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What consistently amazes me is that Mr Rontundo doesn't realize that every time he thumbs his nose at residents he makes it that much harder for himself and his partners to do business in the Shore. Now what do you think the residents are going to say when the Acalpulco Inn plans are submitted and residents realize that Gene is one of the new owners who is attempting to open up the entire front of the building for the biggest outdoor patio on 2nd St.?
Well, I am guessing the good people of Belmont Shore will support his plan just like they supported the ATM he is now being forced to dismantle. Now in the old days Gene would have been able to get away with his ATM shenanigans and his plans for AI would have slid right through planning.
Is someone going to tell Gene that his diminishing power combined with his arrogance will be his downfall? Nah, let him learn the hard way.
Do 2nd street business owners truly understand what their President is doing? Not only did Business Association President Rotondo attempt to control the September 11th Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA) election, he is also using their Business Association employees to spread fabrications and misinformation about the BSRA. This isn’t the first time that Mr. Rotondo tried to take over the BSRA. Last December, the Business Association President invited Parking Commissioner Jeanette Gavin to the Business Association monthly meeting to announce the formation of a new residents association that was largely ignored by everyone. Furthermore, when residents challenged a code infraction at his Legends bar, Mr. Rotondo cut off all communication with the BSRA. He has since banned the BSRA from participating in the Business Association monthly meetings and Business Association events on 2nd street. He also stopped Business Association participation during monthly BSRA meetings where residents typically learned about upcoming Business Association events. These are events that the Business Association and the Residents Association previously collaborated together on. And now, as President of the BSRA, I’ve been banned from Business Association President Rotondo’s place of business. How do actions such as these help anyone, let alone the business owners he was elected to represent.
Business Association President Rotondo is the owner of a popular bar that, unfortunately, has been the source of numerous public disruptions in our community. As President of the BSRA, I have received many emails asking for help from residents frustrated by the increasing frequency of fights, public urination, vulgar language and vandalism in front of their homes. When contacted, Mr. Rotondo frequently claims these events never occurred and were fabricated by residents for some unknown reason. Rather than taking responsibility for his over served patrons, Mr. Rotondo chooses to retaliate against the messenger and the newspapers that have the audacity to question his conduct.
Business Association President Rotondo’s response to residents concerns about the operations of his business is to portray the BSRA as being anti-business. That is the method he uses to cloud the issue. Nothing is further from the truth. Like me, most residents in our community live here due to the close proximity of the businesses we patronize and enjoy. I could easily argue that Mr. Rotondo is anti-business by spreading misinformation, attempting to seize residents’ organizations and refusing to communicate and alienating resident customers of the 2nd street businesses. It helps nobody for Mr. Rotondo to utilize his Business Association presidency bully pulpit to punish newspapers and residents organizations that draw attention to his heavy handed activities serving to benefit his personal business.
Mike Ruehle
BSRA President
Are we really supposed to be surprised that Rotondo and Colonna are meddling in local politics to protect their ever growing financial acquisitions? Hell, Frank Colonna wasn't happy just having his hand in the cookie jar, he wanted to become the cookie jar. Politics as usual. If you're sick of the rich getting richer and the puppetry of local politics, stop supporting A.I., Belmont Station, Legends/Pete's, Polly's, and anything Colonna touches.
Oh yeah, a reminder to the incoming freshman class.....every time you put a jack johnson or sublime song on the jukebox god kills a kitten.
The reason I go to meetings such as this is to stand before my accusers to answer their questions and quash new fabrications they would create in my absence. I do not hide in the background and I don’t react to their name calling and insults. I make myself available for people who have questions and want to talk about both sides of Mr. Rotondo’s stories. Communication is the key. Previously, communication was controlled by this group of influential individuals. However, as a result of the reporting of the District and the PT, people who live or do business in the community are starting to pay attention to what is going on and where the truth lies.
In the meantime, you are free to not subscribe to whomever or whatever you choose and to tell you the truth many of us who want to deal with businesses run by adults are free to do the same. It is time to find common ground, because if you do not, all of us lose.
WE also have options, friends, connections and money.. The BSBA was originally formed to remedy parking issues, but it has actually worsened them, right? No significant parking fix was feasible, nothing significant happened, so let this be the sad conclusion paragraph of a book called excessive government intrusion, style drift, greed, ego and hubris?. Given all the acrimony, let's disband this costly, self serving, overly non transparent, often anti -resident waste of time and money? They need US, we don't need them, last we checked?
