(10/25/2010)We just got Chuck’s “Los Alamitos” Taxpayers Association professional hit-piece on community volunteer Brad Sheridan.
I really can’t decide which of his many hit pieces is the worst: this year’s on Gerri Graham-Mejia, the Sheridan beauty, or the several pieces on Ken Parker two years ago.
I can say that if we as a community don’t stand up and vote for the people Sylvia is smearing and against the people he supports, we can expect the garbage to continue flowing in our town as long as George Briggeman has someone he can siphon his money through!
I’ve known Brad personally for years. He is a good man, a man who cares about his community and who has spent countless hours as a community volunteer.
He was unanimously elected to Chair Los Alamitos’ Traffic Commission by his fellow Commissioners three times.
He has lived in Los Alamitos at least twice as long as Troy Edgar and five times as long as Dean Zarkos, who practically moved in so Edgar & friends could appoint him to the Council in stead of Commission President Sheridan. Brad’s also active in his church locally, and a long time AYSO volunteer.
Chuck’s hit piece is as full of lies and distortions as ever. It repeats assertions made in the slimy “push poll” which have already been refuted here: (See Los Al’s dirtiest campaign yet? New details of my “survey” call)
- It implies Brad is a Los Angeles resident, when he’s lived and raised his family here for years.
- It grossly distorts his record as an attorney.
- It claims that Edgar & Zarkos kicked Sheridan off the Traffic Commission for “unethical behavior,” when the city attorney herself indicated that was an inappropriate charge. It sure was obvious to me he was booted for exposing the six and a half million dollars we are going to be overpaying for trash for the next 10 years.
- It falsely claims he “helped argue for lowering the ethics testing standards for California lawyers” because, as a law student, Sheridan fact-checked for an article by his professor comparing California and U.S. license requirements for attorneys.
- It presents what looks like a yellow page ad for Sheridan that was purely a figment of the imagination of the professional hit-man who designed this flyer.
But it will work, unless we, the people of this small town, unite and tell Briggeman & Sylvia & their apparent team of Edgar, Zarkos, & Grose “NO MORE!”
This flyer alone cost roughly five times the amount I gave towards Sheridan’s campaign. . . and Brad said I’m his largest contributor!
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You can contribute, offer to help with flyers, or post a sign in your yard under the “Support” tab at the top of LosAl2010.com, or leave a message at 562-546-2052.
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And you can make sure you vote a week for tomorrow for the three people the Special Interests who currently control our Council fear the most:
- Warren Kusumoto (#1 on the ballot)
- Gerri Graham-Mejia (# 3)
- Brad Sheridan (#6)
Easy to remember by first names: “We Get Better with Warren, Gerri, & Brad.”
Not in my town, Mr. Sylvia!
Your comments and insights are welcome, but please stay issue focused, avoid personal attacks, and use family -friendly language & a consistent pen name.
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Isn’t about time that all of the local residents rally and head over to Chuckies house and picket his yard to let him know, WE DONT WANT THIS CRAP IN LOS ALAMITOS!
Just got mine in the mail. If this is the best they can do at an attempt to smear Brad then this is very weak, at best. This flyer, as well as the one about Gerri taking trips that she never took, are huge money wasters. It will deplete their “war chests” and anger residents into voting for the opposing sides! LosAlTruth.com is an excellent counter to these “doormats”. LATA, in this case, should keep up the good work.
Joker, you DO have this crap in Los Alamitos. As long as the residents are fooled by the expensive flyers they receive in the mail it will never change.
How sad for our city. How sad for St Hedwigs, this man and his wife go to church there. Chuck Syliva is the president of the LATA who sent this hit piece. His wife caught on camera, can’t keep her hands off of other candidates signs.
