Today The Healing Began - Or Did It?
IS HEALING POSSIBLE?
At this time in the history of the City of Costa Mesa, when employees are being discarded like threadbare underwear and tension between the employees and our elected leaders is palpable, events of this date may mark the beginning of healing in our city. I hope so.
AN HOUR OF PRAYER, HYMNS AND REFLECTION
For nearly an hour beginning at noon - during a steady, cold rain - more than one hundred people gathered in foul weather gear under umbrellas to circumscribe City Hall and quietly pray for young Huy Pham, for the employees, for each other and for the future of our city. These folks, representing churches in the area and residents who care, stood shivering, huddled together for strength and support as they whispered prayers and quietly sang hymns together as their own particular mood struck them.
IMAGES
Many images of that event are burned in my brain. Some of them are shared here. Like Ed Fawcett, President of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, standing alone under an umbrella quietly praying to himself a few feet from where Pham ended his life on St. Patrick's Day.
QUIET REFLECTION
Along the rear walkway stood a line of more than 20 soggy people and one drenched puppy, each in their own thoughts. Some rocked slowly back and forth, humming a tune I couldn't hear, while others mouthed words of some special verse.
RESPECTFUL MEDIA
Respectful members of the media quietly spoke with one or two of the visitors, soliciting their thoughts and feelings.
FLORAL CHAIN REMAINS
At a few minutes past 1 p.m. this quiet, caring crowd gradually dispersed, leaving behind a chain of white carnations surrounding the building as a reminder of the support they offered today.
WHAT DID THE EMPLOYEES THINK?
I know I was moved by this display today and found myself wondering how the employees within the City Hall must have felt as they looked out the windows at this human chain of compassion.
CLOUDS PART, RAIN STOPS - CEREMONY IS JUST RIGHT
Later today, under glorious blue skies with puffy white clouds in the distance, the memorial ceremony for Huy Pham took place adjacent to the spot where he took his life last Thursday. A special seating area was arranged for members of his family and City CEO Tom Hatch began the proceedings shortly after 3 p.m.
CO-WORKERS PRAISE HUY PHAM
Several co-workers spoke about their time with Huy Pham, who has been described as a stellar employee. Most described his dedication to his job and the skills he had developed. One former supervisor referred to him in glowing terms and, at the end of his short, passionate speech, barely choked out the fact that he thought of Pham as a son.
NAGAHVI GUIDES SILENCE
Public Services Director Peter Naghavi took the podium to lead the crowd in 30 seconds of silence to honor Huy Pham.
CHAPLAIN OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT
Police Chaplain Decker - who just happened to be in the building last Thursday at the time of the tragedy - spoke to the crowd of around 250 people assembled for this service, offering words of encouragement and directed those who felt the need of some personal consultation to canopies behind City Hall where counselors were available.
FORMER OFFICIALS
Many current and former city officials were present today. I saw former councilwomen Katrina Foley, Sandra Genis, Linda Dixon and former councilman Jay Humphrey. It seemed to me that the crowd was made up mainly of employees, with about a third being residents and other concerned citizens.
STOIC STOOGES
Mayor Gary Monahan, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilman Steve Mensinger stood in a group off to the right and moved nary a muscle during the ceremony. Once the Pham family had been escorted into City Hall, the three men also slipped into the building. That was probably a very good idea, because there was still a strong undercurrent of anger in the crowd.
SHARED CONCERN
Following the ceremony the crowd just seemed to hang around, commiserating with each other, sharing stories of Pham and trying to get their heads around just what happened on St. Patrick's Day. There was much conversation about the direction the city is headed now. I heard no positive thoughts about it, only apprehension about what's ahead. There were concerns about individual jobs, mortgages, families and their futures. Many of the people with whom I spoke had received 6-month layoff notices last Thursday and were uniformly somber.
TRAGEDY CHANGED NOTHING
When I expressed the view that the ceremonies today might form a foundation for healing, most replied that it didn't really change anything - that the city council has given no indication of a willingness to change their course.
APPREHENSION CONFIRMED
Then, this evening, I heard Jim Righeimer talk with John and Ken on their afternoon radio show. Nothing he said today gave me any encouragement that he will do anything other than move full speed ahead on the course to outsource at least half of the city staff. Quite the contrary. Despite the terrible emotional impact the death of Huy Pham has had on the staff and that the elected leadership has come under fire for major gaffes in the wake of this tragedy, Righeimer seemed unmoved by this issue.
