Home OP-ED Culver City — Through a Skeptic’s Eye

Culver City — Through a Skeptic’s Eye

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Second of two parts

Re “Looking Closer at Why Pappas Was Right

One would be hard-pressed today to find an elected or selected official in Culver City who has earned that distinction. Prof. Patricia Siever (honest) of the School Board comes to mind. Karlo Silbiger (it’s too early to tell) comes from an honorable bloodline.

Vice Mayor Mehaul O’Leary is developing a new strategy for dealing with activists such as Tony Pappas, who created a controversy when he made several appearances before the City Council last week .

“Should I be made Mayor next April,” he said, “I am formulating a process by which I can control the room. It will be a lot tighter than it is now. There will be more decorum. There will be more rules-of-engagement.”

With all the attorneys between the School Board and City Council, neither would seem to need outside counsel. Which brings me to another subject.

Are attorneys any smarter than the rest of us?

I did a blog on attorneys once.

http://garyabrams25.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/can-anyone-stop-the-educational-terminator/

It is my civic duty is to inform the elected or selected officials: Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.

“Viewpoint Discrimination” — Free speech advocates hailed the ruling as a warning to public officials trying to muzzle opposing voices.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1216-nazi-salute-20101216,0,5777423.story

“What is going on now makes for a show instead of a civilized discussion.”

Audience (John Q. Public), you have four minutes to talk , but the Councilmen can ramble on eternally.

(One Councilman used 45 minutes to confess that he was totally confused.)

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-7923/TheBigSting4043Irving

“We already had given in to the perception we might be hiding something, which we were not,” said Mr. O’Leary.

Does that ring a bell?

Documents have been dumped, legally, openly, for years.

I recall a two-day “legally” given notice on Friday, July 23, 2010, for a meeting on Monday, July 26, 2010.

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-7923/TheBigSting4043Irving

Councilman Jeff Cooper said he did “not appreciate any insinuation to compare us to the city of Bell. It really upsets me. We’ve always had a really transparent city.”

In the 4043 Irving Pl. scam, the Council was ready to vote on the $6 million even though the public had only a two-day notice over the weekend.

Cooler heads prevailed. It was voted to postpone vote for two weeks.

Six million dollars can purchase a lot of influence.

Mr. Cooper was the lone dissenting vote.

Hmmmmm? http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-7923/TheBigSting4043Irving

Mr. Abrams may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com