The city asked “Dana Point Today” to discontinue use of city seal, add disclaimer distancing itself from city.
By ANGELA POTTER STAFF WRITER
As of Tuesday, a controversial newsletter mailed earlier this month to many Dana Point residents had been modified online to eliminate the use of the city seal. A disclaimer had also been added to the newsletter’s Web site which said, “Dana Point Today is not affiliated with the City of Dana Point.”
The newsletter, called “Dana Point Today,” has been a point of contention throughout the city with what critics call misleading content. It is unclear who is behind the newsletter, which only makes the critics more suspicious.
The only contact information for the newsletter is an email address on its Web site, www.danapointtoday.com, and a commercial mailbox street address.
The front page of the newsletter features a seal that resembles the official city seal in style and color; both seals feature a rope-like circle around the outside and depict the ocean and sun in the background. As of Tuesday, the fake seal remained on the Web site.
On page three of the newsletter there was a Mayor’s Message very similar to a column previously written by Mayor Diane Harkey and published in the Dana Point News. The article included pictures of all the City Council members with their contact information, as well as the official city seal.
In an email, Harkey said she did not publish the newsletter and claimed the article was lifted from the Dana Point News. Harkey added that she writes her own city and county newsletters which are sent out via email.
“No, I did not publish this newsletter, but wish that I had,” she said. “It was of very high quality and welldone.”
On August 14, City Manager Doug Chotkevys wrote a letter to Dana Point Today requesting that they discontinue the use of the city seal, which he said was prohibited under the Municipal Code. He also asked that the group add a disclaimer stating the newsletter was not an official publication of the city.
In Chotkevys’ letter he wrote that the newsletter had the appearance of being an official city publication, being both “informative and of a quality that would be comparable to something that the city would prepare and distribute.” Chotkevys said the public also appeared to be confused, as evidenced by emails he received from the community thanking him for producing such a nice publication.
The newsletter is largely favorable to city, promoting the Town Center plan and improved water quality at Salt Creek due to a water treatment facility partially funded by the city.
“I truly appreciate and admire your efforts to publish such a quality periodical with such a positive image of the job we are doing at City Hall,” Chotkevys said in the letter.
Chotkevys received an unsigned email response form the group, which said, “We apologize for any confusion.”
On August 7 former City Councilman Jim Lacy sent a letter to City Attorney Patrick Muñoz requesting an investigation into the origins of the newsletter and the misuse of the city seal. He said he was pleased that the city took his letter seriously, but said the apology to Chotkevys from the Dana Point Today people did not go far enough.
“This is an accomplishment for the citizens,” Lacy said. “However, I continue to be concerned about the shady nature of the organization, the lack of disclosure and the lack of accountability.”
Lacy, a supporter of the Harkey recall effort, said the newsletter was clearly a pro-Harkey publication. On the California Secretary of State’s Web site, Dana Reed is listed as the “Agent for Service of Process.” Lacy said this would usually mean Reed was the lawyer who drew up the articles of incorporation for the Dana Point Today organization.
Reed works in Reed & Davidson, LLP, the same law firm as Darryl Wold, an attorney who does work for Harkey, among other clients. Reed could not be reached for comment by press time.
Lacy also pointed out that the address on the Dana Point Today mailing was similar to the address for Harkey’s assembly campaign; they have the same street number, 24843 Del Prado, but are followed by different numbers.
The business located at 24843 Del Prado is called Office Quick. They rent out mailboxes to the public. The company would not divulge the owner of the mailbox for the Dana Point Today mailing due to privacy laws.
