Pubdate: Fri, 09 Dec 2011
Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Desert Sun
Contact: http://local2.thedesertsun.com/mailer/opinionwrap.php
Website: http://www.mydesert.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112
Note: Does not accept LTEs from outside circulation area.

POT PLAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN INSTANTLY

The notion that Coachella should become an industrial marijuana 
producer was a bad idea from the start. Coachella Mayor Eduardo 
Garcia and Councilman Steve Hernandez should have walked away. 
Instead, we have witnessed an unpleasant episode.

Rancho Mirage City Councilman and private political consultant Scott 
Hines, working for Burke, Rix, Hines Communications of Palm Springs 
in the summer of 2010, said he considered medical marijuana 
compassionate service for people in pain. The Desert Sun also 
supports medical marijuana.

With polls indicating voter support for legalizing marijuana for 
recreational use, Hines, thought it could become a lucrative 
opportunity. However, Proposition 19 was rejected by 53.5 percent of 
California voters.

In June 2010, Hines pitched the idea and coined the term "Team 
Coachella" at a lunch at the Agua Caliente casino with his husband 
Jon Hines, Garcia and Hernandez. Jon Hines, a graphic artist, created 
a logo for the company, which would have been called Coyote Native 
Herbal Remedies.

In September 2010, Hines joined then-Mayor Richard Kite on a 
subcommittee to draft an ordinance on medical marijuana dispensaries. 
He never mentioned his Coachella proposal. This is one of several 
instances where Hines' job as a political consultant has blurred the 
lines with his role as a councilman. Hines says he is no longer with 
the firm and is focused on other ventures.

Although they claimed little interest, Garcia and Hernandez agreed 
that a survey should be taken on how Coachella residents feel about 
medical marijuana. And in the second meeting, where the obvious was 
revealed - that most Coachella residents don't like the idea - 
Coachella's public relations man Bob Marra was present. While Marra's 
presence implies the city had some interest, Coachella officials 
insist that's not the case.

Greg Klibanov, who then managed American Cab, paid $10,000 for the 
survey. Hines says Klibanov was a former client and a friend who was 
interested in investing in a potential business. But it does seem 
like more than a coincidence he would pay for the poll.

The poll also included questions about how voters felt about Garcia 
and Hernandez, who faced re-election. Two California campaign finance 
experts recently told The Desert Sun the poll constituted a political 
contribution that should have been reported to the Fair Political 
Practices Commission. We concur. Hines contends that unrelated 
questions are common in surveys, but any political assessment is 
certainly useful to a candidate.

Klibanov no longer works for American Cab, but the transfer of 
ownership is an issue before the SunLine Services Group, which 
oversees taxicabs in the valley. Garcia is chairman of the board and 
Hernandez is Coachella's alternate representative.

The Team Coachella incident prompted American Cab attorney Scott 
Russo to write a letter saying Garcia should recuse himself from the 
issue. This prompted Garcia to tell The Desert Sun editorial board he 
thought he was a victim of extortion. Accusing Hines of extortion was 
self-serving. Garcia has since said that was the wrong word to use. 
However, we agree that the American Cab lawyer entering the fray at 
the 11th hour is suspicious.

To their credit, all three explained their sides of the story to our 
editorial board, but all three could have been more forthcoming with 
full details. This is an example of behind-the-scenes brainstorming 
that should have been brought to the public.

No matter what the lawyers say, Garcia should take the cautious road 
and recuse himself on American cab. He and Hernandez should report 
the poll expenses as a contribution. And Hines needs to be more 
discerning and open about issues he pursues in private and how they 
affect his role of serving the public.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom