Seal Beach is a wonderful community. We need to keep it that way. This website has been posted by Save Our Seal Beach to advocate the recall of City Council member Charles Antos who has proved an unfit municipal steward in his highly partisan, unforthright and irresponsible actions in office. (see Notice of Intention)
Recent research shows that Charles Antos was fired from his job as a Seal Beach city planner in 1983 for conflict of interest.
 Mr. Antos,
- Why are you so hostile to displaying American flags on Labor Day that you call out the police to remove them? Antos abused the police powers of the City with 3 squad cars of officers to take as a “hazard” 75 US flags from their traditional Seal Way display, just to politically “punish” Old Town businessman, resident Jim Klisanin for opposing the Antos machine.
- Why are you so hostile to Seal Beach small businesses that you won’t stop downzoning them? Ordinance 1576 AGAIN takes use and value from our already financially burdened business owners’ properties.
- Why are you so hostile to the Sand Castle Competition and its sponsors that you eliminated this great annual event? Antos and his wife deliberately acted to end this family-friendly and highly popular event over the flimsiest of concocted excuses, because of personal resentments toward the organizers.
- Why are you hostile to the Chamber of Commerce and continually attack it? Antos routinely bases City decisions on his special interest obligations, and his personal likes and dislikes of the persons involved. This is no way to run a town.
- Why are you hostile to home improvements? Antos, who ran for office promising owners “NO CHANGE” and modest growth, lied – and relentlessly practices eminent domain abuse, downsizing and downzoning private property to please his contributors. His lame excuse for flip-flopping to CHANGE the zoning code is, “it hasn’t been changed in 35 years.” He ignores the inconvenient fact that his CHANGES ARE ILLEGAL.
- Why did you use eminent domain against Oakwood Apartments and waste taxpayers’ money to take a property for the City of Seal Beach that Seal Beach does not even use? The cost of this idiotic action was over $250,000.00, and was completely unnecessary, as Oakwood offered the City free access as needed. Invoking eminent domain did, however, provide fees and billable hours to Antos crony, the City Attorney.
- Why are you hostile to parks and recreation facilities in Seal Beach? Under Antos, the City now ranks at the bottom of youth program and facilities development in Orange County. He spent most of the money from the sale of the Zoeter school site that should have been plowed back into parks and recreation to re-pave Ocean Avenue to benefit his campaign contributors.
- Why are you hostile to having community and public meetings for Seal Beach organizations at reasonable fees in our community centers? City rates for community use of our centers have increased from 400% to 6,000%, and will have a chilling effect on youth programs, volunteerism, and local activism.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH
BAD GOVERNMENT
Under the Antos machine, City Hall is rife with cronyism, corruption and petty political favors. It is past time to halt the special interest stranglehold and mismanagement of our town.
RECALL ANTOS
Paid for by Recall Antos – A Project of Save Our Seal Beach – PO Box 986, Seal Beach, CA 90740
www.RecallAntos.com www.SaveOurSealBeach.com |
Recent research shows that Charles Antos was fired from his job as a Seal Beach city planner in 1983 for conflict of interest.
Speech to the Seal Beach City Council 8-25-2008 by Richard Barbazette:
No matter which side of the rezoning issue you are on, we should all agree : Seal Beach deserves city representatives who are honest, fair, trustworthy and law abiding.
At the last council meeting, I spoke of six facts that show Mayor Antos fails on these counts and should be recalled.
I quoted a Register article about the fact that “Antos was in fact fired”[1] by the City of Seal Beach. I also quoted several negative comments about Mr. Antos’ conduct, made by city officials, including the mayor at the time of Antos’ firing, Victor Grgas.
Mayor Antos disputed the accuracy of the stories and said that the officials’ comments must have been based on faulty reporting. He also said he was never fired.
