Video – El Segundo City Payroll Gone Mad, featuring Charles Payne and Mike Robbins on Fox Business Network

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Mike


El Segundo City Payroll Gone Mad, featuring Charles Payne and Mike Robbins on Fox Business Network

El Segundo City Payroll Gone Mad, featuring Charles Payne and Mike Robbins on Fox-T1155

This video features a segment from the Fox Business Network Varney & Co. show that was broadcast on August 17, 2010. The segment is an interview of former El Segundo City Councilman Mike Robbins about the wildly excessive and unsustainable city employee salaries, especially those for the firefighter and police employees.

Note that all the salary figures quoted in the Fox interview are Total Earnings only, and DO NOT include the cost of benefits and CalPERS pension contributions. The much larger Total Compensation figures, which DO include benefits and pension contributions, are available from Mike Robbins at PublicSafetyProject.org.

This video is in part an answer to the totally discredited KCET SoCal Connected propaganda video by producer Karen Foshay titled, “Small Town, Big Oil” produced by Karen Foshay. That KCET video dishonestly and unfairly attacked Chevron and the very honorable City Councilman Carl Jacobson in a very classical news media hatchet-job.

Note that the Fox show was broadcast long before the KCET SoCal Connected propaganda video. The KCET video was based almost entirely on false statements made by fired El Segundo city manager Doug Willmore, whom I have learned is very likely a pathological liar and an unreliable person to use as a basis for any news report or video. In fact, I am quite certain that that Willmore’s habitual lying was one of multiple good cause reasons for which he was fired. The KCET video was also based in part on statements made by an out-of-town, anti-oil political activist that nobody in town has heard of before.

The Fox interview helps explain why the fire and police unions endorse candidates for City Council, and contribute thousands of dollars in cash, campaign mailers, and other campaign support to their approved candidates. The police and fire unions endorse and campaign for the candidates who will give them the biggest pay raises, no matter how excessive and unsustainable, and who will raise your taxes and fees to pay for it.

The fire and police unions are the primary cause of our financial problems in El Segundo, not Chevron, as the fire and police unions want us to believe.

Chevron is a taxpayer, and the fire and police unions are tax takers. Chevron pays plenty of taxes, and the fire and police unions take plenty of taxes – about $8 Million extra per year in wildly excessive and unsustainable salaries, benefits, and pensions. The city does not pay to provide city infrastructure and services on the massive 951-acre Chevron property that it pays a fortune to provide and maintain in the residential and other commercial and industrial areas of the city. In fact, for that reason Chevron’s taxes may actually be too high.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

(For the title slides, not the FOX interview video.)

(Start using PSP Banner on Black Background)

EL SEGUNDO CITY PAYROLL GONE MAD featuring CHARLES PAYNE & MIKE ROBBINS

(PSP Banner on Black Background)

This is a special presentation of the Public Safety Project

(PSP Banner on Black Background)

PublicSafetyProject.org
YouTube.com/user/PublicSafetyProject

(Start using all-Solid Dark Blue Plain Background )

The following Fox Business Network Varney & Co. Show was broadcast on August 17, 2010

Video Frame Capture Photo: “Calif_City_s_Police_Chief_Brings_in_425K_in_Pay_Benefits_-_V-0419-BitRate-3-AVI-PHOTO-003.jpg”

Show Host Charles Payne interviewed former El Segundo City Councilman Mike Robbins

Video Frame Capture Photo: “Calif_City_s_Police_Chief_Brings_in_425K_in_Pay_Benefits_-_V-0419-BitRate-3-AVI-PHOTO-007.jpg”

Video Frame Capture Photo: “Calif_City_s_Police_Chief_Brings_in_425K_in_Pay_Benefits_-_V-0419-BitRate-3-AVI-PHOTO-007.jpg”

The subject was the wildly Excessive & Unsustainable City Employee Salaries, especially for Firefighters & Police

Video Frame Capture Photo: “Calif_City_s_Police_Chief_Brings_in_425K_in_Pay_Benefits_-_V-0419-BitRate-3-AVI-PHOTO-009.jpg”

The wildly Excessive & Unsustainable Fire and Police Compensation & Pensions have been an ONGOING SCANDAL since at least June, 2010

In the following Fox Business show, all compensation figures are Total Earnings, NOT Total Compensation. They EXCLUDE Benefits and Pensions.

