Saturday 21 December 2019

Bever's Big Night - The Streak's Alive! - 11/6/2005


Sunday, November 6, 2005
Bever's Big Night - The Streak's Alive!
I finally had a chance to watch the tape of the November 1st city council meeting and there were several events that stood out . For example, I was amused by the debate on the encroachment on the public right of way by the owner of the controversial Huscroft House. Seems he decided to build a wall along the sidewalk that encroached nearly halfway across the required setback. After lavishing praise on the man for the stellar job he is doing refurbishing the house - it does look pretty good - the council allowed him to retain the wall and the pond he built in the front yard, even though both represent a potential liability for the city. The Huscroft House - a gift that keeps on taking.

I think the evening at the council meeting can best be described as "Eric Bever Night", because the rookie councilman was the centerpiece of several controversial events that took place. First, he had the warrants - the process by which the city pays it's bills - removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration, then voted "No" when the vote was called. It seems his nose is still out of joint on the discretionary funds issue and decided to protest the process by voting "No". This juvenile display of pique is certainly not what most of us expect from our elected leaders.

Later, after some very interesting and enlightening discussion by Mayor Allan Mansoor and Councilman Gary Monahan about what a wonderful choice Bever would be, he was elected Mayor Pro Tem. Of course, this mostly ceremonial position puts Bever on an obvious fast track to become this city's next mayor - a disaster, in my opinion. He continues to demonstrate poor judgment - something that will eventually hurt this city very significantly.

A perfect example was his participation in the discussion of the Poseidon project, which would place a four foot water pipeline across nearly the entire expanse of the city from the Santa Ana River to the corner of Del Mar and Eldon Avenue. The discussion on the dais was heated, to say the least. Both Bever and his buddy, Mansoor, came loaded for bear. They rejected a more moderate approach proposed by councilwoman Linda Dixon - to wait until they actually had a project in front of them to consider. Instead, Mansoor and Bever led the charge to make a "strong statement" of disapproval. During this discussion - which did end up with the council voting 3-2, Dixon and Monahan voting "No", to reject any plan to run a pipeline across the city - Bever used his new platform as Mayor Pro Tem to describe the efforts of the good folks in Huntington Beach in disparaging terms. He used a four-letter word for excrement to describe the deal they had made with Poseidon. That's certainly not the kind of language most of us expect from our elected leaders - and certainly not from one so recently anointed with increased power on the dais. Bever kept alive his streak of making at least one boneheaded statement in each meeting since he was elected - a sad accomplishment, for sure.

With the next municipal election just a year away, it is certainly not too early to begin to size up potential candidates for the two seats that will be contested. Even though Mansoor seems to be posturing for higher office these days, there is no reason to think he won't run again. The vacancy created by Monahan's departure after twelve years on the council will provide an opportunity to return the city to the guidance of adults with the interests of all residents of this city in mind - not a narrowly focused, vocal few.
5:08 pm pst

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