Torrance City Council – A Town Hall Style Conversation About Local Politics

The six candidates for Torrance City Council congregated at Richardson Middle School yesterday evening for a forum sponsored by the Riviera HOA.  Below is a summary of their responses to the questions posed.

Q. Now that ExxonMobil is resuming operations, what should the Torrance City Council do to ensure the health and safety of residents? How comfortable are you that the City will have adequate oversight of the refinery going forward?

• Eng: I submitted a Citizens’s Petition to the AQMD raising concerns prior to the recent hearing where approval was given to re-start the refinery. I would love to have a City Council observer ensure the refinery adheres to obligations imposed upon it at the recent hearing.
• Herring: I am proposing to use the fine money to appoint an independent safety monitor to provide input to the community.
• Rizzo: I’m not happy with what happened.  We should improve training regimens and how we communicate to the public.  We should rely upon state regulators to enforce regulations.
• Griffiths: We are very concerned about safety, but we are not the experts or the regulators.  We do need to develop better tools to communicate with the community.
• Dagastino: I served on the ExxonMobil advisory panel and felt like we did not get the full picture of what was happening.  I would hope people make suggestions to AQMD about what they should do with the fine money.
• Sheikh: Exxon should undergo a safety and compliance audit every three months.

Sidenote: Several residents affiliated with the group FLARE spoke at the last Council meeting on this issue urging the Council to take steps such as:

1. Install real time air quality monitors, easily accessible to the public and managed by a third party, surrounding the Torrance Refinery.
   2. Remove Hydrofluoric Acid from the Torrance Refinery.
   3. Better track and investigate Cyanide emissions from the Refinery.
   4. Implement a MUCH BETTER disaster preparedness plan to communicate with schools, residents, and local hospitals, etc.
   5. Conduct public outreach with residents, schools, businesses, and homeless populations as to what to do in the case of disaster such as an explosion or Hydrofluoric Acid leak.

Mayor Furey responded to these concerns by saying there was really nothing the City could do to address the issues as it was outside their jurisdictional authority.

Q. In light of FPPC findings against Mayor Furey’s Campaign what, if anything, would you like to see happen next?  How would you deal with division it has exposed in the community?

• Eng: We shouldn’t indict the mayor.  People that scream the loudest may not necessarily represent the truth of what happened.  The wheels of justice will turn and we should wait for all the facts to come in.  I’m glad to see his son resigned from the Traffic Commission.
• Herring: My military service taught me values such as truth, honor, and integrity.  I’m content to let the investigation takes its course.
• Rizzo: The FPPC investigation has concluded and there is an ongoing DA investigation.  I learned from my days in law enforcement not to comment on an active investigation.
• Griffiths: This has been a difficult time for our City government. Even just the perception it has created has let down the people.  It presents a black eye to the City, but there is not much the Council can do.  Only the people have the right to determine what they want to see happen.
• Dagastino: We are not privy to all information.  There has been too much premature judgment.  The mayor’s son resigned.  The fine has been paid.  The city needs to move forward.  It’s a terrible distraction.
• Sheikh: We need political stability.  It’s too premature to make a final judgment.  It’s time to move forward.

Sidenote: The Council has declined to take actions such as a formal censure of the Mayor or recommendation to the School Board Personnel Commission that Patrick Furey, Jr. resign from his position on that Commission.

Q. Do you support a Tree/View Ordinance?

• Eng: Yes, I think it’s good.  Interest in privacy and views should be balanced. Trees should be maintained.  View seeker should be required to pay costs of vegetation maintenance.  View seeker should not be allowed to have line of sight view into homes of neighbors.
• Herring: Yes, let’s get this resolved.  It’s been kicked down the road for too long. I applaud this Council for taking action.
• Rizzo: Yes, it’s long overdue.
• Griffiths: Yes, I am the Chair of the Committee on this issue.  We need to balance privacy and view protection and keep costs neutral.  City shouldn’t bear costs.    
• Dagastino: Yes, we should use examples from other cities.  An ordinance is a long-time coming.  Views should be protected.
• Sheikh: Yes. City should be involved in helping neighbors resolve this issue.

