Torrance Mayor Pat Furey blamed his political problems on a little group of natty instigators whom he called the "Ambassadors of Negativity."
Why do these politicians not get it?
Citizens are entitled to petition their governments for a redress of grievances. If they don't want to hear the complaints, then they should not run for office.
The truth is, if the local governments, and the state agencies attached to them, would simply do their jobs and not wander into business which they have no reason to trifle with, then there would be no problems.
Little reason would remain.
Point of fact, activists in the city of Torrance and throughout the South Bay are not ambassadors of negativity, but are simply invested in making sure that our elected officials remember whom they work for.
Why do these politicians not get it?
Citizens are entitled to petition their governments for a redress of grievances. If they don't want to hear the complaints, then they should not run for office.
The truth is, if the local governments, and the state agencies attached to them, would simply do their jobs and not wander into business which they have no reason to trifle with, then there would be no problems.
Little reason would remain.
Point of fact, activists in the city of Torrance and throughout the South Bay are not ambassadors of negativity, but are simply invested in making sure that our elected officials remember whom they work for.
Home News Political resignations
On an extraordinary night of political theater in Torrance, the
City Council set a public hearing to consider terminating the mayor’s son from
his volunteer commission post, while his father railed against “political
enemies” he accused of creating the scandal.
City Council set a public hearing to consider terminating the mayor’s son from
his volunteer commission post, while his father railed against “political
enemies” he accused of creating the scandal.
Mayor Pat Furey was the only panelist Tuesday night not to vote
in favor of holding the hearing at the next council meeting April 12 that
appears likely to end with the removal of Patrick Furey Jr., who managed his
father’s mayoral campaign, from the Traffic Commission for ethics violations.
in favor of holding the hearing at the next council meeting April 12 that
appears likely to end with the removal of Patrick Furey Jr., who managed his
father’s mayoral campaign, from the Traffic Commission for ethics violations.
• VIDEO: Mayor Pat Furey speaks out against ‘political enemies’
Last month, the state Fair Political Practices Commission fined
Furey’s successful 2014 mayoral campaign $35,000 for orchestrating and hiding
illegal campaign contributions in concert with a supposedly independent
political action committee backing his candidacy.
Furey’s successful 2014 mayoral campaign $35,000 for orchestrating and hiding
illegal campaign contributions in concert with a supposedly independent
political action committee backing his candidacy.
This is a big deal, and more politicians are getting hit with fines. The State Controller Betty Yee was hit with a fine, too, for not reporting her campaign contributions on time.
Pat Furey Jr. was a rogue political consultant, though, who brazenly broke the law and colluded with PACs to violate elections codes. He had been hit three times for these unethical, blatantly deceptive tactics.
That violated the state Political Reform Act as well as the
municipal election code and has prompted an investigation by the Public
Integrity Division of the District Attorney’s Office. McCormick Ambulance
Service and the Torrance Firefighters PAC funded the PAC supporting the mayor.
municipal election code and has prompted an investigation by the Public
Integrity Division of the District Attorney’s Office. McCormick Ambulance
Service and the Torrance Firefighters PAC funded the PAC supporting the mayor.
McCormick later won the city’s lucrative ambulance contract
backed by senior Fire Department officials on a split council vote. The mayor
cast the deciding vote despite calls to recuse himself because of a conflict of
interest.
McCormick Ambulance has lost its contract in Redondo Beach. I wonder when they will be kicked out of Torrance.
backed by senior Fire Department officials on a split council vote. The mayor
cast the deciding vote despite calls to recuse himself because of a conflict of
interest.
McCormick Ambulance has lost its contract in Redondo Beach. I wonder when they will be kicked out of Torrance.
Furey brushed aside suggestions he take responsibility and
instead blamed an unidentified group of “ambassadors of negativity” in the
community.
Is this some kind of sick joke, or an alternative rock band?
instead blamed an unidentified group of “ambassadors of negativity” in the
community.
Is this some kind of sick joke, or an alternative rock band?
“They always see the negative side of absolutely everything,”
Furey said. “You can’t see the negative side for me because I’ve done a great
job here. All they can do is point out this whole thing about this independent
expenditure.
For the record, I had complimented him and the rest of the city council for relaxing the strict gun laws on the city books. I had blasted the Daily Breeze reporters in the past for their biased or slanted reporting.
Furey said. “You can’t see the negative side for me because I’ve done a great
job here. All they can do is point out this whole thing about this independent
expenditure.
For the record, I had complimented him and the rest of the city council for relaxing the strict gun laws on the city books. I had blasted the Daily Breeze reporters in the past for their biased or slanted reporting.
“There was a determination by the Fair Political Practices
Commission that was pushed through by some political enemies of mine,” Furey
added. “And I know who they are. Some of them have been cited and some of them
are being investigated as we speak here today. I’m just appalled that it goes
to this.”
Uh … no. The investigation took two years. If political enemies were behind this, they would have wrapped it up much faster.
![]("https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9kFJ4jfdyeI/maxresdefault.jpg")
Commission that was pushed through by some political enemies of mine,” Furey
added. “And I know who they are. Some of them have been cited and some of them
are being investigated as we speak here today. I’m just appalled that it goes
to this.”
