Lots of City Documents for You to Read.. Important Answers on Property Tax

Please see below the links to documents written by City management (and the Port of Long Beach) in answer to my questions raised during budget meetings. Also information on Port of Long Beach air emissions and the City Manager's latest news letter.

I asked a number of questions during the budget presentations and also requested a breakdown of property taxes by zip code -- as we decide where services go in this city it is helpful to know where property taxes are the highest.

As always, feel free to contact me on any of this.

• Air Emissions from Port

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104642656/polb001

• Recent Actions by the Port of Long Beach

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104642635/polb001-1

• City Manager Proposals to Reverse Partial Budget Cuts

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104642594/new001

• Property Tax Paid by Zip Code and Other Answers to Budget Questions from Councilwoman Schipske

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104642553/Council-001

• City Manager’s Newsletter

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104642523/Friday-Newsletter-083112

• More Responses to Questions Posed by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

http://www.scribd.com/doc/104640675/responses001-3

• Suggestions by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske on Budget Cuts

http://www.scribd.com/doc/103778224/2013-Cuts-Restoration-Recommendation
 

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 Check out how California's Carbon market will work. This is why Long Beach needs to explore how to use its urban forest for these credits.

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Rediscovering Sister Corita Kent

Now that classes are back in session at CSULB and I am teaching 9 units (3 classes) I went in search of one of my favorite artists, Sister Corita Kent. Sister Kent was a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart and brought a sense of social justice to her very colorful art.

She also had a wonderful set of rules for her art classes that I think are appropriate for every classroom and for life in general:

• Rule 1: FIND A PLACE YOU TRUST AND THEN TRY TRUSTING IT FOR A WHILE.
• Rule 2: GENERAL DUTIES OF A STUDENT:
• PULL EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR TEACHER.
• PULL EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS.
• Rule 3: GENERAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER:
• PULL EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR STUDENTS.
• Rule 4: CONSIDER EVERYTHING AN EXPERIMENT.
• Rule 5: BE SELF DISCIPLINED. THIS MEANS FINDING SOMEONE WISE OR SMART AND CHOOSING TO FOLLOW THEM.
• TO BE DISCIPLINED IS TO FOLLOW IN A GOOD WAY.
• TO BE SELF DISCIPLINED IS TO FOLLOW IN A BETTER WAY.
• Rule 6: NOTHING IS A MISTAKE. THERE’S NO WIN AND NO FAIL. THERE’S ONLY MAKE.
• Rule 7:  The only rule is WORK.
• IF YOU WORK IT WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING.
• IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO DO ALL OF THE WORK ALL THE TIME WHO EVENTUALLY CATCH ON TO THINGS.
• Rule 8: DON’T TRY TO CREATE AND ANALYZE AT THE SAME TIME. THEY’RE DIFFERENT PROCESSES.
• Rule 9: BE HAPPY WHENEVER YOU CAN MANAGE IT. ENJOY YOURSELF. IT’S LIGHTER THAN YOU THINK.
• Rule 10: "WE’RE BREAKING ALL OF THE RULES. EVEN OUR OWN RULES. AND HOW DO WE DO THAT?
• BY LEAVING PLENTY OF ROOM FOR X QUANTITIES." JOHN CAGE
• HELPFUL HINTS: ALWAYS BE AROUND. COME OR GO TO EVERYTHING. ALWAYS GO TO CLASSES. READ ANYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON. LOOK AT MOVIES CAREFULLY, OFTEN. SAVE EVERYTHING, IT MIGHT COME IN HANDY LATER. THERE SHOULD BE NEW RULES NEXT WEEK.

Why You Shouldn't Let Your Dog Pee on Trees

 With Long Beach being a "Tree City" it is important we know how to take care of this wonderful asset.


Why You Shouldn't Let Your Dog Pee on Trees

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Almost there...budget cuts on the mend

Thanks to all residents who attended my community budget meeting, went on line and made their opinions known, circulated petitions and came to City Council -- you did it. We are almost there in restoring the severe cuts to the City budget that you demanded be restored.

Tonight, the City Manager provided City Council with a listing of proposed restoration of cuts particularly to Parks and Recreation and Libraries. Apparently somebody is agreeing with my assessment that the amount of revenue from Uplands Oil will be much higher than projected and it can be used to restore some of the cuts. Other funds were found by shifting revenues.

We have more work to do because the Park Ranger program is slated to be eliminated entirely. Also we need to restore funding to the police and fire departments -- because those cuts are severe and will impact public safety greatly.

Keep the pressure up on City Council by emailing and letting us know what you think. It was a great turn out tonight...they listened but we have more work to do.

Please log onto www.5thdistrictbudgetcuts.idealscale.com to give me your opinions on the proposed budget cuts.


Thank you.

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City's IT Checking Out Possibilities with IBM Smarter Cities -- Millions At Stake

IBM Smarter Cities Report Launch (Photo credit: mastermaq)Image via CrunchBaseA few months ago, I contacted our Director of Technology Services about the possibilities of the City of Long Beach participating in the City Forward project offered by IBM.  I asked Curtis Tani to check it out about how Long Beach could participate and if it was feasible, I would bring forward an agenda item urging our city's involvement. (see link for City Forward  http://cityforward.org/wps/wcm/connect/CityForward_en_US/City+Forward/Home# )

Unfortunately, Curtis responded that he "spoke to the person at IBM responsible for the City Forward initiative.  She indicated that Long Beach is not able to participate in the initiative because they are not adding cities at this time.  Moreover, since they obtain and use data from national sources reported at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level, our data is included in "Los Angeles."    

But Curtis did indicate that he would follow up on another potential program that could bring Long Beach a chance to receive several millions in assistance from experts on how to better engage residents and to make cities more effective. It is called Smarter Cities.

Curtis did tell me that he intends to "have further discussions with IBM about its Smarter Cities initiative to find out if there are other potential opportunities for Long Beach.  I will update you should there be opportunities to participate."

The good news is that the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge would be a great opportunity for Long Beach to receive services and technology. The bad news is that we have only until September 7 to apply for 2013. Click the link to read more about Smarter Cities. https://smartercitieschallenge.org/about.html

I will let you know if the IBM contacts works out for the City.

PS Check out what IBM Smarter Cities is doing for Jacksonville. 
 

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