Screen save: www.SoLongDeLong.com

(Nov. 25, 2007) -- A www.SoLongDeLong.com website (first reported Nov. 24 by Dave Wielenga of TheDistrictWeekly.com) has appeared. The site, which includes a link to a Secretary of State handbook on recalling elected officials, opens on its front page with a political parody version of the Beach Boys' classic Wendy, reworded to focus on the 3rd district incumbent:

"Gary, Gary what went wrong, oh so wrong; you've been in office for too long...Gary, Gary you've hit the wall, hit the wall; constituents are whispering recall, recall..."

The song (which includes 60's surf music riffs and harmonies) launches on opening the SoLongDeLong.com home page. Its intro is accompanied by an animated bulldozer going through open space, followed by lyrics with a (karaoke style bouncing ball. (The musical bridge shows animated figures with chain saws cutting down trees.)

The website is registered through a protection proxy and it couldn't be immediately determined if the operator is an individual or a committee.

Publicly available records indicate that SoLongDeLong.com was registered on May 1, 2007 and was last updated on Nov. 5, 2007.

Reached for comment [on a cellphone while out for a Sunday afternoon with his family], Councilman DeLong indicated he'd heard about the website yesterday and said:

"When you recognize that I'm a moderate, reflecting the majority views of what Third District residents want, it's not surprising that extremists will be very unhappy with me over some issues. Unfortunately, it's extremists that are usually very passionate about certain things and so as long as I [my views] stay in the majority and in the mainstream, I should expect to receive criticism from both ends of political spectrum."

Councilman DeLong noted that the website's musical reference to a Lennar development [PCH/2nd, SW corner/Seaport Marina Hotel site] has been superceded by events. Lennar withdrew the project last month after community members and Councilman DeLong both expressed misgivings about its traffic impacts and proposed uses. Lennar has withdrawn its application for that project, indicating it plans to return with a new project addressing community concerns, a process Councilman DeLong said he supports.

The website also includes a "Dear Gary" section featuring correspondence opposing [Oct. 2006] certification of the Environmental Impact Report for the Studebaker/Loynes (Home Depot) development. Under "Interesting Articles," the website cites an Oct. 3, 2007 District Weekly piece by Mr. Wielenga ("Going Coastal: If Long Beach’s wetlands fall to the Coastal Commission, they pave the way for houses, condos, a Home Depot and traffic of Biblical proportions. The next move falls to Suja Lowenthal.")

In a cellular parting shot about the website, Councilman DeLong added, "Don't become an elected official unless you have a thick skin."