Andy O'Connor on Dwight Robinson

We have one of the busiest Council meetings in Orange County. Every week on average 4 people speak, and sometimes there are as many as a dozen (this week we had 6 speakers). Most cities our size have 1 or 2, and even larger cities struggle to get the type of attendance we get on a regular basis. The reason, of course, is that people are upset with what the Gang of 3 (Robinson-Hamilton-Voigts) is doing, and almost all the comments are negative about the Gang of 3 and their policies. This week all 6 speakers spoke out against the Gang of 3.

Almost every Council meeting one of the residents, Andy O’Connor from Foothill Ranch, provides a written and verbal commentary on his views, usually in response to something that one of the Gang members did, or said. With his permission I am reprinting his remarks from the November 1 meeting (Note: I added the links)

ROBINSON’S 2016 CAMPAIGN CLAIMS

• VILLAGE POND PARK is omitted from his [Robinson’s] mailers to voters; his ballot statement said it was a “Priority”. What happened? Maybe it really wasn’t a priority after all but Robinson thought he could get some votes if he put in on his ballot statement. After all, Robinson is the leader of the Gang of 3 and if they really wanted to improve VPP they could have done it years ago.
• “RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP”?? Sending out the fake “Lake Forest News” during the RECALL saying I’m on the Meagan’s Law list because I supported the recall. How is that responsible leadership?
• “COMMUNITY”? You said you would work to “Dissolve” Mello-Roos in Foothill Ranch. Nope it’s a BOND that matures in 2019. This is a false promise designed to get votes. (Click Here)
• “SAFETY”? (1) We have 36 sex offenders in the City, 30 in Lake Forest; 6 in Foothill Ranch!!
• “SAFETY”? (2) The City’s most recent crime report shows that Crime rates for South Orange County cities are lower than the rest of Orange County and the rest of California as a whole, but looking at South County from 2014 to 2015, Lake Forest had the second highest percent increase in Part 1 crimes (29%) and was way above the average (18%) for all 13 cities controlled by OCSD. In sheer numbers, Lake Forest had the second highest increase in Part 1 crimes (228), exceeded only by Mission Viejo (243). Among our neighbors, year after year, we have the highest or second highest crime rate.
• “SAFETY”? (3) Day laborers 7 days a week outside the liquor store at the corner of Jeronimo and Orange. OCSD does not enforce the law.
• “COMMITTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT”?? Nope. Robinson’s trucking company has been stopped by law enforcement for breaking the law and he has had to pay stiff fines because they tried to cheat on their invoices. (Click Here)
• “OWNS A LAKE FOREST BUSINESS”?? Nope. Works for his Father in Law in a business located in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, 40 miles from Lake Forest!! (Click Here)
• “SUPPORT CIVIC CENTER”? Nope. Has not attended any workshops. Check the signature pages for sign in. You won’t find his name.
• “SHOWS COURTESY AND RESPECT”? Nope. Calls council member Dr. Jim Gardner an imbecile, moron and “no brainer” on important decisions facing the city. Laughs at me during my presentations to the council.
• “ELIMINATED EMPLOYEE PENSION LIABILITIES”? Nope. Adam Nick spearheaded this with support from Dr. Gardner. (Click Here)
• CREATED RAINY DAY BUDGET? Nope. Already existed before Robinson was even a council member. (Click Here)
• BUILT SPORTS PARK? Nope. Already put in motion by previous council. Ask why there are no 60/90 baseball fields. Voigts changed the soccer field dimensions for his daughter, why didn’t Robinson change the baseball fields? After all he’s a Little League “coach.” Why do over 50% of the kids playing recreational basketball come from Mission Viejo? How much is it costing taxpayers for the lights on the baseball fields at night when not being used?
• BUILT DOG PARK?? Nope. Spearheaded by Councilman Dr. Jim Gardner and resident Bob Holtzclaw. (Click Here)

ROBINSON’S 2012 PROMISES….BROKEN (Click Here)

• PROMISE 1. - “…create a Traffic Commission” REALITY – Robinson actually voted against a traffic commission (Dec 17, 2013)
• PROMISE 2. – “…ease traffic congestion…” REALITY – Robinson voted for not a single program to reduce traffic congestion, and specifically opposed extending Portola Parkway. Instead, he did the opposite, by voting for every single development project that crossed his path.
• PROMISE 3. – “…open more schools to lower class sizes” REALITY – Not a single new school has been opened despite more than 2,000 new homes being built and 2,400+ new homes being approved. In fact, one school has even closed.
• PROMISE 4. – “…make Lake Forest friendlier to businesses, creating more jobs.” REALITY – He’s voted against giving preferences to Lake Forest businesses. He’s voted to eliminate commercial properties, removing jobs from the City. Before Robinson took office the City spent 5% of its budget on our own people and businesses. Since Robinson it’s down to less than 2%.
• PROMISE 5. – “…reduce pension benefits for future city employees.” REALITY – He’s done nothing to achieve this. In fact, he’s voted to give hundreds of thousands of dollars in raises to City employees, thus increasing our pension liabilities.
• PROMISE 6. – “…oppose wasteful city spending.” REALITY – He refused to cut the fat from the City budgets which could have saved up to $2,000,000 per year (May 12, 2015). He refused to re-bid a street sweeping contract that could have saved $250,000 per year (May 19, 2015). He voted to give OC Animal Control a 10-year contract without knowing how much they would charge and with no limits on what they could charge (Dec 1, 2015).
• PROMISE 7. – “Work actively to prevent any Jail Expansion and stop the transfer of high risk violent offenders to our family-friendly community.” REALITY – Robinson did nothing to stop jail expansion, and the jail is not only going to be expanded, but it will house medium security prisoners which is far worse than the minimum security prisoners it used to house.

With the election in a few days, Andy O'Connor's public comment should be shared with everyone on your e-mail list.