The Capistrano Insider

More Bad Press for Reeve=More Bad Press for Capistrano

More and more media outlets are picking up the allegations that San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve is a potential plagiarist, as reported by Capistrano Patch Editor Jenna Chander.

Frank Mickadeit at the Register -- who was in Capistrano last Tuesday to cover the debate over the name of Reeve's dog -- weighs in that it certain looks like Reeve took the work of others and republished it under his own name. That column is here and points out the fact that Reeve has essentially not answered anybody's questions since the issue began. He's even silent on his Facebook page, where he'd posted plenty on the dog debate.

Others weighing in include OC Weekly and the Liberal OC.

Both are very carful to attribute their sources.

On the academic front, Dissent the Blog at Saddleback posts a lengthy examination of the school's policies on plagiarism. That's here.

It makes for an interesting Capistrano City Council meeting on October 4. One of the items expected to appear on that agenda (which isn't posted yet) is Reeve's proposal for a anti-illegal immigration policy. That proposed policy and the news release about it was among the writings Patch cited as containing work very (very very) similar to the (copywrited) work of others.

 

 

Conservative King O'Reilly Calls Capistrano's Reeves 'Pinhead' Over Dog Name

Even conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly has weighed in on the issue of San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve naming his dog "Muhammad," after the Muslim prophet. Reeve said he did it as a lesson in free speech.

O'Reilly's response: "Free speech issues aside, Mr. Reeve is a pinhead," O'Reilly said during the short "pinhead and patriots" segment his Fox News show. "Why offend Muslims if you don't have to? You wanna teach your children about tolerance there are plenty of others way to do it."

Here's a link, with video, via San Juan Capistrano Patch.

And Frank Mickadeit, the OC Register's columnist, has weighed in, too. He attended Tuesday's meeting. His take:

First, was his stated reason for naming one of his dogs Muhammad – teaching his children the meaning of free speech – completely sincere? Did he name his dog something he knew would offend some Muslims because it was necessary to make a point? Or does he mainly just want to offend Muslims?

According to Patch.com, after the Sept. 6 council meeting, he wrote a blog piece for Patch talking about how his two dogs got their names. In the original blog, he wrote:

"While playing with our family's two new Basset Hounds, Muhammad and America (Muhammad is the bitch), I was thinking ..."

But this part of his post was removed a short time later. In response to another reader's inquiry about its disappearance, Patch editor Jenna Chandler wrote that "(Reeve) wrote to me to say he had intended to delete that part of the blog post, and wasn't sure how it remained in our queue. In fairness to him, we deleted it from this story."

So, if Reeves' naming of his dog was also something of a statement – essentially, Muhammad is America's bitch – that would seem to belie his public statement that it was all about freedom of speech. It would be evidence of the insensitivity and mean-spiritedness his critics allege."

Here's Frank's column.

Frank followed up with another column:

"My column yesterday about San Juan City Councilman Derek Reeve naming his dog Muhammad mostly examined the corrupt logic and false sincerity behind his reasoning: he said he was teaching his children a free-speech lesson. Many Muslims consider dogs foul.

It's bad enough you have a politician so consumed by ideology that he gins up some illogical reason to mask what's really going on. That kind of thinking can have spillover into all sorts of policy-setting arenas, so it is worth noting for the future. But what I failed to address, for space reasons, was the very real and immediate impact of his hurtful words within the lovely city of San Juan.

Mayor Sam Allevato wrote me:

"We employ Muslim workers, who were offended by the statement, especially in the manner it was delivered. Who is to speak for them? They won't speak up for themselves as they obviously fear retaliation. I know that a 'hostile work environment' has to be a pervasive culture or pattern of behavior within an organization. But could not a 'pattern' of a hostile work environment begin with one statement made by the highest ranking member of the city?"

SJC is so on notice now, I'd be shocked if you ever heard another slur, but in theory, he's right. More practically, Reeve demoralized a group of employees, and without a real apology that will linger."

Here's that column.

Saddleback College 'Dissident' Takes a Look at Capistrano Councilman, and Saddleback Prof, Reeve

A blogger who keeps a close eye on what goes on at Saddleback College has cast his gaze upon Councilman Derek Reeve, who teaches there.

