Vote NO on Measure P Cartoon featuring FIRE HERO and SMART LADY
This very funny cartoon was created by one of our Public Safety Project supporters on February 9, 2011. He took a few liberties in making the video, but it is basically correct. All the title slides containing text information are Mike Robbins’ work and contain correct information.
Measure P will permanently eliminate El Segundo’s three city-operated paramedic ambulances forever, because the Los Angeles County Fire Department does not operate paramedic ambulances, and El Segundo will permanently lose its legal grandfathered status to operate them.
This will force city residents to use out-of-town private ambulance companies with significantly increased hospital transport times and ambulance fees. The City currently only charges residents what their insurance will pay.
The following data shows that El Segundo residents rely far more on their city-operated paramedic ambulances than on firefighters putting out fires. There were zero major residential structure fires (defined as having $100,000 or more in damage) in El Segundo from January 1, 2008 through April 30 2011.
During that same period, there was an average of 828 paramedic ambulance transports of victims to a hospital per year (city-wide).
El Segundo residents will be far worse off if Measure P passes and as a result they lose their three city-operated paramedic ambulances.
This data is from public record documents obtained from the El Segundo Fire Department in May, 2011 by Mike Robbins, former El Segundo City Councilman and director of the El Segundo Public Safety Project.
If measure P passes, residents will suffer reduced paramedic services and reduced fire protection services.
Number of Major Structure Fires per Year ( > $100,000 damage ):
2008: 1 (129 Arena St. – Commercial Building fire)
2009: 0
2010: 1 (1970 E Imperial Hwy. / Raytheon Bldg. R1 – Commercial Building fire)
2011: 1* (2000 E El Segundo Blvd. / Raytheon Bldg. E1 – Commercial Building fire due to Helicopter Crash)
*Through April 30
Number of Paramedic Hospital Transports per year:
2008: 777
2009: 737
2010: 674
2011: 281*
*Through April 30
Video Transcript:
VOTE “NO” ON MEASURE P featuring FIRE HERO & SMART LADY
This is a special presentation of the Public Safety Project
PublicSafetyProject.org
YouTube.com/user/PublicSafetyProject
( Watch the cartoon. )
The preceeding cartoon video was produced by a supporter of the Public Safety Project in El Segundo, California
PRODUCTION NOTES:
This cartoon used a composite character, with features from both former fire union resident Kevin
Rehm who retired in 2009, and the following fire union president, Christopher Thomason.
PRODUCTION NOTES (continued):
The Rancho Palos Verdes home was for Rehm, but his home is actually 4,200 sq. ft., not 3,500 sq ft.
Thomason had $256,000 total compensation in 2009.
PRODUCTION NOTES (continued):
This cartoon was created on February 9, 2011, and is 3 min 47 sec long.
Major Structure Fires in El Segundo: 1 in 2010, 0 in 2009, and 2 in 2008.
2009 FIREFIGHTER Annual Individual Total Compensation:
Average: $211,000
Maximum: $342,000
While much maligned Chevron has contributed little or no money or in-kind contributions to El Segundo City Council candidates for at least the last two decades, the big campaign money in El Segundo has come from the El Segundo Firefighters Association (the fire labor union), the El Segundo Police Officers’ Association (the police labor union), and an out-of-town extremist environmental organization, the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (LALCV).
The LALCV is so extreme that its president, Mitchell Schwartz, claimed we have less than ten years to prevent human extinction due to “greenhouse emissions” in his alarmist message on page 4 of the October 2009 LALCV newsletter:
“Today, we are again faced with the threat of extinction. Noah was given 120 years to build his ark …
Today, we have much less time to save the world from disastrous consequences … we have a decade or less to bring emissions down to a level where we can avoid the worst possible outcomes.
We at LALCV, and those of you who belong to other environmental organizations, or who live their lives in a sustainable manner, are modern day Noahs. But whereas Noah was unsuccessful in his efforts … our work is bearing fruit.”
Note that much of the “global warming” hysteria and “scientist consensus” has been debunked. Key research that formed the basis for “global warming” hysteria has been found to be fraudulent. If anything, the scientific evidence shows that climate and temperature depend largely on solar output which varies in cycles over time, and the earth may actually be cooling.
Cindee Topar has taken thousands of dollars in campaign support from the radical LALCV. Although the name may sound innocuous, their agenda and the candidates they support are quite extreme, and they divert and squander taxpayer money for their own private agenda purposes.
The LALCV is a political action committee (PAC). They do not plant any trees, clean up any parks or beaches, or do any other hands-on conservation-related work. Their sole purpose for existing is to get candidates who subscribe to their extremist political agenda elected to public offices.
An internet search found that LALCV promotes an agenda ranging from banning plastic bags — to increasing taxes and trash collection fees to pay for more of their environmental programs — to “Toilet to Tap”.
“Toilet to Tap” would have recycled Hyperion sewage coming out of our kitchen and bathroom taps if a majority on City Council were to successfully promote it. I don’t think we need that, and I don’t think we are ready for that.
Although “Toilet to Tap” isn’t even on our city’s radar screen, neither was a plastic bag ban until Cindee Topar urged the City Council to implement it. If Cindee Topar and Scott Houston are elected to City Council, there will be a three-vote majority to implement a wide array of LALCV programs. I hope I am wrong, but what if I am right? Can we afford to take the chance?
According to the LALCV.org web site, the LALCV has endorsed and possibly also funded and provided expensive campaign mailers for the the following candidates in the specified El Segundo City Council elections:
“LALCV is recognized as a leader in the sustainability arena. They also screen candidates carefully before they issue an endorsement. … LALCV was instrumental in both my elections to City Council.”
“Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters challenges elected officials and those that that would run for office to question their support of the environment, recycling and sustainability. By their endorsement process they provide an important and vital service by challenging our elected officials to continue this important work. I am proud to have their endorsement and applaud all that have gained it. Thank you LALCV for doing what you do.”
Cindee Topar took thousands of dollars in cash and other campaign support from LALCV
The campaign support Topar took from the LALCV included large cash contributions and three expensive campaign mailers when Topar ran for El Segundo City Council in 2008.
LALCV has contributed or promised to contribute $750 to Topar for her 2012 El Segundo City Council campaign, which Topar used for her campaign mailer that arrived about March 30, 2012.
The third LALCV campaign mailer sent for Topar in 2008 was a large full-color card stock campaign mailer that claimed in large bold letters, “Thanks to CINDEE TOPAR, El Segundo has cleaner air, healthier water and more open space.” You can see the front side of that campaign mailer below.
Third LALCV campaign mailer for Cindee Topar in her 2008 campaign for El Segundo City Council.
The LALCV has a rigorous vetting process for its endorsements
For all races, the LALCV Board of Directors uses a rigorous four-step vetting process in making its campaign endorsements to ensure they only support candidates who will actively pursue their radical agenda. The vetting process includes a detailed questionnaire and in-person interview, followed by an evaluation and recommendation by an endorsement team, then finally, a vote of the full Board.
In some cases, the Board will also elect to financially support a candidate or ballot initiative along with its endorsement. Only the most extreme candidates running in races where the LALCV has a reasonable chance of influencing the election outcome get both the LALCV endorsement and the financial support.
Video Transcript:
SOLVING OUR CITY’S TOP PROBLEMS 101
featuring CINDEE TOPAR
This is a special presentation of the Public Safety Project
The following excerpt from the 2/1/11 El Segundo City Council Meeting shows that Cindee TOPAR is OUT OF TOUCH with our TOP PRIORITIES.
Of all our City’s Problems – Massive Budget Deficits, Unsustainable City Union Contracts, potential Loss of our Fire Department, . . .
. . . what keeps Cindee Topar awake at night?
Watch Cindee in action, and see how she tackles our City’s top priority problem.
( Watch the video and you will be surprised! )
(February 1, 2011 El Segundo City Council Meeting)
Public Communications:
“My name is Cindee Topar, I’m at 634 Lomita Street, and on January 25th, in a unanimous decision, the city of Santa Monica passed one of the most aggressive bans on plastic bags initiative. It will go into effect September 2011 and it will ban all grocery store bags, pharmacies and retailers from distributing the one-use plastic bags. Exceptions are made in restaurants where they have carry-out food, carry-out drinks, they will be able to use them, bags. Stores can sell paper bags provided they are 40% recycled paper at a price of ten cents each.
“On Tuesday, November 16, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors adopted the prohibition on the purchase and use of the single bags, and at the same meeting an environmental impact report for the proposed ordinances to ban the plastic carry-out bags was certified.
“On tonight Calabasas will be voting on this ordinance at their city council meeting to decide if they’re going to ban the bags.
“I would like to propose that El Segundo consider implementing this ordinance.
“I received about 150 reusable bags to distribute so I was hoping if we did do this ordinance, I could get something at the Farmers Market and I could distribute bags free of charge to people to start getting themselves used to trying to use these reusable bags and ban this. They’re just an environmental mess out there, and at Ralphs, I think I was there for about 15 minutes counting, and within 15 minutes they used 220 plastic bags. And I thought that’s was one day within 15 minutes, so I can’t even imagine the amount of those plastic bags that are getting used in a lifetime over the years. So, I feel this is a good thing for us, for our town, it’s a good thing for the environment, and I would hope that our council could look into implementing this.”
Cindee Topar lacks the analytical ability to do a cost-versus-benefits analysis rather than a simple one-sided analysis.
Cindee Topar wants to emulate Santa Monica to solve El Segundo’s problems.
