The real enemy isn’t right or left.
It’s bullshit.
That’s what always comes to mind when one gets a chance to review raw public documents.
Politicians can say a variety of things about anything.
But documents don’t lie.
That old adage comes to mind this week as Huntington Beach officials gear up for a public debate tonight on the value of the Pacific Air Show.
The debate – expected during public comment – comes on the heels of a whopper of a settlement agreement that was pried loose by a year-long lawsuit brought by a local school district board member, Gina Clayton Tarvin.
Just after taking office, a new city council majority settled a lawsuit brought by the organizers of the popular Pacific Air Show arguing that city actions in response to the 2021 oil spill off the coast cost them millions.
Former Mayor Tony Strickland told our reporters he considers the settlement the defining achievement of his term, something he is proud of.
But city officials wouldn’t actually release the settlement – something school board member Clayton Tarvin challenged in court under the state’s Public Records Act.
Her action is the latest in a long time of local citizens who stand up to government by suing for public documents.
People like Clayton Tarvin’s former colleague on the school district board, John Briscoe, who successfully sued to get documents about toxic issues at a local school a few years back.
Clayton Tarvin is a Democrat, who is running for reelection to the school board later this year. Meanwhile, Briscoe is a Republican, who is currently running for Congress.
Read: Briscoe: County of Orange and Huntington Beach Officials Fail The Children of Oak View
In addition to politically active residents like Clayton Tarvin and Briscoe, OC has a host of active residents who aren’t elected leaders but have made their voice heard by challenging government actions in court and winning.
In Mission Viejo, one local resident – Michael Schlesinger- successfully sued the city over their brash plan to cancel local elections…and won.
Read: OC Judge Orders Mission Viejo to Pay $700,000 in Fees After Term Limit Lawsuits
Or the People’s Homeless Task Force in Anaheim, whose public records lawsuit over the stadium – even though their case lost in court – must surely have played into the actions later taken by the FBI, which blew up the questionable deal.
Regardless of your political affiliation, having access to raw documents is what democracy is all about.
It’s an effective way to check power, to spur debate – in a way that doesn’t depend on insults or name calling.
“This settlement documentation isn’t about me – it belongs to the people, it’s a public document and I said – anybody who wants it, I will be sharing it with them,” said Clayton-Tarvin to our Civic Editor Spencer Custodio in an interview last week.
It’s why our state forefathers left us the 1953 Brown Act and the 1968 Public Records Act — laws that set the standard for what we expect from our government.
“The people do not yield their sovereignty to the bodies that serve them,” reads the introduction to our state open meeting law. “The people insist on remaining informed to retain control over the legislative bodies they have created.”
So why is it so important to see the settlement?
“They had previously claimed this settlement is only $5 million,” said Clayton Tarvin, who estimates after reading its terms, “Its turned out to be over $20 million.”
What Strickland and the governing majority in HB never told the public was that in addition to a pay out, city officials offered air show operators a host of concessions – all kept from the public.
More than 3500 parking spaces – and a blank check on public safety costs – are now included along with the groundwork for a 40 year exclusive contract.
Read: How Did a Huntington Beach Air Show Become Embroiled in Controversy and Politics?
Certainly a different deal than what was previously announced.
Now, it’s unclear whether Clayton Tarvin’s math is right.
But thanks to her efforts, we can all have the debate.
As I’m sure Surf City will tonight.
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