(July 6, 2011) -- Like an unwelcome but necessary medical diagnosis, the people of Long Beach got a clear view of the unhealthy political machine that's taken root in their City Hall.

Former Sac'to lobbyist Mayor Bob Foster and his primary allies, former Sac'to aide James Johnson, former Repub-now-reinvented-Dem Robert Garcia, developer-friendly-Dem Suja Lowenthal and no-wasted-words Gary DeLong showed it to the whole city last night (July 5).

After 8th dist. Councilwoman Rae Gabelich beat Councilman Johnson's redistricting plan on the merits -- sustaining her argument among the people she represents that Atlantic Ave. shouldn't be split to enable Johnson to take more high propensity voters than he needs -- those who scorn her and the public she represents resolved to get their way by any means necessary.

Councilman Johnson knew -- but concealed from the public he represents -- a maneuver to moot the arguments against splitting Atlantic Ave., instantly rendering public testimony on the issue irrelevant, while still getting nearly 1,000 additional residents that he's wanted all along (we surmise to dilute the influence of Wrigley and WLB residents).

Like a lawyer plotting to defeat an opponent instead of an elected official representing the public, Councilman Johnson kept from public view his plan to take all of Los Cerritos south of Bixby Road. In addition to (again) taking nearly 1,000 more residents than needed, Johnson's plan also draws the 7th district line about half a block north of 8th dist. Council candidate to date, Mike Kowal, neatly shifting him into the 7th district. (Mr. Kowal, along with then-LBHUSH2 neighborhood advocate Gabelich, prevented a costly and potentially damaging expansion of LB Airport's permanent terminal facilities (that had been urged by LB Area Chamber of Commerce, among other Wrong Way Corrrigans in this town).

Instead of disclosing the substance of this proposal so the public could speak to it pro or con, Johnson kept silent about it. With no motion on the floor, the public was left in the dark to testify against what Johnson had already planned to take off the table.

Mayor Foster enabled the fix, inviting public comment before Johnson made his motion, a maneuver that effectively denied the public the opportunity to speak to what would ultimately be proposed.

Once the public (including a number of speakers who said they never come to City Hall to speak on anything) had expended their energy testifying against a proposal that he and a Council majority put forth on June 7, Johnson sprang his trap, unveiling his new map...and the machine swung into action.

Councilman Garcia said Johnson's map had nice straight lines. Vice Mayor Lowenthal drew jeers in trying to portray the machine style maneuver as part of thoughtful "policymaking." Councilman DeLong was (typically) less wordy, and said Gabelich's proposal (which involved giving Johnson part of Los Cerritos and didn't have straight lines) struck him as Gerrymandering.

Councilwoman Gabelich maintained her dignity through all of this. She calmly responded that Gerrymandering doesn't mean less than straight lines; it means engineering an election outcome. She repeatedly called on Councilman Johnson to publicly explain why he was (again) trying to take nearly 1,000 more residents than the City Attorney's office said were needed to equalize district populations.

The Harvard educated, Berkeley trained lawyer shrank from her challenge. Not once did he offer the people he represents the decency of an explanation on that point.

Councilman Johnson's "success" on his motion last night may yet prove to be a Pyrrhic victory for him, one in which another such "victory" could prove his undoing. We don't know whether talk of a recall (the "R" word came up at last night's Council meeting) is serious; that may become clearer in the coming days.

There will be two more Council votes on the redistricting, now scheduled for July 19 and 26 at which time what took place may be revised. However, in our opinion, it's much more important to grasp the importance of unplugging the Council/Mayoral machine before it does damage on whatever it chooses wherever it chooses citywide...from reckless developments to damaging neighborhoods to bad budget priorities..

Machines act as if they are impervious to the public but they ultimately fear those they pretend to represent. Councilman Garcia rushed to try and spin the differences as minimal when they are actually deep and profound.

As of July 5, an overriding issue in Long Beach's 2012 election cycle for Council districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 should be whether to elect persons who will provide a check and balance to the contemptuous Council/Mayoral machine or whether they'll be cogs in that wheel. .