Author: LBChat

City Welcomes New Police Chief

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A message from the new LBPD Chief Robert Thompson:

On behalf of my family and myself, I want to thank the people of Laguna Beach for
a warm welcome. As a frequent visitor to the city, we have been amazed at the
kindness of the people we’ve met, the spectacular beach and dining. It was this
experience as visitors which led us to embracing the exciting opportunity to join the
team as a member of the police department. Laguna Beach is a special place, a
place people choose to be, and one we are humbled to be a small part of.

I remain committed to helping provide accurate and timely information, being
accessible to the community, and listening and learning as policing in America
evolves in this new era. The men and women of the Laguna Beach Police
Department and dedicated and committed to the safety and welfare of all residents
and guests. With the support of the community, I am confident we are wellpositioned
to continue to provide the service the people of Laguna Beach deserve
and expect.

Thank you all for the kindness you’ve shown my family as we settle in Orange
County, and I look forward to serving this outstanding community.

Looking for the latest data on Crime and Safety in Laguna Beach – Click Here

To Learn more on the city’s new Police Chief’s background view the article in Public CEO here.

LB Chat Publisher’s Open Letter To 2021 City Council

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January 19, 2021

Dear Mayor Whalen and City Council Members:

Happy New Year. As the council moves forward in appointing a new city manager this
year, I ask that a professional recruitment firm be hired to conduct an open and extensive
recruitment to fill this important leadership position. Based upon city records, in
2010, Murray & Associates was hired to handle the recruitment process when CM John
Pietig was appointed. In 2012, this same firm contributed to the recruitment guideline
document below. It’s well worth a read.

https://icma.org/sites/default/files/303514 – Recruitment Guidelines for Selecting a Local Government Administrator.pdf

As a longtime resident, I am not convinced that we currently have an internal successor
pool to fill this position that would be supported by the majority of residents. We have
the opportunity to find a city manager with the type of leadership, interpersonal skills
and personality that city employees, residents and businesses desire and deserve. In fact,I would like to suggest that the council ask for some public input on the important attributes of a new city manager to use in their decision making and conduct an outsourced confidential city employee satisfaction survey to identify internal cultural issues that might exist that could provide valuable insight to the incoming administrator. Here’s an example of an employee survey that I found quite impressive. https://www.cityofpensacola.com/CivicSend/ViewMessage/Message/122077

I have personally participated in government employee surveys of this type and the results often surprise city leaders. Also, below is an article titled “It Starts With Civility: Elected Officials’ Role in attracting and Retaining Employees” that speaks to government recruitments, civility and leadership within council chambers. I believe this information critical to achieving positive engagement between public officials and constituents for a healthy and harmonious community.

Since 2018, we have documentation that clearly reflects our city having respect and civility issues that has consumed our civic environment and continues to divide us.
Much time and money has been lost due to a high level of discourse between certain
council members and the public. This is a good article written by two California city
managers who understand the intricacies involved in government recruitment and retention
and the importance of finding a strong administrator who listens and can implement
and execute ideas with the support of council members and the public.

https://www.westerncity.com/article/it-starts-civility-elected-officials-role-attracting-and-retaining-employees

Thank you for your time and consideration. You all have a big responsibility to the
community and I trust that you will take the utmost care in finding the right city manager
to unite and move us forward. Thank you for all that you do for Laguna.

Respectfully,
MJ Abraham
LB Resident

Note: Here’s a copy of my first LTE on this subject. It has been distributed to local media
and will be posted on social media outlets as well. It was published today January
19, 2021 in Stunews.

Include Residents in the Process How disappointing to discover that meetings regarding upcoming CalTrans work in South Laguna were not (until now) publicly held. I hope that the city will not make this mistake when it comes to recruiting a new city manager. An open recruitment process will boost confidence and trust in our local government.

Combined, Ken Frank and John Pietig will have served Laguna for 51 years. This powerful
position is pivotal for the city budget, overseeing projects of all types, coordinating with all outside agencies, and working well with staff and council. I encourage residents to get involved in this next chapter of a city manager and start generating ideas of the type of person we would like to see as our next city manager. The position requires strong leadership and management skills to navigate the often politically charged decisions that inevitably arise.

