Skate Park, Museum funding, motion sickness

This has to be fast at 75 cents a minute shipboard somewhere near Alaska. Yeah it is rocking and rolling and for a girl who hates roller coasters...well I will survive.

Was distressed to read LBREPORT.com about someone switching the funding for the 14th Skatepark to make it part of stimulus package. Right as usual King Bill. I don't recall the council approving adding it to the stimulus package request. Especially when districts such as mine have neighborhoods where they still don't have a paved alley and where it floods when it rains.

I love the Museum of Art.

I will not support bailing it out however. City Management has had more than 2 years to come up with something other than the city paying the $3 million bond. I remember specifically asking during City Council for management to talk with the Smithsonian or another reputable museum organization to find out how we can save it and get it run efficiently.

Oh, I know some in city hall thought they would rescue the museum with blighting lower income neighborhoods with electronic billboards. What a concept! Put monsterous billboards up in redevelopment neighborhoods so we can fund a museum in a very high income neighborhood.

I do believe that the Museum should be funded with Tidelands funds as it art is funded in San Diego and Seattle by their Ports....

Well at 75 cents per minute on the shipboard computers, I think I will blog everyother day.

On Lake Washington

Went out on a small boat last nite and went past Bill Gates' waterside home...great outlook...stunning vista...lots of windows...okay bad puns...but it was beautiful.

His former partner Paul Allen has bought up a number of old buildings in the downtown to save, including the Cinemax which is featuring Star Trek and the Long Beach City Council Chambers (you have to see the movie to appreciate that).

Still overcast -- guess it stays that way alot. A little drizzle.

On to Alaska today.

Seattle transit is beautiful. No ugly ads. They allow one sponsor for each bus and it has a small logo in the corner.

Saw a little graffiti in the downtown area and a handfull of what looks like remnants of the 1960's hippies. Lots of people with backpacks.

In Seattle

Arrived in Seattle yesterday to a warm and sunny climate. They have been having unseasonably warm and dry weather. Promptly at 5pm the spell was broken and it rained or rather drizzled.

Took a tour of the city and hit all the usual spots. Today am off to see the "underground tour" and other items of interest...oh yes, and lunch at the top of the space needle.

Was sad to see that Boeing has an elaborate "Future of Aviation" exhibit which is quite a tourist attraction that includes interactive videos for kids and a flight simulator. They also provide a tour of the Boeing plant...why or why can't we do something similar in Long Beach?

That is my mantra as I tour Seattle's port that includes an art walk (just like San Diego), a children's musueum, a reused naval station for commercial (non-shipping), a science museum, a science fiction musuem, a downtown that is packed with people because there are so many shops and yes, a mall that has real stores that draw people.

Their headlines tell the same story as Long Beach -- they have a shortfall. Just south in Portland, Oregon city workers are having to take a 2 week furlough. And, their Development Services Department (Planning and Building to the rest of us) is laying off 90 people because afterall with the downturn in construction there is little need for staff to approve permits and plan checks.

I have to say I slept more than 10 hours last night. I was exhausted from the week, the trip and my walking. It is overcast this morning as I write. I am in touch with my family and my staff via Blackberry so I don't feel so far away.

North to Alaska

I will be going to Seattle and Alaska for my first real vacation since taking office in 2006.

Luckily, since I know how to browse the internet, I will be able to stay in touch with Long Beach and my staff. While in Seattle I will visit their "parking strip" gardens they are encouraging residents to build. Parking strips are the areas between your sidewalk and the street and usually contain a city tree. By removing the grass and planting drought tolerant plants, it saves a tremendous amount of water and they look wonderful.

When I get back I look forward to launching our Spruce Up the 5th summer jobs program for youth in our area who will be helping fix up our parks in the 5th District. This will be a great experience for the youth and our district.

I will blog while I am on my trip.

My favorite color is red

So now that the Press Telegram has told you where I browse on the internet (complete with photos no less), I thought I would tell you the rest: my favorite color is red, rocky road is my fave ice cream, 70's music especially soft pop is the best, I once tried rock climbing, crossing the bar at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon in a small boat to go salmon fishing was the most frightening experience of my life, the first time I held my three children was incredible....

Give me a break. It took two reporters to cover a story one lone blogger -- Bill Pearl -- broke several weeks ago! Where was the in depth analysis of the middle harbor project -- which by the way the council is powerless to stop? Actually where is the in depth analysis about any topic?

Ok. So I admit maybe we shouldn't have a laptop at council to distract us...even momentarily. Then take away everyone's Blackberry, including the Mayor's, and Mr. Learch's "trio." And stop staff from giving us folders of work while we are sitting there.

I personally put in an incredible amount of hours on council business and use my council time to read and answer email, write a blog on what we are doing, look up information on what is being discussed (why I even consult our city charter and municipal code), and yes, I strayed and looked elsewhere. I know how to multi-task -- every parent learns how to.