I'M CONCERNED FOR OUR CITY
Tonight, as I wrap this up, I'm very concerned for our city. I continue to hear rumblings of imminent departure of more senior staffers and a growing discontent among city employees. I saw consultant Bill Lobdell in the crowd today - shown here with new City Attorney Tom Duarte (right). I'm sure he now realizes just what a big job he has ahead of him. I find myself wondering if he will actually be allowed to do what they've hired him to do. He's probably going to advise them to do things that are against their nature - and these guys don't respond well when asked to do something they don't want to do. I guess we'll see very soon.
At this time in the history of the City of Costa Mesa, when employees are being discarded like threadbare underwear and tension between the employees and our elected leaders is palpable, events of this date may mark the beginning of healing in our city. I hope so.AN HOUR OF PRAYER, HYMNS AND REFLECTION
For nearly an hour beginning at noon - during a steady, cold rain - more than one hundred people gathered in foul weather gear under umbrellas to circumscribe City Hall and quietly pray for young Huy Pham, for the employees, for each other and for the future of our city. These folks, representing churches in the area and residents who care, stood shivering, huddled together for strength and support as they whispered prayers and quietly sang hymns together as their own particular mood struck them.
IMAGES
Many images of that event are burned in my brain. Some of them are shared here. Like Ed Fawcett, President of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, standing alone under an umbrella quietly praying to himself a few feet from where Pham ended his life on St. Patrick's Day.QUIET REFLECTION
Along the rear walkway stood a line of more than 20 soggy people and one drenched puppy, each in their own thoughts. Some rocked slowly back and forth, humming a tune I couldn't hear, while others mouthed words of some special verse.
RESPECTFUL MEDIA
Respectful members of the media quietly spoke with one or two of the visitors, soliciting their thoughts and feelings.
FLORAL CHAIN REMAINS
At a few minutes past 1 p.m. this quiet, caring crowd gradually dispersed, leaving behind a chain of white carnations surrounding the building as a reminder of the support they offered today.
WHAT DID THE EMPLOYEES THINK?
I know I was moved by this display today and found myself wondering how the employees within the City Hall must have felt as they looked out the windows at this human chain of compassion.
CLOUDS PART, RAIN STOPS - CEREMONY IS JUST RIGHT
Later today, under glorious blue skies with puffy white clouds in the distance, the memorial ceremony for Huy Pham took place adjacent to the spot where he took his life last Thursday. A special seating area was arranged for members of his family and City CEO Tom Hatch began the proceedings shortly after 3 p.m.
CO-WORKERS PRAISE HUY PHAM
Several co-workers spoke about their time with Huy Pham, who has been described as a stellar employee. Most described his dedication to his job and the skills he had developed. One former supervisor referred to him in glowing terms and, at the end of his short, passionate speech, barely choked out the fact that he thought of Pham as a son.
NAGAHVI GUIDES SILENCE
Public Services Director Peter Naghavi took the podium to lead the crowd in 30 seconds of silence to honor Huy Pham.
CHAPLAIN OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT
Police Chaplain Decker - who just happened to be in the building last Thursday at the time of the tragedy - spoke to the crowd of around 250 people assembled for this service, offering words of encouragement and directed those who felt the need of some personal consultation to canopies behind City Hall where counselors were available.
FORMER OFFICIALS
Many current and former city officials were present today. I saw former councilwomen Katrina Foley, Sandra Genis, Linda Dixon and former councilman Jay Humphrey. It seemed to me that the crowd was made up mainly of employees, with about a third being residents and other concerned citizens.
STOIC STOOGES
Mayor Gary Monahan, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilman Steve Mensinger stood in a group off to the right and moved nary a muscle during the ceremony. Once the Pham family had been escorted into City Hall, the three men also slipped into the building. That was probably a very good idea, because there was still a strong undercurrent of anger in the crowd.
SHARED CONCERN
Following the ceremony the crowd just seemed to hang around, commiserating with each other, sharing stories of Pham and trying to get their heads around just what happened on St. Patrick's Day. There was much conversation about the direction the city is headed now. I heard no positive thoughts about it, only apprehension about what's ahead. There were concerns about individual jobs, mortgages, families and their futures. Many of the people with whom I spoke had received 6-month layoff notices last Thursday and were uniformly somber.
TRAGEDY CHANGED NOTHING
When I expressed the view that the ceremonies today might form a foundation for healing, most replied that it didn't really change anything - that the city council has given no indication of a willingness to change their course.