Side Commentary: The City has conducted ongoing outreach and studies on this issue for years.  Considering that everyone seems to support it, the question that should be asked is how come the ordinance has not come up for a formal vote by the Council.  Why does it take so long?

Q. How do you feel about mansionization?  Would you advise the planning department to strictly adhere to the Hillside Overlay Ordinance? 

• Eng: It’s a good guideline that allows for appeal.  System is good as it is.
• Herring: Should be looked at on a case by case basis.
• Rizzo: There might be exceptions to the ordinance.
• Griffiths: We shouldn’t apply it as a blanket.  It’s a good mechanism that allows for extra levels of review.
• Dagastino: Strict adherence is critical.  Views should be protected.
• Sheikh: We should support ordinance.

Sidenote: For an interesting case study on this issue and the passions/conflicts it can create among neighbors review the lengthy discussion at the last Council meeting about the property located at 406 De Encanto.  It got so heated at one point that a resident had to be escorted out of Council Chambers by uniformed law enforcement.

Q. Many residents are concerned about developments like Legado that are located on the border between Torrance and neighboring cities.  What can Torrance do? How would you deal with neighboring cities in these situations?  

• Eng: Torrance gets the traffic, other cites get the revenue.  We should be more proactive in working with the residents to determine if development works for us.
• Herring: I am concerned.  Best thing to do is to ask residents to voice their concerns to neighboring cities.
• Rizzo: We need to have open lines of communication.
• Griffiths: I have individually shared my opinion.  We need to improve traffic and are working on key intersections like PCH and Hawthorne.
• Dagastino: Cities should work with South Bay Cities Council’s of Governments (SBCCOG).
• Sheikh: It’s a concern.  We should propose new guidelines to alleviate traffic.

Side Commentary: I recently attended a community meeting led by a Councilmember from Redondo Beach where the Legado development was discussed.  The Redondo Beach Councilmember revealed at that meeting that Redondo Beach has had no formal communication with City of Torrance staff or officials on Legado.  Why doesn’t the Torrance City Council formally take a position on the issue and then send a letter to Redondo Beach either in support or raising concerns?

Q. Are pensions a concern?  

• Eng: We should do a comparison study and see where we fit compared to other cities.
• Herring: Torrance has a balanced budget and I will work to ensure we balance the budget in the future.  We are moving in the right direction.
• Rizzo: It’s a concern as it will consume a larger portion of the budget.  We are not in trouble.  We should stay the course.
• Griffiths: They are damaging our City.  Pension expenses take away from city services. Not much we can do about it as people under the old program need to retire.
• Dagastino:  Only been an issue since 2012 when they made changes to how the unfunded liability was calculated.  Things will balance out.
• Sheikh: It’s a concern. We need to retain small businesses in order to create more revenue to cover the cost.

Sidenote: Comparative studies have already been conducted by organizations such as the California Policy Center and the Wall Street Journal.  Those studies have found that Torrance’s penision risk is high compared to other cities.  Also, while Torrance does plan a balanced budget it actually ran a deficit in the last fiscal year.

Q. How do we improve business and employment opportunities?

• Eng: Small business should pay less in taxes and fees while big business should pay more.
• Herring: We should increase Economic Development Department by two people and create business development district for downtown.
• Rizzo: We need more Economic Development Department staff and should work with the Chamber of Commerce and groups like the United Small Business Alliance.
• Griffiths: Need to do more outreach to businesses interested in coming to our City that will fill the void left by Toyota leaving.
• Dagastino: We should find more business ourselves and think of Torrance more like an international City and hub for Exports/Imports.
• Sheikh: We should eat, and shop Torrance.  Toyota leaving is their loss.

Side commentary: How are we going to pay for increased Economic Development Department staff?

Q. What can we do about increases in burglaries?

• Eng: Put more cameras on streets.
• Herring: Encourage residents to “see something/say something” and organize neighborhood watches.
• Rizzo: Use the community as our eyes and ears.  “See something/say something.”
• Griffiths: City should lobby state for more funds.  They stopped paying to imprison people, so they should pay to help us protect people.
• Dagastino: Torrance is down 23 officers.  We need more police.
• Sheikh: We need more police presence.