I think the residents are figuring it out, we will find out on Nov 2
Vote # 1 # 3 and # 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 136 136 136 136 136 136
Warren Gerri Brad Warren Gerri Brad Warren Gerri Brad
Lets see Troy Edgar is an Attorney, Dean Zarkos is an Attorney yet I never know Zarkos was since Troy and Zarkos don’t write that they are Attorneys as well in their ballot statements. Is this something they want to hide. This attempt to smear Brad is weak. Current Majority City Council tell the truth. You’ve got smarter voters now!!! Visit Losal2010.com
Where does Chuckie live, I am on my way to his house.
If chuck had a heart, we could say he was living. What that man does has nothing to do with living.
Chuck, I think you are a person that has lost his heart and soul. No one could be so mean to others that actually had a heart.
Thank you very much Mr Chuck and Mr. George for the opportunity to serve you at the council meeting where I took Mr. Brad’s picture.
If anyone is looking for good photographer, I do wedding and corporate photography. I can also do video production.
You like my work give me a call. Basel Aranki of Artistic West Productions.
Edit by Dave: I have no idea who took the picture referred to, although it may have been a Mr. Aranki. In any case, my guess is this comment was satirical in nature and I’m pretty sure it was not posted by the real Basel Aranki, whomever he is. I also suspect that the photographer was just doing his job.
You do realize that all of these families have children that can read and go to school with other children (let me emphasize children).
What is wrong with you? How can you do these awful deeds.
Don’t you care that these are families and their children have their family names and they haven’t done anything to deserve this.
You and your supporters should realize that you are not falsely attacking one or two candidates you don’t like but you are attacking innocent children.
Anyone that defend these fliers and this man and his supporters actions have lost their way and I feel sorry for all of you.
Mr. Sylvia, I ask you, what good are you accomplishing?
Please stop and think about who you are hurting and what affect your fliers might have on these families young children.
Can you imagine all the money that been wasted in this non partisan city election?
You have a very rich man with nothing better to do and a not so rich man with nothing better to do. The one thing they have in common is the love of control and power.
They make a really good team. I have questions for you
TO the not so rich man: How many people could you have fed/helped at your church with the money you have spent to smear good people in the last two elections in Los Alamitos?
While you lay in bed tonight go over this in your head and figure it out. When you are saying your prayers ask God to help you figure it out.
TO the very rich man; how many more non profits could you have helped/fed with the money you have spent to keep control/power in Los Alamitos. Could you have helped save St Isadores? Could you have fed a small country?
What and why are your plans so important that you would squander hundreds of thousands of dollars on power and control?
So true. So much effort and money wasted that could be used to help others.
Very good points made by all.
I too wonder what uses this political smear money could have been better spent on in our town instead of pissing it away on two candidates whose combined residency is less than the age of my youngest elementary school kid.
St. Isadore’s has desperately needed money to succeed from the Diocese of O.C. I would think the Mayor would be ashamed to think that her Comittee de Amore could have more than met their goals with this smear money. As it stands today, things are looking bleak for the church.
Speaking of Reagan Street, the non-profits could really use these political smear funds. This money could really change lives here. All of the players from LATA have claimed to support these groups. I feel bad for Kenny B. He works so hard to raise funds for these groups, I know it kills him to see this kind of money wasted on things that don’t bring a return like Casa Youth Shelter (a home for teen runaways), the battered women’s home, the home for pregnant girls, etc. does. The $15,000 that Kenny B. spent to cover the fireworks show took away from these groups. Kenny saw a need and put the people of Los Al over the council’s mismanagement of the funds that were promised to cover the 4th of July Celebration last year.
I remember safe and sane fireworks in Los Al as a kid. It was great family times! The council, when they took them away, promised that they would have a fireworks show to replace what had been taken. The times had changed and the new July 4ths in Los Al took on a new era. We all adjusted and it has been a good time for all. The show started at the race track and was later permanently moved to the base. This event serves more people in Los Al than anything else. This is what our citizens look forward to in our city. Our council is so out of touch, they don’t realize this. It is the best $15,000 we could spend. Imagine the kind of a July 4th Celebration that this smear money could bring to Los Al?!
