Rest In Peace and Thank You Mr. John McTaggart.

Rancho Palos Verdes lost one of its founders and also one of its greatest residents with the passing of Mr. John McTaggart.

He was a giant among those who served all of our residents and he represented our city with honor and dignity.

There is great sadness in the loss of a leader of our community and the only solice that I can find right now is that he was doing what I think he loved to do, representing us and trying once again sit on the council, when he passed away.

Mr. McTaggart was serving us on three committees even before and during the time he sought another term on our council.

So his service to our community continued long after he left the council and as our four-time Mayor.

Terri and I send our thoughts and beams of white light to Mr. McTaggart's family and friends and to all of those who knew of his service and his life.

Services are pending and you can check for further details on the Rancho Palos Verdes Web site at: http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/

Below, please read from part of the city's Web site.

John McTaggart
1930 - 2009

Profession:
Retired. Formerly Superintendent of Facility Operations, Hughes Aircraft Company

Community and civic activities and affiliations:

• President of California Contract Cities Association 2002-2003
• Alternate Member of Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority
• Board Member of MTA South Bay Sector Council
• County/City Liability Trust Fund Oversight Committee 1999-2003
• Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilmember since 1983 (Mayor 1985, 1991,1996 2002),
• Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commissioner 1977-83 (Chair 1977)
• South Bay Council of Governments (Chair 1994-96),
• California Contract Cities Association (President 2002)
• California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference Board Member
• Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Task Force
• West Basin Municipal Water Association
• South Coast Air Quality Advisory Council (1981-88)
• Southern California Association of Governments, HCED
• MAX Policy Steering Committee

Primary area of regional concern and years of involvement:

John was the President of the South Bay Cities in 1994 when it was determined that there was a need for a more focused organization for certain South Bay cities. The South Bay Council of Governments, which included sixteen cities, was formed and John became its first Chair. Between 1994 and 1996 John served as Chair while the COG reviewed the SCAG Subregion Transportation Plan and worked on other joint projects involving liveable cities, drainage problems and transportation issues. The South Bay COG has become a major regional planning organization and a strong contributor to the Southern California quality of life.

Brief description of John’s accomplishments:

John began his involvement in affairs of government when he represented his homeowner's association as a member of the Board of Directors of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Advisory Council, which consisted of over forty homeowners associations. He was the President of the Palos Verdes Village Homeowners Association in 1973 when it, along with the original Save Our Coastline organization, was successful in the incorporation of Rancho Palos Verdes. The newly elected City Council appointed John to the Planning Advisory Committee which later became the Planning Commission. The General Plan was designed during the first two years after incorporation. John participated in that effort, where he worked on joint subcommittees with members of the Council. John served a total of ten years on both boards and was Chairman of the Planning Commission during the Coastal Specific Plan design and approval period.

In 1983, John was elected to the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council. During his first term, John initiated a successful effort to get two million dollars from the State for landslide stabilization. Prior to and following his election to the City Council, John served on the South Coast Air Quality Management District Advisory Council for seven and one-half years. Presently, he serves on the Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Task Force as a representative of the League of California Cities. John has represented RPV on the West Basin Municipal Water Association since 1984.

John has been a member of the Rotary for 19 years, formed the first homeowners association in his neighborhood, formed a Boy Scout Troop in 1964 and was its first Scout Master.

Short summary of how John made a difference in the quality of life in Southern California:

John McTaggart's service to his neighborhood, City, the South Bay and Southern California has been continuous since 1964. Whether addressing problems of solid waste disposal and recycling, airport expansion, Sheriff Department liability issues or transportation, when the tough issues need discussion and resolution, John is always there. He is always informed, never misses a meeting and is always a major force. He is not merely a joiner, or another occupant of a chair, but is always outspoken and aggressive in helping to shape our quality of life. He is an example of the ideal citizen who cares about his neighborhood, his City and Southern California and is willing to work all day every day in any capacity, with recognition or without, simply to make life better for us all!

Looking Towards the Future

I talked with newly elected councilman Mr. Brian Campbell last night and he assured me that he will work with eastern R.P.V. and the Eastview area residents and businesses all through his first term. I found that very refreshing.

