WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS THE MAYOR? IN ITALY, ALL EXPENSES PAID
By LBReport.com
LBReport.com has learned that Mayor Bob Foster, who earns a six-figure salary for a full-time job, missed the last two City Council meetings because he was on a trip to three Italian cities that was paid for by the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFFE), a private not-for-profit entity whose Board of Directors is mostly composed of energy interests and related labor unions—the kind of arrangement often called a “junket.”
The practice of public officials accepting trips—usually described as policy conferences or fact-finding missions—from privately run entities is frequently criticized by advocates of open government. It is seen as a less-than-transparent way for corporations and other special interests to gain special access and influence with elected officials, who may then make decisions affecting those corporate interests in ways that impact the public.
LBReport.com contacted the Mayor’s office in City Hall on Nov. 7 to inquire about Foster’s whereabouts. A staff member responded that he was part of a “delegation of government and business leaders on a California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFFE)-sponsored trip to discuss infrastructure and energy issues.” When asked where, exactly, Foster was, the staff member referred LBReport.com to the Press-Telegram website, where a eulogy for the paper’s late Editorial Page editor, Larry Allison, matter-of-factly stated that Mayor Foster had sent a statement “from Italy.”
The PressTelegram and others haven’t said more about this to date but LBReport.com pursued the story.
CFEE Chairman P.J. Johnson told LBReport.com that CFEE’s fact finding visit to Italy was a “very fast trip” to Florence, Rome and Milan where the delegation met with their counterparts in regional Italian government. The group looked at large and medium size utilities.
11 Comments
I wish I could say I’m shocked and appalled by this–but really? Very little Long Beach officials do surprises me any more.
Hate to say it, but if this is the one you found out about, think what other shenanigans are waiting to be uncovered.
Good job, LBReport.com, and to Greater Long Beach, for linking to this.
Nothing will ever top the Foster sells to Dean for peanuts then Dean sells to Foster for mega-millions scam. He’s a pro!
Citizen Journalist Quotes of the Day –- Movie Cliches, Part One
“When you enjoy something, you must never let logic get too much in the way. Like the villains in all the James Bond movies. Whenever Bond breaks into the complex: “Ah, Mr. Bond, welcome, come in. Let me show you my entire evil plan and then put you in a death machine that doesn’t work.” — Jerry Seinfeld
Eating –- “All movie mothers will prepare a breakfast, usually consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, etc. Dad and the kids will invariably arrive at the table 30 seconds before Dad has to leave for the office and the kids have to catch the school bus. Each will have time only for a sip of coffee or juice and one bite of toast.”
War –- “If a main character dies, his sweetheart back home will have a nightmare at that exact same moment.”
Villains –- “When a villain seems dead, he never is. He will always be allowed one and sometimes two resurrections. The hero will frequently see him coming, even if his back is turned. If he doesn’t, a friend will finish the villain off.”
Phones –- “When phone-calls are traced you can see a map on the screen with a beam closing in on the caller, and the caller always knows how long he can talk before he has to hang up to not be traced down. He always manages to say everything perfectly timed for 2 minutes.”
Women –- “A female lead with feminist leanings will always despise a macho hero – until the first time he rescues her from certain death. She will then become totally conventional and dependent. Once she does this, the hero will become vulnerable and tell her about some tragic loss that will explain his belligerent attitude.”
Sports –- “In any type of sport movie, a player on the field can look up into a crowd of 1 billion and immediately spot their loved one.”
(Source: moviecliches.com)
“(CFFE)-sponsored trip to discuss infrastructure and energy issues.”
do you suppose it negates conspiracy/rico laws if you do your planning in another country?
How is this any different than when Long Beach RDA Director Craig Beck was demoted and nearly fired for taking free hotel services from the Avia hotel in Napa?
How is this any different than the Public Record Act emails indicating Long Beach Public Works Director Mike Conway was taking presents from wealthy developers?
How is this any different than City Councilwoman Lowenthal receiving VERY personal favors from people who have business before City Council?
All are implied conflicts of interest. All city employees and elected officials appear to place their personal welfar above the position they were elected or hired to serve.
