Sidewalks to be repaired in FY 2013

The 5th Council District has the most sidewalks of all the council districts because we have the most area due to the fact we are spread out with single family homes. Other districts are compact with apartments and condos.

Historically each council district was given the same amount of funds for sidewalk repairs even if they had the most need. I advocated for a change in that policy and now the 5th District receives the most for sidewalk repairs because we have the most needing repair.

Additionally, since taking office in 2006, I insisted that sidewalk repairs be bunched together by neighborhood instead of a shot gun approach of one here and several there. I am proud to announce that the Public Works department has adopted my system city wide. This will allow more sidewalks to be repaired each year.

Below is the latest report on the sidewalks to be repaired this budget year. Following the memo is a map showing where repairs have been made: FY 2013 Sidewalk Repairs Scheduled for district 5 Map of sidewalk repairs made in the 5th district

Schipske Asks Chief of Police for Public Report

Schipske Asks Chief of Police to Publicly Report How Much Additional Funds Needed for Police Department – Says “constituents complaining of being told by Police  ‘not enough resources’”

Long Beach, CA -- November 30, 2012 – Vice Chair of the City’s Public Safety Committee, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, today submitted an agenda item which asks the Chief of Police to publicly “report on the impact of the current budget (FY 2013) on response times of the department and to identify what additional funding is needed so that residents are assured that the police have appropriate resources.”

The agenda item comes as a result of Councilwoman Schipske learning during a recent council meeting that the Police Department needs an additional $1.5 million just to cover its overtime costs for this budget year “and an increase in the number of residential crimes in the 5^th District coupled with numerous complaints from 5^th District residents that they are being told by police that the police don’t have enough resources,” explains Schipske.

“Just recently, the City Council transferred monies which were designated for shot identification technology for use by the Police Department for overtime. When I asked the Chief what additional monies were needed to meet overtime needs of the Department, she was told in Council by the Chief that the Department needs $1.5 million,” says Schipske pointing out that FY 2013 Budget proposals for the Police Department were submitted to the Council by the City Manager and the Mayor. “At no time was the Council told by either party that current budget levels would be insufficient to maintain an adequate police presence in the City or at a level that officers in the field would need to inform residents that they lack sufficient resources.”

Schipske also recently asked the Fire Department to report on the impact of the budget on its responses times after hearing reports from firefighters how difficult it is to respond to calls for services with less staff and less equipment.

“Neither of these situations is acceptable. The City Council needs to hear in a public session what additional funds are needed now to keep this city safe.”

Schipske indicates that funding may be available from the increases in both property and sales tax revenue the city is experiencing due to an improving economy. “The recent court ruling that the County of Los Angeles owes the city money should also be considered a source for public safety. Additionally, as the city sells off properties that were once owned by Redevelopment, we need to designate the revenue from the sales for public safety.”

#30

Reel Recycling Signs Up

Fishing Line Recycling (Photo credit: ecotist)

As you might recall, we launched the "reel recycling" program last year which places recycling tubes near fishing spots at our lakes and piers so that fishing line and tackle can be recycled. The line and tackle are removed from the recycling tubes and sent to Berkley Fishing which recycles the materials into fishing boxes.

More importantly, the debris does wind up in the water or wrapped around a bird.

This week, we have added signs that remind anglers to place their excess line and tackle into the tubes. (Tubes? Yes. This prevents children and critters from getting into the recycled material.)

I want to thank my task force on Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands for its work on this effort and for the great staff in Parks, Recreation and Marine for putting the tubes and signs in all the best spots.

Regulating Placement of Cellphone Towers Is Hampered by Law

Angel with mobile phone (Photo credit: Akbar Sim)

The City Council again was asked to decide whether or not a cellphone tower could be placed on the roof of an apartment building. As you know, I sponsored legislation that placed a moratorium on citing cellphone towers until the city could develop reasonable regulations. That moratorium is over and cellphone companies are filing applications to place towers all over Long Beach. Unfortunately because the federal law regulates cellphone communication, the City is rather limited in what restrictions we can place. Below is an interesting legal analysis I found that explains the law and what cities can do. Local Matter or Federal Case the Network of Cell Tower Regulation in California

Come to Costco on Saturday for my booksigning

If you are out shopping this Saturday, November 24th, come on by Costco in Signal Hill for my booksigning of my third book: Early Long Beach.

5th District Challenges City on Christmas Light Contest

Christmas light 1, Embassy Theatre and Indiana Hotel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 5th Council District is challenging the rest of the city in the Christmas light contest being sponsored by Belmont Shore Patch.

