LB Literary Women Festival Wonderful As Usual

Isabel Wilkerson at the Miller Center Forum (Photo credit: Miller_Center)

Enjoyed the Literary Women Festival of Authors today in the LB Convention Center. Today was the 30th year of this wonderful event. The event was sold out as usual. The authors were witty and fascinating. The attendees so engaged.

Many of the women in attendance work diligently in Long Beach to preserve and expand our library services. 

One of the featured writers is Pultizer Prize Winner Isabel Wilkerson who talked about writing her amazing book on the migration of 6 million Americans from the south to escape Jim Crow laws. The book: The Warmth of Other Suns is an epic non fiction account of how lives were changed forever when African Americans left the south beginning in WWI.


Congrats to the women who put this event on today! Thanks for doing this in Long Beach for 30 years.

Related articles

• "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson (beautifulunion.wordpress.com)
• Part III of a Four-Part Q & A with Pulitzer-Winner Isabel Wilkerson on Her Book, 'The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration' (leoadambiga.wordpress.com)
• Part II of a Four-Part Series with Pulitzer-Winner Isabel Wilkerson, Author of 'The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration' (leoadambiga.wordpress.com)
• Book Review: The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson (chalkthesun.wordpress.com)

City Management's Response on SEADIP

In my haste to get the document published, I missed scanning some pages. Below is the complete memo.

The Long Beach City Council directed City management to detail how the city could move forward to amend the local coastal plan that includes the area known as SEADIP. Below is the memo just recently sent to the council from city management. The difficulty will be to secure funding to conduct the process necessary to amend the plan.Unless the coastal plan is updated and there is agreement as to how if any development will take place in the area, potential developments like 2nd and PCH that was rejected by the majority of the city council will happen again.

Sea Dip

City Needs to Utilize Next 10

For several years I have pushed for the City of Long Beach to get our budget on line in a format that residents can use to provide their input on what cuts need to be made to the City budget and for those cuts to be shown in a graphic way so residents can see what the cuts will do to services.

This will also actually help the City Council see the impact and the input of our residents.

The California Budget project (http://www.budgetchallenge.org/pages/home) though the non profit Next10 has provided such a capability for cities. The City of Los Angeles uses this program as well as the city of Alameda (http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/Budget-Challenge/sim/budget_master.html).

Next10 has offered this program to the City of Long Beach for $15,000 which I am willing to take out of my neighborhood services budget and provide for the entire city.

As we launch this effort, I look forward to the involvement of all of our residents who have a real stake in the budget decisions that will impact our city services and the quality of life here.

Related articles

• Schipske Launches "Open Up Long Beach" Effort (openuplongbeach.com)

Come Learn How to Track LB City Council

COME LEARN HOW TO TRACK THE CITY COUNCIL March 12th Meeting of Open Up Long Beach to Focus on Legistar System (LONG BEACH, CA; March 5, 2012) – Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is inviting the public to learn how to track the activities of the Long Beach City Council at the next meeting of Open Up Long Beach. “Long Beach City Clerk, Larry Herrera, will provide a presentation on how to access the Legistar system used to track the activities of the City Council,” says Schipske. Legistar is a comprehensive, integrated document management and information retrieval system designed specifically to support the legislative process in cities, towns, and counties. Legistar parallels and supports the customary flow of legislative operations, tracking every action taken on each matter, along with dates, free-form notation, and individual votes where appropriate. The March 12th meeting is a part of Councilwoman Schipske’s “Open Up Long Beach” effort which is focusing on how to make city government more open, transparent and accountable. The meeting will take place at 2800 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and is open to the public. From the time of her election to council in 2006, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske has been dedicated to open and transparent government. She is the first and only councilmember in Long Beach to communicate with her constituents via blog. She also utilizes Facebook, Twitter, electronic newsletters and email. More information on the effort to make Long Beach more open, transparent and accountable can be found at www.openuplongbeach.com or by calling the Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske at 562-570-6932.

Here's a Free Legal Checkup

Navigating through the law can be especially difficult. I know. Not only am I an attorney but I teach law at CSULB. The California State Bar of which I have been a member since 1990, provides a great publication that walks you through a checklist of what you need to be concerned about legally for the major decisions in your lives, such as buying a new house. See the document below and feel free to download it. Legal Checklist

Check Out Council Agenda for 3/6

Agenda March 6

State Releases Report on Realignment of Adult Offenders

State Senator Alan Lowenthal released a report from the State concerning the planned realignment of adult offenders back into local communities. The report was issued on February 12, 2012 and makes interesting reading. I am reading it and will provide highlights in a later posting. 2011 Realignment of Adult Offenders 022212

Check out Map of Foreclosures in Long Beach

Click here to see a map of homes foreclosed in Long Beach. I co sponsored a council item which established a Foreclosure Registry that allows the city to track homes in foreclosure and to enforce codes against banks who allow the homes to fall into disrepair.

