The Impact of Pearl Harbor on Long Beach

In writing my two historical books on Long Beach, I found out an interesting connection between Long Beach and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Many of the ships that were destroyed or severely damaged during the attack had been recently anchored off the coast of Long Beach.The ships included: West Virginia, Maryland, California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Nevada, and Arizona. This means of course, that many, many families and friends in Long Beach were directly impacted by this attack -- more than other cities.

The other impact was on the Long Beach Municipal Airport - Daugherty Field and the new terminal building that was actually scheduled to open the day of the attack. The opening ceremonies were canceled. The pastel paint was covered with camouflage paint. Military guns and soldiers were billeted around the terminal building and in the basement for the duration of the war. Showers and hot water tanks were installed for the soldiers. Barracks were built adjacent to the terminal. The building was repainted in 1945 for its real "grand opening."

City Finally Gets Off the Dime and Proposes Incentives to Attract Tesla to Long Beach

The Press Telegram just broke the news that the City Council will be asked on Tuesday to approve a package of tax incentives to lure Tesla Motors to property owned by Boeing Company.

Finally. Finally. Finally.

I am glad that after all the pushing and prodding to get the City actively involved in recruiting jobs to the Boeing Property it may be happening.

Remember the spin of how the City could not get involved between Tesla and Boeing because it was "Boeing's property and not the City's" -- well, as we shall see this coming Tuesday that spin was nonsense and an excuse for not having stepped up to do something to get Tesla to come to Long Beach.

I want to thank the residents who took time to write letters in support of getting Tesla. I want to thank the residents who sent emails to the Mayor about getting involved.

This City has stepped up so many times to recruit businesses -- remember Best Buy in Marina Pacifica? I knew they would think of something and it is none too soon with Long Beach experiencing 13% unemployment -- the highest percentage in Los Angeles County.

The sooner these good paying jobs come to Long Beach, the better!

Over 200 Respond to Survey on Regulating Lobbyists

Less than 24 hours after I posted a survey asking residents to weigh in about whether or not Long Beach should regulate lobbyists (like the other 5 largest cities in the State do), I have received over 231 responses.

The percentages in favor of the proposal are overwhelming. You can check out the results yourself by click here.

I am going to keep the survey open for another week or so. If you haven't already given me your view click here and answer the survey.

Tell the City If You Think Long Beach Should Regulate Lobbyists

I am conducting a survey asking Long Beach readers to weigh in regarding whether or not you think the City Council should pass a law regulating lobbyists in Long Beach.

If you click on the link it will take you to the survey: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2nbl8z4g2qif834/start

Your opinion is important and will be shared with my colleague on the City Council and the news media.

City Council Starts Discussion on Public Pensions

The City Council held a study session today on the issue of public employee pensions. Read the document uploaded to the right of the blog and read the information given to the council from staff.

As you will note, the issue is complicated and needs extensive discussion about what the City Council can do to deal with the growing burden of pension expenses.

The Council still needs to hear from the pubic and the employee associations -- because whatever changes made must be approved by the employee groups that are part of the collective bargaining process.

Lobbyist Ordinance Needed in Long Beach

We're the 6th largest city and the only one of those 6 without a lobbyist ordinance which regulates and discloses contacts between our elected officials and key city staff.

This isn't for lack of trying. Former Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal and I were the only two members of the City Council to vote for a lobbyist ordinance a year ago. So much for transparency.

So now we have another front page story regarding key city staff having personal conversations with developers -- facts only disclosed because someone snitched to the press.

How about listening to the advice of our City Attorney Robert Shannon who was quoted today in the press as saying:

Shannon said he feels that this another example for the City Council to again consider adopting a strong policy regulating city employees' relationships with lobbyists - an issue that has died on the vine in the past.

I support a lobbyist ordinance, disclosure of elected officials' calendars, and disclosure of ex-parte conversations with anyone related to a council agenda item.

It would be great to get a lobbyist law on the ballot for 2010 -- short of that the Council needs to step up and get with the other big cities in California.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Music

You all are invited to two Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and the festivities that surround them:

December 6th at 4:15 pm at Heartwell Park (around the duck pond). Santa will arrive with the LB Firefighters (so bring an unwrapped toy for Spark of Love campaign). We'll listen to Golden Sands singers, light the trees (ok so they are wooden triangles that float in the pond) and watch "Polar Express." There will be popcorn and cookies too.

