News

THE RUEHLEING CLASS

Dave WielengaWed. September 17
 

Belmont Shore’s landed gentry takes on peasants, loses

Everybody knows how the system works in Belmont Shore, and when nearly 300 people showed up at tiny Bayshore Library on Sept. 11 to vote in the local residents association election, everybody figured the system was working that way again. Especially the people who were working it.

“When the residents of Belmont Shore get mad,” said Parking Commission Chairman Bill Lorbeer, “they come out to do something about it.”

There was no reason to doubt him. Lorbeer grew up in the Shore, where people still know him as the No. 1 son of good ol’ Bud Lorbeer. Dad got very rich buying land—including a significant part of the Second Street business district—and has handed it down to his kids. Bill assessed the room packed with his loudly chattering neighbors. He smiled grimly and then pronounced: “This crowd is here because people are tired of Mike Ruehle.”

Ruehle is the renegade president of the Belmont Shore Residents Association. He spent his first year in office challenging the Second Street system—specifically, the group of powerful private business and property owners who amplify their power by doubling as government officials on the Business Association and Parking Commission.

Scenarios like that aren’t unusual in Long Beach, where overworked city officials frequently hand governing authority to well-positioned people. But some of the people use it to further their own interests under the guise of civic service.

In Belmont Shore, Ruehle has had the audacity to attack the system, suggesting that what’s good for the Second Street business class isn’t necessarily what’s best for the surrounding neighborhoods. In one high-profile case, he questioned the use of public money to improve private property and businesses belonging to Second Street’s wealthiest and best-connected. Some people not only consider that near-blasphemy, but it really hurts their feelings as well.

“I moved here 19 years ago, lived at First and Division,” said Parking Commission Vice-chairman Kurt Schneiter, another Second Street property owner. “Why should I now be penalized for being successful, for liking my community enough to where I’ve invested my money and time? Mike’s whole thing is to throw out inflammatory language to upset people and create fear. That’s not leadership. It’s divisiveness. But the people aren’t fooled. They’re ready to take back Belmont Shore. That’s why so many have come out tonight.”

Actually, until a few days earlier, there was barely a reason for anyone to vote—Ruehle and his officers were running unopposed. But then a slate of write-in candidates suddenly appeared, immediately assuming the role of rescuing reformers.

“This is not your father’s Belmont Shore!” bellowed local real estate agent Rich Carry on election night, making his case to replace Ruehle as president while pacing the library carpet like a street-corner evangelist. “These are neighborhoods of young professionals now! Families are moving in! When was the last time you had to call the police to shut down a wild party?”

Carry’s logic wasn’t easy to follow, and not only because he’s no young feller anymore. It’s because he was running atop a slate of candidates who were picked and/or promoted by officials of the Business Association and Parking Commission. Mix in the support of Third District City Council member Gary DeLong, and Carry may be right: It’s not your father’s Belmont Shore. It’s your grandfather’s.

Librarians didn’t even bother trying to shush the people waiting to vote. The line stretched out of the meeting room, down the hall, past the checkout desk, through the exit, descended the wheelchair ramp and into the parking lot, finally petering out just beyond a card table covered with campaign literature for the old guard’s slate of write-in candidates.

Council member DeLong hovered near the table. Thus far, his role in the effort to drive out Ruehle had included writing letters to the editor, sending e-mails to constituents and occasionally insulting him at city council meetings. In his most powerful critiques, DeLong portrays Ruehle as ineffective. His evidence? The fact that DeLong has refused to meet with him.

But now, out in the parking lot, DeLong approached the card table. He reached into the pocket of his green suit jacket and pulled out a packet of cards. Each card was covered with adhesive strips, and each strip was pre-printed with the name of an old-guard write-in candidate. DeLong gave a couple packets to a woman at the card table. She distributed them to voters as they joined the line, and just like that, writing in the challengers’ names became the even easier task of merely taping them on the ballot.

Back inside the library, poll workers had run out of pens for the voters. “We’re voting with crayons now!” laughed Heather Altman, after being saved by librarians who’d dipped into the stash of the kiddie arts-and-crafts classes. “All things considered, I think it’s appropriate!”

Across the room, DeLong made small talk with his constituents, periodically retreating for short conversations with Lorbeer and Schneiter. When asked about his hopes for the election, about his support for the effort to end the rule of Ruehle, he had nothing to say, changing the subject to the patriotism displayed by the large, loud turnout. “This is democracy!” DeLong said. “Isn’t it something?”

