The District Weekly - Latest Comments in WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:26:56 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Kevin Mulligan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:56:42 -0000

I have lived next to this property for 15 years and have walked though it many times. The lower area of the property fills with water every rainy season. The water level is over a foot in some places. The high grasses/plants that grow in it and around it prevent it from being seen at first glance. It remains there through the spring and by middle summer is usually dry. During the time it is "wet" it becomes a popular spot for all large marine birds (egrets, herons, etc.) for feeding. Also a popular spot for foxes, racoons, and coyotes.
The way that the land has been contoured recently will most likely never allow for any type of pond, bog or other form of water collection to take place.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Coastal Investigation — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:01:45 -0000

Venus,

Thank you for your helpful Legal analysis and for your desire to help preserve what few Coastal Resources we still have in a fair, disclosed, coast effective and reasonable manner. You have a fine Legal mind.

Now for the Latest,

Somebody submitted a jingle.....

Lawyers are meeting DA Hooray !
Lawyers are briefing DA Hooray !
Some dirty dealers may pay Hooray !
Maybe they'll all go away? Hooray !

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:52:32 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Dancing Queen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:49:47 -0000

Venus,

Of course, you are right. But as an activist--and an idealist-we have to fight. Gerri Schipske has brought the Land Swap again to Council next week--this is a PLUS--before the closed session. Everyone will have 3 minutes.
We have to make it count! Be there Venus-please, we need you, and everyone like you who feels the city has sold out.
Tonight, our presence was felt amd although the mayor seemed embarrassed when his city was compared to a Chicago mafia-it was cool!
Of course, there will will be work to do educating the Council prior to next Tuesday--they never reserch anything! And ultimately, Hitchcock will probably have to be sued.....but we will win in the end, Venus.
Believe it.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:22:53 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Dancing Queen — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:51:36 -0000

We really seem to have a team now--all you bloggers who have followed the Land Swap and then the scrapping of Wetlands subarea # 23...we probably know as much,if not more than the City Council. But it is our Council who will make the ultimate decision on the Land Swap and also the restoration of Subarea # 23. We really need now to do our "scut" work.
Call, email your phone your Councilmembers, do call the Contractor's licensing Board and report Sean Hitchcock and TRY to get to Council tonight for the open public speaking--must be there by 4:40 pm to get a speakers card. Keep the pressure on!!!

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:08:49 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

L.C. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:39:09 -0000

John Greet,
Drat! So sorry--guess your trip was canceled.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

janis — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:26:39 -0000

"An unpretty wetlands project" Check out PT editorial this morning. ..."Some lessons learned: Follow rules assiduously, and with openess to a fault.".
http://www.presstelegram.co...

Maximum Transparency... Wish they would apply this principle to everything else that is done in a backroom deals with lobbyists in City Hall. What was that quote by DeLong about if you voted no on the backdoor deal you did not "trust" City staff. Was Shannon asleep again at the Council meeting when they voted to approve the deal without knowing the details violating the City Charter? Shannon has consistently enabled the City to conduct public businesses at the minimum required by the Brown Act or at times not even that.

..all those attacking Mike Ruehle. It is not personal, read his posts...His arguments are about the way the City is being run . Values I wish everyone in this city would want- transparency, openness, a responsive government, and citizen access and input into decision making.

Great work Tom, Bill (LBReport) and entire The District Weekly. Thank You!!!

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Squeeze — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:30:41 -0000

The City needs to get out of the wetlands preservation business, and take care of the “true core services”. Wetlands are really nice to have but they are not a City core service.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

L.C. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:56:02 -0000

Rumor has it that John Greet is leaving tomorrow for a long anticipated two week vacation to the West Indies. Have a wonderful time, John and let those Ocean breezes clear your head! And don't worry about us--we can do without your very lengthly epistiles--actually rather a relief!
See you back in two weeks time--and do have a fabulous time!
Tip: Swim, instead of blogging, you ( and we) will be better off!

