Mickey Segal: It’s Election time
February 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Council Candidates
Submitted Feb. 24:
Shortly, Arcadia homes will be “decorated” by election signs and newspapers and websites will be blasted with advertising for candidates. It is election time in Arcadia.
Mark "Mickey" Segal
This is a very important time because Arcadians are given the opportunity to elect the city council people that will make decisions that could affect lifestyles for the entire community. As a candidate, I encourage all Arcadians to take the time to get to know who each candidate is and what they believe in. Review their resumes and election material and understand what they have done and will do for Arcadia. Remember, the City Council will make a few decisions every year the affect the lives of all of us. Be sure that you are comfortable that the candidates you support will represent your views and opinions about our future.
The most important thing of all is that all Arcadians exercise their given right to vote. Whether you vote by absentee ballot or at the polls please take the time and cast your vote. Don’t let Arcadia’s future be decided without your vote.
For those of us who are campaigning, election time gives us the opportunity to meet and speak to hundreds of citizens. I have run for office two times before and I can say without hesitation that the next 45 days will be filled with all kinds of promises and campaign rhetoric. Listen, ask questions, and understand each candidate’s position, but most of all be sure that your vote is counted.
Statement filed with City Clerk:
Mark “Mickey” Segal
Age: 52
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
Arcadia has been my home for 25 years. My three children attended Arcadia’s excellent public schools. My wife and I have been active volunteers, committing thousands of hours to our PTAs, Educational Foundation, Booster Clubs, Red Cross, Welfare & Thrift Shop, etc. I also chaired campaigns raising over $28 million for Arcadia Methodist Hospital. I have worked hard to make Arcadia the great community it is today.
I served on Arcadia City Council from 2000-2008, including two terms as mayor. During that time, we accomplished many things: new police station, fire station, museum and youth facilities; visible street signs; excellent youth and senior services; balanced budgets; fair and prudent fire and police contracts.
Arcadia is facing tough economic times. Now is not the time for amateur leadership unfamiliar with Arcadia’s issues. As a CPA and financial advisor, I can provide expert help with our budget and labor contracts. My understanding of these critical issues will help implement win-win solutions for our community.
I believe in sound fiscal policy, strong police and fire protection, safe and secure neighborhoods, and excellent schools. With my experience as a council member and CPA, Arcadia will successfully navigate these difficult times.
This is one of six blogs provided by ArcadiasBest.com to the six candidates running for three seats on the Arcadia City Council in the April 13, 2010 election.
Candidates are free to submit whatever statements they want here and comment on each other’s blogs.
Readers are encouraged to submit comments below each blog, which will be public for everyone to see, and to which anyone, including the candidates, may respond.
All editiorial by the candidates and comments by readers and the candidates must be approved by ArcadiasBest.com. No profanity will be allowed. Your full name and contact information (contact information not for publication) is required if your comments involve any specific or particularly harsh criticisms or claims that are not generally known or not immediately and easily verifiable.
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If elected would you support the forming of a CERT group in our city?
Dear Concerned:
Although I don”t know too much about a Community Emergency Response team, (CERT) it certainly would be a good idea and worth further investigation. From my research it would provide additional back-up for our emergency responders and would train and educate volunteers to aide in emergency efforts. I would certainly support it providing the costs are not unreasonable.
The city budget reveals that the Police Department spends over $500,000 on overtime (the equivalent of 6 full time officers’ salaries). If elected, will you consider auditing the Police Department and other city agencies to make sure that these types of expenses are necessary and consistent with other cities of similar size and crime?
Dear Curious:
As you may know I am a CPA and auditing is a big part of my business. Auditing departments is a very expensive endeavor to take on unless there is ample evidence of misuse or misappropriation. If in fact the city is spending $500,000 in overtime for police, my first step would be to understand why the decision to pay overtime versus having more police officers. It is often far more efficient to pay overtime than have more staff. There are substantial costs above and beyond salary for each employee, including, insurance, fringe benefits and retirement costs. I would want to make sure that we can answer these questions before taking on more costs to audit. If after review of the facts and reasons we pay overtime versus having more employees does not make sense then I would certainly consider auditing or other measures to deal with that circumstance. Auditing departments could be a tool to use, but my experience in that profession has shown that most agencies that do auditing have substantial management problems as well as budgeting problems. In my 8 years of experience on the City Council, I have not seen those kinds of problems in our city.
I attened CERT workshop in a neighboring city this past weekend. I was sponsered by a city councilman and done by their cities USAR. It was a great event, they had a light breakfast and their PD swat team cooked hotdogs for lunch. It lasted 5 hours and they had over 100 attendee’s both adults and kids. It was done in english and spanish at a local middle school. It was very very helpful. In my research I have found that alot of cities (8) within 10 miles of us do these programs. It is a great way to meet your neighbors, learn team work and get prepared for a disaster.When I inquired at the Fire Dept. I got the “oh well we don’t do that, maybe PD”. Why does it seem that every city department has the attitude “not my job”?
Dear Concerned:
I am not sure why that is true, but maybe it takes a council member to support the event to get the attention of police and fire. I don’t know but I would definitely be willing to try and get CERT event in Arcadia, especially after our little shaking last night. None of us can be too prepared for a disaster and any professional training we can get would be great. In addition, I completley agree with you it would be a excellent way for the community to get together and meet others while learning preparedness.
Mickey,
During your past term, you wanted a retirement package for council members. I strongly believe you are running again for your own greed in this bad economy.
You don’t pass the physical fitness test, you FAIL.
Dear Watching your every move:
If you check the record carefully, you will see that what I asked for was to have the City Manager compare Arcadia benefits to neighboring city benefits to be sure we were in line and not receiving any benefits that other cities did not receive.
Council members are part time employees and would not be entitled to a retirement package that full-time employees receive from the city.
In addition, this request took place over 4 years ago.
I assure you that I have no interest in a retirement package from the City of Arcadia.
I have adequately planned my retirement when the time comes and I don’t expect the citizens of Arcadia to fund it.
If you are truly “watching my every move” than you would be aware of the substantial financial support I have given to youth, education and Methodist Hospital to improve the lives of my family as well as all Arcadians.
Take a look in the mirror and see if you can say the same thing to Arcadia’s Best readers.
The idea of the mayor trying to pass a retirement package for personal gain is laughable.
From a financial standpoint, could you imagine how big the package would have to be to be worth the time. The notion is absurd.
I think the real concern is that Mickey was trying to add something to the city budget that would affect tax payers. It’s this kind of mentality that we don’t need on a city council. Unnecessary spending.
I’m also worried that people running are doing so with hidden agendas. We can all remember how Gail Marshall was paid off by Caruso to push his absurd mega mall project through.
Dear Frank:
Your concern is totally incorrect. I asked the city manager to find out what other city’s council members receive for retirement to see that Arcadia was in line with other cities. It was in no way an effort to add to city costs. In addition, I am the only candidate who has taken the time to review and who totally understands the budget and I have been able to find between $300,000 and $500,000 of funds that can go to the general fund without effecting any other fund balance. These monies will be extremely necessary in the next fiscal year to meet budget shortfalls. Why has no other candidate been able to review the budget and find these monies?
My experience and financial knowledge is exactly what Arcadia needs right now as the budget problems continue to mount.
Hi Mickey!
I forgot if I previously told you that I am happy to be named as one of your supporters. Even though I no longer live in Arcadia, as you know, I am still very active in the community and there may still be some name recognition from my days (almost literally) on the City Council. Good luck. Wish I could vote for you.
Dear Peter:
Thanks for your support.
Mickey,
Without question you are the right person to have in office. WIll you be able to help out with the mess that is going on with the issues at Santa Anita Race Track and their parent company? The tradition and historic value Santa Anita brings to Arcadia is immense. My best to you and hope that all the residents of Arcadia get out to support you.
Sincerely,
Big Dave SAM
Arcadia High Class of 1979
Dear Dave
Thanks for the kind words. I believe we will see the Santa Anita Race Track with their parent company be worked out very shortly. The racetrack should be fine and better days will be coming.
Mickey,
I will vote for you but, please let’s be real about the racetrack. Off Track Betting forever changed the city of Arcadia and that piece of property will never again in your lifetime or mine produce the city the tax dollar’s it so badly needs. I am just not sure that the massage parlors, drug dealers, yes Mickey the drug dealers, prostitution and all the stuff council members don’t like to hear about can ever match the 18000 weekday attendence and 50000 on the weekends the Santa Anita revenue produced. Westfield and Caruso have done nothing but sway city officals, divide a community and add nothing to the everyday live’s of Arcadia citizens.
BIG DAVE SAM,
I agree historic value and tradition are things to hold dearly but, they don’t produce tax revenue, they don’t keep our streets safe and clean. They don’t keep the police force fully staffed, they don’t assist city employees laid off due to budget cut’s. Perserve the historic grandstand, Yes, but the rest has to go. The city councils of years past never planned, they looked no farther then the end of their nose’s and looked for instant gratification, Gail Marshall a great example. She then as she does now could care less about you and me and our neighbor’s.
Dear Concerned:
You are right. The racetrack will never be what it was in the “hayday” of racing. However, we need to do all we can to get the best results possible from racing. No one wants to see the racetrack go away. I do believe there are better days coming to racing then we see now, albeit, not like yesterday. Caruso’s development will certainly bring people to the track. I think the Caruso plans did divide Arcadia, but in listening to most people today, there appears to be some mutual agreement that the development will come one day and the revenue it produces will be good for all of us. You are also absolutely correct we don’t produce any revenue from drug dealers, prostitution, etc. That is why we need to be sure we are generating as much revenue as possible to maintain and possibly increase our police force to protect this community which we all love.
I appreciate your comments and it is very clear you have a great understanding of Arcadia today and yesterday.
Wish I could vote for you, Mickey, but I don’t live in Arcadia…yet. I was there this morning at the Jewish Federation breakfast and loved your talk. (I was the woman in blue behind you and your wife.)
Let me know if I can help you or your staff out as an interfaith chaplain with lots of counseling, clinical, and multidisciplinary experience in at-risk youth, cardiac and intensive care, ER, trauma, cancer care, palliative care, and hospice care for geriatric patients. When you told us your son was on call, that reminded me of days and weekends on call and home or skilled nursing home visits from Burbank to Pomona.
I really appreciated your passion and patience, unusual qualities for a C.P.A. Maybe in your next life you’ll be a chaplain too? Thanks again. All the best for a healthy, peaceful Passover.
Trudy Lapin
Chaplain Trudy: For People and Pets
909-920-9485
Dear Trudy:
Thanks for the kind words and it was very nice seeing you this morning.
Mickey,
The other day we dicussed that how a person who does not know the budgetary process in the city can run a moderate sized business. You said that because the latter runs on a cash basis.
I beleive the more correct answer is that he hires a CPA to run his firm.
By the same token, our city needs a cpa like you to help it in this difficult financial time.
And the city also needs a business attorney to make sure whether its business deals with any entities, be it the unions, other corporate businesses or even the citizens are on sound legal basis.
Business deals not only with numbers, but also common sense and legal issues.
That is why i support Mickey, a CPA and Jason, a business attorney, the dynamic duo to the city council to deal with the economic hardship the city currently faces.
Hey Mickey,
I saw you really letting Scott Hettrick owner of arcadiasbest.com have it for running my videos and commentary. I could hear you from quite a distance, you should be ashamed of yourself trying to silence and control the public media. If you have a problem with me or my ideas why don’t you speak to me about it? Why would you take it out on Scott for anything I do? Let alone be mad at him for running my newsworthy videos. That is certainly not the type of behavior that a leader of any city should stoop down to no matter how bad you want to be on council. You have been mayor 2007-8 and 2004 and 2001-2 again, in all those tries you couldn’t get any plans for the gold line station, 2007-8 is so recent and a poor reflection of any vision and forward planning. Quit picking on Scott Hettrick and if you have some complaints why don’t you just address the issues?
Henry
Nunez,
You are still the whinney little boy you were in high school. Grow up! If you have all these great idea’s and they have been rolling around in that little mind of your’s run for office, see if the citizen’s of Arcadia agree with you and vote you in. You become more and more like Harbicht everyday, the very thing you call him out on you turn around and do the same. Now you are becoming Scott Hettrick’s White Knight? I think you better end your hunger strike it’s making you weaker than you already are. Head over to Taco Lita and get a meat and cheese, you need it. When you want to flex those “beer muscles” I will be more than happy to spot you. Mickey, carry on!
“Concerned Says”? Is that your given name? You have many opinions but hide behind anonyminity, would you like to reveal yourself or continue to hide behind your beer glass?