[ VIDEO CLIP: ]

FOX Business Network Video – duration is 4:19:59.

Former El Segundo Police Chief David Cummings, who retired in 2009, was actually paid MORE than the $425,775 figure cited in the show

In 2009, El Segundo Police Chief David Cummings was paid $597,000 in Total Annual Compensation plus his Pension Income while working half-time for 11 weeks as Police Chief after his retirement

2009 POLICE OFFICER Annual Individual Total Compensation:
Average: $178,000
Maximum: $304,000

2009 FIREFIGHTER Annual Individual Total Compensation:
Average: $211,000
Maximum: $342,000

Number of Major Structure Fires per Year ( > $100,000 damage ):
2008: 1
2009: 0
2010: 1
2011: 1*
*Through April 30

Number of Paramedic Hospital Transports per year:
2008: 777
2009: 737
2010: 674
2011: 281*
*Through April 30

Number of Job Applications Submitted per Firefighter Job Opening in El Segundo in a Good Economy:
500 to more than 1,000

Number of Firefighter Union Members that Live in El Segundo:
ONE (Bryan Partlow, the one who sponsored Measure P)

The Fire & Police Unions have been behind efforts to RAISE TAXES on Businesses & RAISE FEES on Residents to pay for their huge pay raises given during the recession

The Fire & Police Unions were given more than 11% to 23% in pay raises
during the recession in their previous 3-year contracts, which were “negotiated” in secret . . .

. . . with City Council members they endorsed and provided with thousands of dollars in campaign support

The El Segundo Fire & Police Unions Contributed MORE THAN $10,900 to Mayor Eric Busch in 2008:

Fire Union: $5,447.23
Police Union: $5,491.05
TOTAL: $10,938.28

The Safety Unions got MILLIONS of EXTRA Tax Dollars per year in return for their ENDORSEMENTS & THOUSANDS of Dollars in Campaign Support

The Police Union Endorsed SCOTT HOUSTON and gave him a Large Campaign Contribution in 2010

The Police Union Endorsed SCOTT HOUSTON & CINDY MORTESEN in 2012, and sent an expensive endorsement campaign mailer to registered voters

SCOTT HOUSTON, CINDY MORTESEN, MARIE FELLHAUER, and CINDEE TOPAR — NEVER OPPOSED Measure P before starting their Campaigns and Seeing which way the Wind was Blowing

CARL JACOBSON, DAVE BURNS, and DAVID ATKINSON ALL ACTIVELY OPPOSED Measure P FROM THE BEGINNING

SCOTT HOUSTON, CINDY MORTESEN, MARIE FELLHAUER, and CINDEE TOPAR — NEVER OPPOSED the wildly Excessive & Unsustainable Firefighter and Police Union Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions . . .

. . . that have been costing El Segundo Taxpayers about $8 MILLION EXTRA PER YEAR

DAVE BURNS was an OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE of COMPENSATION & PENSION REFORM from the BEGINNING

CARL JACOBSON has also worked for COMPENSATION & PENSION REFORM, but the Fired City Manager Doug Willmore followed Mayor Busch’s Direction, not the Council’s

The NEW 3-Year FIRE & POLICE UNION Contracts have NO SALARY REDUCTIONS

The NEW Contracts include 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAY RAISES, & GUARANTEE NO LAYOFFS, EVEN if it BANKRUPTS the City . . .

. . . as the Fire & Police Unions BANKRUPTED the City of Vallejo, California

The City Budget is NOT “Structurally Balanced” as Mayor Busch, Councilman Fisher, and Fired City Manager Doug Willmore have Claimed

Otherwise, Mayor Busch and Councilman Fisher would not be trying to borrow $10 Million over 20 years to pay for Street Re-Surfacing and other ROUTINE Infrastructure Maintenance and Capital Improvements . . .