What other Santa Monica “solutions” does Cindee Topar plan for El Segundo?
Scott Houston in Disbanding Our Fire Department 101 with Measure P
El Segundo City Council candidate Scott Houston has completely misrepresented his true record, politics, and agenda. Houston is a tax-and-spend Progressive (ultra-liberal), not a fiscal conservative.
Houston claimed in his campaign literature that he wants to “maintain local control of our fire department”. However, as demonstrated by the video above and the links to the official El Segundo City Council meeting minutes, Scott Houston urged the City Council to enact Measure P as an ordinance that night, without letting the people vote on it, at the February 15, 2011 El Segundo City Council meeting.
Measure P will disband our local City Fire Department and force El Segundo to contract with Los Angele County for a significantly reduced level of fire and paramedic service, for at least ten years under state law, and under price, terms and service levels dictated by L.A. County under an adhesion contract mandated by Measure P, the fire union’s initiative.
Houston read a script nearly identical to the script read by Bryan Partlow, the fire union representative who sponsored Measure P because he is the only firefighter union member that lives in El Segundo. Both Houston and Partlow urged the City Council, to enact Measure P directly into law without an election, and if not then as their second choice, to schedule Measure P for a vote at an early Special Election within only a few months.
That would have given the firefighters’ union a huge unfair advantage, the union can fund and organize their campaign almost instantly, while the residents would be just ramping up their campaign after the election is over. The firefighters’ union can easily raise $100,000 or more almost instantly from among their union members, and they have dozens of volunteers to work their campaign because the firefighters only have to work two out of every six days, and they get paid to sleep.
Scott Houston was clearly upset when he spoke at the second Public Communications period, at the end of the meeting, because the City Council voted 3 to 2 to schedule Measure P for the next regular election, on April 10, 2012, when the he would run for City Council after he lobbied the Council to enact Measure P directly into law without letting the voters vote on it. Those would be the same voters that he would ask to vote for him!
And Scott Houston had proved by his own actions, that he will represent the fire and police unions rather than the voters and taxpayers.
The February 15, 2011 El Segundo City Council meeting minutes 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, 2011 meeting minutes yourself on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
El Segundo City Council candidate Scott Houston has completely misrepresented his true record, politics, and agenda. Houston is a Progressive (ultra-liberal, big tax-and-spender), not a fiscal conservative. He even described himself as a Progressive when he previously ran for another position.
Houston claimed in his campaign literature that he is for “low taxes”. However, as demonstrated by the video above and the links to the official El Segundo City Council meeting minutes below, Scott Houston urged the City Council to raise not one, but two taxes during the recession, at the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting.
Houston urged the City Council to put both a Utility User Tax (UUT) and a hotel Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) hike on the November 2, 2010 ballot for the legally required voter approval. Houston then criticized Councilman Carl Jacobson for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling city government spending.
And without any proof, Houston claimed these tax hikes would not impact any businesses. However, representatives of the businesses that would be adversely impacted spoke, providing facts that proved Houston was either ignorant or intentionally lying.
Clearly, Houston was in lock-step with the fire and police unions, urging the City Council to increase taxes to help pay for the huge pay raises of more than 15 to 23 percent given to those unions during the recession.
The August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting minutes state, at the top of page 4:
“Scott Houston, Resident; spoke in favor of placing a TOT and UUT increase on the November ballot.”
“Marsha Hanson, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce; addressed the chamber’s concerns regarding the proposed UUT and TOT increases. The Chamber urges Council to find new spending reductions.
“Joe Hardy, Hacienda Hotel; spoke regarding the UUT proposal and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Lily Craig, Chevron; spoke regarding the UUT proposal, and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Mike Robbins, Resident; spoke against raising any taxes, and employee compensation.”
You can read the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City council meeting minutes yourself on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
The following excerpts from the 8/3/10 El Segundo City Council Meeting show that SCOTT HOUSTON is Campaigning OPPOSITE his Past Record.
SCOTT HOUSTON CLAIMS he is for low taxes, but he tried to RAISE OUR TAXES.
HOUSTON spoke at the 8/3/10 City Council meeting, strongly URGING the Council to INCREASE TWO TAXES during the recession . . .
[ VIDEO CLIPS: ]
August 3, 2012 El Segundo City Council meeting
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “… meeting of the El Segundo City Council, Tuesday, August third. And we are actually starting on time this evening, so it’s a good sign. We call the meeting to order.”
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “That brings us to Public Communications. Scott, Please.”
SCOTT HOUSTON: “Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. I’m Scott Houston, 120 Loma Vista Street. And I’m here tonight to encourage the City Council to approve placing an initiative on the November 2nd ballot to increase our Utility Users Tax and also our Transient Occupancy Tax. I think it is important this option of increasing these two revenue sources be considered. They should be placed on the ballot for the CITIZENS of El Segundo to decide. And if the citizens decide that they don’t want them, they can vote them down. But we should have a choice. We the voters in El Segundo should have the opportunity to have our say.”