Taco Bell Alert

My council office has received several calls about what is happening to the Taco Bell at Stearns and Palos Verdes. Please be assured that the current closure of the Taco Bell is in no way connected with the City Council passing a "Eat Healthy" ordinance a couple of weeks ago. Or the fact that Taco Bell has put their food to go in ....gasp...plastic bags.

My staff and I are as concerned as some residents about this recent development -- and are happy to report that the old Taco Bell has been demolished to be replaced by a newer, modern Taco Bell within the next 6 months.

 In the meantime, here is a google map of the locations of other Taco Bell's in the area should you all get the urge to "run for the border."

What the City Might Owe

As you recall, I have opposed the City becoming the successor agency for the closed Redevelopment Agency because of the liability incurred by taking this responsibility. The Council as you further recall was not given a decision in open session on whether or not to become the successor agency because a vote was not scheduled in time to meet the state deadline. So now, Long Beach becomes liable for the "enforceable obligations" outlined in the following report. (See first paragraph of the city document that points out this fact.) This is one of the main reasons the Mayor of Los Angeles urged their City Council not to become the successor agency for Los Angeles' Redevelopment. (See this link to read his letter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/las-community-redevelopment-agency_n_1200174.html) Additionally, because the city has used redevelopment funds to pay for citywide code enforcement and graffiti removal to the tune of $6 million we must now run the risk of spending this money as the successor agency on these services and having the newly established "Oversight Board" tell us it is an impermissible use of these funds and then the City will have to refund the money and take it out of General Funds. With another announced deficit for next fiscal year for the City of Long Beach, this was not the time to take on additional financial obligations. Redevelopment 001

Lakewood and LB To Repave Carson Near Towne Center

Here's the City memo on the partnership with the City of Lakewood to pave Carson Street adjacent to Towne Center. Repaving Carson

Why LB Needs to Review Investments

 About a month or so ago I asked the City Manager to provide a report on the City's investments to determine what if any can be done about the fact that the city invests millions with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae -- the two largest holders of mortgages. In light of the ongoing investigations into the two agencies, the City Council needs to be given the full extent of our investments and whether or not they remain prudent.


Click here http://www.savelongbeachhomes.com/2012/02/more-bad-news-on-freddie-mac.html

When They Don't Like the Truth...Some People Exaggerate

I previously posted both here and on Facebook that too much money was given to council members from those who had interests in medical marijuana collectives being scheduled to be closed because of a recent court decision.

Precisely, $9,100 was given for council and congressional campaigns underway. No one disclosed during the council meeting that they had accepted the money. I think they should have.

So when that tidbit of truth hit the air...someone posted several times on Facebook and on the Press Telegram that I had accepted $600,000. Wowee is that a whopping lie. I spent the large sum of $69,000 on my first council campaign and $20, 596 on my 2010 campaign.

Folks, not only did I not accept a penny from anyone connected with the marijuana business, but since being on city council I have raised only @ $64,000, qualified for candidate matching funds in the amount of @$7,000 and loaned my committee @$17,000. Do the math. That is nowhere near $600k.

Here is the link to my campaign contributors so you can see the truth.

So why the distortion of facts? I can only guess that this supporter of medical marijuana thought she needed to smear me because she and her friends are very angry that the council listened to the advice of our City Attorney and passed a ban on these collectives. I received a handful of angry emails yesterday and today telling me so.

Why are they so mad at me when the vote was 8-1? Because I have been upfront from the beginning that I am not in favor of these collectives but I did vote in support of the city's efforts to try to work within the Compassionate Use Act and allow reasonable access. Then the Court of Appeal said "No" to the City and I voted with 7 other "supporters" of the collectives to ban them in 6 months.


We can argue all day about whether or not marijuana should be legal. It is not legal and only the federal government can change that.

We can also debate -- and the City Council did so extensively -- about whether or not Long Beach should ignore the court ruling in the Pack case which stated that the city could not regulate marijuana collectives because they were illegal. If the city can't regulate we could not stop them from opening in any neighborhood.

And that folks, is the truth.

Long Beach Needs to Thank Those Who Returned From Iraq --Planning Freedom Walk on 4th of July

As you know, US troops have returned from Iraq and several cities have held parades and other celebrations to acknowledge their service.

