P. Loughrey

..

EDITOR'S NOTE:
According to PCM, Mr Storage replaces Johns because he " “... is noted as one of the industry’s most respected experts and is fully equipped to uphold the PCM standard of excellence. In addition, Jerry’s diplomacy will assist our boards of directors to achieve the goals set out for their community.” For the record, we have not heard of Mr. Storage's substantive contributions to the industry, if any, over the last decade covering the industry. Further, Mr. Storage delivered the infamous ultimatum to the Laguna Woods Village local governance - not very diplomatic!


If you would like to make a comment about a specific news article, editorial or commentary and have it considered for publication in the CotoBuzz Journal as a Letter to the Editor, please send it to buzz@cotobuzz.com --. Do not send attachments- or mail to Letters to the Editor, c/o CotoBuzz, P,O. Box 154, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678

Letters should be brief, and may be edited for clarity and length.. They become the property of CotoBuzz Journal and may be republished in any format. Please include your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number (your number will not be published).

Serial Killer Convicted of Murder of 12-year old girl

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-25-2010 02:30 PM

*This is the defendant's third conviction for the Orange County murder; he was linked to the Los Angeles murders through DNA

SANTA ANA, CA - Rodney James Alcala, a serial murderer was convicted today of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old Orange County girl and raping and murdering four Los Angeles County women in the 1970s.

Alcala, 66, was found guilty by a jury of five felony counts of murder and one felony count of kidnapping. The jury found true the sentencing enhancements for committing multiple murders, murder with torture, murder during the commission of rape, murder during the commission of kidnapping, murder during the commission of a burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and murder during the commission of a robbery.

The Orange and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Offices, who are jointly prosecuting this case, are seeking the death penalty based on the special circumstances. The penalty phase against Alcala is scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 10:00

In 1972, Alcala was convicted of kidnapping and molesting a child in 1968 in Los Angeles County. Upon serving a 34-month sentence, he was released from prison. After his release, Alcala lived in Monterey Park with his mother and was hired to work as a typist or typesetter for the Los Angeles Times. This is where he lived and worked in 1977 when he committed his first Los Angeles County murder. The evidence of this crime was presented and argued to the jury to show that the defendant had a propensity to commit the charged crimes.

In November 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 18-year-old Jill Barcomb, a New York native who had recently moved to California. The defendant used a large rock to smash in the victim's face, causing blunt force trauma, and strangled her to death by tying her belt and pant leg around her neck. He then left the victim's body in a mountainous area in the foothills near Hollywood. The murdered victim was discovered Nov. 10, 1977, on her knees with her face in the dirt. The case was investigated but went cold. Biological evidence was collected at the scene, but DNA technology was not available at that time.

Murder of Georgia Wixted, Los Angeles County
In December 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 27-year-old nurse Georgia Wixted. The defendant used the claw end of a hammer to beat the victim and smash in her head. He strangled her to death using a nylon stocking and left her body in her Malibu apartment. The victim was discovered Dec. 16, 1977. The case was investigated but went cold. Biological evidence was collected at the scene, but DNA technology was not available at that time.

In June 1979, Alcala raped, beat, and murdered 33-year-old legal secretary Charlotte Lamb. The defendant strangled the victim to death using a shoelace from her shoe and left her body in a laundry room of an El Segundo apartment complex. The victim did not live in the complex and has no known connection to it. Lamb's body was discovered June 24, 1979. The case was investigated but went cold. The case was investigated but went cold. Biological evidence was collected at the scene, but DNA technology was not available at that time.

In June 1979, Alcala raped and murdered 21-year-old Jill Parenteau in her Burbank apartment. The defendant strangled the victim to death using a cord or nylon. Alcala's blood was collected from the scene after he cut himself crawling through a window. Based on a semi-rare blood match, Alcala was linked to the murder. He was charged for murdering Parenteau but the case was later dismissed after his first conviction for the murder of Robin Samsoe.

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On June 20, 1979, Alcala approached 12-year-old Robin Samsoe at the beach in Huntington Beach and asked the victim to pose for pictures. After posing for a series of photographs, the victim got on a bike and rode away, heading for an afternoon dance class. The defendant kidnapped and murdered Samsoe and dumped her body near Sierra Madre in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The victim's dead body was scavenged by animals and her skeletal remains were discovered July 2, 1979. Her front teeth had been knocked out by Alcala.

After the murder, Alcala rented a storage locker in Seattle, where he stored personal items and items belonging to his victims, including earrings from Samsoe and Lamb. The defendant was planning to move to Seattle without telling any of his friends or family, despite having no job, place to live, or friends in the area.

Prior to moving, Alcala was identified by several people as the photographer from the beach on the day Samsoe was kidnapped. Following an investigation, Alcala was charged, tried, and convicted for Samsoe's murder in 1980. He was sentenced to receive the death penalty. The conviction was later overturned by the California Supreme Court. Alcala was again tried and convicted for the murder of Samsoe in 1986, and was again sentenced to the death penalty. The second conviction was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

While awaiting his third trial for the murder of Samsoe, DNA collected from the murder scenes of Barcomb, Wixted, and Lamb was linked to Alcala. He was charged for the four Los Angeles murders, including Parenteau.

During the third trial, Alcala represented himself as his own defense attorney and argued that he was at Knott's Berry Farm on the afternoon that Samsoe was murdered. The defendant did not contest the charges that he committed the murders of the four Los Angeles victims.

This case is being jointly prosecuted by the Orange and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Offices. Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy and Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano are prosecuting this ca

Job's Bill Fallacy - Scott Brown a JAP

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-25-2010 | 11:30 AM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The US Congress continues its generational theft by passing yet another Jobs Bi - this time, with the approval of the newly anointed star, Scott Brown, who apparently, turned out to be a JAP - just another politician.

What is the common denominator between fiber optics, MRIs, Lasik, Google, liquid crystal displays (LCDs, holograms and Gatorade? These al sprang from the discoveries of university researchers. To date, Stanford University gets a whooping $1 billion/year from Google!