If Houston REALLY wanted the voters to have a choice, he would have proposed that a TAX CUT ALSO be put on the ballot. HE DID NOT.
Houston’s proposal is like a coin toss called as “Heads I Win, Tails Nobody Wins. And let’s keep flipping!”
Houston read a script at the 2/15/11 City Council meeting, strongly urging the Council to enact Measure P directly into law, without letting us vote on it.
Houston’s script was nearly identical to the script read at that same meeting by Fire Union representative Bryan Partlow, the sponsor of Measure P.
Houston believes voters should ONLY be allowed to VOTE if it will ADVANCE THE AGENDAS of the Fire & Police Unions that support him.
HOUSTON went on to criticize Councilman CARL JACOBSON for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling City spending . . .
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “I remind everybody the last time we broached increasing the TOT in El Segundo, it was knocked down by two members, Carl Jacobson and also Kelly McDowell. I disagreed with that decision then, and I disagree with it now.”
Scott Houston never saw a City Expenditure or a Tax or Fee Increase he didn’t like.
HOUSTON NEVER OPPOSED the wildly Excessive and Unsustainable Firefighter and Police Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions . . .
. . . that have been costing El Segundo Taxpayers about $8 MILLION EXTRA PER YEAR
2009 FIREFIGHTER Annual Individual Total Compensation: Average: $211,000; Maximum: $342,000.
2009 POLICE CHIEF Total Annual Compensation plus his Pension Income while working half-time for 11 weeks as Police Chief after his retirement: $597,000.
The NEW 3-Year FIRE & POLICE UNION Contracts have NO SALARY REDUCTIONS.
The Contracts include 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAY RAISES, & GUARANTEE NO LAYOFFS, even if it Bankrupts the City.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “We have excellent hotels in El Segundo, serving our business travelers and tourists alike, and they will not be impacted by an increase.”
SCOTT HOUTSON claimed a DOUBLE TAX INCREASE — a UUT and a TOT tax increase — will not impact El Segundo businesses. Was he MAKING THAT UP?
Business Representatives and Residents alike DISAGREED with SCOTT HOUSTON’S call to RAISE TWO DIFFERENT TAXES during the recession.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
Mayor Eric Bush: “Joe, Please.”
Joe Harding: “Thank you. Joe Harding, representing the Hacienda Hotel and also a resident of El Segundo. Back again to pleasd our case with regards to the increase in the TOT.
Most of you have seen first hand what our industry has endured over the past twenty-seven years, and I want to say thank you, for hearing us out and understanding our position. Our industry just can’t handle any increase at this time. Not in this economy. Not with the current room rate structure in Los Angeles. Not with the shift in our competitive set. We simply have to take this off the table. You must say “no” to the hotel killer tax.
Our staff, mostly entry level employees making twenty to thirty thousand dollars a year, substantially less than the City employees, have stepped up to take a 20 percent pay cut in order to keep their benefits and their jobs. They are doing their part to help us get through our financial crisis. We will survive because everyone is doing their fair share.
Today’s news is another example of where the travel industry stands. Mexicana Airlines canceled four daily flights from Los Angeles and similar amounts from several other major U.S. cities. Was it drastic? Was it painful? Was it necessary for survival? I say smart move to stay alive.
We are already in the survival mode at the Hacienda. We can’t lose any more business to our competitors who is now every other hotel. The current rate is a fair share and keeps El Segundo hotels in the game. We also understand the need for the business community to step up and do something. Whatever this is, it needs to be fair, across the board, and not target any specific industry.
A TOT and a UUT would hit us twice. That would be like kicking us when we’re down, and then running us over for good measure. We’ve already, uh, we’ve heard discussion of a one percent increase in the UUT for two years. Certainly a more equitable way of sharing the burden. And trust me, any increase places a burden on our already thin margin.
The City must make unpopular and difficult adjustments to their payroll and expenses. Asking bnusinesses to pick up the bill for the city and its residents in this economy is simply not a fair approach.
The Hacienda has been and will remain a stellar business in this community. Help make sure this continues. Leave the TOT where it is. It’s working for us. It’s working for the City.
And I end with an open invitation to Scott Houston to come to breakfast, lunch, or dinner with me, so you can see the full picture of the hospitality industry. Thank you.”
Mayor Eric Busch: “Thank you.”
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, as newly released Public Record City emails show.
Houston ran for City Council in April 2010. The Police Union endorsed him & gave him a large contribution and other support.
Houston returned the favor, urging the Council to raise taxes to help pay for more than 11% to 23% in pay raises given to the Firefighters and Police during the recession.
