In Loaning Money, San Juan May Have Made Costly Mistake

I’m screaming mad and ashamed for our city! Mayor Kenneth E. Friess and Councilman Gary L. Hausdorfer and City Manager Stephen B. Julian have made San Juan Capistrano the laughingstock of Orange County. Shame on us all!

A sordid tale of years of cozy dealings by entrenched, arrogant leaders with a “public be damned” attitude. Everybody wanted to be mayor, but nobody wanted to watch the store.

But now the message to Messrs. Friess and Hausdorfer is loud and clear: Stop that ruinous San Joaquin Hills Toll Road “Y”; find the city manager a job elsewhere; get that Redevelopment Agency under control, and start listening seriously to the people.

I want to see Mayor Friess lead active opposition against the Santa Ana power brokers who are foisting this traffic “Y” upon us. Gary Hausdorfer is the most powerful politician in our town with strong ties to the White House. He should use his influence for the benefit of this city.

Now is the time for these men to clean up their mess. If they won’t, let’s circulate recall petitions.

ROY L. BYRNES, Former mayor, San Juan Capistrano