APPREHENSION CONFIRMED
Then, this evening, I heard Jim Righeimer talk with John and Ken on their afternoon radio show. Nothing he said today gave me any encouragement that he will do anything other than move full speed ahead on the course to outsource at least half of the city staff. Quite the contrary. Despite the terrible emotional impact the death of Huy Pham has had on the staff and that the elected leadership has come under fire for major gaffes in the wake of this tragedy, Righeimer seemed unmoved by this issue.
I'M CONCERNED FOR OUR CITY
Tonight, as I wrap this up, I'm very concerned for our city. I continue to hear rumblings of imminent departure of more senior staffers and a growing discontent among city employees. I saw consultant Bill Lobdell in the crowd today - shown here with new City Attorney Tom Duarte (right). I'm sure he now realizes just what a big job he has ahead of him. I find myself wondering if he will actually be allowed to do what they've hired him to do. He's probably going to advise them to do things that are against their nature - and these guys don't respond well when asked to do something they don't want to do. I guess we'll see very soon.
Labels: Bill Lobdell, Gary Monahan, Huy Pham, Jim Righeimer, Katrina Foley, Linda Dixon, Sandra Genis, Steve Mensinger
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 3/21/2011 10:01:00 PM
53 Comments:
The healing will not begin until the City Council show leadership and positive steps to include the employees in the future of the city. Where was Councilman Bever? These Councilman need to do the right thing for the city and the employees. Life does fast forward because you have a fiscal year GOP AGENDA- how many lives have to be lost?
Speaking of the Beve... Where has he been all this time, not a peep. Except, I suspect he posted on another issue earlier (facts). I dont read the times or OCR, maybe he is quoted in those publications, if not then shame on him. Unless he is in a coma, he should have some blurb somewhere regarding the unfortunate event.
I think he deserves equal opportunity along with the other three amigos.
Righeimer was on John and Ken?
These guys who are known for putting heads on sticks aren't part of what we would consider a healing process.
Instead, this appearance tells you exactly what Riggy's agenda is - self-promotion so he is positioned to run for higher office.
Was he asking for sympathy because mean people had politicized a tragedy? Was Riggy once again the victim?
lCaught Nick the union guy on Fox news. No wonder there is such a divide! This guy is as polarizing as they come. He says our fine councilmen are piratizing the workforce, that is, firing them and giving the job contracts to their cronies. Nice way to help any negotiations Nick!! On par with the public safety association moving billboard against Righeimer.
urpantsonfire, yeah, there's way too much of that stuff going on. However, there seems to be no interest on the part of the elected leaders to sit down with the bargaining units to discuss changes. This is not going to end well...
This tragedy won't get put to bed until all the city employees are replaced. Bad attitudes don't change, or heal.
I've heard the H1N1 virus is back again. If Bever has that it would explain his absence.
Karen, thanks for your "compassionate" view of things. Yes sir, I guess you're following the Righeimer playbook - if you can't negotiate the pensions, just dump the people. If you don't like dealing with unhappy employees - those with "bad attitudes" because one of their own just jumped off City Hall to his death - just get rid of them and their attitudes.
You're a very special person and I'm sure there's a very special place reserved for you in a VERY WARM place sometime in your future.
I'm so glad that Huy's "Phamily" saw how he touched so many City Employees from all the different departments represented at his tribute ceremony. He was so well-liked, and so dedicated to his craft. I truly will miss "McGyver" and his infectious smile. He may be gone, but Huy will NEVER be forgotten. May I politely suggest that the City dedicate a beautiful shade tree and bench at the Costa Mesa Historical Society grounds, so as to truly honor Huy Pham's craftsmanship displayed throughout that once-dilapidated building. Rest in peace my friend...
Karen are by an chance married to any of those boys?
Just asking.
If Bever is out sick, and according to the Daily Pilot that seems to be the case, could he not send out a quick written statement of condolences?
I bet the other guys told him to keep quiet. Just goes to prove once moer that Monahan and Beaver are puppets in Righeimer's games and Mensinger is along for the ride cause enjoys being a bully. Rumor has it from those within that he has been quiet the intimidator in the city halls for the last few weeks.
In the spirit of healing, JD, on an earlier blog, argued that Righeimer and Mensinger could not have known their actions would lead to a suicide but somehow figured that Leece was to blame because she voted in favor of an agreed upon employee contract: Hum?