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 and Cindee Topar endorsed (2010) Scott Houston.
Marie Fellhauer is a POLICE UNION MEMBER in Los Angeles.
Cindee Topar was Campaign Manager for a FIRE UNION MEMBER.
Topar is an official in a MILITANT UNION that TARGETS THE CUSTOMERS.
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.
Scott Houston in Raising Taxes 101 (shortest version, without title slides)
Note: This is the shortest version of this video, and it lacks annotations that explain the video.
El Segundo City Council candidate Scott Houston has completely misrepresented his true record, politics, and agenda. Houston is a Progressive (ultra-liberal, big tax-and-spender), not a fiscal conservative. He even described himself as a Progressive when he previously ran for another position.
Houston claimed in his campaign literature that he is for “low taxes”. However, as demonstrated by the video above and the links to the official El Segundo City Council meeting minutes below, Scott Houston urged the City Council to raise not one, but two taxes during the recession, at the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting.
Houston urged the City Council to put both a Utility User Tax (UUT) and a hotel Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) hike on the November 2, 2010 ballot for the legally required voter approval. Houston then criticized Councilman Carl Jacobson for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling city government spending.
And without any proof, Houston claimed these tax hikes would not impact any businesses. However, representatives of the businesses that would be adversely impacted spoke, providing facts that proved Houston was either ignorant or intentionally lying.
Clearly, Houston was in lock-step with the fire and police unions, urging the City Council to increase taxes to help pay for the huge pay raises of more than 15 to 23 percent given to those unions during the recession.
The August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting minutes state, at the top of page 4:
“Scott Houston, Resident; spoke in favor of placing a TOT and UUT increase on the November ballot.”
“Marsha Hanson, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce; addressed the chamber’s concerns regarding the proposed UUT and TOT increases. The Chamber urges Council to find new spending reductions.
“Joe Hardy, Hacienda Hotel; spoke regarding the UUT proposal and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Lily Craig, Chevron; spoke regarding the UUT proposal, and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Mike Robbins, Resident; spoke against raising any taxes, and employee compensation.”
You can read the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City council meeting minutes yourself on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
The following excerpts from the 8/3/10 El Segundo City Council Meeting show that SCOTT HOUSTON is Campaigning OPPOSITE his Past Record.
SCOTT HOUSTON CLAIMS he is for low taxes, but he tried to RAISE OUR TAXES.
HOUSTON spoke at the 8/3/10 City Council meeting, strongly URGING the Council to INCREASE TWO TAXES during the recession . . .
[ VIDEO CLIPS: ]
August 3, 2012 El Segundo City Council meeting
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “… meeting of the El Segundo City Council, Tuesday, August third. And we are actually starting on time this evening, so it’s a good sign. We call the meeting to order.”
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “That brings us to Public Communications. Scott, Please.”
SCOTT HOUSTON: “Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. I’m Scott Houston, 120 Loma Vista Street. And I’m here tonight to encourage the City Council to approve placing an initiative on the November 2nd ballot to increase our Utility Users Tax and also our Transient Occupancy Tax. I think it is important this option of increasing these two revenue sources be considered. They should be placed on the ballot for the CITIZENS of El Segundo to decide. And if the citizens decide that they don’t want them, they can vote them down. But we should have a choice. We the voters in El Segundo should have the opportunity to have our say.”
If Houston REALLY wanted the voters to have a choice, he would have proposed that a TAX CUT ALSO be put on the ballot. HE DID NOT.
Houston’s proposal is like a coin toss called as “Heads I Win, Tails Nobody Wins. And let’s keep flipping!”
Houston read a script at the 2/15/11 City Council meeting, strongly urging the Council to enact Measure P directly into law, without letting us vote on it.
Houston’s script was nearly identical to the script read at that same meeting by Fire Union representative Bryan Partlow, the sponsor of Measure P.
Houston believes voters should ONLY be allowed to VOTE if it will ADVANCE THE AGENDAS of the Fire & Police Unions that support him.
HOUSTON went on to criticize Councilman CARL JACOBSON for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling City spending . . .
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “I remind everybody the last time we broached increasing the TOT in El Segundo, it was knocked down by two members, Carl Jacobson and also Kelly McDowell. I disagreed with that decision then, and I disagree with it now.”
Scott Houston never saw a City Expenditure or a Tax or Fee Increase he didn’t like.
HOUSTON NEVER OPPOSED the wildly Excessive and Unsustainable Firefighter and Police Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions . . .
. . . that have been costing El Segundo Taxpayers about $8 MILLION EXTRA PER YEAR
2009 FIREFIGHTER Annual Individual Total Compensation: Average: $211,000; Maximum: $342,000.
2009 POLICE CHIEF Total Annual Compensation plus his Pension Income while working half-time for 11 weeks as Police Chief after his retirement: $597,000.