December 13th at 4:30 pm at Good Neighbor Park (in front of the El Dorado Community Center) we'll do the same except this time we'll light a real Christmas tree and listen to singers from Whaley Park. Don't forget your unwrapped toy.

LB residents need "Autopsy" About Why TESLA Deal Died and Went to Downey

November 23, 2009-- Gerrie Schipske, councilwoman for Long Beach’s fifth district, has been outspoken in her desire to keep alive the possibility of Tesla Motors locating its plant in Long Beach.

She personally contacted Elon Musk, President of Tesla to ask him what the City of Long Beach was doing to encourage his company to locate there. She also mounted a letter writing campaign called "Long Beach -- We Can Do Better Than Downey."

She used her blog to prod Long Beach officials to actively market the City to get Tesla here. So today upon learning that Tesla has signed a letter of intent with Downey to locate a plant which will manufacture 20,000 electric vehicles and produce 1,000 jobs she issued the following statement:

"The taxpayers of Long Beach deserve a full explanation about who or what killed the deal to bring Tesla to Long Beach. How did we lose this revenue producing opportunity to Downey? Long Beach has so much more to offer to a business than most southern California locations -- we have manufacturing space at the Boeing site, nearness to freeways, an airport, a port, railroad, convention center, training programs at our local community college and most importantly a workforce ready and willing to work. We also have an enterprise zone that provides tax credits for employers. And just recently the City announced it won the 'Most Business Friendly City Award' in Los Angeles County.

So what went wrong?

Anyone who has worked in corporate America knows how important it is to develop positive relationships in order to do business, which is exactly what the City of Downey did and the City of Long Beach did not do.

Unlike the City of Downey, which marshaled its Mayor and Council to actively court Tesla through calls, letters, ads and personal outreach, Long Beach apparently treated Tesla as a 'second-class citizen' according to comments made to me and to the press by Tesla President, Elon Musk. (It would be interesting to examine how much time and effort was really expended by Long Beach officials and staff in recruiting Tesla.)

I would like to congratulate the City of Downey for getting Tesla, and thank them for helping to keep these important types of jobs in the region."

US Senate Votes to Move Health Care Bill Forward

In a 60-39 vote just two minutes ago, the US Senate voted to move the Obama health care bill forward to allow discussion and amendment to the proposed health care bill.

This is historic. Finally there will be a discussion in both houses of Congress about the 2000 page bill which proposes to change health care in this country.

I am still trying to wade through the bill and I would suggest readers do also. This is going to be a bloody battle as the insurance and drug industries attempt to scare the stuffins out of Americans about why we should keep things just as they are.

We need frequent and current crime reports

As the Vice-Chair of the Council Public Safety Committee I made a motion that the Police Department report to the City Council on a quarterly (not yearly basis) about the amount of crime we are experiencing in Long Beach.

Without this data the City Council can't budget or plan in advance for adding officers and other programs to stem crime.

I am sick and tired of hearing my Blackberry go off with yet another killing or robbery or auto theft or auto burglary. Unfortunately, we don't get notices for rapes, sexual assault, child abuse or domestic abuse even though I hear from the victim services community that these crimes are on the rise.

We need to get serious about this problem and not just at budget time. Getting data out to the public will be a first step.

EPA Officials Tell City About PCB Contamination in Wetlands

A couple of weeks ago I placed on the City Council agenda an item requesting the appearance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at a City Council meeting to brief the council and public about their February 2008 citation of the LCW, LLC the owners of property being considered for a swap with the City.

This past Tuesday, the officials came. To summarize, if you go back to my blog on 9/24/09 (http://www.gerrieschipske.com/2009/09/weve-got-trouble-right-here-in-long.html) you can read how I came about learning that the EPA had cited the current owner of the property -- despite the City Council not learning about this fact during real estate negotiations. EPA confirmed what I wrote and it looks it might take quite a bit of time to determine the extent of the contamination (god knows we don't even know what else is there) and the clean up.

You have to ask yourself (I know I did), who in their right minds would get into a real estate transaction without getting full disclosure? And who would go into escrow until all disclosure and remediation is done? Huh?

Ranchos Meeting Well Attended

Close to 100 people attended my community meeting last night to discuss proposals to remove RV's, oversized vehicles and non-motorized, unattached trailers in the Ranchos area. We also discussed the differences in set-backs for fences (they vary from street to street), other traffic improvements needed in the area and a little about fixing up the medians on Spring Street which are in serious disrepair.

City Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman explained the City's new ordinance that allows the Traffic Engineer to determine street by street if oversized vehicles and unattached trailers are appropriate for the size of the street and whether or not they create public safety problems. Because the Rancho's are a self contained and defined area (PD-11) it was thought that we could try this approach on a pilot project basis. To do so, a notice will be sent to all residents of the area telling them what is being proposed and asking if they agree. We will continue to have public meetings until a decision is made about how to proceed.

The discussion of the set backs largely centered over the confusion that even city planners have when asked if a fence can be replaced and at what height it can be replaced. Because this area is unique, fences can be placed in the front yard up to 10 feet --while the limit is 3 feet in other parts of the city.

The Traffic Engineer is also looking at the streets for additional stop signs to slow down some of the speeding that occurs. Missing street signs were also brought up.

The medians are a mess. The brick is raised because of tree roots (there's a surprise...). I am encouraging residents to "adopt" a median and help spruce it up.

Traffic Upgrades To Start in 5th

I am pleased to announce that the City Department of Public Works has contracted with the California Professional Engineering, Inc., to furnish and install new traffic signal equipment at the following locations:

• Claremore Avenue/Wardlow Road --5th District
• Clark Avenue/Centralia Street -- 5th District
• Clark Avenue/Arbor Road -- 5th District
• Palo Verde Avenue/Metz Street - 5th District
• Woodruff Avenue/Willow Street -- 5th District
• Studebaker Road/Los Arcos Street --5th District

Other signals:

• Paramount Boulevard/South Street
• Long Beach Boulevard/67th Street
• Atlantic Avenue/11th Street
• Pacific Avenue/Spring Street

Construction is scheduled to begin on November 16, 2009 with an estimated completion date of January 29, 2010.

I get lots of these..but this is special

Children Are Quick
____________________________________

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

(I Love this child)
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it.
Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand....
______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's.. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

Town Hall Meeting on Marijuana Collectives Was Positive

About 70 people turned out for my townhall with City Prosecutor Tom Reeves and Deputy Police Chief, Bill Blair.

More than 1/4 of the people in attendance operate a marijuana facility. The remainder were both constituents and residents of other council districts.

The discussion was informative and civil. Tom Reeves and Bill Blair made a formal presentation on the status of the law on this issue and then took a number of questions and responded to comments.

I think the best outcome was hearing from constituents then and today that they realize the issue is very complex...because it is.

Schipske Proposes Consolidating Local Elections with County

Creating the best opportunity for Long Beach residents to participate in municipal elections is an informal charge of the Long Beach City Council and a formal charge of the Long Beach City Clerk. Different formats have been discussed, as have the timing of Long Beach municipal elections. The City election cycles are arranged according to Section 1901 of the City Charter:

The primary and general municipal elections for elective officers of the City shall be held in even numbered years, on the second Tuesday in April and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, respectively, and candidates elected to office shall assume such office on the third Tuesday in July and serve until election and qualification of their successors.

In the 2000 presidential election, seventy-one percent of registered California voters participated. In the 2008 presidential election, that number rose to seventy-eight percent. The lowest turnout percentage for a general election was 50.6% in November 2002.In June 2006, the voter turnout was 33.6%, and that was a record low for a statewide primary held in June. In comparison, voter turnout in the June 2006 city-wide election was 28.8%. Before that, in June 2002, voter-turn our was 23.4%

Between special elections, statewide elections and municipal elections, voters are expressing fatigue at the frequency of elections. In addition, the cost of conducting elections in alignment with the State should be explored for any possible savings.

I am proposing consolidating our elections with the County and alignment with state. Combined with the in-house expertise of the Office of the Long Beach City Clerk, this consolidation would allow us to continue conducting municipal elections that meet the needs and concerns of residents while at the same time increasing voter turn-out.

In order to do this, we need to amend the City's Charter. This will require a vote by residents to approve the change.

City Health Officer Finds Proposed Cigar Lounge Ordinance "Not Consistent with the Health Department's mission of promoting and protecting public.."

What has gotten into the water in Long Beach lately? Or better yet, what are people smoking? (Don't ask...)

First the council moves to allow "cigar lounges" and then it speeds along to gut most of the proposed restrictions on marijuana collectives.

