Garbaginati on two recent unsettling HB photos.

.

.

.

[Cross-posted with permission from the garbaginati.org – a blog dedicated to defending Huntington Beach’s Ocean View School District – famously embroiled in disputes with Rainbow Disposal – from the relentless attacks of “journalist” Chris Epting.  Vern’s annotations in brackets.]

First Impression

There’s a scene in Goodfellas, just after the Lufthansa heist, when Jimmy Burke tells his crew “don’t buy anything” in order to keep a low profile.

So what does Johnny Roastbeef do? He goes out and buys a pink Cadillac and jewelry for his wife.

Well, Huntington Beach has its very own Johnny Roastbeef, and his name is John Ethridge, (likely) active member of the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce. Check out this jem of a photograph:

From the left – Jeff Snow- Rainbow Disposal; John Ethridge; Joe Carchio- ex-Mayor of HB; Patrick Brenden – HB Planning Commission and Council Candidate; Dave Garafalo – felon & ex-Mayor of HB; Michael Gates – HB City Attorney; Michael Posey – HB City Councilman; Weikko Werta – Chairman of AES, chairman and chair of the HB Chamber of Commerce board; Fred Wilson- HB City Manager.

From the left – Jeff Snow- Rainbow Disposal; John Ethridge; Joe Carchio- ex-Mayor of HB; Patrick Brenden – HB Planning Commission and Council Candidate; Dave Garafalo – felon & ex-Mayor of HB; Michael Gates – HB City Attorney; Michael Posey – HB City Councilman; Weikko Werta – Chairman of AES, chairman and chair of the HB Chamber of Commerce board; Fred Wilson- HB City Manager.

So there you have it, everyone. One picture, proudly posted for all to see, neatly and irrefutably tying current city officials with Rainbow Disposal, a convicted felon and the Chamber of Commerce in a very non-arm’s length manner. And considering the cigars and shit-eating grins, they all seem to get along pretty damned well.  We’re actually surprised that this picture wasn’t taken in Miami at a jai alai arena during a Whitey Bulger-themed fantasy weekend.

Another thing we think that is very important to point out about this picture is that we believe at least half those guys are Charlie Jones’ handlers.  [“Charlie Jones” is the nickname Garbaginati uses for Chris Epting in order to avoid Epting’s legal threats and his followers’ Facebook finking. – V]

You’ve got to be either really dumb or really arrogant to post a picture that essentially asks way more questions than it answers.  As in – “How cozy is the city with Rainbow?” or “How much influence does an ex-con with a lifetime ban from politics have on the current city administration?” or “Why is Michael Posey there and how does his pro-High Density Development stance fit into things?”  But regardless of stupidity or arrogance, the net effect is the same – these morons got caught with their hands in the cookie jar and we the people just picked up some major ammunition in the fight against being railroaded by greed and hubris.  Do these people think that we are that stupid?

hb crooks w cheneyBut there’s something else that really disappoints us – the fact that City Attorney Michael Gates is now starting to show up in all the wrong places. In the course of 24 hours, we’ve seen him in not one, but two regrettable photographs. You’ve already seen the first. The second one is him posing with Dick Cheney at some well-to-do function in Newport Beach.

Now, here’s why you don’t ever want to pose with Dick Cheney – everyone thinks that he’s either a war criminal or a poster boy for utter policy failure.  As a result, being associated with “Tricky Dick Deux” won’t get you any favors.  And speaking of favors…Mr. Gates, we realize that you are ambitious and would like to further your political career. But does ambition have to be tied to kissing dirty butt? We certainly hope not.

Huntington Beach needs some levity and some transparency in its leadership. We think that many people are looking at you to join [councilman] Erik Peterson in moving forward a new chapter in Huntington Beach affairs. Don’t let them down. With these two pictures, you are now currently batting 0 for 2.  Luckily for you it’s a long season.

We have spoken.


About Admin

"Admin" is just editors Vern Nelson, Greg Diamond, or Ryan Cantor sharing something that they mostly didn't write themselves, but think you should see. Before December 2010, "Admin" may have been former blog owner Art Pedroza.