JD asserted that Jim is committed to fiscal sanity and healing in CM. Firstly, fiscal conservatives never make a decision, like outsourcing, without a thorough cost-benefit analysis. Nor does one spend redevelopment funds on non-revenue producing social entitlement programs like sport fields and associated expenditures; instead they expend these funds on revenue producing redevelopment projects to offset the debt. I hear the city council is planning to allot a lion’s share of this purse (millions of dollars) to their social entitlement plans. Fiscal conservatives do not expend $200,000 on private consultants; hired to regurgitate the information desired by the city council. Rumor is: the council might decide to fritter away unknown dollars on city hall refurbishing projects (this is guaranteed to open not heal wounds). One would expect this from a cast member on the reality show “OC Women,” but not from fiscal conservatives. Lastly, a fiscal conservative does not challenge the rule of law, which promises millions of dollars in litigation. Oh, the City Attorney claimed that the outsourcing plan is legal but was remiss to address the qualifiers that this plan fails to meet. I suppose this is called “Clintonian” legalese: it depends on what is…is.
JD, Wendy never received funds from the OCGOP. The only thing the OCGOP gave Wendy was a headache as she suffered their attempts to undermine her campaign if she opted to vote yes on the city employee contract. The Little Hoover Commission exonerates Wendy’s vote, which reports that defined benefits cannot be unilaterally eliminated from employee contracts and cites 60 years of case law precedent supporting this, while deeming defined benefits as a vested right.
JD, Wendy never received money from unions. One OC fire and safety association offered her a donation, which she refused. Moreover, she returned over a thousand dollars to private businesses and a state association because she did not want them to seek favors once she was elected. Jim received a boat load of donations. Now that he successfully outsourced city jobs he has multiple contract vendors willing to support his political future; hum?
JD, you referred to Wendy as a coward, defined as: “to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers or dismays.” Wendy has yet to shrink away from the four councilmen who, not only attempt to domineer and dismay her but also the city employees and residents. Nor did she shrink from “domineering and menacing” OCGOP men who threatened to undermine her reelection, unless she illegally stalled employee contract negotiations. Instead, Wendy courageously held to her Republican principle (rule of law, not of men) by respecting CA Gov. Codes: 3504 and 3505, which requires a government entity to negotiate contracts in timely manner.
Let’s review Jim’s recent behaviors. First, it was disrespectful to show up at city hall, within a short period after this tragedy, considering the level of distress the city employees were experiencing. Then he became hysterical and demanded a police escort home after a distraught employee tried to slug him. Later, Jim asked loyal city police officers, who he relentlessly demonizes, to provide him protection from his imaginary potential assailant; and JD calls Wendy a coward?
Unlike Wendy, Jim does not respect the rule of law, instead, he seeks the rule of man. He shows no respect for police officers who enforce the law; nor is he committed to follow the law in his own council practices. His disregard for the law allowed him to push through policy that promises to cost the city millions of dollars (litigation costs); MORE THAN ITS CURRENT PENSION DEBT. Tell me it ain’t so, JD: You believe Jim is committed to fiscal sanity and healing to CM?
If Righeimer is doing what's right, why the need to lie to the media? Why claim PERS gave the 25 million dollar projection when the inaccuracy of that has already been cleared up during council meetings? Why claim the employees are unwilling to work with the city or agree to any cuts? Why claim a 15 million dollar deficit for next year when a budget hasn't been released? Maybe this will stop now that the city is paying to learn how to be transparent. Maybe the full agenda will come out. Maybe he will answer questions asked of him at council meetings. Maybe he's not allowed to work with the employees towards a solution. The blatant lack of honesty should be cause for concern as to what the ultimate goal and motivation is.
ConcerendforCM:
If Bever has the swine flu he is in no condition to be sending out sympathy notes.
I had it last year and I was on life support for a full week. I spent another week in bed, and darned near died. You cannot eat, drink or breathe with the swine flu. It is the most deadly, and terrifying, of all flus. Once you've had it, you will never forget it. And, I might add, it comes from Mexico so beware of any Mexicans who are coughing. That's how I caught mine. I was in a men's room along side a Mexican who was coughing his head off. 3 days later, guess what?
Oh Karen,
Few days ago the world heard Gadhafi said "no mercy to the rebels (his people)" now you want Riggy and his puppets to show NO MERCY to City's employees by replacing them all! Replace all employees with their friends, or people like you with "good attitude", maybe ...!
