DISQUS

Davebaxter1989 I've got to disagree, I don't think this is a comedy for a start. I think straight up horror with inevitable pop culture references.

sunshine Sure, I see a pattern here; it is LB's Enron style "rank and yank" mind meld anti-democratic leadership. Craig Beck is the Darth Vader of Long Beach. You can see the results of his public dime Death Star policies that have flattened buildings in its path resulting in a downtown that is void of life, history, local culture, and commerce. Now his death star is moving eastward into the 3rd district.

Craig Beck has encouraged liberal zoning variance policies that have increased bar related crimes, acerbated existing parking and traffic problems, ignored environmental zoning resulting in wildlife habitat destruction in SEADIP. The RDA with the help of the city misuses eminent domain for private gain.

I hear that the city has lost its Historic Preservation Officer (better to enable a complete destruction of LB culture and history). Community input is disregarded, yet when things go wrong (Cityplace, Pike, Pine Avenue, LBMall,8 unit cracker boxes, crime, parking) no-one steps up and questions these foolish selfish political decisions.

How many hundreds of millions have Beck's buddies made while the city falls deeper and deeper in debt? Hey Long Beach Wake-Up!!!, Moral, ethical and financial bankruptsy go hand in hand.

Craig Beck is head of the city's "Developer Services" which controls all building and planning in Long Beach.

Craig Beck is head of the city's Redevelopment Agency "RDA" which operates as a quasi-corporation that uses our property tax dollars. Taxation without representation? (In most California cities, councimembers also act as boardmembers of the RDA. Council meetings and RDA Agency meetings are helded concurrently.)

Craig Beck is on the board of the Downtown Long Beach Associates.

Will the community alliance be able to free Long Beach from the Beck's Development Empire evil clutches? Stay tuned......

Dave Wielenga Hit a nerve, did we? And yet, no matter how passionate your response, still not enough courage or integrity or pride in your opinion---or even support for the DLBA---to sign your name. On the other hand, the reason I even took a look at the composition of the DLBA's executive committee is because of the just submitted petitions asking for a change in the presidency of the DLBA---petitions filled with more than 100 downtown businesses and residents who DO have the courage, integrity, pride and support for the DLBA to sign their names. As for controversy? This story is only controversial if you don't want anybody to talk about who is on the executive committee, what they do for a living and how their positions might cross pollinate. None of this information is necessarily bad or good. None of it is too difficult to find. Nobody is hiding it. But I think it might shed some light on the nature of the committee and maybe on the positions it takes. Information is freedom, my anonymous friend. Don't be afraid.

anonymous only apply in raids faggot

TRUTH "Anonymous" is obviously is disillusioned and knows NOTHING about the past 10-11 years of Pine Avenue's struggles. The econonmy and housing down turn didn't happen till late 07 and not fully felt in downtown LBC until 08. 11 years ago there were retail stores and no housing on the Pine corridor. 10 years ago mixed-use urban housing began to sprout up all while retailers left Pine in hurry stating that "Pine Ave is the most unfriendly place for us that we've ever seen" pointing to Kojian as the primary cause yet having little support as Kojian focused on his own needs. 8 years ago 1,000's of new residents flocked to LBC yet there was ZERO retail. Kojian's preached that the residents would bring the retail yet the retail that was here hated the man, the residents that are now here have watch ed their street crumbled for the passed 8 years and have ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT for him. No retail leasing agent can touch the street because of the diabolical nature of the Kojian contingent. As of 5 years ago ZGallerie was fed up with Kojian and is still in the process of leaving. Despite the lies of courting Trader Joes the franchise literally said "There's no way we are coming there". For 9 years we have had empty and deteriorating store fronts, trees, grates, streets. The weakest attempts have been made to show any concern for those that have staked their lives on this street. Kojian doesn't even seem to realize that the DLBA is a public "non-private" tax payer funded organization. However KOJIAN has found away to privately appoint his personal selections to the DLBA board. That's right the public has no say in the matter. All we can do is pay into their pockets and get slapped when question why he hates our street so much. He's been interested in creating a residential BID in which he would increase his tax base by hitting all us residents with more burden. THe DLBA, if truely public, should have no members the do not reside here and at least be elected by the public in manner that gives us all respect. Their meetings are in secret and only 3 of the board members appear to benefit from their relationship with Kraig as everyone else suffers. Hundreds are upset and all they can throw back are insults. This man and his crooked set up has destroyed a street that was a big part (the "heart" it was one time called") of this town. No one should retain such a position with such poor support from the greater public. 10 years is far to long for such a pessimistic CEO that seemling loathes Pine Ave and it's surrounding businesses and residents. No one wants to sling mud just please Kraig go the hell away so we can start fixing our town.

YOU ARE THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM HERE. IF YOU WERE DOING YOUR JOB AND GAVE A DAMN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A PETITION FOR YOUR TERMINATION NOR HAVE THE SUPPORT OF ONLY 3 PEOPLE ON YOUR BOARD. TO YOU OTHER 3 IT's TIME YOU GAVE YOURSELF DISTANCE FROM THIS SITUATION and HIM. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

I know Scott, bought a home from his company, was treated great and have respect for a guy who gives a shit as much as he does. He didn't step into this issue he was pulled in. Scott had a great idea to increase retail interest in our town and did nothing more than try to help you. Kojian took his idea information, details then sat on it and killed it then secretly put it our for a proposal and as his own idea. Scott is one of dozens of GREAT people who was dupped by this pathetic "CEO".

For you that question Scott Hamilton, a good guy who basically answered a phone call from the press that others were too scared to take because they feared the backlash of Kojian and his nest vipers, stop and realize how much you are ignorant by association. You blame huge problem on the past 14 months on an economic cycle when the Pine Ave corrdior has been perversly "Bitch Slapped" by Kojian since he came into office 10 years ago. Litterally turning events away from Pine Avenue stating "Why do you want to go to Pine". It's too late to turn the corner Kraig. You 3 that support him because of your CASH interest need to cut the ties...quickly. You will still have plently of catering deals, land deals etc. Your buddies on the RDA will take care of you like they always do. Besides you know full well that Kojian is your fall guy.

The shoe will fall and Kojian's ripe mishandling of our city will haunt him for the rest of his life.

sureez cause that is warm up match. even though ishant has one over left, he didnt bowl because dhoni give a chance for praveen to show up.