CHP Pursues Bank Robbers -- 405 closed --Millikan and Cubberly on Lockdown

Earlier today - Thursday, May 13 -- a bank robbery occurred in South Orange County. California Highway Patrol (CHP) ended up pursuing what they believe to be the suspect vehicles. The suspect vehicle exited the 405 at Woodruff Avenue where the CHP was involved in an Officer Involved shooting. The 405 was immediately closed. Millikan High school and Cubberly Elementary school were placed on lock down. Reverse 9-1-1- calls were made by the LBPD to surrounding residents.

CHP believes the suspect fled in the general area. The Long Beach Police Department was called to assist and is currently providing multiple resources including SWAT.

If anyone has information, please call 9-1-1. The LBPD is working with the CHP and the FBI on this case.

The 405 has been re-opened as of 2:00 pm, however, the suspect is still at large.

Community Baby Shower -- Get a Chance to Win Tickets to See New BABIES Documentary

It's that time again for the Community Baby Shower. My annual effort to get basic going home newborn kits for low income mothers to use after they give birth in our local hospitals.
The newborn kits are used also as incentives by our Public Health Nurses to encourage moms to complete education classes.

The community is asked to donate the following new items which will be placed into bags so that the Public Health Nurses can use them in their classes:

• Diapers, baby wipes, bibs, onesies and blankets. No bottles as nurses want to encourage breastfeeding.

Drop off your donated items Monday - Friday, 9am - 5 pm by Wednesday, May 19th at the Fifth District Neighborhood Office: 2760 Studebaker Road, Long Beach; or make a contribution (tax deductible) to Long Beach Cares, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815.

If you bring new items to the "baby shower" on May 20th where we stuff the items in the bags and enjoy baby shower cake, you will receive a chance for tickets to see the wonderful new documentary: "BABIES" which is playing at UA Marketplace on Second and PCH. (You can check out the movie trailer in the prior posting.)

The Baby Shower will be at the City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Department, 2525 Grand Avenue (off Willow).

For further information: 562 570-6932.

The Baby Shower

A Must See -- Babies -- A Documentary

Schipske Calls on LBPOST To Remove City Employee Names

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today called upon the LBPOST blog to remove the names of individual City employees which they have posted on-line with the employees' job titles and salaries. She has also asked the City Manager to explain how this information was released and why the City Council nor the employees associations representing employees were notified that this information would be placed on-line.

Schipske believes the same "purpose" of the postings could have been accomplished by listing the job titles and the salaries.

"I am a strong proponent of transparency in government but it is not necessary to expose the names of city employees when disclosing what each job is paid. The job titles and salaries would have been sufficient," says Schipske. "Additionally, I understand that many of the salaries posted are not even correct nor were the furloughs (loss of pay) reflected in the postings."

Arts and Services for the Disabled Opens Exhibit May 21st

Arts & Services for the Disabled announce the opening of the Touch group exhibit --a multi-sensory sculture, painting and interactive work by artists with disabilities --on Friday May 21 at 6-8pm.

The exhibit continues through August 19th. Gallery hours are: M-F 9 am - 3 pm. The Deneff Gallery is located at 3962 Studebaker Road, #206, Long Beach in the 5th Council District.

Frontier Airlines -- Service Launch at Long Beach Airport; City Implements Sound Insulation Improvements

Frontier Airlines Starts Services:

The Long Beach Airport is pleased ot announce the launch of service by Frontier Airlines. Frontier will be operating two daily non-stop flights to Denver, Colorado, with the inaugural flight scheduled to arrive at 10 am on Friday, May 14. The first departure is slated for 11 am the same day.

QuieterHome Program:

The City Council just approved the construction and inspection of the Pilot Phase of the Long Beach Airport Quieter Home Program. This program will provide sound mitigation elements that possess the acoustic performance properties required to achieve the minimum 5dB Noise Level Reduction goal and an interior Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) goal for homes within the 65 CNEL. There are 27 identified interested homeowners eligible for the program. The funds were obtained from the Passenger Facility Charges -- airport funds.

