The District Weekly - Latest Comments in GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Guest — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:20:46 -0000

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Guest — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:12:06 -0000

Laurence Goodhue,

Thank you for your intelligent and insightful comments and actions.

I respectfully add, the LA County District Attorney's Office investigates violations of the Brown Act, and the CA State Attorney General's Office prosecutes them.

With Respect And Admiration,
Venus

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Guest — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:03:38 -0000

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

burned — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:11:32 -0000

Hi Mike,

Your letter and the director of PW response (to the city manager, not you) is posted on the city's website.

http://www.longbeach.gov/ci...

There are also responses to many other questions, FAQ's, etc. that you can find by clicking on the wetlands picture on the City's home page.

It all sounds kind of half-baked. Also a lot of "trust us, we'll work it all out..."

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:56:16 -0000

I forgot to mention that I also made this same suggested in person to developer Tom Dean on November 7, 2007. At that time, I suggested to him that he GIVE the wetlands property to the City in exchange for the right to drill more oil wells.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:41:04 -0000

Hello John,

On November 11, 2008, I emailed this proposal to Councilman DeLong, who told me he would forward it to Public Works Director Mike Conway. I never heard back.

On February 9, 2009, I again emailed this proposal, this time to Mayor Foster, each City Councilmember individually, City Manager West and Public Works Director Conway. Again, I received no response.

I have been critical about the city’s role in the wetlands deal with developer Tom Dean. My actions do not come without a reason. Besides the public records request emails, I actually have technical expertise in oilfield consolidation and know a little bit about it. However, by ignoring and refusing to respond to me, the city leaves me little choice but to second guess and criticize in a public forum.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:01:08 -0000

City Council should take its opportunity to revisit the wetlands oil swap deal with developer Tom Dean to address oil issues on the wetlands properties. Though it does not need to own the oil rights, City Hall should require best available current technology be used to relocate the oil facilities to one, geographically smaller, location. City Hall can encourage this to happen, at no cost to taxpayers, by granting developer and owner Tom Dean the right to drill new, more productive oil wells from a much smaller, 5 acre, central location.

Currently, Mr. Dean operates approximately 40 oil wells spread across his property. These old technology oil wells, storage facilities and their spider web of pipes and conduit are spread out across the wetlands property. The current 40 oil wells average less than 10 barrels per day oil production for a total of no more than 400 barrels per day production. The widespread spider web of old, corroded facilities poses a significant and on-going environmental threat to the wetlands. The solution is to consolidate the oil facilities to central location. Properly abandoning the oil wells and removing the facilities are the only way of preventing future oil spill episodes from contaminating the wetlands.

City Hall should encourage Mr. Dean to pay the cost to consolidate his oil facilities to a 5 acres site. In return for Mr. Dean’s largess, City Hall should allow Mr. Dean to drill 100 new oil wells from a centralized 5 acre location utilizing current directional drilling technology. Each of these new oil wells will average over 25 barrels per day of production for a total of 2500 bpd. The increased oil production represents a revenue increase of $30 million per year at today’s oil prices. Revenue may increase to over $100 million per year if oil returns to last years’ prices as expected in the future. If 100 new wells are not enough economic incentive, allow Mr. Dean to drill more. It should matter little to the public because, if properly done, the new technology wells will not be visible.

These economics should cause Mr. Dean to jump at this opportunity to consolidate his oil holding to an unobtrusive oil well cellar complex at Mr. Dean’s expense. When the oil field consolidation has been completed and there is no longer a risk of a wetlands oil spill, only then can I agree that City Hall need NOT be concerned with oil issues.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

larsr — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:10:46 -0000

Why $30M? As far as I can tell, Dean paid about $12M, including the mineral rights, and that was Dec 07 at the peak of both the property and oil markets. I would think <10M would be the real value, certainly not more than he paid.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Dwight K Snider — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:30:11 -0000

Citizen Journalist Quote of the Day – Investigative Journalism

“Investigative journalism, in which journalists investigate and expose unethical, immoral, and illegal behavior by individuals, businesses and government agencies, can be complicated, time-consuming and expensive — requiring teams of journalists, months of research, interviews (sometimes repeated interviews) with numerous people, long-distance travel, computers to analyze public-record databases, or use of the company's legal staff to secure documents under freedom of information laws.

“Because of its inherently confrontational nature, this kind of reporting is often the first to suffer from budget cutbacks or interference from outside the news department.

“Investigative reporting done poorly can also expose journalists and media organizations to negative reaction from the subjects of investigations and the public, and accusations of gotcha journalism.

“When conducted correctly it can bring the attention of the public and government to problems and conditions that the public deem need to be addressed, and can win awards and recognition to the journalists involved and the media outlet that did the reporting.”

(Source: Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia)

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Middlebrow — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:29:36 -0000

So you think the reason for a publication to exist is to ride herd on another publication?

Yes, I think that a by-line is important. It helps insure integrity. I just want The District to be the best publication it can be, and this is not the path.

Hey, I have friends that work at The District (and the PT for that matter) so this was directed at them, not you Com_Mentor. So, on your bike now.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Com_Mentor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:49:21 -0000

HH, you are Preachin to the choir....

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Com_Mentor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:47:29 -0000

Why, in fact do you read the District?
Why do you need a by-line?
Why did you feel compelled to read this story, even though it did not have a by-line, especially since it did not have a by-line?
IN MY OPIN, I believe the statement about the Telegram was only in regards to a largely circulated newspaper and it's decision to OMIT potentially important, quickly developing news stories from the paper. This prevents a large portion of Long Beach (those purchasing the Telegram, and using it as their ONLY local news source) from being apprised of, and following those events.

It it easy?