I did make some comments during the 'Comments not on the Agenda' period at last night's council meeting. I talked about how the least experienced candidate garnered the most number of votes. I hope that individual will learn from Mr. Campbell how to represent all the residents of our city.

One of the biggest issues in our future actually may seem like a tiny issue in other areas.

IF Marymount College goes forward with their Facilities Expansion Project, a traffic signal is planned for the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive.

Local residents and many of us who use that intersection are NOT fond of having a traffic signal placed there.

As a former member of our city's Traffic Safety Commission, I can write that a signal has been warranted there for years.

I have traveled through the intersection and made turns during the height of school traffic in the morning and at the end of the school day. Yes, it is a tough intersection to get through during those times.

But many of us find that during all other times of the day, a traffic signal seem very unnecessary there.

If the majority of residents really don't want a traffic signal at that intersection, that may be something to work with city staff on, before taking that issue to the council.

Some residents feel that some business areas along Western Avenue need sprucing up. Being that I live above the Western Plaza area of shops with a long parking area, I understand what many are talking about.

Last year we saw improvements at The Terraces which brought about new canopies for the stairways.

Perhaps residents interested in working towards having improvements done along Western Avenue may want to work with the Chambers of Commerce for the peninsula and San Pedro as a preliminary activity prior to taking matters to staff and the council.

There are opportunities to volunteer on the Planning Commission and the committee overseeing the storm drain issues. That group was established when the Storm Drain User Fee was voted in and the oversight committee was mandated.

I don't pay the fee and I think residents who pay the fee would be the best representatives on that committee, versus those of us who aren't required to pay the fee.

I feel the most important near future matter for us on the east side of Rancho Palos Verdes is the finding by the Accreditation Group as to whether Marymount College is granted status to become a four-year institution.

It is my feel that Marymount becomes a four-year institution, they will move quickly to try and change their current Facilities Expansion Project to include on-campus housing that the College removed from existing plans.

I think if Marymount College is not granted four-year status, they may not last as a college.

There are plenty of eastern Rancho Palos Verdes residents who use Palos Verdes Drive East to access Palos Verdes Drive South.

The lower San Ramon and Tarapaca Canyon areas are a real concern for these travelers, if landslides cause Palos Verdes Drive East and 25th Street in San Pedro to become impassable.

While that area is not really in eastern R.P.V., it could be an area that causes potential traffic issues on our side of The Hill.

The lower San Ramon/Tarapaca and Marymount issues should demonstrate to residents on the east side of our city that we are truthfully connected to the rest of our city.

If transportation routes are damaged or altered in ways we don't like or want, that affects all of us.

Right now the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project is still under consideration, basically behind closed doors.

An update report to the Los Angeles Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled for November, by the Los Angeles City Planning Department's team working with the current Ponte Vista at San Pedro development team.

More than one 'fly on the wall' told me that we probably won't see new plans coming out for the project until the first quarter of 2009.

It is also thought by many that the current idea for 1,395-condominiums on the site, will be lowered. We have no real clue yet as to what the new total may be, though.

I post a weekly piece on my www.pontevista.blogspot.com blog. In the past many months I include items that may or may not be related to Ponte Vista, but try and deal with local area items on the east side of R.P.V. and the San Pedro area.

When I served in the U.S. Air Force, I had occasion to visit Luke A.F.B. in Arizona.

I learned there and from other sources about the site on the top of The Hill.

The group that was stationed at the Radomes and other equipment at the site on the top of San Pedro Hill was a detachment from a Group located out of Luke A.F.B.

Back when I served and it still may be the case today, the detachment was part of a Tactical Air Command Group for the fighter defense of the west coast of the U.S.

It seems when 'the enemy' was seen using the radars on the top of The Hill, fighter jets based at Luke A.F.B. in Arizona would scramble to intercept the bombers and (hopefully) shoot them down.

When I was young there was a radar devise that was visible from my home and it was shaped a bit like a banana with a hinge in the middle.

When the steel thing was working it would pivot up and down fairly fast at its middle and it looked scary from a little boy's view, I remember.