El Dorado Nature Center Offers Trail Stewards Training for Volunteers

May 15 and 22
Is walking in nature your passion? Do you love the outdoors and want to lend a hand while hiking at the Nature Center? Then consider joining the Trail Stewards volunteer program at El Dorado Nature Center. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is offering you an opportunity to share with visitors information about the wonderful history and wildlife that make El Dorado Nature Center a treasure in Long Beach. The Nature Center offers a two-session training program to help you become a Trail Steward.

The training classes meet on Saturday, May 15 and 22 from 9 am until noon at the Nature Center, located at 7550 E. Spring. Call 562 570-4885 for further information.

City Manager News

See the posting on the side. It's the latest weekly newsletter from City Manager Pat West. Check it out and find information on:

• California Redevelopment Association (CRA) Lawsuit -- the State is stealing our redevelopment money ($36 million dollars) and we are suing.
• KROC Center -- Salvation Army is pulling out of its commitment to Long Beach for this community center.
• Bike Fest -- in the continuing effort to make Long Beach a very Bike Friendly City -- last week was Bike Fest.
• Belmont Pier Work -- building a new bus stop for the Belmont Pier.
• LBGO Customers -- natural gas customers of the City have now experienced 12 consecutive months of gas bills lower than similarly sized residential customers anywhere else in So. Cal.
• LBPD Commander Gary Morrison -- going off to become Chief of Police for Carlsbad.

President Obama Recognizes Families Come in All Forms

Happy Mother's Day.

Posted to the right is President Obama's Mother's Day Proclamation. Please note that for the first time in history, a President is acknowledging that "nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by two parents, a single mother, two mothers, a step-mom, a grandmother, or a guardian."

As one of two moms who raised 3 wonderful children, it's nice to be acknowledged by the President of the United States.

First Planning Meeting on TEDXLongBeach

A few weeks ago, I authored a council agenda item that requested the City Manager to apply for a license (free of charge) to host a TED-XLongBeach.

Last week, I hosted the first planning committee meeting at City Hall. About 20 attended and what is amazing is that many had already started to take ownership at making this a fantastic event. A facebook page: TedxLongBeach had been set up as well as a website:www.tedxlongbeach.com.

We are currently working on a venue in November of this year -- Center Theater near the Terrace Theater or CSULB Carpenter Center.

If you are interested in participating, please contact my council office and speak with Josh Butler at: 562 570-6932.

Also check out the links to other TEDX events hosted by cities.
TED and TEDX Events

Apparently TESLA is Ready to Announce...Again

Received a call from local media about the following AP story you can read on the link
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hWGBbOTfyCb0GmbZu6NLiE7ZKBNgD9FI79H00

indicating TESLA Motors is just days away from announcing which location it has chosen -- Downey or Long Beach. The reporter asked for a comment -- I gave none because this is probably the 10th time an article like this has appeared and nothing happens. And on the off chance the City of Long Beach is still in the running, I don't want to say anything.

However, should the City of Long Beach lose out to the tiny city of Downey, then I hope I won't be the only person called to discuss what happened. Let's see if the front page of the local press is filled with a story about "what went wrong" -- just like was recently done about the loss of the Kroc Center funding.

Schipske's Assignments on California Medical Board

In 2007, I was appointed a "public" (non-physician) member to the California Medical Board by the Senate Rules Committee. I am currently the only Registered Nurse Practitioner on a state medical board in the United States. The other 14 members are appointed by the Governor and the Speaker of the Assembly.

We meet quarterly but receive numerous cases on-line which we must review and vote upon. These cases involve the appropriate discipline for physicians who have violated the law regarding their licensure.

In addition to the general Medical Board work, I have also been appointed to the following committees:

• Access to Care
• Education
• Enforcement
• Licensing
• Application Review
• Advisory Committee on Physician Responsibility in the Supervision of Affiliated Health Care Professionals

For the first time in the history of the California Medical Board, it will hold its quarterly meeting in Long Beach this coming November. I have arranged that the meeting will be held at the new Miller Children's Medical Center. This will be a great opportunity to show off Long Beach to this important state regulatory body.

