Council hopeful Grossman gives ideas for homelessness and traffic

One in a series of occasional stories profiling candidates for Laguna Beach City Council.

When it comes to homelessness, Eli Grossman has an idea he thinks just might help get more people off the streets.

“We should have the homeless register to put in a couple hours on beach cleanup,” said Grossman, 62. “They would be contributing to the city and be first eligible for beds [at the Alternative Sleeping Location]. Too many people think all these people want to be homeless. They don’t have money. It’s not their fault.”

Grossman, who spent several years in Beverly Hills and moved to Laguna in 2005 after filing for bankruptcy — he formerly worked in sports betting — has made it clear in the first few candidate forums that he plans to speak the truth and follow through with promises.

“I am who I am, and I treat people as they treat me,” said Grossman, who is not currently working.

Grossman and six other candidates are vying for one of three open seats on the five-member City Council in November’s election. Incumbents Toni Iseman and Kelly Boyd are seeking re-election while the challengers are Michele Hall, Robert Zur Schmiede, Paul Merritt, Jon Madison and Grossman.

On the issues facing Laguna, Grossman favors peripheral parking, widening Coast Highway near Main Beach to help ease traffic congestion and converting trolleys to run on electricity.

Free parking on the outskirts, along with complimentary trolley rides, would provide more money for visitors to spend at area businesses, boosting Laguna’s sales-tax revenue, Grossman said.

“This way gets more people in with less traffic,” Grossman said. “You don’t have to make as much money off parking.”

Grossman is a news junkie, spending his days watching MSNBC and CNN, along with reading a steady dose of liberal blogs.

“I have character,” Grossman said. “I consider myself smart and a fast learner.”

Grossman also considers himself a public-safety watchdog.

During interviews with the Coastline Pilot he provided documents that outlined his arrests by Laguna Beach Police Department officers dating to 2010. These include charges of obstructing or resisting a peace officer, driving under the influence of drugs, assaulting a peace officer, disturbance by a loud and unreasonable noise, and annoying phone calls.

The assault, resisting arrest and DUI charges were dismissed, Grossman said.

Grossman said police have noted in reports that he swore at them but says swearing in public is his First Amendment right and not a crime.

He has publicly criticized the police, claiming they unfairly harass him and lack ethics. He says department staff have not provided documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act in the required time frame and that certain officers lied in police reports.

Capt. Jason Kravetz said in an email it would be inappropriate to respond to Grossman’s statements since he is running for City Council.

In August 2013, Grossman pleaded no contest to fighting in a public place while a second charge alleging he violated a stay-away order was dismissed, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

“They were going to throw me in jail, and I had no money,” Grossman said as explanation for why he pleaded no contest.

Grossman was sentenced to three years informal probation, which includes a protective order that prohibits him from having any contact with certain Laguna Beach police employees.

If Grossman complies with all terms of the protective order, the charge will be dismissed, according to court records.

According to an investigation report provided by Grossman and dated July 24, 2012, police say he has a long and documented history of harassing and threatening department employees, both sworn officers and civilians.

Police said Grossman called the department twice on June 23, 2012, asking why no one returned a call left the previous day. Grossman said he doesn’t remember what he was calling about.

The report says the phone number Grossman provided was not a valid number. Grossman disputes this claim.

The report also describes an incident on July 25, 2011, alleging Grossman made inappropriate statements and insulted an officer who said Grossman stepped on his foot while being escorted out of the police department lobby.

Police asked Grossman to leave, but he refused and, according to the report, Grossman initiated a physical confrontation that resulted in injury to one officer’s hand.

Grossman denied getting into the altercation, saying in a subsequent phone interview that a fight would be the last thing he would have gotten into after suffering a prior heart attack.

“I’m insulted; how stupid could I be?” Grossman said. “I don’t lie.”