To bring this back to the Sylvia’s…what about the museum? What could this political smear money do to help their #1 supported organization in town. The building, like St. Isadore’s, needs a seismic retrofit to be safe. They could do that and so much more there if they had put this money to better use. They could even afford to put up a better water color portrait of chuck than the one they have there now (seriously, the man has his own painting/portrait in the museum).
I guess for the Sylvia’s, when their time is up on this earth, they would rather be remembered for other things. Instead of leaving here with the problems of our town resolved, paid for, repaired and secured they will instead be remembered for the division they have caused among neighbors and as the ones who implemented two of the worst smears in Los Al History. What a very sad legacy that is.
Lots of good thoughts here. We’ve got a week to put our words into action. I’m going to start by making sure each of my immediate neighbors knows exactly what’s going on. Then I’m thinking about knocking doors and showing e-mails to some of those folks with those Gross signs in their yards. (I wrote my own Gross post quoting those e-mails yesterday, but held it back once I got Sylvia’s obscene Sheridan hit piece.)
Speaking of Sylvia’s Sheridan hit piece, can you imagine how much money was spent on research to dig up an obscure article that Brad fact-checked in the last millennium as a law student?
Two years ago, Sylvia’s excuse was it was necessary to overcome the vast power of two incumbent Council Members. But this year the money’s going to support two incumbents and oppose at least one non-incumbent!
One last thought regarding the Fireworks. Jeff quoted $15,000, which was the city’s cost this year, when the 4th was on a Sunday, when city staff are on overtime. It was my understanding that normally the city’s share is half that, which would put it about on a par with the Chamber’s WW&R Expo. But the Council majority has already let it be known that they aren’t spending any city funds on the 4th of July next year!
Wonder if Troy, Dean, & Dean will be coming out against motherhood and apple pie next.
On second thought, Edgar & Zarkos did divorce their kids’ mothers, so I guess the only thing left for them to come out against is apple pie. And I do need to give Grose credit for hanging with Wendy! Or maybe I should give Wendy credit for hanging with Dean.
I thought that one of the arguments to give Wings, wheels and rotors money was because of the tax revenue generated by some of our businesses on that day.
I would say that the council might want to argue that same point when they look at canceling the 4th of July celebration on the base.
I know our city businesses do better on that day than Wings, wheels and rotors.
But you didn’t hear them make that argument did you?
That’s because it was never about what’s best for Los Al, but giving to the Chamber is a priority.
BTW-Why was that (WWR) budgeted and not the 4th of July. It seems as though they both fit the same category and I hope the council is informing the Chamber that they need to come up with their own money next year to pay for city services.
I viewed the link in the Daily Breeze, how tragic and what a hero Brad was in the life of that woman.
As one who was raised Catholic endured the wrath(deservedly)of Irish nuns, Chuck and Carolyn’s actions do not comport with the tenents of the Catholic faith.
The Sunday Homily at St. Hedwig’s should be on the Eighth Commandment and its application today:
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
The eighth commandment according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Dean and Wendy Grose are both divorced and on their second marriages. Dean also sued his own son. So much for family values.
“Dear George,” (sorry, I couldn’t resist!)
Thanks for the info.
Any idea what Dean, Dean, or Troy think of apple pie?
BTW, I’ll let you know what Mr. Grose thinks of Mexicans, Keyanus Price, and quote from what I think is his most offensive forwarded e-mail yet in a post that’s going up mid day. Or you can read the e-mails for yourself at LosAlTruth.com.
Looks like Dean’s been on a much needed diet so I guess he hates apple pie.
Good analysis, George.
Based on a the last time I saw the two incumbent members of “TeamDDT”, I’d have to conclude that Troy opposes apple pie but Mr. Zarkos is all for it!
So here’s the score:
Opposes 4th of July: Edgar, Zarkos
Opposes Motherhood: Edgar, Zarkos, Grose
Opposes Apple Pie: Edgar, Grose
Disclosure: The above is based on analysis of Council votes, marital status, and visual observation of body fat, and has not been verified with individual candidates.
JHubert brings good memory to the history of the July 4th in Los Al.
Why? Because he has lived here for many years, unlike Zarkos and Edgar. They have no memory or history because they are carpetbaggers.
Do we really want carpetbaggers controlling our city? They and their puppets Poe and Stephens are ruining our city.
Thank you JHubert for shinning some more light on the cockroach hole of a city council we have now.
We have one council member Gerri Grahm-Mejia who has been trying to shine the light on this nest for the last two years. One council member can only shine the light, it take at least three to make a difference.
Vote for
Kusomoto — Graham-Mejia — Sheridan
1 3 6
Vote for 1-3-6 on the ballot
Well said, Dee, although all 4 majority members are themselves apparently puppets of George Briggeman & the other special interests that fund their campaigns and Sylvia’s campaigns against their opponents.
You forgot that Ken Stephens moved into town shortly before running for office. Three carpetbaggers and four puppets on our Council. Even Dean Grose wouldn’t put down how long he’d lived here on his candidate statement. Maybe he moved in more recently than I thought, although this is his 4th time running for Council, so he must have lived here at least 8 years.
Team DDT has made our city sick, but We Get Better with Warren, Gerri, & Brad.
Spread the word!
Dee,
Proper credit should be given to Alice Jempsa for standing before the majority of Poe, Stephens, Zarkos and Edgar and talking about how the city got into the fireworks show business in April or early May 2010.
I may not agree with Alice a great deal, but there is little doubt that she cares for this city and it’s history and in her own way she has done what she thought was best for it.
After Poe, Stephens, Zarkos and Edgar voted to cancel the fireworks (and that IS what they voted to do, let there be no mistake about that vote and it’s intent) and I wrote the piece for the News-Enterprise on what they voted to do and how it was wrong, there were a number of people that came forward at the next meeting.
We all know about Kenny and his most generous gift. But at that meeting Alice stood up and reminded Mrs Poe what the “deal” was between the City of Los Alamitos and the people that lived in the community. She was eloquent in presenting the facts of the history in terms that were clear and concise. And when she was done I don’t think that there was anyone who didn’t understand the importance of keeping the promises made over 20 years ago.
I still wonder what the majority would have done had Kenny not been as gracious as he was. Would they have done the right thing and voted to continue the event, finding the funding for it by hook or by crook? Or would they have voted to allow safe and sane to be sold and used since they didn’t want to keep up the bargain any longer? Or would they have said that their word was not bound to the agreement and there would be nothing at all, that their vote to cancel stood an that there would be no safe-and-sane?
My gut tells me that they would have gone ahead with their plans to cancel, and they would have done nothing for the people. If that had happened I imagine the outcry of them paying off the Chamber of Commerce with our tax dollars may have been louder.
Personally, I think that Kenny deserves the City to repay him the $6,400 that they were able to find to give away to the Chamber of Commerce to get endorsements for Zarkos and Edgar (Chamber members). Based on the Chamber endorsement of Zarkos and Edgar after they received taxpayer funds I think that there can be little doubt that the City Attorney was wrong about there being no conflict of interest by the council members. There is a direct line from Zarkos and Edgar giving the Chamber $6,400 to them purchasing ad space in the News-Enterprise less than 45 days later in support of the people that paid them off with Taxpayer Dollars.
The rank corruption of their votes makes Edgar and Zarkos ready candidates to join City of Bell officials in orange jumpsuits.
THE POOR GUYS WITH THE BIG GROSE BANNERS, NO LONGER HAVE SHEETS TO GO WITH THEIR HOODS.
