Mailbag: Spreading political misinformation from dais does not serve Huntington Beach residents

At the March 18 Huntington Beach City Council meeting, Councilwoman Gracie Van Der Mark falsely claimed former President Joe Biden “abandoned” astronauts, foolishly repeating comments by current President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

So, I have reviewed factcheck.org, Snopes, Reuters, AP News and Fox News on this topic. I want to expose facts and debunk misinformation. The prolonged astronaut mission was due to technical challenges with their return spacecraft, and NASA had planned their safe return months before the administration change, debunking claims that Biden abandoned them.

Space exploration should be nonpartisan to ensure astronaut safety and responsible decision-making, but Trump’s entanglement with Musk creates a profound conflict of interest and egregious ethical misconduct. So why do LOCAL politicians keep bringing up and spreading national misinformation? These toxic narratives only divide our city further.

Can’t wait for Van Der Mark’s next medical “expertise” on the bird flu! Maybe she’ll push vitamin A as a measles cure instead of vaccines.

Finally: Roses are red, violets are blue, this Huntington Beach Council puts their agenda before serving you.

Andrew Einhorn
Huntington Beach

On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, the Daily Pilot published an article titled “Kluwe arrested at H.B. council meeting.” In response to the arrest, Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark stated, “We respect everyone. We’re not out there attacking people who don’t think like us. We’re not out there running across and trying to intimidate people who don’t agree with us.”

However, my understanding of respect differs greatly from Van Der Mark’s.

Consider the following:

On May 23, 2023, then-Mayor Tony Strickland and then-City Atty. Michael Gates signed the Air Show Settlement Agreement, yet the full details were not disclosed to the public until an entire year later.

At the April 16, 2024, City Council meeting, then-candidate Chad Williams insinuated that an incumbent council member was a pedophile.

On June 4, 2024, then-Councilman now Mayor Pat Burns used an expletive to deride three former council members.

On June 18, 2024, when confronted about his inappropriate remark, Burns denied directing it at those members, instead calling them narcissists for assuming they were the targets. His comment was only reluctantly documented in the official meeting minutes.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Gracey Van Der Mark, ending her term as mayor, presented the three outgoing non-MAGA council members with “gifts” of MAGA posters, followed by a MAGA-themed victory celebration, right on the dais.

On Feb. 18, 2025, despite overwhelming public opposition to politicizing the library, the City Council unanimously approved a MAGA library plaque. When former council member Natalie Moser spoke against it, Burns sarcastically shouted for her to take a blue card so he could “meet” with her.

How is any of this behavior respectful?

Respect is not just a word, it’s reflected in actions. The actions of this council have repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of intimidation, divisiveness, and disregard for public trust.

Judy Morris
Huntington Beach