The contest starts November 26th and the winner can receive $500 to pay their electric bill and $100,000 for their local schools.

Belmont Shore Patch will post videos and photographs of homes decorated in Christmas light.

If you all send your video and photograph I will post in on www.district5lights.com and then send it along to Belmont Shore Patch for entry in their contest.

Come on 5th District. You know we can do this.

Long Beach New York Needs Our Help!!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tiffany Andrews, 562 570-6932

Long Beach, New York Needs 

Your Help to Recover

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske Calls Upon Residents to Lend a Hand or a Dollar or Two

Long Beach, CA; November 16, 2012 -- Next week is Thanksgiving and for the 37,000 residents of the city of Long Beach, New York  it will be grim day as all days have been since they were devastated during Hurricane Sandy says Gerrie Schipske, Councilwoman for the 5^th Council District in Long Beach, California.

“I had my staff contact city management in Long Beach, New York to find out why we could do,” explains Schipske. “A spokesperson for the city told my staff  they are a small town (37,000 residents) and most homes have lost their first floor. They are gutting homes and leaving debris on the street. They need the assistance of volunteers and neighboring municipalities to deal with the clean up. They are unable to accept clothing and household item donations. They need financial assistance  -  they were in a declared fiscal crisis before the storm hit.”

Schipske reminds local residents that “we are so fortunate here in Long Beach, California. Take a moment to see the video (http://youtu.be/sgkVdnxyGDk)  on the damage to Long Beach, New York and send a financial donation at: www.longbeachny.org or send to: City of Long Beach Relief,1 West Chester Street, Long Beach, NY11561.

“Let’s show them what Long Beach, California is all about!”

#30

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You Need to View this Video About the Concerns of the LB Firefighters

Take time to view the following video that has been produced by the Long Beach Firefighters Association. The Mayor and City Manager cannot continue to propose reductions in this critical department. Please forward this video to your friends.

Clean Tech Zone Can Bring Good Jobs to Long Beach

monokristalline Solarzelle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yesterday in City Council, my colleagues approved my item asking the City Manager to report on how the City of Long Beach can implement a Clean Tech Zone that will attract industries large and small to locate in Long Beach -- industries that are focusing on clean technology such as solar, green products, wind, etc.

This idea came from researching what other cities are doing.The City of Los Angeles has established the Clean Tech Corridor as a national center for cleantech research and development and industrial manufacturing. The CleanTech Corridor supports the development of a business cluster dedicated to cleantech manufacturing processes and technologies for the 21st century. The Cleantech Corridor is a 4 mile long district on the eastern edge of Downtown LA, stretching from the Los Angeles State Historic Park in the north, to the CleanTech Manufacturing Center in the South, and including both the east and west banks of the Los Angeles River. 

The City of San Diego launched a new Cleantech (Clean Technology) Initiative in an effort to promote the expansion, attraction and retention of businesses that develop products and technologies that provide environmentally sustainable solutions.

The Sacramento Clean Tech Zone offers the following incentives to businesses:

• Expedited permitting provided by Development Services Department and eligible
   companies may receive redevelopment and job training funds offered by regional
  partners. In addition, all companies may be eligible for Small Business Administration
  (SBA) loans, Industrial Development Bonds (IDB) and venture capital funds
   
  Other benefits include:

o   Enterprise

·        Sales tax credits on qualified property

·        Wage tax credits for five years for hiring eligible employees

·        100 percent Net Operating Loss Carryovers available up to 15 years

·        Rapid Depreciation of Equipment

·        Financing Assistance, Hiring Assistance through Sacramento Works!

o   Foreign Trade (FTZ)

·        Duty-free treatment for items that are processed in FTZs and then exported

·        Duty payment is deferred on items until they are brought out of the FTZ for sale in the U.S. market

o   Recycling (RMDZ)

·        Below-market-rate revolving loan program for RMDZ-eligible activities

·        Free product marketing

o   Green Technology Small Business Loan Programs

·        Industry-targeted SBA 7(a) loans available through Grow Sacramento Fund

·        Zone-allocated SBA 504 loans available through Greater Sacramento Community Development Corporation

·        Community Development Block Grant funds to be available at very favorable terms for eligible businesses

 o   Specialized Business Financing Programs

·        City-issued industrial development bonds

 

 
I have already met with the President of the Green Business Council in Long Beach -- Kent Peterson, who was very enthusiastic about the possibilities of Long Beach moving this forward.

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