CM PRESS # 614

UNION'S JENNIFER MUIR SLAMS THE COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL AGAIN

We were going to write a column in support of the Council as a counterpoint to Muir's piece, but  the truth is that some of her comments are similar to ones we were going to make at the podium had we stayed late at the City Council meeting on Tuesday and which we did touch upon briefly in CM PRESS # 611 published the morning of the City Council meeting.

Here's where we think the New Council is going wrong:

--The CM PRESS believes the City Council is spending too much on PR and that the PR positions should not be brought in-house but are actually the most logical  City jobs to be kept out-sourced just as a matter of best business practices.

--The CM PRESS believes that the reorganization being done by the City Council in City Hall should not end up costing us more than what is being changed--which it does--but should cost us less.
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MAN IN N.J. GETS TO PUT CROSS ON LAWN

City tried to bar the cross after neighbors complained, but buckled under First Amendment lawsuit threat.

This could lead to interesting situations in this town if others also want to put various symbols on their lawns that might cause others to complain.
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GIVE UP HOPE ALL YE CITIES WHO ENTER CalPERS

Like a lobster pot, it's easy to enter but hard to leave.

New estimates for Costa Mesa to get out of CalPERS range from a low of $ 444,000,000 to $ 514,000,000.
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TO GET TO THE TRUTH USE NUMBERS

I have a question for you.  Would you rather have $ 712 or $ 949?  Naturally, you'll take $ 949 because it's $ 237 more than $ 712.

Well,  when considering schools, the question is similar.

Here are the actual API (Academic Performance Index) scores of two schools in the Newport Mesa Unified School District.  These scores come from standardized tests given to all students in the schools. The higher the score, the better:

School 1:  API score of 712.

School 2:  API score of 949.

Which school do you think is in the least affluent area just based on those scores? 

How about the, ah, demographics of the schools, got any clue from the scores?

How about intelligent inferences about home values, crime rates, etc. based on those scores?

Which school would you prefer to have your kid attend?

Okay, here's some answers:

School 1 is Rea elementary school on Costa Mesa's Westside. Its API score in 2010 was 712. It is 3% White and 96% Latino.


School 2 is Newport Coast elementary school. Its API score in 2010 was 949.  It is 81% White and 2% Latino.

Here's  a LINK to the NMUSD site with the API scores, etc.

By the way, the state API average is 767. 

So, Rea is 55 points below average.

Newport Coast is 182 points above average.

Remember, if you cite the above numbers and if the usual lefty shrunken brain  haters and bigots try to shut you up by calling you racist (yawn), that nothing scientific can be racist and nothing racist can be scientific and remember also that numbers and statistics can't be racist.
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GETTING CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN COSTA MESA?

Here's what is really going on and why the CM PRESS generally supports what the New Council is doing:-


--The New Council is trying to right-size government. It became bloated after many prior Councils just kept letting it grow.

--The New Council is trying to get the best price for the services the City provides citizens.

--The New Council is trying to take the power away from the out of town unions and return the power to the people who actually live in Costa Mesa.

--The New Council is trying to get Costa Mesa's priorities straightened out. In the view of the CM PRESS, this can lead to a meaningful improvement of the Westside and with the improvement, an improvement in our schools and in the quality of life for all citizens of Costa Mesa.
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LATINO GANG MEMBER ARRESTED FOR THREATENING 15-YEAR-OLD ON WESTSIDE

What the public will never learn about this gang member and other gang members is why they're here in Costa Mesa. 

What support groups (read charities) are they using?  Exactly where are they living?

All living things gravitate to where they feel comfortable.  It is the same thing with gang members and other criminals. 

Costa Mesa has become a comfortable and safe haven for gang members and other criminals. Parts of the Westside are gang and illegal alien habitats.

Remove those habitats and the gangs and illegal aliens will leave Costa Mesa and find comfortable habitats elsewhere--such as in Santa Ana.

Come on City Council: DRAIN THE SWAMP!
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