Asked about those cards of pre-printed adhesive stickers he’d been pulling from his pocket, he became slightly more expansive. “Uh. Oh. Well, I’m for change, yes,” DeLong said. “I’m definitely for moving things forward.”

All this would have seemed like a completely cold and calculating strategy by calloused shot-callers, except for how obviously convinced they were by the story they were telling themselves—that the huge turnout for a small election on a Thursday night was a measure of the esteem in which they were held by the people of Belmont Shore. They wholeheartedly believed in their own belovedness.

“Historically, the residents and the businesses of Belmont Shore have gotten along wonderfully,” Lorbeer said, chuckling as he struggled to be heard above the high-volume chatter. “Does this look to you like a group of people who don’t get along?”

Honestly, no, it did not. Those hundreds of people looked very happy, and most of them were undoubtedly even happier with the election’s surprising results—which returned Mike Ruehle and his officers to their positions for another year, suggesting that maybe this really isn’t your grandfather’s Belmont Shore anymore.

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Viewing 25 Comments

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    I wonder if it might be time to change the current Charter-mandated make up of the Parking Commission? As currently composed it seems heavily....skewed...in favor of area business interests.

    Granted, it's actual full title of "Belmont Shore Parking & Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission" might tend to explain this to a certain degree but perhaps its long past time to separate out those two...sometimes complimentary but often competing...interests.

    Since area parking (or, more appropriately, lack thereof) clearly impacts residents and businesses fairly equally, it would seem that a more balanced composition on something called a "Parking Commission" would prove far more representative of the stakeholders that are impacted.

    Hmm...note to self...research how to go about changing the City Charter...
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    Great writing Dave.

    I wonder if gary, bill, jackurt and rich whimpered off to gene's for a few stiff ones to try and wrap their brains around this one? What an ass-kicking!
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    This is a farce and I hope that someone opposes the election results.
    First thing is the names to be added to the ballot were delivered on time and somehow did not make it on the ballot. then Mike Ruehle Ended the voting 45 minutes earlier with people still coming in to vote reminds me of Chicago Machine style politics. There were well over 35 people who did not get to vote because Mike Ruehle decided to end it early even with people yelling to be allowed to vote. What the heck is that? I say the vote needs to be done again with standard elections rules enforced. Not having Pro Ruehle people doing the counting! Maybe the Librarian would be so kind as to do the counting?
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    I don't even live in Gary DeWrong's 3rd district (I reside in Suja Lowen-fraud's 2nd dis., but close enough) but it is very refreshing -- and even inspiring -- to see someone like Mike Ruehle steadfastly stand up to Long Beach's historical, corrupt politics-as-usual silliness. LB will be better off in this day and age with more steely, independent-thinking community activists like Mike R. who reject the "go-DeLong-to-get-a-DeWrong" way of thinking!
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    Hi Jack,

    For two months prior to the election, the Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA) had asked for people to submit their names as candidates for the election. This did not occur. The election ballots were printed on September 8th for the SEPTEMBER 11th ELECTION. At 3:21 pm on September 8th, I received an email from Matt Seibert announcing his candidacy for an at-large BSRA Board position. Matt is the nephew of Parking Commission Vice Chairman Bill Lorbeer and the son-in-law of Business Association President Gene Rotondo. At 5:01 pm on September 8th, I received an email from 2nd street bar owner Tim Moriarty announcing his candidacy for BSRA Secretary. I advised both Matt and Tim that they would be added as a write-in candidate because the ballots had already been printed.

    Officially, the BSRA was not contacted by write-in candidates Rich Carry, Scott Dixon or Roy Hanson, to declare their candidacy. We discovered they wished to be candidates on September 9th by reading a poster on the outside of Business Association President Gene Rotondo’s Legends Bar and Restaurant. We also read about it the next day in the Grunion Gazette. However, until the night of the election, they did not officially tell the BSRA of their intent to be candidates for election.

    There is no set time for the election. It has been customary that the election is ended when it appears that all votes have been cast. This gives the volunteer vote counters time to finish their tally before midnight. Several last-call announcements were made. Everyone on-hand acknowledged that they had voted. It wasn’t until everything had been packed up that someone arrived and was told the voting had closed. This procedure is consistent with past elections. If you review the minutes of past elections on the BSRA website, you will find that the previous election conducted by the Parking Commission controlled BSRA actually ended at 7:45 pm. I don’t remember Parking Commission Chairman Schneiter complaining about the previous election when Parking Commissioner and BSRA Boardmember Jeanette Gavin ended the election early that night.

