I know to some this message will be very painful, to some infuriating, and to others music to their ears as fodder for political talking points and hit pieces. Believe me, it pains me to have had to have come to this. For four years I have painfully watched all of this and other disturbing developments unfold that at first I couldn’t believe, that I then didn’t want to believe and then finally that I could no longer ignore. I must admit that when I first entered the political scene years back, I had the utmost respect for Bruce Whitaker and had admired his demeanor and his positions. That respect is long gone.
Many may not fully understand my motivations for writing this article, many will accuse me of attacking one of our own. Bruce is nowhere near one of our own as you will soon see. Others may be rejoicing at the apparent division. Ladies and gentlemen, my modus operandi has always been to tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may because the truth will stand on its own.
The Nelson line up for the fall season
VOTING THE RIGHT WAY MOST OF THE TIME IS NOT ENOUGH WHEN YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED EVERY TIME. THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS BEEN UNCHALLENGED FOR 4 YEARS NOW. LOOK WHERE FULLERTON IS. ONCE A SCAM GETS TO THE COUNCIL, TRYING TO STOP IT THERE IS LIKE TRYING TO PERFORM CPR ON A CADAVER. THESE SCAMS AND GIOVEAWAYS AT CITY HALL HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY AND VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED IN THE EARLY STAGES. LEADERS SOUND THE ALARM, NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CADAVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU TO DO MOUTH TO MOUTH ON.
FLORY, FITZGERALD AND CHAFFEE ARE OPEN BOOKS AND STAND FOR UNION GIVEAWAYS, DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES AND MORE EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT. WE KNOW WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE. GREG IS MORPHING INTO THEM AS WE SPEAK.
SO WHO HEAVILY FINANCED BRUCE’S CAMPAIGN IN 2012 TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $40,000? WAS IT NONE OTHER THAN TONY BUSHALA? WHY HAS TONY BUSHALA BEEN TOTALLY SILENT ON ALL THIS HORRIFIC OUT OF CONTROL DEVELOPMENT IN FULLERTON? IS BRUCE PLAYING SOME SORT OF A GAME ON THE RESIDENTS?
IT IS THE DUTY OF TRUE CONSERVATIVES TO EXPOSE THE PHONIES LIKE FITZGERALD, OUT THE PHONIES LIKE FITZGERALD AND STAND UP FOR THE RESIDENTS. LETTING FITZGERALD OFF THE HOOK FOR 4 YEARS IS INEXCUSABLE. LOOK WHERE WE ARE. HIS BOSS NELSON IS SUPPORTING BOTH BRUCE AND FITZGERALD IN 2016-WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
Instead of Bruce doing everything in his power to tip the balance on the council and expose his boss Nelson’s sacred cow Fitzgerald WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE DECIDING VOTE EVERY TIME, he goes along to get along, ignores vital issues, remains totally silent on others, and pontificates only when it makes no difference when it is far too late when his vote means nothing. This has allowed Fitzgerald to be the deciding vote that screws Fullerton over every time. Bruce’s silence and absence of resistance and opposition to the fact that we have a lobbyist as our mayor is mind boggling unless you understand how the game is played. He plays it safe with the bosses, pontificates when it is too little too late, means nothing, has no impact, and ensures that the agendas move along with a semblance of conservative opposition. He has and continues to allow her to remain on the council in spite of her built in conflict of interest, her horrible voting record, and then votes to give her the mayor title on the ballot. WATCH WHO ENDORSES BRUCE AND JENNIFER WHO HAVE OPPOSITE VOTING RECORDS. IT WILL SHOW YOU HOW PHONY AND RIGGED THIS WHOLE THING IS. Enough insanity folks.
You see going along to get along has resulted in Fullerton being so far gone that it will not be recognizable very, very soon. Our problems as a community are huge and the solutions require a major sea change in politics. Fullerton is awash in red ink, greed, corruption and cronyism. Fullerton is full of busted up roads, screwed up zoning, massive development, out of control traffic, a corrupt police department, out of control spending and of course politicians that keep all this going. We need to end the status quo, remove the status quo’s henchmen and women and expose those who ostensibly come in peace, seem to be on our side and betray us in clever ways that only those who are really paying attention would ever notice.
