Comments on: The Faux Life in Dana Point Today

By: fireball

fireball — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:21:18 +0000

I just read about April O’Connor being dismissed by Diane Harkey….Hooray!! I dont care what the reason was,Mrs. O’Connor deserved to be dismissed. I am laughing my ass off. I hope she and her crooked,Humpty Dumpty husband liked that slice of humble pie too!!! Awesome, could’nt be better!

By: Andrew Davey

Andrew Davey — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:19:36 +0000

Thanks, Robert! Oh, and interesting find on Michael & Debra Dec. Cheese louise, when will Harkey learn? I guess we’ll have to keep following the money, as that truly reveals where Diane Harkey’s loyalty lies.

By: robert traphagen

robert traphagen — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:49:03 +0000

Good reporting Andrew. Also: From April O`Connor who was dismissed by Harkey and company from the planning commission , April writes: Michael Dec was appointed as an alternate to the Planning Commission by the Harkey regime. He was employed with Lennar Homes and is a developer. I am assuming that his wife is Debra Dec who contributed $150.00 to Harkey`s campaign. It is listed on her latest campaign contributions disclosure. Another fact to show THE UNETHICAL HARKEY AT WORK. Follow the money and we probably can flush out the “RATS”. Keep up your excellent Andrew and THANKS, Robert Traphagen

By: Andrew Davey

Andrew Davey — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:10:09 +0000

Mr. Lacy-

Thanks for dropping by! As an obviously liberal Democrat, I very much respect you and admire your efforts to bring a sense of ethical behavior back to local government in Dana Point.

And yes, you’re totally correct on affordable housing! It’s not exactlya liberal or conservative issue. It’s an Orange County issue that every city in Orange County must work on. So wht can we do about it? What can Dana Point do about it? There are multiple approaches. One of them is NOT forcing out mobile home residents to make way for a luxury hotel that would likely have no affordable housing units included in the plan. Too bad that Mayor Harkey doesn’t get that.

Still, thank you for what you’re doing in Dana Point. Hopefully if Harkey can be held accountable for this and other failures that she’s been a part of, maybe things can start to change for the better in Dana Point. The people of this good community truly deserve better.

By: Jim Lacy

Jim Lacy — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:58:18 +0000

Hey, I’m a conservative Republican and I just read your blog because I love political science and enjoy your posts about Harkey, whom I personally know is no good. But I want to say something. You are right to raise affordable housing as an issue. Doing something about affordable housing is a state mandate — it is not Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative. Cities are supposed to at least “try” to do something about it. We might disagree on approaches: I favor giving tax concessions and regulatory concessions to get affordable housing done with a relaxed regulatory approach to encourage a market, rather than subsidized response. But at least I have an idea about it. Dana Point has done absolutely nothing meaningful about affordable housing and people have really gotten screwed over by Harkey and her crew on that front, she has been most unethical with dozens of residents who were turned out of their homes in the mobile home park fiasco that ended up benefitting the owners of a luxury hotel in Dana Point.

Thanks for what you are doing.

By: Andrew Davey

Andrew Davey — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:12:34 +0000

Thanks for more of the backstory on this, Jerry. This really should be disturbing to all of us here. Why are the Harkey people trying to deceive people with this phony newsletter? And why do they even feel the need to deceive people? What, are they afraid of the truth?

And I’m sorry to hear about the artist. I don’t think he designed the city seal so that one overly ambitious politician could deface it and misuse it for partisan campaigning. Sad.

By: Jerry Grunor

Jerry Grunor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:55:13 +0000

I find this entire thing most discouraging and unethical. I say unethical because you do not desecrate a City Seal that was designed by artist Rick Morgan back in 1989 and use it for your own personal gain since you, the mayor is running for a seat on the state assembly. How could anyone in his/her right mind even consider supporting someone who would try to connive the residents into thinking that the letter she sent out was an official one, when the CIty Seal was changed to fit her needs?

I am appalled that very few people have risen off their seats to complain about this incident. The artist, Mr. Morgan even told me that he was totally distrubed that someone, whether it is a political official or just a resident, would even stoop so low as to destroy the artwork that he worked so hard on and was paid by the CIty as being the original CIty Seal. That is an honor to him. Then to see it changed by the arrogance of a mayor who is seeking higher office, is shameful and may very well invite a law suit.

One must consider the source…and the culprit is arrogant and would not think twice about using her millions to step on the toes of others and do things that are unethical, as long as she gets her way.

All you have to do is go to the http://www.dianeharkeyrecall.com web site and see for yourself.

Jerry A. Grunor