The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, March 15, 2012 in the Letters section on pages 3 and 5. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit, including the title.
Invites Houston Back
Economic decisions, fire department status and three council positions loom large. Of the latter, I’m giving each candidate equal weight, even to one who’s a friend.
I found candidate Houston’s current position on retaining our fire department curious, assuming that it is indeed him that addressed the city council on February [15,] 2011, imploring them to immediately forgo our own stations to county control and then expressing his disappointment in their “kicking the can down the road”. I’m trying to reconcile the words and demeanor of the man from 2011 (video courtesy of You Tube) with his new claim of “unequivocal support” in the opposite direction. His letter in last week’s Herald not only shed no light, but accused opponents of misrepresentation. How so? ScottHouston.org, which is essentially an online, non-elaborated pamphlet – was of no help either. Not admitting or addressing the flip-flop is more disturbing to me then his previous position of fire dept. abdication (in which case the only kicking cans may very well be us citizens waiting for county response).
I invite Mr. Houston back to this column for a more direct clarification. If he does I stand to be informed. If not, he will have done me the service of eliminating one candidate from my consideration.
Rich Negrete
Note: The author of this letter to the El Segundo Herald wrote, “assuming that it is indeed him that addressed the city council on February [15,] 2011”, giving Scott Houston some although negligible benefit of the doubt.
However, Scott Houston has involved himself in community meetings in preparation for his run for City Council, and is personally known to and recognized by the City Clerk, the Deputy City Clerk, and every member of the City Council. Therefore, it would be difficult for someone else to impersonate him, and the video clearly shows him speaking at the podium in the City Council chamber before the City Council.
The official City Council meeting minutes for the regular meeting held on March 15, 2012 state near the bottom of page 3:
“Scott Houston, resident, spoke regarding budget restrictions and fire and paramedic protection. He urged Council to adopt the initiative ordinance tonight and if not place it on the earliest possible election date.”
You can read the February 15, 2012 meeting minutes yourself on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
El Segundo City Council Meeting Minutes Index
http://www.elsegundo.org/depts/elected/minutes.aspEl Segundo City Council Meeting Minutes for February 15, 2011
http://www.elsegundo.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=8487
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed