I get lots of these..but this is special

Children Are Quick
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TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
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TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
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TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

(I Love this child)
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TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
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TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
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TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
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TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
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TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it.
Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand....
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TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
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TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's.. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
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TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

Town Hall Meeting on Marijuana Collectives Was Positive

About 70 people turned out for my townhall with City Prosecutor Tom Reeves and Deputy Police Chief, Bill Blair.

More than 1/4 of the people in attendance operate a marijuana facility. The remainder were both constituents and residents of other council districts.

The discussion was informative and civil. Tom Reeves and Bill Blair made a formal presentation on the status of the law on this issue and then took a number of questions and responded to comments.

I think the best outcome was hearing from constituents then and today that they realize the issue is very complex...because it is.

Schipske Proposes Consolidating Local Elections with County

Creating the best opportunity for Long Beach residents to participate in municipal elections is an informal charge of the Long Beach City Council and a formal charge of the Long Beach City Clerk. Different formats have been discussed, as have the timing of Long Beach municipal elections. The City election cycles are arranged according to Section 1901 of the City Charter:

The primary and general municipal elections for elective officers of the City shall be held in even numbered years, on the second Tuesday in April and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, respectively, and candidates elected to office shall assume such office on the third Tuesday in July and serve until election and qualification of their successors.

In the 2000 presidential election, seventy-one percent of registered California voters participated. In the 2008 presidential election, that number rose to seventy-eight percent. The lowest turnout percentage for a general election was 50.6% in November 2002.In June 2006, the voter turnout was 33.6%, and that was a record low for a statewide primary held in June. In comparison, voter turnout in the June 2006 city-wide election was 28.8%. Before that, in June 2002, voter-turn our was 23.4%

Between special elections, statewide elections and municipal elections, voters are expressing fatigue at the frequency of elections. In addition, the cost of conducting elections in alignment with the State should be explored for any possible savings.

I am proposing consolidating our elections with the County and alignment with state. Combined with the in-house expertise of the Office of the Long Beach City Clerk, this consolidation would allow us to continue conducting municipal elections that meet the needs and concerns of residents while at the same time increasing voter turn-out.

In order to do this, we need to amend the City's Charter. This will require a vote by residents to approve the change.

City Health Officer Finds Proposed Cigar Lounge Ordinance "Not Consistent with the Health Department's mission of promoting and protecting public.."

What has gotten into the water in Long Beach lately? Or better yet, what are people smoking? (Don't ask...)

First the council moves to allow "cigar lounges" and then it speeds along to gut most of the proposed restrictions on marijuana collectives.

What is galling is that allowing the cigar lounges flies in the face of not only the City's protective, comprehensive policy for no smoking in public places and workplaces (which was affirmed by a public vote of the citizens), but is absolutely contrary to the City of Long Beach's Public Health Department's core mission of "promoting and protecting public health."

You can read the complete memo I requested during Council from our City Public Health Officer at the right of this post. The report by the way that is required in the City's current no smoking ordinance.

Now on to the proposed ordinance to regulate marijuana collectives in Long Beach. On the floor last Tuesday, many changes were proposed to be made to what City Attorney Bob Shannon wrote. I made a motion to slow the train down a little by bringing the proposals back to council next week as a draft and not as a first reading of a done deal ordinance.

I am concerned that many of the changes severely weaken the city's ability to regulate these operations and am especially concerned that they might be able to operate near libraries and parks and in mixed zoned areas that have both residential and commercial.

I proposed and hopefully it will be in the draft that any residence within 1,000 feet will have to receive notice of these collectives applying for a permit to operate.

Residents should be asking who is getting campaign contributions from these two entities -- cigar lounges and marijuana collectives -- before a final vote is taken. Also, how on earth can our local news outlets (sans www.lbreport.com) be considered "objective reporters" when they are taking thousands of dollars in advertising. I doubt they are going to "bite the hand that feeds them" by taking a position for strict regulation.

Getting Smashed About Marijuana

I love it when a publication that takes thousands of dollars in ad revenue from marijuana dispensaries runs an article "Gerrie Schipske Says Let them get it somewhere else" -- and then proceeds to post 23 comments that state what an awful person I am and how I should be voted out of office.

Yep. That's what I like. Objective journalism.

So The District Weekly is upset I am having a townhall on the issue of regulating marijuana collectives on Nov. 12 at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Center at 2800 Studebaker and feels it is my way to stir things up to get these places shut down.

Too bad. My constituents want more information and many have expressed concern about having these facilities in their neighborhoods. So I am having a townhall meeting with the City Prosecutor and the Police -- the two entities that will have to enforce any law we put in place.

