Politics

SANTA ANA - Occupy Orange County took a different turn Friday for the two-year anniversary of theU.S. Supreme Courtruling involving Citizens United. They went for laughs. Still, the day in downtown Santa Ana was all about raising awareness of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the January 2010 decision that prohibited the government from limiting funds from independent parties, such as corporations and labor unions, for political purposes. "People driving by will hopefully see the signs saying, 'Corporations are not people,' and, 'Your voice should not equal a dollar bill,' and take that [message]

COSTA MESA - At the Costa Mesa Taxpayers Assn. meeting meant to inform the public about a proposed city charter, audience members also got an earful of anti-union rhetoric. Nearly 100 audience members gathered at the Neighborhood Community Center on Thursday to learn about the charter, essentially a city constitution that would, if approved by voters, allow the city to make more of its own laws rather than rely on a state-provided template. "The elected officials are the ones who created the problem," Councilman Steve Mensinger said in describing the city's rising pension costs.

COSTA MESA — The city finished the 2010-11 fiscal year $3.8 million in the black, thanks to better-than-expected sales tax receipts and cuts to city programs and staffing levels, city officials said. Going into budget discussions over the summer, the city projected a $1.4-million deficit. However, taxable sales in the area rebounded, which was part of the 4.2% increase in revenue for Costa Mesa last year. "We're not in the critical period, but we're still in the hospital," Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer argued.

Mary Hornbuckle has gone by lots of titles over the years: Costa Mesa mayor, city councilwoman, school director, community college district trustee. Next summer, she'll have a new one: retired. Hornbuckle will serve her last day as director for St. Mark Community Preschool on June 30, 2012. She has served as director of the Newport Beach since 1988 and taught there for a decade before that. "I don't know what I'm going to do when the new school year begins," the 68-year-old said.

State Sen. Tom Harman (R-Costa Mesa) this week blamed partisanship on Gov. Jerry Brown's choice to veto one of his bills that could let private companies operate cash-strapped state parks. The state budget crisis has forced the state to temporarily close many of the parks to the public. "California should use every tool in the tool box to keep these parks open and profitable," Harman wrote in his weekly report to supporters. "There should be no excuse for closure when there are other, untapped options available.

SANTA ANA - A UC Irvine professor overstepped his boundaries when he told students that no disruptions were allowed during the Israeli ambassador's visit last year, according to testimony given during Wednesday's Irvine 11 trial. According to UCI comparative literature professor Rei Terada's testimony, before introducing Ambassador Michael Oren on Feb. 8, 2010, political science professor Mark Petracca, who emceed the event, told the audience he had the highest expectation for civility for the ambassador - a level that would exceed the respect given even during a joint session of Congress.

Director John Madden and Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren first teamed up in "Prime Suspect," the acclaimed detective series on British television. They transfer much of the gritty tension created in that effort to "The Debt," their new political thriller. Espionage and international intrigue are front and center in this pressure-packed drama that spans decades of late 20th century history. Mirren stars as the elder version of Israeli Mossad agent Rachel Singer. Jessica Chastain is riveting, playing the same character as a younger woman on assignment in East Berlin in 1965.

The Huntington Beach City Council voted Monday to study sharing services with neighboring Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Huntington Beach is expected to pay for a third of the cost, or $27,225, to examine whether it makes sense to share some services among the three cities. Surf City officials, however, said they were distancing themselves from the political climate in Costa Mesa, which is examining whether city workers can be replaced with outside contractors. "I don't believe this endorses what Costa Mesa is doing," Councilman Devin Dwyer said.

COSTA MESA — Tensions in the city are so high that police and firefighters can't have a meet-and-greet event with the community without the fear it could become politically divisive, city officials said this week. With hundreds of city jobs hanging in the balance as city leaders consider outsourcing public services, Costa Mesa Chief Executive Tom Hatch canceled the weekend event when word spread that residents might show up with a political agenda. "There were various people from various sides of the community and issue that indicated it may turn into more of a political event," said city spokesman Bill Lobdell.

COSTA MESA — At one point during the Feet to the Fire forum discussion on Monday night, Orange County Employees Assn. General Manager Nick Berardino questioned the heart and wisdom of having city employees work on proposals to contract out their own jobs. "That is just ugly," Berardino said. The crowd applauded. "It's reality," retorted Costa Mesa Councilman Jim Righeimer over that applause. That exchange just about summed up the tone of the night's panel discussion at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, which had more than 100 attendees.