Local lobbyist Mike Murchison, one of the city’s most controversial figures, will speak publicly for the first time since a discounted vacation between he and former Redevelopment Agency director Craig Beck led to Beck’s demotion.
Murchison will be the featured speaker at this month’s Beer & Politics, a monthly public forum focusing on city issues. The topic will be, “The Lobbyist and Lobby Reform.” Murchison will explain exactly what a lobbyist does and how it affects the city. He will also address the recently-approved Lobbyist Ordinance.
Beer & Politics will be held at Gallagher’s Pub & Grill at 7:30pm next Tuesday, February 23. Gallagher’s is located at 2751 E. Broadway.
Murchison is well known in Long Beach as an influential lobbyist involved in several development projects and counts controversial developer Tom Dean as one of his clients. A report in The District Weekly pointed out that Murchison and the Environmental Protection Agency are at odds over a recent oil leak on Dean-owned wetlands property.
As always, you can view B&P through an online video stream on the group’s website (click here).