Comments on: Why is Diane Harkey Hiding from the Public? http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/ Challenging Orange County's right-wing noise machine Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:30:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew Davey http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-11094 Andrew Davey Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:34:27 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-11094 Dan H- I believe Diane Harkey does NOT want that stairway to Strand Beach. But please, go ahead and double-check me to make sure I'm correct. Still, I will agree with you that tonight should be quite entertaining at DP City Hall. ;-) Maverick- Thanks for including us in your blog story! We try our best to cover open government related stories in Orange County, and right now the Dana Point scandal is big news here. Please keep coming back for more, as we're more than happy to keep up our coverage on this effort to uncover the dark secrets hidden in Dana Point City Hall. :-) Dan H-
I believe Diane Harkey does NOT want that stairway to Strand Beach. But please, go ahead and double-check me to make sure I’m correct. Still, I will agree with you that tonight should be quite entertaining at DP City Hall. ;-)

Maverick-
Thanks for including us in your blog story! We try our best to cover open government related stories in Orange County, and right now the Dana Point scandal is big news here. Please keep coming back for more, as we’re more than happy to keep up our coverage on this effort to uncover the dark secrets hidden in Dana Point City Hall. :-)

]]> By: Maverick http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-11091 Maverick Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:49:51 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-11091 Great posting! It was selected to be included in last week's <a href="http://wikifoia.pbwiki.com/5th+Carnival+Edition" rel="nofollow">Carnival of Open Records</a>. Thanks, Sara Great posting! It was selected to be included in last week’s Carnival of Open Records.
Thanks, Sara

]]> By: Dan Heredia http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-11085 Dan Heredia Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:06:10 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-11085 Tonights meeting is going to be some good entertainment. I hope Lacy puts in his opinion on the Strands stairway since he is no longer a council member I feel he has the best response to this issue. As you may recall Lacy was excluded from voting on the Headlands because of allegations by both Edwards and Lacy that his vote was for sale or, something like that. I would like to know Harkeys position, do any of you have a clue? Tonights meeting is going to be some good entertainment. I hope Lacy puts in his opinion on the Strands stairway since he is no longer a council member I feel he has the best response to this issue. As you may recall Lacy was excluded from voting on the Headlands because of allegations by both Edwards and Lacy that his vote was for sale or, something like that.
I would like to know Harkeys position, do any of you have a clue?

]]> By: Dan Morgan http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10973 Dan Morgan Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:22:32 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10973 Opps, sorry your honor. Cooke opened the door with "ugly political history" and I just followed. I meant to just say: "Well, just when I was thinking there might be something to this with Traphagen’s comments, Cooke comes back with meaningless words of shoot the messenger if it is not his message. " Just trying to follow the changing rules. Opps, sorry your honor. Cooke opened the door with “ugly political history” and I just followed. I meant to just say:

“Well, just when I was thinking there might be something to this with Traphagen’s comments, Cooke comes back with meaningless words of shoot the messenger if it is not his message. ”

Just trying to follow the changing rules.

]]> By: Dan Morgan http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10912 Dan Morgan Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:11:58 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10912 Well, just when I was thinking there might be something to this with Traphagen's comments, Cooke comes back with meaningless words of shoot the messenger if it is not his message. From comments I have gotten in the past Ossenmacher and Lacy didn't play by the rules and hid from the residents. Everything was hidden in the consent calendar and public comment was held at midnight. Was there a recall effort for them? Chilton saw the handwriting on the wall and decided not to run for a second term. So I guess there have been "big" issues in the past and they were handled at the ballot box. Well, just when I was thinking there might be something to this with Traphagen’s comments, Cooke comes back with meaningless words of shoot the messenger if it is not his message. From comments I have gotten in the past Ossenmacher and Lacy didn’t play by the rules and hid from the residents. Everything was hidden in the consent calendar and public comment was held at midnight. Was there a recall effort for them? Chilton saw the handwriting on the wall and decided not to run for a second term. So I guess there have been “big” issues in the past and they were handled at the ballot box.

]]> By: antony cooke http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10911 antony cooke Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:22:10 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10911 The points raised by Dan Heredia are exactly the same as those made by anyone who has ever stood by while improper behavior by their elected officials occurred. Such apathetic attitudes are those of enablers. He proves that you get the government you deserve, and I guess he deserves Harkey. But I don't, and neither do countless others who still expect ethics in their government at all levels. And if he thinks that Dana Point "does not have real big issues and the past councils have put us in good shape", he has really lost touch with the ugly political history of the city since became incorporated. The points raised by Dan Heredia are exactly the same as those made by anyone who has ever stood by while improper behavior by their elected officials occurred. Such apathetic attitudes are those of enablers. He proves that you get the government you deserve, and I guess he deserves Harkey. But I don’t, and neither do countless others who still expect ethics in their government at all levels.