Henry,
Thank you for taking the time today to speak with me. I am sure most who know me as you now do that I am more than happy to confront you or anyone for that matter. I understand your concerns as you do mine but, in the end sadly the seeds of our discontent were sown into this city beginning in the mid seventies and have continued at an accelerated pace. Some choose to leave some choose to stay. For us the people who stayed now have to contend with what we have. This city council “for” the most part are not doer’s they are followers. They never challlenge anything they all agree on everything good and bad. In our phone discussion we talked about our neighbor to the east the “ALL-American” city, what in the hell are we. The chamber and council wonder why tax dollars leave our city to be spent in Sierra Madre and Monrovia, gee I wonder why. They can hand out all the discount coupons they want it will never make a difference. The vision you have for the Gold Line Station is great but, in the end where in the hell in Arcadia when people get off the train are they going to spend their money, Arcadia? On what? The racetrack is seasonal and you don’t have to take a train to make a bet. The mall? Hmm…………there are a number of far better shopping experience’s along the route of the train before and after Arcadia. The Arboreteum? ok, but don’t think it is going to be a great tax revenue producer. Why did we get like this…………bad planning, no vision, no back bone…………..nobody put their foot down and said enough is enough. I keep hearing the word “change” people change diapers, bad habit’s. Change doesn’t redo what has taken 25 years to attain. As the patriot’s whose blood spilled to “change” this country over 200 hundred years ago, I don’t remember it be called the American Change………….but, we all have to play nice and be politically correct. Oh, could you please pass on the Peter that he need’s to re-think wearing all that red, white and blue, he talks the talk, a little nervously I admit, words get hard for him to put together. He can stammer a bit. Getting glossed in the Arcadia Weekly with Gail Marshall cost him more than a few vote’s. I guess again you reap what you sew. It was great again talking to you, we can do it again, maybe at George and Dixie’s……….and please remember I don’t like being address as ‘bro………….
Henry,
Now that I have come out from behind anonyminity and we have spoken, you really didn’t think you were going to make me put my tail between my legs did you? I think you heard my loud and clear…………and please in the future don’t address me as “Bro”, what was on my mind. This city and it’s elected offical’s, starting in the mid seventies sewed the discontent we now face. Those council member’s and “for” the most part today’s Liu, Chandler, Harbictht are worthless. Harbicht being the worsed, 25 years of service.. We have to as a city bend over for Rusnak and Caruso. Take your car’s and sell them the hell in Pasadena. Caruso wear all the $1000 dollar suit’s you want, underneath it all you are still just trying to make a buck, seizing an opportunity and not caring what you leave in it’s wake. Sierra Madre and Monrovia the “All-American”city have done just fine. One has stayed almost exactly the same and one has changed dramatically………….how come they succeeded? Who in the hell is going to take the Gold Line and spend their money in Arcadia? On what?
Dim Sum and noodles, Marie Callander’s Coco’s aah I know Outback or the Derby, god this would be enough to thaw the “iceman”. I guess it must be that wonderful shopping experience Westfield?
I read all these blog’s and I hear the word “change”, people change diaper’s, change habit’s,change clothes. Change doesn’t fix what took 25 years to come about. This country wasn’t born of change, it was born of commitment, vision, sacrafice………..of course I need to play nice and be polictically correct………….but it wasn’t called the “American Change”. So we live with it, bear it………….but I will never succumb to it. My feet will be well planted and I will always track “up wind” into the fire of the Dragon.
Thank you again for speaking with me, please pass on to Peter that he lost my vote and a number of other’s getting glossed over in the Weekly with Gail Marshall and stop wearing all the red, white and blue it doesn’t look good anymore. Stop your stammering, put your words together and act with the conviction like the founder’s of the color’s he so blantly wears.
Hunger strike’s don’t change cities, I look forward to seeing you at George and Dixie’s. Viva La Raza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On April 4th Jason Lee wrote: “Mickey Segal and I are best friends now” in his comment section. How true is this statement?
Mary:
I met with Jason and we discussed our differences of opinion. We resolved those differences at those meetings. We are cordial to each other and respect each others opinions. That is what took place.
Hey Henry Nunez,
I watched your daily video today. LOL. Thanks for wasting 3:41 seconds of my time.
Are you the dock manager at Buffums or maybe pin setter upper at Santa Anita Bowling alley now?
Thx for the comedy mook.