They have clearly failed in their mission and they have repeatedly exceeded their intended scope, and authority , while now apparently feeling justified in impinginging upon many persons' rights and quality of life ?. Is this good government? This sounds like grounds for CENSURE in many arenas, and sanction in others..
Fiscally, we have a strained budget, and the BSBA have not really delivered value for the dollar, have they? These days it seems as if they have increasingly squandered public monies to impede Democracy and fair debate? Enough of these clowns , jerk their funding, or charter, or at least insist upon citizen mandated oversight and participation.?
Why not sponsor terminating this problem around Gary? , We'll all remind the 9 Democrats on the dias that Mr Rotundo's hard turn to the right has a place in his private life, but not in OUR public life , or the use of OUR funds . We built this entire area out without this Association, and we'll be fine without them. I recall better times without them.
WE,, the residents, and our friends, are the Heart and Soul of the Shore, all of us, not just a few of them. We pay the taxes that pay for this party, and we need to remind some of them about this more often. It has been a pleasure to help Mike, and others, remind a few people when they get ' A little too big for their britches', or too ''caught up in their own press, or clippimgs''.
Also, as tolerant fellow business owners, we can't believe that Mr Rotundo, and some of his friends, are being allowed to senselessly destroy so much good will in the area ?. Especially with so much competition for discretionary dollars? And this maniacal '' kill the message'' ...''and the messenger'' nonsense, combined with all of these attempts to silence dissent, restrict free speech, hand pick Boardmembers and all the rest is simply wrong, and wrong headed ! This cloud over the area is quite alarming. A few think that some of this has at times had that putrid, dictatorial, if not slightly Hitler -esque feel to it ? So rather than burn the books, burn the' E' library at the District and elsewhere? Shrewd business ....fellows.. A lot of people are quietly quite upset with a few of you guys, and they are talking, uneasily.
Also, many of us are still reeling from seeing raucous, semi drunken beer hall patrons storming the BSRA election while trying to stuff the ballot box . People being herded by folks with their Legend's shirts turned inside out? And our Councilman actively participated with endorsement stickers that he provided? Ever heard of a conflict of interest Mr DeLong? Talk about ham handed 'Old Chicago' style stunts ?. Al Capone also used similar stunts to sway elections his way. Next time will you be handing out soup and temporary day jobs for votes?
Now for another big concern, these unfair patron bans upon Mike Ruehle and friends. Why are we taxpayers subsidizing these guys? This is a Breach of Public Trust isn't it? We residents and taxpayers invested, and basically own $ 500,000 of Legends, plus interest, right? Since we loaned them their reconstruction funds, don't they have to be as even handed and fair in the conduct of their business as the State and Federal Government ?. They do. So, should the supposedly good will of public money continue to be subverted to basically fund Discrimination, Denial of Civil Rights and Denial of Free Association ? No. These guys do not have the same rights as privately funded, or owned sole proprieterships, do they ? NO, because they chose US, as their partner and banker. This sounds more and more like a classic slam dunk ACLU case, which several are studying. This just all seems to stink more and more.
How much of this conduct Breaches several of the Conditions and Covenants in the terms of this loan definitely deserves further scrutiny . We all know how many Constitutional 'strings ' or rules that follow many uses of public funds. Regardless, we don't want our tax dollars used to feed this ongoing problem do we? We are hearing people say that he deserves to have his loan called. Gary carried this deal to Council, and vouched for the recipient, he now needs to at least help put this fire out, rather than fan it again and again
We also heard that Gene actually used some of the funds to buy into another club? He testified to Council that he was unable to rebuild without our help ? But may he have actually used our funds for a business expansion plan? We didn't hear that in his testimony before Council, so if this is in fact true, isn't this another breach of public trust in the use of our General fund ? Let's ask?
Regardless, and with all the rest aside, many of us fail to see the wisdom in the 'BS ' Business Association repeatedly bathing itself and it's friends ...in business and community harming.. bad ink. You can't buy the bad PR some of you seem fatally drawn to, or repeatedly walk into.
The District is not your problem, nor is Mike.