What is galling is that allowing the cigar lounges flies in the face of not only the City's protective, comprehensive policy for no smoking in public places and workplaces (which was affirmed by a public vote of the citizens), but is absolutely contrary to the City of Long Beach's Public Health Department's core mission of "promoting and protecting public health."

You can read the complete memo I requested during Council from our City Public Health Officer at the right of this post. The report by the way that is required in the City's current no smoking ordinance.

Now on to the proposed ordinance to regulate marijuana collectives in Long Beach. On the floor last Tuesday, many changes were proposed to be made to what City Attorney Bob Shannon wrote. I made a motion to slow the train down a little by bringing the proposals back to council next week as a draft and not as a first reading of a done deal ordinance.

I am concerned that many of the changes severely weaken the city's ability to regulate these operations and am especially concerned that they might be able to operate near libraries and parks and in mixed zoned areas that have both residential and commercial.

I proposed and hopefully it will be in the draft that any residence within 1,000 feet will have to receive notice of these collectives applying for a permit to operate.

Residents should be asking who is getting campaign contributions from these two entities -- cigar lounges and marijuana collectives -- before a final vote is taken. Also, how on earth can our local news outlets (sans www.lbreport.com) be considered "objective reporters" when they are taking thousands of dollars in advertising. I doubt they are going to "bite the hand that feeds them" by taking a position for strict regulation.

Getting Smashed About Marijuana

I love it when a publication that takes thousands of dollars in ad revenue from marijuana dispensaries runs an article "Gerrie Schipske Says Let them get it somewhere else" -- and then proceeds to post 23 comments that state what an awful person I am and how I should be voted out of office.

Yep. That's what I like. Objective journalism.

So The District Weekly is upset I am having a townhall on the issue of regulating marijuana collectives on Nov. 12 at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Center at 2800 Studebaker and feels it is my way to stir things up to get these places shut down.

Too bad. My constituents want more information and many have expressed concern about having these facilities in their neighborhoods. So I am having a townhall meeting with the City Prosecutor and the Police -- the two entities that will have to enforce any law we put in place.

And while the "reporter" who did the story would like to portray me as the Marie Antoinette of pot -- the question was posed to me about what would happen if the dispensaries were regulated out of existence in Long Beach. My answer: they would have to get it somewhere else.

Elected Officials Calendars

I am puzzled. If a city such as San Jose can have the calendars of their elected officials on line and it doesn't cause a problem for them -- why is this being such a problem in Long Beach?

Arguments about security are valid -- but there is a way to deal with this problem (even though San Jose publishes calendars in advance). Either take out the address so people can't show up and stalk the official -- or publish the calendar after the fact -- as I do.

Bottom line is that because we are employed by the public don't you think people should know how we do our job?

Not Even One -- Why Our Community Needs to Focus on What Caused the Death

Long Beach again makes the news because of yet another killing of a young person. This time on the east side of the city.

And the finger pointing begins: it was the police's fault for not having enough presence at the football game; it was the city council's fault for not budgeting enough police; it was the school district's fault for not sending security outside the school perimeter; it was the city's fault for not having enough programs that would have involved the shooter and turned him away from crime; it was....actually all of our faults. Both for this shooting and the many other shootings that have happened in Long Beach.

My blackberry goes off 1 to 3 times a week with notifications that someone has been shot in Long Beach or has showed up in a Long Beach Emergency Room with a gun shot wound. And yet, none of us, including me, has stood up and said "enough" and really meant it.

I made a move in that direction about 10 years ago when I had the honor of being on one of three Community Action Teams in the United States -- ours being Long Beach and Compton based -- organized by the Jimmy Carter Center to mobilize the community against youth firearm violence. The premise of the program was simple: The central driving conclusion of our gathering was the conviction that not one gun death of a child can be acceptable. Not even one.

As Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, pointed out, this country is losing the equivalent of a classroom of children every day because youth are being killed by firearms.

Under the project, named "Not Even One," Community Action Teams (CATs) were formed at demonstration sites in three states (California, New Mexico, and Georgia). CATs included local community members, parents, clergy, and representatives from law enforcement, education, and public health agencies. CATs were to:

* Collect public health data on fatal firearm injuries on youths.
* Collect data sufficiently detailed to prepare written portraits "putting a face" on the victims.
* Use the data to develop viable, effective interventions at the community level and, eventually, nationally.

