Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Canada Provides Public Education on the Need to Clean Reusable Bags.. So Should Long Beach. We Need to Practice Safe Sacks!
Canada provides public education on the need to clean reusable bags between uses to prevent the transmission of bacteria. A simple public education video explains why users need to practice "Safe Sacks."
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Schipske to Ask Health Department to Provide Educational Program on Reusable Bags
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| Reusable shopping bags (Photo credit: Luca Penati) |
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| Reusable Bag 3 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Councilwoman
Gerrie Schipske is asking for a report from the City Public Health Officer
concerning educational efforts by the Health Department to inform grocers and
their customers about the need to clean reusable bags that may be the source of
bacteria. An agenda item asking for the report will be heard in early March.
“The
City enacted an ordinance banning plastic bags at stores as a way of
encouraging the use of reusable bags,” says Schipske who is a Registered Nurse
Practitioner. “Recent studies indicate
that the reusable bags may be the source of E.Coli and other bacteria which
cause serious illness and infection, if the bags are not washed and disinfected
between uses. Additionally, after carrying meat, poultry and other items,
customers apparently are often returning their bags to the trunks of their cars
where increased temperatures can speed the growth of bacteria from these
fluids. Some customers use their bags to also carry clothing and shoes which
adds to the transmission of bacteria.”
Schipske
feels that as with any public health matter, “it is critical that we inform,
educate and empower residents about health issues in our community. It is
important that our Public Health Department provide information through the
stores about the need for proper cleaning and disinfecting of reusable bags in
between uses.”
Schipske
notes that the Loma Linda University School of Public Health (after finding 12%
of the reusable bags they sampled at grocery stores positive for Escherichia
coli) recommended that the “public needs to be educated about the proper care
of reusable bags by printed instructions on the bags or through public service
announcements.” (An example of a brief public information video can be accessed
at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsw-ErFM2lc
Although
she opposed the banning of plastic bags and would have preferred an aggressive
recycling program, Councilwoman Schipske believes that if the City wants to
continue to make this environment effort successful, “it is important that,
through our own Public Health Department, we add this educational component to
keep our residents safe.”
#30
Schipske Calls for Rule Preventing Use of City Seal for Personal or Political Uses
Can
political candidates use the official seal of the City of Long Beach on their
printed materials, Facebook and campaign websites? In most cities use of the
city seal for personal or political purposes is illegal. But apparently that’s
not the case in Long Beach, which is why Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is asking
for an ordinance to prohibit these uses of the City seal.
“The City seal and logo are the property of the City of Long
Beach and are designated to identify official City business, facilities, events,
and publications,” says Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.
“Long Beach does not
currently have code specifying allowable and prohibited uses of the City seal
and logo. Therefore, there is no mechanism to prevent unauthorized use that
could lead to public misperception that an event, candidate, endorsement, or
position is officially sanctioned by the City.”
The Fifth District Councilwoman also notes that with more
and more elected officials setting up personal websites and Facebook pages that
are not official city sites, use of a City seal and logo give an impression
that they are official and their contents approved by the City.
“As we enter campaign season it is important to have clear
rules so that we don’t again see the City of Long Beach official seal on a
webpage soliciting contributions for a Congressional political candidate,”
Schipske points out.
Schipske adds that many cities have enacted ordinances
controlling the use of the official seal and logo because of concern that
allowing it would constitute a “gift of public property,” noting that if there is a
determination that no public purpose was advanced by such use of City property,
an illegal gift of public funds could result. Although the courts have
liberally interpreted the definition of a public purpose, it would be difficult
for the City to justify the allowance of such use, especially if the City
limited such use to particular parties or individuals.
“Without an ordinance detailing the allowed and prohibited
uses of the City Seal, it is difficult for the City to enforce its rights.”
Note: The first city seal was designed in the early 1900s
and consisted of a ship sailing along the coast of Long Beach. In 1930, a
contest was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce with a prize of $150. The
winning design selected was drawn by an employee in the City engineer’s office,
Roland S. Gielow. Gielow’s design included what were then considered to be
symbols which best represented Long Beach. Most of Gielow’s design was
officially adopted on September 23, 1930. The 4 stars signifying Long Beach as
the state’s 4th largest city and the Edison plant smoke stacks were
removed. The rest remain: “Urbs Amicitiae” (Friendly City); airplane; port, oil
derrick and Edison plant; a long beach; the municipal auditorium and rainbow
lagoon; “Queen of the Beaches,” California bear, horn of plenty and a lamp and
book (to symbolize the city’s cultural side). Sunday, February 24, 2013
Updates from Long Beach Police
Shooting of Armed Suspect Who Fled Burglary in Redondo Beach and Ended in Eastside Long Beach
The following was released by the Long Beach Police Department:
[Release text] On Thursday, February 21, 2013, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Long Beach Police patrol officers were in pursuit of a felony suspect in the 6400 block of E. Keynote Street when they were involved in an officer involved shooting. Below are details of the incident as they occurred:
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as they do with all officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury or death.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Mark McGuire or Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
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Residents Encouraged to Be Aware of Utility Worker Scam
The Long Beach Police Department is alerting residents about recent reports of persons falsely representing themselves as utility workers as a ruse to commit burglary.
In this scam, the bogus workers are apparently targeting homes to burglarize when no one is expected to be home, or working as a team to distract the occupant and burglarize the home. The following information is provided to allow residents to confirm that they are interacting with Long Beach City employees:
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