POA and FFA Independent Expenditures in 2010 Campaign

I just learned what was spent by the LB Police Officer's Association (POA) and the Long Beach Firefighters Association (FFA) on independent expenditures during the last 2010 campaign for council, City Prosecutor, City Attorney and Mayor.

An independent expenditures means just that -- independent of the candidate's campaigns.

I knew the Firefighters had paid @ $1440 to have campaign signs printed for my campaign -- because they brought a stack of them after they had distributed them to their members.

I did not know however, (until I read the report today) that the POA spent @$1,200 to place my name on two slate mailers which go out to high propensity voters (voters most likely to vote in a city election).

So here are the links if you want to read the entire reports on what was given in 2010.
Firefighters Expenditures

POA Expenditures

Working with Traffic Engineering and Police on 7th Street Closure

I met with the city Traffic Engineer and a representative from OCTA yesterday to discuss what I observed as impact of the closure of the 7th Street bridge by OCTA. The signage is confusing both on the freeway and on our city streets. This will be corrected.

Additionally, we need police in the morning and the evening to help guide drivers until they become accustomed to the closures.

I also requested a no u-turn sign at Willow and Palo Verde to discourage drivers unfamiliar with the area to turn around after they get off the 405.

Several problems occurred yesterday -- CSULB came back to school and there was a police action at Bellflower and 7th -- greatly causing congestion. Additionally, some drivers apparently thought that the 604 north bound was also closed and it was not.

This closure will take some time for adjustment. I want to assure readers that the City traffic department, the LBPD and OCTA are working together to make this situation as painless as possible.

Yes, my life flashed before my eyes...

Ok. I admit it. I hate fast cars and rollercoasters so it was amazing that I said yes last week when I was invited to take a spin in a race car in front of the students at Cubberly Elementary. I will spare you the impact the short ride had on me...but yes, my life indeed flashed before my eyes as the driver took me around two laps in the parking lot.

This is why education is so important

San Diego Trying to Save Its Local Schools With Redevelopment Money

The San Diego Unified School District is laying off teachers just as being done here in Long Beach. Apparently they have come up with an answer to their financial problems by using redevelopment money to keep the teachers who received pink slips on March 15th.

The attorneys at SDUSD believe this is a legal use of redevelopment funds.

When schools are in a redevelopment area, the redevelopment agency usually has agreements to pass back some of the tax increment collected for redevelopment.

I am going to agendize a council item asking for a report on the relationship of Long Beach redevelopment with the Long Beach Unified School District and the Long Beach Community College District -- specifically asking: 1) how much does RDA pass back to the schools and 2) how can we free up redevelopment funds to help keep our local schools open.

2nd Annual Solar Grand Prix -- Lots of Fun and a Great Success

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, staffed and sponsored the 2nd Annual Solar Grand Prix held on Saturday, April 9th in El Dorado Park.

More than 500 students participated in design and racing contests. The students were amazing. So enthusiastic. Such team spirit.

Take a look at these photos and also check out: http://www.lbreport.com/ and http://www.presstelegram.com/. Very nice coverage.

LBreport.com Alerts El Dorado Park Estates Homeowners About Coming Impact

LBreport.com has posted an article about the pending impact of Black Hawk helicopters flying out of Los Alamitos Air Station. Click here to read article.

While the City of Long Beach apparently responded to the plan via the Planning department, I am trying to find out why my office wasn't alerted directly so that residents could have weighed in. Apparently the comment period  for this item ends today!

I encourage readers to link to the article on lbreport.com and then follow up with comments postmarked today.

It's like watching sausage being made...

I have attempted not to use this blog to report on the negative stuff that happens being on the City Council.

But a very thoughtful constituent from the 3rd Council district just sent me a copy of an email he sent to Councilman Gary DeLong in response to DeLong's diatribe against the majority of the city council who shot down his scheme to dole out street sweeping services to one of the many businesses he had already alerted would get a chance to bid.

DeLong had threatened in a previous email to "tell" his email list who dared to vote against his proposal. And while he insulted one councilmember last night by characterizing the councilmember's comments as "nonsense" and "disingenious" -- he was a gentleman enough not to call out that particular councilmember in his email blast.

But instead  De Long took a shot at me in his email blast today -- only me -- by stating that "once again" Gerrie Schipske was wrong because I said that street sweeping produces revenue. Despite his knowing that street sweeping does produce revenue because it is linked to street sweeping tickets of cars parked on street sweeping day, he continues to deny the fact and came very close to calling me a liar.

His email with my name in it might explain why I started to get nasty comments in emails this afternoon.

Don't know why De Long thought it was necessary to put my name in his email. But it does appear that more and more when he doesn't get his way he becomes a very angry man and says demeaning, belittling comments about two of the females on the City Council. Guess it was my day (again) to be his target.

Here's the Land Swap Case that Put a Wrench in the Pike Project

Here's the ruling that states the City inappropriately used tidelands for the Pike Project. Now the City needs to find suitable land to give to the State so that it can continue to use the land where the Pike Project is as a commercial and retail development.


California Land Exchange Agreement -

We Love Long Beach Breakfast

We Love Long Beach hosted a breakfast last Saturday at Marshall Jr. High in the 5th Council District. What a wonderful turnout. Great energy.

A breakfast helps build a sense of community and being connected with each other. It may not be the most serious of events, but judging by the turnout and the comments made during the breakfast, many, many people thought it was just what was needed.

Thanks to the Friends of the El Dorado Dog Park who are working so hard to get that dog park built. Ruff, ruff!

Thanks to the hosts and to everyone who attended.

Long Beach Struggled from the Beginning to Fund the Municipal Band

When it formed the Long Beach Municipal Band in 1909, it did so to stop foreign musicians from playing on the local beach and making money. The push for the band was that Long Beach wanted "American" musicians and not Italians and so an ordinance was passed that made the Municipal Band employees under the direct control of the city.

While a tax was eventually passed to pay for the Municipal Band, other means of financial support were explored, including "municipal advertising" by sending the band across the U.S. on a "California on Wheels" tour as detailed in this article from a 1912 OUTWEST magazine.

School District Provides Update on Construction of New High School to Replace DeMille

The Long Beach Unified School District has provided an update about the completed demolition of DeMille on Parkcrest and the beginning of construction of the new high school.

Check this link for the latest announcement.

Please contact me as construction progresses if you have any problems in the neighborhood.

Message from City of Long Beach Health Officer Regarding Concerns About Radiation from Japan

I received the following message from the City's Health Officer in response to constituent inquires about precautions needed due to the radiation in Japan:

I was just on a statewide conference call, and the radiologic experts at the state continue to emphasize that the nuclear reactor problems in Japan are extremely unlikely to pose any health threat to the US due to the types of releases that have occurred so far, the weather conditions in Japan (rain and snow for last 3 days) and the distance between Japan and the US (5000 miles). As a precautionary measure, there are numerous radiation monitors throughout the state, which are very good at picking up changes in radiation levels, and no change has been detected to date. As a mother myself, I have absolutely no concern about this affecting the health of my child. If anything changes, we will certainly put out recommendations for what people should do to protect themselves.

Helene Calvet, M.D.

Health Officer and TB Controller

Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services

2525 Grand Ave., Long Beach, CA 90815

Phone (562) 570-4047, Fax (562) 570-4049

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer Sends Letter to Little Hoover Commission...and Councilman Gary De Long

In response to the Little Hoover Commission's report on public employee pensions and Councilman Gary De Long's current attempt to get the City of Long Beach to adopt the report, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer has written the following letter : (well, Lockyer actually only sent it to Hancock, but hopefully Councilman De Long will read it and Lockyer's additional remarks before attempting to push this on the City Council next Tuesday....)

Lockyer's Response to Little Hoover Commission

Statement regarding airplane crash today in Long Beach

I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who died or were injured in today's tragic plane crash at the Long Beach Airport.

I also commend the Long Beach Fire Department and the Long Beach Airport staff for their quick response to the scene and for their continued professionalism in handling the news regarding this horrible event.

While the City of Long Beach is Being Attacked for Its Use of Tidelands Monies...

I don't hear any concern or discussion about the State of California's use of tidelands funds that are mostly generated in Long Beach.

Is everyone aware that the State can use Tidelands funds for purposes other than the improvement of harbors and other projects directly related to the tidelands areas? Is everyone aware that Tidelands funds were the primary source of funding for higher education in California but the monies were re-directed to water projects?

Click here and read an article on the topic that you might find very interesting.

Tidelands monies generated in Long Beach are being used to fix, repair and improve infrastructure in the Tidelands areas. The same cannot be said for the State of California's use of these funds.

Deja Vu -- Ideas That Might Have Worked...

Thought you all might enjoy some ideas that I brought to Council a couple of years ago....