How can it be reported that Huy's death was a suicide if no one saw him jump? There was no suicide note, he was preparing to take his building contractor's license exam, then go mountain climbing, and he showed NO signs of depression or unhappiness, etc.
Shouldn't somebody be asking some questions? Residents have a right to know the facts. For instance, who saw him jump? Was he alone on the roof? All we have is rumors.
QUESTIONS ABOUND, it was reported that there are witnesses to his jump, who tried to help him after he landed. There was no "note" reported but the CMPD is investigating his death, just as it would ANY homocide, which is what a suicide is.
Your questions are ones being asked all over the city, including within City Hall. As with many suicides, it is unlikely we will ever know why he chose to take his own life.
Wow "For what its worth" are you serious????? So if ANY Mexican coughs I should be worried about swine flu? Are we talking about just the illegals or citizens too?.....
Honest to goodness do you know how this just made you sound? You will be in my prayers tonight.
Geoff, the problem that exists is that we now have city employees investigating city employees. How will we ever get the truth? The public is not even allowed to know who saw Huy Pham jump from the roof. People don't normally walk around looking up in the sky, ... especially not when they are approaching steps. Something is wrong with this entire picture.
When a cover up is obviously taking place, someone needs to ask some hard questions. No one feels comfortable about the total lack of transparency. I appreciate your fast response but it still doesn't answer a question that should have been answered by City Hall on Day 1. Just think about what this must be doing to Huy's family. They knew him better than anybody and they can't believe he would take his own life either.
Why don't you put your investigative skills, contacts, and natural curiousity to good use and see if you can get the residents some real answers. You are in a better position to shake the tree than we are. We will all feel a lot better when we know what really happened.
I seriously doubt Huy committed suicide. Nothing makes any sense.
First I would like to say thank you to all the Costa Mesa residences for all their support, kind words, during this tragic loss of life. The Pham family was so thankful for all the care & support that was shown.
Huy was well liked and loved by his co-workers. He was one of a kind. We will never know why in his last few minutes of life the decision he made. There is nothing to hide, no conspiracy, just broken hearts of the aftermath.
A lot of us City Employees do suspect that the manner in which council conducted themselves leading up to his death is to blame and they know it too.
I resent the fact that they showed Up and Hatch spoke. For some it was like pouring salt in the wound and unbearable to have to look at them during this difficult time. The entire time Mensinger was texting on his cell phone! So disrespectful!
Who was the big guy standing their next to them in the red jacket? Look like a bouncer to me doing a half ass attempt to protect them. Disrespectful as much as I would have loved to kick them all in the balls that was not the time or place!
The only comfort I have is knowing they will all be exposed for what they truly are...when you do illegal or immoral things they will catch up with you..tick tock...tick tock!
Like the potstirer says....don't take your eyes off of them!
Also Hatch just bought a brand new flat panel T.V.and new furniture for his office....compliments of costa Mesa tax payers... Way to go Tom now that's how you balance the budget leading by example!
QUESTIONS ABOUND, I'm completely satisfied that the Costa Mesa Police Department, now led by Steve Staveley, is QUITE competent to investigate Huy Pham's passing. If you are not satisfied, why don't YOU do your own investigation - let us know what you find out.
From the timing, it looks like a suicide but I have seen firsthand many coincidences that did not turn out the way they first looked. It may be better financially for his family if it is not a suicide since I do not think his life insurance policy would pay off on a suicide. Don't know that for a fact, just seem to have heard such a thing through the years. Also, I have heard that people saw him jump, where did that come from? Who were they?
Sorry if I bothered you Pot Stirrer. From your response I must assume you are part of the stonewalling. The Police Dept. is not giving residents any answers.
Apparently they either don't know what killed Mr. Pham, or they are just not saying. As usual, the public be damned.
I feel so sorry for the poor family. I'm sure they would like to know what happened to their family member.
QUESTIONS ABOUND, what "bothers me" is that you're ready to condemn the CMPD for not "giving residents answers" when we're less than a week from Huy Pham's suicide. I KNOW they are investigating it and am confident they will complete that investigation when it's appropriate. In such tragic circumstances the last thing we want is to rush the investigation - it wouldn't be fair to his family nor to the residents of the city. As we are witnessing with the pace with which the new council is trying to disassemble our city, haste does indeed make waste.
If that doesn't satisfy you, then how about pulling off that mask of anonymity and trotting on up to the District Attorney's office and file a complaint?