My friends and I used to hike up to the site long before the houses were built on Crest Road and we walked around the fence line of the site.

I think with a near future post, I will write about the area east of Western Avenue that is now part of our city. I had fun there, too.

Oh Well

My two preferences not only lost, my first choice turned out to be Rancho Palos Verdes voters (the extremely few that bothered to vote) last choice.

I can certainly congratulate newly elected council member Mr. Brian Campbell.

I hope his Real Estate knowledge and skills will serve our residents well. He is a stand-up gentleman.

The TOT increase measure I voted Yes on fell by 148 votes. Unfortunately, only 5,530 voters voted on that measure out of a registered voter number of 27, 022.

This brings up a real problem for those who believe in democracy and have even defended it with their service in the military and sadly, with their lives.

It appears that only less than 21% of the eligible voters in our city bothered to mail in absentee ballots or go to the polls.

That is about 33% more than voted in 2007 for three spots on the council, but democracy still is not represented well with voters turning out is such low numbers.

That is shameful, disgusting, and disheartening no matter what side of the political spectrum someone is on.

That type of turnout sometimes allows extreme voters and machines to put candidates into winning positions.

When someone supports a development that is opposed by so many of his neighbors in Miraleste and an majority or residents in Eastview, that becomes a problem, I feel.

When some one's campaign distributes probably very misleading mailers, that too, is a problem.

When someone claims their feet bled walking 30 of 37 precincts in a city the L.A. County Recorder only states the results for the 18 precincts the city actually has, might that cause one to pause?

When the least experienced candidate receives the most number of votes in this election, that really says something, doesn't it?

It means a machine was built using many dollars to misinform potential voters and guarantee a base of voters who wish to make more of a political statement than to actually improve the governance of our city, I feel.

This has unfortunately come to pass in Rancho Palos Verdes. The candidate who has served Rancho Palos Verdes the least among the seven candidates and the only candidate to serve as Honorary Mayor of a community within the city of Los Angeles, received the most votes.

Oh well.....

A Bit Of Humor From Tea Baggers

I like funny things.

Currently, there are rants by Republicans and conservatives about having as many as four lawyers on the city council for the next two years.

So while surfing the Web, I came across the South Bay Tea Party blog.

Now for those of you who don't know what 'tea bagging', it is what goes on a quite a few tea parties, but not usually out in the open.

I would suggest if you don't know about tea bagging, you should look it up yourself.

Anyway, I looked at their site and was quite amused at a particular quotation near the very top of the site which has members who do not want up to four lawyers sitting on our council.

"It was John Adams who said "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right...and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean of the characters and conduct of their rulers."

This quote, copied and pasted directly from the South Bay Tea Party was written by our Nation's second President. He would probably not have been our second President if he had not been something else first and foremost.

Can you guess what that is. Let's say it together, shall we? Ready? 1! 2! 3! A LAWYER!

The very same folks who don't want more lawyers on our council use as a primary quote on their site, something authored by a lawyer?

Now folks, THAT is funny!

More Notes and Information Concerning The Election

This is a collection of random notes and other information about the coming election.

Mr. Brian Campbell sent out an Email to lots of folks.

Here is a portion of what I found in the Email that I hope you find important:

"Slate mailers. Whether you agree with them or not, my campaign did not authorize my name to be used in any of these mailers and we did not pay for them. I didn't participate in them primarily for the simple reason that I didn't want to have our message diluted by being included with other campaigns and elections. The organization that printed them is not at fault either. This was a mistake made by the Bank that our campaign uses in mistakenly paying the printers before we had told them that we would not participate in the mailers. The Bank has admitted that this was their fault. The printers immediately pulled our name off all but a few that were inadvertently mailed out. To the credit of the other campaigns, they have done what I have over the past few months with many of them, and given us the benefit of the doubt, as has the Daily Breeze."

Please disregard Mr. Campbell's name for any of the mailers described and please think about the other candidate(s) who would actually support those mailers.

__________________________________________________________

It seem the Republican Party of Los Angeles is threatening two candidates in this election.