Before passage of the Bayh-Dole act of 1980, all rights and proceeds from federally funded research remained the property of the federal government. Commercialization rates of university research discoveries have since multiplied - just another vivid example that the federal government is best, when it leaves market forces alone, particularly in the job creation market - VP Biden's "funny math" about how the government is paying some $500,000 for each job created.

Curry, the Mayor of the City of Newport Beach, Gets it

Posted by CotoBogzz 02-23-2010 06:00 PM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The mayor of Newport Beach gets it. 298 Orange County City Hall council members do not get it. During his State of the City address Friday. Mayor Keith Curry unveiled an initiative creating a new “gold standard for customer service” to be implemented by City Manager David Kiff. Part of this new gold standard requires city employees to return calls, whether the residents are so-called disgruntled residents or not, within 24 hours.

The new initiative goes into effect this week.

According to Kiff, Building and Safety and General Services generally receives the most calls and or e-mails per day. We like mayor Curry’s initiative for a number of reasons. More importantly, this supports our assertion that public safety, is primarily a function of residents and local governance, not law enforcement: Whether that city is considered the safest city or not, is mostly a function of the leadership displayed by city hall - such leadership includes vision and a willingness to engage with residents, supporters and critics alike – adopting LEEEO, for example

L – Leadership - refers to local governance and community leaders
E – Engineering - refers to infrastructure, lighting, signage, etc.
E- Education – inspiring and educate residents on the importance of respecting law and order,
E – Engagement – coordination between law enforcement agencies and residents
O – organization

Take for instance the leadership demonstrated by the cities of Lake Forest and Mission Viejo: Lake Forest's ordinance issuing a 45-day moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city or the Mission Viejo City Council pioneering work with underage drinking, being the county's first to pass the Social Host ordinance. Certainly these two cases illustrate a more cost-efficient and proactive approach to public safety than say the AVOID program final 2009 Holiday results which required three law enforcement agent for every arrest.

On the other hand, it is no secret that Coto de Caza’s local government is not welcomed in San Juan Capistrano (California Highway Patrol offices) or that the local government has strong support from DUI defense attorneys. Even the OCSD representatives were called extortionists in open board meetings by the president of the Coto de Caza board of directors. Consequences? According to OCSD figures, Coto de Caza has the highest crime rate of all times. Consistent with Winstren’s Law: Crime goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is well treated.

Curry’s initiative tells his constituents that as compared to 298 Orange County City Hall council members who outsource public safety to the OCSD, his administration gets it. He does not outsource public safety to the OCSD. He understands he is a civil servant and his constituents are entitled to the best services their taxpayer money can buy: Curry 1) gets it 2) He measures it 3) If he measures it, he can manage it.

Foreclosure Relief Services Hazardous to Your Wallet

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-22-2010 04:30 PM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - If you are thinking about a foreclosure relief service hawked under the "forensic loan audit" rubric, think again. Today, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, joined the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) and the State Bar of California in warning Californians to avoid forensic loan audits, the loan-modification industry's latest "phony foreclosure-relief service," in which homeowners pay up-front fees for a forensic review of their lender's practices, but are provided no actual foreclosure relief.


Individuals and businesses who offer forensic loan audits use inflated and misleading claims to convince homeowners to pay up-front fees for services that produce no actual foreclosure relief. Homeowners are encouraged to pay for an audit of their mortgage loan file to determine their lender's compliance with state and federal mortgage-lending laws. This audit is pitched to homeowners as a tool they can use to gain leverage and speed up the loan-modification process.

According to the AG, "in truth, there is no evidence or statistical data to support claims that forensic loan audits-even if performed by a licensed, legitimate and trained auditor, mortgage professional or lawyer-will help homeowners obtain loan modifications or provide any other foreclosure relief."

"The State Bar is committed to dealing with all aspects of loan foreclosure fraud involving attorneys," said State Bar President Howard Miller. "We will continue to work with all the other government agencies to prevent fraud and to move for disciplinary sanctions against attorneys who violate their obligations to their clients."

By law, all individuals and businesses offering mortgage-foreclosure consulting, loan-modification and foreclosure-assistance services must register with Brown's office and post a $100,000 bond. It is also illegal for loan-modification consultants and businesses to charge up-front fees for their services.


In 2009, the DRE investigated more than 2,000 complaints involving loan-modification scams. Nearly 350 individuals and companies received a Desist and Refrain Order to stop illegal activity.

"The DRE has aggressively pursued loan-modification scammers who prey on vulnerable and financially stressed homeowners, and those peddling false hope by promising mortgage relief with a forensic audit will be scrutinized," stated Real Estate Commissioner Jeff Davi. "With consumer education efforts and warnings, we hope to keep consumers from falling victim in the first place."

As part of today's consumer alert, Brown offered the following tips to homeowners:

- Don't pay up-front fees. Foreclosure consultants are prohibited by law from collecting money before services are performed.
- Don't ignore letters from your lender or loan servicer. Responding to those letters is your best bet for saving your house.
- Don't transfer title or sell your house to a "foreclosure rescuer." Beware! This is a scam to convince homeowners they can stay in the home as renters and buy their home back later. It could also be part of a fraudulent bankruptcy filing. Either way, a scammer can then evict you and take your home.
- Don't pay your mortgage payments to anyone other than your lender or loan servicer. Mortgage consultants often keep the money for themselves.
- Never sign any documents without reading them first. Many homeowners think that they are signing documents for a loan modification or for a new loan to pay off their delinquent mortgage. Later, they discover that they actually transferred ownership of their home to someone who is now trying to evict them.

Non-profit housing counselors certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provide free help to homeowners. To find a counselor in your area, call 1-800-569-4287.

If you are a homeowner who has been scammed, you can contact Brown's office at 1-800-952-5225 or file a complaint online at: www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php. You can also learn more about avoiding scams and obtain a complaint form by visiting the DRE's web site at: www.dre.ca.gov.

If you have a complaint against a lawyer, contact the State Bar Complaint Hotline at 1-800-843-9053. Complaint forms and an explanation of the attorney discipline system are available online at: www.calbar.ca.gov.