And while the "reporter" who did the story would like to portray me as the Marie Antoinette of pot -- the question was posed to me about what would happen if the dispensaries were regulated out of existence in Long Beach. My answer: they would have to get it somewhere else.

Elected Officials Calendars

I am puzzled. If a city such as San Jose can have the calendars of their elected officials on line and it doesn't cause a problem for them -- why is this being such a problem in Long Beach?

Arguments about security are valid -- but there is a way to deal with this problem (even though San Jose publishes calendars in advance). Either take out the address so people can't show up and stalk the official -- or publish the calendar after the fact -- as I do.

Bottom line is that because we are employed by the public don't you think people should know how we do our job?

Not Even One -- Why Our Community Needs to Focus on What Caused the Death

Long Beach again makes the news because of yet another killing of a young person. This time on the east side of the city.

And the finger pointing begins: it was the police's fault for not having enough presence at the football game; it was the city council's fault for not budgeting enough police; it was the school district's fault for not sending security outside the school perimeter; it was the city's fault for not having enough programs that would have involved the shooter and turned him away from crime; it was....actually all of our faults. Both for this shooting and the many other shootings that have happened in Long Beach.

My blackberry goes off 1 to 3 times a week with notifications that someone has been shot in Long Beach or has showed up in a Long Beach Emergency Room with a gun shot wound. And yet, none of us, including me, has stood up and said "enough" and really meant it.

I made a move in that direction about 10 years ago when I had the honor of being on one of three Community Action Teams in the United States -- ours being Long Beach and Compton based -- organized by the Jimmy Carter Center to mobilize the community against youth firearm violence. The premise of the program was simple: The central driving conclusion of our gathering was the conviction that not one gun death of a child can be acceptable. Not even one.

As Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, pointed out, this country is losing the equivalent of a classroom of children every day because youth are being killed by firearms.

Under the project, named "Not Even One," Community Action Teams (CATs) were formed at demonstration sites in three states (California, New Mexico, and Georgia). CATs included local community members, parents, clergy, and representatives from law enforcement, education, and public health agencies. CATs were to:

* Collect public health data on fatal firearm injuries on youths.
* Collect data sufficiently detailed to prepare written portraits "putting a face" on the victims.
* Use the data to develop viable, effective interventions at the community level and, eventually, nationally.

A child's death by a firearm would automatically call for, not just a criminal investigation, but a public health investigation that would determine all of the things that went wrong and produce recommendations for corrective actions to be taken by every responsible individual, group, agency, and public organization to be sure it didn't happen again.

Such a sentinel system would inevitably become the basis for a research agenda so that the tragic deaths would at least bear a fruit of understanding. The sentinel events could put faces on statistics and channel emotions toward prevention, not just after-the-fact punishment. Firmly grounded research also has the power gradually to force public policy to implement the creative, compassionate common sense programs that are needed.

We met after the killing of a child and tried to put the pieces together of what led that person to kill that child and who in the community might have been able to prevent that killing. This concept is much like what is done in medical centers. A committee is formed to review the death of a patient to determine what led to the death and what might be done in the future to prevent similar deaths. No finger pointing. Just working together to prevent it from happening again.

The national Not Even One program was closed because of difficultly of getting data. But the concept remains sound.

Our community needs to examine the root causes of these killings. Our community needs to stand up and say "enough" -- "Not even one death is acceptable." And we need to mean it -- and not only just when the killing happens near our neighborhood.

Town Hall Meeting on How Marijuana Collectives Should Be Regulated

In response to the numerous e-mails and telephone calls I have received about the opening of marijuana collectives in the City, I am scheduling a Community Town Hall on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road.

I have invited City Prosecutor, Tom Reeves and Deputy Police Chief, Blair to attend the meeting and to listen to the concerns of residents who do not want these facilities in our city.

Please note that because the City of Long Beach does not regulate facilities dispensing marijuana for medical purposes, I do not receive any type of notice when they open. I am relying upon residents to let me know so that I can refer them to the Police Department.

Come to the Town Hall on November 12 and let your opinion be heard.

Also check this blog for the proposals I have sent the City Attorney regarding regulation of these facilities.

Items for 2010 ballot

When I return to Long Beach (from far away San Diego), I will put the finishing touches on two agenda items that I would like see placed before the voters in 2010:

1. Changing our city elections from the April and June cycle to a June and November cycle. Voters are expressing fatigue at the frequency of elections. Long Beach holds elections every two years at April and June and the State holds elections every two years at June and November. What's wrong with this picture? It is costly for the City. Voters are tired of multiple elections. Voter turnout in April is low and favors incumbents. Making this change would certainly address these problems.

