Citizen Complaint Blows “Sweepergate” Wide Open
See link below for Citizen Complaint.
Torrance City Council – A Town Hall Style Conversation About Local Politics
"Highlighting the Issues Facing Torrance and the People Making a Difference"
See link below for Citizen Complaint.
Loved the thorough article. Most disturbing was the photograph of the very solid waste in the parking lot of City Hall. Indeed, the disposable lunch container is nearly intact, leaving the impression one of this City’s employees placed it there. Now that would indeed be troubling.
I must say that I always believed this “street sweeping” scheme was intended to raise money for the City … money the Council refuses to state where it’s being kept or what it is being spent on (despite repeated resident requests). In general, I wouldn’t have any difficulty in accepting this as a “revenue raising” event, provided it had been HONESTLY DESCRIBED THAT WAY TO THE PUBLIC. It appears there is indeed deception on the part of our elected and unelected officials to march forward with this plan. However, in recent meetings, the City appears to be unwilling to bend in certain inequitable situations. I recall one resident who owned a home without a garage. Once this “street sweeping deception” was launced, he applied to the Planning Commission for the right to pour a concrete pad on which to park his car. He was denied. Now, this father of small children living in North Torrance, must park blocks away on these wasteful street cleaning days. Another resident appeared at city council advising that he and his significant other rent an apartment with only one assigned parking space. The both work, they both drive. He notified council that he travels on business and inquired of any “long term parking” businesses in the City. The mayor’s only response was to jokingly state NO, but that he himself had a long driveway and perhaps later they might want to talk, or words to that end. This City has a ZERO TOLERANCE for anyone regarding this street sweeping, even in the face of objectively rationale reasons for not complying.
LET US NOT FORGET …. This City affected the rights of every citizen when they cooked this up … and some say it improved their neighborhood and others say it unnecessarily dampened citizens’ rights to use the street THEY pay the taxes to the City to maintain.
But most importantly, it seems fairly obvious that the author of the article did their homework and our officials did not act honestly or with integrity. Did the “story” float to the citizens in order for Torrance to be eligible for the grant? If so, there clearly was no transparency on the part of our officials …. that is, they weren’t honest, forthright and transparent with the public when this street sweeping plan was implemented. I am extremely disappointed. Is it the fault of council under Mayor Scotto’s reign? If so, why has Pat Furey continued to “kick the can” of deceit? And what of our councilmembers? Do they really think they are little mice, unseen and unimportant. The ONLY councilmember speaking out on this is Mike Griffiths. I support the call for an independent investigation. But, I ask to the author of the article, what agency would you propose to conduct the investigation?
As for our mayor and council, please let us not forget this when election time rolls around.