. . . that USED TO BE paid out of ordinary General Fund Revenues, before the Fire and Police Unions Ratcheted-Up their Compensation & Pensions, and claimed that money as their own

Scott Houston has been in LOCK-STEP with BOTH the Fire and Police Unions, promoting their political and financial agendas at City Council meetings

The Fire and Police Unions want TAX and FEE INCREASES to pay for their WILDLY EXCESSIVE Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions

That is why the Fire & Police Unions have been behind the Chevron Shakedown for $10 MILLION in new taxes per year, as newly released Public Record City emails show

(Start using PSP Banner on Black Background)

Thank you for watching this presentation of the Public Safety Project

Scott Houston is OUT OF STEP with our Community

Scott Houston is in LOCK-STEP with the FIRE & POLICE UNIONS

Marie Fellhauer, Cindee Topar, & Susan Truax endorsed Scott Houston in 2010

Marie Fellhauer is a POLICE UNION MEMBER in Los Angeles . . .

. . . and will likely represent the local Police & Fire Unions, not Voters & Taxpayers

Cindee Topar was Campaign Manager for a FIRE UNION MEMBER

Topar is an official in a MILITANT UNION that TARGETS THE CUSTOMERS

For years, Cindy Mortesen has failed to show up for work in the El Segundo City Clerk’s Office

Mortesen works full-time in the Redondo Beach City Clerk’s Office, BUT Collects 2 Government Pay Checks

Please vote for Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency, and Control by Voters, . . .

. . . NOT Control by FIRE & POLICE UNIONS . . .

. . . that have been LOOTING the PUBLIC TREASURY . . .

. . . of the City they are Sworn to Protect.

Please VOTE FOR Carl Jacobson, David Atkinson, & Dave Burns

Please VOTE FOR Lisa Wood for City Clerk for more Transparency

Election Day is April 10, 2012 in El Segundo

CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY for MORE INFO . . .

PublicSafetyProject.org
YouTube.com/user/PublicSafetyProject

This has been a video production by Michael D. Robbins of the Public Safety Project

Non-FOX portions Copyright © 2012 by
Michael D. Robbins
P.O. Box 2193
El Segundo, CA 90245
PublicSafetyProject.org

This video is not authorized or endorsed by any candidate or committee

Posted in El Segundo, El Segundo Election Coverage, El Segundo Tax and Fee Increases, Firefighter and Police Union Compensation and Pensions, Firefighter Union Corruption, Government Employee Compensation and Pensions, Measure P - Firefighters Union Initiative, News, Police Union Corruption, Political Corruption, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Video – El Segundo City Payroll Gone Mad, featuring Charles Payne and Mike Robbins on Fox Business Network

Video – Cindee Topar is in an official in the militant AFA union which targeted the customers

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Mike

Cindee Topar is an official in the militant AFA union which targeted the customers

Watch the AFA Union’s CHAOS™ Training Video

El Segundo City Council candidate Cindee Topar is both an official and a member in the militant Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) union, which targeted customers, canceled randomly selected flights without notice, and stranded passengers to create “CHAOS™” for the customers and their employer. Topar’s union was so proud of their anti-social behavior that they even trademarked the name “CHAOS™”.

Cindee Topar at a City Council meeting.
Cindee Topar at a City Council meeting.
Photo copyright © 2012 by Michael D. Robbins.

How would you like it if Topar’s militant union caused you to miss a job interview, business meeting, expensive vacation cruise, or an important once-in-a-lifetime event such as a family wedding, bar mitzvah, or funeral?

The union’s stated goal was to scare away customers to sabotage their employer’s business without suffering the loss of income that a traditional strike would cause. Her union was so proud of stranding airline passengers without incurring the penalty of lost income for their union members that they trademarked the name CHAOS™! The name CHAOS™ stands for “Creating Havoc Around Our System.” If Topar gets elected, we may have CHAOT – Creating Havoc Around Our Town.

Here is the United AFA union’s official CHAOS™ web page:
http://www.unitedafa.org/afa/chaos/default.aspx

How does CHAOS™ work?

When Cindee Topar’s AFA union creates CHAOS™ for customers and management, the following steps are taken.