And if he thinks that Dana Point “does not have real big issues and the past councils have put us in good shape”, he has really lost touch with the ugly political history of the city since became incorporated.

]]> By: Andrew Davey http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10904 Andrew Davey Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:23:53 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10904 just asking- Good question. I hope Lara Anderson and/or all the concerned citizens troubled by this have reported this to the FPPC. And unlike their ruling against Harkey on the Town Center development, I don't think she can get away with ignoring them this time. Dan H- I understand. In fact, I have QUITE A FEW Dem friends in South County that supported Diane Harkey in 2004 because she seemed to be "the real deal". However, they've been disappointed since, as she broke her promises to them on protecting the coast, fixing the affordable housing problem in DP, and much more. It seems like she's been selling out what she used to believe in to find favor with the moneyed interests of the GOP Machine. Now maybe I'm wrong here. What have you seen with Diane Harkey that shows promise? Am I missing something here? PLEASE show me, as I'd like to see Harkey serve the people of her city. Oh yes, and I'm not running for AD 73... But perhaps, we can still find a good Dem to do that next year. :-) just asking-

Good question. I hope Lara Anderson and/or all the concerned citizens troubled by this have reported this to the FPPC. And unlike their ruling against Harkey on the Town Center development, I don’t think she can get away with ignoring them this time.

Dan H-

I understand. In fact, I have QUITE A FEW Dem friends in South County that supported Diane Harkey in 2004 because she seemed to be “the real deal”. However, they’ve been disappointed since, as she broke her promises to them on protecting the coast, fixing the affordable housing problem in DP, and much more. It seems like she’s been selling out what she used to believe in to find favor with the moneyed interests of the GOP Machine.

Now maybe I’m wrong here. What have you seen with Diane Harkey that shows promise? Am I missing something here? PLEASE show me, as I’d like to see Harkey serve the people of her city.

Oh yes, and I’m not running for AD 73… But perhaps, we can still find a good Dem to do that next year. :-)

]]> By: just asking http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10903 just asking Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:18:03 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10903 By the way, this type of discussions do happen very often. When the FPPC looks into them, the missing ingredient is written verification of the interactions of a majority of council. Unfortunatley in this case there is a document with signatures, too bad for those councilmembers. And by extension if another councilmember was approached and did not disclose to City Attorney or Manager, they could also be held responsible. It will be very interesting to watch what comes out of this. By the way, this type of discussions do happen very often. When the FPPC looks into them, the missing ingredient is written verification of the interactions of a majority of council.

Unfortunatley in this case there is a document with signatures, too bad for those councilmembers. And by extension if another councilmember was approached and did not disclose to City Attorney or Manager, they could also be held responsible.

It will be very interesting to watch what comes out of this.

]]> By: just asking http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/comment-page-1/#comment-10902 just asking Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:13:06 +0000 http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/09/10/why-is-diane-harkey-hiding-from-the-public/#comment-10902 Politics are dirty, but it is played by rules! Every boardmember and elected member in California gets training and materials which govern our discussions and deliberations. Brown Act and Sunshine laws are hammered into us all the time. I agree that the significance of this action is marginal at best, those against Harkey have enough reasons to want her out, and those that support her say, "its no big deal". However, any councilmember who knowingly breaks state constitutional laws (Brown Act) is subject to penalty. The statute does not ask if the matter was important or a dollar value. The councilmember opens themselves up to fines determined by FPPC. All the councilmembers in question must have received training on these laws in the last 18 months. This very type of colusion is discussed in the training all received. If requested it is up to the City to bring this forward and disclose to the FPPC. Does anyone know if that inqury has been made? Has the City asked the FPPC for a ruling? Politics are dirty, but it is played by rules!

Every boardmember and elected member in California gets training and materials which govern our discussions and deliberations. Brown Act and Sunshine laws are hammered into us all the time.

I agree that the significance of this action is marginal at best, those against Harkey have enough reasons to want her out, and those that support her say, “its no big deal”.

However, any councilmember who knowingly breaks state constitutional laws (Brown Act) is subject to penalty. The statute does not ask if the matter was important or a dollar value. The councilmember opens themselves up to fines determined by FPPC. All the councilmembers in question must have received training on these laws in the last 18 months. This very type of colusion is discussed in the training all received. If requested it is up to the City to bring this forward and disclose to the FPPC. Does anyone know if that inqury has been made? Has the City asked the FPPC for a ruling?

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