Much is said about the tendency in Long Beach to have long-time families continually appear in elected or appointed political and civic positions. “Connected” families are not unusual for small towns on Long Island (for example, consider the Suozzi’s of Glen Cove and the Becker’s of Lynbrook.) The phenomena is somewhat understandable in Long Beach: after all, Long Beach is an island, and an insular community tends to be a more natural environment for the perpetuation of long-time families being involved in local matters.However, my concern for Long Beach’s propensity to perpetuate and allow “family dynasties” has to do with the degree it occurs, and with the delicate and perhaps dangerous combinations of leadership positions held by the same family that can jeopardize good government. Finally, I wonder if the heavy reliance on the “first families” slows creative thinking for a better Long Beach.
The recurrence of long-time families in local politics does not have to be all bad. These families have a deep pride and attachment to their community of generations. They tend to see “the big picture.” Furthermore, sons and grandsons learn early the ins-and-outs of politics watching their grandfathers, fathers and uncles in action, and even being part of their campaigns. If not in the genes, political activism is at least an acquired skill in political families. Simply being related to a Long Beach leader should not immediately disqualify a person from leadership, who may be quite amply able to serve. Nor is it an imprimatur.
The down side is that the repetition of members of “connected” families in local politics tends to weaken the “gene-pool of ideas.” The same old ideas are perpetuated, as family successors presume “that’s the way it’s always been done.” Just because someone has “Long Beach sand in his shoes” does not mean he does not have “Long Beach rocks in his head.” Permissive attitude on connected families spawns candidates who may not be the best person available; less-connected “newcomers” of merit may be passed over in favor of “the favorite son.”There should not be a presumption of competency merely because of family name. The phenomena of connected families alternatingly allows impunity and cronyism: past foibles and character short-comings are overlooked by friends hand families who have long and close relationships with the civic leader since youth. Too many “inside connections” make City Hall ripe for corruption and abuse of prerogatives. Sometimes there is an opposite result: a close-knit web of connected families may leave a community also with strains of conflict resulting from difficult personal or family histories which can skewer good political judgment, blood feuds that muddy objectivity. Throw in marriages between “connected” families and you need a chart to figure who’s who.
I am most concerned when Police officials are involved. The Police hold tremendous power and daily exercise of “life and liberty discretion.” Police-legislative combinations risk tipping the balance of powers, even in a small community like ours. The question was legitimate during the tenure of Police Commissioner Thomas Sofield and City Councilman Tom Sofield as it is now with Commissioner Michael Tagney and his family ties to perennial candidates for local office and school boards.
I cannot say there are not “unconnected newcomers” in Long Beach who have been elected to local government (for example Dennis Kelley and Mona Goodman both served well on the City Council although being elected just several years after moving into Long Beach.) However, too often, to be a member of a “connected family” seems like a free-pass to succession. Like anything else, a quantitative and qualitative balanced approach is needed: exactly how many officials are from connected families? how competent and qualified are they to serve?; how important is the position they hold? Then decide if that person is a good thing for the community or merely an example of small-town nepotism.
I would love if any of my sons return to Long Beach one day and be involved in local government and politics. But I would feel comfortable in their succeeding me in civic standing or position only after living away at college, traveling the world, serving in the military, and perhaps living in other places, to be sure they understand how things work elsewhere.
C.S. Lewis once said “Democracy demands that little men should not take big ones too seriously. It dies when it is full of little men who think they are big themselves.” “Dynastic families” create small-minded people with an elevated impression of themselves. Long Beach is not a feudal territory for the generational enrichment of long-time families. Ultimately, the public should demand the best candidates available and carefully examine the question of family successions or recurrences. Check the resume, education and personal histories. Vet every candidate. The recurrence of “connected” families can be either crusty provincialism that slows down the progress of our community or a treasure of dedicated and informed civic activists. The public should carefully examine the fruits of these family trees before “taking a bite.”
