Sunday Letters to the Editor

Right on how Prager exposes liberal fools and their global warming hoax. The earth is getting warmer - and it's that big reddish-yellow-white thing that passes over about everyday for 10-14 hours called the Sun. Idiot liberals cannot explain how the earth has had several ice ages, which they say global warming would cause, even though 14,000 years ago there were no Hummers or Escalades. Whore Gore's been sitting on his nobel peace prize too long. Gots to love liberals who simply call is "climate change" now...I guess Wooly Mammoth's were too flatulent and all that type of "gas" caused the ice ages?

Burt Walker, give us a break. You, if you actually exist and are not Keegan using the name Walker, know nothing about Hermosa elections. This one was par for the course. Stop with the Keegan BS sob story. It's over. Keegan's out for one reason only, Keegan. The community is already better off for it. He was defeated a year ago by himself. Walker, you are either a stooge in name for "Keegan Inc" or you are ignorant. Keegan defeated himself and left the city worse off than when he found it.

GlobalWarmingHoax wrote:

Right on how Prager exposes liberal fools and their global warming hoax. The earth is getting warmer - and it's that big reddish-yellow-white thing that passes over about everyday for 10-14 hours called the Sun. Idiot liberals cannot explain how the earth has had several ice ages, which they say global warming would cause, even though 14,000 years ago there were no Hummers or Escalades.**** Gore's been sitting on his nobel peace prize too long. Gots to love liberals who simply call is "climate change" now...I guess Wooly Mammoth's were too flatulent and all that type of "gas" caused the ice ages?

Temps change around the Earth during different periods of time.

The Earth cooled dramatically several times and folks call them the ice ages.

When big asteroids hit Earth, it can cool temps all around the globe.

When the volcanos spew ash over large areas, coolness occurs.

So when ignorant individuals claim that the planet warms during its history, without mentioning that it cools too, that needs to be taken into consideration.

Is global warming or cooling caused by human interaction? No, not very much. But there really shouldn't be any reason why we can't take into account some of the things humans do to impair their own environment, whether it is warming it up or cooling it down.

There is a commercial running that touts that we have 100 years of natural gas available. The woman touting that is holding what appears to be her 3-year old daughter.

It seems the gas companies care only about the living generations and aren't concerned about that little girl's grandchildren who may have to live in a world withoug natural gas because the 100 years are up and the next generation, along with the ones already using gas, will use it all up.

There is no good reason to just use, use, use, without working on using less, polluting less, and caring about our family members yet to come. It's awlful selfish of us to spend our great-grandchildrens' natural resources when we can do something about it now and for their future, don't you think?

BURT WALKER,
Clearly, you are totally uninformed, at best, with no cognizance whatsoever of numerous significant serious events over the past 8 years, including Keegan's direct and indirect and involvement or contribution and/or responsiblilty thereof. His loss by a landslide was an unequivocal voter revolt and mandate to rid us of one of the worst City Councilmen, from a personal and public standpoint, in our city's history. While I may agree with you about some of the election tactics used, it is an insult to the public and shows ignorance on your part to assume that this is what led to his ouster by an overwhelming public majority. Perhaps, you should have limited your comments to denouncing these tactics, rather than to praise him. In other words, you should really investigate and become informed before making a fool of yourself and showing your ignorance by opening your mouth about things of which you have no knowledge, nor have made any reasonable effort to acquire.
Insofar as Keegan specifically, let's examine his record and accomplishments over the past 8 years. Let’s recount some of the most significant, well-publicized, and documented events during his tenure on the City Council, including his direct and indirect involvement therein.(NOTE: All are well documented, including news media articles, official city documents, and videos of City Council Meetings).
1) Numerous complaints to the City Council over an extended period of years from citizens regarding civil rights violations by a few rogue Police officers, and associated cover-ups by Police management, City management, and members of the City Council. The City Council repeatedly ignored and blew off these complaints, and insulted and ridiculed many of those making them. All this was despite being confronted with them numerous times in public forums by individuals and groups of citizens, including many long term and respected residents. This resulted in numerous complaints and petitions to government agencies including the City Council, the District Attorney, the Grand Jury, and ultimately the U.S. Justice Department, resulting an extensive and prolonged FBI investigation, and a highly critical and negative Grand Jury report.
2) As a result of the above, numerous lawsuits over the years were filed against the city that resulted in $ Millions being expended in legal fees and settlements, continuing to this day.
3) Fire Department: A vote of no confidence in management
4) Police Department: A totally dysfunctional and factionalized Police Department (only just recently rectified by the replacement of most all of the worst of them in management.)
5) A totally dysfunctional and factionalized Building Department, with numerous egregious complaints for many years (only just recently rectified).
6) In addition to mostly unnecessary and unwarranted litigation expenses, Outrageous compensation and benefits for City Management Officials, and doubling of councilmember pay, contributing to inadequate funds for our most important Police and Fire Departments, and important street and sewer repairs.
NOTE: KEEGAN’S PREFERRENTIAL TREATMENT - However, Keegan’s street, Loma Dr., was completely redone shortly after his election, leaving many streets that make us envious of third world countries. What little work has been are mostly superficial patch jobs. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIS MANY CAMPAIGN PROMISES REGARD STREETS???
7) The downtown area was declared unsafe for women after 10 PM (newspapers and TV news)