    Where did you come up with 35 people? There were 8 people turned away from the voting. The reason I know this is because PT reporter Joe Segura and I were stationed until 8:00 pm at one library door and another former BSRA Boardmember was stationed at the other Library door. I’m not sure how you came up with that number because I don’t remember seeing anyone else hanging around.

    Ballot counting was done by the same conscientious ladies who have volunteered to perform this thankless job for the past several years. Furthermore, they were accompanied by Long Beach Report owner and reporter Bill Pearl who posted photographs of their vote counting efforts on his website.

    Are there any more fabrications that you wish me to dispel?
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    Upon reflection, I would like to make two corrections. First, Mr. Carry did indeed notify the BSRA that he intended to be a candidate. Mr. Carry’s letter stating his wish to be listed as a candidate to the SEPTEMBER 11TH BSRA election was collected from the BSRA PO box on the afternoon of September 10th. It was postmarked on September 9th. I still have the envelope with Mr. Carry’s name on it for anyone who wishes to see it.

    Second, it was not until the morning of September 10th (not 9th) that the BSRA discovered write-in candidates Rich Carry, Scott Dixon and Roy Hanson intent to be candidates in the election by reading a poster on the outside of Business Association President Gene Rotondo’s Legends Bar and Restaurant.
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    Well, let's see: Any change to the City Charter (including the make up of Boards and Commissions) requires approval of 2/3rds of the electorate. Thus it appears that if we want to change the composition of what's referred to as "The Parking Commission" we simply need to cause a measure to that effect to be added to the ballot of the next General Election.

    That sounds simple enough. Is anyone up for it? Perhaps with a more balanced Parking Commission membership, a lot of this ongoing friction could be avoided.

    As to the manner in which the BSRA conducts its elections; a quick review of their by-laws seems to indicate that no applicable rules were violated.

    If there is overwhelming dissatisfaction with the entire BSRA Executive Board, it seems that the membership should remove them. But it also seems that the only way to remove an Executive Board member is by 2/3rds vote of the remainder of the Board (assuming a quorum exists).

    Thus, assuming overwhelming dissatisfaction, It would seem that if 2/3rds of the BSRA membership chooses to, they could dissolve the BSRA altogether and then start over with a fresh Executive Board.

    I'm not seeing any evidence of overwhelming dissatisfaction among the membership, however.
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    Hi John. How simple is it to have a measure added to the ballot to change the Parking Commission City Charter? Currently, there is nobody on the Parking Commission who represents residents. That should be changed.
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    As a Belmont Shore resident, I am so disgusted with DeLong!
    Early in the morning on the 11th of September, my family received an email from Councilman Gary DeLong as did most residents in the Shore. This email demeaned BSRA President Mike Ruehl, (who was running for reelection that very day), and was quite specific why Mr. Ruehl should not be reelected.

    Gary stated that he would not vote for Mike and admitted he found it impossible to work with him. Gary even said that the Belmont Shore residents were "underserved" because of Mike Ruehl.
    Then the Grunion Gazette was dropped at our door. Again, a DeLong attack letter against Ruehl, (tame in comparision to the former email). These letters were designed to discredit and smear the candidate, (a political tactic often used at the last minute) to further the writer's own political agenda.
    Unfortunately, it backfired big time with our family, and we feel Councilman DeLong can take much of the credit for contributing to the abrasive and litigious election.
    Delong was improper-- openly campaiging for his friends--he is suppose to be a "public servant" for the 3rd District, I would suggest thisbe brought up before the Long Beach Ethics Commissions-However, Long Beach no longer has a Ethics Commission.!!!

    Since Mr. DeLong cannot work with Mr. Ruehl, perhaps he should assign his Chief of Staff, Ms Anne Cramer, as a liaison between his office and the BSRA. Anne is a professional, reasonable and rational woman who would be an asset in this position.
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    The pungent odor of Gary De Long's failed 11th hour attempt to infect the BSRA election last week
    is yet another, striking example ,of how inept he is as a councilperson- notwithstanding the excellent
    job he did two weeks ago when as, Chair of the Council Budget Committee he facilitated the
    Committee's work product.with noted skill.Clearly,he was in his comfort zone and element.
    Unfortunately a council person that is comfortable only when wearing a green eye visor-et el ill
    serves the people he is supposed serve.

    By doing what he did. he thumbed his nose at:the well reasoned concerns of many solid
    citizens in BSRA-AND at a basic tenant of an elected representative-viz to be AN HONEST BROKER IN ISSUES CONTENTIOUS.