You folks should objectively read what you say and realize that you are just as vile as you believe every candidate who ever ran for City Council is. I wouldn’t ever file for that race and be drug thru the mud like you do. I dont see postings here from Parker, or Zarkos, or Poe, or Stephens, or Freeman, or Grose, as you guys seem to do just fine throwing stones like you accuse them of. And now our former female Mayor (driscole) is on the war path. Why all the fighting? Even Emmerson believes we should all get along. They should ban everyone on of these folks to a desert island. As Brad, our judge in robes tells it, this is worse than Bell.
Wow, that is low bringing these facts to light. Now that you have brought up the fact that Chuck and Carol have participated in gay marriage, adultery, and abortion, we can understand their hatred towards their neighbors. They could use some counseling or something.
I think Chuckie just dropped a handful of stones…
I read the flyer put out by the Taxpayers Association describing Brad Sheridan as a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles that sues cities, and then this website directed me to the Daily Breeze newspaper website. The Daily Breeze said that Brad Sheridan is a Los Angeles based attorney that sued the city of Torrance for a personal injury. What is your point?
From an online speaker’s service bio of Dean Zarkos:
Lives in Seal Beach? Hmm, the only mention of Los Al is the schools. Too bad he isn’t running for LAUSD School Board. For that he may actually be somewhat qualified.
Better yet…
MCF Asset Management
2801 Junipero Ave # 200
Signal Hill, CA 90755-2140
Dean Zarkos works in Signal Hill (A Los Angeles Real Estate Broker)
Want to go on? Maybe we can look at Troy Edgar and his business in CYPRESS.
To Catherine Driscoll:
Thank you for your comments. You are right and sometimes we as mere humans are weak and succomb to anger and frustration and vent when maybe we shouldn’t. You are right and I pray for a kinder heart and pray for the Sylvia’s as well. I just want them when they walk into Church on Sunday really think about what they have been doing and how it has hurt so many people. Maybe find a little kindness and repentenance in their heart.
Catherine Driscoll
JM, where does that say Zarkos lives in Seal Beach hmmm? Where does it say that you have to work in Los Alamitos in order to run for City Council? More twisted deception. You are as off base and the ones you write about, sir.
@Just the Facts
1) the reference to seal beach was on line, in fact I cut the entire article from a speakers service.
2) It was recent enough that it had NOT been changed to reflect his move months before his appointment to Los Al.
3) Nothing says you have to work in Los Al. Nothing says that you have to be a resident here more than one minute before you file (or get appointed). But I’m not the one who made an issue over where Brad worked, was I?
See, it’s all okay for “your side” to throw that crap out there and attempt to use it to motivate people, but the sad reality is, that it is just CRAP.
Your “side” attempted to make Brad look like a carpetbagging ambulance chaser. Your “side” was using twisted deception. And the sad fact is that you endorse and agree with it. You just don’t like it when someone points out that they are scum for doing it and what the truth is.
Did anyone notice that Zarkos stated that he received campaign funding from the Apartment Association of OC? He also stated that he is the PAC Chair for the same organization!? I remember him saying this, perhaps it was at the candidate forum. Does anyone remember? Seems to me that he is endorsing himself and then authorizing himself the funds in the same action. How ethical is this?
Why is Zarkos, as a divorced man, show family photos of himself with his ex-wife!? I am sure she is not happy about that. I guess it is a way for him to portray himself as a family man to the uninformed voter and get back at his ex at the same time. This lack of responsibility is not who I want guiding my city!
I also received a door hangar today from Gross. I noticed that he has the Seal of Los Alamitos on it. Look at his shirt. It’s as though he is trying to represent himself as a Los Alamitos Official and sway the voters with this authority. Isn’t this the same issue that Ken Parker was sued by Chuckie over!? In Chuckie’s case, I believe he won and Parker had to Pay. What is Grose thinking by repeating this blunder!? Did he, like Frank Mickadeit said, do this on purpose or is he really that ignorant. In any case he has no business nor is he capable of making decisions for us in this community!