2. Increasing the per barrel tax on crude oil to 60 cents a barrel and to use the proceeds to get more police and fire on the streets. This increase to 60 cents a barrel would bring Long Beach in line with the City of Signal Hill which has been assessing 60 cents a barrel for several years. Additionally, Signal Hill uses a more appropriate inflation factor for crude oil -- the PPI -- or Petroleum Price Index. Long Beach uses the CPI -- Consumer Price Index -- which does not reflect the increases in crude oil. So we need to change the inflator.

As you might remember, I am also trying to get a charter amendment before the voters next April that would open up the bargaining process between the city and employee unions by requiring the sunshining of the proposals so the public can provide input and see what is being done.

Liberty Station -- San Diego does it right!

The California Medical Board is meeting here in San Diego. (Next year the Board which regulates physicians will meet in Long Beach for the first time!!)

The meeting is at Liberty Station -- San Diego's newest destination featuring a mix of arts and culture, sports, education, retail, restaurants, business and residential. It is referred to as a "Urban Village."

The hotel is located along the water front in the heart of Liberty Station. The village was created from the re-development of the historic Naval Training Center. It provides a gathering place for families, artisans, businesses and community cultural groups. The park features 2 balls fields, two large picnic area, a sports plaza, 4 half court basketball courts, a historical area at Preble field, a natural habitat zone, a multipurpose field, a nine acre esplanade for bicycling and walking and 3 restroom facilities. All brand new!

Visitors can enjoy the USS Recruit which is a full size ship built directly into the ground. It was built in 1949 specifically to train navy recruits with live simulation. There is a 9 hole golf course. The 125 acre waterfront provides water sports and biking paths. (LB Naval Stations de ja vu???)

It is quite impressive.

Just sent my thoughts on a marijuana ordinance to City Attorney

I am down in San Diego attending a quarterly meeting of the California Medical Board on which I serve. Taking a break and just sent a list of items I would like included in any ordinance regulating marijuana collectives/cooperatives. Because Long Beach -- and most other cities in California never regulated these businesses, they are taking advantage of a loop-hole in the law.

I would prefer that we don't have any in Long Beach (yes, as a health care professional I know people swear by the wonders of marijuana).

This is an illegal substance that is totally unregulated in terms of its quality. We don't even know what has been sprayed on the product. We don't know the strength of the product is. For god sakes, we don't let people sell hot dogs at a baseball game unless they follow Health Department regulations.

My constituents are angry as they watch one after another of these facilities open on the eastside. They find it incredible that the city gets no notice when these shops open or that we don't regulate them at all.

So while I'd rather Long Beach didn't have them at all -- I don't know that we have the votes on the Council to make that happen. So I am submitting a number of items that should provide public protection:


Marijuana Collectives/cooperatives ordinance provisions (among others being suggested by City Attorney and City Prosecutor, I would add:)

1. City council shall authorize no more than 3 collectives/cooperatives – no closer than 5 miles from each other.
2. 65% or more of residents within 2,000 feet of proposed facilities must approve the facility being located there.
3. Must not be located less than 1,000 feet from residential zone; pre-school, child care facility, k-12 school; public library; park or playground where children are present
4. Police dept shall conduct criminal background checks on owner and all employees.
5. Employees must be 21 years of age or older.
6. Physicians may not be employed and/or compensated by collective/cooperative. On site medical exams to qualify a person for referral for medical marijuana shall not be permitted.
7. Allowable square footage of facility shall be established by City Council.
8. Registered members must show state issued cards
9. The number of registered members must be reported semi-annually to Police Dept.
10. Security shall be provided constituent with a plan approved by Police Dept. Guards may carry guns.
11. Facility must be fully compliant with requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act – including door widths, counter heights, parking lots, signage for blind, etc.
12. Edible products are subject to Health Department regulations.
13. There shall be no sales of delivery devices – pipes, papers, etc.
14. Trash disposed of by facility shall be considered medical waste and disposed of accordingly after permits are obtained. The discovery of cannabis or any product or delivery device containing any cannabis in the regular trash by the Police shall result in closure of the facility.
15. Cultivation is restricted to industrial zones. Site must have proper permits for disposal of water and any run off from the cultivation. Health Dept shall inspect and provide permits regarding ventilation, water, etc.
16. The number of plants cultivated shall be reported semi-annually to the Police Dept.
17. Daily transactions of cannabis by collective shall not exceed 1 oz. Reports of all transactions shall be made to the Police Dept on semi-annual basis.
18. Signage at collectives: there shall be external and internal signage in not less than 14 point type with following: Notice: The California Compassionate Use Act and the Medical Marijuana Program Act requires that only registered members of this collective/cooperative shall obtain cannabis for medical purposes. Registered members must have a verified physician referral and a state issued card. No cannabis may be used or consumed on premises or within 2,000 feet of any residence, child care, school, library, playground or park.
20. The name of the business shall only state that it is a medical marijuana collective or cooperative. No artwork or photographs will be displayed.
21. These facilities are not medical clinics and therefore no patient-doctor relationship exists.
22. Because these facilities are operated by non-profit organizations they cannot be taxed.
23. Transportation of cannabis, cannabis products and/or cannabis delivery products (papers, pipes, etc) by a collective/cooperative to a registered member’s residence is illegal.

