(May 25, 2004) -- During a City of Long Beach public meeting, the chair of City Hall's Mayor-nominated Council-approved "airport advisory commission" called 8th Council district homeowner and LBHUSH2 member Mike Kowal "an embarrassment to your cause" and directed him to "sit down," citing Mr. Kowal's criticism of the advisory body a month earlier and a statement by Mr. Kowal at the May 20 meeting that there was much information that "obviously we don't have time to present to you, you know, when we come to your meetings...so we get very little time here and I know we will get a formal presentation time but that will be limited as well."

Advisory commission chair Ron Salk said in part, "You've had time to present at these meetings. Don't keep saying that. I refuse to let you get away with that. You've had plenty of time to present at these meetings. And I take umbrage at it. And for you to stand here as you did last month and tell us that it doesn't make any difference about these presentations being conducted here, nothing's going to happen, well I resent that and I resent it for the entire commission. You are an embarrassment to your cause."

LBReport.com posts a sound clip of the exchange, below.

Mr. Kowal, a Los Cerritos homeowner and long-time LB realtor, was attending the latest in a series of meetings to discuss expansion of LB airport's permanent terminal area facilities and parking structure...which city officials say will replace current temporary facilities and off-site parking to accommodate 66 daily flights (41/day over 75,000 pounds, 25/day under 75,000 pounds) allowed under LB's Airport noise ordinance.

A Council vote had been expected in December 2003 on the scope of issues to be included in the project's Environmental Impact Report, but in October 2003 (after public comment had been received at scoping meetings and in writing) Councilmembers voted to send the issue to their "advisory" body (which has no substantive decisionmaking power) before a Council vote. The Council's action effectively delayed a definitive Council vote on the airport issue until after April and June 2004 elections.

The exchange ensued after Mr. Kowal asked about LBHUSH2 fliers apparently removed by someone [unclear by whom or under what circumstances] from a City Hall-provided table outside the meeting room...and a discussion followed over whether the fliers [apparently resembling the "Say No To Airport Expansion" signs dotting much of the 8th and 4th Council districts] were informational (as Mr. Kowal contended) or lobbying. Airport Manager Chris Kunze (at Mr. Kowal's request) read aloud the text of the flier that included LBHUSH2's web site, which Mr. Kowal said "is an informational site. Long Beach HUSH is an informational, non profit organization, and if you go there you'll get a lot of information that obviously we don't have time to present to you, you know, when we come to your meetings...so we get very little time here and I know we will get a formal presentation time but that will be limited as well."

Advisory commission chair Salk interrupted Mr. Kowal and said, "You've had time...You've had time to present at these meetings. Don't keep saying that. I refuse to let you get away with that. You've had plenty of time to present at these meetings. And I take umbrage at it. And for you to stand here as you did last month and tell us that it doesn't make any difference about these presentations being conducted here, nothing's going to happen, well I resent that and I resent it for the entire commission. You are an embarrassment to your cause."

Mr. Kowal replied, "Well thank you so much, Commissioner. Thank you. And I think that's an embarrassment for you to state that about a member that comes before you to speak to the public..."

While Mr. Kowal spoke, Chair Salk continued, "You are an embarrassment to your cause. I won't have it. I won't have it. If you have a question or a presentation, go ahead and make it," then raised his voice and declared "Sit down!" emphasized with a strike of his gavel.

Mr. Kowal replied "very good," stepped away from the podium and subsequently exited the meeting.

Chair Salk added, "If you have a presentation or a question, make it. You're an embarrassment to the cause that you espouse. [pause] This is not for that purpose."

To hear the exchange (in MP3 format), click here.

After intervening speakers [one of whom credited LBReport.com as his LB news source, thank you] 8th Council district runoff candidate and LBHUSH2 founder Rae Gabelich came to the podium and in a calm but firm tone of voice stated:

"...I find what happened here tonight to be very offensive...[T]o drive him [Mr. Kowal] out of here after all of the hard, hard work he has done, each one of us has done, I find that offensive."

Advisory commission member Robert Luskin responded:

Advisory commission chair Salk spoke again:

Directing his remarks to chair Salk, Advisory commission member Doug Haubert replied: