Writing Shotgun

WETLANDS: IS THIS HOW IT’S GOING TO BE?

Theo DouglasSat. March 21
 

The Press-Telegram weighs in with its wetlands story Saturday morning, and I have to say: after recent events, I can definitely see one direction things could go after the illegal wetlands grading that went on Thursday and Friday.

But first a couple quotes from the story, by Joe Segura. Then you’ll see it too. Here’s the lede:

“City Manager Pat West halted heavy earth movers Friday from spreading a mound of asphalt apparently meant to pave a section of just cleared habitat near Los Cerritos Wetlands,” Segura writes.

And then there’s this explanation of events Friday (yesterday), farther down:

“Environmentalists called 3rd District Councilmen Gary DeLong and 4th District Councilman Patrick O’Donnell, who both contacted West,” Segura writes.

“DeLong, whose district includes the site, said he believes the property was sold about two weeks ago, but had no other details.

” ‘This is an example of why we need to get Los Cerritos out of private hands and into the public sector,’ ” DeLong told Segura.

Do you see what’s going on here? I think I do–and I also think one commenter on the P-T’s website completely misses the point. Here’s Robert J G Jackson Sr.’s comment from the P-T’s site:

“The story was about the new owner of the property being out there with large bulldozers and other heavy equipment without first obtaining the required permits,” Jackson writes.

“Congratulations to those who complained, and to those, like the Councilmembers mentioned in the article and Mr. West, who stopped the work. Everything worked just the way it’s supposed to, starting with the alert citizens who picked up a phone and made a report. Well done.”

Really? Well done, Mr. Jackson. How about not well done? How about the wetlands that were destroyed Thursday and Friday? What’s good about that?

According to LBPost.com’s Ryan ZumMallen, “West said that he is not sure whether penalties will be enforced, but that the City will meet with the owner early next week to discuss the development process.”

Really? No penalties for destroying an area of the wetlands? Maybe I should quit newspapers and start driving bulldozers–that sounds like a growth industry.

No penalities? Hell, the city used to ticket my wife and I when we parked on an unpaved section of our driveway. Wouldn’t you think there’d be a big fat penalty for destroying wetlands?

Maybe I’m a little paranoid right now, but here’s how I see this after reading Dave Wielenga’s story Wednesday in The District Weekly and the P-T’s story Saturday and DeLong’s comments.

One way you can read all of this is as follows: the sale and grading of this area of wetlands could have been engineered to lend a sense of urgency to the city’s purchase of other areas of wetlands–the point being made abundantly clear by DeLong in the P-T.

Do I think this is what’s going on? I’m not sure. But people are amazing everywhere, and I do think it’s within the realm of possibility. If we put a man on the moon, then I’m sure we can engineer a timely, tidy disposal of the wetlands, can’t we?

I’m not saying that’s what’s going on. I just happen to think it’s possible.

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  • Andy
    A construction company that didn't have permits? If anyone would know about permits, they would.

    Something stinks here and it's really close to the surface, so it won't take too much digging.
  • PatBryant
    I think you give the City way too much credit. They don't have the creativity to think up the plan you just outlined.
  • Mike Ruehle
    Hello PatBryant,

    I suggest you wait until you hear about the creative (dirty) plans Mayor Foster, Councilman DeLong and Mr. Conway came up with to benefit Mr. Dean by sticking it to some of the other local businesses. There's a bunch more to come that may cause you to think differently. Please stay tuned.
  • Mike, if you know something, why not just share it? Why make us wait?
  • Mike Ruehle
    Hello LB City Girl,

    I think the folks at the District Weekly can do a much better and capable job writing about it this sordid tale than I.
  • paulde
    Hi Mike,

    Yes, this really stinks. You are so right about a construction company that ignores permits. They know that they need a permit for everything. Bob Foster is a pal of Tom Dean? Are they manulipating the property for the top price? What string is Jerry Miller pulling? Then the "weed abatement," notice. Who uses bulldozers for that? Of course, it was done to get attention and start the process of ripping off the public, all with the aid of the City Hall "family." Where is my proof. None, just years of watching the gangsters at work.
  • Mike Ruehle
    Hi Paul,

    When you ask whether Mayor Foster and Mr. Dean are pals, consider the following. Mayor Foster was President of Southern California Edison when he sold the proposed Home Depot site to Mr. Dean. Mayor Foster and Mr. Dean are neighbors and live on exclusive Naples Island in Long Beach. Several emails indicate our Mayor Foster was directly involved and approved each step of the wetlands exchange transaction with Mr. Dean. Furthermore, Mayor Foster did not want the public or certain Councilmembers to know about the recent land swap negotiations. For instance, Mr. Conway told Developer Tom Dean on May 30th last year that Mayor Foster "is on board, loves the idea…. wants us to QUIETLY move things along."

    Mr. Dean, his wife Annamarie, several partners, business acquaintances and all of his many individual companies each contributed the maximum amount of campaign contributions to Mayor Bob Foster and each of the GANG of FIVE Councilmembers. This gang of five is headed by Councilman Gary DeLong and includes Councilmembers Bonnie Lowenthal, Suja Lowenthal, Dee Andrews and Val Lerch. If you add up the individual contributions to each elected official, a significant percentage of money donated to their campaigns came from Mr. Dean. Ethical Councilmembers would identify these contributions and recuse themselves from voting on any issue regarding Mr. Dean. Not the Mayor and the GANG OF FIVE. They voted to reward Mr. Dean for his hefty campaign contributions and who knows what else.

    First, this GANG OF FIVE Councilmembers voted to approve the EIR for Mr. Dean’s Home Depot. This is the same EIR that was found to be illegal by the Norwalk Superior Court and thrown in the garbage. Then, this GANG OF FIVE VOTED DOWN Councilwomen Gabelich’s motion for City Council to review the wetlands deal before approving it. Instead, the GANG OF FIVE directed City Manager West and Mr. Conway to complete the multi million dollar land swap negotiation with Mr. Dean without bringing the specifics of the deal back before City Council and public review.

    Keep in mind also that Mr. Dean must receive approval from the Planning Commission in order to develop the remainder of his wetlands. To assist Mr. Dean’s development, four new development-friendly Planning Commissioners were recently appointed by Mayor Foster. These Planning Commissioner appointees are friends and associates of Mr. Dean that were all appointed by Mayor Foster during the past year. These friends include newly appointed Planning Commissioner Becky Blair, who received the maximum amount of campaign contributions from Mr. Dean and his associates in Ms. Blair's recent failed attempt for election to District 2 City Council. In addition, Planning Commissioners Alan Fox, Charles Durnin and the husband of Planning Commissioner Donita Van Horik serve together with Mr. Dean and Mayor Foster on the Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors as well as several committees. It appears Mayor Foster has gone out of his way to stack the Planning Commission deck for his pal Mr. Dean to get his city approvals to develop the wetlands.
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