HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental - Comment re: Councilman Boyd, airline ticketsHonorable Mayor and City Council: °'2
Recently, my wife took the initiative to research certain expenditures
incurred by the City Council, including Councilman Boyd, for trips
presumably related to the conduct of City business. Let me tell you what
she discovered.
On October 5, 2000, the City of Seal Beach issued a check to American
Express Travel in the amount of $3,111.00 dollars for three "first class"
airline tickets on TWA. The ticketed passengers were Councilman Boyd,
Mr. William Landsdale —a Seal Beach resident— and Mr. Rufus Rhoades.
The reference item on the check indicated that it was for "Airline tickets -
Councilman Shawn Boyd- October 10 -11, 2000, LAX to Washington, DC-
Portion of the cost will be reimbursed to the city." The Warrant was signed
by the then acting city manager, Don Maclntyre.
About the same time that Councilman Boyd took that trip with Mr.
Landsdale and Mr. Rhoades, Mr. Landsdale submitted an application to the
City Planning Department for a General Plan and Zone Change from
"Public Land Use /Recreation," from "Public Land Use /Recreation" to "Light
Industrial and Residential" for a large strip of land that Mr. Landsdale
owns. Let me repeat, from rezoning the land from "Public Land
Use /Recreation" to "Light Industrial and Residential."
According to official County assessor's maps, that strip of land runs along
the entire length of the south side of Pacific Coast Highway between Seal
Beach Boulevard and the entrance to Huntington Harbor. In other words,
Mr. Landsdale owns an extensive piece of land that borders along the fence
of the Naval Weapons Station all the way between Seal Beach Boulevard
and the harbor entrance. This strip was a part of the former Red Car
Railroad Right of Way.
In a lengthy letter to Mr. Landsdale dated December 21, 2000, the City's
director of development services, Mr. Lee Whittenberg, advised Mr.
Landsdale of what would be required to complete the application for
processing through the City, including a Public Hearing Application.
According to that Application, Mr. Landsdale's proposed use for the land
was "residential condominiums." In other words, according to the public
records, Mr. Landsdale wanted to build condominiums along the entire
stretch of Pacific Coast Highway between Seal Beach Boulevard and the
harbor.
Three months after, let me say that again, three months after the City
issued the check on behalf of Councilman Boyd to purchase the airline
tickets, Mr. Landsdale's company reimbursed the City for the entire
amount.
To date, Mr. Landsdale's application is incomplete and has not yet been
formally processed through the City.
Since Mr. Landsdale reimbursed the entire cost, including your ticket Mr.
Boyd, should that have been reported on your financial disclosure
statements as either "income" or as a "gift ?" It was not, and I suspect this
could be another violation of state law.
Mr. Mayor, I was truly amazed to learn that the City of Seal Beach was in
the business of "fronting" travel costs for private citizens. I cannot believe
that the citizens and taxpayers of Seal Beach expect the city's treasury to
be the "bank," albeit for only three or four months, for a" private person.
Moreover, I sincerely doubt that any other member of the City Council knew
that the City's money was being used in this way.
Mr. Mayor, I would like to know who Mr. Boyd met with in Washington DC
and what was discussed. Did he officially represent the City on that visit
and did he discuss City policy (and what was or is that policy) related to
the potential development of Mr. Landsdale's property? There has been
extensive "gossip" circulated in the community about Mr. Landsdale's
desire to swap that property for other Navy property located adjacent to
Surfside Colony upon which he might want to build new housing or
condominiums. Is this true Mr. Boyd? You were at these meetings, I
presume you should know the answer. I think the public deserves to know.
Finally, on a personal note, let me say this. Within hours of my wife getting
copies of the documents to which I have referred this evening, Mr. Boyd
personally called my wife's employer and, using his Councilmanic title,
verbally complained to my wife's supervisor about her digging out this
information during regular work hours. In other words, insinuating that my
wife was somehow cheating her employer by doing this while she was
supposed to be working.
Unbeknownst to you Mr. Boyd, like some of the other "mistakes" you've
made, you did not know or take the time to find out that my wife is only a
part-time employee. The time she spends insuring that the taxpayers and
citizens of Seal Beach are protected and fully appraised of the City
Council's activities, yes — including your activities Mr. Boyd, is done
exclusively on her own time.
Mr. Boyd, I must say, I think you've stooped to an all time low on this one.
You should be ashamed of yourself. I know the citizens of Seal Beach are
ashamed for you.
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