Schipske Arranges with Rosie the Riveter Charter High School To Repaint House Numbers on Curbs -- Says Project is a 'Good Public Safety and Jobs Skills Effort'
February 10, 2012 - When public safety personnel are responding to a call for service, every minute counts in finding the residence. But with house numbers missing or faded on city curbs and city funds to repaint the numbers not available, what's a city councilwoman to do to make sure these house numbers are repainted?
Well, if you are Fifth district Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, you contact a local charter high school and ask if the students would take on repainting of house numbers on curbs.
"The issue about missing and fading house numbers on curbs is a matter of public safety," says Schipske. "If fire and police have difficulty locating a residence because there are no house numbers on the curb or the numbers are so faded they are difficult to read, then we need to address that issue. The City does not have funds to repaint these house numbers on our curbs so I reached out to the
Rosie the Riveter Charter School and asked if their students would take this on as a project. They said 'yes' and we are set to go starting Monday, February 13."
Rosie the Riveter Charter high school is an effort of WINTER - Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles - a nonprofit organization started by a group of tradeswomen that wanted to extend opportunities to economically disadvantaged women. The school sits on part of the AES plant site on Studebaker.
Mary Mercado, Director of Youth Programs, has organized 20 students who will begin painting house numbers on curbs on Monday, February 13, 2012 between 9am and 3pm. The group will start the work in the El Dorado Park South Neighborhood and spend Mondays moving throughout the 5th Council District.
"Our students are excited about working in the community," says Mercado. "They take what they do very seriously because they know they are preparing themselves for the work world after their schooling. Projects such as this reinforce that preparation."
Schipske explains that the City Municipal Code regarding painting house numbers on curbs is very specific about the size of the numbers and the paint that can be used. Additionally, only non-profit organizations approved by the Police Department can do this work. "Rosie the Riveter Charter high school is currently the only organization permitted to paint house numbers on curbs. The Long Beach Department of Public Works supplied the paint and the stencils."
Students from the high school will distribute notices in the El Dorado Park South neighborhood on Saturday, February 11, alerting residents that house numbers will be painted on their curbs. The service is free, however, residents are encouraged to make a tax-deductible contribution to the non-profit high school.
"This is a great opportunity for the community to acknowledge the work of these students and their high school while at the same time help in 'Shaping Up the 5th District,'" Schipske reminds.
Councilwoman Schipske launched other summer youth job programs in 2009 and 2010, addressing alleys and park maintenance in the 5th Council District.
Opened in September 2007, Rosie the Riveter Charter High School champions the spirit of progressive education; by providing a rigorous, standards-based secondary education and the opportunity to experience the world around us. www.winterwomen.org