It is time Long Beach stepped up and did the same.

I am putting together a working group to plan at Freedom Walk on 4th of July on Clark Avenue from Carson to Spring. The route goes by Vets Stadium and Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center where we are flying the Long Beach Hometown Heroes banners honoring the men from Long Beach who died in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Please contact me if you want to help plan this event to thank those who served in Iraq. We hope to include the fire and police historical vehicles to add to the festivities.

Note on LB Chamber of Commerce Attack on Me -- You Got the Wrong Opponent

I received a wonderful valentine in my email inbox while sitting in City Council from Randy Gordon, Executive Director of the LB Chamber of Commerce.

Randy, who lives in Huntington Beach because he loves Long Beach so much, wrote a long email missive about his love and admiration for Gary DeLong and claimed that Gary, unlike that big, bad woman in the 5th Council District Gerrie Schipske, is the only business person on the entire City Council and that Gary needed to be applauded for launching 100 visits to 100 businesses in 10 minutes or something like that. Oh, and Gary is strong and not pro labor like that working wench Schipske. (He missed the part where Gary is described as dapper and a Young Gun...)

Note to Randy:  I know love can be blinding but you don't serve your membership well (including the Port of Long Beach which gave $30,000 to you as a member) when you don't tell the truth and you go after the wrong opponent for your endorsed candidate, DeLong. Gary isn't running against me for Congress. He is running against himself, Steve Kuykendal and State Senator Alan Lowenthal.

Simple facts: Both Gary DeLong and I have business licenses because we both do consulting work. I ran a very successful law practice on Pine Avenue for several years. I now have a medical legal consulting business. Both DeLong and I file a form 700 so you can see how much or little income his business makes. So stop the nonsense about him being the only one with business experience.

I voted against raising property taxes in Long Beach. DeLong voted to raise property taxes (Measure I parcel tax). I voted against imposing a fee on shoppers who want a paper bag and banning plastic bags. DeLong voted to impose the fee and the ban.

Regarding labor: Both DeLong and I voted for the project labor agreements. Both of us voted for salary increases for our public safety unions. Glad to see you've endorsed the Gary as the prolabor council member in the 3rd.

Randy, Randy. Does it mean so little to you that when the Chamber of Commerce lost many of its small business members because the Chamber wasn't doing much for them, that I formed a Small Business Advisory Committee in my district and that I reached out to you for Chamber support only to be rebuffed and ignored or that I have contacted every newly licensed business in my district and provided them information on who to call for service.

Or that I have been working with the Lakewood Village businesses (yes, Randy, Lakewood Village is in Long Beach) to spruce up their business corridor or that I brought in marketing experts to see how we can attract retail to the district??? Or how about that my staff and I brought TEDXSOCAL to Long Beach which was not only successful in its own right, but resulted in bringing new convention business to the city because some attendees were so impressed that they decided to book their convention here? Or that the Council just approved my proposal to allow local Long Beach businesses to showcase themselves at a city council meeting each month so we have help support their efforts? (Bet you also didn't know that part of the proposal includes a suggestion that council members and the mayor actually go out and visit the businesses to show our support. Oops was that where Gary got his idea?)

Wow, with that kind of track record and dedication maybe I should run against Gary DeLong for Congress afterall. Nah. But until I do, save your attacks for his real opponents, Randy.

Hugs and Happy Valentine's Day.

Gerrie

How Much Money Did You Contribute Concerning Medical Marijuana?

If ever an issue cried out for campaign finance reform in Long Beach, the vote on Tuesday, February 14, on whether or not to ban operation of medical marijuana collectives would be the issue.

Why? Because in excess of $8,000 has poured into the campaign accounts of several council members from businesses and lobbyists from the medical marijuana industry just as we get ready to either heed or ignore the legal advice of our City Attorney Robert Shannon. 

Shannon has told the City Council over the past several months that we need to ban the operation of medical marijuana collectives because the court ruled on a case specifically involving the City of Long Beach’s regulation of medical marijuana collectives and held that the City cannot regulate that which is illegal. Marijuana is illegal. 

Yes, California allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes grown by “caregivers”, but the court reminded that a “caregiver” is someone who prior to growing and giving marijuana for medical reasons, actually provided care, food, housing, etc., for the person receiving the marijuana. The court specifically references that a marijuana collective of 4 or less is what was envisioned in the Compassionate Use Act – not a big business making tens of thousands of dollars a week selling marijuana grown to several hundreds of members. The medical marijuana collectives and their lobbyists are making big bucks and if Long Beach bans their operation as the City Attorney advises they will lose out of one of the biggest cash cows to hit the city.