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Coastal Restorationists — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:39:11 -0000

Thanks IKK,

JUDGMENT FOR THE PLAINTIFFS.......and the birds and mammals may just get their homes back.

And IKK, we have employed many, and have built much, and have lots, and have helped tear down plenty that needed a slight refurbishing, but demolishing a thriving estuary, while killing a range of native animals, and ignoring well known zoning Law, Coastal Law, and Federal Law, without one of over 11 Approvals needed, is wrong, and wrong headed.

It is a travesty, and abomination, a crime, and a sin.

To many, a crime against Nature is akin to cause for War, so when you square off against anybody who is passionate about Coastal Preservation, or Justice, or the Rule of Law, just remember....know you enemy....and come loaded for bear.

And also know, this angered, affluent, educated, connected group that Tom Dean built to oppose him wild schemes, plays for keeps, and is as serious as a heart attack. We have been mistreated long enough, and afford our adversary......no quarter. He has threatened our homes, our way of life, our etlands, our once quiet neighborhoods, and our once far more respectable town, more than long enough for most.

Look at all of the disquiet and controversy his latest scheme has loosed upon City Government? It is even backing up onto the Mayor too?

Sooner or later, we hope people will cut and run from a lot of this, and succumb to their basic self survival instinct.

It will be very interesting to see who will, or who will not fall on their sword for this guy. Doing favors for Campaign financing is one thing, but shame and career suicide is another thing entirely.

And the fun part is, for now, a whole bunch of people get to keep guessing while looking over their shoulders.

Again, thank you for abandoning your Action, for failure to state a cause, insufficient Evidence, Errors of Fact and Law. You claim will be dismissed, with Prejudice, Res Judicata. Judgment for the Wildlife and Residents.......

Madamme Clerk.......call the next case

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

IKK — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:34:34 -0000

Wow... you need a full time job or something else to do.
I do not have near the time or desire to research and reply to your comments. I do find it humerous though that you contend anyone with a differing opinion to yours should be supoened and hauled into court (that is really funny). I had no idea that challenging a poster's opinion on this blog site would mean that I needed to do so in court. What a boring blog site this would be if it were just all full of the same opinions.
Further, I would have no idea the description or make up of the posters on here. To me all are just random posters that are faceless and mere various opinions. You seem to think everyone should or would know who each poster is and should be handled differently pending their gender; that too is simply ridiculous.
With all your time on your hands I imagine that there is some truth to your statements. However, my guess would be that all is not as you portray and that there will be discovery that existing conditions do not meet the jurisdiction requirements you cite or that certain items had already been approved, or ??
Again, I am sorry but I do not have the time to investigate and support my thoughts with legal documentation. Therefore, I will bow out and simply say that I have a differing opinion and that I am not the only one as most all my neighbors have the same feeling about the situation (will we all now have to get hauled into superior court against you??).

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Coastal Restorationists — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:38:53 -0000

Dear irrelevant Commentor,

Some men, or teams of men and women, who are accomplished Legal Experts, find it moronic when people opine in abject ignorance of a range of operative facts which are central to an analysis, let alone the Law.

And Sir, we work with some of the best, of the best, and ask you to save your magnificent Legal Skills for something like....''The People Court' or something.

You and your buddy are in for a lesson and hasn't H2 already admitted liability, and fault? The City Attorney and City Manager assigned culpability?

As custodians of the actual Evidence concerning these Brackish Pond Wetlands, and Uplands, we have clearly stated, 3 different Jurisdictional Grounds to protect this area under Federal Law, State Law, and Local Law. Kindly review the prior related posts. You might learn something. You comments make that painfully obvious to many.

Since you feel competent to give Legal Professionals Legal advice, assemble your moving papers, marshall your moronically inaccurate facts, and see us in Court. We will blow you, and you friend Hitchcocks cases right out of the back door on the merits of our concerns here? And if you doubt us, challenge our filings? You guys got your clock cleaned before the Coastal Commission last week? The Commission was livid about your wanton and reckless misconduct? But according to you, and the good tooth fairy, you want to be right.....for all of the wrong reasons.?