Side Commentary: How are going to pay for more police or cameras?

Q. Do you support City paying for Rose Float and Fireworks?

• Eng: Maybe to Rose Float; Yes to fireworks.
• Herring: Yes to Rose Float; maybe to fireworks.
• Rizzo: Yes to Rose Float; maybe to fireworks.
• Griffiths: Yes to both.
• Dagastino: Yes to both.
• Sheikh: Yes to both.

Side Commentary:  The City is currently using one-time money for the Rose Float and monies stemming from the Water fund for the fireworks.  There is no budgeted plan for these expenditures in the future.  How are they going to pay for these expenses?

Q. Who are your primary donors?   

• Eng: I received a check from my first individual donor.
• Herring: I’m honored to have the support of the Torrance Police and Firefighters Association.
• Rizzo: I’m supported by the Torrance Police and Firefighters Associations.
• Griffiths: I’m supported by several individual donors.  I am not receiving contributions from any unions.
• Dagastino: I’m supported by the Torrance Police and Firefighters Associations as well as the National Women’s Political Caucus.
• Sheikh: I don’t have any major organizational donors.

Side note: Interestingly, Councilmember Griffiths received the endorsement of the Police Officer Association in the last election, but as he noted not in this election.

Prior to closing, the moderator conducted what he termed political theater.  He said a few hardball questions about the Furey issue were received from the audience.  He noted that the panel seemed relatively disinclined to engage on the first question about the Furey’s and didn’t think they would be willing to offer much more, but said that he didn’t want to overrule the sentiment in the room by not asking the questions.  He asked the audience if they really wanted to put the candidates on the spot and ask the questions or was it that only a few people wanted to hear them.  He did not reveal what the questions were. Only a handful of the about 50 or so people in the room raised their hand acknowledging that they wanted the questions asked. I learned afterward that the questions received by the audience, but not asked were:

1. Have you ever hired Patrick Furey, Jr. as your Campaign Manager?
2. Should the Council recommend that Patrick Furey, Jr. resign his position on the School Board Personnel Commission?
3. Should Mayor Furey be recalled if the DA investigation reveals further adverse findings?

Torrance is divided.  Dozens of alarmed residents wrote the Council over the past weeks expressing concern about the Furey’s.  Said one of those individuals, “I am absolutely PO’ed by the conduct of the mayor and his son.  His behavior at City Council meetings in general is completely disgusting and unacceptable for Torrance.”

Furey supporters are “Fureyous” at the perceived attacks on the mayor and his family.

The Mayor made an attempt at calming the storm by “manning up” to use his words and offering an apology at the last council meeting. His comments, however, were quickly undermined by the contents of his son’s resignation letter released to the public the next day which stated in part:

These sad political attacks on the Mayor and my family are embarrassing our City.  Families have always been off limits.  But apparently in the new world – where Trump can call his opponent’s wife fat, or say disparaging things about women and minorities and the disabled – all bets are off.  And now the most extreme elements of our city – people who literally do nothing but complain, make vicious personal attacks about people they don’t even know, and write racist and homophobic blogs – call all the shots. Now they can just move one to attacking my father and leave our family out of it.

A group of Trump supporting racist homophobes have risen up in the community with the sole purpose of destroying the reputation and good works of the Furey family. These people are vicious. They are ambassadors of negativity, represent the extreme elements of our society, and do nothing but complain. The Furey’s are the victims. They are under attack.

At least that is what the Furey’s would have you believe.

And believe it some do. Patrick Furey, Jr’s resignation letter alluded to huge numbers of letters of support written on his behalf. Those letters tallied nearly 30 and echoed many of the same themes proffered by the Furey camp.