Keegan said flat out that he did not work for the business owners. In those words. Now he is surprised that the business owners worked hard to get him out of office. Why in the world wouldn't they?

INFORMED AND INVOLVED wrote:

BURT WALKER,...
1) Numerous complaints to the City Council over an extended period of years from citizens regarding civil rights violations by a few rogue Police officers, and associated cover-ups by Police management, City management, and members of the City Council. The City Council repeatedly ignored and blew off these complaints, and insulted and ridiculed many of those making them. All this was despite being confronted with them numerous times in public forums by individuals and groups of citizens, including many long term and respected residents. This resulted in numerous complaints and petitions to government agencies including the City Council, the District Attorney, the Grand Jury, and ultimately the U.S. Justice Department, resulting an extensive and prolonged FBI investigation, and a highly critical and negative Grand Jury report.
2) As a result of the above, numerous lawsuits over the years were filed against the city that resulted in $ Millions being expended in legal fees and settlements, continuing to this day.
3) Fire Department: A vote of no confidence in management
4) Police Department: A totally dysfunctional and factionalized Police Department (only just recently rectified by the replacement of most all of the worst of them in management.)
5) A totally dysfunctional and factionalized Building Department, with numerous egregious complaints for many years (only just recently rectified).
6) In addition to mostly unnecessary and unwarranted litigation expenses, Outrageous compensation and benefits for City Management Officials, and doubling of councilmember pay, contributing to inadequate funds for our most important Police and Fire Departments, and important street and sewer repairs.
NOTE: KEEGAN’S PREFERRENTIAL TREATMENT - However, Keegan’s street, Loma Dr., was completely redone shortly after his election, leaving many streets that make us envious of third world countries. What little work has been are mostly superficial patch jobs. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIS MANY CAMPAIGN PROMISES REGARD STREETS???
7) The downtown area was declared unsafe for women after 10 PM (newspapers and TV news)

While this is a good chronicle of SOME of the problems in Hermosa Beach, to lay them at the feet of Michael Keegan, is hyperbole.
Keegan, love him or hate him, had the guts to try to do what he thinks is right. That's better than the wishy-washy wimps that still pretend to lead Hermosa.
Sam was a lot worse than Keegan, and there are others who, while its hard to believe, rate lower than Sam.
People get the government they deserve. Enjoy Duclos, Tucker and the lot...

Not a Revisionist wrote:

<quoted text>While this is a good chronicle of SOME of the problems in Hermosa Beach, to lay them at the feet of Michael Keegan, is hyperbole.
Keegan, love him or hate him, had the guts to try to do what he thinks is right. That's better than the wishy-washy wimps that still pretend to lead Hermosa.
Sam was a lot worse than Keegan, and there are others who, while its hard to believe, rate lower than Sam.
People get the government they deserve. Enjoy Duclos, Tucker and the lot...

Wait a minute! You praise Keegan for "doing what he thinks is right"? The people who worked so hard to get Keegan out of office? Don't THEY deserve a little recognition for do what THEY thought was right? Keegan spit in these peoples faces, and they worked long and hard to get rid of him. Where is the injustice in that?

Oh Please wrote:

<quoted text>

Is global warming or cooling caused by human interaction? No, not very much. But there really shouldn't be any reason why we can't take into account some of the things humans do to impair their own environment, whether it is warming it up or cooling it down.

I agree with what you have said, particularly the paragraph above.

Unfortunately, there are a great many ignorant individuals who claim that the current global warming is caused predominantly by human interaction.

