So After the Main Library's Roof Is Replaced -- How Is Park Being Replaced

The good news is that the roof of the main library is being fixed because even though it was meant to be park area or more precisely garden space, it leaked over the years.

The bad news is that the reason the roof of the main library that way in the early 1970's was because when the civic center and library were built, it reduced the amount of park space available at Lincoln Park.

In my research on the history of Long Beach I found a letter to the editor that outlines the concerns of some residents when Lincoln Park was taken for a civic center and main library. Ironically the writer was correct but no one listened:

The architect of the new main library is quoted as partially justifying the building's design on the basis of the thought that, "it provides more area for landscaping than the park it replaces."

Such a statement is surprising from a man who is in the business of designing things for people's use. Whether or not there is more landscaping than existed in old Lincoln Park is of no interest to those who realize that it takes more than landscaping to make a park.

Old Lincoln Park was the visible center of downtown, the social center for a large
number of citizens, and the 90-year-old repository for gigantic trees, donated benches, statues, cannons and outdoor markets.

It was accessible to everyone from the street, its users had full view of the activities of the street and in the park, it was reasonably safe because of its visibility from the street, and it had large chunks of lawn for snoozing or ball playing and lots of benches arranged for conversation or idling.

The new landscaping on the roof of the library is not a park; it has lost the vital connection with the street and will never be the center of anything except perhaps
crime. Access is by long flights of stairs or the crowded elevator in the City Hall lobby.

The seats are not arranged for comfortable conversation and face in, with no possible view of the active street nor the ocean. The little patches, of grass on the raised steps are of no use for any kind of activity, and there is no view into the area day or night from the street or plaza, a prime incentive for crime.

Finally, I'm sure the new landscaping which replaces the old park costs many times as much to maintain as did the old park.The city and its architects have, in the name of progress, destroyed Lincoln Park,one of the few things that was successful in the downtown and replaced it with plentiful landscaping whose only virtue is its stunning appearance from the upper floors of the City Hall. FRANK COLE, Long Beach

Land Swap Has Problems -- Still

Quietly, a memo was put in my in box from City management informing council that it has been discovered that the Orange County District Attorney filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the discharge of mineral oil possibly containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from transformers formerly located within the Los Cerritos Wetlands property currently owned by LCW Partners, LLC.

Wait, this wasn't done recently. This was done in 2008 and the owners of the "wetlands" property never disclosed this during negotiations. It wook a call from the EPA on August 17, 2009.

The EPA has required the owners to submit a PCB Assessment Workplan because there are two sites known with PCBs and ten other sites needing assessment.

So here's what being recommended by city staff: "...prudence suggests that the city should not consummate the exchange and enter the chain of title while this enforcement action continues, and thereby be identified as a Potentially Responsible Party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

You think?

How about requring staff to complete due diligence to see if there are other hazards and liabilities lurking out there before the deal is done?

I for one am asking the City Attorney to hold a closed session so we can "confer" with our negotiators on this mess, I mean real estate transaction. I am also asking the City Auditor, Laura Doud to look at this issue from the standpoint of financial liability.

You Saved Station 18

Thanks for the wonderful participation of residents in the 5th Council District who called, sent emails, signed petitions and turned out for the open house last Sunday at Station 18 -- the Council on a 9-0 vote approved restoring Firestation 18 and several other cuts to fire, police, library and recreation services!

Your efforts are most appreciated.

The work on the city's financial situation is far from over. We still need to look to remove inefficiencies, redundancies, and out dated services, programs and personnel in all city departments.

I am hopeful Mayor Bob Foster will not veto the restored cuts.

Remembering 9-11

I had the honor of being asked to speak at the 9-11 memorial arranged each year by LB Fire Fighter Gary Biggerstaff. Several hundred people crammed into Bennett street to see the crosses Gary had placed on his lawn as he has each year since the attack on the World Trade Center. Several young people sang. The crowd sang along.

The crosses with names help us remember the fire fighters and police who died that day. Gary does an incredible job helping us to remember the sacrifices that were made that day.

My remarks were brief, as I told people that on that day some ordinary people did some very extraordinary things and that what struck me the most about that day was that people who did not know each other had to rely upon each other and that perhaps we needed to remember this as we look around at the people who were gathered today --that the things that divide us in this country pale in comparison with the things that unite us.

I also added that 47 people from California died that day --including Dorothy Dearaujo, 82, of Naples, who was known as the neighborhood artist, drawing the area's boats, shops and homes in detailed water colors. An avid traveler, Dearaujo visited France, Australia, Italy and Brazil. She earned a bachelor's degree in art at California State University, Long Beach. She was survived by a son, Tim whom she had been visiting i Boston before she boarded United 175 that crashed into the south tower.

On that day, Dorothy and others boarded airplanes with strangers and no one knew what was going to happen on those flights. We never know what is going to happen on a given day. Perhaps we need to live our lives like it will be the last day or the last time we see people. Maybe we'd all be a little nicer, a little more civil, a little less critical.

Station 18 Open House -- Great Turnout -- Residents Are Angry About Cuts

Residents packed Fire Station 18 today to tour the station and to talk with firefighters. They picked up all the remaining signs that say "Save Station 18." They signed a petition opposing any cuts in service at Station 18. Most importantly they stopped to talk about their anger that a closure in Station 18 would even be proposed by the Mayor and the City Manager.

One resident remarked: "Why does downtown always view this section of the city as the golden goose? We pay taxes but everytime they need some place to cut, they do it over here. They need to get a grip or the goose may just fly away."

I am hoping the mayor and city manager are listening.