In 2009, California accounted for 22 percent of the nation's foreclosure activity, with 632,573 homes in foreclosure statewide. This is an annual increase of more than 20 percent in foreclosure activity from 2008 and a 150 percent increase from 2007.

Laguna Nigel's Blue Note Bandit Charged with 14 Robberies of Banks Inside Grocery Stores

Laguna Nigel's Blue Note Bandit Charged with 14 Robberies of Banks Inside Grocery Stores

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-22-2010 04:30 PM


SANTA ANA, CA - David Andrew Camp, aka the "Blue Note Bandit" was arraigned today on charges of committing 14 robberies inside banks located in Orange County grocery stores.

Camp, 50, Laguna Niguel, was charged today with 14 felony counts of second degree robbery and faces a maximum sentence of 18 years in state prison if convicted.

Between Nov. 30, 2009, and Feb. 9, 2010, Camp is accused of committing 14 bank robberies in Orange County. The robberies occurred at 14 different locations in the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, and San Juan Capistrano. The bank chains included California Bank & Trust, Chase, Bank of America, FirstBank, Home Savings Bank, NuVison Federal Credit Union, Pacific Western Bank, US Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo.

The defendant is accused of entering banks located in grocery stores, often wearing a hat and sunglasses in hopes of disguising his identity. He is accused of handing a demand note to a bank teller at each location and verbally instructing them to give him only large bills and not to hide any dye packs. After robbing the bank tellers, Camp is accused of fleeing the scene. There were no weapons displayed in any of the robberies. In one of the early robberies, the defendant is accused of writing his demand note on blue paper, and was consequently dubbed the "Blue Note Bandit" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Family members of the defendant contacted law enforcement after recognizing Camp from media coverage of the robberies. Following an investigation, Camp was arrested Feb. 10, 2010, by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mike Munn at (714) 648-3646.

Deputy District Attorney Gary Logalbo of the Career Criminal Unit is prosecuting this case.

Chuck DeVore on ANDRES BOCELI

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




If every politician in the nation was asked to pay the country, one devalued buck to pay off the national debt, every time he or she used the evil twins accountability & transparency or the name Scott Brown, you can be assured that China would not be the de facto economic superpower”

Take for instance, "staunch conservative" - what does that mean in California? Not more than two years ago, we debated a now self-described staunch conservative on the merits of earmarks. At that time, his response was that "the total percentage if earmarks compared to the total is negligible." Based on current rhetoric, seems like he has change his tune.

To see which lawmakers are willing to go on record, we have now started to contact California stated and federal lawmakers, incumbents and candidates on what we call ANDRES BOCELI Initiative: Assembly and Reactive Senate Bureaucracy Obliteration Cronyism Elimination and Lobbyist Incineration

The two questions we are asking of the Willing: : 1) what is the best way to deal with organized labor in the public sector and 2) what do they think about Andres BOCELI



With the whirlwind activity surrounding Chuck Devore, he was gracious enough to respond: He thinks the most effective way to deal with organized labor in the public sector is the Ronald Reagan model: Shape up or ship out. As for the best way to deal with organized labor in the private sector is more along the lines of what we refer to as the Scott Brown model, where the union bosses are taken out of the picture and instead deal directly with rank and file to take care of the taxpayers' agenda.




Chuck Devore thinks that " as for BOCELI, we have to understand that many regulatory bureaucracies are a threat to liberty as they can issue rules, but we the people cannot defeat them at the ballot box" he told us. Now, we think that he meant to say: "..but we the people CAN defeat them at the ballot box" - we have tried to reach Mr. DeVore to confirm, but he has not been available



On a related activity, we have asked 300 Orange County council members where they stand on the Baugh Initiative and only two have had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and be counted,


1. Dealing with the union – we have identified four models to deal with public sector organized labor as shown below:

A. The Chief Bratton Model: Go to bat for everything the union bosses want, then leave when the money dries up. Most effective when the leader has a PR machine that can rival his or her bosses. This model was extremely successful in NYC and Los Angeles all due to Chief Bratton. We previously suggested Chief Bratton left a bankrupt Los Angeles , certain skeletons would show up. Indeed, the ink was not dried in Chief Bratton’s exit documents when an audit revealed that the LAPD Botched Millions in Purchases.

B. Then there is what we call the Obamelette Omelette Progressive Model. In this case, the public sector’s organized labor is THE agenda enforced via Andy Stern’s motto of “power of persuasion or persuasion of power”

C.. The more fiscal conservative mode is the The Ronald Reagan Model – Shape up or ship out: “…we cannot compare labor-management relations in the private sector with government” in other words, organized labor in the public sector should be obsolete in the 21st century.

D. And recently we saw a unique working relationship between Scott Brown, an elected official and organized labor, where rank and file is more in line with the elected official than the union bosses:The Brown Model: A hybrid where the union bosses are taken out of the picture and instead deal directly with rank and file to take care of he taxpayers agenda.

We view the Baugh Initiative, as a hybrid. Which model do you think works best for California?

2. The ANDRES BOCELI Initiative: Assembly and Reactive Senate Bureaucracy Obliteration Cronyism Elimination and Lobbyist Incineration

Argument for Bureaucracy Obliteration:

Did you know that California has a bureaucracy dedicated simply to review new legislation to make sure it is not in conflict with the existing one? View this as an excellent illustration of a redundant department of redundancy.

Like the TV commercial, don’t; you wonder what else you don’t know? The California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) is just another redundant bureaucracy. We often refer to the CLRC as a government funded unregistered lobbyist more focused on looking after special interests than the interests of the taxpayers. But wait, there is much more!

The California Law Revision Commission’s (CLRC) Executive Director Brian Hebert allegedly contacted a book publisher, to drop a book authored by a dogged critic. The book just happens to be a must have for residents fighting abusive common interest development (CID) boards and for taxpayers fed up with the bloated California bureaucracy. We understand that as a result of the CLRC's actions, a lawsuit may be filed. Mr. Hebert refused to comment, stating that the CLRC does not comment on pending litigation matters.

