"Mayberry"? Really?
PALS POUNDING THE PAVEMENT
I saw this article, HERE, in the Daily Pilot online Friday night - it will appear in print Saturday - and had to chuckle at the specter of Mayor Jim Righeimer and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger padding around the Westside of Costa Mesa before dawn for their exercise routine, followed by a posse of admirers. Among the many things I found myself wondering about was whether they were packing firearms to "harvest" the coyote population - that's Mensinger's word, by the way.A PR STUNT
I admire them for the effort, but I'm suspicious that this is really a publicity stunt - another way to make them seem kinder and gentler - at a time when they both need better PR.
WHO IS BARNEY FIFE?
And, I'm not sure when they refer to Costa Mesa as "Costa Mayberry" they necessarily mean it as a compliment. More likely they mean it as a term of denigration - like as in a "hick town". Judge for yourself as you read the definition of "Mayberry" HERE. If that's actually the way they view our city it explains a lot of things they've been trying to do for the past couple years.
COULDN'T RESIST...
Anyhow, I saw this, HERE, cartoon tonight and thought it might make a perfect exclamation point to the article. Enjoy.v
Labels: Jim Righeimer, Steve Mensinger
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 2/22/2013 11:42:00 PM
20 Comments:
Geoff, you post about Mensinger's walks - something no other councilmember in memory has done, and label them a "PR stunt" - completely ignoring the article stating that he has been doing this regularly for quite some time - with no media attention.
The Pilot writes about it, and you label a truly constructive and selfless activity a selfish PR stunt.
What is wrong with you?
OC Register is reporting that Moorlach is thinking of running for governor. Our little Riggy is probably looking at a Board of Supervisor's seat, hence the big "nice guy moderate" facade of late. That might actually benefit Costa Mesa- with Col. Klink (Riggy) away, Sgt. Schultz (Mensy) would be OCGOP's boy in charge.
Genis: "We should read this study in its entirety."
Mensy: "I know NOTHING!"
well, this brings a "chuckle"? You are definitely a mean spirited guy. This sounds healthy and a way to see the community. keep it up,proud of you. a mayor in NB did it, all good. Heard Katrina ,through your column, was doing Friday walks, all good. But this, all chuckle, no good. I get it. it is called hate. i suppose a town hall meeting by leece is a pr stunt too. got it.
is that geoff in the cartoon link?
I didn't say it wasn't good that Mensinger was hiking around town in the early morning hours with whatever cadre of buddies that choose to join him. Obviously, he's among the many of us who need the exercise. Besides, it's a way for him to learn that there's more to Costa Mesa than a house on a Mesa Verde golf course and Estancia High School football. Nah, I think it's great for him.
And, no, that's not me in the cartoon. Clearly, that guy's involved in exercise - so it couldn't be me. Thanks for asking.
Cme on you guys...how many people walk in the morning with a photographer and news reporter with them? Only Riggy if he can get his face in front.
Fresh air is good for everyone, clears the head. I think the automatic reasoning this is a pr stunt is based on their past history. A person has to make up for all their tricks and mistruths before they are trusted by those they mislead again.
sk, mensingers past history is a lot of hours volunteering for the community, most of it behind the scenes. in fact until he got on council it was all out of sight of the general community. he has a tremendous love of this city. he is no Foley, always publicizing herself with tmi on facebook.
The Costa Mayberry thing is a complete joke. I do not believe they are using it to suggest a hick town but are using it to suggest a small friendly town.
That is the biggest joke because everyone, even their supporters know, Mensinger stands for the complete opposite of a small, friendly, old fashioned town.
Tom Johnson described him as a bull in a china shop. They created an atmosphere where we had a kid commit suicide, numerous employees left town and a complete division of the community.
I don't remember ever seeing Andy chest bump anyone or flash a fake badge at a little girl to try and intimidate her.
These guys are the exact opposite of Mayberry and this Mayberry thing is purely to make them look like they are doing the right thing.
Do you think Mayberry had the Arts we do, the fast-food burger joints we do, the development and the division we do?