You can read it via the link below:

http://www.insidesocal.com/southbay/2009/10/rpv-republicans-dress-up-as-de.html#comments

__________________________________________________________

Many conservatives are saying that they don't want more lawyers on the council.

It seems many of them think all lawyers are left of conservative. I don't think that is true. Wait, I know it is not true.

When conservatives don't get what they want, who do you think make up the first profession many conservatives go to when they feel wronged? Now, let's all say it together......1! 2! 3! LAWYERS!

It seems that RPLAC may use.....What is that profession again? Oh, that's right, LAWYERS if they decide to file anything with the FPPLC.

And if anybody challenges Mr. Misetich's endorsement by the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, who do you think that group will race to, if it happens. I know you know the answer. Let's say it together, one more time....

LAWYERS!
__________________________________________________________

I have changed my opinion as to whether Mr. McTaggart should drop out of the race because of the problems with the prospect of the possibility that Mr. Anthony Misetich gets elected.

I would rather folks vote for Mr. John McTaggart rather than for Mr. Anthony Misetich.

We don't need troubles coming out of this election and I don't see how that would not happen if Mr. Misetich receives either of the two highest vote counts.

__________________________________________________________

I have a map of Eastview showing the precinct numbers and I will try to post the results by Eastview precincts as quickly as I can after the election.

__________________________________________________________

Here is my last review of all of the candidates, combined.

Jeff Lewis is my first vote. He has shown skilled leadership as the current Chair of the Planning Commission, the second most important group of deciders in Rancho Palos Verdes.

He has demonstrated talent during some very tough times that Planning Commission has had.

Paul Tetreault has also worked very hard and long as a member of the current Planning Commission team. He gets my other vote for a seat on the council.

He has demonstrated leadership in many areas and I think he will bring a calming, structured, and thoughtful addition to the council.

If I had a third vote, I would vote for Jim Knight. He is also currently a member of the Planning Commission and if you look at his Web site, which I link on this blog, you will learn of his great interest in and concern for the residents, businesses, and environment of Rancho Palos Verdes.

A fourth vote, if I could have one, would go to Mr. Brian Campbell.

He is a member of the Republican Party and he is probably the most conservative gentleman I have really considered voting for.

He is a stand-up honest candidate who was brought into the fiascos and fray not of his choosing.

He and I have our differences, but if you are of a mind to vote for a conservative rather than a candidate more towards the center or the left, please vote for Mr. Brian Campbell.

Mr. Campbell served on the General Plan Update Committee and that is a very difficult and time consuming effort that will eventually pay off in an even better Rancho Palos Verdes.

Mr. Craig Mueller and I do not agree one bit about the TOT increase, but he would certainly make a great council member if he gains enough votes.

Mr. Craig Mueller served for years on the Planning Commission. Mr. Mueller served on the General Plan Update Committee where he also was its Chair.

Mr. Mueller would also make a great councilman, in my opinion, if he garners enough votes to take one of the two seats.

Mr. John McTaggart served on our council for 20 years. Mr. John McTaggart served as our city's Mayor four times.

Mr. McTaggart currently serves on three committees that either directly or indirectly support the residents and businesses of Rancho Palos Verdes.

It is true that I have suggested more than several times that Mr. McTaggart should drop out of the race to allow two others the opportunity that he had for so many years.

The problems with the seventh candidate have made me rethink my former stance.

Rancho Palos Verdes would be well served if the outcome of this election does not provide future problems for the city and its residents. I believe strongly that electing Mr. McTaggart or any of the other candidates mentioned above, would NOT become a problem that could end up in hearings or other legal issues.

I may have afforded some ugliness into this election by mentioning Mr. Anthony Misetich's involvement with Bob Bisno and Bob's plan to build 2,300 condos across the street from homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I feel very strongly that any candidate trying to represent residents of Rancho Palos Verdes must not have the bad baggage of following someone who wanted to over develope an area so close to our city.

I think it was foul that Mr. Misetich worked for a plan that was fought by thousands of Rancho Palos Verdes residents.

You may know that as a Board member of R Neighborhoods Are 1, I do have knowledge of the numbers of Rancho Palos Verdes residents who signed the petition forms attempting to block Bob Bisno's and his Advisory Board members from over building in northwest San Pedro.