  • Just enough flight attendants whose absence is necessary to cancel a flight walk up to a supervisor and notify the supervisor they are now on strike.
  • The AFA union members do this at randomly selected flights, without notice, just prior to passenger boarding, when it is too late to use substitute workers.
  • The union members wait until the flight is canceled, and then walk back up to the supervisor and state they are no longer on strike and are reporting back to work.
  • The union members demand to be paid for all of their assigned work hours except for the actual time they walked off the job to cancel the flight and sabotage their employer’s business.
  • Customers who have already paid for their flights in advance are deprived of the service they paid for, planned for, and depended upon. Customers miss job interviews, business meetings, expensive vacation cruises, and important once-in-a-lifetime events such as family weddings, bar mitzvahs, and funerals.
  • The union generates news publicity about the people who missed their flights, and about their threats to continue to create CHAOS™ for customers and management, to scare away their employer’s customers and sabotage their employer’s business, causing a loss of income.
  • The union then extorts more money from their employer, and ultimately from the customers, with minimal loss of union member income compared to a traditional strike.

Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) CHAOS™ Union Member Training Video

You can watch the AFA CHAOS™ union member training video here. However, beware that the video contains one-sided anti-capitalist, anti-management rhetoric, and uses euphemisms for the union members’ thuggish and anti-social behavior.

High-speed internet connection is required.

Flash player is required.

You can also watch the AFA CHAOS™ union member training video at:

http://www.unitedafa.org/afa/chaos/video/default.aspx

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Supports Jacobson – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Helen Armstrong

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

Supports Jacobson

It was my deceased husband, Mayor Charles “Chip” Armstrong, who encouraged Carl Jacobson to expand his involvement in public service 30 years ago because of all of his wonderful qualities. Carl is an honorable representative of the people who has devoted decades of his life to serving us and our city. The least we can do is show Carl our respect and give him our vote, if nothing else.

Carl has always been independent, running low-budget campaigns without special interest support. Carl doesn’t boast about his numerous accomplishments and what he has done for us. But please review his campaign flier and his Web site at jacobson-es.com for his history of service and accomplishments for our community.

Carl is not in it for money, power, or bragging rights, but only to do good. He has no hidden agendas and is not using El Segundo as a stepping stone to higher office.

I was disheartened to see the anonymous e-mails and anonymous newspaper ad urging residents to watch the much-discredited KCET propaganda video. I believe they only want to hurt Carl’s re-election prospects.

Helen Armstrong
El Segundo

Posted in Beach Reporter Letters, El Segundo, El Segundo Election Coverage, Letters to the Editor | Comments Off on Supports Jacobson – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Helen Armstrong

Vote for independence – Letter to the Beach Reportor by Illeen Joscha

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

Vote for independence

The newly-released city documents and e-mails tell all. The firefighter and police unions were behind this push to extort $10 million per year in new taxes from Chevron, to pay for their astronomical and unsustainable salaries and benefits that have averaged $211,000 ($342,000 maximum) per individual per year for firefighters and $178,000 ($304,000 maximum) for police.

These self-serving safety unions are supporting Scott Houston (who took a police union endorsement, large campaign contribution, and other support in 2010), Marie Fellhauer (a police union member herself), and Cindee Topar (former City Council campaign manager for a firefighter union member and a militant union official herself) for City Council.

That is also why they are smearing Chevron and the three most honest and independent City Council candidates – Carl Jacobson, David Atkinson, and Dave Burns, who want to restore fiscal responsibility, transparency, and control by residents and taxpayers rather than by self-serving safety unions.

City Council minutes and videos show Scott Houston strongly urging City Council to raise two taxes during the recession – the UUT and TOT taxes – at the August 3, 2010, Council meeting. He urged Council to put them on the ballot for the legally-required voter approval. But at the February 15, 2011, Council meeting, Houston urged Council to enact Measure P directly into law without letting voters vote on it. Clearly, Houston believes voters should only be allowed to vote when it advances the agendas of the self-serving fire and police unions that support him.

Illeen Joscha
El Segundo

Posted in Beach Reporter Letters, El Segundo, El Segundo Election Coverage, Letters to the Editor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Vote for independence – Letter to the Beach Reportor by Illeen Joscha

Hatchet job – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Carol L. Well

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

Hatchet job

Has anyone else in El Segundo been receiving anonymous e-mails re: the upcoming election? The first was from Think. ElSegundo urging all of us to watch “SoCal Connected” and listed all dates and times. We all know what that hatchet job was about. We heard only one side of this story. It’s so easy these days to blame big companies, and especially big oil companies, for everything. A more thorough understanding is needed to understand what was going on, how decisions were reached, and what legal counsel was received, etc. Let’s not pass judgment with only half the story.

