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Saturday, June 22, 2013
Public Meeting on Visioning Future of Main Library
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| JAG (Photo credit: L.A. Filming Location Expert) |
Schipske To Hold Community Meeting on
“Visioning the Future for the Main Library”
Meeting Set for
Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 12:30 pm in
El Dorado Library
Community Room
Long Beach, CA – June 20, 2013 – Councilwoman Gerrie
Schipske is inviting residents to attend a public discussion on “visioning the
future of the Main Library” on Saturday, June 29 at 12:30 pm, in the community
room at El Dorado Library.
Schipske called the meeting after several residents
expressed concern that the public had not be given the opportunity early in the
process of discussing what they want done about the Main Library and that the process and decision would be developer
driven.
“Since its beginning, the City of Long Beach has had a main
library either in or adjacent to its downtown City Hall,” reminds Schipske. “Recently,
the City sent a Request for Qualifications (http://www.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/Long-Beach-Development-Services.pdf) to interested parties for the possible
construction of a new main library at the current site or the relocation of the
Main Library to another part of the city as part of an overall new Civic
Center. The public has not been asked what they vision for our Main Library.
This meeting can be the start of that discussion.”
The RFQ states about the Main Library: “Rebuild or relocate within the
Downtown area the existing Main Library with a modern facility that meets
current user needs and use patterns, giving it a more prominent identity and
enhancing efficiencies.”
Once the City Council receives all the responses to the RFQ
and their proposals, the Council will have to decide what to do with the
current City Hall, Main Library, and old courthouse.
“While I personally think the City should retrofit and
refurbish the Civic Center and Library which would be less costly, I really
think it is important that the residents provide input on what they want these
facilities to look like and what services they should provide. I invite the
public to attend so we can have this discussion.”
El Dorado Library is located at 2900 N. Studebaker Road.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Schipske Calls On Mayor Foster to Oppose AB 76 -- Will Damage Domestic Violence Victims and Public's Right to Records
Councilwoman
Gerrie Schipske Urges Mayor Foster To Speak Out About Damage
Assembly Bill 76
Would Do to Long Beach Domestic Violence Victims,
TB
Prevention Efforts and Public Records Access
June 19,
2013 -- Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today called on Mayor Bob Foster to speak
out against Assembly Bill 76 which is on the desk of Governor Brown for
signature. The bill is a complex collection of acts that amend, add or repeal
over 100 laws spread over 14 different California Codes. The act is intended to
reduce the number of mandates on local government. Among the provisions
included in the bill are serious changes in the mandatory handling of domestic
violence crimes, an elimination of funding the City’s Local Health Officer
duties in tuberculosis reporting and elimination of the 10 day reporting
requirement for Public Records requests.
“I just read that the District Attorney of
Sacramento Jan Scully has identified that buried in the bill are provisions
that infringe on the rights of victims and seriously impact the fight against
domestic violence,” says Schipske, who has served on the US Attorney General’s
Violence Against Women Advisory Council.
“Specifically, if approved the law
would change from mandatory to discretionary the requirement that law
enforcement keep complete records of domestic violence restraining orders. It
would also change from mandatory to discretionary standards for police officer
responses to domestic violence crime and the tracking of domestic violence
calls. These changes would abandon the years of work undertaken in Long Beach
to protect the rights of victims of domestic violence.”
Schipske
also notes that AB 76 suspends current
law that requires local government agencies to respond to requests for public
records within 10 days, and to give the requestor a response if they need more
time or have to reject the request.
“Transparency should not be optional,” says Schipske whose efforts to
open up local government have won the praise of California Forward in its
“State of Transparency Report.” The bill would also suspend the mandate that
local government help members of the public frame their records
requests to increase the chances they will obtain what they are seeking. The local
government could also now opt to release records on paper rather than
electronically. “This is an assault on the public’s right to know and should be
opposed.”
Schipske says that what is less clear about AB 76 is whether
or not it includes the Governor’s budget proposal to eliminate funding by the
state to local public health officers for a LHO Review of Treatment
Plans. Health facilities are required to submit treatment plans to local
health officers and obtain approval prior to releasing Tuberculosis patients.