We tried to determine the level of the CLRC’s involvement in the book matter studying phone record and expense reimbursement for CLRC staff for the period in question. We found there was a six-month black hole – a period where telephone records were missing. Mr. Hebert attributed the missing documents to a “service provider failure." In this case a telephone system failure. When questioned further as to what the CLRC was prepared to do to make sure the agency would be responsive to future freedom of information act requests, Mr. Hebert reasoned that his agency was not big enough and had to outsource its telephone needs. The implications are not inconsequential when it comes to transparency and accountability: Any government entity can avoid being subjected to freedom of information act requests, by merely outsourcing its communication needs for example.
“UOP ordinarily keeps records of all long distance calls, as an integrated part of their telephone service system. Unfortunately, their system malfunctioned, and stopped recording long distance call details during the period you've described. That error affected all of the phone lines at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, including the lines assigned to the Law Revision Commission. As a result of that error, UOP has no long distance phone records for McGeorge for that time period. Consequently, long distance call information for that period was never provided to my agency, despite my requests that it be provided. To my knowledge, the information does not exist,” said Mr. Hebert

CTA

In a recent case the California Highway Patrol (CHP) opened a previously closed case that on the surface, seemed slam dunk, had the CTA administration cooperated. The case was opened, only after the CotoBuzz Journal got involved. Although CHP investigators found and charged the alleged instigator of the accident, we never received a response from the Toll Roads, managed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (CTA) to our Public Records Act request.

Interesting to note that a public safety official recently opined that
“Half the police work these days is now conducted by private cell phones with reimbursement from the county to the Deputy. The reason they do this is to circumvent disclosure laws. The public hasn't caught on yet, but we all know how it works don't we?”


– Our own experience trying to obtain information from the OCSD supports such assertion.



LAFCO (Orange County Local Agency Formation)

Part of LAFCO’s Orange County LAFCO mission statement is to promoting orderly growth and development; discouraging urban sprawl while preserving open space and agricultural lands; and encouraging efficient service areas for local governments. On the other hand, the state and federal government’s own common interest development federal projections, show this type of development to play a prominent future, particularly in California. Consequently the California state legislature continues to play an active role in defining the relationship between the common interest development homeowners association, its members, and third parties, while LAFCO continues to do the opposite: That is, where the California legislature (CLRC) gives, LAFCO takes away. But wait, there is more:

The Coto de Caza’s local government is facing a fiscal tsunami of its own making: With reserves at less than 30% instead of the more fiscally responsible 70%, with subsidies at $3 million/year and an all time crime rate, local governance has decided to build a Dog Park - have you seen the pot holes in the major arteries of Coto de Caza? It is no secret that Coto de Caza’s local government is not welcomed in San Juan Capistrano or that the local government has strong support from DUI defense attorneys. Even the OCSD representatives were called extortionists in open board meetings. Consequences: According to OCSD figures, Coto de Caza has the highest crime rate of all times. Consistent with Winstren’s Law: Crime goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is well treated. If this is not a classic case of depraved indifference, we do not know what may qualify!

But wait, there is more. Aided and abetted by LAFCO, it is spending residents’ own money on PR material to convince the same residents that annexation is good for them. However, like the federal government botching the interrogation of the Christmas Day Bomber interrogation, LAFCO botches the unveiling of the annexation initiative and blames it on miscommunication between the various members of LAFCO. Quickly, Sergio Prince, Supervisor Pat Bates’ Executive Director of Public Affairs suggested to “hire a facilitator, avoid communications breakdown” – Why not? After all, is this not standard operating procedure for a typical bureaucracy?



ACORN

Enough said



We continue to argue that the only effective way to deal with California's impending bankruptcy is to eliminate 80% of the useless bureaucracy and meaningful lobbyist reform.

Argument for Lobbyist Incineration

Did you know that shortly after the federal government bailed out General Motors, GM spent $2.8 Million, to lobby the government for more money!

Makes you wonder what else you do not know?

Did you know that the corps of lobbyists is the de facto California's third house? Registered lobbyists outnumber lawmakers in Sacramento 8-to-1. Operative word is registered. This does not count the unregistered lobbyist such as the CLRC, CTA or LAFCO. Even the OCSD last year unveiled an office – to lobby lawmakers in Sacramento.

Then there are the Top Five Lobby Spenders in Sacramento

* 1. The Service Employees International Union spent $10.9 million over a two-year period.
* 2. The Western States Petroleum Association, which represents oil and gas companies, spent $10.5 million
* 3. The California Teachers Association ($7.9 million)
* 4. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum ($6.5 million)
* 5. The California Hospital Association ($5.9 million)



Most of Orange County City Hall does the mumbaugh - Dubbed the mumbaugh (rhymes with Mambo), like the Irish Riverdance, it consists of rapid leg movement, but in this case, at times covering ears, mouth and or eyes, most popular with the politicians throughout Orange County, triggered by what we have called the Baugh Initiative.

We asked (phone, fax, e-mai) all council members (300) of the 12 cities in Orange County outsourcing its public safety to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), what their priorities were, what they thought of the Baugh Initiative and what they were doing to make sure that the money paid by their respective cities to the county for OCSD services were in fact being delivered and consistent with what the taxpayers wanted.


Name City MumBaugh? Comments
Neil Blais RSM Yes Incumbent
James M. Thor RSM Yes Incumbent
Gary Thompson RSM Yes Incumbent
Jesse Petrilla RSM No


Frank Ury Mission Viejo No Frank sent us references to published material - we have not studied yet
Lance MacLean Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Cathy Schlicht Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
John Paul Ledesma Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Patricia Kelley Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent

Peter Herzog Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Richard T. Dixon Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Kathryn Mc Cullough Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Marcia Rudolph Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Mark Tettemer Lake Forest Yes Incumbent

Dr. Londres Uso San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Laura Freese San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Sam Allevato San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Thomas Hribar San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Mark Nielsen San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent

Lori Donchak San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Joe Anderson San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Jim Dahl San Clemente Yes Incumbent
G. Wayne Eggleston San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Bob Baker San Clemente Yes Incumbent


Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Randal Bressette Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
R. Craig Scott Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Melody Carruth Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
L. Allan Songstad, Jr. Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Joel Lautenschleger Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent

Robert Ming Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Paul Glaab Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Joe Brown Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Gary Capata Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Linda Lindholm Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent


Steven H. Weinberg Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Scott Schoeffel Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lara Anderson Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lisa A. Bartlett Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Joel Bishop Dana Point Yes Incumbent

Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Cynthia Conners Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bob Ring Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Marty Rhodes Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bert Hack Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Milton Milt Robbins Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent

Alexander A. Ethans Stanton Yes Incumbent
Carol Warren Stanton Yes Incumbent
Edward D. Royce Stanton Yes Incumbent
Brian Donahue Stanton Yes Incumbent
David J. Shawver Stanton Yes Incumbent


Bill Mac Aloney Villa Park Yes Incumbent
W. Richard Ulmer Villa Park Yes Incumbent
Deborah Pauly Villa Park NO Does not do mumbaugh
Brad Reese Villa Park Yes Incumbent
James Rheins Villa Park Yes Incumbent



COMMENTS

Bureaucrats not elected ...

I believe that Chuck DeVore is referring to the fact the bureaucrats are not subject to the ballot box. It could take 20 years to rid a bureaucracy of biased and or incompetent officials by electeds.
Submitted by junior


Power to create and power to fulminate



Junior:

Guess where the much- touted jobs created by the Stimulus Bill are found? In government: In newly created bureaucracies and or expanding existing ones.

Lawmakers have the power to expand government. Lawmakers have the power to shrink government. Guess which option gets more votes?


Lawmakers have the power to increase the number of lobbyists. Lawmakers have the power to rid Sacramento of lobbyist, and or at least put them on a leash, including the "tax-payer funded unregistered lobbyists" - guess how many votes the latter gets them?



I was correctly quoted


I was correctly quoted when Mr. Aguirre wrote of my thoughts about bureaucracies, "as for BOCELI, we have to understand that many regulatory bureaucracies are a threat to liberty as they can issue rules, but we the people cannot defeat them at the ballot box." This is why the progressives create entities such as the Air Resources Board -- it allows them to have unelected agencies write unpopular rules. This is the modern Administrative State that the left has been erecting for the last 130 years.

And, as for getting ahold of me, my phone number is listed and you know my email!
Submitted by Chuck DeVore


Thanks Chuck



Now I understand your comment: Can I conclude then that Joe the Taxpayer has no recourse? Or is my premise that if Joe the Taxpayer elects the right lawmaker, then he does not have to wait 130 years?
Submitted by cotobuzz

"I Cann't Do Anything" - Chuck
With all due respect to Mr. DeVore, look at your own voting record and then read what you wrote to Mr. Cotobuz once again. Here, in California, I can tell you from personal experience, your staff will NOT put phone calls through to your office. They have a ladder of obstacles and no one's available. We're schluffed off from one "aid" to another. Faxes and letters go unanswered, I am speaking from personal experience with your staff and your office over the years.

It didn't matter how judicially sound my arguments were to your so-called "aids" and "assistants" and others with fancier titles than that, your mind was already made up because in my opinion your vote was already bought. As a long time Republican, I have recently come to learn, that those with the Republican label are not always what they claim. The oldtime REAL Republicans and to his credit one Democrat (Mr. Waxman, whom I have never been fond of) took and take phone calls from people who VOTE FOR THEM.

Furthermore, I have spoken with constituents in your area (I am one as I own property there and in other places) who are so disgusted with you and to be fair some of your cohorts, that one cannot mention your name in conversation. You have been the subject of some fairly strong expletives. Not unwarranted I might add. So! Mr. DeVore, WHO do you suggest we as constituents "call" or contact with OUR CONCERNS that are not being met. Strike that, let me rephrase. WHO do you suggest we-constituents BELIEVE when they are campaigning that "transparency" and "accountability" will occur under their reign? What you fail to tell the public is that those words have no teeth. They have no statutes or case law to support their activation. Any constituent is sent away to institute the California Public Records Act and/or the Freedom of Information Act -- a wholly ridiculous exercise in futility and hiding the ball politics.

Which brings me to the worst Commission that sucks California dry, the California Law Revision Commission. This is a bloated, irresponsible, and privileged group of appointees on salaries that rival any job in California government. They use their personal positions to target anyone who opposes them and or their dealings. They also interfere with individual rights to the extent they hide behind the color of working for the Government. This Commission is at odds with the California Constitution and the California Legislature. Yet for some reason they remain on the State's payroll and they have and continue to influence laws that all Californians are forced to live by and under. Lobbyists have free access to this Commission, they access at will. There is an unabashed, unmitigated air of superiority that eminates from that Commission and they unapologetic for it.

And what do people like me - in your district - get from someone like you who wants back on the States payroll? "I can't do anything about that."

Submitted by SHERMAN TANK

Argument for BOCELI

TANK

To be fair, what you describe is symptomatic of a representative government: If you want to donate money, it is so easy to do, a caveman can do it. However, if you want to contact your representative, it takes a lobbyist – refer to the top five spenders (lobbyists) in Sacramento.

Or, party crashers notwithstanding, just ask Andy Sterns: His agenda is the President’s agenda. Not only that, but he also has a place in the White House, so he can crash anytime he is in DC.

We have been trying to reach Senator Boxer for months, as your average tax payer and as a representative of the media. Zero success.

In this forum, we have chronicled travails of what politicians refer to as “disgruntled” voters, such as you. The pejorative is used analogous to how some in the media refer to tea baggers –to dismiss as irrelevant.

Closer to home, we have tried to reach Orange County City Hall – of the 300 council members we have tried to reach via email, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, fax and phone, only two have responded to date.

All this seems to support the argument that BOCELI Is long overdue.

