Surf City Sentinel
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Huntington Beach news and opinion since 2016, brought to you by Mark Bixby.
Reposted by Surf City Sentinel
#HuntingtonBeach’s former elected maga city attorney, Michael Gates, resigned to take a position in 47’s DOJ, fired for cause (creating a hostile work environment), came back, rehired by the city—😂 put his name to the letter that sank Texas’s gerrymandering. Incompetence at every level. 🤦🏼♀️
The news coverage focuses on the DOJ letter from Harmeet Dhillon that needlessly injected racial gerrymandering allegations which ended up sinking the maps instead of providing political cover for them.
What hasn't been widely reported is that Michael Gates was the co-sender of that letter.
2/6
What hasn't been widely reported is that Michael Gates was the co-sender of that letter.
2/6
November 19, 2025 at 6:12 AM
#HuntingtonBeach’s former elected maga city attorney, Michael Gates, resigned to take a position in 47’s DOJ, fired for cause (creating a hostile work environment), came back, rehired by the city—😂 put his name to the letter that sank Texas’s gerrymandering. Incompetence at every level. 🤦🏼♀️
Plot twist -- former HB city attorney and former DOJ attorney Michael Gates ineptly sank the 2025 Texas redistricting maps which were struck down by a three-judge panel today:
tinyurl.com/nhe6er4j
1/6
tinyurl.com/nhe6er4j
1/6
Trump DOJ’s ‘Ham-Fisted’ Letter Key to Ruling Blocking Texas Gerrymander
Read more here.
tinyurl.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Plot twist -- former HB city attorney and former DOJ attorney Michael Gates ineptly sank the 2025 Texas redistricting maps which were struck down by a three-judge panel today:
tinyurl.com/nhe6er4j
1/6
tinyurl.com/nhe6er4j
1/6
Is that you, Huntington Beach city councilmember Butch Twining, dressed in black, holding a candle and a small flag, at the very end of this clip from last night's Charlie Kirk rally at the pier as the crowd is shouting "WHITE MEN FIGHT BACK!"?
September 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Is that you, Huntington Beach city councilmember Butch Twining, dressed in black, holding a candle and a small flag, at the very end of this clip from last night's Charlie Kirk rally at the pier as the crowd is shouting "WHITE MEN FIGHT BACK!"?
Jason Schmitt, the proposed appointee for city treasurer, made campaign contributions to the HB3 last year. $249 contributions are often a sign of personal entanglements because that amount is just below the conflict-of-interest threshold. Plans may have already been in place for him a year ago.
August 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Jason Schmitt, the proposed appointee for city treasurer, made campaign contributions to the HB3 last year. $249 contributions are often a sign of personal entanglements because that amount is just below the conflict-of-interest threshold. Plans may have already been in place for him a year ago.
Great LAist article expanding an important story brought to light by Surf City Sentinel. :-)
Key quote:
“Surveillance equipment and surveillance, in general, are a lot of times a crutch for bad social policies,” he said. “They don't solve the underlying issues of crime.”
laist.com/news/politic...
Key quote:
“Surveillance equipment and surveillance, in general, are a lot of times a crutch for bad social policies,” he said. “They don't solve the underlying issues of crime.”
laist.com/news/politic...
Why were surveillance cameras installed in Huntington Beach’s most iconic Latino neighborhood?
The city says the cameras are intended to fight crime. Some residents worry they could be used to aid in federal immigration enforcement.
laist.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Great LAist article expanding an important story brought to light by Surf City Sentinel. :-)
Key quote:
“Surveillance equipment and surveillance, in general, are a lot of times a crutch for bad social policies,” he said. “They don't solve the underlying issues of crime.”
laist.com/news/politic...
Key quote:
“Surveillance equipment and surveillance, in general, are a lot of times a crutch for bad social policies,” he said. “They don't solve the underlying issues of crime.”
laist.com/news/politic...
Without transparency, there can be no trust when it comes to government surveillance.
surfcitysentinel.substack.com/p/oak-view-s...
surfcitysentinel.substack.com/p/oak-view-s...
Oak View Surveillance Expanded
10 new police cameras are being installed without any public oversight.
surfcitysentinel.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Without transparency, there can be no trust when it comes to government surveillance.
surfcitysentinel.substack.com/p/oak-view-s...
surfcitysentinel.substack.com/p/oak-view-s...
For the first time I can remember in the 26 years that I've lived here, patriotic red, white, and blue plastic sleeves were NOT wrapped onto the street lights in my tract in advance of the Fourth of July.
Coincidence, or statement?
The absence seems fitting, for I see little to celebrate today.
Coincidence, or statement?
The absence seems fitting, for I see little to celebrate today.
July 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
For the first time I can remember in the 26 years that I've lived here, patriotic red, white, and blue plastic sleeves were NOT wrapped onto the street lights in my tract in advance of the Fourth of July.
Coincidence, or statement?
The absence seems fitting, for I see little to celebrate today.
Coincidence, or statement?
The absence seems fitting, for I see little to celebrate today.
Here is the No Kings protest at the Huntington Beach pier at PCH & Main at noon on 6/14/2025.
With the traffic congestion on PCH, there's no way I could have planned this very lucky dashcam video capture. :-)
With the traffic congestion on PCH, there's no way I could have planned this very lucky dashcam video capture. :-)
June 14, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Here is the No Kings protest at the Huntington Beach pier at PCH & Main at noon on 6/14/2025.
With the traffic congestion on PCH, there's no way I could have planned this very lucky dashcam video capture. :-)
With the traffic congestion on PCH, there's no way I could have planned this very lucky dashcam video capture. :-)
Know your protest rights.
June 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Know your protest rights.
Our city tax dollars at work with HBPD assisting LAPD in suppressing legitimate protest against the Trump regime.
LAPD assisted by the Huntington Beach Police just came in full force firing munitions and with Horse support. Someone was trampled. Another has a serious head injury.
June 9, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Our city tax dollars at work with HBPD assisting LAPD in suppressing legitimate protest against the Trump regime.
Turnout so far in the library special election -- Dem 19.1%, Rep 12.8%, NPP 10.6%.
May 24, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Turnout so far in the library special election -- Dem 19.1%, Rep 12.8%, NPP 10.6%.
The kids understand -- vote YES on June 10th special election Measures A & B to protect your freedom to read and to save the library from privatization!
May 22, 2025 at 4:33 AM
The kids understand -- vote YES on June 10th special election Measures A & B to protect your freedom to read and to save the library from privatization!
Best HB political mailer EVER. Vote YES on A and B! :-)
May 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Best HB political mailer EVER. Vote YES on A and B! :-)
Well, this is gonna hurt. OCTA is penalizing the city by withholding millions of dollars of Measure M2 money for the next five years because the city paid $29K of transportation funds to an employee for non-transportation purposes.
www.ocregister.com/2025/05/16/f...
www.ocregister.com/2025/05/16/f...
Failed audit will leave Huntington Beach without its share of transportation funding for five years
Huntington Beach has used the money for repaving roads, rehabbing bridges and building curb ramps in neighborhoods.
www.ocregister.com
May 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Well, this is gonna hurt. OCTA is penalizing the city by withholding millions of dollars of Measure M2 money for the next five years because the city paid $29K of transportation funds to an employee for non-transportation purposes.
www.ocregister.com/2025/05/16/f...
www.ocregister.com/2025/05/16/f...
And there it is -- city councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark is running for Assembly District 72 in 2026.
May 16, 2025 at 4:09 AM
And there it is -- city councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark is running for Assembly District 72 in 2026.
In a move signaling awareness of their impending defeat in the 6/10 library special election, the city council has initiated partial repair of the fountains. This weak PR does nothing to soften their reputation as library enemies.
Also, somebody should CPRA the book banning board applications.
Also, somebody should CPRA the book banning board applications.
May 14, 2025 at 11:32 PM
In a move signaling awareness of their impending defeat in the 6/10 library special election, the city council has initiated partial repair of the fountains. This weak PR does nothing to soften their reputation as library enemies.
Also, somebody should CPRA the book banning board applications.
Also, somebody should CPRA the book banning board applications.
OCGOP knows that book banning is deeply unpopular with HB voters, and so their fat cats have entered the election campaign to convince you that unelected political appointees should have the power to control what you can read.
Set them straight by voting YES on A & B. Ballots will be arriving soon!
Set them straight by voting YES on A & B. Ballots will be arriving soon!
