"Hogwash, Mr. Gallegos"

TS - Letter to the Editor

On July 11, District Attorney Paul Gallegos appeared before Humboldt County's Code Enforcement Task Force and shared what the press reported as “his frustrations about” a “mutant” structure where he has no authority over code officers, yet all the responsibility for their actions in the field” (Eureka Reporter, 7-12), and he isn't “comfortable with deputizing code enforcement investigators if they are not his employees” (Times-Standard, 7-12). As is often the case with Mr. Gallegos, the truth is otherwise.

For over seven years I was employed by the California District Attorneys Association as a “circuit prosecutor,” in which I was deputized by elected district attorneys in three counties, including by Gallegos. As my legal authority flowed from these elected DA's to me, at all times I answered in my actions as a deputy DA directly to them. On numerous occasions I pointed out this fact to my supervisors in Sacramento, who sometimes felt that they, as my employer, could direct me in my exercise of the DA's authority.

Mr. Gallegos seeks to have it both ways. He has deputized these peace officers, who act under his authority as code enforcement officers, yet claims he cannot control them as his deputies. This is hogwash. The solution is obvious: Insist that these deputies operate subject to his oversight or remove their authority.

It remains unfortunate that our chief law enforcement officer refuses to take responsibility for his actions, placing blame elsewhere. Citizens should rightly expect leadership and honesty, not platitudes and excuses.

Paul Hagen
Eureka
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Update: July 22, 2008 Well! That drew a response from the long dormant Salzman Communications Director, once again struggling to defend Paul Gallegos. What don't you know? The Emperor's clothes are spun of the finest silk! With 24 karat gold embroidery on the hem, and the finest jewels on the bodice. Can't you see it? If you can't, according to the chief deceptor Michael Twombly, you must be a "disgruntled" ex-employee. One who was FIRED thanks to Gallegos. Michael Twombly must be the last rat on this sinking ship. Looks like he's trying to thwart anyone running against his boy.

Hagen should do his homework - Letter to the Editor

Mr. Hagen's screed about the District Attorney's problems with Humboldt's code officers (Hogwash, Mr. Gallegos) a is little but a disgruntled ex-employee's self-serving run-up to challenging Gallegos in the next DA election.

Mr. Hagen's circuit prosecutor position with the DA's Association in years past is not comparable to the “mutant structure” in which Gallegos has no legal authority over code enforcers, but as DA has official responsibility for their irresponsible, dangerous and provocative activities.

This is an obviously intolerable position for any district attorney and needs to be fixed.

In fact, Gallegos states that that deputies must either operate responsibly under his authority or lose their deputy status under the DA's office.

This seems pretty reasonable.

Mr. Hagen needs to do his homework before throwing his hogwash hat in the ring.

Michael Twombly
Bayside

Scared, Mr. Twombly. So quick to jump to the defense. Of the utterly indefensible.

Michael Twombly, "Local Solutions" and MCSD

Early calls coming in said that last week, "Local Solutions" co-founder Michael Twombly appeared at the McKinleyville Community Services District Board meeting asking, on behalf of his 'church,' for relief from a large water bill. The water bill was the result of a leak. The 'church' was located on Boyd Rd.

So what church is it? Further investigation shows, not a church, but a shelter operated by the Humboldt All Faith Partnership.

Asked by Director John Corbett if there had been any ex parte communications, it was revealed that Twombly had contacted both Jeff Dunk and Javan Reid - who happen to be the candidates "Local Solutions" gave money to when they were running for election, and both of which were the subject of the recent Op-Ed by MCSD Manager Tom Marking.

Given how controversial "Local Solutions" involvement in MCSD matters is, you would think Twombly would know better. Even the appearance that he is asking for favors is harmful to both Dunk and Reid. And this request is not out of the ordinary, there would be no real need to lobby. For that matter, Dunk and Reid should have been leery of this contact. Asking for favors from politicians you have given money to is very bad form, especially from someone like Twombly (Salzman's communications director) who is so critical of other people in the local political scene. Perhaps Marking was not so far off base after all.

And is has certainly given rise to a great deal of speculation, given Salzman's blogger "heraldo's" sudden interest in McKinleyville. Ken MIller looked to be the logical suspect, as the only one of the Salzman crew who had a beef with Marking (Mad River Bluffs). But this is an interesting development.

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There are some people who know who "heraldo" is - Eureka City Councilman Larry Glass is likely one of them

It's not our Michael Twombly,

ours is Michael Phillip, not Michael S, I'm pretty sure - but it is funny that there'd be two Michael Twomblys who were into computer spamming...
Spam Guilty Plea
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Perry, who prosecuted the case, court documents allege that Eveloff solicited another individual, Michael S. Twombly, to lease computer access throughout the United States. Twombly then provided the password and login information to Eveloff, allowing Eveloff to send the spam from his computer in Iowa....