"I am not questioning Reeve's right to hold and express opinions or to cite articles/blogs. We honor those rights. If there is an issue here, it is whether, qua CC "poli sci" instructor, it is appropriate for Reeve to [a] suggest to his students that they pray or how they should pray, [b] recommend political articles that are almost uniformly conservative or libertarian, [c] set himself up as a conservative/libertarian guru to his students—if indeed he is doing that on his Facebook page. With regard to b and c, people can reasonably disagree, I suppose. I don't see how [a] can be defended. —Again, I'm operating on the assumption that Reeve has his students read this Facebook page, which seems likely [though not certain], given that he makes announcements to his students on that page."

You can see the entire post here.

 

Reeve Doesn't Seem Apologetic About Naming Dog 'Muhammad' *UPDATED

Updated to fix broken link on audio.

San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve doesn't seem apologetic in the wake of announcing he named his dog "Muhammad," although he's been criticized by colleagues, residents and members of the Islamic community.

Courtesy Jim Reardon -- a running mate when Reeve was elected in 2010 -- here's a tape of Reeve's announcement at the City Council meeting:

DogPark

On his Facebook page, he points out the council is more concerned with his dog's name than with a code-enforcement effort against a Capistrano family hosting Bible studies in their home.

Here's a screen grab of that page (click on the photo to read it):

And over on Patch, Editor Jenna Chandler said Reeve's initial blog about the dogs included the line "Muhammad is the bitch," referring to the female dog. That line was removed, Chandler said, because Reeve told her he did not intend to include it.

Here's a screengrab there:

The item remains on Tuesday's council agenda.

Capistrano Steps Up Communication

San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato issued another Mayors Message for residents and the media today through the city's public relations consultant. In that, he talks about all of the public-works construction projects going on around town -- eight of them. Some are city and some are state.

Here's a copy of that:

Download Mayor Sam Allevato July 2011 message

Allevato has long said more communication would help ease some of the ... angst ... that some in town seem to have (and share.) He was doing a series of Lunches with the Mayor, but those faded. He was criticized for allegedly grabbing the spotlight by holding the hourlong sessions at City Hall, but then said he would open them up to other council members to take a rotation.

Now, there's grumbling he doesn't do them anymore.

But new in the communication effort is a "City Manager Update" by new City Manager Karen Brust. I've seen these in other cities, and Brust followed a similar formula -- a no-frills (and no PR hyperbole) rundown of what's going on in the city, department by department.

Some examples:

Information Technology

The City’s IT team is currently in the process of implementing a new work order management system to better organize and track the City’s operations and asset maintenance activities. Phase 1 will largely focus on water and sewer assets with subsequent phases primarily focused on facilities and vehicle fleet. A “thin client” desktop system is being tested to replace end-user desktop computers. Network applications and data will be served from a centralized server, eliminating the need for desktop computers for most end-users. This project will result in lower costs through lower power consumption and longer replacement life-cycles for desktop terminals. The IT team is also configuring the City’s new phone system menu for routing calls increase efficiency and customer friendliness.

The Development Services Department consists of five divisions including planning, building & safety, code enforcement, historic preservation and housing. The following depicts the status of current and future projects.

Costco Wholesale: Demolition has begun on the front of the store to add 25,000 square feet of building including an outdoor dining area. Expected completion is in November 2011.

Marriott Residence Inn: Is nearing completion of the framing stage. Completion expected February 2012.

Orange County Chrysler: Open and pending approval of a permanent sign program.

Tuttle-Click Ford: Processing Architectural Control application to remove modular buildings, upgrade showroom, add service bays, car wash, and entry canopy. Expect entitlements by October 2011.

Capistrano Terrace Mobilehome Park Closure: An application for park closure is being considered by the Housing Advisory Committee on July 27, 2011.

There's more in community services, which is essentially the city's planning department.

I've put in an email to see if it's just an e-letter (it's also online at the city's website) or whether it will be printed and mailed in water bills ... although how many folks still get water bills versus going online?

Here's a link to Brust's update.