The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

February 2009

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts!

Pimp My CCW – Annex Coto de Caza

Posted By CotoBlogzz 1/11/2009 3:30 PM

Promoters of Coto de Caza Trickle Up Welfare Program have also been promoting the annexation of Coto de Caza in ways that would make Don King proud. The cover of the January 2009 Coto de Caza newsletter proudly announces a breakfast with Sheriff Hutchens January 21, 2009.

Never mind that in all cases that we know if, annexation is supported by wannabe politicians, supported by the county. Take for instance Midway and Supervisor Silva - the only OC supervisor who listened to his constituents, uttering his now famous promise: ” Midway will never be a city”, or for that matter, the recent sound defeat of the Rosmoor for city movement, aided by the Deputy Sheriff’s Union. Results: 72% vote against annexation!

Arguably one of the components fueling the annexation movement in Coto de Caza is an anti-CHP sentiment - rivaled only by Hamas’ hate for Israel - that may have contributed to the first two traffic fatalities in the community in close to a decade – when the local governance decided to fire the CHP for pro-active traffic patrol and the largest private security in the world, with only the promise that the “Sheriff is coming” as a replacement – the Sheriff never came, the private security was replaced with one of the smallest in the region and by residents forced the local governance to re-hire the CHP.

Turns out that the annexation movement is led by the same governance that has brought the community the 3-at-5 program. That is, three dues increases in a five year period to support wealthier organizations within the community. The same governance that has consistently opposed direct elections, in favor of what critics call, a most corrupt delegate system.

The main selling point for annexation continues to be Sheriff services. These services have often been misrepresented to the community as free.

On the other hand, the Sheriff Hutchens’ 120-Day Plan including the CCW policy, Jail Reform and Transparency may have her election-bid on life support: When asked in various forum about the status of the department’s transformation, the Sheriff has provided inconsistent responses: The Sheriff’s CCW policy has been criticized by an eclectic group including the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The Sheriff’s promised transparency has been anything but. For example, during the Sheriff’s visit to Laguna Woods Village, she was asked whether or not the OCSD had taken any action about complaints associated with critic suppression, she said she did not know, but “the Lt. or Capt. responsible for the area it was given to I’m sure they are looking in to them.” We have asked multiple times for status, and although apparently investigators will work with local governance prior to the filing of official complaints, the same investigators, sergeants and or lieutenants in a LAFCO Newport-Costa Mesa annexation imitation “will no talk to the media”. Of course, under the current economic conditions, LAFCO should go the way of SB 971- but that is another story.

So here is an excellent example of Pax Orancia - an excellent imitation of Pax Romana: The county gets the support from the Coto de Caza governance by showcasing the Sheriff, hence consciously or not aiding and abetting the Coto de Caza cityhood movement, the Sheriff gets the PR she desperately needs and the peasants are held in check. On the other hand, perhaps the peasants can ask the Sheriff during the breakfast meeting, to clarify her stand on the CCW policy, why her promised transparency has not materialized and how jail operations can be transformed by simply adding money.