Protect HB sues Huntington Beach over Symphony of Flowers

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Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Huntington Beach City Council unanimously approved a 3-year agreement to lease a six acre section of Central Park for at least six months each year for an electronic light and music show.

Protect HB believes the City entered into this agreement in violation of environmental protection laws, as well as the community's best interests and filed a Writ of Mandate which seeks to have the City vacate it's approval of this contract.

Please read the documentation below, including the Official Press Release, the court filings, and the letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Here is the official court filing.

Here is the letter from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Here is the letter to the CA Attorney General, notifying his office that we have filed our Writ of Mandate.

Protect  HB has no opinion regarding the ongoing HB Airshow, however, we have  very strong opinions about giving away taxpayer dollars to a political  ally.  

The  settlement was prompted by a lawsuit from Kevin Elliott and Pacific  Airshow after the last day of the 2021 Airshow was cancelled due to the  hazardous conditions caused by the oil spill as a result of damage to  the Amplify Oil underwater pipelines.  The suit alleged that the city  was at fault for unilaterally cancelling the last day of the airshow.

The  HB City Attorney settled the lawsuit before the case ever went to court  and attempted to keep the terms of the settlement hidden. As a result  of Gina Clayton-Tarvin's successful lawsuit requiring the city to reveal  the settlement under California's Public Records law, we now know the  settlement is a huge giveaway to the City Attorney's and Council  Majority's political supporter.

Furthermore,  Kevin Elliott sued Kim Carr, the ceremonial mayor at the time of the  oil spill, claiming that she was responsible for cancelling the last day  of the airshow.  She DID NOT settle with him--she fought back in court.   On October 12, 2024, Kevin Elliott dropped the lawsuit against her.   The result of this suit is another indication that the City should not  have settled.

Click  below to read the full terms of the 9-page settlement and/or our  estimation of the full cost of the settlement (more than $30 million!)

We successfully gathered enough signatures on our library petitions to bring the issues to the ballot.  There will be a special election JUNE 10.  Here are some answers to some potential questions from voters that we compiled while collecting the signatures.  These answers may be helpful as you talk to people about the upcoming election.  Download and print to share with others.