LONG BEACH : Harbor Commissioner Quits Over Land Sale

Harbor Commissioner Joel Friedland abruptly resigned last week after tangling with the city’s Redevelopment Agency over the sale of a piece of property his family has owned for more than 50 years.

Friedland, a seven-year port commissioner, claimed later that he had been forced to resign by agency members and longtime political foes who reneged on a deal to buy the one-acre parcel, the site of his family-owned furniture-lacquer business.

Friedland had been trying to sell the land for more than a year, and said that he and Susan F. Shick, executive director of Community Development, had made a spoken agreement last year on a transaction contingent on environmental reports ensuring the site was not toxic.

But when the property was deemed clean and the purchase was finally placed on the Redevelopment Agency’s agenda, three board members voted against the sale, Shick said. She said the commissioners were concerned since Friedland had special access to the city as a harbor commissioner.

Although Friedland’s resignation was not a condition of the sale, the agency agreed to purchase the property for $860,000 after he submitted his resignation Friday. Shick said the property, an L-shaped parcel that spans Cota and Seabright avenues, is to be used for police department storage.

Still, Friedland said he was angered by what he called political maneuvering by agency members. “I was forced out of office, no question about it,” he said. He added that his role as a commissioner had never been an issue in prior negotiations.

Others on the City Council echoed Friedland’s sentiments at Tuesday’s session. “I think (the incident) smacks of strong-armed robbery or blackmail,” Councilman Les Robbins said.

Mayor Beverly O’Neill said she was unaware of any politicking, and was stunned by Friedland’s resignation. “He was a good, honest commissioner who people liked working with,” she said. “I’m sorry to see him go.”

O’Neill said she will appoint a new commissioner after the first of the year. Friedland had served 1 1/2 years of a six-year term.