Writing Shotgun

THE SEVEN NASTY THINGS COMMISSIONER KURT SCHNEITER WROTE TO A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

Dave WielengaMon. June 23
 

In memory of George Carlin, in tribute to perhaps his best-remembered bit—The Seven Words You Can’t Say on TV—and in utter amazement at the level of discourse from a mayorally appointed Long Beach community officer, we now present the “Seven Words and Phrases that Belmont Shore Parking Commissioner Kurt Schneiter Used to Insult Belmont Shore Activist Mike Ruehle”:

1) My word has always been good and yours has not; 2) Childish; 3) Someone of your caliber; 4) Flintstone; 5) Asinine; 6) Divisive; 7) Shit-stirrer … oh, wait, there’s another: 8) panties in a bunch.

Actually, there are a lot more—just like there were probably more words that couldn’t be said on TV—but Carlin knew something about the effectiveness of brevity and rhythm, not to mention that funny-kinda-something about the number seven.

Schneiter, meanwhile, is a successful businessman—landowner, anyway; he owns a bunch of it along Second Street—and the vice-chairman of the Belmont Shore Parking & Business Commission. He’s somewhat less impressive in that capacity, as a string of virulent e-mails show … copies of which The District receives by being on the mailing list of the Belmont Shore Residents Association.

Schneiter has been frequently and increasingly critical of Ruehle–president of the residents group—for his not-always-compliant reaction to the commission’s plans for the area.

Over the weekend, Ruehle sent an e-mail to Mayor Bob Foster complaining about the insults that litter Schneiter’s correspondence, wondering whether the language is appropriate for a city commissioner and requesting some intervention to improve the testy relationship between the Parking & Business Commission and the Residents Association.

Ruehle cc’d the entire Long Beach City Council, staff members, a variety of residents, local activists and media outlets.

So far, he’s gotten at least one response—from George Economides, publisher of the Long Beach Business Journal, who has had his share of high-profile go-rounds with the city over the years. But Economides didn’t like the fact that Ruehle went public with his beef. He didn’t like it at all—although when Economides sent his response, he sent a copy to The District:

Mr Ruehle:

There are scores of ways to utilize your time to benefit our city and to help it grow and prosper. This is not one of them. Most community leaders who have made positive contributions do so quietly because their priority is to help, not seek publicity. If you have an issue you wish to bring to the attention of the mayor, including one having to do with a commissioner, I suggest you talk directly to Mayor Foster and not try to involve 25 other people. In the meantime, please remove the Long Beach Business Journal from your e-mail list unless it’s to promote a community event.

Thank you,

George Economides
Publisher
South Coast Publishing, Inc.

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Viewing 25 Comments

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    I'd like to comment on Mr. Economides' letter. First I would like to say that I think Mr. Economides and his newspaper provides a fine service to the community. I have tremendous respect for the articles he writes, many of which are way more controversial than the email that I wrote him.

    I have tried several times without success to set up a meeting to discuss issues with both my Councilman and the Mayor. I suppose it is easy for Mr. Economides to set up a meeting. So far, I have had no such luck. It appears their strategy is to ignore me in hopes that I will go away. I suspect this has happened to Mr. Economides in his career. When people didn't talk to him, I don’t think that prevented him from continuing to pursue the issue and write an article about it.

    If Mr. Economides thinks I am seeking publicity, he is absolutely right. Drawing attention to this issue is the only way left to me to make positive change for my community. I refuse to sit back and be quiet when Parking Commissioners make decisions in their self interest for their 2nd street commercial properties which may negatively impact our community. Furthermore, I don’t believe that residents should quietly swallow insults and inaccuracies directed at them by City Commissioners during Parking Commission meetings? I wrote the email because residents are not allowed to speak during Parking Commission meetings. How else can the record be set straight?

    Mr. Economides may write an article on an issue. I’m left to sending emails and making phone calls. I will honor Mr. Economides request. And I will continue to read his fine newspaper.
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    Mike maybe you should try contacting the unofficial mayor of long beach for assistance. I'd bet that Mr. Schneiter is a dues-paying member of his union. Now, if your issue involved fighting pollution-reduction legislation then randy would really sink his teeth into it! Oh I'm sorry; love them long beach schoolchildren!
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    John, Exactly who is the unofficial mayor of LB? I'm just curious.

    One thought that occurs to me is that city officials need to remember who their constituents are. It appears to be a LB-government-wide policy to blow off anyone who questions any policy or decision made by a city representative.
    It is unfortunate, but the only recourse an individual has is to go public, and/or cc the city council with your concerns.

    Saddest of all is the fact that instead of being ignored by one or two city officials, now Mike R will be ignored by 25 city officials.
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    The July 1st city council agenda came out this morning. Agenda item 19 lists Mayor Foster's recommended City Commission appointments. Despite numerous resident complaints during City Council meetings about how the Belmont Shore Parking Commission conducts its business, Mayor Foster is recommending Mr. Schnieter be reappointed as Parking Commissioner. In my opinion, the city would be better served leaving that Commission seat vacant rather than reappointing a Commissioner whose professionalism is sorely lacking. I ask our City Coucil Members to question this reappointment.
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    Mike i feel for ya. Moral of the story is don't mess with the boys club that is long beach government. Don't question authority. Just sit back and take it, allowing our city to run wild with ideas that don't benefit the residents but rather line the pockets of the few.

    Don't give in Mike, keep fighting.
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    This Schneeter guy is a businessman? What kind businessman would engage in this kind of dialogue with someone in the community? I am guessing that Kurt's daddy has some money and he buys things with it. There is no way a real businessman would put comments like this in writing - it just wouldn't happen.
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    The public is not allowed to speak at a Parking Commission meeting?