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When there was a major fiscal issue brought to Councilman Bruce Whitaker by his appointee to the Park and Recreation Committee, Mr. Levinson, Bruce Whitaker was totally silent. He never uttered a word in his capacity as a city councilman about the 4 to 5 million dollars being squandered by the city of Fullerton on the Fullerton Golf Course contract over 20 years as shown by Mr. Levinson in great detail. Mr. Whitaker totally ignored Mr. Levinson on this critical issue.
Equally disturbing, on another occasion, Fullerton Park and Recreation commissioner Barry Levinson was totally unaware that the Summit House Restaurant 25-year extension was to be incorrectly brought before the city council because Joe Felz decided to bypass the Parks and Recreation Department first even though the Summit House sits on Fullerton publicly owned parkland. It still had 16 years left on its sweetheart lease and they wanted to sneak through another 25 year extension behind everyone’s back.
This land is your land this land is my land
Councilmember Whitaker had at least 72-hour advance knowledge that this was on the city council agenda as a CONSENT ITEM and yet according to Mr. Levinson, Mr. Whitaker never contacted him and apprised him of this situation. Why not? Why the silence? Why did Bruce Whitaker not immediately discuss this critical issue with his appointee on the Park and Recreation Commission, Barry Levinson?
Barry Levinson
As Mr. Levinson and I were in attendance at that meeting, Barry pointed out at that council meeting that it was totally improper for the city to fail to bring this agenda item to the Park and Recreation Committee first and even more unconscionable that it was then put on the city council agenda as a CONSENT ITEM. No one vetted this agenda item but the city nevertheless the city wanted to very quietly and surreptitiously pass it without any discussion. Even after Mr. Levinson stopped this in its tracks, Mr. Whitaker, who appointed Mr. Levinson remained totally silent on the issue. Apparently Council member Whitaker does not want to disturb the establishment order in Fullerton. This attempted hijacking of public property was directed back to the Park and Recreation Committee for first consideration. Mr. Levinson learned later from Hugo Curiel, Director of Parks and Recreation at a subsequent Parks and Recreation Committee meeting that the owner of the Summit House rescinded his request for the 25-year extension that would have taken the lease arrangement through 2060.
back room deal gone bad thanks to Barry
Barry, the one honest committee member was the lone voice who pulled the consent item on the city council agenda and pointed out the obvious before it was about to be approved 5 to 0 by a phony, corrupt city council without any discussion. Once again the city council and of course the city manager was attempting to do a huge financial favor for one of its special interest friends while at the same time screwing the Fullerton public. Did I mention that the Summit House was built with Fullerton Redevelopment money? Redevelopment was supposed to be used to fix “blighted areas”. Since when is parkland on one of the prettiest vistas in all of Northern Orange County next to million dollar neighborhoods considered blighted?
As Barry Levinson continued to do his job as a commissioner speaking out on various issues that directly and adversely affect the community at large, and doing so as an appointee of Bruce Whitaker , the climate at these public meetings got so bad that Mr. Levinson was shut down and not allowed to conclude his remarks after speaking only a few minutes during the communications period of the meeting. This is the part of the meeting on the agenda for Commissioners to speak on any item or topic that falls within the purview of the Park and Recreation Commission and Department.
going along to get along-Fitzgerald appointee Cox
In response to this egregious behavior, Mr. Levinson contacted formally in writing all council members including Mr. Whitaker and again Mr. Whitaker chose to remain totally silent. Bruce not only failed to defend Mr. Levinson’s doing his job, his right to speak in an open meeting, and carrying out his duties as Bruce’s appointee, he totally ignored him once again.
On June 23, 2016 Mr. Whitaker offered up some insight into his failure to ask for an investigation into what I believe to be a criminal attempt to get Mr. Levinson charged with a bogus misdemeanor crime in order to have him removed from his position as the Chair of The Park and Recreation Commission. “On an objective City Council, I could have obtained a majority vote to launch an outside investigation. No chance to do so in this case where perhaps a majority participated in the collusive effort to remove him.”
First it does not explain the fact that according to Commissioner Levinson that on two separate occasions that Councilman Whitaker told Barry that if anybody from the public requests of the council an investigation into this incident, that Bruce would so attempt to get it agendized. Three different Fullerton citizens including Mr. Levinson and myself did just that yet Bruce to this day remains silent on this issue.
Second, Bruce boasts of supporting Barry when most on the council were in Bruce’s words “collusively trying to remove him from the committee”. Ironically, it was Bruce Whitaker himself who, without any advanced warning to Mr. Levinson, did the exact same thing without giving a single solitary reason for his unusual move in terminating Mr. Levinson from the Park and Recreation Commission.