The NEW 3-Year FIRE & POLICE UNION Contracts have NO SALARY REDUCTIONS.
The Contracts include 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAY RAISES, & GUARANTEE NO LAYOFFS, even if it Bankrupts the City.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “We have excellent hotels in El Segundo, serving our business travelers and tourists alike, and they will not be impacted by an increase.”
SCOTT HOUTSON claimed a DOUBLE TAX INCREASE — a UUT and a TOT tax increase — will not impact El Segundo businesses. Was he MAKING THAT UP?
Business Representatives and Residents alike DISAGREED with SCOTT HOUSTON’S call to RAISE TWO DIFFERENT TAXES during the recession.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
Mayor Eric Bush: “Joe, Please.”
Joe Harding: “Thank you. Joe Harding, representing the Hacienda Hotel and also a resident of El Segundo. Back again to pleasd our case with regards to the increase in the TOT.
Most of you have seen first hand what our industry has endured over the past twenty-seven years, and I want to say thank you, for hearing us out and understanding our position. Our industry just can’t handle any increase at this time. Not in this economy. Not with the current room rate structure in Los Angeles. Not with the shift in our competitive set. We simply have to take this off the table. You must say “no” to the hotel killer tax.
Our staff, mostly entry level employees making twenty to thirty thousand dollars a year, substantially less than the City employees, have stepped up to take a 20 percent pay cut in order to keep their benefits and their jobs. They are doing their part to help us get through our financial crisis. We will survive because everyone is doing their fair share.
Today’s news is another example of where the travel industry stands. Mexicana Airlines canceled four daily flights from Los Angeles and similar amounts from several other major U.S. cities. Was it drastic? Was it painful? Was it necessary for survival? I say smart move to stay alive.
We are already in the survival mode at the Hacienda. We can’t lose any more business to our competitors who is now every other hotel. The current rate is a fair share and keeps El Segundo hotels in the game. We also understand the need for the business community to step up and do something. Whatever this is, it needs to be fair, across the board, and not target any specific industry.
A TOT and a UUT would hit us twice. That would be like kicking us when we’re down, and then running us over for good measure. We’ve already, uh, we’ve heard discussion of a one percent increase in the UUT for two years. Certainly a more equitable way of sharing the burden. And trust me, any increase places a burden on our already thin margin.
The City must make unpopular and difficult adjustments to their payroll and expenses. Asking bnusinesses to pick up the bill for the city and its residents in this economy is simply not a fair approach.
The Hacienda has been and will remain a stellar business in this community. Help make sure this continues. Leave the TOT where it is. It’s working for us. It’s working for the City.
And I end with an open invitation to Scott Houston to come to breakfast, lunch, or dinner with me, so you can see the full picture of the hospitality industry. Thank you.”
Mayor Eric Busch: “Thank you.”
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, as newly released Public Record City emails show.
Houston ran for City Council in April 2010. The Police Union endorsed him & gave him a large contribution and other support.
Houston returned the favor, urging the Council to raise taxes to help pay for more than 11% to 23% in pay raises given to the Firefighters and Police during the recession.
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 and Cindee Topar endorsed (2010) Scott Houston.
Marie Fellhauer is a POLICE UNION MEMBER in Los Angeles.
Cindee Topar was Campaign Manager for a FIRE UNION MEMBER.
Topar is an official in a MILITANT UNION that TARGETS THE CUSTOMERS.
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.
Lack of visibility and public input during city employee union contract negotiations
Schools but not cities
Question: Are Manhattan Beach residents afforded public hearings on city employee labor negotiations such as those provided between the Manhattan Beach School District and its teachers?
Answer: Absolutely not! The Educational Employment Relations Act requires hearings by school districts to “enable the public to become informed” and provide the public “the opportunity to express itself” and to “know the positions of their elected representatives” before negotiations.
The Meyers-Milias Brown Act covering local government labor relations requires no such public hearing, but neither is there a prohibition. The Manhattan Beach City Council, true to its historic repressive policy of not informing the public and respecting our intelligence, prohibits such efforts.
Question: Has the Manhattan Beach City Council (MBCC) barricade produced fiscal responsibility?
Answer: Absolutely not! Present contracts are replete with fiscally irresponsible provisions including diminished management authority; requiring salary increases but prohibiting decreases; allowing “stealth bonuses” for “extra duties” without required qualifications; and deficient disciplinary procedures including employees receiving pay while being investigated for misconduct with no provisions for deducting income earned from outside employment while on administrative leave.
Because elected officials and managers receive pay and benefits equal to or more than employees, they too benefit from these deficiencies including personnel policies resulting in inadequate measures of managerial performance and “investment vehicles” resulting in accrued vacation and sick leave paid out at current salary rather than when accrued.