This is why the healing can't begin. Four members of the City Council are still spewing hatred via their puppets. BEVER, Riggy, Mensinger, Mona"ham" are all to blame for the death of Huy Pham. Simple as that. He commited suicide because he was getting a pink slip. Do you think any of us haven't thought of that? What do you expect? My life is over, my dreams.. these men need to take responsibility for their actions.. we are human beings with families, feelings and real bills. When you have the City Manager buying flat screen tvs, Mensinger using the City TAXPAYERS money to buy new furniture. PLEASE instead of griping. Look at our lobby, take pictures- see for yourself what we have and what they are ordering. THESE MEN are pushing us off the building and then out with the city checkbook buying consultants, press and bad mouthing the employees. THESE MEN NEED TO BE RECALLED before another life is gone.
Did anyone read in the Daily Pilot that Chuck Lobdell salary will be $3,000 per week for 90 days and then possibly a longer contract ? Am I reading that right ?
Are you F---ing serious! For a city that supposedly will "run out of money this year" they certainly seem hell-bent on making that happen. $200,000 for consultants and now $36,000 90 day contract so a writer can update the website and open a twitter and facebook account.
Yes the city coun-sell is running the city like a business....Enron
I find it interesting that there is so much discussion on whether or not Huy Pham died as a result of a suicide or homicide. There are many reason’s the police are not releasing information, such as respect for the family. Please note: a continued dialogue is a great way to divert attention from the nefarious activities of the four city councilmen. So, those of you in support of these four musketeers should continue the conversation.
I am pleased with some of the actions and direction of Council. They now have some people in place to get to the bottom of issues.
I would like to know who was the last person to talk to Pham? If it was a supervisor, what was said to possibly make Pham react this way. I heard some rumor, would like to get to fact.
One poster shares Lobdel’s compensation. If accurate, that was not public. Look into who leaked it, reprimand or show them the door.
If it turns out that Hatch bought his own TV, then the poster should be identified, and reprimanded or shown the door.
Yo, 5th Floor of City Hall, you have inmates running the asylum … needs to be fixed, I think there are serious breaches.
I see all sorts of intimate knowledge being leaked here. That is no way to run an organization. Most of the info is either confidential or contextually misleading.
I hope they investigate the origin of several of these posts. If a member of the police department is coming here, talking about a guy in a red jacket, looking like a bouncer … doing a half ass attempt to protect them … I would have loved to kick them in the balls … if that person is associated with the CMPD, sworn to protect & serve, I think there should be repercussions.
If the blog owner is encouraged and agrees not to back down, then I think it is reasonable advice to share with Council not to back down.
Many recognize that the next election is 18 months away, and the Unions are trying to disparage a candidate or 2, so they get their Katrina puppet back on Council.
I’d like to know some of the above answers
Isn’t ironic that many blame Council Members for showing up a City Hall, attack those that do physically, then verbally attack the Mayor for not showing. I think it demonstrates the no win situation Council is in. The opposition & Union will spin anything to their thinking. The only way to win is to be decisive.
Dear, "I'd like to know"
Lobdells compensation IS public and was printed in the daily pilot. Nobody "leaked" it you moron. There is NO confidentiality for any employee compensation, it's all right there on the city website. CEO hatch says he wants this to be the most transparent city in the country but it seems only when it's convenient for himself and his coun-sell
The healing cannot begin until the city council stops destroying AMERICAN FAMILIES. The council is flat out lying to the public about the budget deficit. Riggy's platform on pension reform is rigdiculous. Guess what! If you don't raise revenue like TOT tax, business licensing fees, charge for signing off fix it tickets, etc everything becomes unsustainable like.... providing toilet paper for people to wipe their A$$ at the city council meeting.
Costa Mesa is a great city. This city should not be the breeding and battle grounds for conservative republican scumbag politicians like riggy and mensinger. Its time they pack their bags and hit the road. Costa Mesa will not stand for these self absorbed, agenda pushing, pieces of feces.
I'd like to know= everything wrong with America. Threaten CMPD oh that's a new one. Go back to ruining the city and get off this blog Righeimer. I hope you aren't using your city provided computer to post here.
The shills are still out in force.
Thanks again Geoff, for telling Truth and helping to rid our city of these cockroaches.
Re Riggy and Mensinger:
Follow the money. These creeps don't exist in, or come from a vacuum.
I have it on good authority that the feds are already looking at things in our "fair" city.
