Obscured lobbying

Making the calendars of public officials public is a fine idea. But lobbyists should still be registered, all of them, including union officials representing public employees. Perhaps more importantly, no lobbyists should be permitted along the "Wall" during Council meetings. No persons beyond the Council Members themselves, and seated City Staff should be behind the dais. No one should be conferring privately in the back during the meeting. Among other things, it's terribly disrespectful to the audience, composed mostly of taxpaying citizens whose money is being used for the entire City operation.

your editorial writer obviously is good friends with Mike Murchison, the city's ONLY lobbyist who refuses to do business outside of Long Beach where registration is required. Making the calendars of councilmembers public was his reparte to the idea of lobbyists registering. The Councilmember Schipske called his bluff and inserted a requirement for all exparte communications to be disclosed, a point your editorial writer obviously missed.

LBGal75 wrote:

your editorial writer obviously is good friends with Mike Murchison, the city's ONLY lobbyist who refuses to do business outside of Long Beach where registration is required. Making the calendars of councilmembers public was his reparte to the idea of lobbyists registering. The Councilmember Schipske called his bluff and inserted a requirement for all exparte communications to be disclosed, a point your editorial writer obviously missed.

They didn't miss it. They just didn't report it.
Press Telegram often works as a kind of publicist for the City Council, imo.
They don't like unpleasant confrontations with council member's and especially Mayor Foster, since the Mayor and the council are responsible for a significant part of the Press Telegram's ad revenues.
As it stands, you can depend on the Press Telegram to print all the news thats print to fit.

As an ordinary resident, have you ever tried to make an appointment to see your City Councilman or one of the city’s Bureau Managers? It is virtually impossible to be granted an appointment. A resident is lucky to meet with one of the Council staff people. However, I urge everyone to visit the top floors of city hall. It is likely you will see lobbyists coming and going at will. They are so well known that they are waved in to see Councilmembers and staff without an appointment.

When lobbyists claim regulation is a freedom of speech issue. I agree. Currently, lobbyists representing developers and special interest groups have much greater freedom than residents and voters of this city. This regulation is necessary to ensure resident voters have the same opportunities to express their opinions as lobbyists.

in my opinion, Gary Delong is a sociopath.

Why would the City Hall Gang agree to regulate Lobbyists. They certainly have neither fear of, or concern for, the Community or the voters.

Gays voted for Democrat Richardson after she ran Homophobic scare ads against a Lesbian Democrat opponent.

Expecting NOTHING in return for Zombie like political support can ONLY end in disaster.

Long Beach voters have proven to be too ignorant to merit a decent, responsible City Government.

We get exactly what we deserve. Embrace the Disgrace.