A child's death by a firearm would automatically call for, not just a criminal investigation, but a public health investigation that would determine all of the things that went wrong and produce recommendations for corrective actions to be taken by every responsible individual, group, agency, and public organization to be sure it didn't happen again.

Such a sentinel system would inevitably become the basis for a research agenda so that the tragic deaths would at least bear a fruit of understanding. The sentinel events could put faces on statistics and channel emotions toward prevention, not just after-the-fact punishment. Firmly grounded research also has the power gradually to force public policy to implement the creative, compassionate common sense programs that are needed.

We met after the killing of a child and tried to put the pieces together of what led that person to kill that child and who in the community might have been able to prevent that killing. This concept is much like what is done in medical centers. A committee is formed to review the death of a patient to determine what led to the death and what might be done in the future to prevent similar deaths. No finger pointing. Just working together to prevent it from happening again.

The national Not Even One program was closed because of difficultly of getting data. But the concept remains sound.

Our community needs to examine the root causes of these killings. Our community needs to stand up and say "enough" -- "Not even one death is acceptable." And we need to mean it -- and not only just when the killing happens near our neighborhood.

Town Hall Meeting on How Marijuana Collectives Should Be Regulated

In response to the numerous e-mails and telephone calls I have received about the opening of marijuana collectives in the City, I am scheduling a Community Town Hall on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road.

I have invited City Prosecutor, Tom Reeves and Deputy Police Chief, Blair to attend the meeting and to listen to the concerns of residents who do not want these facilities in our city.

Please note that because the City of Long Beach does not regulate facilities dispensing marijuana for medical purposes, I do not receive any type of notice when they open. I am relying upon residents to let me know so that I can refer them to the Police Department.

Come to the Town Hall on November 12 and let your opinion be heard.

Also check this blog for the proposals I have sent the City Attorney regarding regulation of these facilities.

Items for 2010 ballot

When I return to Long Beach (from far away San Diego), I will put the finishing touches on two agenda items that I would like see placed before the voters in 2010:

1. Changing our city elections from the April and June cycle to a June and November cycle. Voters are expressing fatigue at the frequency of elections. Long Beach holds elections every two years at April and June and the State holds elections every two years at June and November. What's wrong with this picture? It is costly for the City. Voters are tired of multiple elections. Voter turnout in April is low and favors incumbents. Making this change would certainly address these problems.

2. Increasing the per barrel tax on crude oil to 60 cents a barrel and to use the proceeds to get more police and fire on the streets. This increase to 60 cents a barrel would bring Long Beach in line with the City of Signal Hill which has been assessing 60 cents a barrel for several years. Additionally, Signal Hill uses a more appropriate inflation factor for crude oil -- the PPI -- or Petroleum Price Index. Long Beach uses the CPI -- Consumer Price Index -- which does not reflect the increases in crude oil. So we need to change the inflator.

As you might remember, I am also trying to get a charter amendment before the voters next April that would open up the bargaining process between the city and employee unions by requiring the sunshining of the proposals so the public can provide input and see what is being done.

Liberty Station -- San Diego does it right!

The California Medical Board is meeting here in San Diego. (Next year the Board which regulates physicians will meet in Long Beach for the first time!!)

The meeting is at Liberty Station -- San Diego's newest destination featuring a mix of arts and culture, sports, education, retail, restaurants, business and residential. It is referred to as a "Urban Village."

The hotel is located along the water front in the heart of Liberty Station. The village was created from the re-development of the historic Naval Training Center. It provides a gathering place for families, artisans, businesses and community cultural groups. The park features 2 balls fields, two large picnic area, a sports plaza, 4 half court basketball courts, a historical area at Preble field, a natural habitat zone, a multipurpose field, a nine acre esplanade for bicycling and walking and 3 restroom facilities. All brand new!

Visitors can enjoy the USS Recruit which is a full size ship built directly into the ground. It was built in 1949 specifically to train navy recruits with live simulation. There is a 9 hole golf course. The 125 acre waterfront provides water sports and biking paths. (LB Naval Stations de ja vu???)

It is quite impressive.

Just sent my thoughts on a marijuana ordinance to City Attorney

I am down in San Diego attending a quarterly meeting of the California Medical Board on which I serve. Taking a break and just sent a list of items I would like included in any ordinance regulating marijuana collectives/cooperatives. Because Long Beach -- and most other cities in California never regulated these businesses, they are taking advantage of a loop-hole in the law.