So when I write that there were "thousands" of residents of Rancho Palos Verdes who signed the petition, I am not making anything up. More than 11,000 signatures were collected on the petition forms and Rancho Palos Verdes residents made up a substantial number of those signatures.

It would not be unfair to call it a litmus test. The issue of Bob Bisno and his supporters coming in with plans that would devastate several communities, makes me and others feel that any Rancho Palos Verdes resident who supported Bob's plans does not deserve to be elected to our city council.

But Ponte Vista, sadly, is just one issue.

A blogger for The Daily Breeze wrote about Mr. Misetich's campaign attempting to possibly mislead voters into believing Mr. Misetich is something other than what he really is.

How honest is it for a candidated endorsed by the Republican Party of Los Angeles County to attempt to pursuade voters by sending out a mailer with four Democratic Presidents pictured on it?

How honest is it to provide a mailer that states Mr. Misetich would; "Protect neighborhoods from overdevelopment and increased traffic" when it is a documented fact that Mr. Misetich served or still may be serving on one of the Advisory Boards set up by Bob Bisno's organization to actually bring overdevelopment and a dramatically huge increase in traffic to more than one community?

How honest is it to claim to keep to the campaign promise of; "Never try to confuse or mislead voters" when you have your campaign pay for mailers that claim that you are a solid Republican while you attempt to attract voters using a mailer that states; "Please use our Democratic Voters Choice slate when you go to the polls"?

How honest is it when mailers Anthony Misetich endorses carry the misleading ridicule wording; "Democrat leaders"?

That term has been used by conservates, many far-right neocons, and Republicans as a slur on Democratic leaders.

While I do applaud Mr. Misetich's stand that more opportunities be provided by residents willing to serve on committees and commissions, I do not think that is any real reason to vote for him.

Mr. Misetich's baggage will follow him beyond November 3 and I do not feel our city and its residents need to carry any of that baggage.

At least one current city councilman has weighed in on Mr. Misetich's misleading mailers and may be suggesting that Mr. Misetich's campaign broke a portion of the State Constitution.

I feel, as a resident of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, I have the right to question the mailer from the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, perhaps with the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

I don't know if our City Attorney would get involved if asked to by council members.

But it is Misetich baggage our city and its residents simply don't need or probably want.

Candidates do make some pretty dumb mistakes. Sometimes they say things they then have to defend and certainly regret.

___________________________________________________________

I am comforted that voters have six real, decent, and qualified candidates to earn two seats on the council.

Please consider:

Mr. Jeff Lewis

Mr. Paul Tetreault

Mr. Jim Knight

Mr. Brian Campbell

Mr. Craig Mueller

Mr. John McTaggart.

Please do not provide baggage our city does not need and please do not vote for Mr. Anthony Misetich.
___________________________________________________________

Please take a gander at: www.therelevantstage.com for great entertainment values that I hope you will enjoy for the rest of this year and all through 2010.

Questioning Ethics

Click on image to enlarge.

After we all vote by Tuesday at 8:00, it might be a good idea to review the document above to determine if Anthony Misetich lived up to the promises he proclaimed he would keep on the form dated September 9, 2009?

All seven candidates signed the exact same form so whoever you vote for should allow to review whether they lived up to the 12 promises they made during the campaign.

I think all seven candidates were able to keep most, if not all of the promises they signed or printed off on.

There is the one about "Never try to confuse or mislead voters?" that just might be a big problem for one particular candidate.

Brian Campbell took responsibility for a mistake that occurred on a mailer he did not authorize and he even tried to stop the check to the producers of that mailer.

The one that states: "Keep their promise to conduct an issues'oriented, honest, fair and respectful campaign?" also may be really tough to keep for the same candidate who has a problem deciding who actually supports him, political party-wise.

If you receive Email via RPVListserver you may have read Emails from at least two persons who are not running for anything.

You can also read the blog authored by Melissa Pamer of The Daily Breeze. She wrote a splendid post about some confusion by several candidates in this coming election.