I, personally think it is important.

Paragons of Journalistic Excellence?

I'm happy to keep their company, and thank you, for checking in at an alternative publication. Keep up the good work.
Com Mentor.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Middlebrow — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:31:17 -0000

I don't care for this. I don't read the District to find out what the Press Telegram is doing wrong. Especially in a story without a by-line.

First of all, it's a little too easy, secondly it is just bad form.

Stay classy you paragons of Journalistic Excellence!

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Laurence Goodhue — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:11:19 -0000

DONE!!

OVERNIGHT MAIL TO THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL!!!

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

HighHat — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:56:52 -0000

I'm in!!! Pitchforks and torches, anyone?

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Kerrie Aley — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:48:24 -0000

I’M MAD AS HELL AND I”M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

janis — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:42:18 -0000

Eveyone join in!!!! I’M MAD AS HELL AND I”M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!
We citizens need to clean up city hall and hold the people representing us responsible for the wetlands destruction. The City Council members should take the lead and vote to require an independent investigation, fire highly paid pensioned city employees who have violated the law and the public's trust, and put in place a moratorium on all land swaps, land sales, and land use updates (SEADIP, Local Coast Program, General Plan).

We need a nationwide search to find ethical progressive public process oriented people to run the City Managers office, Development Services and Public Works department. The wetlands deal is just the tip of a mountain of corruption. Someone needs to look seriously look at how the Redevelopment Agencies and business associations misuse the public’s money and seize private property for buddy deals. It is time to throw out corrupt crony economic policies and take back Long Beach!

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Coastal Restorationists — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:49:52 -0000

We need a Moratorium over the entire SEADIP area.

We need to offer 30 Million for all of Dean's land, including the Oil rights, peroid.

We need to have 5 votes on Council immediately vote to reveal, and disclose, all of the witheld documents and emails remaining around this transacation.

We need to seriously consider a Summer Recall of Gary DeLong.

Happy Easter Tom Dean, Gary, Mike , Minimum wage Murchinson, and Pat !! You guys begged for all of this, and it is only going to get a lot worse.

Thanks Bob Shannon, for siding with the people, fairness and the Rule of Law. Please, conduct a formal, written investigation. Let DeLong retain Council this time. He needs to learn what he has put many other citizens through with his 'Buddy Bailouts' and 'Special interests first' schemes. Tell him that people are discussing Indictments here. Remind how he let so many of us down, and that he is DIRTY.

Kudos Wielenga, Pearl and Segura for having Journalistic Integrity, Ethics and a sense of fairness towards the average resident, and similar respect and concern for our Coastal Resources.

As we said from day one, may the Devil take the hindmost.......

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

LarsR — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:14:08 -0000

One other note:

The current appraised value of the property in question is only $336,402 from a recording date of 6/29/05. At a value of less than $40,000 per acre, this was obviously not considered land with a lot of potential. Whoever sold it in 2005 must have understood that clearly at that time.

Interestingly, Sean Hitchcock paid more than $2.3M, after four years in which real estate has generally depreciated (especially land). There are several options to explain this unusual appreciation. One could be that Hitchcock got seriously ripped off in the transaction. But he seems to be a pretty savvy developer, and he didn't put out much cash ($2.3M of the purchase was carried back by the seller). A second option could be that this transaction was an attempt to establish an artificially high value for the land to use in future negotiations with the city, the LCWA or other interested party.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Mike Ruehle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:35:30 -0000

I encourage you and others to contact the District Attorey's office and the office of the Attorney General and lodge a complaint. They are the only entities we can look to for help in this matter. They have the power to investigate private emails and phone calls that are unavailable to the public. The City's leadership under Mayor Foster and Councilman DeLong must be investigated by a fair and impartial outside 3rd party to ensure honesty.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Mike Ruehle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:29:21 -0000

Hello IKK,

It is the responsibility of Mr. Dean and Mr. Hitchcock to conduct their due diligence to ensure their eyes are wide-open before purchasing the property. It is unreasonable for new property owners to expect windfall profits because they should be allowed to do things with their property that was not allowed for previous property owners.

If a person purchase a property next to a children’s school, would you likewise argue the property owner should be allowed to build an adult bookstore or liquor store there? Public policy and city codes outweigh property owner desires with some properties, including wetlands. I don’t feel sorry for the property owner. It was their responsibility to research the code restrictions prior to the purchase.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

IKK — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:11:13 -0000

Do you really beleive or think that it appropriate to have private propety to be held in such tight constraints that it can not be utilized for anything? That would not fit the description of private property would it? If a city were to limit a private piece of property so tight that nothing could be done with it then something must be wrong. There are plenty of other actvists in other arenas that would have a hay day with such big brother control.
there are more plights and beleifs than just yours beleive it or not......

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Insider — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:04:48 -0000

Anybody wonder why the City of Long Beach is trying to trade valuable assets for a park when the City of Long Beach is facing a 15 million dollar deficit this year and a 54 million dollar deficit next year.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

Insider — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:54:05 -0000

Somebody needs to look at the private Emails between Conway and Dean. There you will find the truth.

Re: GOOD NEWS! PRESS-TELEGRAM FINALLY DISCOVERS CONTROVERSY IN WETLANDS DEAL!

janis — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:46:58 -0000

Recognizing the damage done to the public faith and to the heart of our community, Dean should step out from behind his OZ-like curtain of lobbyists and pocketed politicians and appear at the open Council meeting on his wetlands deal. Mr. Dean has just as much explaining to do as Mayor Foster, various City Council members, City Attorney Shannon, City Manager West, and Public Works Director Conway. Former City Manager and current Dean lobbyist Miller should also provide an explanation and an apology for his attitude towards public processes.