In an e-mail with the subject line “Your Loyal Supporters” Judy Brunetti, current Co-President of the Riviera HOA, wrote that:

“I am sorry to hear what is happening to you during council meetings and in the newspaper. It sounds like a witch-hunt, for sure.  I have been cautioning people not to rush to judgment and to wait until all the investigation is done and the results made public.”

 

What’s odd about that comment is that the investigation by the FPPC is already complete. The case is closed and the results are public. These facts were reported extensively in the Daily Breeze, but as Furey supporters have made abundantly clear the local paper is not a source that can be trusted.

Mayor Furey referred to Nick Green as a “mullet” and a “hate monger.”  His supporters echoed those same sentiments. Civil Service Commissioner, Kathryn Endo Roberts, for example commented:

I have been quite dismayed with the constant negative press … and I feel sad that our residents are subjected to this almost daily barrage of negativity.  I feel this constant misreporting of facts is an injustice to our Mayor and his son.

Anil Muhammed, who serves with Patrick Furey on the School Board Personnel Commission wrote:

The irregularity and unfavorable bias towards Mayor Furey and Commissioner Furey undoubtedly creates and fuels anger within the community and should be considered in your overall decision.

Traffic Commissioner Bob Habel opined:

There seems to be some major biases from our local paper and I would hope that the council would ignore what they read in this daily publication.

And Doug Hath, former President of the Torrance Police Officer’s Association (TPOA) said:

The press coverage of these events is slanted from the same direction by a reporter the TPOA has had a standard operating procedure of giving no comment to.

Perhaps the most astounding comments on the issue came from recently retired Fire Chief, William Racowschi, who penned a three page letter.  In that letter he alluded to an “undercurrent” of political discontent, which he believes is being fueled by a “misinformed and misguided local media effort.”

He then presented a lengthy defense against accusations that “senior fire department staff” colluded to award the 2014 ambulance contract to McCormick.  In that defense, he made some startling allegations including:

• The 2011 RFP process and award was turned into a sham by Mayor Scotto and the previous Council when the Council rejected the findings/recommendation of TFD and awarded the contract to Gerber based on loose promises to “do better” made to Mayor Scotto by Mr. Gerber himself.
• Between 2011 and 2014 dozens of documented complaints against Gerber were swept aside by the Council.
• The Daily Breeze has someone providing “just enough” information to sound plausible. The rest is filled with opinion, speculation, and innuendo.

In the letter Racowschi also inferred he had no knowledge of the Furey PAC despite its existence being a major issue in the 2014 election by stating “that there was a PAC set up to do whatever the media alleges it did was news to me and senior fire staff.”  He then urged the Council to “ignore ALL the negativity and the bad press,” and to judge the Mayor and his son “on their records of service to the Torrance Community and not on what amounts to political pay back by former Councilmembers/candidates and their hacks.”

Who can we trust?  Who is telling the truth?

Mayor Furey says it’s him.

In his comments, Furey said, “I would submit to everybody here that if you have been attacked with misstatements and out and out lies and hateful statements that you get angry.”

He also referred to a retraction printed by the Daily Breeze and offered that as evidence that he’s been telling the truth.

Is that evidence convincing?  Should we trust him now?

He closed his comments by stating:

“I’m not liable for half of that [the fine], I’ve not paid a penny of it.  They [McCormick] thought they had messed up.  They hired the wrong consultant and they manned up and so I’m manning up.  I’m sorry for any of the rants…”

“I really hope that we can all just get along and move the city forward. We have so many exciting things that we are doing.”

“One of my colleagues said we stopped kicking the can down the road, we’re kicking butt.”

“Let’s all have a chance to do that.  Have some decorum here. Bring it back to a peaceful atmosphere.  I’m certainly willing to do that.”

Furey did not pay the fine. His son still serves on the School Board Personnel Commission. He wants us to forget about this whole thing and move forward.

Should we?

We are leaderless.

The Torrance Chamber of Commerce sponsors a program called Leadership Torrance. Applications will be open for the next class in November 2016.  Some of our current elected officials might want to apply.

Torrance is in the midst of a political storm.  It’s flailing and floundering. We are being tossed to and fro by the waves. Someone needs to steady the ship and get us back on course. We need a captain. A leader.