Got Pot? Long Beach Does.

I am receiving emails from constituents who are concerned they are noticing more and more medical marijuana collectives popping up like weeds...excuse the puns...in eastside Long Beach.

Unfortunately, the City of Long Beach never did anything to stop them from opening. Now that there are so many of them...and growing...the City Council Committee on Economic Development and Finance is grappling with what to do...what to do.

The Brown Act prevents a city council member who is not a member of a committee from testifying at the committee meeting. I am not a member of this Council Committee, so I will not be able to make comments there. However...

So I encourage anyone interested in this issue to attend the Monday, October 26 meeting at City Hall Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 5:30 pm and let the three member committee know what you think. This committee will make recommendations to the full City Council.

I am posting a copy of the California Attorney General's Guidelines on Medical Marijuana that outlines what we can and cannot do.

Principal for a Day at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School

Just thought you'd like to know that I had the privilege to serve as a Principal for a Day (again), this time at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School at Josie and Willow in the 5th District.

Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School is one of 63 elementary schools in Long Beach Unified. It is a charter school that serves 628 students in grades K-5.

What a great school. Dedicated principal (for real) Mark Andreatta who loves the students and took me to every class on the campus. The teachers are fantastic and everyone of them had the kids totally engaged in learning.

It was a treat to meet everyone and to talk with the 3rd graders who met in the auditorium to ask questions of both principals for a day. I have to admit I was outclassed by Sgt. Scott Minkus who came in full police uniform. So thank you for the experience.

Three of my staff also served at other schools: Patrick Henry Elementary, Cubberly Elementary and Helen Keller Elementary.

We had a scare..

The newest member of my extended family, Layne Mancini, had to be hospitalized shortly after her birth.

Haven't prayed in a while, but I did this time.

Fortunately, all is well and baby is home.

Press Telegram Does Excellent Analysis of Benefits of Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios

Click here to read a great article in Press Telegram today about Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios coming to the Boeing property.

My biggest concern at this point is that neither a movie studio nor Tesla Motors will locate in Long Beach.

The Mayor of Downey called me and told me the very same story of why Downey would prefer Tesla Motors over the movie studios that are there. Bottom line: Tesla can create jobs in a very short period of time. He's pretty confident that Downey will get Tesla. Afterall, he and his City Council assembled a "red team" and aggressively marketed Tesla Motors. (Sadly, I couldn't get the City Council, Mayor nor the Chamber of Commerce to assemble a "red team" on this one.)

So when the dust settles and Tesla and LB Studios become (or don't become a reality for Long Beach) I do hope the Press Telegram will do an in-depth analysis of what went wrong so it doesn't happen again.

Making it on the top ten list.

Was stunned that I was included in the list of the top 10 most powerful people in Long Beach compiled by LBPOST.com.

Really.

There are a lot of people in this town, some known, some unknown who are very powerful both in a good way and in a bad way. Power has many meanings.

I have received some very nice calls and emails (some from my council colleagues and one from someone who is also on the list) about being on the list.

I do appreciate the mention but I also realize I wouldn't be on that list without the help and support of a lot of people (staff, family, friends, constituents). I'd list them all but there are way more than 10.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled for LB Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center

The City of Long Beach will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, on Monday, October 26, at 10 am at the park site at Conant Street and Clark Avenue (adjacent to Fire Station 19). The ceremony will celebrate the development of the park and interpretive center dedicated to the women who worked at the Douglas Aircraft plant during World War II. Named by the City Council in 2006, the park is near the original site of where thousands of women assembled bombers and cargo planes during the early 1940s.

"The park and interpretive center will provide the community a living memorial to a significant part of Long Beach's history," said Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, whose district includes the park. "We are excited about bringing this era to life and providing a focal point for visitors to learn about the history of our city."

Drew Satariano, President of the Parks and Recreation Commission added, “The Parks and Recreation Commission is honored to be a part of developing this gateway into Long Beach's past through this wonderful project.”