Pretty difficult to be told you may kill one of the top 10 sales tax producers

Whether I believe it or not, being shown figures that indicate that Worthington Ford is one of the top 10 generators of sales taxes for Long Beach, made it near impossible to vote against approving a federal loan of $600,000 for retaining the dealership here in Long Beach.

I am appalled that Ford would offer Worthington a considerable amount of money to leave Long Beach especially since Ford shares about 28% of the sales tax generated at the shopping center where Worthington is located. But losing this tax generator for any reason would be catastrophic for the city.

It now remains to be seen if HUD will approve the $400,000 not available currently. Should that not happen it will be interesting to see if Worthington will remain without the additional $400,000 considering that Ford offered him close to $2million to move.

You can sign up for emergency contact by City of Long Beach

The City of Long Beach has in place an emergency contact system or what is also known as "reverse 9-1-1" which can be used for the City to contact residents to inform them of an emergency.

If you click on this link you will be given a sign up sheet for this service. Please note that the City will not use your information for any other purpose but for emergencies.

Show Me the CDBG Application Before You Give the Money

Let me get the requisite phrase out of the way: "I am business friendly. I want business to grow and flourish in Long Beach." Ok.

Now that the wheels have been greased in the local media (except for LA Times which did a feature a week ago indicating that Worthington Ford grossed $600 million in 2002 and did so well last year that they want to buy another dealership) for the Council to vote to approve a $600,000 loan (most likely forgiveable... which I cannot find is permissible under federal law) to retain 116 jobs (only 20 of which are Long Beach residents) at the current dealership, I ask you: what self respecting legislator would approve this deal without reading the CDBG requirements for job retention loans?

For your reading pleasure, I am posting an excerpt from the requirements that show a number of formulaes required before these funds can be used for job retention -- not least of these is the requirement that the local government pledge non-CDBG funds as well.

I haven't seen the loan application, nor calculation of the formulaes which would ok the loan, nor the financial information of the recipient which is required by law, nor where the City is getting non-CDBG monies to help this project. But maybe all of that will be cleared up before this deal is voted on by the City Council. Ooops. The vote is scheduled for tomorrow.

Latest in 5th Council District and City

Mud Swamp to Paved Alley.
Construction is going to start on May 3, 2010 and will be completed on May 27, 2010 according
contractor's (Sully-Miller) construction schedule on the new alley being placed behind Euclid in the Artcraft Manor area of the 5th District. This area has never had an alley and as a consequence the area has flooded and has left homes and garages coated with mud from cars that attempt to traverse it during and after rains. Once the alley is completed we will power wash the homes and garages to remove the mud.

Monster Roots.
In the never ending struggle between sidewalks, streets and the trees that push them around, I bring you a report on the 3600-3700 blocks of Karen Avenue. The street is lined with mature Italian Stone Pines, which can grow up to 50 feet in height and develop canopies up to 60 feet in diameter. The root systems of these trees ave caused large humps in the street, as well as displacement of curbs, gutters and sidewalks. In 2005, sidewalk improvements were completed on Karen Avenue and this work made it necessary to "shave" the root systems. Because of this, a period of time was needed to allow the root structures to heal. Now that this period of healing has passed, Public Works is set to start the initial phase of street rehabilitation. This initial phase will address issues at 37 locations. A certified arborist will be assigned to ensure that trees' health and surrounding structures are protected as the umps are excavated and removed. A similar project was successfully completed in 2007 on the 6100-6200 blocks of Keynote Street. That project corrected the major street issues and saved 30 of the majestic trees.

City Releases Community Garden Policy.
The City's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department released a citywide Community Garden Policy outlining available park locations where Long Beach residents and organizations can establish a community garden.

Residents wishing to start a community garden should go on line to: www.sustainablelb.com or www.longbeach.gov/park.

Community gardening has many benefits such as producing fresh, health food; creating opportunity for outdoor activity and an opportunity for education and awareness and community involvement.