The harsh words applied to your fallacious rant against the Venus group, was incendiary. So that you understand what a wimp you appear to be, you are picking upon a disabled woman, and her team, which consists of highly respected, highly trained, highly successful, East Coast Legal Professionals who have literally moved mountains, on a big stage, with their pro bono advocacy, in the common , or public interest. and in the interest of Justice. Tell Hitchcock that she has been also working on a series of State and Federal charges. Are you an accesory before or after the fact? Looks like you may be earning yourself a SUBPOENA too?

Regardless, picking on women just makes certain men hurl insults, then other things. Rather than pick on the Sage Legal minds at the Venus Group, one who is quite endeared, pick on us, and take, what you give.

As for Brackish Pond, go hire a Wetlands Biologist. We have some talented ones. A Brackish Pond normally exists adjacent to the Ocean, as here, and can obtain salinity by percipitation, and dew, and by salt water intrusion, or existing soil salinity. In this case, all of those factors affected the PH of the water which ponded there regularly. Also the presence of Salt Water based Dredge Spoils had an effect.

Who cares if you viewed the area at the wrong time, the ponds would fill after prolonged, measurable rain. A general mud condition would be there for a few days, and the water had been measured, and observed, and tested, many weeks after a series of Winter/Spring storms. Of course now that it was all ruined, we will have to restore these features. We have 40 years of Evidence here, and you have, friend serving, groundless conjecture, actually, drivel. Water has been observed there far in excess of the legal requirement deemed definitional?

Apply the actual FACTS, to the LAW. Which you are clearly clueless about. Have experts reason the matter by way of balanced ANALYSIS, and then join us in the proper CONCLUSION.

Wetlands were present. Species flourished, Habitat thrived, and your friend is in made a series of terrible, expensive mistakes. And let him know, that a 1000 yards of the WRONG kind of fill dirt, is not much help. Just a temporary Bandaid, that will have to come off.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Com_Mentor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:29:26 -0000

RE: Nice way to conduct yourself with the statements clown, idiot, etc... Just shows your class.
Explain to us since you come across as such an all knowing expert:
How do you get salty water ponds when the elevation is way above sea level and over a trash pit?
I have walked the area several times in the past years and have NEVER seen a pond of any type on this property.
Clearing $100Million? Where did you hear that Einstein?
How is my stating that the area is a landfill dump moronic? It is a landfill over a dump, right? Yes, the mobile homes are on it too, the golf course is on it too (hence the vent pipes) and so are the condos. But, you contend it is not appropriate for a park? Please explain why this would be a moronic stretch. Again, it is not a soccer field on a wetland bozo, it is a soccer field on a land fill just as we have mobile home park, golf course and condos on the same landfill (all these people must be brilliant too that developed, live in and utilize these facilities). Go stand at the river channel and look at the wetlands that is at sea level with ponds and streams and then look to the other side of the channel and look at this piece of weeded property and tell me if you can see any differences Einstein.
and practical than you receiving public permit to

With your permission, once again, I humbly submit some answers to your questions….
“Nice way to conduct yourself with the statements clown, idiot, etc... Just shows your class. “

My response: I am NOT speaking for “Coastal Restorationists”, nor would I, but these are MY responses.

RE:” Nice way to conduct yourself with the statements clown, idiot, etc... Just shows your class.”

Sometimes, while responding to the repeated statements of persons that have yet to perform even the most rudimentary search for information on the subject before posting,
It seems that even the most energetic, knowledgeable persons respond to them in a frustrated, impolite manner.

RE: “Explain to us since you come across as such an all knowing expert: “
My response: Your answer is in the following comments.