Lastly, Bruce has stated above and on many other occasions that his refusal to bring something important forward at council is due to the lack of votes Bruce has on the council. If that is the reason for his silence why does he always pontificate on specific agenda items which are before the council that really should be voted down when he knows it will be passed by his fellow council members?
I will answer my own question. It is because we can count on Bruce only when there is an issue guaranteed to pass in the council to then and only then speak out and feign courage as the lonely voice of reason. You rarely speak out in front of an issue to change the outcome for the better but rather speak only after the bad outcome is assured. Leadership demands speaking out often to rally support and affect change? You are more like a funeral director, talking about what could have been after the fight or the body has already been lost. How pathetic and more importantly deceitful that this has been Bruce’s modus operandi for 6 years!
Bruce voted to make this woman mayor as he never goes after Nelson’s sacred cow and Pringle lobbyist up on the dais Fitzgerald
Six years and what are his accomplishments…. voting to appoint Jennifer Fitzgerald as Mayor in an election year no less so her name will appear on the ballot as MAYOR making her defeat much more difficult…voting for a totally phony districting Map for Fullerton, Map 8A, which basically destroys downtown as a separate neighborhood and fireworks.
What are just a few of your incredible failures?
Never demanding or much less asking Jennifer Fitzgerald to disclose her client list from Curt Pringle and Associates, a very large lobbyist and public relations firm with ties to many Southern California government entities. This list is necessary for her to disclose for it is the only way to ensure that she does not have a conflict of interest while representing the people of Fullerton. I have formally asked for this in writing and verbally during public comment periods which Bruce has done no such thing.
Voting to appoint Jennifer Fitzgerald Mayor of Fullerton in her compromised position as V.P of Curt Pringle and Associates with no transparency on her part.
Voting to appoint Ma’Ayn Johnson to the Planning Commission when she has a built-in conflict of interest as a senior planner for the unelected Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). She recently stated that the population growth of Fullerton is inevitable and we need to plan for it. The facts are that significant growth is only inevitable if the Planning Commission and the City Council continue to vote for zoning changes that allow for high-rise development in a city with little open land except for West Coyote Hills. She and her allies on SCAG push for this high-rise Agenda 21 Growth consistently making her biased as a commissioner. Bruce has refused to agendize her removal from the planning commission and remains silent on this issue.
Never asking for an investigation into an apparent criminal conspiracy lead by the FPD and the City council against Mr. Levinson. His poor excuse for being silent was that he did not have the votes. Question: Why does he normally pontificate on the loosing end of so, so many agenda items? Why even show up for work with that attitude?
Refusing to agendize an investigation by Michael Genacco into the attempted framing of Barry Levinson even after several residents including myself had specifically publicly asked him to do so. This was a prime example of how a concerted effort by city officials could have led to falsely imprisoning of innocent men.
Totally ignoring Mr. Levinson’s very detailed and well supported analysis of how the City of Fullerton is in the process of wasting 4 to 5 million dollars over a 20-year period starting in December 2010 by their actions to voluntarily change their agreement with American Golf Corporation to run the Fullerton Golf Course. At the same time Bruce was pushing for an audit committee on the council he was continuing to ignore his own appointee Barry Levinson on the Park and Rec commission who is an internal auditor by profession! Bruce wants an audit committee and ignores this?
Voting to disenfranchise the people of downtown Fullerton with a vote for Map 8A.
When Bruce had the votes to make a difference after the recall election he chose to put his political capital into legalizing Safe and Sane Fireworks at the direction of Shawn Nelson. By doing so he squandered a golden opportunity to make real changes in Fullerton.
Failure to respond to my request to make a motion to agendize a change in selling city of Fullerton property from the current closed door, sole source negotiations to mandating every sale must be done on an open and competitive basis.
Failure to give any reasons for his dismissal of Mr. Levinson from the Park and Recreation Committee nor any warning whatsoever that he was dissatisfied with Mr. Levinson’s performance.
No wonder the City of Fullerton government continues to be such a total mess. No one on that council has the integrity and courage to consistently do the right thing. Without character or courage on the dais we the people of Fullerton are at the mercy of a very broken city government.
Mr. Whitaker has a ton of explaining to do to both Mr. Levinson and to the good people of Fullerton. It is so sad to realize that Mr. Whitaker has been the consummate politician when we the people of Fullerton desperately needed a statesmen and a leader which he so cleverly portends to be when in my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth. 