I needed to lighten my mood, so I found this informative video on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX9KoxJh2-k&feature=related
Hey, "I like to know", your write like a professional writer or an insider. Have you heard of "free speech"? How about "Whistle-blower Protection Act"? Next time you are in trouble, the cops you hate so much will still come to help you. Maybe only that time you will see the differences between you and those in uniforms.
Some of my friends point out some facts that may answer all (or most) of the questions regarding Mr. Huy Pham action:
- Huy Pham was a quiet person, a man with few words,
- Huy Pham was a man of action, and
- The spot where he landed is right outside the employees entrance and only few steps from the parking spaces reserved for the Council Members.
What are these facts tell us?
Mr. Pham wanted to use his action to remind the Council Members that from now on, every time they (the cold-hearted-four Righeimer, Mensinger, Bever, and Monahan) come to the city must see the spot where he landed because of their own agenda (future Political advancement, their Party, their ego, ...). Yes, from now on, every time you, the cold-hearted-four, park your car on that reserved parking spaces, look through your car windows and you will see Mr. Pham stand there in his blue shirt, with smile on his face, with very few words he'll softly speak to your ears "You've done it, Sir!".
For employees, every time you come to work, you will walk by that spot and Huy Pham is there to remind you that don't let his sacrifice went unnoticed. He gave his life for all of you, like the brave soldier gave his life to save his comrades.
For us who only know Mr. Huy Pham's name and face after his death will see his name forever a part, an unpleasant part, of Costa Mesa history.
For those of you try to find a reason to forget Mr. Huy Pham, may I suggest this to you: "Get out of this town!"
Just for the record Old Soldier, you haven't answered any of the questions Costa Mesa residents have about Huy Pham's death. He had absolutely no cause to commit suicide.
The only person who knows why a person commits suicide is the person that commits suicide. Unless you are a cell sitting inside the person's brain, in this case Huy, you can't possibly know why they did that they did. So to make a statement like "..he had no cause to commit suicide" is simply amateurish at the very least. He obviously had cause, or he wouldn't have jumped off the building in the first place.
I find it laughable that Lobdells compensation IS public and was printed in the daily pilot. $75 an hour? This was not leaked idiot. I thought all City Council information was supposed to be transparent?? Oh let's see is this another BELL.. we are all beginning to think so. RECALL this morans before the taxpayers pay more. THE BLAME IS AND WILL ALWAYS be on the UNFAB 4 City Council Members. The puppets can spin it all they want the employees and soon the public will know the truth of these idiots. BREECHES? Seriously? They are soo dumb- they leave a trail a mile long.. AND PUPPETS beware - we know who you are too!!!
Rhino, did you see Huy jump off the building? If not, do you know who did? If not, you are not helping either. Facts are needed, not more speculation.
Old Soldier -
How dare you speak for Huy Pham or his thought process. You are a disgusting opportunist, using a family's horrific tragedy to further your own agenda.
Sissy Casper,
How dare you assume you knew what was going through Huy Pham's mind when he chose to end his life. How dare you blame anyone? Who are you? Were you ther when Huy chose his path? Did he tell you why? NO, so knock off the BS.
How dare you say that "THESE MEN are pushing us off the building?"
You are a disgusting union shill like Nick B., shamelessly using a human being's death and a family's tragedy to advance your agenda.
New Soilder (AKA PUPPET) I can say I know what is Huy's mind because it is going through my mind over and over again. When you get a pink slip after years of service, when you have a group of Council MEN making decisions without looking at the ACTUAL figures it makes your mind reel.. what is going on? I will tell you- you feel hopeless. You feel angry. You feel sad. YES, I do know what is in his head. AND NO, I do not work for the union I work for the City- park my car in the parking lot everyday, see my friends, co-workers crying everyday, wondering why Tom Hatch, Riggy, Mesinger, Mona"ham" and non-existent Bever is going to buy today. What consultant friend they are going hire? YES, Mr. Soldier.. I do know.. I do know.. and I am praying to God for guidance..
Wow- New Soldier- who would we blame but the City Council??? THEY ARE TO BLAME 100%- THEY chose without a second thought to outsource 203 employee's without looking at a ledger? Who does that except for inexperienced bankrupt men who have failed in their own lives. THEY ARE pushing the employee's to the brink each and every day. God Help Us!
As you can see, nobody really knows what happened to Huy Pham. Nobody.
Why would you ASSUME he committed suicide??? Was it part of your scripted plan to make the city council members look bad?