RE: “How do you get salty water ponds when the elevation is way above sea level and over a trash pit?
I have walked the area several times in the past years “
My response: Educate yourself of what the FACTUAL WETLAND DEFINITION is. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
After doing a bit of research, you must agree on the following FACTS: The parcel IS A WETLAND, that has been covered with a trash dump, that has been meticulously sealed, then intentionally reconfigured to include wetland features, which has been altered, which will entail some repair or apology or fine, or … after doing some research, YOU can finish the statement.

RE: “I have walked the area several times in the past years and have NEVER seen a pond of any type on this property. “
My response: Were you looking for a brackish pond, or an “El Dorado Park Lake” ducky pond?

RE: “Where did you hear that Einstein? “
My response: After a little education, you will surely find “Coastal Restorationists” is much closer to Einstein than you are sir/madam. I suggest if you don’t like name calling, you might refrain from such as well…

RE:” How is my stating that the area is a landfill dump moronic? It is a landfill over a dump, right? Yes, the mobile homes are on it too, the golf course is on it too (hence the vent pipes) and so are the condos. But, you contend it is not appropriate for a park? Please explain why this would be a moronic stretch. Again, it is not a soccer field on a wetland bozo, it is a soccer field on a land fills just as we have mobile home park, golf course and condos on the same landfill (all these people must be brilliant too that developed, live in and utilize these facilities).”

“this would be a moronic stretch. Again, it is not a soccer field on a wetland bozo, “
My response: after your education on the wetland definition, the SEADIP document contents, and other research which I hope you will perform, I do believe you will see the error of your statements. And again, if you do not desire name calling, please refrain…

“Go stand at the river channel and look at the wetlands that are at sea level with ponds and streams and then look to the other side of the channel and look at this piece of weeded property and tell me if you can see any differences Einstein. “

My reply: If you have seen the property and the torn out trees, I do not understand how you can refer to the property as “weeded”. See pictures of “weeded “area here:
http://longbeachwetlands.sh...

As for the parcel across the channel, I’m sure that you, by now, have been educated upon why, EXACTLY, sub parcel 23 is in FACT A WETLAND.

And, as for “tell me if you can see any differences Einstein. “, you know.

After you have learned about wetlands and how they relate to this parcel, the actions performed by the owner, and our City leaders, perhaps you can aid in assisting others as I have you, in public forum postings. Thanks in advance for your help!
Respectfully,
Com_Mentor

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Mike Ruehle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:26:15 -0000

Borrowing a phrase; “Truth is Truth, Lies are Lies.” That is just an absolute fact of life; there’s no in-between, and that fact can not be changed. When our city and elected officials become factually aware they have told a lie, they’ve attempt to justify their lie with spin, slant, deception and double-talk, or they just go into denial and frequently take a defensive posture. But the fact remains; truth is truth and lies are lies.

It appears to me you have a tendency to obsess over facts while ignoring the truth. Deng Xiaoping said “I don't care if it's a white cat or a black cat. It's a good cat so long as it catches mice."

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Mike Ruehle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:50:08 -0000

I “infer” nothing more than you throw at me John. You are quick to tell me what I say and what I think. Then trying to find your point is often laborious. Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with me liking or not liking people as YOU claim. It is not a personal issue with me. This is about providing informion to voters about our elected and city officials’ misconduct. Now, please feel free to explain to me again how the world is supposed to run according to John. I didn’t get it the first 20 times..

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Com_Mentor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:45:10 -0000

The facts and guts of the situation stand on their own.
See MY response to your questions.
The song REMAINS the same, and yes, has been repeated as often as is necessary.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Com_Mentor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:42:55 -0000

RE: “Ok, Venus help me with a couple of these "facts":