Both Mr. Anthony Misetich and Mr. Brian Campbell were mentioned, but Mr. Campbell wants you to know that he did not authorize or willingly paid for the mailer that was ultimately sent out.

I can even now suggest that if you are considering voting for Mr. Misetich, I would encourage you to vote for Mr. McTaggart instead.

However for conservative voters, your first and only real choice should be Mr. Brian Campbell.

I don't want anyone out there having to make excuses why they voted the way they did for the next four years.

Double Write and Ethics Pledge

Click on images to enlarge.

So, the Republican Party officially endorses Mr. Anthony Misetich in the non-partisan election.

Let's take a look at a tiny piece of the Constitution of the State of California.

California Constitution, Article II, Section 6:

“(a) All judicial, school, county, and city offices shall be nonpartisan.

(b) No political party or party central committee may endorse, support, or oppose a candidate for nonpartisan office.”

Did you happen to read "(b)"? A better question would be did Mr. Anthony Misetich read the law? Probably not. He is, after all, a representative of the oil industry. Say, have you purchased gasoline recently or had your oil changed?

Mr. Misetich's mailers indicating he is supported by 'Democrat leaders' must give all of us pause to consider which is the political party Mr. Misetich really belongs to, even in a non-partisan election.

Where will Mr. Misetich go next? Will we see a mailer purportedly providing endorsements form Sarah Palin and others who balk at the Republican candidate for the N.Y. 23 District election in favor of a far right wing person who is not endorsed by the Republican Party?

Will we see a mailer purportedly from folks in the Green Party endorsing Mr. Misetich?

How about the American Independent Party?

Folks, another candidate mentioned to me a pledge most of the candidates made to keep from being deceptive throughout the campaign.

Did Mr. Misetich sign such a pledge and what was meant by not being deceptive.

As you can see from this latest mailer, Mr. Misetich claims he will "Protect neighborhoods from overdevelopment and increased traffic".

OH REALLY!

Perhaps we are now watching a clone of Anthony Misetich running for city council. It could not possibly be the same Anthony Misetich who was and still may be a member of an Advisory Board which was one way Bob Bisno was trying to bring Two Thousand, Three Hundred condos to just 61.53 acres directly across the street from homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Why should anyone believe that Mr. Misetich will follow his own statements?

I'd rather you vote for John McTaggart and Brian Campbell rather than those who vote more conservatively and vote just for Brian Campbell.

I hope to get a copy of the ethics pledge and if Mr. Misetich signed the pledge, I think that shoule pretty much prove that his ethics are questionable in regards to running a campaign free from deception and as honestly as the others have run their campaigns.

Misetich Does It Again

Click on image to enlarge.

I guess I am mistaken that the race for two seats on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council is non-partisan.

Anthony Misetich and others paid for yet another mailer to possible Democratic Party members tauting endorsements from "Democrat leaders".

Again we view the deceptive and inacurate word usage by another conservative who seems to use ridicule over politeness.

A Democrat is someone who belongs to the Democratic Party. This is for party affiliation.

There are Democratic leaders, but it is a slam begun during the administration of "W" when the reference to multiple Democrats is termed "Democrat".

But here also is another attempt for someone who has a great number of supporters who are unafraid to taut their conservative views, some extremely conservative.

Do not be fooled! Mr. Misetich is no bleeding heart 'liberal' and he certainly does not seem to me to be anywhere near the center of the political spectrum.

Yes, I am a registered Democrat. I prefer to consider myself a progressive much more than a liberal and I am dead set against the Baucus Health Care bill because of several reasons.

I am supporting Jeff Lewis and Paul Tetreault for the two seats on the city council.

I would very much appreciate you voting for these two fine gentlemen.

But if you want to vote for a more conservative candidate in place of Anthony Misetich, I feel that Brian Campbell deserves your vote much more than Anthony Misetich does.

There is another very fine candidate who seems to lean towards the left side of the spectrum that is qualified to be a great councilman, too. His name is Jim Knight.

I don't agree with Craig Mueller's stand on the TOT increase which is also on the ballot measure and I strongly encourage you to vote YES on that measure.