Dave here: I just assumed that was Zarkos son & 2 daughters in the picture. I’ve met one daughter, don’t know if he has another or not. Anybody know who’s in those 3 – 5 family photos Zarkos has mailed all of us?
Sorry John … I didn’t use that type of language, but I do no scum when I see it and I’m not going to get into that level with you, sir. And, I’m amazed you believe I’m on any side here … since this is an open forum and anyone is allowed to express their opinion. Something you do most frequently. Wonder how you’d do today in running for Congress. Nevermind, I know the answer to that.
This is one of the nastiess blogs I’ve ever read. Your posters talk about christian values, what a joke. Who is running this sleasy website, and why isn’t their name on it, if they are so proud of their ‘honesty’??
Some ‘citizen’ even wants to know where somebody (Silvia?) lives. Why, they can enlist some other underhaded person to do damage to their property?? What the heck is wrong with you people? And all of you in this one little town. What a disgrace. I’m ashamed that all you do is attack, attack, attack, and all just to get on the city council. How low class and pathetic.
I agree with FED UP: Who said
“What a disgrace. I’m ashamed that all you do is attack, attack, attack, and all just to get on the city council. How low class and pathetic.”
Yes Chuck Sylvia, how low class and pathetic you are for your attack, attack, attack fact less smear campaigns now and in the past.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
@ Fed up:
Hi LATA, another great tactic, acuse the other side of doing exactly what you guys have been doing since day 1. Your post describes your tactics verbatim. Nothing like dividing our town and pitting neighbor against neighbor…you have a lot to be proud of. Push your agenda and it’s people at ALL costs.
You are very correct…We the people of Los Al are FED UP! You have littered our town with enough of your trash propaganda and we are done with the trashman and his bullying. Your tactics have backfired, failed and we all see right through it. Nice legacy you and your group will be leaving.
BTW – Didn’t see you in church today…what a surprise! The priest would have to clear his schedule to handle your confession!
I am the one who wanted Chucks address and I only wanted to knock on his door and speak to this coward in person. When I went his wife said he was sitting on the pot and would be there for some time. If he wants to fill my mail box with garbage, I wanted to let him know that I for one would not accept it and any and all of his flyers or publications will be returned to sender.
Chuck is a liar!
I went back an hour later and he was still on the pot.
“Wonder how you’d do today in running for Congress. ”
I would lose.
Running for Congress takes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since I wouldn’t “sell my vote” I would have a very hard time raising the money. In addition, as a progressive Democrat I doubt that I would be able to get enough OC Residents to understand the benefits of taxing the crap out of the wealthy (revert to the 1952 tax code and adjust for inflation/COL) and using those taxes to jump start new industries (investing that money into green technology) even though we have proof from the 1960′s that it works (NASA).
On top of that I am a general threat to groups like the Chamber of Commerce as I am not a corporatist and believe in the power of the people, not fictional business entities that play games on Wall Street. Industry would invest against me because I believe in regulations. Banks and Wall Street would invest against me since I believe in Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall Act) and want it brought back and enforced.
In other words, I would be on the “other side” of entrenched interests and they would spend freely to ensure that there would be no way I would get elected.
But, if the impossible were to happen, and I was elected, I would be a minority in the House and would have almost no voice. So not running is far better than the awful idea of running, getting elected, and being just as powerless. In that case I would be as useful to the district as Ed Royce is today (although for totally different reasons).
You are too funny!
Nah, just a realist when it comes to the simple fact that I won’t sell my values out for a chance to sell my values out for more money.
It’s one of the reasons that I have supported Cat, Michele, Brad, Gerri, Warren, Ken, Art, Pete, Ann, and a few others locally. In general they don’t sell out and they don’t do this to personally enrich themselves or upsell themselves for further office.
When I ran, I ran against Robert Banuelos. I told him I would support him had he won and he said the same to me. Neither of us were willing to support Farber. It had to do with ethics. Banuelos had some, Farber had none.