I researched original Seal Beach Journal articles written at the time. The full truth is very revealing:
- Article one’s headline, dated September 21, 1983, says “Parker (the city manager) fires Charles Antos”[2]. It states that Charles Antos was fired for “failing to make a full disclosure of his personal interest in a mobile home located in the Seal Beach Trailer Park while that property was under consideration for a height limit variance by the Seal Beach Planning Commission.”
- Article two, dated October 19th, 1983, entitled “Parker defends Antos firing”[3], says a citizen reported Antos was still involved with property in the park, despite Antos’ claims that he had divested his interest in the park.
The mayor at the time, Victor Grgas, brought the matter to City Manager Parker’s attention and he confronted Antos. Antos said he had deeded the property to another person and he no longer had an interest in it. However, Parker found that:
- “Antos was still receiving mortgage payments for the trailer, which he had not divulged”[3],
- “Antos had paid one half of the plan costs and the permit fees” [3] for a second story addition (cabana) to the building,
- “Antos allegedly received $250 payment from the other person, which he did not declare as income.” [3] and
- “A contractor, who was building a cabana (second-story) for the trailer, along with Antos and Maitin (Antos’ partner) was going to do future projects from profits made if and when the trailer was sold.” [3]
The end of this story is that “the city agreed to drop the charges in exchange for Antos’ resignation”[4], as reported on October 26th, 1983.
You’ve seen it before: an organization issues a “whitewash” statement to avoid a legal battle in exchange for the resignation of a “bad” apple. In fact, City Manager Parker stated, “There would have been no negotiations of the charges if Antos had not agreed to resign beforehand.” [4]
Later, Mayor at that time, Victor Grgas said, “Antos was guilty of more than just a technical violation.”[1]
So, we have three Journal articles, written at the time, one well sourced Register article written in 2002 and the statements of the mayor and the city manager, at the time. On the other side you have Charles Antos. You decide who is telling the truth, who is withholding information and who was being self-serving. I’ve made my decision.
It seems that when Mayor Antos wants increased height limits he sees value in the square footage it will add, if it will line his pockets. But, if other people see value in their current height limits or buildable square footage it means nothing to him, because he has nothing personally to gain.
To those who are today concerned that developers will invade Seal Beach to turn a quick profit on height limits need look no further than our Mayor.
What we are left with is a Mayor who is focused on his own self-interests, whether that be as a silent investor, below-the-radar developer or city official beholden to the special interest group who put him in office.
These posters of articles will be available in the lobby during the break. Thank you.
Richard Barbazette
Old Town
Seal Beach
[1] The O.C. Register article: 4/13/2002 by Paige Austin
[2] The Journal September 21, 1983, “Parker fires Charles Antos”
[3] The Journal October 26, 1983, “Charges dropped, Antos quits”
[4] The Journal October 26, 1983, “Charges dropped, Antos quits”
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The House Antos Built
Richard Barbazette
Old Town
Seal Beach
September 2, 2008
VIA HAND DELIVERY
CONFIRMED BY U.S. MAIL
Ms. Linda Devine
City Clerk
City of Seal Beach
211 8th Street
Seal Beach, CA. 90740
Re: Records surrounding 137 Cottonwood Lane, Seal Beach, CA. 90740
Dear Ms. Devine:
As you are undoubtedly aware, a petition to recall Mayor Charles Antos is in the process of being circulated. In the interests of an informed electorate, I request the following information concerning the reported[1] co-ownership and development by Charles Antos of a trailer and subsequent addition of a two-story cabana at 137 Cottonwood Lane, Seal Beach, CA. 90740 while he was employed as a Seal Beach’s planner and Head of the Redevelopment Agency:
Demand is hereby made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, et Seq.) and the California Public Records Act (Gov. C. 6250 et seq.) for:
- All documents that concern ownership (including co-ownership), building permits, proposed or approved building variances, plot maps, lot descriptions and setbacks and/or inspections that involve 137 Cottonwood Lane during the period Charles Antos was employed by the City of Seal Beach.
- All documents relating to Redevelopment Agency rules and/or requirements concerning low income status for owners and/or occupants of 137 Cottonwood Lane during the period Charles Antos was employed by the City of Seal Beach.