Uh … no. The investigation took two years. If political enemies were behind this, they would have wrapped it up much faster.
Furey spoke amid rising calls in the community for his son to be
fired from his commission post and the mayor censured in the wake of the still
unfolding political mess that is virtually unprecedented by Torrance’s
standards.
fired from his commission post and the mayor censured in the wake of the still
unfolding political mess that is virtually unprecedented by Torrance’s
standards.
The city received about two dozen emails ahead of Tuesday’s
council meeting condemning the actions of the mayor and his son and just one —
from a city commissioner who previously publicly endorsed Furey — expressing
support.
The pressure on the city council was more than partisan politics, but a demand for public integrity.
council meeting condemning the actions of the mayor and his son and just one —
from a city commissioner who previously publicly endorsed Furey — expressing
support.
The pressure on the city council was more than partisan politics, but a demand for public integrity.
Many of the emails suggested that both father and son should
step down:
step down:
• “It looks bad, it smells bad and it’s disgraceful to allow
this behavior to continue,” wrote Pam and Phil Burnette. “The council will pay
for this at re-election time. The ambulance debacle is on your shoulders as
well. Things are adding up and not in the council’s or the residents’ best
interests.”
this behavior to continue,” wrote Pam and Phil Burnette. “The council will pay
for this at re-election time. The ambulance debacle is on your shoulders as
well. Things are adding up and not in the council’s or the residents’ best
interests.”
• “I felt that Mayor Furey was sleazy when elected, but even
more so now,” wrote Gene Koester, a 44-year Torrance resident. “Adjudicate,
stipulate, hypocrisy. An attorney will do and say anything to justify his
unethical behavior. I do not trust or respect him any longer.”
more so now,” wrote Gene Koester, a 44-year Torrance resident. “Adjudicate,
stipulate, hypocrisy. An attorney will do and say anything to justify his
unethical behavior. I do not trust or respect him any longer.”
• “Mayor Patrick Furey and his son have ruined their reputations
and their credibility with their illegal and unethical actions,” wrote Vera and
Bob Little. “They’ve also tarnished the reputation of the entire City Council
by association, especially those members willing to speak up for honest
government.
and their credibility with their illegal and unethical actions,” wrote Vera and
Bob Little. “They’ve also tarnished the reputation of the entire City Council
by association, especially those members willing to speak up for honest
government.
“The mayor’s son added insult to injury when he blamed
‘political enemies,’ ” they added. “How
childish. The mayor and his son have corrupted Torrance city government, making
it just like several other city councils in Southern California. Will the
Torrance City Council show moral leadership and integrity in this sordid saga?”
‘political enemies,’ ” they added. “How
childish. The mayor and his son have corrupted Torrance city government, making
it just like several other city councils in Southern California. Will the
Torrance City Council show moral leadership and integrity in this sordid saga?”
Panelists have yet to respond or comment to calls to censure the
mayor.
mayor.
Meanwhile, a discussion on whether to issue a request for
proposals to replace McCormick as some suggested fell flat, with only two
council members supporting a motion to do so.
More people are supporting this measure.
proposals to replace McCormick as some suggested fell flat, with only two
council members supporting a motion to do so.
More people are supporting this measure.
McCormick officials, faced with the possible loss of the
lucrative contract, made a lengthy presentation addressing the “appearance of
impropriety” that resulted from the affair. Still, they also suggested the
company was a victim of the campaign experts they hired, including a business
partner of the younger Furey who later was fired.
lucrative contract, made a lengthy presentation addressing the “appearance of
impropriety” that resulted from the affair. Still, they also suggested the
company was a victim of the campaign experts they hired, including a business
partner of the younger Furey who later was fired.
The mayor warned that the issue had nothing to do with the level
of service McCormick had so far provided — Fire Department officials and
panelists also agreed the company had met or exceeded expectations so far — and
was instead prompted by political motivations that could have negative
implications for the city.
of service McCormick had so far provided — Fire Department officials and
panelists also agreed the company had met or exceeded expectations so far — and
was instead prompted by political motivations that could have negative
implications for the city.
I do not care how well the company may doing. There are plenty of other ambulance companies in Los Angeles County.
Anyone of them could be properly vetted to provide good service for the city.
We need honesty and integrity at all levels of governance.
“We’re talking about a company that has come here and provided
an outstanding level of service for the safety of our community,” Furey said.
“We’re here to do a request for proposals and they might not even apply. And
nobody else may apply because of the treatment they’ve received from the city of
Torrance.”
Companies won't apply if they feel that the city council is tipping its hand!
Final Reflection
an outstanding level of service for the safety of our community,” Furey said.
“We’re here to do a request for proposals and they might not even apply. And
nobody else may apply because of the treatment they’ve received from the city of
Torrance.”
Companies won't apply if they feel that the city council is tipping its hand!
Final Reflection
No, Mayor Furey, I am not an ambassador of negativity.
We just want our elected officials to obey the law, and stop acting as if they are above the law.