John Carr reports from the Afghan / Pakistan border July 2006.

I remember what a personal vengeance Rose, Mc Coy, and Winter went after Short Term Vacation Rentals (STVR) on South Seacoast. The three used their combined powers and influence as city council members and founders and employees of SWIA to compel the overriding authority, the California Coastal Commission (CC), to allow the city to literally outlaw the city’s fledging tourist industry on South Seacoast (SS). There were approximately 98 STVRs at the time. Barry Johnson and Greg Wade both admitted at the time the city failed to recognize the value of the STVRs to the city’s financial wellbeing. They additionally admitted the city had ignored the fledging industry and had failed to properly supervise or profit from it to any meaningful extent.

Las Tres Cucarachas testified before the Coastal Commission that Imperial Beach viewed tourist as threats to the safety of the citizens of IB. Rose personally compared tourist to David Westerfield, who in fact was not a tourist to San Diego but a resident who kidnapped, raped and then killed his neighbor. Mc Coy and Winter whole heartedly agreed with Rose and backed up this comparison of tourist in IB to the likes of Westerfield. The CC maintained that their policy was for free access to the California coast for tourist and resident alike and denied the city’s first attempt to effectively outlaw tourist. Las Tres Cucarachas used your tax dollars and their powers to sue the CC. After losing their first two appearances in California Superior Court, and approximately $200,000 more of your tax dollars along the way, the city dropped the suit against the CC and in return the CC allowed the city to bring the issue back to the CC again. I was present at this second hearing and despite the fact that the three “ladies” deny it; here is what the CC chairperson said. To paraphrase, if the City of Imperial Beach wants to dig a hole down to some basement and then go there let them do it. That is how we got the CC’s permission to outlaw tourist in “all residential zones” in IB. It is also how we put the last ruinous nails in our financial coffin.

Las Tres Cucarachas promptly went after their enemies on SS. They immediately shut down about 90% of all of the STVR operating at the time. The remaining few just got their notices to shut down this December 31, 2006. City Ordinance No. 2003-1013 outlaws STVRs in all residential neighborhoods. As an aside, Imperial Beach is also, as far as I know, the only city on the entire Pacific Coast that will not allow a simple Bed & Breakfast to operate within its city limits.

The tourist industry is the safest and cleanest of all the possible industries any city could hope for. When you add the fact that this same city council knew, beyond all doubt, that the city was facing a severe short and long term financial crisis the stupidity and short sightedness of the action becomes all the more outrageous. To make the situation worse the city is now only “selectively enforcing” the ordinance. “Due process” requires that the ordinance be enforced equally. Presently the city is only enforcing the prohibition against the STVR property owners on SS. Hawaiian Gardens is a STVR operating in a “residential” zone on the corner of 10^th Street and IB Boulevard. Past city councils were aware of this fact and the present city council is aware of this fact. Any one can rent a room by the day at the Hawaiian Gardens; and in fact, the city “officially” encourages tourist to do so on the city’s web site. Is this “unequal enforcement “of the law? Can the STVR property owners on SS sue on this point?  Can the city’s two largest hotels, the Seacoast Inn, and The Sands sue on the issue?  Consider that when Rose gave her State of the City address four years ago she declared “tourism is up.” This reporter investigated that claim because my personal observations led me to believe the opposite was true. I interviewed the two managers and they revealed that occupancy was down 37% and 60% respectively. These two hotels have now petitioned the city to allow them to take in long term residents in order to keep from closing. These hotels can make much more on a daily basis versus a monthly basis and the city’s official policy of encouraging tourist to stay at the Hawaiian Gardens is directly and financially detrimental to these two establishments. Forgive me for asking, but is this good government? Is this even sensible government?

Comments:

Dear Editor,

   John Carr's story is an accurate account of what this Council has been doing and why. I'm puzzled why they are still in office? They must be recalled immediatly or the City will not survive! Even if the indifference of the voters in Imperial Beach reversed itself and they decided to save their City, it may well be a case of too little to late. It's dizzying to believe that a hand full of idiots, obnoxios, Children aka City Leaders , would be allowed to single handedly destroy a City with impunity. In the Private Business Sector these kinds of people have a different Title. It's a Felony Title that carries with it the charge of Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ; a Federal Act punishable by imprisonment. An amateur investigator could prove our leaders are chargeable under this statute.. If a violation of the RICO Statute is charged ,all of their supporters must be included and justice be brought to bear on all of them.

Willie Sutton only stoled from Banks. These people have stolen and distroyed an entire City
under the noses of the inhabitents.Drug  Look at what been allowed to take place in imperial Beach: Premeditated, Pre Planned Lying ,Cheating and Stealing , under the "Color of Authority".

"Council"; the time has come to pay your Bill for your trechery, dishonesty and theft of Representive Government. There is a special place reserved for you. The Bible Speaks loudly on the place. It's not heaven either!

      Former 3 Term Chairman of the Imperial Beach Planning Commission
and member of the Blue Ribbon "2015 budget and efficiency Review Committee"

                                       Ted Powers / JPM