Maybe if gino resigns from the bsba/ia/pia et al and moves his operation to the old Rossi's Steak House location will I return to patronizing bs.
I live in the 3rd District, but not in the Shore. I guess that makes me somewhat of an outsider on this issue but, perhaps, an outsider’s view is what is needed. So here goes:
There is so much about this situation that has become petty and, honestly, unworthy of professional adult consideration. It would prove far more constructive and productive if all of the principles would avoid this pettiness and stop their various, quite frankly, childish behaviors. None of those negative behaviors is doing anything to improve and resolve these challenges and everything to exacerbate and degrade them.
Here’s what I see to be the crux of this challenge…the very foundation upon which all of the other related challenges are built: As currently constituted, the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission (or ‘The Parking Commission’) is not equally representative of the two primary stakeholders within its area of influence: Residents and Businesses. Its mission…even it’s name…is rather convoluted and torturous. This is a what’s referred to as a Council Action Commission (i.e. created by ordinance or resolution). It is a quasi-governmental entity that is actually supposed to represent and advise the city on issues under its portfolio. Its members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. As such they *represent* the City and should be well above all of this petty bickering and endeavor to mediate and represent all interests in Belmont Shore equally and fairly, rather than being seen to actively participate in much of the current pettiness and bickering.
As a city, I think we can do better.
Introducing the “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” (or BSAAC)
I think we can all agree that parking challenges in Belmont Shore impact residents and business pretty much equally. Certainly there are more residences than businesses in Belmont Shore but the impacts to both are fairly equally distributed. But parking is only one of the many challenges extant in the Shore. Thus if there is to be a City-sponsored Commission appointed to advise our Mayor and Council, it should have a broader and more generalized focus and a name reflective of that mission. I propose the re-constitution of “The Parking Commission”. It should be renamed the “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” and should advise on *all* issues, including parking AND business AND residential challenges, that exist within its area of influence.
The BSBA can, and should, still exist to advocate for area business. The BSRA can, and should, still exist to advocate for area residents. As private (non-governmental) organizations they can (and do) develop whatever by-laws suit them and can (and do) engage in all of the politicking, advocacy activities and, sadly, all of the pettiness and childish behaviors they want to. If we are all honest I think we will agree that members from both of those private organizations have engaged in these negative behaviors throughout the life of this current and escalating friction.
But, as mentioned, the Parking Commission should be above all of that and, I submit, a reconstituted, re-focused and renamed “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” would be. It would be above all of that because, of the seven (7) seats available, three (3) would be allocated to area business property stakeholders; three (3) would be allocated to area residence property stakeholders and the seventh seat would be allocated to a person who is both (an area resident who also owns or operates an area business). On the BSAAC, only that 7th seat need be endorsed by the BSRA and the BSBA and it would have to be endorsed by BOTH (In other words, the two groups would have to actually cooperate with one another and agree on something). Because some who might desire to serve on this Commission might *not* choose to affiliate with either of the mentioned advocacy groups, the remaining seats need not be endorsed by either of them.
The application process for the seats on this Commission would be submitted and processed in the usual way but the Mayor would assume a far greater role in the final selection of these particular Commissioners. This would help to alleviate allegations (founded or unfounded) of Council District favoritism.
In this way, and on this newly reconstituted Commission, business and resident concerns, needs, desires and interests would be considered and addressed *co-equally*. Neither group would have the upper hand and both groups would have no choice but to work together and to advise the Mayor and Council in partnership with one another, as it should be, rather than at odds with one another, as is currently the case.
Hopefully someone in City Hall who can make something like this happen is reading this with an unbiased eye and an open mind and will give the idea of an admitted outsider due consideration. Because if something pro-active and productive isn’t done about this situation soon, this outsider fears that Long Beach generally and Belmont Shore specifically will quickly become the laughing stock of the entire County.
Mike Ruehle appears to be one of those people who have nothing else to do in their life except create problems. While the rest of us are working and raising kids, he has time to sit around writing letter after letter, making unsubstantiated claims, and creating dissension. Come on Mike, grow up and get a life and let Belmont Shore return to being the happy community it was before you started playing your silly games.