Elected officials should not vote on an ordinance or a business contract if they have received money from any party related to the ordinance or the contract. They should also disclose at the time of the vote that they have taken contributions from a party, participant or their agents. 

Several cities have enacted laws which disqualifies the council member from participating in decisions affecting his or her campaign contributors. These laws disqualify the council member from participating in certain proceedings if the official has received campaign contributions from a party, participant or their agents within the 12 months preceding the decision. They also require disclosure on the record of the proceeding of all campaign contributions received from these persons during that period. In addition, these laws prohibit solicitation or receipt of campaign contributions during such proceedings, and for three months after the decision, from parties, participants or their agents.

The voters of the City of Los Angeles enacted changes to their charter in 2011 that create new campaign contribution restrictions on contractors bidding on contracts with the City. The changes ban contractors who are bidding on contracts worth $100,000 or more, and subcontractors that are expected to receive at least $100,000 from performing their portion of the contract, from the following:

• Making campaign contributions to any elected City office, candidate for elected City office, or City committee controlled by an elected City official or candidate if the contract requires approval of the Council; and
• Making campaign contributions to any elected City office, candidate for elected City office, or City committee controlled by an elected City official or candidate if the contract requires approval by the elected City office that is held or sought by the person to whom the contribution would be given.

It is time that Long Beach strengthened our campaign finance laws by either the Council putting this issue on the ballot or by taking this issue directly to the voters and getting them to place it on the ballot in the next general election.

Local Students Start Painting House Numbers on Curbs

Students from the Rosie the Riveter Charter High School were out in the 5th Council District starting their project to help spruce up the look on streets by repainting house numbers on curbs. 

The students are getting volunteer service hours from their school to work on this project. They will do this every other Monday until we get the house numbers repainted of those residents who agree to let them do it.

The service is free and helps our public safety personnel find houses quicker. Volunteers from Meals on Wheels also tell me they would appreciate seeing the numbers repainted because they often have trouble finding an address.

Again, it is free but I do encourage residents to make a tax deductible contribution to the charter high school of $10.

DeLong Really Needs a Hug

 Several people in the community have sent me another funny email authored by Gary DeLong, titled “What was Gerrie Schipske Thinking?”

You ask, who is Gary DeLong and just what is his fixation with me?  

Well, Gary is that tall, dapper councilmember you see walking out of the council meeting many Tuesdays cause he just can’t bear to sit and listen to the people who come to talk to council. Sometimes he just leaves council meetings all together. Take the night we were deadlocked on the vote to ban plastic bags and to assess a fee on shoppers who want to use paper bags. Gary left thinking it was in the bag but was summoned back because the vote was about to go the “wrong way” for its supporters. Whew. It was nip and tuck there for a minute. Suddenly, Gary came back in time to be a deciding vote to pass the ban on plastic bags and assess a fee. What a sense of humor that Gary has. Long Beach is experiencing the worse economic downturn in years and there he was laughing about how he made it back in time from wherever he had been to vote for one of the most anti-business measures Long Beach has enacted.

Yes, Gary did send out an email with me as the focus because I called him out for one of his ego tantrums during City Council while I was trying to introduce guess speakers. How thoughtless of me to again point out Gary’s arrogance and rudeness,  especially since it is so obvious how hard he has worked these past five years to perfect his “I’m the man” routine. 

I have to admit that Gary isn’t just fixated on me. I often have to share his attention with Councilwoman Rae Gabelich.  Some of our council meetings are a riot with Gary practicing his latest insult or jab at Rae or me. He does it so cooly. Acting like he’s not listening at council while he is busy on his IPAD. Then wack! Rae or I will be asking questions about an agenda item and Gary presses the button on his microphone and delivers his personal attacks and then goes back to his IPAD or frantically tries to “call for the question” so he doesn’t have to hear us talk. Luck for Gary he doesn’t leave his microphone on because otherwise the public would hear the nasty side of Gary that I am sure he battles daily to hide.

It’s not that Rae and I haven’t tried to be friendly with Gary. Why just the other day we were having dinner in the Council lounge together and Rae asked him why in the world would he want to leave his council duties before he finishes his term, to run for the US Congress. Why would someone who disdains government so much risk his reputation and run for the most disdained level of government – Congress?

Gary, in his usual matter of fact style responded “because of economics. I have daughters that need to get through college and I need to make more money.” It was one of those rare moments when you want to reach out and give a hug and say “that’s okay big guy. It’s not your fault and you’re not alone. If your ‘successful’ small business isn’t making as much as a Congressman’s salary of $174,000, then go for it!”