The second anonymous group is calling themselves OMG.ElSegundo. I was quite offended by their e-mail and “replied” on my computer asking who they were, who they represented, and what their agenda is. They still would not identify themselves in a follow-up e-mail. They prefer to hide behind the Internet and sling mud, but don’t want to face any consequences.

They don’t feel strong enough about their convictions to stand up and identify themselves.

They asked if we are living in the 1950s. They advocate destroying old buildings and facilities in El Segundo and getting rid of old people (60 and 70 year olds) from the council. They favor Houston, Fellhauer, and Topar. They brag about what other communities have. Why don’t they move there? I know who I won’t be voting for.

My interpretation is that they want to spend, spend, spend and have Chevron (and us old folks) pay for everything.

Carol L. Well
El Segundo

Posted in Beach Reporter Letters, California, El Segundo, El Segundo Election Coverage, El Segundo News, Letters to the Editor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hatchet job – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Carol L. Well

His own words – Letter to the Beach Reporter by David Burns

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

His own words

Before our City Council election, it’s incumbent upon every voter to verify facts before taking e-mails, editorials and hearsay as fact. I refuse to engage in the mud slinging and conjecture flooding e-mail boxes and newspapers. I’m writing now because I take issue when my name is attached to words I did not say.

When I am used to promote someone else’s opinion, I respond. Mr. Gerhardt VanDrie asked me if a petition came forward with validated signatures supporting a barrel tax, would I block it with my vote as a City Council member? My answer was, “No, I wouldn’t block any verified petition from the citizenry of El Segundo as a matter of democratic principal.”

For example, I wouldn’t have blocked Measure P although I’ve been extremely vocal against it. VanDrie’s editorial addresses other topics, which may infer my support. This action is wrong. If you want to know my opinion – ask me. If you want to verify facts about our former city manager – read El Segundo’s public records. It’s wrong that mass e-mails, presumptions or suppositions may win the day in an important election.

El Segundo’s problems are too serious for politicking. We need factual, clear communication; responsible plans and the courage to consider all aspects of issues, without narrowly pushing individual agendas. The only agenda I have is a safe and fiscally sound community.

Leading El Segundo in its entirety isn’t easy, yet it’s possible and worth doing. I will serve you in this way.

David Burns
El Segundo

Posted in Beach Reporter Letters, El Segundo, El Segundo Election Coverage, Letters to the Editor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on His own words – Letter to the Beach Reporter by David Burns

iPads without science – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Mitch Williams

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

iPads without science

For four and a half years, I taught Mira Costa’s technology courses, including AP Computer Science, and Video Game Development, applying high school math to 3D graphics. So, I had vested interest in MBUSD’s technology plan.

I certainly support technology in education – previously, I was manager of software for “Math Blaster,” the top-selling children’s educational video game.

MBUSD’s commitment to technology brought hope. However, that fell apart when, in September, an employee was badly injured by an electrical shock from the lab’s high voltage lines. As a teacher, I was never informed by MBUSD, though they knew the dangers as this computer lab was featured in the Proposition BB video in 2008.

After a three-week delay, we returned to the outdated computers. As MBUSD Deputy Superintendent Rick Bagley wrote to the State of California “these computers were largely inoperable” and “none of them were usable.”

And I was expected to teach with this? We were 30 percent of the way through the calendar year before MBUSD acted, still leaving us with only 24 PCs for 31 students. I complained, was reprimanded, exhausted my resources, and knew it was hopeless.

MBUSD’s core technology plan, centering around classroom iPads not computer science, was the most expensive, least integrated, highest maintenance costs, and lowest return on investment. Naturally, MBUSD never sought faculty input, but then, I am only an engineering instructor of 10-plus years with UC Berkeley and UCLA Extension, while MBUSD administrators are iPhone users, which in their minds makes them technology experts.