May 9, 2025 at 4:06 AM
OCGOP knows that book banning is deeply unpopular with HB voters, and so their fat cats have entered the election campaign to convince you that unelected political appointees should have the power to control what you can read.
Set them straight by voting YES on A & B. Ballots will be arriving soon!
Set them straight by voting YES on A & B. Ballots will be arriving soon!
We are now living in the Fahrenheit 451 timeline as demonstrated by the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association contributing $2,500 to Chad's book-burning PAC.
Note that it is listed as being from firemen not firefighters. I guess Chad thinks women have no place in public safety professions.
Note that it is listed as being from firemen not firefighters. I guess Chad thinks women have no place in public safety professions.
May 9, 2025 at 3:55 AM
We are now living in the Fahrenheit 451 timeline as demonstrated by the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association contributing $2,500 to Chad's book-burning PAC.
Note that it is listed as being from firemen not firefighters. I guess Chad thinks women have no place in public safety professions.
Note that it is listed as being from firemen not firefighters. I guess Chad thinks women have no place in public safety professions.
Voting NO on Measure B is a vote in favor of Michael Posey's plans for his employer Library Systems & Services (LSS) to slash public library services to drive private corporate profits.
He unethically omitted his employment.
Vote YES on B to prevent it from happening without a vote of the people.
He unethically omitted his employment.
Vote YES on B to prevent it from happening without a vote of the people.
May 8, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Voting NO on Measure B is a vote in favor of Michael Posey's plans for his employer Library Systems & Services (LSS) to slash public library services to drive private corporate profits.
He unethically omitted his employment.
Vote YES on B to prevent it from happening without a vote of the people.
He unethically omitted his employment.
Vote YES on B to prevent it from happening without a vote of the people.
Huntington Beach's unofficial poet laureate nailed it at last night's city council meeting -- "their mission is quite clear, stoke up cruelty, hate, and fear".
May 8, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Huntington Beach's unofficial poet laureate nailed it at last night's city council meeting -- "their mission is quite clear, stoke up cruelty, hate, and fear".
Just another day in MAGA-ruled Huntington Beach, LOL.
April 23, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Just another day in MAGA-ruled Huntington Beach, LOL.
Property owner seeks rezoning to build up to 800 medium-density residential units and 350 hotel rooms inland of PCH between Seapoint and Goldenwest.
www.facebook.com/surfcitysent...
www.facebook.com/surfcitysent...
Surf City Sentinel
BREAKING NEWS: California Resources Corporation (CRC) has submitted an application to rezone the oil production parcel on the inland side of Pacific Coast Hwy between Goldenwest and Seapoint (see...
www.facebook.com
April 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Property owner seeks rezoning to build up to 800 medium-density residential units and 350 hotel rooms inland of PCH between Seapoint and Goldenwest.
www.facebook.com/surfcitysent...
www.facebook.com/surfcitysent...
What is it about Huntington Beach that causes entertainment companies like Code Four and Symphony of Flowers to come looking for sweetheart deals to bail them out of bad financial situations?
The folks behind Flowers are facing bankruptcy in Canada.
www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/03/27/i...
The folks behind Flowers are facing bankruptcy in Canada.
www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/03/27/i...
«Insolvable», Cavalia est menacée de se faire liquider ses biens
Cavalia est «insolvable» et ne respecte plus ses engagements selon Desjardins, qui menace de saisir ses biens immobiliers en Beauce et en Estrie.
www.journaldemontreal.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:16 AM
What is it about Huntington Beach that causes entertainment companies like Code Four and Symphony of Flowers to come looking for sweetheart deals to bail them out of bad financial situations?
The folks behind Flowers are facing bankruptcy in Canada.
www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/03/27/i...
The folks behind Flowers are facing bankruptcy in Canada.
www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/03/27/i...
MAGA city councilmember Chad Williams has created a self-promotional PAC to oppose both library protection initiatives in the June 10th special election.
March 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
MAGA city councilmember Chad Williams has created a self-promotional PAC to oppose both library protection initiatives in the June 10th special election.
Bravo, Protect HB! :-)
Protect HB has filed a lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach, trying to stop the Symphony of Lights from coming to Central Park.
Protect HB says the city council circumvented CEQA requirements in approving the project. More to come.
Protect HB says the city council circumvented CEQA requirements in approving the project. More to come.
March 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Bravo, Protect HB! :-)