So if you get a copy of Gary’s latest email, be kind and be gentle on how you respond to him. Forget that Gary uses the email to attack me again. The most important message in that email is his cry for attention and approval about his announcement that he is going to visit ‘100 businesses in 100 days.’ Give the big guy kudos. It only took him five years on the City Council to get the nerve to go out there and show some concern for local business. Besides it’s a wonderful campaign gimmick he can use to hit up business for campaign contributions -- just as he just did with the medical marijuana collections. He cleaned up with $6100 for that 'visit'. Got to admit he is a clever little devil.

Schipske Arranges with Rosie the Riveter Charter High School to Repaint House Numbers on Curbs

Schipske Arranges with Rosie the Riveter Charter High School To Repaint House Numbers on Curbs -- Says Project is a 'Good Public Safety and Jobs Skills Effort'

  

February 10, 2012 - When public safety personnel are responding to a call for service, every minute counts in finding the residence. But with house numbers missing or faded on city curbs and city funds to repaint the numbers not available, what's a city councilwoman to do to make sure these house numbers are repainted?

Well, if you are Fifth district Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, you contact a local charter high school and ask if the students would take on repainting of house numbers on curbs.

"The issue about missing and fading house numbers on curbs is a matter of public safety," says Schipske. "If fire and police have difficulty locating a residence because there are no house numbers on the curb or the numbers are so faded they are difficult to read, then we need to address that issue. The City does not have funds to repaint these house numbers on our curbs so I reached out to the

Rosie the Riveter Charter School and asked if their students would take this on as a project. They said 'yes' and we are set to go starting Monday, February 13."

Rosie the Riveter Charter high school is an effort of WINTER - Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles - a nonprofit organization started by a group of tradeswomen that wanted to extend opportunities to economically disadvantaged women. The school sits on part of the AES plant site on Studebaker.

Mary Mercado, Director of Youth Programs, has organized 20 students who will begin painting house numbers on curbs on Monday, February 13, 2012 between 9am and 3pm. The group will start the work in the El Dorado Park South Neighborhood and spend Mondays moving throughout the 5th Council District.

"Our students are excited about working in the community," says Mercado. "They take what they do very seriously because they know they are preparing themselves for the work world after their schooling. Projects such as this reinforce that preparation."

Schipske explains that the City Municipal Code regarding painting house numbers on curbs is very specific about the size of the numbers and the paint that can be used. Additionally, only non-profit organizations approved by the Police Department can do this work. "Rosie the Riveter Charter high school is currently the only organization permitted to paint house numbers on curbs. The Long Beach Department of Public Works supplied the paint and the stencils."

Students from the high school will distribute notices in the El Dorado Park South neighborhood on Saturday, February 11, alerting residents that house numbers will be painted on their curbs.  The service is free, however, residents are encouraged to make a tax-deductible contribution to the non-profit high school.

"This is a great opportunity for the community to acknowledge the work of these students and their high school while at the same time help in 'Shaping Up the 5th District,'" Schipske reminds.

Councilwoman Schipske launched other summer youth job programs in 2009 and 2010, addressing alleys and park maintenance in the 5th Council District.

Opened in September 2007, Rosie the Riveter Charter High School champions the spirit of progressive education; by providing a rigorous, standards-based secondary education and the opportunity to experience the world around us. www.winterwomen.org

Invited to Discussion with Obama Official

Anne Ferro talks with student ASB treasurer at Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Charter High School.

I was invited today to participate in a discussion with an official from the Obama Administration about implementing the President's goals as outlined in his State of the Union. Anne Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration came to the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Charter High School to discuss the importance of encouraging students to enter into vocational training.


Students from the Rosie the Riveter Charter High School participated in the discussion, stressing how important their experiences have been at the charter school. Several women in the WINTER program spoke about how more programs for women need to be offered so that women have the opportunity to earn decent wages in the trades.


Ms. Ferro and I talked about the new program I am launching with the students of Rosie the Riveter Charter High School -- repainting the house numbers on the curbs of our neighborhoods. The program helps the students and also improves the visibility of house numbers for our public safety responders.

Anne Ferro spoke eloquently about the commitment of the President to get people back to work rebuilding the infrastructure of our country. I was glad I was able to give her a copy of my "Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach" book and encouraged her to take a trip to the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center in east Long Beach.

The White House, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
and Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles

Invite you to a
State of the Union 
Roundtable discussion with

Anne S. Ferro
Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

• February 9, 2012 • 11:45 AM
• Rosie the Riveter Charter High School
690 N Studebaker Road
Long Beach, CA. 90803