Laguna has a great climate, attractive compensation and beneCits like Fridays off. For a city its size, this job will be a compelling opportunity, likely generating inquiries from some of the best-run cities in the country. I hope that the council will take its time, include residents and choose carefully.

MJ Abraham
Founder lagunabeachchat.com
Laguna Beach Resident

Samuel Goldstein

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Meet Sam Goldstein, Co-founder of Liberate Laguna, Laguna Beach owner of Mozambique Restaurant and concert venue, owner of the Heisler Building housing his other restaurant and concert venue, Skyloft, and co-founder of Laguna Beach Live!.

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Aug 11 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Aug 31 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 17 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 18 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 23 2020 – Click here

Steve Dicterow

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View the Laguna Beach Police Report for Steve Dicterow here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Dicterow Steve – 460 July 1 – Sept 19 2020 redacted

Media and other Candidate information:

Letters To The Editor – Steve Dicterow – Click here

Dicterow Taps His Home For Cash – read here

Mayor Dicterow’s Bankruptcy – read here

Resident Files Two Sworn Complaints With Fppc* See April 24, 2017 Update! – read here

Favoritism At City Hall For Hedge and View Claims – read here

2020 PAC and 501(c)4 Group Campaign Disclosure Forms

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Citywide PAC Campaign Contributions Spending 2020 Election:

 

Laguna Residents First (PAC):

Laguna Residents First – 460 Jan 1 – June 30 2020 – redacted – Click here

Laguna Residents First – 460 July 1 – Sept 19 2020 – redacted – Click here

Laguna Matters (PAC):

 

Liberate Laguna (PAC):

Liberate Laguna – 460 Jan 1 – June 30, 2020 – Click here

Liberate Laguna PAC 460 Form (July 1 – Sept 19 2020) – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 8 2020 – redacted – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 11 2020 – redacted – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 14 2020 (Tracy Flyer) – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 14 2020 (Whalen Flyer) – Click here

Liberate Laguna PAC 496 Sept 14 2020 (Nokes) – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 23 2020 (Nokes) redacted – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Sept 23 2020 redacted – Click here

Liberate Laguna – 496 Oct 1 2020 redacted – Click here

Liberate Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct 5 (Dicterow) – Click here

Liberate Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct. 5, 2020 (Nokes) – Click here

Village Laguna (PAC):

Village Laguna – 460 Jan 1 – June 30, 2020 redacted – Click here

VL 460 Form (Jul-Sept 2020) – Click here

Village LagunaPAC Form 496 Sept 30 2020 (Weiss) mailing – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 30 2020 (Weiss) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 30 2020 (Nokes) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 30 2020 (Flores)  – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 30 2020 (Flores) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 28 2020 (Weiss) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Sept 28 2020 (Flores) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct. 2 2020 (Flores) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC 496 Oct. 2 2020 (Weiss) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct. 5 2020 (Flores) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct 5 2020 (Weiss) – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 497 Oct 5 2020 – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct. 7 2020 (Weiss) mailer amendment – Click here

Village Laguna PAC Form 496 Oct. 7 2020 (Flores) mailer amendment – Click here

Village Laguna Form 496 Oct. 9, 2020 (Flores) -Click here

Village Laguna Form 496 Oct. 9, 2020 (Weiss) – Click here

Laguna Beach Police Employee Association  (PAC):

Laguna Beach Police Employee – 460 Jan 1 – June 30, 2020 – Click here

LB Police Assoc. From 496 Oct.5, 2020 (Dicterrow) – Click here

LB Police Assoc. Form 496 Oct 6 (Whalen) – Click here

Laguna Beach Fire Fighters Association (PAC):

Laguna Beach Firefighters Association – 460 Jan 1 – June 30 2020 – Click here

Laguna Public Recreational Facilities Conservancy (LPRFC) (PAC):

LPRFC City Candidate Endorsement – Click here

City Council Candidates November 3, 2020 Elections

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1) Steve Dicterow – sdicterow1121@yahoo.com – No Campaign Website. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 7, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Steve Dicterow

2) Ruben Flores – https://rubenflorescitycouncil.com. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 7, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Ruben Flores

3) Larry Nokes – https://larrynokesforcouncil.com. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 4, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Larry Nokes

