Dear Editor,
I am writing to expose a deeply troubling pattern of unethical campaign tactics in our local elections. A Political Action Committee calling itself “ONWARD CULVER CITY OPPOSING BRIAN ‘BUBBA’ FISH FOR CITY COUNCIL 2024” has stolen my personal photograph—taken in my backyard during a fundraiser that my wife, former Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, and I organized for Bryan “Bubba” Fish—and used it against the very candidate we support.
This abuse of personal images isn’t isolated. In November 2022, our community witnessed similar tactics when the Hackman/Culver Studios PAC used a child’s photograph without parental consent in their campaign materials. That photo, taken at a “Green 5” Sustainability Program event, was misappropriated for political purposes against the family’s wishes. Now, barely a year later, we’re seeing the same playbook: unauthorized use of personal images, misleading cropping, and deliberate misrepresentation.
Follow the money, and the picture becomes clear. This PAC is bankrolled by major real estate interests:
– IDS Real Estate Group (CEO David Mgrublian): $49,000
– Hackman Capital Partners (CEO Michael Hackman): $49,000
– Rick Solomon and Affiliated Entities: $30,000
– GK Management Co., Inc. (Principal George Kalil): $25,000
– Karson LP (Principal Karny Fridman): $20,000
– Redcar Properties, LTD (Co-Founders Jim Andersen and Dave Walker): $15,000
That’s $188,000 from just six donors flooding our local elections. Yet the silence from Bubba’s opponents—all endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce—is deafening. Where are the conservative voices who repeatedly accused progressives of doing developers’ bidding? Their sudden silence speaks volumes about their selective outrage and political opportunism.
This PAC has even appropriated the name of a defunct progressive organization—part of a calculated strategy to confuse voters. Their mailer is riddled with false claims: they deliberately cropped a photo to hide that the pictured lane is marked “ONLY BIKE BUS,” they ignore Culver City’s transportation data showing actual bike lane usage, and they fabricate claims about emergency response times that official data contradicts. They criticize Bubba Fish for bike lanes that were approved long before his involvement—a fact they conveniently omit.
Most egregiously, they mischaracterize Bubba’s approach to community safety. His actual position advocates for a data-driven, human-centered approach that expands our tools beyond just policing—a thoughtful strategy that deserves honest discussion, not misleading attacks.
The irony is palpable: while Chamber-backed candidates remain conspicuously quiet about this unprecedented influx of developer money, their supporters have spent years falsely accusing progressives of being in developers’ pockets. Now that actual developer money is flowing like never before, their previous concerns about “special interests” have mysteriously evaporated.
These tactics—from stealing photographs to misrepresenting data—reflect a cynical view of our democratic process. When major real estate interests pour this kind of money into local elections while misappropriating photos and manipulating facts, we must ask: What are they hoping to buy? And why are those who claimed to be watchdogs against special interests now acting as silent accomplices?
I encourage voters to look beyond these manufactured controversies and examine Bubba Fish’s actual record as a community leader, which speaks for itself. Visit voteforbubba.com to learn the truth about his outstanding service to our community.
Our city deserves an election based on facts and respect for personal privacy, not stolen photographs and special interest money. Let’s focus on the real issues facing our community and hold all political actors—and their conspicuous silences—accountable.
Sincerely,
Karim Sahli
Culver City Resident