Long Beach is one of three California cities with its own local health officer
and the City has been hit with a high number of TB cases. “Elimination of this
funding is short-sighted and should be opposed so that the health of our
residents is not compromised.”
Schipske
notes that the City Council did not receive any information concerning the
serious impact of AB 76. “I had to find it on the internet when I was reading
the State Legislative Analyst May 2013 report on ‘Newly Identified Mandates’
and then track down where the changes wound up in legislation. I would hope in
the future the Council gets this information so it can take a position in a
timely manner on legislation which would impact our residents.”
Monday, June 17, 2013
Grace Clements Art Once in LB Municipal Airport Hangs in Florida Gallery
WPA artist, Grace Clements, who designed the tile mosaics on the floor of the Long Beach Municipal Airport and murals on the walls of the terminal (which were painted over in 2005), apparently did other pieces of art for the Long Beach Municipal Airport.I found three of them and they are now owned and displayed at the Florida International University Wolfsonian Gallery.
So how did they leave the Long Beach Municipal Airport and wind up owned by Michael Wolfson? I am trying to find out and to see how they can be brought back to Long Beach where they belong.
Grace Clements was a 28 year old artist who was part of the post surrealist movement. Her art was patterned after German expressionism and cubism. She participated in several public arts works that used murals in different media such as tiles, collage and paint. Her theme in the LB Airport was communication (aviation and navigation). The tile mosaics were assembled in Los Angeles by workers and then installed in the LB Airport. Scheduled to open on December 8, 1941, Clements was reported to be working inside the airport terminal when word arrived that the grand opening would be cancelled because of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Spirit of '45 Kiss
Iconic Spirit of '45 "Kiss" Statue
to Appear at Flag Day Ceremony,
U.S. Capitol Flown Flag to Be Raised
Entertainment by High Tide Quartet, Classic Movie Yankee Doodle Dandy to be Shown
Long Beach will celebrate Flag Day with the placement of new US flags along Clark Avenue between Willow and Carson and with the raising of the Stars and Stripes over the El Dorado Community Center. The flag is special because it was briefly flown over the U.S. Capitol and provide by Congressman Alan Lowenthal. The event is free and open to the public.
At noon, there will be a brief ceremony and music followed by the 1932 musical, Yankee Doodle Dandy that featured the tune You're A Grand Ole Flag. Refreshments and small US Flag souvenirs will be provided.
WHERE: El Dorado Community Center - 2800 Studebaker Rd.
WHEN: Friday, June 14th, noon - movie begins at 1:30
FEATURING: The iconic "Kiss" life-sized statue depicting a sailor kissing a woman based on the famous photo taken in Time Square at the end of WWII. The statue will be on hand courtesy of the Spirit of '45 Foundation.
Special performance by the High Tide Quartet, flag raising by the United States Army National Guard and Boy Scout Troop 205. Following the ceremony, guests will receive souvenir flags and bookmarks, and enjoy refreshments provided by CareMore, followed by a special showing of the movie classic Yankee Doodle Dandy in the Bridge Room from 1:30-3:30 pm.
Information about the history of Flag Day, and how to properly display a flag are posted at: Flag Etiquette.
For more information contact the office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske at 562-570-6932,
district5@longbeach.gov.
5th District Streets to Be Repaired or Slurry Sealed
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| Street to be repaved: Harvey Way |
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| Street to be slurried: Rosina |
I am pleased to announce that street repair and slurry sealing is underway on a number of residential streets in the 5th district. This marks the first time since I took office in 2006 that the City has funded slurry sealing of streets.
Slurry sealing is like car wax: it is used to protect streets that are in good condition from deteriorating. The slurry seal which is made from emulsified asphalt (a mixture made from oil and fine sand aggregate) is typically applied to a street once every 7 to 8 years.
The Public Works Department carefully reviewed the streets in the City and recommended that the following streets in the 5th be slurried:
Torin from Claremore to Lama
Claremore from Spring to Cramer
Cramer from Armourdale to Julian
Armourdale from Cramer to Garner
Julian from Garner to Rosina
Rosina from Claremore to Marna
Claremore from Rosina to Wardlow
The following streets because of their serious condition are being repaved:
Centralia from Whitewood to Bellflower
Harvey Way from Faculty to Clark
Faculty from Carson to Harvey
Arbor Road from Lakewood Blvd to Bellflower Blvd.