4) George Weiss – https://www.georgeweiss4citycouncil.org. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: George Weiss

5) Bob Whalen – bwhalen@lagunabeachcity.net – http://www.bobwhalenforlbcouncil.com. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 6, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Bob Whalen

City Clerk Candidates:

1) Ann Marie McKay – http://mckay4cityclerk.com. Turned in nomination papers: July 30, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Ann Marie McKay

2) Mariann Tracy – https://marianntracy.com. Turned in nomination papers: AUGUST 5, 2020 (Candidate Statement & Signatures verified by the ROV)
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Mariann Tracy

Media and General Public Candidate Related Articles and Opinions for the November 3, 2020 Election Below: As Available…

Letter to the Editor – LTE-Dicterow 

Letter to the Editor – LTE-Weiss-Flores

Call To Laguna Residents – Register To Vote!

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  Laguna  Beach Residents

  REGISTER TO VOTE!

You must register before you can vote. That can be done online. Have your drivers’ license number and the last four digits of your social security number handy. Then click on www.ocvote.com/registration/register-to-vote and follow the easy steps. Same day voter registration will also be available at Vote Centers that will open 14 days before election day, which is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Registrar’s office has done a detailed evaluation and lots of staff training to be ready for safe in-person voting at these Centers. That includes buildings that allow for social distancing at all times, frequent wipe downs, disposable pens and security envelopes, lots of markers, signage, and reminders to keep things flowing safely and smoothly.

CAST YOUR VOTE!

The Voter Information and Sample Ballot booklet mailing to voters begins September 24th. This information will also be available online. Every registered voter will also be sent a ballot by mail.  These come with pre-paid return envelopes.  Mailing of ballots to voters begins October 5th.  

There are three ways to vote and you can track your ballot online to insure it reached the Registrar.

  1. Mail your ballot via US Postal Service mail.
  2. Drop your ballot into one of 110 Drop Boxes that will be available around Orange County. These are tamper-proof, 1,000-pound military grade steel boxes, with a drop slot big enough only for two envelopes, so no hand can reach in. They are open 24/7 and picked up daily or every other day. Phone numbers will also be available at the boxes for questions.
  3. Vote in-person at 167+ Vote Centers around Orange County. This is not the old polling place system. You can vote at any Vote Center that is convenient for you. They will have a full electronic roster to validate your eligibility so your vote will be final, not provisional.

VOTE by Tuesday, November 3, 2020!

BE COUNTED!   Vote early this year. Your vote is so important!  

USPS Mail might be slow. To be counted your ballot must be received

on or before election day, November 3,2020.

Update – Laguna – Quaint, Charming and Uncivil?

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Civility Policy Update – “Blake reprimanded for online comments but not apologetic” – Stu News – Click here

Much like the rest of the country, quaint and charming Laguna Beach is faced with the growing concern over respect and civility among city leaders and constituents.
Recently, the City adopted a Civility and Decorum Policy to address the issue, the first in its history.

Laguna Beach’s newly adopted Rules of Decorum and Civility Policy, click here

The media has covered the issue of Laguna’s need for a civility policy.
Local Media’s Comments on City’s Civility issues:

Stu News: Council passes a resolution to reset the button on decorum and civility at public meetings – Click here
Laguna Beach Independent: Council Considers Tighter Code of Conduct – Click here
Orange County Register: Laguna Beach adopts rules of civility applying to leaders and community members at city meetings after months of discord – Click here
Voice of OC: One City Councilman and His Critics Have Laguna Beach in Uproar – Click here

Residents Comments on City’s Civility issues:

Howard Hill comments on Citywide Civility issues – Click here
Mike Morris comments on Peter Blake’s in-office behavior – Click here

Please tell us what you think: leave a comments below!

Guest Letter from Resident Mike Morris

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I’ve been attending City Council meetings regularly for several years. I like civic engagement and hope that my singular focus on spending-issues has made positive contributions to our collective wallet. In the past, no matter the issue, no matter how contentious, there was always a level of decorum and civility that was impressive. I had the sense that everyone would have their say without fear of derision, ridicule or bullying. All of that changed on December 4, 2018 with the swearing-in of Peter Blake.

