A Special Meeting of the Investment Advisory Commission was hurriedly scheduled last week only to be cancelled at the last minute when the staff report advised against a plan to sell some of the city’s long-term land leases for immediate cash. After reworking the proposal, a new Special Meeting has now been announced for tomorrow, Thursday, October 2, at 3:30 pm.
The short-notice meetings are designed to permit the City Council to decide the matter at its meeting Monday. Observers have speculated the sale of the leases may be a political favor to ATS Communications. ATS has been a campaign contributor to most council members and stands to make a large brokerage commission on the transaction.
Three of those councilmembers are currently seeking additional campaign funds to promote their candidates in next month’s elections. Frank Ury, who has been the strongest supporter of the heavily discounted sale, is seeking re-election.
In August the Investment Commission found the idea of selling the leases at significant discounts to be a flawed idea when compared to the long-term revenue these assets will generate for Mission Viejo. The revised proposal, and current staff recommendation, have not been released as of this posting. The Dispatch will provide additional details later today.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
We’ve always asked for “transparency” in government but this is riduculous. Of course the transparency we seek is open vs. secret government.
The emergency meeting to sell off cell-tower leases for an enormous profit to a campaign contributor five weeks before the election puts a new meaning on the word “transparency.”
Seldom do we see such an obvious “Government for Sale.”
It shows how the city council majority, and the top brass in city hall who support the majority, have such a low opinion of the taxpayers that they won’t see through such a scheme.
One thing, the desperation shows the Ury-Atkinson ticket must be low on dough, which will encourage activists to double their efforts for the challengers, Neil Lonsinger and Cathy Schlicht.
The last minute notice is especially sweet; since this issue is such an “emergency”.
I will not be able to be at the IC meeting, but Frank Ury can rest assured that if this comes to Council on Monday night, I will indeed show up to question his financial interests and determination to sell out MV residents.
He can offer his rationalization to the public on camera.
http://www.MVcell-out.org
One can only believe the pressure from council members Ury, Kelley, and MacLean was significant on city staff to force another examination of this bankrupt idea/proposal.
The more people that can attend this meeting and express their feelings about this blatant rip-off of city funds would be useful. ATS share of the sale funds is enormous—and it is my opinion significant funds will then be shuttled to support Ury/Atkinson council campaigns in some fashion. In other words–our resources will be used to assist special interest activities. Sound familiar?
Don’t think for a moment that The Casta Golf Course sale is not the next big raid on the people of Mission Viejo.
I will be at the meeting and hope residents will join me in JUST SAYING NO to this FLEECING OF THE CITY TREASURY!!