Tidbits heard around the city

Eron Ben-Yehuda, Ellen McCarty and Andrew Wainer

FAMINE, PESTILENCE AND SQUID

Future books written about the history of Huntington Beach may gain

inspiration from the Old Testament’s account of the plagues brought down

on Egypt.

At the conclusion of Friday’s Downtown committee meeting, City Councilman

and committee member Dave Garofalo breathed a sigh of relief that the

coast appeared clear that day.

“Good news,” he said. “There’s no bacteria, syringes, or dead squid on

the beach.”

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff, though, predicted there’s more in store

for the city.

“But the locusts are coming,” she joked.

A RAISE IS A RAISE IS A RAISE

City Councilman Dave Garofalo loves to tease people, especially other

council members.

At the council meeting Sept. 20, Garofalo suspected less than altruistic

motives behind councilman Tom Harman’s objection to increasing the

council members’ expense accounts, an item included in the two-year

budget approved that night. Harman is vying for the 67th Assembly

district seat being vacated by Scott Baugh.

“I have some trouble with giving myself a pay raise to be honest with

you,” Harman said.

Councilman Dave Sullivan, who disagreed with Harman, said the increase is

justified and asked if the others on the council agreed.

“You made sense,” Garofalo said. “You aren’t running for office.”

BRING A BIGGER BOTTLE NEXT TIME

After listening to a half-hour of public comment at the Sept. 21 City

Council meeting about the Hyundai Motor America display window, Fountain

Valley Councilman Chuck Conlosh held up his water bottle.

“This is the first council meeting where I’ve actually finished a whole

bottle of water,” he said. “Usually, the meetings are so fast, I only

take a few swigs before they’re over.”