The District Weekly - Latest Comments in CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Janis Populi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:28:21 -0000

Bulldozing wildlife in a blitz,
Hitchcock don’t need no permits!
“No restoration of land!”
Says Burnham, Dean’s fan.
It’s time for an appeal and a writ.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

lbFamily — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:37:53 -0000

I rate soccer-on-ice, AKA Hockey, as my second least favorite sport.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

What's_in_a _name? — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:42:22 -0000

Soccer is my least favorite sport.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Dave Wielenga — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:35:20 -0000

No,although one guy got up there and said he could see both sides.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

wrongbeachjohn — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:28:27 -0000

The world would be a better place with more John Greets, civics lessons and all!

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Fentiss Rocks — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:59:47 -0000

Dear Sunshine,

We started getting calls as soon as esteemed jurist John Fentiss opined on the LB Post. That was huge. What a resume he has for protecting the environment and doing good work. Let's hope that he files an Appeal, as a citizen, about the flawed zoning ruling which erroneously seekes to ratify this wanton destruction of a well known, zoned, designated ESHA ( Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area)

Men like him, and Jim McCabe, are awesome. They are from the system, and know the system, and they are intellectually honest enough to advocate for fairness, equity, common people, the coastline, and the rule of law, despite the system. This takes courage.

Bless them both, continuously. These two men can, and will, make a meaningful difference.

They are not malcontents, nor turncoats. Yes, some will try to call them harsh names, impotently. The truth is, they are a symptoms of a system in need of reform. The are part of the cure, not part of the pathogens.

Gentleman, pick up this file, and help us plead the people's brief.

Thanks John, and Jim. You matter.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

sunshinelb — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:33:40 -0000

"John Fentis: As a former prosecutor for the City of Long Beach, I can state, without hesitation, that there should have been a misdemeanor prosecution for grading without a permit. Virtually any violation of the Long Beach Muncipal Code can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Section 1.31 of the Code. I should know as I prosecuted dozens of Code Enforcement cases during my nearly 25 years in the office. Another example of no enforcement under politically motivated circumstances. I could really get into a discussion about a lack of environmental enforcement by the City of Long Beach, but I'm sure the response would be "there's no money in the budget"....the truth is that there is no commitment to ensuring environmental compliance for the benefit of the citizens by the Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office....there hasn't been for 4 years now and there won't be until you, the citizens, elect a prosecutor who is environmentally sensitive.

John Fentis a former prosecutor for the City of Long Beach posted the following in LBPost, commenting on Mr.ZumMallen's article on the zoning hearing decision:
"No Action Taken In Ruling Of Wetlands-Area Destruction
by Ryan ZumMallen 10/12/09

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

sunshinelb — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:33:36 -0000

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Advocate X — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:11:22 -0000

OK boys, time to kiss and make up. Ruehle has a smart and pretty girlfriend, that says a lot.

The issue is, 8 days to Appeal, and evidence.

Please make sure that you cite the 2 Biologist Reports which prove that this area is an ESHA, and Wetlands.

A link to one report is on the Wetlands Land Trust Website, click the link.

Objectively, this is just one more dispute that would have never errupted if we had a real Councilperson.

This District has to send this dirty dealer home !! These disputes are wholly political, you know, keeping the friends happy and upsetting the majority. Raping nature again.

He is going to have a well funded, well laid out race on his hands ! And he is going to face a thorough cross examination in front of thousands of citizens, from day one.

Prepare to sweat, country club boy.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Mike Ruehle — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:30:10 -0000

Touche. You can see by my ugly picture why I could never be a soccer coach. Would scare the kids.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Mike Ruehle — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:22:59 -0000

My turn to summarize:

1. Mike Pilster's daughter plays soccer with wetlands destroyer Sean Hitchcock's daughter.
2. Mike Pilster's daughter is coached by Sean Hitchcock.
3. Mike Pilster refers to Sean Hitchcock as coach Hitchcock in numerous postings on the soccer team website.
4. Mike Pilster's profile was created when he began posting comments in defense of his buddy Sean Hitchcock and not before.
5. Mike Pilster (Soccer Fan) uses an anonymous name when posting comments in support of his buddy Sean Hitchcock.
6. Mike Pilster is biased.

This has nothing to do with wether or not I agree with Sean Hitchcock. It's about him or anyone knowingly doing something against the law with the assistance of crooked Councilman DeLong and not being forced to pay for their misdeeds.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Soccer Fan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:15:42 -0000

Let me summarize:

1. Person A may know Person B
2. Mike Ruehle does not agree with person B
3. Therefore Person A is biased.

Absolutely brilliant.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Soccer Fan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:09:36 -0000

And for those of you who forget what MIKE RUEHLE looks like :

http://www.presstelegram.co...

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Mike Ruehle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:36:55 -0000

Exactly. That is why the city only gives 10-days notice on these types of hearings. By the time anyone finds out, it is impossible to get the material in the hands of the Commissioners.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

The Toad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:25:38 -0000

Your idea about appealing as an "organiztion" may have some merit, BUT the last I knew, an "organization" is limited to naming not more than three (3) persons that will be allowed to speak to the issuue AS APPELLANTS. AND those one, two or three people must be named on the appeal form at the time it is submitted (no additions or substitutions) with the $50 fee. As far as I know, more than one "organization" can appeal. That works out to about $17 (minimum) per person wishing to have appellant status.