The total funding for these projects: $1.1 million.
As more funds become available for street repair, more streets will be repaved or slurried in the 5th Council district.
Should you have any questions, as always, feel free to contact me: district5@longbeach.gov.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Analysis on Long Beach Airport and Airline Industry Raises Flags...And It Should
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| Long Beach Airport (Photo credit: Konabish ~ Greg Bishop) |
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| Long Beach Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The analysis is interesting and I am glad to receive it. However, I am concerned about the last several paragraphs in the memo that refer to the City's noise ordinance and the resolution restricting flights to forty-one a day. His analysis indicates that this limitation has produced "the unintended effect of restricting entrance to the market." He also states that "reduced flight usage has an effect on the rate base of our airlines and the revenues of our concessionaires and rental care companies -- not to mention our local travel industry partners that depend on this lift."
This part of the memo concerns me greatly. The tone indicates that sometime down the line, the City will need to change the ordinance and resolution to accommodate the changes in the airline industry.
We do not need excuses to either do away with the Noise Compatibility Ordinance or to increase the number of flights per day. The impact of doing either would seriously harm the property values of the homes surrounding the Long Beach Airport who "depend on a stable, quiet neighborhood" as guaranteed by the Noise Compatibility Ordinance.
I have expressed my concerns to Airport senior management that while this memo is informative that it should not be interpreted in any way that would suggest the City Council wants or will weaken the Noise Compatibility Ordinance which protects our neighborhoods.
Flag Day in Long Beach
It was reported in 1915 in the Daughters of the American Revolution summary
from its Gaviota Chapter (Long Beach) that “there is a United States Flag in
every school room in the public schools of Long Beach and the West Point salute
is known by every school child and given on ‘Flag Day.’” The local DAR Chapter
also reported visiting local businesses with a copy of the California Flag Law.
To many, June 14th has always been more than a day marked on
our calendars as “Flag Day.” It has been one of the most important of our
patriotic days. For it is the day that
celebrates that on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a
national flag.
There are numerous stories about citizens celebrating our nation’s flag
and helping turn June14th into a national day of recognition for the Stars and
Stripes.
Two teachers are significant in
recognizing the “birthday of the Flag.” The first annual recognition of the
flag's birthday dates back to 1885, BJ Cigrand, first organized a group of
Wisconsin school children to observe June 14 - the 108th anniversary of the
official adoption of The Stars and Stripes as the Flag's Birthday. Cigrand, now
known as the “Father of Flag Day,” continued to publicly advocate the observance
of June 14 as the flag's “birthday”, or “Flag Day” for years. Just a few years
later the efforts of another school teacher, George Balch, led to the formal
observance of “Flag Day” on June 14 by the New York State Board of Education.
Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed
a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14,
Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by
celebrating June 14 as
Flag Day. Prior to 1916, many localities and a few states had been celebrating
the day for years. Congressional legislation designating that date as the
national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman
in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue
a flag day proclamation every year.
This week Long Beach will celebrate Flag Day with the placement of new
US flags along Clark Avenue between Willow and Carson and with the raising of
the Stars and Stripes over the El Dorado Community Center. The flag is special
because it was briefly flown over the U.S. Capitol and provide by Congressman
Alan Lowenthal. At noon, there will be a brief ceremony and music followed by
the 1932 musical “Yankee Doodle Dandy” that featured the tune “You’re A Grand
Ole Flag.” Refreshments and small US Flags will be provided.
Copies of flag etiquette and the history of the US Flag can be obtained
by calling my office at: 562 570-6932 or going on line to: http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=36781
Friday, June 7, 2013
Sizeable Revenues Are Welcome But Should Be a Lesson
Below you can read a memo sent by the City Manager that outlines proposals for spending an approximate $56 million in what is characterized as "one time money" -- meaning the source may not be available in coming years.