    Sheesh, move to Signal Hill.
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    It's "Schneiter."
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    Curious,

    The following web address is a DW article that speaks volumes about randy "hypocrite" gordon, the "unofficial" "self-appointed mayor". Read the comments for even more pertinent information.

    http://thedistrictweekly.com/daily/writing-shot...

    foster seem to be displaying o'neill-like behaviour. Is there something in the water at city hall? Or maybe since it is directly downwind from the ports and all the diesel particulate pollution, which possibly interferes with the thinking process. randy might want to abandon his beloved long beach schoolchildren and start worrying about our leaders being polluted?
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    Given how self serving and rude this commission is the City should consider cutting the $500,000 per year it gives to subsidize 2nd street private businesses. The parking meter money used to go to Public Works to fix roads.
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    J, look out, you're asking for trouble. The chamber of commerce will get an initiative on the ballot to lock it in for life if you mess with them. Welfare for businesses is the only welfare that has the self-appointed mayors' approval.
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    2nd Street success is important to LB. It is important to keep the parking revenue spent in the Shore. And from my outside opinion, the street seems successful. What is it exactly that the commission does that negatively impacts the residents of Belmont Shore? I've read they use the parking revenue to beautify the street, clean up, and hold events that most enjoy. Why are they so evil again?
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    There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them.
    Louis Armstrong
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    "Community Activist"...really? What has Mr. Ruehle done for the community? Seems that his activism lies solely with causing grief for the independent business owners of Belmont Shore. Speaking of that, why would anyone wish to have revenue generated by the community's business district (parking meter revenue) put into the general fund? Sure, this would help the City's deficit and allow them to continue to spend money mindlessly as bureaucracies do. But these funds help to keep Belmont Shore the thriving and sought-after community that it is. Such improvements as the sidewalk widening, landscaping of the median and parking lots, and the future alley improvements come from this fund. Oh yes, we would be much better off without it!

    Contrary to the unknown contributions of Mr. Ruehle, it is known that Mr. Schneiter has contributed both his time and money to the betterment of Long Beach. But this may not be known by most residents as he does not seek publicity for his donations and improvement projects.

    Perhaps Mr. Schneiter's comments were out of line given his role as commissioner but this was also in an email between two adults. It was not said during a commission meeting. And although I am not a commissioner, I am an involved person in the community and wish to not have Mr. Ruehle run a campaign against me as well.

    By the way, does anyone know how this all got started?
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    There are some people that if they don’t know, you can’t tell them.
    Louis Armstrong
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    The parking commission sounds like a rubber-stamp fifedom to me. I am all for disbanding the commission and having the parking meter funds go into the general fund--the city's infrastucture is crumbling around us and 500K could really make a difference. I know Belmont Shore business success is also important to the city. Why not SPLIT the money? 250K for Belmont Shore and 250K earmarked for repairs to our city that's falling apart around us. Sure, it's easy to say that 250K is a drop in the bucket, but it's 250K we don't have now.

    I think we should suggest this compromise to the Mayor and Council.

    Mr. Schneiter may well do great things for the city, but there is NO excuse for acting in thes manner. I think it's a really bad idea for the mayor to reappoint him--there has to be someone else who can represent the Belmont Shore business interests on the commission who is NOT a rude S.O.B.!!!!
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    There is enough re-distribution of tax dollars from East LB to the rest of LB. I think we can let Belmont Shore keep the funds. And I don't even live in Belmont Shore...
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    Lets review....tax the people who spend money at Belmont Shore businesses, and use those taxes to benefit the same Belmont Shore businesses. Sounds like (corporate) welfare-brilliant! Was the LB chamber behind this?

    I didn't know that having noisy late-night bars and restaurants down the block from my house would improve my neighborhood and make it more sought-after. Sounds like ruehle is as ignorant as I am.

    He and I should be punished by having to listen to unionboss randy while he speaks to his members at one of his union meetings. Maybe then we will understand the truth!
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    Business entitlements have drained the City's general fund budget so that there is little money is left for residents issues or the General Fund.

    The City drained Public Work's budget for years to balance their "structural deficit" (Pot Hole pensions).

    Bankrupt the City so you can justify even more poorly planned high-density development, which will require taxpayer bonds to fix the infrastructure. Promise sales tax revenues, which never materialize. Then hand out sales tax subsidies for SE LB businesses.

    The City's redevelopment districts (RDA) money siphon all the property tax increases for decades into their own developer's fund and they are rolling in $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

    The airport controls all revenue at the airport.

    Tidelands.

    2nd street gets 100% of the parking meter money. The public pays this money for parking yet it goes to benefit private businesses. 2nd street rents are some of the highest in coastal CA-yet these subsidies are paying for sidewalk seating(which is rented out), proposed alley repairs which should be paid for by the property owners, proposed purchase of Colonna's $1.5 million parking lot (been there for 50 years) , etc. Why pay for this stuff yourself when you can get the public to pay? Subsidies do not help the business owners when the property owners just keep raising the rents. The assessments for the business district are not tied to inflation so the public's contribution just keeps increasing.

    How come so many "no bid" City contracts? Wonder why?
    Get the picture. The next time I hear the City Manager or any elected official talk about "transparency" in government or "business friendly" I am going to puke.

    Let us face it this City is up for sale to the lowest bidder with connections. Notice how they go after anyone who questions the status quo? These same people are using taxpayer money/power and public commissions to bully citizens.

    It is about time the City acknowlege and respect community homeowner groups issues.