Mitch Williams
Redondo Beach

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A city saved – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Marc Zimet

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

A city saved

As a 16-year civil defense attorney, there is no question in my mind that the settlement with Macpherson is exceptional for Hermosa. We now face, at most, $17.5 million in exposure. For 14 years, we faced potential exposure of $750 million, and the lawsuit hung over our city like a black cloud.

Hermosa faced bankruptcy; it no longer does. The chance of losing at trial was significant and there would be no escaping a significant judgment against Hermosa.

Bankruptcy would curtail the city and its residents from deciding many issues concerning city governance because a bankruptcy trustee would be intimately involved with all such decisions after liquidating some of the city’s assets.

What’s left is a decision on slant drilling on Sixth Street. If the voters elect to allow slant drilling, so be it. Hermosa would not only be relieved of paying back $14 million of the $17.5 million owed to E&B, the city and school district would potentially receive future revenue from E&B.

If the voters say “no,” so be it also. Hermosa will come up with a way to repay E&B’s loan. Paying back $17.5 million to E&B will divert other uses for such money, but it will not cause Hermosa to go bankrupt.

No one should question the wisdom of this settlement, or the work of Kit Bobko and Mike DiVirgilio in getting this done for us. To Kit and Mike, thank you. You truly saved our city.

Marc Zimet
Hermosa Beach

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Unsuitable suits – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Jenny Hughes

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

Unsuitable suits

Thankfully I’m the mother of two young men who have already finished high school because if I had two girls who wanted to play beach volleyball, I’d have to say no. I could only shake my head at the photo of the Mira Costa girls’ beach volleyball team. What are these parents thinking? One of these girls is a freshman; that would make her at least 14. I would be petrified to allow my 14-year-old, let alone 16 or 17, to parade around in such a revealing suit.

I get that we all live by the beach and that influences much of our lives. But where is the decorum of decency relative to age? What message are we sending these young girls? That less is better? That this is what is done on the beach? Everyone else is doing it?

We’re not talking about adults who play on the beach with skimpy suits; these girls are children. Yes, children. As with driving, it’s not always us we have to worry about, it’s the drivers around us, and one can only make the argument here that it’s all the other people on the beach who are ogling these kids with eyes and thoughts that are so totally inappropriate for the age.

I beg you parents, stand up and ask for greater coverage; your children don’t need to dress like adults yet.

Jenny Hughes
Hermosa Beach

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City Manger’s Misconduct – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Michael D. Robbins

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Mike

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

City Manger’s Misconduct

New evidence of fired City Manager Doug Willmore’s misconduct was revealed with the latest public records release of city documents and emails (available at ElSegundo.org and PublicSafetyProject.org).

Willmore politicized City Hall. His secretary, Mickie Tagle, used city-paid time and public resources to do political opposition research against Chevron and against residents who criticized Willmore’s efforts to shakedown Chevron for an additional $10 million per year in taxes. One email showed she even tried to dig up dirt on me! Finance Director Deborah Cullen was also enthusiastically involved in Willmore’s shakedown efforts.

The emails show Willmore was doing Mayor Eric Busch’s bidding, taking direction from Busch in his attempt to extort more money from Chevron, without a majority of Council members even knowing about it. The city manager is legally required to take direction only from a majority vote or consensus of the City Council. Busch and Willmore targeted Chevron because they “can’t move” their refinery, and because of environmental politics.

The emails also show the fire and police unions have been behind this push to raise taxes to pay for their wildly excessive and unsustainable compensation and pensions. Willmore was desperately concerned that the City lacked the funds necessary for basic infrastructure maintenance and capital improvements.

The money for those costs traditionally came from ordinary General Fund revenues, which instead paid for about $8 million extra per year in excessive safety union compensation and pensions. Thus, the City budget is not really “structurally balanced” as Busch and Willmore have claimed.

Michael D. Robbins
El Segundo

Posted in Beach Reporter Letters, Doug Willmore's Great Chevron Shakedown, El Segundo, El Segundo News, El Segundo Tax and Fee Increases, Firefighter and Police Union Compensation and Pensions, Letters to the Editor, Union Corruption | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City Manger’s Misconduct – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Michael D. Robbins