I am going to keep this brief because it needs to be put to rest and there has just been so much hub bub about it as it is. Let me say that above all I am appalled by that the fact that some missing signs concerning the layoffs in Costa Mesa resulted in money being spent to hire a private investigator to nail the thieves. In the scale of what is going on in the city, missing signs is the least important issue I can think of. What was the goal? If someone, anyone, told these kids to steal these signs, both the kids and the director of said mischief suffer the wrath of being complete idiots. Isn’t that punishment enough? If anyone is feeling left out, I have two signs in my yard. I’ll give you one.
That being said, Colin McCarthy, President of the Costa Mesa TaxPayers Association was given space in the Daily Pilot to write a commentary on this matter. And why not? We all know he’s the guy with his finger on the pulse of this situation and a chip on his shoulder after having been stuffed in his locker on a weekly basis through out his high school years. Here’s a quote from Colin’s righteous rant: “In case you missed the news last week, union bosses representing city of Costa Mesa employees said they had heard a rumor that Estancia High School football players were stealing those signs that are littering our community. They had no evidence of the alleged thefts, just an unsubstantiated rumor.” In his little piece he briefly touches on his belief that the union hired private investigators to question some of the Estancia Eagles about the missing signs. Then his commentary spun completely out of control.
Colin, you have no evidence that the union hired the investigator, and there is no evidence that the football children stole the signs. End of story. Shame on both sides, who ever they are. Yet some how you saw this as a opportunity to weave the stolen sign mystery into a story that touched on the great depression, Sen. Joseph McCarthy (whom I suspect is Colin’s secret crush) as well as, “The union’s tone-deafness to the lives and wishes of Costa Mesa residents.” That is a direct quote from Colin. You even brought a Jimmy Hoffa reference into the mix? Wow, what ever your day job is, don’t quit it because your writing career is a wash. There was so much subject swapping in this story, it was like a key party in the disco days. Did you get lost? Had you been taking crazy pills? Or tipping a few brews at Skoosh’s place?
I am sure all you really wanted to say was, “Union bad.” You can do that you know. Just write, “Union bad” and sign your name. You will have reached your core audience because Colin, more people have spoken out against the layoffs than in favor of them by about 20 to 1, when they are aloud to speak at the city council meetings. The vast majority of the people that don’t know that are you, and the 3 stooges sitting on the city council, Riggy, Mensy and the our pathetic mayor. Seems like you are using the kids as a spring board for your anti union howling. Make it easy on yourself and don’t waste so many words next time. Hardly anyone is really listening, or able to follow your tangential rambling.
Kathy,
I’ve watched “Colon” sitting there at Council meetings smirking along with Smirkmarshal Mensinger. It’s offensive.
I disagree with you about the PI and the signs. I think an investigation WAS proper and called for.
Issues needing answers:
1) Are one or more Council members behind the sign theft?
2) If kids are stealing signs, are adults directing them? If so, why are adults directing minors to trespass and commit larceny?
After Colon’s “article” and Menssy’s rant at tonight’s Council meeting, methinks they protest too much. These boys sound awfully defensive, making me think someone they know might be involved.
History tells us that freedom is taken away in small increments. Today’s political sign theft leads to tomorrow’s newspaper censorship. In some lesser developed countries the only way people can be heard is by spray painting their views on walls. Their opposition quickly runs out the next day and paints over. This could be the same type of thing, and, if a Council member is involved on some level, then they are unlawfully suppressing free speech in violation of the First Amendment.
We already saw another example of this at the Council meeting two weeks ago when our Mayor Who Abdicated to Righeimer tried to shut down Terry Koken during public comment. Koken stood up for himself and prevailed.
As Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” And that includes those little signs.
Well, I would be more accepting if they were questioning the council members and the parents of the kids, and then if they had to, spoke with the kids. Do you know if the investigators spoke to Mensinger in his home? But if it came to that, then why not make it a police matter? I don’t like it, but it is also my understanding that the signs that were taken were on public property. I am also wondering how they ended up at the city with a fee of $15 to be claimed if it is such mystery as to who took them? Someone turned them in or taken by, Who, and turned in? I ask these questions not to be sarcastic, but because I really want to know.
I haven’t heard anything about the PI questioning Menssy directly. Since no new chest bumpings have been reported, my guess would be no.
Agree with you that minors shouldn’t be questioned without a parent present.
But given how these extremists lie, how do we know what has really gone on?
More info is definitely needed. Thanks for a good article.
Kathy, your article is not true. The PI hired by OCEA ADMITTED to one of the kids that he was hired by the OCEA. OCEA has acknowledged they hired him. Check your facts first. As far as the employees go, I was appalled to watch the meeting last night and see the union try to derail Pop Warner field use for their own political gain. More evidence of the Union using kids as pawns to destroy our City. Most residents are fed-up with the Union’s antics. They are doing a real disservice to the emloyees and turning the residents against them. OCEA has reached an all time low in Costa Mesa.
If it is true about the PI Phil, then I stand corrected. That doesn’t make the whole article untrue. Isn’t a city council behaving like we are a caste society in our little town, and they are the “rulers.” disturbing? You know if you watched the city council meeting last night or any other night since this mission to destroy the jobs of the city employees that the majority of the people ARE NOT in favor of what is happening. Here’s the thing Phil, this isn’t just about the Tea Baggers in the GOP wanting to destroy unions, unions are made up of people. Human beings. They deserve to be paid, to have decent benefits, and retirement for the quality public services they provide. If anyone has been “using the kids,” it has been Mensinger and his band of bullies. And no, I am not in the union, a public employee or a family member of an employee, and I am a concerned citizen.
I like the idea of an article that simply says “Union bad.” Think of all the trees and ink that would be saved.
Regarding the hiring of a PI: I have no information about who did what, but just because a kid says a PI claimed he was hired by the union doesn’t make it true. Either the kid or the PI may be lying. For future reference, this is what is called a “rumor.”
Kathy, you should change your byline to Rose Rosadana. “Oh, the union did hire the PI. Never mind…”
I said, IF it’s true. (check your dictionary IF the meaning of the word IF is unclear to you.) The information that was given to me was that it is NOT known who hired the PI. Just because someone said that someone said that the PI told some kid who hired them, doesn’t make it a fact. The awesome thing about being a liberal is that you get to admit if you make a mistake. We don’t always have to be right and go to the extremes that you Tea Baggers go to be RIGHT all the time. Who the hell is Rose Rosadana??
Kathy,
Your troll who mentioned “Rose Rosedana” is old but dumb. Here’s the correct reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_Roseannadanna
I’m enjoying your stuff about our town!
Thanks JFW.