But Craig would also make a fine councilman and he has quite a bit of experience with the city's Planning Commission and General Plan Update Committee.

John McTaggart should have stepped aside or not run so as to give five other very good candidates the opportunity he took with 20 years on the council.

Need I remind Eastview and Miraleste residents that Anthony Misetich is the ONLY candidate running for a council seat who was and still may be a member of one of the Advisory Boards for Ponte Vista at San Pedro set up to support Bob Bisno's plans for a massive over development along Western Avenue?

Please do not vote for Mr. McTaggart and/or Mr. Misetich. One has served all of us quite well for an extended period of time and the other sat with Bob Bisno and seemingly supported Bob's plans to build 2,300 condos and forever change for the negative, east Rancho Palos Verdes, northwest San Pedro and other communities nearby.

Two More Reasons Why Anthony Misetich Is So Wrong For Rancho Palos Verdes.

Did you get the Voter Information Guide in the mail?

You know, the one with the eagle on the front and endorsements on the back.

In very small lettering from this "non-partisian" mailer's front side is the following:

"Not paid for or authorized by candidates not designated by an *."

Looking on the back, let's see who's names have a "*" after them and therefore authorized and paid for the mailer.

Well, that would be Anthony Misetich.

Mr. Brian Campbell notified many that he DID NOT AUTHORIZE or pay for the mailer in which his name has the erroneous asterisk by it.

Now, let's look to see who Anthony is stating, in his paid mailer, is endorsing him.

"Local Democrat leaders."

For anyone who knows what has been going on since "W" was in office, Republicans and other conservates use "Democrat leaders" as a term of derision.

It would be the same as if people called folks "Republic leaders" instead of "Democratic leader"

or "Democratic Party leaders".

So you now know that Mr. Misetich uses a term that the dictionary would suggest more of a ridicule against Democrats and Democratic leaders.

But that is only the start of the problems.

Look closely to the powerful Republican leaders who are listed on his Web site as endorsing him.

Here are just a few "Republic leaders" (See, I did what Misetich did):

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Supervisor Don Knabe

Supervisor Mike Antonovich

Now one might think, if Mr. Misetich was truly considering himself in the center of the political spectrum, he would have placed these names of prominent and serving conservative leaders on the mailer instead of a Councilwoman who doesn't represent the city of Rancho Palos Verdes and a former Senator.

I don't see current State Senator Rod Wright's name as a supporter of Anthony Misetich.

There is a former L.A. City Councilman listed as a supporter. That would be Mr. Rudy Svornich and that will eventually lead us towards another cliff Mr. Misetich threw himself over rather than supporting the thousands of Residents in the Eastview and Miraleste areas of the city he is running to be a councilman in.

So what does this "non-partisian" mailer try and get folks to think?

Mr. Misetich is attempting to garner votes from centrists and folks on the left side of the spectrum even though Mr. is probably the most conservative candidate of the entire seven running for two seats on the city council.

Brian Campbell also paid for the particular mailer.

There are plenty of big differences between Mr. Misetich and Mr. Campbell.

Brian Campbell did make a really ridiculous remark at the last candidates' forum, but he communicated his true feelings to me, a far-left progressive and a friend of mine who is probably more conservative than even Anthony Misetich.

Both myself and my friend were provided with information that helped us resolve our differences with Brian and my friend has stated he will be voting for Brian on Tuesday.

Brian is probably not at conservative as Mr. Misetich is. I feel strongly that if there are voters in Eastview, Miraleste, and other parts of Rancho Palos Verdes who want to vote for a more conservative candidate than many of the others, I feel you would be served very well by voting for Mr. Brian Campbell and NOT Mr. Anthony Misetich.

Oh, and another thing before I go further. Mr. Brian Campbell did not and does not support high density residential housing at Ponte Vista at San Pedro. Whether it is Senior Housing or not, Mr. Campbell has stated to me that Bob Bisno's plans were way out of line and completely unreasonable.

Click on any part of image to enlarge.

Anthony Misetich's support for Bob Bisno's plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro needs to be included in your consideration in who you want representing you on the city council.

