Ryan Carter
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Everything's in a name if you ask Crescenta Valley Town Council
gadfly John Beach.
For years, Beach has claimed the name 'Crescenta Valley Town Council'
is legally his and does not belong to the Crescenta Valley Town Council
-- a charge the council denies.
Three years ago, the advisory board to the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors censured Beach on nine points -- everything from banning him
from entering the council's office to stating publicly he damaged the
economic interests of the council. Afterward, Beach said he legally
obtained the town council's name.
On Thursday, Beach was finally finally given a chance to publicly
respond to the censure, which the council dropped last year, and speak he
did. He used up his 15-minute time allowance by blasting the council for,
among other things, denying him his constitutional rights.
Town Council President Charles Beatty later reflected: "My belief is
that you should have the right to speak."
But the opportunity did not appease the relentless Beach.
"I'm gonna start charging them rent for the name," he said.