I know for a fact Mayberry didn't outsource their JAIL!
Mensinger is a master deceiver and there he does shine.
Riggy and Mensy's actions are always suspect.
I've never been a fan of these guys, but it's a step in the right direction. Pun absolutely intended (step, get it?), but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Curious how many card punches Riggy has, though. He did show up (last) when the camera was there.
I would even consider joining for these, since I definitely need the exercise, but I have an actual job that starts at 7 and have to feed my family and pay the mortgage.
Loved how he took a picture of the empty stall. You would think with all this manure, there would've been a horse. Or, Riggy observing the landscaping change he missed on his only TWO other walks. But, then again, he also missed that his sweatshirt hasn't fit since 1953.
Pied Piper:
"Mensinger is a master deceiver and there he does shine."
We see him as a 2nd rate, undereducated bully posing as a leader. He should go to college and learn to be more like his Aunt Peggy:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1948&dat=19871220&id=lEcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k8wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5247,7282063
Genetics can be so random sometimes.
Another view of Peggy Mensinger, from her obituary published in a Stanford University Alumni publication (She graduated in 1944):
Peggy Boothe Mensinger, ’44, of Modesto, Calif., October 19, at 79. A political science major and member of Cap and Gown, she was an editor of the Daily and a student body vice president. After graduation, she ran her family’s Modesto fruit-drying business and was involved in public service. The first woman to serve on Modesto’s City Council, she was elected in 1973 and re-elected in 1977. She also served two terms as mayor, from 1979 to 1987. A longtime Stanford volunteer, she served as president of Stanford Associates. Survivors: her husband, John, ’40; two sons, John, ’76, and Stewart; her daughter, Susan, ’78, JD ’83, MBA ’84; and four grandchildren.
We Costa Mesans love our neighborhoods, that we have blue houses next to white ones and "people-planned communities" (unlike Irvine), and a number of independent, well-run businesses. That's about as far as the comparison goes.
If you went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Wilmington, North Carolina, or Cambridge, Mass. - all cities similar in population to our dear town - and you called their cities "Mayberry", most would be offended.
So now that Mensy & Riggy have seen a very SMALL cross-section of the Westside by walking through the area. Now, how about they spend a few days LIVING in this specific area. That would truly open their eyes to all the actual work that really needs to be documented and addressed by the City.
I was very fortunate to have grown up in the very peaceful and quiet "Upper Birds Streets" neighborhood of Mesa Verde. Where all our neighbors placed trash in their actual trash cans not carelessly dropping it into the Joann Street gutters. We parked our cars right in front of our own home, not by our neighbor's house around the block. We took great pride in our home's landscaping by maintaining our lush yards unlike the residents at 795 Joann St. who have a noisy chicken roaming their property.
Mensy, I'm glad that you're continuing these Westside Costa Mayhem walks for the betterment of your own physical heart's health. But even more importantly, hopefully your walks will lead you to the heart of these ongoing issues of our progressively deteriorating CM community. Please walk ON Joann Street instead of behind it on the bike trail then you'll clearly see our unfortunate yet continuous "Westside neighborhood issues" much better. Also, please put the Code Enforcement Hotline phone number into your iPhone speed-dial as well.
I live on the Westside, and I can tell you that rarely do Eastside or Mesa Verde folks dip there toes on what they consider the bad part of town. Maybe now that the park has been spruced up they will venture that far, but I am sure it will stop there. Mensigner using it for his fitness routine? I hope not.
The reference to Mayberry is so fitting for those two: no people of color, women in the home and the rest a sweet but under-educated lot - their idea of perfection. I've never seen a town such as that in my life and don't want to be part of one. It follows the rest of Righeimer's flawed reason - let's aspire to be a two-dimensional TV show locale. Please grow up gentlemen and deal with the real, three-D folks in your city.
I, for one, am glad Mensinger and Righeimer are walking the city and especially the Westside....let's just call it "on the job training" maybe they'll learn something.
Thanks. Fixed the link.
Post a Comment
<< Home