The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

The CotoBuzz Journal

Community Journalism, Newsletters and Blogs Covering South Orange County, CA

The CotoBuzz Journal is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and NAHJ

August 2007 Issue

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and the Coto de Caza Board of directors and report the facts!

OCSD Overly “vested” – Orange County Sup. Moorlach

July 21, 2007

As described by the failed bid by Cassie Young’s for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County’s pension plan, in dire financial straits, would soon erupt. The eruption heard around OC law enforcement community was heard Friday July 18, 2007 when Supervisor John Moorlach, announced his plan to cut pension benefits retroactively paid to members of the sheriff's deputies union.

Supervisor Moorlach, echoing candidate Young’s concern for the $2 billion unfunded liability of the county's retirement programs, characterized the union’s “vesting” as an illegal gratuity that must be rescinded.

The union’s endorsement of Pat Bates over Young, was viewed by the Young campaign and other observers as an insurance policy to maintain the status quo.

Not clear whether supervisor Bates will go to bat for the union, but even if the board gives Moorlach the go-ahead and a court approves an injunction, the full impact would not be felt for a while, as the effort could to take years, since it is expected that the California Supreme Court would say the last word.

In retrospect Ms. Bates’ touting the union’s endorsement may have worked to her advantage with nothing to lose – she does not have to fight for, or against the union ……in the short term.

The South Orange County Welfare Services Leadership Board The Coto de Caza subsidizes the Estates and the Villages at the tune of over $1,000,000/year. Pat Bates voted to raise pensions to public employees by a whopping 50% (SB 400). This Bill set the stage for the 3% at 50 benefit package that financially threatens the viability of Orange and San Diego Counties

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!

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 down and close to pre-firing levels. Just as important, the number of Coto residents arrested for DUI is down. See chart below for actual accident rate.

Taxes, Taxes, err Community Investments, Now Invest $26,000 To See Where Coto de Caza Taxes Go! - Taxes? What Taxes? Where do the CZ Master Association Taxes Go?, Let's Tax residents so we can find out!

The CZ Master Association Board of directors has announced that the County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pitch in with some $20,000 of the roughly $26,000 budgeted to "figure out where the association taxes go" - The County Clerk has no record of any request for funding from the board. Further, this "where the taxes" go is simply a way to develop propaganda to convince Coto Residents to turn Coto de Caza into a city!

Law Enforcement – Evil, Necessary Evil, Or Noble Profession and Role Model? In open societies, we posit that law enforcement follows Winstren’s Law: Law Enforcement Goes Where it is Needed and Stays Where it is Wanted

And The Pâté Bates' Gravy Train Keeps Rolling The Sheriff Union’s Political Action Committee (AOCSD) has spent in excess of $200,000 in Independent Expenditures in favor of Bates. Guess why the AOCSD is spending such money on a candidate – other than having great expectations that they will have Bates' support, as in the Bates’ 3%-50 pension plan!

Coto de Caza is Not an Orange County Island! – Or is it? Following up on comments from Joseph Morabito, former member of the CZ Master Association board of directors on what Coto de Caza needs from the Orange County board of supervisors, we asked the President of the Orange County Taxpayers Association, Reed Royalty what he thought of Mr. Morabito’s suggestions. He declined to comment because he did not have “first-hand knowledge of the issues raised in Mr. Morabito’s letter” to Supervisor Pat Bates’ spokesperson.