    Clearly,Gary De Long(the best of bad lot pragmatically offered to the public on election
    day two years ago)lacks the INNATE-characteristics to be a good Council Representative.It is not
    in his DNA as it were.That is why he is the most disconnected representative the district has had
    in thirty years.He and the District are ill served by the fact he is a relative stranger to most things outside of his walled Park Estates-with essentially no meaningful involvement in what makes
    the district tick as it were.

    THE SOLUTION:
    l.Gary De Long steps down in November.
    2.All but 3/4 of one of his staff positions will be absorbed elsewhere with the City.
    3.The Mayor,who lives in the Third District-no stranger to belt tightening -will oversee
    the District for two years.
    4.Take the Circa $700,000 that will be saved and repair 700 sidewalks.

    NOW FOR A QUICK UP DATE ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON BUT TWO OF THE MANY OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WHERE GARY HAS PROVEN TO BE INEPT:

    l.Marine Stadium Fencing issue;where Gary demonstrates a clear lack of import and under
    standing of Coastal Law;marine safety;public use patterns and how such patterns develop.Gary
    of course has REFUSED to bring the matter before the City Council before it goes to the Coastal
    Commission(such matters can be brought to Council by:Council Members;Mayor or City
    Manager.)

    The Marine Stadium fencing issue IS NOW scheduled to be heard by the Coastal Commission
    HERE IN LONG BEACH IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR!!!.-instead of on the Oregon border
    in September.

    2.The ILLEGAL FARMER'S WHICH GARY DE LONG AND THE PROBLEMATIC
    SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT-IMPREGNATED THE TRULY UNIQUE,PASSIVE,
    TREE SHADED ,WATER SIDE PARK AT MARINE STADIUM WITH-WILL ALSO GO BEFORE
    THE COASTAL COMMISSION-hopefully in November,

    It remains to be seen if Gary refuses to bring this before the City Council-as it should.
    It is a WATER SHED ISSUE.Gary seeks to authorize-COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
    in City PARKS-and in the instant case-KICK OUT KIDS WHO USE SAID LOCATION FOR
    AFTER SCHOOL PLAY-as they have been doing harmlessly for half a century-to facilitate
    a Farmer's Market-so troubling that its operator(a Realtor who lives in Alamitos Heights
    will not have it in her neighborhood)-nor will Gary De Long allow it in Los Altos Park within
    his Park Estates.

    The above de facto up scale 99cent store-provides an interesting insight into the quality
    of stores he has in mind near HIS WOULD BE CANYON OF CONDOS AT PCH @2nd!!!!


    The operator operates three or four of these operations.An in depth story in the OC Register
    detailed the fact it takes circa 6000 people to attend and buy to become successful.That is
    twice as many people that attend the Dragon Boat Races!!!!

    Winding this up:Gary is about as well suited to be a City Council person-as is this individual
    to be a proof reader or spell checker!!!!!Need more be said,
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    Laurence B. Goodhue: There's much you want to shed light on but it's a shame you can't express your views in a cogent, coherent manner.
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    BELMONT SHORE POLITICS

    Despite claims to the contrary, there is NOT a vast division between the majority of Belmont Shore business owners and the residents. Most business owners wish to remain neutral or are sympathetic to the concerns of their resident customers. The real problem lies with two commercial property owners who have controlled 2nd street for several years by influencing city officials and business owners while remaining in the shadows. Their goal is to implement projects that allow them to maximize the rent they collect from their business owner tenants. They could care less what impact their projects have on the quality of life for residents in Belmont Shore.

    Commercial property owners Bill Lorbeer and Kurt Schneiter are the majority owners of 2nd street. Furthermore, Schneiter is the newly elected (today) Chairman of the Parking Commission and Lorbeer is now the Vice Chairman. The other Commissioners on the Parking Commission are tenants of Lorbeer and Schneiter who, despite the Brown Act, are frequently pressured to support their landlord’s positions.

    Until last year, the Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA) was also controlled by Commissioners Lorbeer and Schneiter through Parking Commissioner and BSRA Boardmember Gavin. In fact, the BSRA board at that time tried to appoint Parking Commissioner Lorbeer to be President of the BSRA. That riled up the residents who, in a surprise vote, returned the BSRA to the residents last year. Since then, the BSRA has begun to question Parking Commission decisions that impact residents. Commissioners Lorbeer and Schneiter are infuriated that the BSRA has shed light on their self interest dealings and the preferential treatment they have been receiving. That is why, from the shadows, they continually attempt to discredit the BSRA and also directed the all-out effort to have us voted out of the BSRA.