Leaders lead, leaders rally the troops, leaders sound the alarm, leaders warn others of impending situations that are harmful to the community.
I guess the bar has been so low for so long in this town that Bruce actually believes he is what he claims to be. You know that a great voting record means nothing when Bruce is making sure that it will continue to mean nothing by giving corruption a pass, maintaining the establishment balance of power on the dais all the while aiding and abetting the re-election of Fitzgerald.
November will be very interesting to say the least folks especially if Fullerton really opens her eyes. Time will tell and don’t accept any wooden nickels in the meantime ladies and gentlemen. There are far too many in the political mix in this town that need to turned in to the counterfeit office.
#1 by Anonymous on June 30, 2016 - 9:24 am
Mr. Imbriano will probably always continue to be there fighting for others no matter what. I know Joe. Its just how he is wired, He’s a the kind of person you you either really, really love or really, really hate. He’s really, really intense and there is no doubt about it. Fact is he has had a tremendous impact on this community already and I know he will continue to do so.
#2 by Anonymous on June 30, 2016 - 3:58 pm
Pretty sure he’s just annoyed a bunch of people. Not sure if you’d call that a “tremendous impact.”
#3 by Anonymous on June 30, 2016 - 9:56 pm
He has pissed alot of people off and at the same time woken alot of people up. He has also stopped alot of shit from going through. Give the guy credit. He has earned it. he may not get elected but he may not even need to.
#4 by Nice Try on June 30, 2016 - 11:03 pm
Well the Chief of Police does not instigate bogus charges and conduct a totally bogus investigation against activist Mr. Levinson, get the majority of the city council to participate in the attempted frame-up because he was and is only an annoyance to him and city hall. Instead the truth is that Mr. Levinson has had a tremendous impact stopping the forces of corruption and crony capitalism in the city of Fullerton.
#5 by Joe Imbriano on June 30, 2016 - 11:54 pm
You can say that again. Practically every scam from the DCCSP to the Summit house deal, College Town, to the Pollys project to the Hunt Library all of the tracks. Barry was right there making sure the residents were represented. I know because I was right there next to him. What does he get? Fired by Bruce Whitaker with NO REASON GIVEN. Maybe we ought to fire Bruce Whitaker in November. I hear Jesus Silva is running. South Fullerton isn’t so locked up for Bruce anymore.
#6 by Fullerton's Conscience on July 1, 2016 - 7:30 am
All the above has been stopped cold or delayed and Mr. Levinson has lead the charge to derail all of the above with a bright light shown on these terrible agenda items. For if they were so good for the people of Fullerton, Mr. Levinson’s rationale and logical objections would not have stopped council from passing any of them let alone all of them. Mr Levinson and this blog run by Mr. Imbriano has had a chilling impact on the crony capitalistic plans of our city government. The efforts of Levinson and Imbriano should inspire others to start to come to council meetings and speak out against those elected and appointed representatives who choose not to act in the best interests of the people of Fullerton.
#7 by Sloppy Joe on July 1, 2016 - 10:05 am
Or . . .
These two have propogated wild conspiracy theories about Fullerton that had no foundation in reality.
It’s really easy to take credit for stopping things that never even came close to starting.
#8 by Fullerton Lover on July 1, 2016 - 11:23 am
I wholeheartedly agree with Fullerton’s Conscience, as these two men have kept the truth out there front and center, by exposing these political puppets at every turn, as well as the special interests puppeteers that pull their strings who pay to get them re-elected, right past the unsuspecting Fullerton residents who are pre-occupied working and raising families and are too busy to notice that the candidates endorsed by the public safety unions are merely posing as patriotic councilman and women, and instead are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Sloppy Joe’s posts have consistently badgered Barry and Joe for merely standing up to these charlatan’s charade much the same way that a school yard bully tries to intimidate those that they perceive as a threat and they want to intimidate into silence.
Won’t happen.
Guaranteed.
p.s. I’m not Joe or Barry. Just someone who cares.
#9 by Sloppy Joe on July 1, 2016 - 2:56 pm
Fullerton Lover, I’m just misunderstood.
Kudos and applause for Joe and Barry for standing up for what they believe . . . And even taking their lumps for it. That’s noble behavior.
If my comments are consistent, they’re only consistently mocking Joe for having a sloppy relationship with the truth.