Schipske Brings Package of Financial and Environmental Items
A spokesperson for Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today disclosed that Schipske is placing several items on the January 22nd Council agenda aimed at dealing with some of the serious financial and environmental problems facing the City of Long Beach, including a proposal to increase the transfer of Port of Long Beach funds and allow use of a portion of the transferred funds for non-tidelands area programs and costs to cushion funds taken by the State of California.
 "Councilwoman Schipske is greatly concerned that the current financial and environmental problems facing the City of Long Beach need to be dealt with aggressively and creatively," stressed Josh Butler, who serves as Schipske’s Chief of Staff. "For this very reason, she is bringing five items forward to engage the City Council and the public in discussing new solutions to these problems."
The "package" of Council items includes a proposal that would limit the City Manager from increasing non-bargained salaries or giving bonuses to management employees beyond the current Consumer Price Index ("CPI") instead of the 7 percent recently approved by the City Council. "The Councilwoman feels she made a mistake in voting to allow the City Manager to give increases up to 7% without some type of provision that allows the Council to control the amount if the City’s finances warrant a smaller amount," says Butler. "No one should be receiving a 7% increase in this economy."
Schipske is also proposing that the voters be asked to approve an amendment to the City Charter that would increase the percentage of funds transferred to the City from the Port of Long Beach’s net income. The current percent is set at 10% and the funds must be used for programs and services within the "tidelands area." Schipske’s proposal would increase the transfer rate to 15% plus add 5% which would be available for use in the City’s "general funds."
"Long Beach needs financial relief from the State of California," Butler notes. "Not only has the State of California been transferring "tidelands funds" into the State’s "general funds" to help its own financial situation, but the State is also continuing to raid local property tax revenues thereby financially strapping cities such as Long Beach. This increased transfer would provide a needed cushion for our City." The increased transfer would have to be approved by the Long Beach voters and most likely require state legislation allowing the non-tidelands use.
Schipske believes that some of these transferred funds could be used to deal with the environmental impact the port is having on the area – both in terms of air pollution from trucks and cargo ships calling on the port and water pollution and trash from the re-routing of the Los Angeles River.
Butler says Schipske also feels that funds need to be transferred to help pay for the costs of the City equipping and staffing police, fire and public health departments which will be called into service should the port ever be attacked by terrorists. "The impact of this port go far beyond the ‘tidelands area’," reminds Butler.
Other proposals being placed on the Council agenda include allowing the City to use a portion of the "refuse collection fees" surplus to pay for weekly street sweeping expenses, thereby freeing up several hundreds of thousands in "general funds" that could be used for other purposes.
"She is also asking the City Council to request the City Attorney to provide a briefing on the potential loss of revenue to the City should pending litigation filed by Verizon and other telephone providers regarding the telephone utility use tax prevail," stated Butler, referring to a December workshop held by the League of California Cities at which cities were told of the problems being created by the lawsuits. The City of Los Angeles is attempting to pre-empt the massive loss of revenue by putting the issue before its voters before the court rules on the issue.
"Councilwoman Schipske wants to know if Long Beach will be impacted and what if anything can we do to mitigate our losses."
The fifth agenda item requests the City council to refer to its State Legislative Committee the issue of the current exemption from the State "Sales Use Tax" on bunker fuel. Bunker fuel is used by cargo ships and is the source of a great deal of the air pollution in the area. The State legislature exempted a portion of the fuel from being taxed at the urging of Assemblymember Betty Karnette and State Senator Alan Lowenthal.

Barcelona Uses Underground System to Handle Its Trash

 While you may not speak Spanish, watch the video anyway and get the idea of what Barcelona, Spain is doing to handle its trash. Bins are placed in every neighborhood and the trash is separated by type, etc., compressed and sent underground for processing into energy. No trash trucks -- just clean streets.

I will look into to see how much it cost to build and operate.

PS Thanks to Regina Walter, owner of Grounds, for sending me the video.

Long Beach Was Devastated in 1933

Building codes have certainly been improved since the 1933 earthquake hit Long Beach. But what is happening in Japan is showing us once again that we cannot be totally earthquake proof. Get yourself and family ready in case we get hit.

90% of Long Beach schools were damaged or destroyed in the 1933 earthquake. Students had to attend classes in tents or sitting under trees in local parks. It took two years for all the schools to be fixed or rebuilt.

 

Damage to the downtown Long Beach was also extensive.

Are you ready for the big earthquake here in Long Beach?

It happened in Japan and it is going to happen here in Long Beach. It is just a matter of time.

So please check out these links on information you need to get ready. Click here.

Also, please read the message from the Long Beach Fire Department on earthquake preparedness that I have posted to the left on this blog.