    Gene Rotondo, the long-time President of the Business Association, is frequently the front man who pushes the agenda for Commissioners Lorbeer and Schneiter. No business person dares to oppose him for fear of being evicted by Commissioners Lorbeer or Schneiter. Furthermore, Business Association President Rotondo's daughter is married to Commissioner Lorbeer's nephew, who ran for election to the BSRA Board. Moreover, Commissioner Schneiter has been seen dating the Executive Director of the Business Association. The web is alarming.

    Commissioners Lorbeer and Schneiter stay in the background out of sight. They usually work through Mr. Rotondo. However, Commissioners Lorbeer and Schneiter were videotaped at the BSRA election where they were handing out fliers to residents and maligning the incumbent BSRA Boardmembers in support of their agenda to take back the BSRA. Following the election, Parking Commission Chairman Schneiter was the first to cry foul to the Press Telegram. This is from a Commissioner who doesn't even live in Belmont Shore. Don't you begin to wonder why Parking Commissioner Schneiter is sooooo concerned about a resident association election for the right to volunteer for the community?
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    Nice work Mike, and great comments everyone else. It is a learning experience every time I read articles and posts regarding the BSRA-BSIA-Parking Commission etc.
    Now jackurt, crawl back in your hole. Take the councilman with you.
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    >>Hi John. How simple is it to have a measure added to the ballot to change the Parking Commission City Charter? Currently, there is nobody on the Parking Commission who represents residents. That should be changed.<<

    Mike: While I wouldn't characterize the process as 'simple', it is 'achievable'. One could also argue that responsible self-government is not, to any degree, 'simple', but I would say that it's not only 'achievable' but 'essential'.

    According to to a pamphlet published by the City Clerk's Office last year, taking a local initiative to ballot takes a little over a year and the general steps are these:

    1. File preliminary Notice of Intent with the City Clerk. The Notice must conatin the names of 1-5 proponents and there's a $200 refundable fee to file.
    2. Publish Notice of Intent, Official Title and Summary and file proof of having done so with the City Clerk
    3. Circulate petitions and collect the necesary signatures within 180 days
    4. City Clerk certifies results to City Council
    5. The Council can has several options, depending upon the number of petition signatures collected: A. Adopt the ordinance as submitted; B. Call a Special Election or add the initiative to the next General Election ballot C. Order a report from involved City Departments (to be delivered within 30 days)
    If there's to be an election:
    6. City Clerk receives written arguments
    7. City Clerk publishes and distributes sample ballots
    8. Election is held

    There are a lot of behind-the-scenes procedural activities throughout this process but this is essentially how it's done.

    Here's my question for you, though: If the City Charter mandates that: "One (1) member is a resident of Belmont Shore..." How then is it that, as you put it, "there is nobody on the Parking Commission who represents residents."?
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    Hi John,

    Actually, it was you who used the word "simple" in your quote below:

    "we simply need to cause a measure to that effect to be added to the ballot of the next General Election."

    I'm hoping that this process will be unnecessary. Maybe we can ask the Mayor and City Council to look at this issue and request city staff to make a change to the ordinance to allow residents to have a greater role on the Parking Commission.

    Thanks John. It is always educational reading your letters.
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    The term "simple" in my original reference was intended to modify the need to place a measure on the ballot, not to characterize the level of difficulty attendant in doing so.

    Sorry for the apparent lack of clarity.
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    Parking Commission Chairman Kurt Schneiter was the first person to call all of the newspapers complaining about the BSRA election because he failed again to get his way. I know this to be true, because I was called by reporters to rebut his fabrications.

    To vote in the September 11th BSRA election, a person must be a resident or residential property owner in Belmont Shore. There was a person with the same last name as Parking Commissioner Schneiter who registered and voted at the BSRA election. The proof of residency this person provided was a lease on a Belmont Shore home signed on September 1st by Parking Commission Chairman Kurt Schneiter. According to nearby neighbors, this home is owned by Parking Commissioner Schneiter and has been vacant and for sale for several months.

    When I phoned this person to ask for him to provide a utility bill as further proof he is indeed a Belmont Shore resident, he told me, “don’t contact me again” and hung up on me.

    Parking Commission Chairman Kurt Schneiter owns a company called Maverick Investments. There is a person listed on the Maverick Investments website who has the same name as the person who provided the lease and registered and voted at the BSRA election as a Belmont Shore resident. The coincidence is remarkable.
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    Mr. Ruehle,

    If you spent as much time worrying about the residents of Belmont Shore, as you do trying to combat the evil villians of the Parking Commision, maybe you would be able to get something done.