TESLA to Go to Downey Afterall -- Still Waiting to Hear What Goes in at Boeing

Well, it is almost official, TESLA Motors will announce in the next several weeks that it will locate to Downey to build its cars under a $465 million grant received from the government.

For full details: Click here for story

I am still waiting to hear what business will locate to the Boeing property at Lakewood and Carson.

Puzzled Why City Being Asked to Help Car Dealer Who Grossed $600 Million in 2002

Dear Readers,

Either the LA Times Business Section got it wrong last Sunday (http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/24/business/la-fi-himi-worthington-20100424), or I have to figure out how to gross $600 million and still get a government loan.

That's what the article said about Cal Worthington who in 2002 grossed $600 million from his car dealerships. The article also stated that he is doing so well that he is looking to buy another dealership yet he is asking the City of Long Beach to come up with $600,000 in federal funds to keep him here.

I've posted the "analysis" that was just done (ink really isn't even dry) to bolster why the City Council should rush to get the money to Mr. Worthington.

Let's analyze what's going on:

• City management gets a frantic call from the grandson of Cal Worthington that Ford Motor Co (who received a giant federal credit extension) has made a lucrative offer to pack up and relocate Cal Worthington to Orange County. I get calls telling me the City needs to do this or we will lose Worthington to the Ford deal.
• City management is asked by Worthington to come up with a financial package that will compete with Ford or else Worthington will take the Ford offer. (When it was first explained to me the offer was $2 million. I have yet to see anything in writing from Ford about any type of offer. Oh, yeah. And why would Worthington take $600,000 instead of $2 million?)
• City staff puts a loan of $250,000 on the council agenda and then pulls the item.
• City staff puts a loan of $600,000 on the council agenda.
• The funds are federal CDBG funds that normally can only be used in a blighted area -- the 5th is not blighted so while I cannot get funds to fix streets or medians with these funds, they can be used to "retain jobs."
• So I ask, how many people does Cal employ? Answer: 116 -- but only 18% of these jobs (or 20) are actually Long Beach residents.
• Why does he need the money? Doesn't really need it, but he'd like to expand onto the old Chevy dealership property.
• Will he have to pay the $600,000 back --seeing how the City just gave him $200,000 in 2008 ? I can't seem to get a final answer on that one.
• What are we getting as collateral for this loan? The City of Bellflower took an interest in the Don Ellis Ford dealership when it gave Ellis a $600,000 loan --and it required an outside audit of the Ellis financial accounts to see why he needed the money. Why aren't we requiring an audit?
• So why can't we tie this loan to performance? For every Long Beach resident Worthington employs, he gets to keep a portion of the loan?

So here it is folks, in the course of 2 years, the City of Long Beach is proposing to give $800,000 in loans to a car dealer that grossed $600 million in 2002 and lord knows how much since then? You know, you gotta believe in Santa Claus.

Take a Look at Proposed Long Beach Airport Terminal Modernization Plan

If you click on this link you will be able to see the animated plan for modernizing the Long Beach Airport Terminal. It really is cool.

City Council Gets Briefing on Pension Systems and Financial Obligations

The City Council had a study session yesterday to discuss the status of the employee pension systems and the financial obligations of maintaining these systems. I have posted a copy of the presentation on the blog which readers can download for their own review.

There are some basic facts that everyone needs to keep in mind:

• Pensions are legally binding contracts between the employee associations and the city and cannot be changed without agreements from both sides. Kinda like a contract to buy a car. The dealer cannot suddenly change the terms and conditions of the contract or the dealer can be sued for breach of contract.
• Pension obligations are outgrowing the city's revenues. Unless the city figures out a way to reduce these obligations or to increase revenue to pay for them we will continue to cut services in order to balance the budget. (A balanced budget is required by law.)
• Increased pensions were given several years ago instead of salary increases.
• The average pension given to a public safety employee is $48,000 a year.
• The average pension given to a non-public safety employee is $21,000 a year.
• Both pensions are given after 25-30 years of service.

The City Council gave direction to city management to begin talking with all the employee associations about how we can reduce our current deficit -- including discussing options to reform pensions.