The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

Apparently tha Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) are getting involved in the Rossmoor cityhood issue, by pumping in $11,000 to defeat the Measure U initiative

Proposition 13 reduced public financial resources for infrastructure, so industry and local government officials looking for more cost effective ways to provide affordable housing, turned to common interest developments (CID)in big numbers.

On the other hand, the Orange County Board of Supervisors (OCBOS) actively work to reduce the number of islands, such as Rossmoor and or Coto de Caza – tantamount to biting the hand that feeds you.

Residents choose to live in CIDs for a number of reasons. A good sales job by the CID, Privacy and Affordability are usually at the top of the list.

Anecdotal evidence overwhelmingly side with residents who want to remain in CIDs - as opposed to annexation. However, it is usually in this process that a good number of politicians start to build their resumes, as in “led the efforts to turn Laguna Nigel into a city” for example

The question is: What is in it for the AOCDS in this case? Is there a precedent elsewhere? It would not have anything to do with the pension battle with the OCBOS now, would it?

We have asked Sheriff Hutches if she thinks the actions of the AOCDS in this case advance or detracts from her vision for the OCSD as sold to the board of supervisors - so far no response.

It's simple. AOCDS doesn’t want OCSD to lose the contact. IF Rossmoor were to incorporate, there is not guarantee that they'd continue with OCSD for police services; they could contact with Seal Beach or Los Al. Doing so would cause OCSD to lose a contact, which boils down to positions for AOCDS - OCIK

Are you suggesting that Sheriff Hutchens and the OCBOS have delegated their responsibility to the AOCDS?

Last time I checked the AOCDS is NOT responsible for the department - Sheriff Hutchens is. Further, the OCBOS is the governing body, which contracts with cities for public safety services.

Whatever the AOCDS motives, this is one more example of how the actions of a sub-culture define the entire department's culture. Something similar for those who collect time off, while on vacation, for instance.- Buzz

AOCDS has a vested interest in Rossmoor not becoming incorporated for the simple fact that police services would likely go somewhere else, causing a loss of deputy positions.

Yes the sheriff is in charge, but AOCDS has the right to lobby and protect their interests. It's not a matter of a sub-culture, it's an employee group protecting the interests of the employees.- OCIK

As we have noted many times in this forum, the OCSD seems to not understand what corporate culture is, how it is manifested, nor how it is promoted. You may want to refer to the vision statement advanced by Sheriff Hutchens and contained in her 120-day plan (http://www.ocsd.org/about_ocsd/mission/) to see if the AOCDS’ actions are consistent with such vision – vested interest or not.

The AOCDS has done an excellent job protecting its own interests – wit the current pension plan.

The conclusion “It's not a matter of a sub-culture, it's an employee group protecting the interests of the employees” is analogous to congressional ethics, with Pelossi leading the charge!

This incorporation "talk" is total hogwash. It is along the line or par of the "annexation" arguments that NON-citied developments often make so that they can increase their bargaining power. It amounts to an incremental taking of large chunks of property that they would not otherwise have access to. Here, in situations like this, the so-called "takings" or incorporations amount to no good for the individual citizens. Where such homeowners would have otherwise had access to their governmental facilities and Senators and Assemblymen, once incorporated or annexed to an otherwise incorporated area, these homeowners LOSE. They lose otherwise earmarked taxation dollars that would have helped them. Once incorporated, these stupid (incorporated) areas go hog wild with making their own laws and tightening up the rights of anyone who so much as even drives through their newly formed incorporated city. City services immediately increase charges for collecting trash, water rates, electricity, put tolls on roads and other such items, AND the best part: They can RAISE TAXES FOR THE NEW CITY TO ANYTHING THEY WANT. Just look at the nightmare in Culver City, California, or the newer monstrosity Leisure World Laguna Woods, California . All those polititians were courting the owners and pumping money into the area like there was no tomorrow. What came of it? Homeowners LOST rights, and they LOST A LOT OF THOSE RIGHTS to other companies and city connections. A whole new goverment was piggybacked onto that brand spanking new CITY. The problem? Who pays for all this citi-fication?! Guess? Those who live there. SCREW THE INCORPORATION FOR ROSSMORE, IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. Owners need to question HOW and WHY its happening to begin with!!! Start questioning the motives of these STOOOOPID supervisors. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Those supervisors will get pay raises and more perks, then they will disappear leaving PROPERTY owners left to carry the burden of the all the problems that go with citihood. Bah humbug. Wake up "property owners who pay taxes" ... this is a direct hit on YOU and your pocket book.- Sherman Tank

We have not even touched on the efforts by the California Legislature and the CLRC, siding with the industry to rob residents blind.

A good reference for the uninitiated is the book Villa Appalling by Donie Vanitzian and Stephen Glssman, both columnists for the LA Times.

The bottom line is that everyone wants a piece of Joe the Plumbers pie: The OCBOS, local governance and bureaucracy, the legislature, CAI, etc. etc.

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