The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

Following up on the Orange County Register's (February 16, 2007) story on the recent CZ Master Association board of directors' announcement of a "new and improved deployment of the roving private security patrol …and mounted units of the Sheriff’s department soon patrolling the horse trails and fire roads that surround the community", we decided to re-print a story we run on the CotoBlogzz, December 28, 2005 with the headlines "Blame it On The Sheriff"

Blame it On the Sheriff

Reprinted from CotoBlogzz Dece. 28, 2005

“I am disappointed that the OC Sheriff’s Department has been unable to get their act together as it was Sheriff Corona who personally requested that we do not contract with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita” – Robert Varo, CZ Association President’s Letter January 2006.

This is the same CZ board that was told YEARS ago to bring back the CHP – but won’t claiming the CHP are extortionists.

The same board that turned over a board meeting to Reality TV show producers and refused to allow CHP to present safety awareness programs during board meeting s.

The Same board that was quoted by the Orange County Register in an April 29, 2005 article by Laura Rico and Jim Radcliffe with headlines “Coto de Caza has traffic-control plan”, but neither the board nor the Register were able to produce copies of the alleged plan

The same board that has refused to even acknowledge the multiple comprehensive security proposals we have advanced.

The same board that refused to articulate a traffic control plan weeks before the traffic fatality . We even asked legal counsel to compel the board to do so DAYS before the accident!

The same board that refused to commit to reducing traffic accidents to 2002 levels or below.

The same board that refused to hold a Security Town Hall Meeting instead of pursuing personal agendas.

The same board that relies on the GM security control metrics – as shown below.

….and you think Varo/Mezger and the board have ANY credibility left?

USELESS KEYSTONE FIGURES

COTOBUZZ STATISTICS

· 57 incident reports

· 589 citations

· 29 vehicles towed

· 63 gate strikes

· 134 transponders issued

· 157 replacement transponders

· 193 defective transponders

· 9 fall off transponders

· 1,435 entry access denied.

ACCIDENT LOCATION	%

Coto Drive	42%
Vista Del Verde	27%
San Miguel	6%

Sub-Total	75%

Date:	Dec. 12 - Dec 21 (mid-day)

QTY	DESCRIPTION

41	Speeding
7	Seat belts
5	Not making a stop at stop sign
5	Verbal warnings
3	Other
2	DUIs
1	Mechanical warning
1	Impounded

			Annualized
2002	2003	2004	3Q05	%
15	19	22	25	87%
0%	27%	47%	67%	47%

COST FOR SAFETY IN SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA VS COTO

REPRINTED FROM COTOBUZZ JULY 2004

What does it take to architect the safest city in America?

Thousand Oaks has claimed the title of safest city in America with a population over 100,000, according to 2003 crime data released by the FBI this week. FBI figures show crime fell 2.2 percent in 2003. Thousand Oaks' population was 117,005 in the 2000 census and the FBI reported 2,007 serious crimes in 2003

"We're very proud of this. We have an excellent Police Department, a law-abiding community and good schools. "We have always been about slow growth, and this is why we are also the most sought-after city to live in, in the Western U.S. Past city councils deserve just as much credit as we do for keeping the city the way it is, " said Thousand Oaks Mayor Bob Wilson.

"Public safety is the council's primary concern. We will do everything in our power to keep our city safe", said mayor pro tem, Claudia Bill-de la Pena.

The security budget for Thousand Oaks $2,200,000/year. Roughly $18.00/person. For Coto de Caza, the cost is roughly $216.00 per person or close to 1,200% more!, and these figures do not even take into account the fees commanded by the property manager

For full L.A. Daily News Article on Safest City, click here ( Articles are guaranteed to remain in the system for 14 days. Older articles can be found using the Advanced Search feature on the site.)