I have edited a Ponte Vista Newsletter from March, 2007 which includes Mr. Misetich's name as an Advisory Board member for Bob Bisno's plans to build 2,300 condos on the Western Avenue site.

Now Mr. Misetich may tell you that he only supported Bob's plans so that Senior Housing would be built there, but that has quite a few problems with it, by itself.

First and for honesty, I support SOME Senior Housing at Ponte Vista at San Pedro. I support that type of housing only in the context that it is part of a project that has NO MORE THAN 831 total units.

That number would be equivalent to the housing density at The Gardens, the large townhome development that has been successful for decades in northwest San Pedro.

Getting back to Mr. Misetich, you and Mr. Misetich need to know another fact.

As I worked to fight against a greedy over developer wanting to change OUR community forever, I asked fellow citizens of Rancho Palos Verdes and other places on The Hill whether seniors living higher on The Hill would move into Ponte Vista's Senior Housing.

I even asked members of Palos Verdes Watch, a fairly conservative group that opens its eyes and ears to communities on The Hill.

The statements made by very knowledgable seniors who I spoke to indicated that seniors currently living on The Hill have absolutely no interest in moving into Senior Housing units, eventually at Ponte Vista.

Now I asked lots of seniors from many different backgrounds, communities, and political views.

Why didn't Mr. Misetich learn that seniors he now wants to represent, pretty much have no interese in living at Ponte Vista?

Were the seniors Mr. Misetich wanted Senior Housing for primarily living in San Pedro?

What might that say about Mr. Misetich's real interest in serving residents of Rancho Palos Verdes who indicated in large numbers that they not only don't need or want Senior Housing at Ponte Vista, they don't want a giant development there that Mr. Misetich was on an Advisory Board to promote.

O.K., time to show you the edited image. If somebody doesn't believe me that Mr. Misetich was actually a Board member at one time, I can certainly Email them the entire Newsletter and others that have his name on them.

Click on any part of image to enlarge.

But as bad as it looks, it gets worse.

Here is a list of names of supporters of Mr. Misetich's campaign that also provided support, advise, testimony, and encouragement towards Bob Bisno's plans for Ponte Vista:

Rudy Svornich, Jr. Now this fellow not only supported Bob's plans, he was a paid lobbyist for Bob Bisno's endeavors at Ponte Vista.

Angie Papadakis and her son John. I don't know why so many Rancho Palos Verdes residents supported Bob Bisno. Perhaps Ms. Papadakis and her son don't live in Eastview.

Camilla Townsend. As Executive Directory of the San Pedro and Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, it is quite understandable that she would support Bob and other business interests. I just wish she would have considered the residents who just may stay away from downtown businesses even though we all need them badly to support downtown San Pedro.

Lydia Gutierrez, she was the Republican candidate to the seat Senator Rod Wright won with quite a high percentage of votes.

Bob Bisno finally filed bankruptcy and it has been reported that he was ousted from leadership in the Ponte Vista project last December.

The issues at Ponte Vista remain. We still haven't been given an update from the current development team as to the number of units they will apply to build.

What is important to remember is that why you break it, you buy it.

That is what folks should also consider when thinking about voting for Anthony Misetich.

Mr. Misetich bought for whatever reason, Bob Bisno's lines about Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Those lines proved to be very, very wrong.

Mr. Misetich went directly against the thousands of Eastview, Miraleste and other areas' residents when he backed a developer who stated he know what was best for OUR community over what we know is best for OUR community.

I do not feel Mr. Misetich understood how frustrating it was to fight against Bob's plans, especially by so many of us who still live in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I do not believe Mr. Misetich's name is among the over 11,000 signatures on R1 petition forms people signed to keep an outrageous project from being built along Western.

Several thousand names on the lists are residents of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Mr. Misetich's recent actions and his support for Bob Bisno's Ponte Vista at San Pedro demonstrate that he is not someone who has earned the right to represent so many residents in Rancho Palos Verdes who felt stabbed in the back by Ponte Vista supporters.

Mr. Misetich should probably have spent the time he provided as Honorary Mayor of San Pedro on issues and activities in Rancho Palos Verdes. After all, he is not running for a seat on the L.A. City Council.