Now, before we get messages about how easy it is to reach a politician, try this simple experiment: Try reaching your representative. You will first be asked for your affiliation and or issue. If you identify yourself as a taxpayer and can get through, let us know: http://capwiz.com/fof/dbq/officials/

Submitted by cotobuzz

Man to be arraigned for Setting OCSD car on fire

Man to be arraigned for Setting OCSD car on fire

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-18-2010 02:00PM

SANTA ANA, CA - A man is to be arraigned today for arson by setting a marked Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) patrol vehicle and a car next to it on fire which were parked outside a restaurant. Gabino Campo Jr., 28, Santa Ana, is charged with two felony counts of arson of another's property with sentencing enhancements for arson with accelerant. If convicted, Campo faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. Campo is scheduled to be arraigned today, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2010, Campo is accused of entering and parking behind a marked OCSD black and white patrol car which was parked outside a Claim Jumper on Tustin Avenue and 17th Street in Santa Ana. The defendant is accused of pouring a flammable substance on the OCSD patrol car and lighting the vehicle on fire. Campo is accused of destroying both the OCSD vehicle and another vehicle parked next to it by setting the fire. Campo is then accused of fleeing the scene driving at high rates of speed in his 1990 Toyota Celica. Witnesses at the scene called 9-1-1.

On Feb. 13, 2010, Campo was arrested at a park in Costa Mesa. At the time his arrest, the defendant is accused of wearing the same clothing and backpack worn when committing the crime and being in possession of bottles of unknown liquids and matches.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Santa Ana Fire Department Supervising Arson Investigator Danny Morehouse (714) 936-3076 and/or District Attorney Investigator Andy Durham (714) 347-8735.

Deputy District Attorney Isreal Claustro of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

3-DUI Mission Viejo Woman Charged with DUI-related Murder

Posted byt CotoBlogzz 02-18-2010 11:00 AM

WESTMINSTER, CA - Opening statements are expected to begin this morning in the case against Suzanne Amelia Carlson, 27, Mission Viejo, who is charged with one felony count each of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with prior convictions. The defendant has three prior convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, one in 2001 and two in 2006. If convicted, Carlson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison, same as man charged with Valentine's Day DUI-related murder. In that case, the defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the complaint on Feb. 18, 2010

On the night of Jan. 15, 2007, Carlson is accused of spending more than two hours consuming alcoholic drinks at a restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita. The defendant is accused of leaving the restaurant and getting into the driver's seat of a 1997 Infiniti sedan, belonging to 55-year-old Scott Turner. The defendant is accused of being under the influence of alcohol and driving at unsafe speeds with Turner in the front passenger seat.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2007, while driving westbound on California State Route 91, Carlson is accused of veering across two lanes and crashing into the back of a Fed-Ex 18-wheel truck. The force of the impact crushed the right side of the victim's car, causing Carlson to lose control and crash into the wall on the side of the freeway. Carlson is accused of freeing herself from the car by climbing out of the sun roof.

Turner was trapped inside the vehicle and firefighters had to pry the car open to extricate the victim who suffered internal injuries, from which he died shortly after the crash. At approximately 2:00 a.m., an hour and a half after the crash, Carlson is accused of having a .22 percent blood alcohol level, almost three times the legal limit.

For each one of Carlson's DUI convictions, in 2001 and 2006 the defendant took alcohol awareness courses where she was instructed about the dangers of drinking and driving and advised that driving under the influence of alcohol can result in killing oneself or others.

Repeat DUI Driver Charged with Valentine's Day Murder

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-18-2010 | 10:30 AM

SANTA ANA, CA - - Gustavo Adrian Vega, driving with blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit with a prior driving under the influence conviction, was charged today with one felony count of murder killing a 20-year-old passenger in another car in a high-speed crash.

Vega, 22, Costa Mesa, a student at Orange Coast Community College, is also charged with one felony count of hit-and-run resulting in death for fleeing the scene of this accident on foot, one felony count of possession of cocaine, and a misdemeanor hit-and-run involving another victim. He faces up to 15 years to life in prison if convicted. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the complaint on Feb. 18, 2010

On April 24, 2006, Vega drove while under the influence of an intoxicating substance. On Dec. 11, 2006, the defendant pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, the defendant is accused of getting into a hit-and-run crash involving another victim. Vega is accused of knowingly fleeing the scene of this accident without exchanging identifying information with this driver.

Later that morning, the defendant is accused of driving on Flower Street towards Sunflower Avenue in Costa Mesa in his white 2008 Toyota Tundra. In the other car, male driver Ha Nguyen, 21, Santa Ana, was driving westbound in his 2003 gold Toyota Corolla on Sunflower Avenue with friend Cara Lee, 20, Santa Ana, who was seated in the passenger seat. At about 2:28 a.m., Vegas is accused of speeding through a red light while heading southbound on Flower towards Sunflower and hitting Nguyen's Corolla which was crossing the intersection on a green light. Nguyen was taken to Western Medical Center with minor injuries. Victim Lee was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant is accused of causing the impact, which killed the victim. The defendant is accused of fleeing on foot and hiding in a nearby housing complex where Costa Mesa Police (CMP) found him shortly later.

Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

One Baugh Down, One BOCELI to Go

One Baugh Down, One BOCELI to Go

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-15-2010 | 08:00 PM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Over one year ago we forecasted that 2010 would usher in a disruptive political environment such that it would make Madam Senator Barbara Boxer, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid vulnerable. Pundits and observers alike laughed at our thinking then, describing it as typical fringe teabagger mentality.

Who is laughing now?

Baughing Down

For a few years now, we have been begging politicians to adopt President Reagan’s ultimatum to organized labor in the public sector: Shape up or ship out and BOCE – Bureaucracy Obliteration Cronyism Elimination and Lobbyist Incineration

Again, our requests fell on deaf political ears. Then Scott Brown happened, followed by the Baugh Initiative, the Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation and politicians of different persuasions claiming to have seen the light.

Who is laughing now?

As soon as OC GOP Chairman announced that candidates must choose between the GOP or the union, sparks started to fly: Sheriff candidate Lt. Hunt was unhappy that the local paper had reported that he had chosen the GOP, while Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly said I'd characterize it more like the “Baugh Ultimatum.” …Union pressure throughout the political process—at all levels of government—are what’s created the “coming fiscal tsunami,” when asked what she thought about the Baugh Initiaitve

Soon after Scott Baugh issued the Baugh Initiative, the Lincoln Club follow with what we call, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation- the Lincoln Club’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to embrace the Baugh Initiative: Any candidate seeking the Lincoln Club’s endorsement must take a Union-Free Pledge stating that a candidate “will not accept campaign contributions from public employee unions.”

