By Jon Nahhas, Boaters Coalition

Two weeks after a controversial visioning plan to redevelop the public lands in Marina del Rey was hurried in front of soon-to-be termed-out LA County Supervisors. County officials are desperately trying to get another contentious approval in front of team Zev/Molina.

Meet will be Tuesday (18 November)at 9:30 am at Kenneth Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple, Los Angeles, CA 90012. A car pool will leave Killer Cafe at 8:30 am.

The table has been set for the Supervisors to approve a hotel project in the Marina involving Sam Hardage, a long-time friend of Don Knabe and stalwart for the Republican Party. Hardage has strong conservative credentials. The very affluent hotelier seeking a great deal on public lands in the Marina makes no apologies for his anti-tax, anti-union, and anti-immigration stances. Hardage has been involved in several bankruptcies and has used his money to gain exclusive access to many State & U.S. Legislators, Mitt Romney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and various Republican political causes throughout the country.

LA County officials are expediting this project and banking on the continued deceitful practices of Supervisors’ vote trading called “District Prerogative.” The 2013-2014 Orange County Grand Jury just came out with a scathing report on District Prerogative and how it has been the focal point of the fraud and abuse in their public harbor (Dana Point Revitalization Plan). The cozy, long-term LA County Supervisors have gone along with Don Knabe’s proposed projects and recently agreed to his vision of the public lands in Marina del Rey. The public and citizen oversight boards were essentially ignored. Interestingly, the Marina del Rey Small Craft Harbor Commission suffered a sudden case of amnesia last Wednesday and voted to support the project on a 3-1 vote. Just a few months earlier during the MdR Visioning Process, this same Commission had strong comments about the over-development in the harbor and District 5 Commissioner, Dennis Alfieri, stated “we need another hotel like we need a hole in our head.”

Marina del Rey has had a long history of corruption dating back to its inception to the more current issues. Some examples of the fraud & abuse include:

1) California Legislative Audit Committee currently investigating the Marina’s fraud in the “Coastal Improvement Fund.” Monies were mysteriously taken out of a dedicated park fund (established 1996 Coastal Commission) for the significant development density on the west side of the harbor.

2) District Attorney’s Office indictment of LA County Assessor John Noguez on racketeering in questionable tax assessments on County properties, 8 of which are in Marina del Rey.

3) Largest real estate deal in 2013 in Southern California involving “Esprit One” in Marina del Rey for $226 Million, where the developer, former County Deputy Supervisor Doug Ring, was awarded well over $100 Million profit for a sale of a public lease in Marina del Rey. Lawsuit by citizens filed.

4) Another secretly negotiated sale of a public lease for $50 Million was illegally awarded to Doug Ring’s Estate for the sale of “Bar Harbor Apartments.” Another lawsuit filed by citizens.

5) State Senator Alan Robbins sentenced to 2 years in the Federal Penitentiary at Lompoc for political corruption in Marina del Rey.

6) California Coastal Commissioner and Marina del Rey Small Craft Harbor Commission Mark Nathanson sentenced to 2 years in the Federal Penitentiary at Lompoc for political corruption in Marina del Rey.

7) State Assembly Member Joseph Montoya sentenced to 2 years in the Federal Penitentiary at Lompoc for political corruption in Marina del Rey.

The LA County Supervisors are set to approve the rushed lease option and a very hushed revised EIR with Sam Hardage at the public meeting tomorrow at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

Link to Item #40 Lease Option with Sam Hardage: http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/89732.pdf