- The job description, rules of conduct and office holders of the position of Head of the Redevelopment Agency during the period Charles Antos was employed by the City of Seal Beach.
- All documents concerning City Council, Planning Commission and/or Redevelopment Agency consideration that refer or relate to any aspect of 137 Cottonwood, Lane during the period Charles Antos was employed by the City of Seal Beach.
To the extent that any documents are responsive to more than one document request, only a single copy of the document must be produced.
I believe that the requested records are subject to disclosure under both the Freedom of Information Act and the Public Records Act. Thus, the City is required to produce these responsive documents in full and as soon as possible. If the City
should decide to withhold any requested records, please notify me in writing within 10 days of receipt of this request. Indicate in that correspondence the records within the scope of the request that will be withheld and the City’s justification, including, (1) the identities of the author and recipients of such documents; (2) the date prepared; (3) the privilege being asserted; (4) the subject matter of the document. (See 5 U.S.C. 552(b); Gov. C. 6253, 6255)
Thank you, in advance, for your efforts in responding to this request.
Best regards,
Richard Barbazette
[1] The Journal, October 19, 1983 by William G. Quinn
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Newsclippings:
The Sun , July 24, 2008 "Seal Beach City Council Approves Revised Zoning Code"
The Sun , July 24, 2008 "Mayor Antos Responds to Recall Notice"
The Sun , July 17, 2008 "Group Starts Effort to Recall Antos"
Gifts to My Grandchildren
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: Neighbors with differing points of view can have coffee or break bread and discuss the local issues in a calm atmosphere of mutual respect.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: Growth, business and residential, occurs at a gradual, tolerable pace that recognizes we aren’t a planned community with CC& R restrictions demanding strict adherence to centrally dictated color schemes, height limits and architectural criteria. Seal Beach has always been a little bit “funky’ and a little “rock and roll” and that’s worth preserving.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: People who buy a one story beach cottage realize that there is no guarantee that in the course of their lifetime their neighbors, in the course of fulfilling their own dreams, will not build a two story house next to them. Or even, a house with a “dog house” or third story in the rear. I am sorry…I’ve learned in my 67 years that life doesn’t come with such guarantees.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: The City Council works to create harmony among the citizens, strives to find a middle ground to emotionally charged issues and represents all segments of the city, not just a narrow group who engineered their election or appointment.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: Neighbors don’t act to reduce or eliminate the rights of the many in order to control the actions of a few who want to live in a house larger or taller than the one they want to live in. Simply put, a place where neighbors hesitate to force their taste and standards on everyone else.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: When you purchase a property you can count on the city not to pull the rug out from under you and that you should be able to take the City’s word “to the bank”.
I would like my grandchildren to grow up in a Seal Beach where: People don’t think that every change is a crisis or a catastrophe demanding government intervention and regulation.
Finally, I would like raise grandchildren smart enough to know that when then they are told the ”check is in the mail” or “I am from the government and I am here to help you” or “the Seal Beach City Council just wants to take a little bit of your property rights away from you”, it’s a lie…and they had better act to stop the City Council.
Richard Barbazette
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The following Notice of Intention lists in detail the grounds for recalling Antos:
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CIRCULATE RECALL PETITION
TO THE HONORABLE CHARLES ANTOS, Councilmember of the City of Seal Beach City Council, First Councilmanic District: Pursuant to the City of Seal Beach City Charter section 514 and California Elections Code section 11020, the undersigned registered qualified voters of the City of Seal Beach, in the County of Orange, California, hereby give notice that we are the proponents of a recall petition and that we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of Councilmember of the City of Seal Beach City Council, First Councilmanic District, in the County of Orange, California, and to demand election of a successor in that office.
The grounds for the recall are as follows:
Councilmember Antos proved an unfit municipal steward in his highly partisan, unforthright and irresponsible actions in office, to wit;
Councilmember Antos violated his sworn oath of office, the public trust and the common good promoting ordinances to take private property use and value from homeowners throughout Seal Beach without just compensation or proper due process in an effort to advance special interests.