This is tentative and I am attempting to get precise info to post later.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

The Toad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:33:50 -0000

Right! Anyone, appellant OR non-appellant, can also submit any length of wriiten commentary relative to an appeal. As I stated before, it is critical that written materials be in the hands (of the secretary) of the body conducting the hearing 8 days in advance. This ensures that said materials will be photo-copied and included in the "agenda packets" of the individual members of the hearing body. Then, there is a pretty fair chance that one's comments will actually be read prior to the hearing meeting. Otherwise, there is almost no chance that written comments will be read, especially while the hearing is being conducted.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Com_Mentor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:10:08 -0000

Here is a link to Google Satellite imagery of what this parcel looked like before the “weed pulling” began:

http://longbeachwetlands.sh...

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Com_Mentor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:02:36 -0000

Mr. Hitchcock’s excuse for razing 9 acres:

Purportedly, Mr. Dean verbally relayed the order to clear brush as needed at the property line of the Mobile home park.... There was no written order handed over.

Sean Hitchcock, a very successful contractor/developer, performing HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS work for the city of Long Beach and others boasts this on his website:

"2H management's "hands on" approach and proactive involvement with all aspects of the project lifecycle is another important factor to the accomplishments of the company.”

Source: 2H web page: http://www.2hconstruction.c...

Let me try to understand this...

Mr. Dean, a very intelligent developer/negotiator/trader did not discuss the status of the land use, with regard to future development of the property with Mr. Hitchcock, a very intelligent/successful, contractor/developer?

This transaction is described by the offending parties as casual as buying a burger at the drive through across the wetland. No discussion, nothing. By two big time Long Beach players… Right.

Time and time again, all around the United States, this very thing is done, the owner claiming she didn’t know the rules, or did in fact, know, but proceeded anyway. They know that the fines or repercussions will be acceptable losses, compared to what end results are desired.

These methods are commonly used at large multinational corporations, such as: “How many wrongful death lawsuits can we pay for, and still be ahead, without having to recall our product, because a total recall would be a huge loss”. This is just good business. Any method necessary for a profit.

And in this case, profit is especially easy with the blessing of the City.

Mr. Hitchcock relayed to me: " The property is NOT a part of the wetlands (check the wetlands map). This property is a landfill over an old city dump (same property as the mobile home park next door).
We were merely clearing the overgrown weeds in order to replace with grass to make the area nicer for the community. It takes large equipment to effectively clear weeding over such a large area.
".

There was no mention of an "order to weed". He claims here that he knows the history of the property, and that there is a dump on the site.

Thanks City of Long Beach. I do love living here, but am becoming increasingly embarrassed by city management. It's not about doing the right thing by the residents that have elected them (I'm talking about the public that actually cast their votes, not the dollars thrown at them by their other "constituents").

FYI: Here is a link to Google Satellite imagery of what this parcel looked like before the “weed pulling” began:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=...

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Marketing 101 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:00:57 -0000

If this happens, let's open up a head shop and sell our latest product,
''The DeLong Bong''.

Guess it would have to be Gold plated, and very exclusive. You might have to be part of a special click to get one. But it could be purchased for a high price.

It probably should has a set of earplugs attached, to tune everybody else out.

Oh yes, and a logo with a Bulldozer smashing the nests of endangered species.

We might also market soccer balls for the wetlands soccer field that he is helping come about. We can put logo's on the soccer balls, of egrets, and herons,and racoons, and brown burrowing owls, and squirrels. Then the kids can kick and kick those balls, and think of Hitchcock and DeLong ??

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Guest — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:20:46 -0000

was that when you returned to the scene of the crime? criminals always do.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Mike Ruehle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:19:30 -0000

Which wetlands vigil and what day are you referring to? There have been several vigils over the past year, some of which have been more heavily attended than others.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

LWcitizen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:04:01 -0000

this rounding error is similar to the rounding error used to describe the amount of supporters at the wetlands vigil which was supposedly in the hundred. The pictures on the website show about only 2 dozen people and as a passerby that day, i would say 2 dozen is about right.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Mike Ruehle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:00:30 -0000

Sorry. I was just trying to distinguish between filing an appeal and speaking at an appeal hearing. Anyone can speak. Only people who participated in the original hearing can appeal a decision and request an appeal hearing.

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

The Toad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:41:37 -0000

That's what I said in my original reply to you, except for the length of time that a non-appellant may be allowed to speak.

Yes, theoretically, a non-appellant should be allowed to speak for 3 minutes. However, it is not at all unusual for the official conducting the appeal hearing (planning commission chair, mayor or mayor pro-tem) to cut that time to 1 minute if there are numerous speakers wishing to be heard. This was frequently the case during Queen Bev's tenure. There were also occasions when she would only allow 10 speakers from each side to be heard (probably a gross violation of CEQA law, but she always got away with it).

Re: CITY HITCHCOCK IS OFF THE HOOK FOR WETLANDS-AREA DESECRATION,

Burn that rope — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:39:24 -0000

Rumor has it that Tom dean's latest venture, is attracting investors and partners to place a full fledged, mass marketing idea for Medical Marijuana salons, or shops, all along the Shore on 2nd Street.

This should start another interesting debate.

How will uber conservative Derong view this? He may have another nice issue to duck, ignore, parse, obfuscate, etc.

But if you think about it, he must have signed on since he and dean are close buddies.

The neighbors ought to love this debate.

Stay tuned