Somebody needs to care about Huy. I don't like the thoughts of him being so callously "used" by sickos trying to advance their political agenda.
Ignorance~ If Huy had written a letter condemning the council and specifically said that it is what they are doing that made him end his life would you take his words to heart? or would you say the union plagued his mind.
You are right no one will ever know for sure why he chose to do what he did. But you can not tell me that him choosing how he did it does not speak volumes. Maybe he felt his action could speak louder than his words. The Good Lord knows that those who are using their words are not being listened to but rather shown intimidation and threats for speaking up at all. Sad that one who spoke of protecting another from a bully is in fact being one them-self right now.
My prayers for the city will continue.
Costa Mesa is now a battlefield for class warfare. The Tea Party goon Walker is doing the same kind of things on a larger scale in Wisconsin. CM is an easy target because 116K is a relatively low pop, plus voter registration is heavily Republican.
Piggy Riggy and Arnel/Argyros's Mensinger are using CM as a sounding board/springboard for plutocracy takeover strategies the same as Mansoor did.
The goal:
Crush the middle class, have two classes in the future USA like in Mexico and other 3rd world countries.
Unfortunately, many good people will be tricked, playing right into their hands, and won't realize what's really going on until their children and grandchildren are back working the land like our ancestors did.
With the exception of "good" billionaires like Buffett, Gates, and Soros, plutocrats like the Koch brothers and Trump laugh at our misfortune.
I'm starting to think it doesn't matter how conclusive the facts are regarding Huy's death because these Righeimer groupies will never believe it was a suicide no matter what. Just like the Pope couldn't believe the earth was round or that the earth orbited the sun. Isn't ignorance bliss?
I'm sure Lobdell is a great guy. And I’m sure the city needs and can afford to pay him. But no one is asking the obvious:
What's a former journalist know about instituting a city's communication's plan? To my knowledge, he's been an author and is the former religion editor for the Times.
Has he ever even done this job for another city before? My guess is "no."
Sigh.
I just remember when he was editor of the Daily Pilot and thought it was really, really cute, to play a practical joke on the public on April Fool's day. If memory serves me correct, he printed the newspaper with a huge headline screaming that the city was creating a bridge to Catalina or something like that. Now that's a credibility builder with residents.
Pretty funny stuff -- if you’re the junior high school's newspaper editor.
Monahan, Riggy, Bever and Mensigner -- you should be embarrassed.
Facts, just exactly what are your facts?
Did anyone see Huy jump to his death? If so, who witnessed the act?
Facts are exactly what I'm trying to ascertain.
Class warfare? Yes - between the entitled union leadership and its flunkies and the taxpayers of Costa Mesa.
Oh, you meant the rich GOP trying to smash the middle class? HA! I've got news for you - Costa Mesa is a middle class city, check out the median income and drive around the neighborhoods.
Nice try with the spin.
Councilman Jim Righeimer called Bill offering him the PR position. Bill's firm, Four Boys New Media, is charging $75 an hour for a maximum of 40 hours a week. The 90-day contract could total $36,000. That's money the city shouldn't have had to spend in the first place. ENOUGH TAXPAYERS MONEY to facilitate The Council's own GOP AGENDA.. RECALL!!
I'm just checking in. Can't help but notice that nobody knows how Huy died.
Suicide is obviously nothing more than rumor or somebody would have some facts.
Apparently no one cares if Huy might have been murdered. The suicide theory works just fine for political purposes, right? Why would anyone want to spoil a perfectly good working theory? Gotcha!
This city will cannot heal until Huy's cause of death is known. I don't think for one minute that he committed suicide. Only fools would be gullible enough to believe that.
Really "Questions Abound". And exactly is what your full theory? Who do you think pushed him? Where is your evidence? You are just as quick to say that he was murdered as the ones you put down for saying it was a suicide.
Today I left work in disbelief! We got a City All email from Hatch letting us know the pink slips will resume for those who didn't receive them this week.
Worst, today when leaving they took down Huy Pham memorial. The employees are still grieving! I found it so distasteful!
Tin man Hatch strikes again.! Did I mention he also asked for suggestion on how to be more compassionate about giving out pink slips to let our bosses know!
Where is this $3,000 dollar a week PR guy? Tell hatch to be compassionate by not taking down Huy memorial only 2 days after his funeral. Poor taste thanks for kicking off the healing process.........NOT!
Maybe we can send him to a class on how to manage your people skills!
Unbelieveable!
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