Let us not forget the attempted duping of DBAW getting public moneys
for a private yacht club dock–which is strictly forbidden by State Law.
One should check the City’s waiting list foir slips.You will note the list
(obatined through public records act) has not dates–leaving open the
opportunity to shuffle depending upon…..
The Governor’s office now investigation the claim by an OFFICER OF
THE COURT EMOPLOYED BY THE STATE-THAT THERE IS
corruption and collusion among and between Long Beach City
ASttorney’s Office and Long Beach City Council.
Addationally–the City auditor has been unable to locate the missing
reported 7 years if rent monmey from the NYC @ circa $600. per
month.
Nor has the City been able to account for the circa $1.500,000
revenue streamn from De Long’s Wed flea ma
.
Perhaps Foster has located a job for Pat West—in some rermote
mountain town far-far-far from any maritime setting???
…Speaking at Maritime settings—-
At last nights Culture Heritage meeting dealing
with mittigatioin needed for the Alamitos Bay Marina
Re Build debale–rendered so by mental midget
managment of Pat West et al—a Commissioner asked
the emntal midget’s Marine Bureau Mangager what the
tide range was.
He that us boating adverse,uncertified,untrained,unschooled
in aquatic or maritime matters–particulary publi maritime
safety—DID NOT EVEN THIOUGH THE TIDE RANGE !!!
Goes to what has been my obversatiion for years to many
drawing to high a salary–thnkin TIDE IS:
Something found in the detergent shelf in the supermarket
or a friend of Buster Brown;s who lives in a shoe!!!!!
//should of couirse be did not even know–what tide range is—
gotta go now–off to look for job as spell checker/proof reader for
WSJ/ NYT….!!!!!
Citizen Journalist Quotes of the Day –- Movie Cliches, Part Two
Teenagers –- “The walls of a teenager’s bedroom or a twentyish adult’s apartment are always highly decorated, beyond anything sane, with every available inch of space covered with something cool.”
Police –- “Most homicide detectives are brooding, near-crazed loners, most likely divorced or widowed, borderline alcoholics. Of course, there are more respectable-looking detectives, but they are inept and not nearly as tough as their mentally-troubled colleagues.”
School –- “In all high school or college classrooms, the teacher or professor will always be interrupted in mid-sentence by the end-of-class bell.”
Weapons –- “When the hero faces a ridiculously large number of shooters with high powered weapons, they will all miss after several shots. Then, the hero will pulls out this gun that looks like a toy and start picking off the bad guys from half a mile away, usually hitting them in the forehead.”
Men –- “When men drink whiskey, it is always in a shot glass, and they always drink it in one gulp. If they are wimps, they will gasp for air, and then have a coughing fit. If they are macho, they will wince briefly, flashing clenched teeth.”
Traffic –- “If there is traffic, then that means that the movie is at a more intense part (like a chase scene) in which case there are a lot of cars that crash into each other. None of the important characters get hurt, the accident is never heard on the news, and nobody sues anybody important. Very few people even get out of their cars, and yet, no airbags are to be seen.”
(Source: moviecliches.com)
Citizen Journalist Quotes of the Day –- Movie Cliches, Part Three
Money — “Briefcases are designed to hold exactly three rows of banknotes. As if it had power by itself money likes to be sorted in nice packs and rows, even if it had been thrown into the briefcase by a terrified casher at a bank.”
Pregnancy –- “Whenever a woman announces to her husband or boyfriend that she’s pregnant, it comes as a complete surprise to him, whether pleasantly or otherwise.”
Spaceships –- “All spaceships, no matter how small, have internal artificial gravity and no matter how badly your ship gets pummeled by the evil aliens in the evil alien ship, no matter how many external panels get blown away, no matter how many sparks or how much smoke pours out of your control panels, the artificial gravity will always keep working.”
Product Placement –- “When a character picks up a bottle of whiskey or a pack of cigarettes, the label will always be clearly visible.”
Childbirth — “No one is ever offered an epidural or medication, everyone uses Lamaze (pant method), but they often scream at and demean those around them.”
Television –- “The phone rings. Caller says, “You better check out what’s on the news on Channel 13″. He turns on channel 13 and gets the report from the beginning.”
(Source: moviecliches.com)