As I have said many times, I live in Belmont Shore BECAUSE of the businesses. If the businesses weren’t here, I wouldn’t live here. My bank is on 2nd street. My gym is on 2nd street. I eat all of my meals on 2nd street because I don’t cook. I buy my cloths on 2nd street. I know many of the business owners and appreciate the services they provide. This assertion that I am anti-business is ridiculous.
This anti-business rhetoric is a smoke screen that is constantly being spun by Mr. Rotondo’s supporters in attempts to worry the other business owners about their resident association clients. I ask you to post your evidence of the businesses I have denigrated for all to see.
Corruption? Check.
Small-minded politicians posing as civic leaders? Check.
Small-minded business owners posing as concerned members of the community? Check.
Nice to know that nothing's changed in Long Beach since I left 10 years ago.
Small-minded business-union boss posing as mayor-comandante? Check.
Let that be a lesson to you to stick to stories about fuzzy fuzzy kittens and rescued dogs with pluck and personality from now on.
It is nice to know the pen is still mightier than the sword. What do they think you're some Rupert Murdoch behemoth? Small minds....
But srsly moar fuzzy kittenz storiez plez.
Mike Ruehl's standing up to the old corrupt business-as-usual I think is a good thing. But just what can be done about the noise and intoxication emanating from the bars and restaurants? Seems the only gauranteed cure would be to ban all liquor sales on 2nd St. and we all know that'll never happen. I empathize with Shore residents on this issue but I just don't see any permanent feasible solution.
Same thing with the decades-old parking shortage. There's no real viable solution unless, possibly, funds are allocated in Mayor Foster's half-billion dollar infrasture bond proposal/parcel tax for -- Oh, I dunno -- reducing the housing stock? razing some buildings and buiding parking structures? opening beach lots for overnight parking? (just ideas).
Based on what I've been reading and experiencing, it makes me wonder then if the BSRA and BSBA are now set to permanently lock horns over the two issues that perpetually loom largest over residents -- and businesses -- with no real progress ever being made.
We're with Melissa, Power to the People....Right On !
So often it seems purely profit driven, partisan and almost like spoiled, elitest 'Frat Boys' deciding who comes to the 'Keg-er', or who is tossed aside, or something ? Thankfully, the failure rate is telling.
Historically, it starts with ; 'They are crazy', or other means of marginalizing, then there's the singling out, then the 'malcontent' or 'critic' label, then personal attacks threats and more. But thank God, or Grace or Good Providence , that the people aren't so dumb. Often, our blessing is that so many of these guys are 'Not the least bit subtle' , and that their pride, ego, animus and hubris so often betray them, as may again be the case?
Spinning a minority view against the majority has worked many times in the Press Telerag, City Hall, The Chamber, or elsewhere, but the Dis-infecting light of The District, The LB Report and the hard work of many of us, substantially levels the playing field.
Some of the bad guys seem to hate it like Nixon abhored ''The Pentagon Papers ! '' . HOORAY ! You can sometimes kind of sense or smell these guys' anxiety when they do something as dumb as 'Blitzkrieging'' a HOA election, like that BSRA farce, or in trying to declare one well meaning guy ''persona non grata'', as Legend's did with Mike Ruehle, and in pulling an ad or two..
Some of this also reminds you of PT owner Dean Singleton's promise to 'Grind the District into the dust' !! That chide remains perpetually amusing ! Don't hold your breath Sir, better yet, DO ! Your paper is dying, and this one is growing, one might gather?
But with back to Mr.'' Do Wrong'', by losing so often, and by upsettng so many people on such a wide range of issues, he seems to be very, VERY, slowly learning to listen to the people, rather than repeatedly 'Play King'. He was warned early on.
So, several of many neighborhood favoring petitions could probably work because he has increasingly become vulnerable to a recall Petition. There happens to be a big pool of funds already set aside. The choice remains taking him out, or hoping that he will finally come along, and around. We can fight issue by issue, or drain the swamp ?
Inside te beltway, all of this is not lost upon his colleagues or many key constituents.
For further example, we saw him ignore 5,700 signatures opposing the Wetlands Home Depot because he " tends not to trust petitions''. So, he wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars ignoring the electorate until the Coastal Commission and The Superior Court ruled for the People, and the fair application and exercise of the Law.
Give his colossal failure on Home Depot and more, Gary may now, finally have a little more respect for our hard fought for right to Petition our Government for Grievances ? Hence, the sugestion.