The park will be designed in two phases. The first phase includes a walking path with interpretive signs and a guided tour by cell phone that takes visitors to the 1940s when Long Beach helped with the war effort. A memorial featuring reproductions of scenes from the National World War II Memorial and a Victory Rose Garden are tucked in a grove of trees. It will provide a tranquil spot where visitors can reflect upon the sacrifice of those women and men who served in the military and civilian organizations. A compass rose, long used by aviators to navigate their way, will be featured and will be a replica of the one that was in the main lobby of the Administration Building of the Roosevelt Naval Station in Long Beach. A walk through of a life-size sculpture of two women riveters takes visitors to the interpretive center located in the Long Beach City College Foundation building behind the park. The interpretive center will feature memorabilia and displays provided by The Boeing Company, successor to McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

The second phase includes an additional walking path that is comprised of memorial pavers donated by those wishing to honor a loved one: a "Rosie," a member of the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) or any branch of the US military. A concrete sculpture outlines a B-17 bomber to provide an amphitheater and garden for public events. Historic benches, lighting and banners will complete the park.

The park design was led by NUVIS Landscape Architecture and Planning with input from the Rosie the Riveter Taskforce and The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation, a non profit organization formed to support the park and interpretive center.

Funding for the first phase was made possible through a grant given to the City of Long Beach by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe specifically for the park and donations raised by The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation.

For more information about the Rosie the Riveter Groundbreaking event, please call Josh Butler, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, at 562.570.6932.

Welcome to the World Layne Mancini!

Wow. Now I remember why I loved working in the Newborn Nursery and the NICU. Newborns are wonderful and it is amazing to watch them transition in a matter of seconds from being in utero to being in the world.

I was blessed to be at the birthcenter at Memorial Medical Center yesterday and today to greet the newest member into my extended family. Layne Mancini came in yelling and ready to cuddle with her moms, grandmas, aunts, uncles, grandpas, and greatgrandparents --all visiting, waiting, hoping. Then she came into the world and it obviously won't be the same for all of us.

Quite honestly there is nothing more special than a new baby at Christmas time...can't wait. It's been a while (my kids are in their 20's) since we've had a baby around.

News from City Hall

El Dorado Nature Center Stream Restoration:

Created in 1969, the El Dorado Nature Center is a 102-acre public environmental, education and recreation center. It contains two lakes, connected by a half-mile stream. During the 40 years that the Nature Center has been in existence, vegetation has grown to shade and clog the stream. Stream banks have eroded and silt and debris have accumulated on the stream bottom. The resulting wider and shallower stream does not provide healthy aquatic or riparian habitat and is eroding into the walking trail.

The City Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has been working with stream restoration experts on a plan to transform the stream into a thriving ecosystem closely modeled on natural streams.

The Nature Center stream restoration is being funded by grants under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, and Coastal Protection Bond Acts of 2000 and 2002, and mitigation paid by Mc Donnell Douglas for violations under the Clean Water Act. Construction is expected to take approximately four to six months, during which time the walking trails adjacent to the stream will be closed.

Busiest Intersections in Long Beach:

The City Traffic Engineer, David Roseman, has listed the following information on the busiest streets in Long Beach:

1. 7th Street
2. Ocean Boulevard
3. Lakewood Boulevard
4. PCH
5. Cherry Avenue
6. Carson Street
7. Anaheim Street
8. Willow Street
9. Del Amo Boulevard
10. Spring Street

Top accident prone intersections:

1. Traffic circle
2. PCH and Cherry
3. LB Boulevard and Wardlow
4. 7th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue
5. Pramount and South Street
6. Los Coyotes Diag and Bellflower Blvd.
7. PCH and LB Blvd
8. 7th Street and Redondo Ave
9. Alamitos Avenue and Anaheim St.
10. Atlantic Ave and Artesia Blvd.

Number of Construction Permits in District 5:

The Development Services Department (aka Planning) reports that 175 construction permits were taken out in the 5th Council District this past August and 755 inspections were completed by Development Services of properties/businesses.

60-foot high wireless pole not appropriate for neighborhood

I have just received notice that T-Mobile wants to construct a 60-foot-high wirless telecommunications monopole disguised as a pine tree located at 3401 N. Studebaker .
It was scheduled for the Planning Commission and then the City Council.

I have told Planning staff I am opposed to the placement of such a high pole in essentially a residential area. I understand the item will not be taken up at the October 15th Planning Commission meeting because T-Mobile wants a chance to meet with the community.

As soon as I learn of a date for such a meeting, I will let residents of that area know so they attend and make their views heard.