Question: Consequently, are Manhattan Beach residents condemned to having not one iota of input into these MBCC decisions representing 70 percent of our taxpayer dollars?
Answer: Absolutely yes!
Edward Caprielian, Manhattan Beach
Note by Michael D. Robbins on March 22, 2012:
This very important letter points out serious deficiencies in the in both existing state law that allows local government employees to unionize and engage in collective bargaining, and in the actual common practice of secret contract negotiations between city employee labor unions and the city council members they helped to elect and can replace at their next election.
There is an inherent and unavoidable conflict of interest created when government employees are allowed to unionize and then practice their undeniable and well-protected First Amendment free-speech rights to actively campaign and contribute money and in-kind contributions to elect and thus hire their future bosses who will determine their salary, benefits, and pension increases. Often, there is insufficient or even zero representation at the “bargaining table” for the voters and taxpayers.
To all El Segundo voters: I am a long-time (25-plus years) resident and small business owner in El Segundo and I am sick and tired of the “nasties” that seem to crawl out of their holes at election time. In particular, I address those who hide behind the e-mails circulating from “omg.elsegundo.” I do believe in free speech, but, those who belittle persons with whom they disagree or have issues, justified or not, should at least be willing to identify themselves.
I have posted questions and responses to both our former city manager’s blog and to omg.elsegundo, without any replies from the writers of the unproven allegations on Chevron USA and the discrediting of a current city councilman running for re-election. Note that all of the candidates for City Council have stated their stands on the issues and have gone on the record. There was a very informative two-page article in the El Segundo Herald on March 15.
We, as voters, have the right and duty to vote for the candidates of our choice and do so. Those running for public office have the responsibility to answer to us.’How can they respond to the nonsigned diatribe we see on our computers almost every day? This cannot be done if you do not let us know who you are.
Be honest with us and with the candidates. Tell us who you are so we can respond.
Today I tried to take my dog to the dog park but it was closed. He had been very excited so I was going to throw the ball around with him in Dominguez Park next door since there was nobody around. Next thing I knew there was a police office there who was eager to write me a ticket.’He then called in animal control and two other police officers who proceeded to get in my face, harassing me and threatening to arrest me and impound my well-behaved miniature Schnauzer for being off-leash.
I now realize my dog technically should have been on his leash and will of course follow this rule in the future. However, I think we have too many officers with too little to do if such a small issue attracts that kind of attention. I think the city should realize that if it takes four officers to give a girl and her dog a superfluous ticket, they need to reconsider their budget for law enforcement.
Officers are there to serve and protect, and the citizens of Redondo Beach should not have to worry about tickets that are designed to pad the budget, not protect them.
Recently there have been some nasty reports by media outside El Segundo, presenting a one-sided view of supposed shady dealings by the city and Chevron. The purpose was to shock the audience, not present a thoughtful, balanced picture of questions about the company’s taxes.
What was shocking to me, as a lifelong resident of El Segundo and a Chevron employee, was the blatant misinformation, inaccurate statements wrongly presented as facts, and the lack of equal time given to those who didn’t share the anti-big-oil hysteria promoted by the reporters and producers.
It would have been nice to hear from the former mayors, community leaders and others who were troubled not by the idea of looking into Chevron’s tax history but by the rush to put a tax increase on the ballot without first fully investigating the facts. It would have been nice if the TV producers had interviewed those folks instead of an out-of-town political activist with no ties to our community.
Now there’s an unsigned ad in the El Segundo Herald encouraging voters to watch this biased, unbalanced “report,” which slams not only Chevron but a current City Council candidate, and then go to the polls.
What voters should consider is, who is spending so much money to spread negative political propaganda but not willing to identify himself to the very people he’s trying to influence?
This is dirty politics at its worst and should be recognized and rejected as such.
By Michael D. Robbins
Former El Segundo City Councilman
Founder and Director, Public Safety Project
March 18, 2012
This is Part 2 of a three-part series. This first part covers the controversy Doug Willmore created and the facts and circumstances surrounding his firing. The second part covers the old 1994 legal settlement agreement to the MRC-Chevron-City of El Segundo tax dispute. The third part covers revelations from newly released documents and Doug Willmore emails in response to a public records request, and the exploitation of the KCET propaganda video for political campaign purposes, as it was intended by the KCET producers.
This three-part series could have just as well been called “BIG MEDIA SMALL INTEGRITY”, in response to KCET SoCal Connected producer Karen Foshay’s “SMALL TOWN BIG OIL” propaganda hatchet-job attack against Chevron, City Councilman Carl Jacobson, and the entire city of El Segundo. This series exposes Foshay’s TV show for the propaganda that it is, in addition to explaining the facts and circumstances surrounding the firing of Doug Willmore.