Now, council meetings are raucous and uncivil. Speakers have to expect disrespect from the dais if they dare comment on one of Mr. Blake’s many hot-button issues. If you are a member of Village Laguna, you have come to expect bullying, and diminishment as a member of a non-representative, stuck-in-the-past, overly powerful & busybody organization that is holding Laguna Beach back. I honestly admire the many VL folks (typically mature people) who never-the-less are compelled to speak their truth to power in the face of such behavior.

For all of the potential positive contributions that Mr. Blake could offer the city, I feel he limits his effectiveness because of his disrespectful and bullying nature. Unfortunately, I think he sees this as part of his appeal…his “brand” if you will.

I’ll probably be on the receiving end of Mr. Blake’s wrath for posting this. I’ve been on the receiving-end before, so it won’t come as a surprise. {Update: 31Aug19 – wrath received! :)}

(For those who want to verify that I have not in any way manipulated the video, the 1st clip is taken from the City Council meeting on 9July2019. The comments occurred at around 4:37 (4hours and 37 minutes). Item 18 was added to the agenda by Mr. Blake, and dealt with the possible “abandonment” of the walkways in Temple Hills. According to my records, 31 people spoke on the issue. 14: pro-abandonment, 15: anti-abandonment and 1 inconclusive. If you have the patience to listen to the City presentation on the topic, and all 31 speakers, you’ll witness other disrespectful behavior from Mr. Blake. The second clip is from Council meeting on 6Aug19, concerning item #13, changes to the DRB process. The last clip shows Blake cheer leading for an exceptional “retention raise” for our 3-yr Assist City Mgr, of $25,000/yr. My estimates of her total remuneration with this increase is $330,000/yr).

9July19 Council meeting – Constituents are Liars – https://youtu.be/VMe3g0sn7jI
6Aug19 Council meeting – denigrating VL – https://youtu.be/17aa_E-PuA8
23July19 Council meeting – “agent of change” – https://youtu.be/qllgdrYMemc

Candidate’s Public Background Records

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LBChat has compiled candidate statements, websites/podcasts, news articles and public information obtained from candidates and public information sources. This includes Campaign Finance Disclosure 460 Forms. And, this year we are setting the vetting bar higher by including the California Public Record Act Code# 6253 (CPRA) Laguna Beach Police contacts: arrests, restraining orders, repossessions and other violations. Please click here to go directly to LBCHAT/2024candidatepublicinformationdocuments. LBCHAT intends to obtain and publish all local and state public record documents related to campaign finance and personal and/or criminal background information on every candidate running for a Laguna Beach Public Office position every campaign year.   

Thank you for being an informed voter. Our city’s health and future depends on it!  LBCHAT

LAGUNABEACHCHAT.COM

CHAT stands for City Hall Accountability and Transparency. Our Mission: Laguna Beach CHAT desires to advance accountability and transparency. We serve residents by providing them with an open and honest platform to gain knowledge about City officials, functions and decisions that impact our quality of life and our local community. 

Lorene Laguna Statement On Endorsements

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Lorene Laguna:

Independent candidate serving the residents of the community. Registered organizations endorsements:

NO POLITICAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN, PAC, candidate endorsement
NO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP candidate endorsement
NO POLITICAL PARTY candidate endorsement, City Counsel is a NON-PARTISAN OFFICE

I retained the services of a professional Campaign Compliance Officer to serve as my Treasurer.

I believe it is unwise and puts campaign at risk to leave the FPPC filing responsibilities to an inexperienced volunteer.

Lorene Laguna
LoreneLaguna@Gmail.com

Blake Statement On Endorsements

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PETER BLAKE:
I hate both the republicans and democrats equally. I’m an independent and have always been one. I.m pro-abortian, gay rights and not into your religion. On the other hand, I’m also not willing to work seven days a week to support your social programs and don’t stay up at night thinking about ways to defend a criminal’s rights.

I am not listing endorsements from individuals or any groups. I am accepting zero donations from PAC’s or special interest groups.They’re welcome to do whatever they want as Liberate Laguna has.
I have hired Campaign Compliance as my treasurer and they are responsible for all official filings.

There is no one who’s willing to acknowledge having anything to do with advising me on my campaign. I do get calls daily from well wishers advising me on everything I’m doing wrong. lol

Peter