1. "tore away...and leveled...brackish ponds". Please show me any where on this landill site where a "brackish pond" exists? Is it even physically possible for a brackish pond to exist on top of a city dump landfill?
2. "Dean gives up nothing in the trade". 30+ acres of coastal zone property is "nothing"? I will take it, oh yeah and apparently the city, state and wetlands would LOVE to have it. I would call that biased, wouldn't you?
3. continued remarking of the site as a "wetland". How is a city dump landfill a wetland? Again, it this really possible? It may be in the SEADIP as a future plan (that will never happen), but it is definetely not currently a wetland.
4. "first he said he was obeying a weed abatement order....then he said he was building soccer fields". As if these were conflicting statements. I read the response to the work as weed abatement and then later the response for ultimate plans as a park with soccer fields. There were no statements posted that the initial work was to start building the park or soccer fields?
5. West never said the site was "zoned commerical", he said "open space commercial" which is completely different I assume.
6. "knocking down nest filled trees". There were no nest filled trees or we would have seen plenty of pictures of them instead of old doll's heads.
Respectfully, please show me the basis of facts from the District's reporting for the above.”

I'd like to comment on your questions, if I may,
1. show me any where on this landill site where a "brackish pond" exists?

My response:
Please view the following picture that shows a “brackish pond” that was excluded during the “weed abatement”:
http://longbeachwetlands.sh...

Is it even physically possible for a brackish pond to exist on top of a city dump landfill?
Please see the following for a definition of what a wetland actually consists of, and why this Wetland, covered by a dump, covered with a landfill, modeled to form a wetland site is actually, in fact, a Wetland:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

(If I may, I will post the definition so that others may learn a bit BEFORE asserting “this is not a wetland, because it is not at the channel water level”, etc.)
Technical definitions
Wetlands have been categorized both as biomes and ecosystems.[2] They are generally distinguished from other water bodies or landforms based on their water level and on the types of plants that thrive within them. Specifically, wetlands are characterized as having a water table that stands at or near the land surface for a long enough season each year to support hydrophytes.[3][4][2] Put simply, wetlands are lands made up of hydric soil.
Wetlands have also been described as ecotones, providing a transition between dry land and water bodies.[5] Mitsch and Gosselink write that wetlands exist "...at the interface between truly terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic systems, making them inherently different from each other, yet highly dependent on both."[6]
Under the Ramsar Convention:
• Article 1.1: "...wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres."
• Article 2.1: "[Wetlands] may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands".
2. "Dean gives up nothing in the trade” I’m not informed enough to comment.
3. “continued remarking of the site as a "wetland". How is a city dump landfill a wetland? Again, it this really possible?”
My response: See above, and yes, yes it is.

And:
“It may be in the SEADIP as a future plan (that will never happen), but it is definetely not currently a wetland.”
My response: It IS in fact in the SEADIP plan. See:
http://www.lbds.info/civica...

Your feelings about the future of the current SEADIP plan, fully noted.
And, once again, see above.

4. “4. "first he said he was obeying a weed abatement order....then he said he was building soccer fields". As if these were conflicting statements. I read the response to the work as weed abatement and then later the response for ultimate plans as a park with soccer fields. There were no statements posted that the initial work was to start building the park or soccer fields?
“
My response: see:
http://thedistrictweekly.co...

Interview with Mr. Hitchcock:
http://www.lbreport.com/new...

And, I myself received an email from Mr. Hitchcock on 03/24/2009:
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.
Your comments are very malicious and undeserved.

5. I am not able to comment...
6. “"knocking down nest filled trees". There were no nest filled trees or we would have seen plenty of pictures of them instead of old doll's heads. “
My response: See pictures:
Tell me if it is possible to find a nest in the trees that were torn out and dragged across the parcel…
http://longbeachwetlands.sh...

Here is an aerial picture by GOOGLE maps of the parcel BEFORE “WEEDING” was performed: (I am assuming that you can find the parcel from there)

http://maps.google.com/maps...

“Respectfully, please show me the basis of facts from the District's reporting for the above. “

My Response: Respectfully, a little research by you would have yielded the same results.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

IKK — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:56:03 -0000

Venus,
That is all you got?
a Song? no reply when it gets to the facts and guts of the situation.
Your song is old.

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:19:53 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:10:12 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:09:07 -0000

Re: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Guest — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:52:04 -0000