Like reporting and never correcting that the City planned to sell a library for $1,300,000.
Or starting that the world is flat because water falls off of a sphere.
Things like that.
#10 by Fullerton Lover on July 1, 2016 - 5:45 pm
“Instead of plotting conspiracy theories based on lies you recklessly repeat, why don’t you just try not being a dick for a change? 139,999 people in Fullerton manage to do so every single day. You can, too.
If you think you can run a library for less money, I’m sure everyone would love to hear how, but no one is going to help you or listen if you treat everyone like inferiors”
Sloppy Joe, instead of mean spirited remarks like this one you directed at the messenger (Joe), you should be asking yourself why the city of Fullerton is so hard pressed for money that they can’t even afford to fund the operating costs, not the building,not the land, the operating costs, to staff a children’s library?
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hunt-707994-library-city.html
Yet the same city council that couldn’t seem to find any money in the city budget for the past three years for our children to enjoy the library that they had, this same city council can somehow magically conjure up a couple of million dollars of our money to repay the public safety union employees who funded their political ambitions?
http://docs.cityoffullerton.com/weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=1
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-707709-seems-parking.html
Maybe I should have given my children a bigger allowance so that they’ll be able to counter influence the public safety unions money, when they start closing down parks that they can’t afford to police.
Ooops! Too late! Check out this article about a children’s park named Richman Park which appeared in the latest Fullerton Observer…
Why has the city allowed Richman Park
to get so bad? The park is closed at sundown
yet there are homeless people sleeping
there on tables and benches all night,
every night. They make a lot of noise and
drink and smoke all night. There are
always shopping carts all over the park full
of junk these people collect.
The gangsters are there a lot also. They
tag the walls of the restrooms and garages
of surrounding homes.
A lot of people living around the park
have to go to work each morning and
have to listen to the noise all night from
the people fighting and partying in the
park.
There is a motor home that parks there
all day and night with 4 little girls and
their mom living in it. That can’t be good
for them.
I’m afraid to go there, even in daylight.
I would never take my kids there. We
never see any police enforcing the laws.
Are they afraid or just don’t want to be
bothered with the mess?
Something must be done. Thanks for
listening.
A Concerned Citizen Fullerton
ED: The Observer forwarded a copy of
your letter to the police department and
spoke to a city Director of Parks &
Recreation. See their response below.
Call the police non-emergency number
at (714-738-6716) and Fullerton Parks &
Recreation Department (714-738-6575)
to report issues (they answer the phone as
“community center”).
Thanks for alerting the paper about
this. Please keep us posted on any
improvements – or if improvements are
not made we would also like to know.
#11 by Sloppy Joe on July 1, 2016 - 7:59 pm
Oh Fullerton Lover. You miss the point.
There’s plenty of time to critique Joe’s lies and critique how the city spends its money. They’re not mutually exclusive!
Your use of the word bully is amusing. Misplaced, but amuzing. Have a great weekend. Enjoy your fireworks that Travis got for you.
#12 by Reality Is..... on July 2, 2016 - 8:11 pm
Was that Travis’ legacy? He got fireworks approved? I didn’t think he was around long enough for that.
#13 by Fullerton Lover on July 2, 2016 - 11:07 pm
Oh Sloppy Joe!
I didn’t miss the point.
You did!
The reason that Fullerton has safe and sane fireworks on the 4th of July, wasn’t due to anyone on the Fullerton city council, it was actually implemented after Measure X was voted into law by the residents of Fullerton in 2012.
https://ballotpedia.org/Fullerton_Sales_of_Fireworks_in_the_City,_Measure_X_(November_2012)
I tried to help you from spreading your manure by asking you to start showing your references or whatever evidence you have that supports your position, in order to save you from further personal embarrassment, because like I said before, basically, I’m just someone that cares about people, and it seems important to me to facilitate getting the truth out there so Fullerton residents can make objective choices, rather than having to digest the repetitive rhetoric you seem to be fond of spewing.
#14 by Sloppy Joe on July 3, 2016 - 5:14 pm
I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. Evidence to support what claims? (Second time I’ve asked.)
Enjoy your fourth. You seem to forget how measure X got on the ballot in the first place.
#15 by Reality Is.. on July 3, 2016 - 7:18 pm
Lover is just learning the process and facts. You have to remember he lives life off what Joe and Barry tell him.
🙂