There has been much controversy surrounding the firing of El Segundo City Manager Doug Willmore at the special meeting of the El Segundo City Council on February 9, 2012. This controversy has been created by Doug Willmore himself, and by anti-business news organizations he enlisted to smear Chevron, Councilman Carl Jacobson, and the entire city of El Segundo. Carl Jacobson is the only City Council member who voted to fire Doug Willmore and who is running for reelection. Councilman Don Brann is not running for reelection, and Councilwoman Suzanne Fuentes is not up for reelection for another two years.
Regarding the MRC-Chevron-City Legal Settlement
I was on the City Council during the 1994 MRC-Chevron-El Segundo tax dispute legal settlement, and I know first-hand that the decision to approve that settlement agreement with MRC and Chevron was unanimous, legal, legitimate, and reasonable. And the decision was made in a public meeting.
City Attorney Leland Dolley advised and guided the City Council to ensure everything was legal and legitimate. And Carl Jacobson, as mayor, was required to sign the settlement agreement even if he had voted against it. Jacobson has never received any money from special interests, including Chevron and city employee unions, including the politically active firefighter and police unions. He always runs low-budget grass roots campaigns to get elected.
Chevron has donated little if any money to El Segundo City Council candidates for at least the last twenty years. In contrast, the El Segundo Firefighters’ Association and the El Segundo Police Officers’ Association (both unions) have donated thousands of dollars in campaign support to City Council candidates, including Mayor Bush and Councilman Fisher, who gave them millions of dollars per year in excess compensation and pensions.
In contrast, the El Segundo Firefighters’ Association and the El Segundo Police Officers’ Association (both unions) have donated thousands of dollars in campaign support to City Council candidates, including Mayor Bush and Councilman Fisher, who gave them millions of dollars per year in excess compensation and pensions.
The City Council decision to approve the legal settlement agreement with MRC, the City’s tax auditor, and Chevron was unanimous, legal, legitimate, and reasonable, for the following reasons:
City Attorney Leland Dolley advised and guided the City Council to ensure everything was legal and legitimate.
Carl Jacobson, as mayor, was required to sign the legal settlement agreement even if he had voted against it.
Municipal Resource Consultants (MRC) claimed Chevron owed a second Utility User Tax (UUT) on electricity it co-generated by burning natural gas for which it had already paid the UUT tax.
Chevron reasonably claimed this was an unfair and illegal double-taxation on the same energy it merely converted from one form to another.
MRC also claimed that natural gas used as a chemical ingredient in the oil refining process, and that was not burned as fuel, was subject to the UUT tax.
Chevron reasonably claimed this was unfair and illegal taxation.
MRC claimed the City owed it a 25 percent commission for the “unpaid” UUT tax it had “found”, whether or not the City collected that tax from Chevron, and threatened to sue the City.
Chevron threatened to sue the City if it collected the unfair and illegal taxes.
The city reached a legal settlement that paid MRC a reduced commission, had Chevron pay the City an amount that effectively paid the cost for the City to settle with MRC, and that more clearly defined Chevron’s future tax liability.
Furthermore, the City has not paid to provide and maintain all or any of the city infrastructure and services on the massive 951-acre Chevron refinery property that it provides and maintains in the other business and residential areas of the city.
The City does not pay to provide and maintain the many miles of streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, alleys, storm drains, water pipes, sewer pipes, parks, recreational facilities, trees, landscaping, street sweeping, residential trash collection, and police patrols that it pays to provide for the other business and residential areas in the city.
If the Chevron refinery never existed, that massive property would most likely be developed as mostly residential and some commercial, as in the north-west quadrant of the city. This has been the historical development pattern in the South Bay and the beach cities.
Why should Chevron be forced to pay for massive amounts of city infrastructure and services that it does not receive? If the answer is because they have the money and someone else wants to take it from them, then that is plain thievery and should be rejected. Otherwise, nobody is safe from such thievery.
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 is Recall Election Day in California.
Vote YES on the first question to RECALL GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM; and
Vote for LARRY ELDER on the second question to elect Larry Elder as governor if a majority of the votes counted voted Yes on the first question.
Vote-By-Mail ballots were mailed out to ALL registered voters, dead or alive, moved out of the state or not, legal or illegal. This was done to maximize the opportunity for election fraud and theft to keep Governor Gavin Newsom in office.
The election fraud can include stuffing the ballot box with fraudulent ballots voting NO on the RECALL and NO VOTE for the new governor, and destroying, discarding, or not counting ballots voting YES and LARRY ELDER.
You can vote by mail, but it is probably safer to vote in person at the election poll on or before September 14, 2021 to help ensure your vote gets counted.
GREAT WEBSITES TO VISIT REGULARLY:
Prager U
Dennis Prager's 5-Minute Educational Videos
Free Videos. Free Minds.
www.PragerU.com
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed