Ethical Values Missing From Corey Klein's Actions.

The City of Long Beach continues to recover and evolve in the wake of Hurricane Sandy both emotionally but of course financially.  The following commentary is meant to highlight how the unethical action of our legal counsel Corey Klein is potentially creating more financial burdens for its residents.  I am hoping the City Council will promote awareness about this to the residents as well as handle Corey Klein’s inauthentic actions appropriately.  We are a city in a county ranked #18 the largest number of people moving out compared to moving in, we have a 104 year old water tower/standpipe in desperate need of replacement, and a government who is becoming increasingly silent with respect to Michael Zapson’s agenda.

The City Council's lack of action is unsettling and there needs to be a greater push for the communities interests and promotion of a healthy, happy and sustainable life in Long Beach.

So it's been a week since the City Council clarified that The City Council didn't authorize legal counsel to sign the stipulation: Supreme Court of the State of New York County of Nassau Sinclair Haberman and Belair Building, LLC, (Petitioners- Plaintiffs), -against- Zoning Board of Appeals of City of Long Beach, NY, et al (Respondents – Defendants) Stipulation of Settlement Index No. 001138-04.  Legal Counsel signed it without authorization.

Just to recap what Is Fully Known:

The City of Long Beach has no more space for further development, except the Foundation Block, Laurelton-Lafayette & Broadway, Lincoln - Monroe & Shore Rd., and the Unknown happenings of the Former Long Beach Medical Center.

The Super Block was zoned as mixed use (commercial & residential), to stimulate the boardwalk's economy.  I'm not for the large towers, being developed by i-Star -for the superblock design, this is just to specifically note that the already approved Super Block is a mixed zoned space.  

The Sinclair Haberman and Belair Lincoln & Monroe Building development is only zoned for residential use.  All residential zoning adjacent to the Long Beach Boardwalk between Neptune Blvd- Washington Blvd is capped at 70 ft.  

Before I get into where I accuse people of unfair practices I have some more facts to list.

Michael Zapson- Chairman of the Long Beach Democratic Committee, and Zoning Attorney of the Long Island office of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, a prestigious law and lobbying firm.

Zapson was on the Long Beach City Council during the Gene Cammarato administration. Zapson's firm also represents iStar.

Fran Adelson- Zapson Backed Democrat, Long Beach City Councilwoman, NY Realtor who lives in Long Beach.

Scott J. Mandel -Zapson Backed Democrat, Long Beach City Councilman President. Admitted to practice law in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Eileen J. Goggin- Zapson Backed Democrat, Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Tammy Robbins in Nassau County Court.  City Councilwoman Eileen Goggin has been nominated by the Nassau County Democrat Committee to run for judgeship in the Nassau County District Court

Anthony Eramo- Zapson Backed Democrat, Field Technician for Telephone Company. Completing his Masters Degree in Labor Relations. 

Len Torres – Democrat, Former Superintendent, Principal, Teacher, Program Director for Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Former member Long Beach Zoning Board, and Long Beach Housing Authority Board..

Corey Klein- Legal Counsel for the City of Long Beach, NY. Running for Long Beach City Judgeship, Not a registered Democrat..  Backed By Michael Zapson. Currently involved in a lawsuit over a competitor(Haberman) of Michael Zapson’s firm’s client’s iStar.  The conditions being fought over in the lawsuit are unknown. The stipulation which was signed by Mr. Klein without Authorization, and was signed by a judge, and then reneged by Mr. Klein the following day gave conditional allowance to Haberman to develop two nineteen story residential towers on the Lincoln-Monroe Shore Rd site.  Mr. Klein has not been confronted about the divergence of guiding principles regarding signing a stipulation without the actual authorization from the city of Long Beach.  (I do not know whose better interest he was working for when he signed it. It If was negligent, if it was in Zapson’s better interest.)

Following Mr. Klein’s boondoggling over this stipulation a lawsuit by Sinclair Haberman LLC followed, which the City Council voted to hire two additional legal firms against Haberman, and continue to employee Mr. Klein.

Cumulatively, the city council, engrossed with decades of legal, administrative, business, and labor experiences throughout its history, are mysteriously staying silent without any projection of integrity. How can five councilmembers, of the same exact party, not stand up for the thousand of betrayed tax payers and hold Corey Klein accountable for his action of signing without authorization?  I hold this council in high regard, but their own inactions are costing their reputation shame.

When an ambitious employee (Corey Klein) of theirs/ours acts without authorization, and we sit still, while continuing to Mr. Klein’s salary, instead of undoing the oligarchical element of our political organization, we are left in a costly standstill with no direction.
  

This isn't a labeling issue. The merit of this is in the integrity of our elected officials actions.  Whether it be Democrat, Working Families, Conservative, Republican, Independent, Green, Boardwalk Party etc. we must ally ourselves, and our values for the guiding principles of true "Freedom."  Every employee of this city has a service and function to perform. When that employee becomes dysfunctional in his/her service/function the rest of the organization is designed to participate to communicate, strategize, implement, and sustain.  What the City Council should have done, is come out to the public, hold a press conference to announce that our legal counsel went around our backs, and is being punished for it.  This would ensure to the public that the system of organization is working at its healthiest capacity.  

Our leaders are to ensure that they are acting in our best interest. Our leaders are not to act in the interest of the few!  I won't stand silent any longer if there isn't legitimate oversight over our legal counsel.  Next Week is our next City Council meeting, and the city should make an announcement by then. Since this new episode of Haberman drama commenced, a month will have passed, and unless the City exhibits that they are capable of undertaking our guiding principles, ethical values, and sustainable practices without hesitating any further and end Corey Klein's presence on our payroll, then I suggest we go to the city and demand immediate accountability.  

Because if Long Beach, or any, legal counsel signs an agreement on behalf of a party without the parties authorization, that legal counsel should be terminated, and definitely not protected by the funds of the party who Mr. Klein defrauded.