Vic wrote:

<quoted text> Wait a minute! You praise Keegan for "doing what he thinks is right"? The people who worked so hard to get Keegan out of office? Don't THEY deserve a little recognition for do what THEY thought was right? Keegan spit in these peoples faces, and they worked long and hard to get rid of him. Where is the injustice in that?

Who said there was?
(What is this dreck about "spit in these peoples (sic) faces". Disagreeing with someone isn't an insult unless you are a psychopath. Keegan had his own agenda. Roger Bacon has his. And I suspect that you can get rid of anyone on the city council if you spend the kind of money that Roger and his friends spent.)

Roger Bacon has an ego bigger than the whole town....
And the replacement of Keegan with Duclos is going to be regretted, but the essence of democracy is to do what you think is right. So have fun and enjoy the next few years in McPherson Beach.

Keegan's worst feature, from my limited point of view, is his desire to make government bigger. Since Duculos is even more of an advocate of government interference in our lives, how have we improved things?(Or maybe Keegan's only problem was that he didn't kiss the appropriate part of Roger Bacon's anatomy?)

Not a Revisionist wrote:

<quoted text>While this is a good chronicle of SOME of the problems in Hermosa Beach, to lay them at the feet of Michael Keegan, is hyperbole.
Keegan, love him or hate him, had the guts to try to do what he thinks is right. That's better than the wishy-washy wimps that still pretend to lead Hermosa.
Sam was a lot worse than Keegan, and therbe are others who, while its hard to believe, rate lower than Sam.
People get the government they deserve. Enjoy Duclos, Tucker and the lot...

You are clearly as uninformed, ignorant, and as incompetent and bad news as Keegan. His record shows,and these elections results unequivocally prove, that he is absolutely one of the 3 worst councilmen in the history of our city. Sam may have been the next worse ever, because at least HE is not stupid and ignorant.

As for you, perhaps you should remove your head from that dark place where it has obviously been, and become informed. You will not only become more enlightened, but you might even smell better.

It takes a long time, typically years, for the public to become cognizant of what is really going on in the City since they are, understandingly, so involved with their own personal lives, careers, and family affairs, especially during times of great economic turmoil as we have experienced over the past 8 years. However, with numerous and incessant high profile scandals plaguing the city over such an extended period of time, and as so many victims have amassed, it was just a matter of time before Keegan's (and other recent councilmembers’) horrific performance, arrogance, threats, and other such reprehensible attitudes, behavior, and other personal character faults, became common knowledge.

While the list is seemingly endless, complaints and media articles regarding Keegan and others have alleged and included unethical and/or illegal behavior and acts, including abuse of authority and denial of civil and other rights under state and federal laws, threats and retaliation against businesses and individuals (including city employees), cover-ups of illegal acts by city management and employees, overt violation of elections laws, numerous reported acts of public drunkenness, and gross incompetence, negligence, ignorance and stupidity. Furthermore, recent stern rebukes by the Hermosa Beach Police Officers association and many others for his apparently false statements made during this election were also clearly damming.

Keegan has been, and remains, totally out of touch with reality, and truly just a “legend in his own mind”. To determine the true cause of this his unprecedented and overwhelming rejection by the voters, he need only look in a mirror. HE have not only dug his own political grave over the past 8 years, but he have also made his own coffin and distributed the nails to both residents, business, and even City employees. To even suggest that a recent warranted highly negative campaign against him by some City business owners (clearly a minority, and many being non-residents) led to his astounding demise is ludicrous and an insult to the intelligence of the people of this City. Furthermore, I have heard from many that in fact some election antics, by a few of the many opposed to him, even got his some sympathy votes.

Vic wrote:

<quoted text> Wait a minute! You praise Keegan for "doing what he thinks is right"? The people who worked so hard to get Keegan out of office? Don't THEY deserve a little recognition for do what THEY thought was right? Keegan spit in these peoples faces, and they worked long and hard to get rid of him. Where is the injustice in that?

In Addition to the above, consider the following:
8) Councilmember disagreement with the U.S. and State Constitutional provisions for the right of the public petition for legislation via the initiative (“proposition”) process. This resulted in the illegal altering of election documents and other intentional violations of state law pertaining to the ballot documents and process, and as shown unequivocally on the election documents. This was clearly intentional as is evidenced from videotapes (and transcripts) of the City council meetings.
9) Publics Works personnel threatening city residents and soliciting bribes, evidenced by the recent prosecution and reported confession by Victor Jackson.(Note: numerous complaints, and the reason Mr. Gebele ran for Council in 2005 election.)
10) Retaliation by City Councilmembers (via Police management) against Police Officers for refusal to participate or support illegal and/or unethical activities, including cover-ups, falsifications of police investigative reports, and harassment and threats of/against citizens wishing to participate in public meetings mandated under California Law.(e.g., most recently, an unwarranted and illegal termination of a Police officer was rebuked by an administrative law judge, and the officer ordered reinstated with back pay).
11) Councilmember interference with Police law enforcement functions on behalf of his personal friends (Sangria?)
12) Past alleged City Manager DUI: Obstruction of Justice and evidence tampering by City Management and staff, with full knowledge of the City council, investigated and reported by the Daily Breeze, and evidenced with release of the (misplaced?) incident audio recordings, and subsequently confirmed in depositions - apparently retaliation, by the City Management and Council for whistle - blowing by one of the officers.)
13) Numerous violations of law by city management and officials and members of the City Council including harassment, threats, retribution, and intimidation of numerous individuals and businesses throughout the City, also including city employees. This abuse of authority was exacted, with full knowledge of the council, not only by some council members, but also management of several City Departments, most notably the Police, Building, Public Works.

Vic wrote:

<quoted text> Wait a minute! You praise Keegan for "doing what he thinks is right"? The people who worked so hard to get Keegan out of office? Don't THEY deserve a little recognition for do what THEY thought was right? Keegan spit in these peoples faces, and they worked long and hard to get rid of him. Where is the injustice in that?

To mention a few:

(a) The Comedy and Magic Club, and notably Mike Lacy, one of the finest and most respected individuals and businesses in the City: After an uproar by citizens, an investigation resulted in confirmation of abuse of authority, violations of California Codes and false statements, if not outright lies, by City Management and Staff. However, no action was taken by the Council to terminate or otherwise discipline these individuals, OR compensate Mr. Lacy.

(b) Abuse of numerous citizens including deprivation of due process and rights under California law continued unabated for years, especially by the Police and Building Departments (only recently rectified). City residents were denied their right to appeal Building Department Decisions as provided for under California law. The entire law, including the procedure and other provisions specified therein, have been circumvented and denied, including illegal destruction and alteration of official documents, all with City Council and City Management instigation, involvement, or approval.

(c) During City Council Meeting public participation, residents who spoke, but not lodging complaints, were often allowed to speak well beyond the 3 minute time limitation, while those who wished to lodge complaints, were strictly limited, escorted off by police, or threatened with arrest if they did so again.

(d) Interference with Police officers in the performance of their duties in enforcing city codes (Sangria incident, recent incident at the Beach concert, etc.)

14) Despite Keegan’s EIGHT YEARS on the City council, there has been NO RESOLUTION of the MacPherson Lawsuit, nor any evidence of significant progress (other than Keegan’s recent/election vague, innocuous, and unsubstantiated claims thereof). To the contrary, it appears from media reports that MacPherson has only become even more antagonized with Keegan’s and Bobco’s involvement).

15) Numerous incidents reported in the news media (some documented) alleging drunken, belligerent, and threatening behavior by Keegan in public, including allegations of unwanted advances (e.g., incidents at the City Xmas party, Dragon, Sangria, etc.)

Not a Revisionist wrote:

<quoted text>Who said there was?
(What is this dreck about "spit in these peoples (sic) faces". Disagreeing with someone isn't an insult unless you are a psychopath. Keegan had his own agenda. Roger Bacon has his. And I suspect that you can get rid of anyone on the city council if you spend the kind of money that Roger and his friends spent.)
Roger Bacon has an ego bigger than the whole town....
And the replacement of Keegan with Duclos is going to be regretted, but the essence of democracy is to do what you think is right. So have fun and enjoy the next few years in McPherson Beach.
Keegan's worst feature, from my limited point of view, is his desire to make government bigger. Since Duculos is even more of an advocate of government interference in our lives, how have we improved things?(Or maybe Keegan's only problem was that he didn't kiss the appropriate part of Roger Bacon's anatomy?)

Again Keegan as an elected official said that he "did not work for the Hermosa Beach business owners". In those words. How can that can be characterized as a mere disagreement? Is Keegan's ego really that big? That He thought that telling people he did care about their interests was something they had to take? Of course they worked to get rid of him, that is politics 101.