Who will take the helm?

We are leaderless Torrance.

The news first hit the front page of the Daily Breeze over a month ago.  The mayor’s campaign broke the law.  He was fined.  Previously, he had scoffed at even the notion there was a perception of impropriety.  “This was no impropriety,” he said.  “I had nothing to do with it,” he exclaimed.  He misled the public.  He lied to us.  It wasn’t the first time.

There was a Town Hall after the last big crisis shortly after Exxon exploded in February 2015. People were scared. People were concerned.  What had happened?  To what had we been exposed?  People wanted answers.  We needed leadership.  Mayor Furey wasn’t there. He said he was in Sacramento. He wasn’t. He lied then too.

With the pressure mounting at the last Council meeting, Mayor Furey unloaded.  He blamed the Daily Breeze for inaccurate reporting.  He told us to read the Torrance Tribune to get the facts. We did. The facts did not change.

He called local reporter Nick Green a “mullet” and a “hate monger.”  It wasn’t the first time he’s tried to intimidate the press.  It was just the latest episode.  At one point he even tried to get Nick Green removed from his position. He has labeled all those that oppose him as “Ambassadors of Negativity,” and claimed that “you can’t see the negative side from me because I’ve done a great job.”

That’s not leadership.  That’s called arrogance and bullying behavior.  He hasn’t done a great job.  He can’t be trusted.  He is a leader, but not the type of leader we need.

We are leaderless Torrance.

If not Mayor Furey, then who?

For the last month since the scandal broke, we have waited and wondered who will rise to the occasion?  Who will lead us?

Councilwoman Ashcraft has tried.  At the first Council meeting after the news hit, she requested concurrence from her colleagues to discuss removing Patrick Furey Jr. from the Traffic Commission.  Her request was met with silence.

Two weeks later, a majority of the Council agreed to discuss sending Patrick Furey Jr. a letter requesting his resignation, but as of yet nothing has actually happened.

Why has it taken so long?

Councilman Griffiths offered a clue. They don’t have the votes. Not enough are willing to put their political neck on the line. Griffiths responded to an e-mail on the subject stating:

“doing what we can…appear to be a minority on the Council.  Strong public outcry could change the minority to a majority! Silence from credible public lends itself to strengthening the arrogance.”

Silence from elected officials also lends itself to strengthening the arrogance.  Silence is not leadership. Silence is cowardice. Silence is weak.

Yet, silence seems to be the order of the day.  Not one member of the School Board has said anything publicly despite Patrick Furey Jr. remaining on the TUSD payroll as a Personnel Commissioner.  That’s not leadership.

The issue also seems to have the current group of City Council candidates running for the hills instead of running for office.  We have had two forums and not one of the candidates has even dared mention the issue, let alone take a position on it.  That’s not leadership.

Candidate Leilani Kimmel-Dagastino, in particular, seems intent on avoiding the issue. After just missing out on a Council seat in the prior election, she hired Patrick Furey Jr. to work on her campaign. She was recently asked via her campaign Facebook page on at least two separate occasions by two separate voters if Furey Jr. was still her campaign manager.  The questions were deleted. Leaders do not avoid tough questions.

We are leaderless Torrance.

Leadership is about making the tough calls, the hard choices. A leader offers vision for the community and asks others to follow. A leader helps shape public opinion, instead of just trying to follow it.

The Daily Breeze Editorial Board and dozens of residents have called into question the mayor’s fitness to serve and asked for his son to be removed from office. What will the Council do?

Torrance is in the midst of a political crisis, but its problems go deeper.

The crisis before Exxon was Toyota leaving. Our City officials side-stepped that issue as well. Nothing we could do they said.  It’s all Sacramento’s fault. Our hands are tied. They have largely taken the same stance with Exxon. Let’s leave it up to state regulators they say.

Is there nothing we could have done or should be doing to confront these major issues facing our community?

With Toyota leaving, Exxon exploding, and the Council imploding we need a leader.

But unless someone steps up to take the helm…

We are leaderless Torrance.