Strategically, a few of these overzealous , self absorbed , greedy, self aggrandizing Neo Con business bullies, could just be at risk of a similar fate because our community does not have to take a lot of this abuse, and they know it. Don't they also ignore recent precedent at their own peril?
Our residents have a wonderful way of banding together and doing the right, fair and proper thing, from the prospective of a peaceable, concerned resident. Remember the 7,000 of us who stopped the hotel over Khoury's through 'Save Our Bay' ?. All we need is a spark, and friends who care. The network is inplace, and patient.
So , if we decide on a Petition Drive, door to door, we would then join with the wisest Democrats we can find , and go around Gary in trying to lobby 5 votes on Council. We have done this when it is proper, and important. This is pure Democracy when dealing with a detached or conveniently deaf loal representative.
Sharing more of this area's tax revenue with the rest of the City, or simply the rest of District 3, by disbanding the Belmont Shore Kangaroo Court, and Insiders Only Pocket Lining Society, is probably a very easy sell downtown, given the Budget woes.. Many would gladly vote to get more of our revenue. Certainly, a more even and fair distribution of revenues is long overdue, and an easy sell .
But in 'the slowest of slow learner file'' ( LOL..sorry) we have breaking news !!. Signs may point to De'tente, and a thawing of sorts, which the District helped. Rumor has it that The Prince of Palos Verdes and Park Etates actually met with Mike recently.
Maybe representative government and The Equal Protection Clause of The United States Constitution are actually rights finally bestowed upon more, and hopefully all of us in District 3 ?
If only Stephanie Loftin or Charlie Legeman had won this seat !! Several of the main advocates or activists would also be great.
To better government, better quality of life, and better days !!
The DW plays an important part in reporting news that the rag would never touch because it would upset the real or perceived powers that be or their advertisers.
I think someone like you should be bashing jay beeler for his constant whining about tom reeves, or congratulating randy gordon for his shrewd sleazy maneuvers, instead of sniveling at Will Swaim.
Happy? Successful? Owner of a growing, highly respected publication?
Check. Check. Check.
You sound a little bitter there K.T., yes?
Yes the Press-Telegram is a shell of it's former self , who before employed 75% of the District staff writers, but competition makes better coverage. We should and so should Retundo be grateful for local media, despite its forms and faults .
When his place burned to the ground, who was there to inform the public about the help they needed and yes on the delays. The District would have been there as well, if it existed. Retundo is above it all, he thinks he's the Godfather of Second Street and hates it when he is questioned by anyone.
When the city brings to second street a 7-11, Hooters, Lovers Sex shop, 9.95 Shoe shop, Wall-Mart, Ross, 7 hooka bars and Military Recruitment storefront, Mariposa's on 2nd and bus in some East Side Longo's, Asian Boyz, and Rollin 20's.......I think he'll pick-up the phone and call the media.
Good Job District !!!
LEGENDS IS THE PLACE TO BE ON 2ND STREET DEAL WITH IT! AND THERE ISN'T A THING ANY OF YOU HATERS CAN DO ABOUT IT!
I've been missing my District Weekly.
Neither Loftin or Legeman are electable-so say the results of the past election.
More to the point while Loftin might be an excellent person for Open Mike night at the
Comedy Store-we do need someone with a deep roots in the City.De Long is
the classic example of what happens when one is so dis connected from so many
and so much in the district and the City.
As to the comment that Gary might be finally meeting with Mike Ruehle: Belmont'
Shore-is but one of the-to many-issues where Gary demonstrates his disconnect.He
is clearly and simply not cut out to be a good Council person.It is not in his nature-THAT
IS WHY THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE THE BEST FOR ALL:
l.Gary steps down this November.
2.The Mayor will oversee the Third District for two years.That drives circa
$650,000-$750,000 to the bottom line -which could be used for circa 700
sidewalk repairs.
3.The profile of the majority of people and civic organizations in the district
strongly suggest there is enough savvy to work with the Mayor and City
staff. We can get along fine without Gary.Let us face it-it certainly can not
get any worse!!!
4.Over the next two years the community can vet potential replacements.
5.The key to returning the Third District to an even footing is Gary's November
2008 departure.Until he is gone the district will be in constant upheaval.
Laurence B. Goodhue
Long Beach