Argument for Bureaucracy Obliteration:

Did you know that California has a bureaucracy dedicated simply to review new legislation to make sure it is not in conflict with the existing one? View this as an excellent illustration of a redundant department of redundancy.

Like the TV commercial, don’t; you wonder what else you don’t know? The California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) is just another redundant bureaucracy. We often refer to the CLRC as a government funded unregistered lobbyist more focused on looking after special interests than the interests of the taxpayers. But wait, there is much more!

The California Law Revision Commission’s (CLRC) Executive Director Brian Hebert allegedly contacted a book publisher, to drop a book authored by a dogged critic. The book just happens to be a must have for residents fighting abusive common interest development (CID) boards and for taxpayers fed up with the bloated California bureaucracy. We understand that as a result of the CLRC's actions, a lawsuit may be filed. Mr. Hebert refused to comment, stating that the CLRC does not comment on pending litigation matters.

We tried to determine the level of the CLRC’s involvement in the book matter studying phone record and expense reimbursement for CLRC staff for the period in question. We found there was a six-month black hole – a period where telephone records were missing. Mr. Hebert attributed the missing documents to a “service provider failure." In this case a telephone system failure. When questioned further as to what the CLRC was prepared to do to make sure the agency would be responsive to future freedom of information act requests, Mr. Hebert reasoned that his agency was not big enough and had to outsource its telephone needs. The implications are not inconsequential when it comes to transparency and accountability: Any government entity can avoid being subjected to freedom of information act requests, by merely outsourcing its communication needs for example.
“UOP ordinarily keeps records of all long distance calls, as an integrated part of their telephone service system. Unfortunately, their system malfunctioned, and stopped recording long distance call details during the period you've described. That error affected all of the phone lines at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, including the lines assigned to the Law Revision Commission. As a result of that error, UOP has no long distance phone records for McGeorge for that time period. Consequently, long distance call information for that period was never provided to my agency, despite my requests that it be provided. To my knowledge, the information does not exist,”

Said Mr. Hebert

CTA

In a recent case the California Highway Patrol (CHP) opened a previously closed case that on the surface, seemed slam dunk, had the CTA administration cooperated. The case was opened, only after the CotoBuzz Journal got involved. Although CHP investigators found and charged the alleged instigator of the accident, we never received a response from the Toll Roads, managed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (CTA) to our Public Records Act request.

Interesting to note that a public safety official recently opined that
“Half the police work these days is now conducted by private cell phones with reimbursement from the county to the Deputy. The reason they do this is to circumvent disclosure laws. The public hasn't caught on yet, but we all know how it works don't we?”

– Our own experience trying to obtain information from the OCSD supports such assertion.



LAFCO (Orange County Local Agency Formation)

Part of LAFCO’s Orange County LAFCO mission statement is to promoting orderly growth and development; discouraging urban sprawl while preserving open space and agricultural lands; and encouraging efficient service areas for local governments. On the other hand, the state and federal government’s own common interest development federal projections, show this type of development to play a prominent future, particularly in California. Consequently the California state legislature continues to play an active role in defining the relationship between the common interest development homeowners association, its members, and third parties, while LAFCO continues to do the opposite: That is, where the California legislature (CLRC) gives, LAFCO takes away. But wait, there is more:

The Coto de Caza’s local government is facing a fiscal tsunami of its own making: With reserves at less than 30% instead of the more fiscally responsible 70%, with subsidies at $3 million/year and an all time crime rate, local governance has decided to build a Dog Park - have you seen the pot holes in the major arteries of Coto de Caza? It is no secret that Coto de Caza’s local government is not welcomed in San Juan Capistrano or that the local government has strong support from DUI defense attorneys. Even the OCSD representatives were called extortionists in open board meetings. Consequences: According to OCSD figures, Coto de Caza has the highest crime rate of all times. Consistent with Winstren’s Law: Crime goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is well treated. If this is not a classic case of depraved indifference, we do not know what may qualify!

But wait, there is more. Aided and abetted by LAFCO, it is spending residents’ own money on PR material to convince the same residents that annexation is good for them. However, like the federal government botching the interrogation of the Christmas Day Bomber interrogation, LAFCO botches the unveiling of the annexation initiative and blames it on miscommunication between the various members of LAFCO. Quickly, Sergio Prince, Supervisor Pat Bates’ Executive Director of Public Affairs suggested to “hire a facilitator, avoid communications breakdown” – Why not? After all, is this not standard operating procedure for a typical bureaucracy?

We continue to argue that the only effective way to deal with California's impending bankruptcy is to eliminate 80% of the useless bureaucracy and meaningful lobbyist reform.

Argument for Lobbyist Incineration

Did you know that shortly after the federal government bailed out General Motors, GM spent $2.8 Million, to lobby the government for more money!

Makes you wonder what else you do not know?

Did you know that the corps of lobbyists is the de facto California's third house? Registered lobbyists outnumber lawmakers in Sacramento 8-to-1. Operative word is registered. This does not count the unregistered lobbyist such as the CLRC, CTA or LAFCO. Even the OCSD last year unveiled an office – to lobby lawmakers in Sacramento.

Then there are the Top Five Lobby Spenders in Sacramento

* 1. The Service Employees International Union spent $10.9 million over a two-year period.
* 2. The Western States Petroleum Association, which represents oil and gas companies, spent $10.5 million
* 3. The California Teachers Association ($7.9 million)
* 4. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum ($6.5 million)
* 5. The California Hospital Association ($5.9 million)

Councilwoman’s “union-manufactured fiscal tsunami” pales in comparison to the “bureaucracy and lobbyist manufacture invisible tsunami.

