David gaining on Goliath
10-10-2006, 01:30 PM
Amid protest, center renamed for politician
BY WILLIAM MURPHY
Newsday Staff Writer
October 10, 2006
The City of Long Beach's upgraded recreation center now carries the name of a local Assembly member despite the protests of some that he exerted undue pressure to get the honor.
Assemb. Harvey Wsenberg (D-Long Beach) put in the request with city officials several months ago, and the facility on Magnolia Boulevard was renamed Friday as the Harvey Wsenberg Aquatic and Fitness Center.
"Assemblyman Wsenberg has requested that the recreation swimming pool be renamed for himself," City Manager Edwin Eaton said in a memo Aug. 25 to members of the City Council. A copy of the memo was obtained last week by Newsday.
"This rather immodest request was made in all seriousness and was rather heavy-handed in nature," Eaton wrote.
Wsenberg, a member of the Assembly since 1989, has supported the center during the past few years, helping to secure at l $1 million in state funding for the facility, Eaton said in an interview yesterday. A $50,000 state grant is in the pipeline to upgrade the locker room, he said.
Eaton said while he was "taken aback" by Wsenberg's request, he went ahead with the renaming after raising it informally with the council's three majority Democrats - Leonard Remo, Robert Tepper and Denise Tangney - and getting no objections.
Wsenberg said in an interview yesterday that he had "absolutely not" exerted pressure. "Somebody is trying to poison our city," Wsenberg said, referring to the controversy. "All I'm trying to do is the right thing for our city - and now this."
Eaton said Wsenberg had never said any funds would be in jeopardy if the renaming did not take place, but the city manager said he was surprised by the seriousness of the request.
He said the assemblyman cited another recent renaming in Long Beach involving someone who had died. "He felt like he'd been involved with Long Beach 50 years or so and he'd like to see it sooner rather than later," Eaton said of the renaming request.
Wsenberg confirmed that part of the conversation with Eaton, but said he did not consider that to be pressure.
Councilman James Hennessy, a Republican, and his Democratic ally, Thomas Sofield Jr., said they objected, but to no avail.
Hennessy said yesterday he is concerned about the appearance of a political trade-off.
"I do have a serious problem that a deal may have been conspired and acted upon to get the taxpayers' money to fund improvements for the sole purpose of getting the donor's name on it, especially when it is taxpayers' money," Hennessy said.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
BY WILLIAM MURPHY
Newsday Staff Writer
October 10, 2006
The City of Long Beach's upgraded recreation center now carries the name of a local Assembly member despite the protests of some that he exerted undue pressure to get the honor.
Assemb. Harvey Wsenberg (D-Long Beach) put in the request with city officials several months ago, and the facility on Magnolia Boulevard was renamed Friday as the Harvey Wsenberg Aquatic and Fitness Center.
"Assemblyman Wsenberg has requested that the recreation swimming pool be renamed for himself," City Manager Edwin Eaton said in a memo Aug. 25 to members of the City Council. A copy of the memo was obtained last week by Newsday.
"This rather immodest request was made in all seriousness and was rather heavy-handed in nature," Eaton wrote.
Wsenberg, a member of the Assembly since 1989, has supported the center during the past few years, helping to secure at l $1 million in state funding for the facility, Eaton said in an interview yesterday. A $50,000 state grant is in the pipeline to upgrade the locker room, he said.
Eaton said while he was "taken aback" by Wsenberg's request, he went ahead with the renaming after raising it informally with the council's three majority Democrats - Leonard Remo, Robert Tepper and Denise Tangney - and getting no objections.
Wsenberg said in an interview yesterday that he had "absolutely not" exerted pressure. "Somebody is trying to poison our city," Wsenberg said, referring to the controversy. "All I'm trying to do is the right thing for our city - and now this."
Eaton said Wsenberg had never said any funds would be in jeopardy if the renaming did not take place, but the city manager said he was surprised by the seriousness of the request.
He said the assemblyman cited another recent renaming in Long Beach involving someone who had died. "He felt like he'd been involved with Long Beach 50 years or so and he'd like to see it sooner rather than later," Eaton said of the renaming request.
Wsenberg confirmed that part of the conversation with Eaton, but said he did not consider that to be pressure.
Councilman James Hennessy, a Republican, and his Democratic ally, Thomas Sofield Jr., said they objected, but to no avail.
Hennessy said yesterday he is concerned about the appearance of a political trade-off.
"I do have a serious problem that a deal may have been conspired and acted upon to get the taxpayers' money to fund improvements for the sole purpose of getting the donor's name on it, especially when it is taxpayers' money," Hennessy said.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.