Councilmember Antos as an unethical public servant, unlawfully maneuvered to nullify the citizens’ legitimate rights to referendum.
Councilmember Antos failed to develop City Codes that conform to California state best practices for cities.
Councilmember Antos caused the City of Seal Beach to incur substantial legal and financial liability for (1) litigation correcting its failure to ensure lawful processes, including proper notification of public hearings concerning private takings ordinances; and (2) lawsuits seeking damages for eminent domain/regulatory takings abuse of homeowners.
Councilmember Antos advanced private property takings ordinances to appease special interests and garner their support for re-election.
Councilmember Antos violated the spirit and letter of California state law guaranteeing public access and participation in City Council meetings, public hearings and City Redevelopment meetings.
Councilmember Antos promoted policies harmful to Seal Beach small businesses and families.
The printed names, signatures and business or residence addresses of the proponents are as follows:
s/ Eldon Alexander 119 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ David Carroll 321 16th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Kelly Kaltenbach 132 12th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Robert L. Black 132 12th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ John Cahoon 13C/14C Pacific Surfside, CA 90743
s/ Darlene M. Cahoon C14 Pacific Surfside, CA 90743
s/ Richard Parque 118 6th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Romy Mahoney 324 10th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Pat Mahoney 324 10th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Marguerite Menzel 1211 Electric Ave. Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Barry Menzel 1211 Electric Ave. Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Kevin Rigdon 216 B 7th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Debbie Dickinson 515 Ocean Ave. Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Charlie Dickinson 515 Ocean Ave. Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Lawrence Alexander 119 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Beverly Pearce 321 16th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Carolyn P. Alexander 119 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Charles M. Parker 119 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Pamela Edson 128 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Jeff Edson 128 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Mary Parker Lewis 119 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ William R. McMahon 1213 Seal Way Seal Beach, CA 90740
s/ Jim Klisanin 218 11th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
A copy of this notice and proof of service will be filed with the City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach. You may file an answer to the statement of the proponents with the City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach within 7 days after the notice is filed. It may not be more than 200 words. If an answer is filed, a copy of it must also be served personally or by certified mail within that same 7-day period on one of the above proponents. The answer shall have your printed name, signature, and business or residence address.
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JULY 21, 2008
Open letter to Mayor Charles Antos:
P.O. Box 986
Seal Beach CA 90740
Open Letter to Mayor Charles Antos
City of Seal Beach
City Hall, 211 8th Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
July 14, 2008
Dear Sir,
In light of the Citizens’ Recall against you, and the need for truth, transparency, accountability and true community in our town, and in public service, we request that you authorize this public request giving legal release to allow the City of Seal Beach to disclose all of your prior personnel records from the period when you were a Seal Beach City employee, especially those records related to your alleged involuntary termination (firing) and your subsequent rehiring.
The release specifically negates any "gag" order binding on the city and indemnifies any City personnel from discussing the termination and the circumstances surrounding it.
 
Mary Lewis Eldon Alexander
President Director, Public Affairs
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Instead of an unsupportable drive for ill conceived zoning, Seal Beach's Old Town District One really needs a council person who can address some key problems:
1. Public safety on the beach/pier area
2. Modern alleys with earthquake safe underground utilities
3. Poor condition of pier facilities and restrooms
In an infamous city council meeting, a husband and wife told a terrible story about an attack on their son at the pier. The council discussed this for only about five minutes and then spent two plus hours wasting time on Mr. Antos' zoning project. Where are the right priorities?
RecallAntos.com is collecting contact information of interested people who support our mission -- please enter your contact information at http://www.saveoursealbeach.com/join.php. You also may email us at info@saveoursealbeach.com.
Paid for by Save Our Seal Beach
P.O. Box 986
Seal Beach, CA 90740
www.saveoursealbeach.com
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