Politicians can now dismiss the BOCE Initiative. Just remember Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Better yet, dismiss the tebaggers,
One Baugh Down, One BOCE to Go

Most of Orange County City Hall does the mumbaugh - Dubbed the mumbaugh (rhymes with Mambo), like the Irish Riverdance, it consists of rapid leg movement, but in this case, at times covering ears, mouth and or eyes, most popular with the politicians throughout Orange County, triggered by the Baugh Initiative.

We asked (phone, fax, e-mai) all council members of the 12 cities in Orange County outsourcing its public safety to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), what their priorities were, what they thought of the Baugh Initiative and what they were doing to make sure that the money paid by their respective cities to the county for OCSD services were in fact being delivered and consistent with what the taxpayers wanted.


Name City MumBaugh? Comments
Neil Blais RSM Yes Incumbent
James M. Thor RSM Yes Incumbent
Gary Thompson RSM Yes Incumbent
Jesse Petrilla RSM No


Frank Ury Mission Viejo No Frank sent us references to published material - we have not studied yet
Lance MacLean Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Cathy Schlicht Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
John Paul Ledesma Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Patricia Kelley Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent

Peter Herzog Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Richard T. Dixon Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Kathryn Mc Cullough Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Marcia Rudolph Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Mark Tettemer Lake Forest Yes Incumbent

Dr. Londres Uso San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Laura Freese San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Sam Allevato San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Thomas Hribar San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Mark Nielsen San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent

Lori Donchak San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Joe Anderson San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Jim Dahl San Clemente Yes Incumbent
G. Wayne Eggleston San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Bob Baker San Clemente Yes Incumbent


Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Randal Bressette Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
R. Craig Scott Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Melody Carruth Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
L. Allan Songstad, Jr. Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Joel Lautenschleger Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent

Robert Ming Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Paul Glaab Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Joe Brown Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Gary Capata Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Linda Lindholm Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent


Steven H. Weinberg Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Scott Schoeffel Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lara Anderson Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lisa A. Bartlett Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Joel Bishop Dana Point Yes Incumbent

Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Cynthia Conners Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bob Ring Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Marty Rhodes Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bert Hack Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Milton Milt Robbins Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent

Alexander A. Ethans Stanton ??? Incumbent
Carol Warren Stanton ??? Incumbent
Edward D. Royce Stanton ??? Incumbent
Brian Donahue Stanton ??? Incumbent
David J. Shawver Stanton ??? Incumbent


Bill Mac Aloney Villa Park ??? Incumbent
W. Richard Ulmer Villa Park ??? Incumbent
Deborah Pauly Villa Park NO Does not do mumbaugh
Brad Reese Villa Park ??? Incumbent
James Rheins Villa Park ??? Incumbent







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AOCSD Jumps on AG Brown's Early-Release Law Clarification

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-16-2010 | 05:00 PM


Sacramento, CA - The ink was barely dry when Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. sent a law-enforcement bulletin to California's district attorneys and sheriffs asserting that California Penal Code Section 4019, the new law that reduces jail time for prisoners in local facilities, applies in he future, not now, when the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) files a lawsuit gainst the County of Orange to stop the County from releasing jail inmates early, before their scheduled release dates.

Given the recent Tea Party activity, the Baugh Initiative and the Lincoln Club's Emancipation Proclamation, the motives of the AOCDS come into question

The Attorney General has begun filing briefs in a series of court cases advancing his position that Penal Code 4019 provides enhanced good-time and work credits to prisoners during the time spent in prison after January 25, but not before.

"In responose to numerous inquiries, this bulletin states the position of the Department of Justice," Brown said. "After analyzing the code section, it seems reasonably clear that the law should apply prospectively."

The bulletin, distributed today throughout the state, is below:

BULLETIN TO ALL CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Re: CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 4019

Effective January 25, 2010, Penal Code section 4019 was amended to change the calculation of good-time and work credits earned by prisoners not guilty of sex or violent crimes while they are confined in local facilities. The amendment states that these prisoners will earn one day credit for every day they are confined so long as they comply with applicable rules and do not refuse to perform labor. Before this section was amended, these prisoners generally earned one day credit for two days they were confined.

District Attorneys and county counsel have differing views on whether the amendment is retroactive (i.e., applies to the time prisoners were confined before January 25) or prospective (i.e., applies only to the time prisoners are confined after January 25). These differences are understandable since the Legislature was silent on the issue when it enacted the amendment.

Ultimately, the courts will have to decide whether the amendment is retroactive or prospective, and it is not normally the role of the Attorney General to resolve differences in possible interpretations of criminal statutes affecting local law-enforcement matters. But in light of numerous questions that have arisen, this Law Enforcement Bulletin summarizes the position that the Attorney General set forth in a brief filed last week, and will continue to advance in briefs that will be filed today and in subsequent weeks, in cases before the state courts of appeal. That position is that Penal Code section 4019 should be deemed prospective because there is no clear evidence that the Legislature intended it to be retroactive.

"[I]n the absence of an express retroactivity provision, a statute will not be applied retroactively unless it is very clear from extrinsic sources that the Legislature . . . intended a retroactive application." (Evangelatos v. Superior Court (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1188, 1209) (citing Penal Code section 3).) Here, there are no clear extrinsic sources demonstrating that the Legislature intended a retroactive application.
Rather than simply reducing sentences, the amendment is designed to encourage good behavior on the part of prisoners by increasing the amount of work and good-time credits that they can earn. In concluding that a similar amendment was prospective, the appellate court in In re Stinnette noted that the public purpose behind such laws "is the desirable and legitimate purpose of motivating good conduct among prisoners so as to maintain discipline and minimize threats to prison security. Reason dictates that it is impossible to influence behavior after it has occurred." (In re Stinnette (1979) 94 Cal.App.3d 800, 806.) Although People v. Doganiere (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 237, found that an amendment to the calculation of conduct credits could be imposed retroactively, the holding is unpersuasive because the court failed to address the point that conduct credits are intended by their nature to influence future behavior.

If the Legislature had intended to lower incarceration costs by reducing prison sentences retroactively, it could easily have done so through a more direct means, such as increasing credits in a manner unrelated to prisoner conduct. The fact that it declined to do so, combined with its failure to expressly address retroactivity, supports our position that the amendment should be applied prospectively.