The large amount of money comes from primarily two sources -- oil revenues (because the per barrel remains way above $90) and the dissolution of redevelopment by the State and court.
The revenues are welcome and will provide a source of funds for needed infrastructure repair and purchasing updated systems for financial management and human resources management.
There are some areas not covered in the memo that need addressing:
The large amount of money comes from primarily two sources -- oil revenues (because the per barrel remains way above $90) and the dissolution of redevelopment by the State and court.
The revenues are welcome and will provide a source of funds for needed infrastructure repair and purchasing updated systems for financial management and human resources management.
There are some areas not covered in the memo that need addressing:
- Unfunded liabilities -- the City's go forward obligations on pensions and health care benefits
- Restoring the materials budget for the City's Library system which was nearly decimated in prior budgets
- Disaster preparedness -- the need to make certain all City facilities have supplies and equipment (back up electricity) in the event of a major earthquake
The funds will be discussed by the Council so there is plenty of time to respond to the proposals.
What should be instructive in all of this exercise to spend this large sum of money is the fact that all these very years in which redevelopment was in place -- capturing 42 percent of the City and the tax increment in 42 percent of the City -- the rest of the City was going without those property taxes. While it was a well intended effort to reduce blight, the fact remains that the City's general fund lost $9 -20 million dollars a year in taxes. These taxes are now being restored to the City because of the dissolution of redevelopment.
Blight in Long Beach still needs to be dealt with strict code enforcement and holding land owners and businesses responsible.
Redevelopment and the taking of tax increment were allowed without a vote of the taxpayers. The lesson that should be learned is that this should never happen again.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Health Alert!
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Hepatitis A Health Alert - 'Townsend Farms
Organic Antioxidant Blend' (Frozen Berry Mix)
Organic Antioxidant Blend' (Frozen Berry Mix)
Today the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health announced a multi-state investigation concerning an outbreak of Hepatitis A, potentially associated with “Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend” (frozen berry mix). The Long Beach Health Department advises consumers and residents to avoid eating this product, which at this time is only known to have been sold and distributed at Costco. There have been a few confirmed cases in California, but none currently in Long Beach.
Please follow the following consumer tips:
1. Do not eat ‘Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend’ and discard any remaining product from your freezers.
· Even if some of the product has been eaten without anyone in your home becoming ill, the rest of the product should be discarded.
2. Hepatitis A vaccination can prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure to the contaminated product.
· If you consumed this product in the last two weeks and have never received a Hepatitis A vaccine, contact your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated.· If you don’t have a health care provider (usually your doctor) contact the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services at 562.570.4302.
· If you have already received the Hepatitis A vaccination in the past, or if you have actually had Hepatitis A, you are unlikely to become ill with the disease.
3. Contact your health care provider right away if you develop any of these symptoms:
· Yellow eyes or skin· Abdominal pain
· Pale stools
· Dark urine
4. Wash your hands thoroughly right after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing, serving, or eating food.
For more information, please log onto www.longbeach.gov/health, or contact the Long Beach Health Department at 562.570.4302.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Join me for a Bike Tour of the 5th District
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Friday, May 24, 2013
How to Remember the Real Meaning of Memorial Day in Long Beach
Dear Friends,
Memorial Day was established originally in 1867 as Decoration Day in remembrance of those who gave their lives during the US Civil War.
In Long Beach, the GAR -- Great Army of the Republic -- veterans of the Civil War celebrated this day.
Because the South refused to honor the celebration it was changed to honor all Americans who died in battle. (Several states still do not recognize the day.)
The wearing of red poppies for Memorial Day was made popular during WWI by a woman named Moina Michael who after reading the poem "In Flanders Field" by John McCrae, made it a national campaign to wear a silk poppy in honor of the American soldiers who gave up their lives.
The National Holiday Act of 1971, moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May.
This coming Monday, take a moment to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service of our county.
Locally, you can visit Rosie the Riveter Park located at Clark Avenue at Conant Street and read the memorial banners of the 15 Long Beach men who gave their lives in the service of our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Use your cellphone to listen to a narration of their lives. Take a moment and reflect on their sacrifice.
Enjoy your holiday.
Sincerely,
Gerrie
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