I would prefer that we don't have any in Long Beach (yes, as a health care professional I know people swear by the wonders of marijuana).

This is an illegal substance that is totally unregulated in terms of its quality. We don't even know what has been sprayed on the product. We don't know the strength of the product is. For god sakes, we don't let people sell hot dogs at a baseball game unless they follow Health Department regulations.

My constituents are angry as they watch one after another of these facilities open on the eastside. They find it incredible that the city gets no notice when these shops open or that we don't regulate them at all.

So while I'd rather Long Beach didn't have them at all -- I don't know that we have the votes on the Council to make that happen. So I am submitting a number of items that should provide public protection:


Marijuana Collectives/cooperatives ordinance provisions (among others being suggested by City Attorney and City Prosecutor, I would add:)

1. City council shall authorize no more than 3 collectives/cooperatives – no closer than 5 miles from each other.
2. 65% or more of residents within 2,000 feet of proposed facilities must approve the facility being located there.
3. Must not be located less than 1,000 feet from residential zone; pre-school, child care facility, k-12 school; public library; park or playground where children are present
4. Police dept shall conduct criminal background checks on owner and all employees.
5. Employees must be 21 years of age or older.
6. Physicians may not be employed and/or compensated by collective/cooperative. On site medical exams to qualify a person for referral for medical marijuana shall not be permitted.
7. Allowable square footage of facility shall be established by City Council.
8. Registered members must show state issued cards
9. The number of registered members must be reported semi-annually to Police Dept.
10. Security shall be provided constituent with a plan approved by Police Dept. Guards may carry guns.
11. Facility must be fully compliant with requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act – including door widths, counter heights, parking lots, signage for blind, etc.
12. Edible products are subject to Health Department regulations.
13. There shall be no sales of delivery devices – pipes, papers, etc.
14. Trash disposed of by facility shall be considered medical waste and disposed of accordingly after permits are obtained. The discovery of cannabis or any product or delivery device containing any cannabis in the regular trash by the Police shall result in closure of the facility.
15. Cultivation is restricted to industrial zones. Site must have proper permits for disposal of water and any run off from the cultivation. Health Dept shall inspect and provide permits regarding ventilation, water, etc.
16. The number of plants cultivated shall be reported semi-annually to the Police Dept.
17. Daily transactions of cannabis by collective shall not exceed 1 oz. Reports of all transactions shall be made to the Police Dept on semi-annual basis.
18. Signage at collectives: there shall be external and internal signage in not less than 14 point type with following: Notice: The California Compassionate Use Act and the Medical Marijuana Program Act requires that only registered members of this collective/cooperative shall obtain cannabis for medical purposes. Registered members must have a verified physician referral and a state issued card. No cannabis may be used or consumed on premises or within 2,000 feet of any residence, child care, school, library, playground or park.
20. The name of the business shall only state that it is a medical marijuana collective or cooperative. No artwork or photographs will be displayed.
21. These facilities are not medical clinics and therefore no patient-doctor relationship exists.
22. Because these facilities are operated by non-profit organizations they cannot be taxed.
23. Transportation of cannabis, cannabis products and/or cannabis delivery products (papers, pipes, etc) by a collective/cooperative to a registered member’s residence is illegal.

Got Pot? Long Beach Does.

I am receiving emails from constituents who are concerned they are noticing more and more medical marijuana collectives popping up like weeds...excuse the puns...in eastside Long Beach.

Unfortunately, the City of Long Beach never did anything to stop them from opening. Now that there are so many of them...and growing...the City Council Committee on Economic Development and Finance is grappling with what to do...what to do.

The Brown Act prevents a city council member who is not a member of a committee from testifying at the committee meeting. I am not a member of this Council Committee, so I will not be able to make comments there. However...

So I encourage anyone interested in this issue to attend the Monday, October 26 meeting at City Hall Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 5:30 pm and let the three member committee know what you think. This committee will make recommendations to the full City Council.

I am posting a copy of the California Attorney General's Guidelines on Medical Marijuana that outlines what we can and cannot do.

Principal for a Day at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School

Just thought you'd like to know that I had the privilege to serve as a Principal for a Day (again), this time at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School at Josie and Willow in the 5th District.

Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School is one of 63 elementary schools in Long Beach Unified. It is a charter school that serves 628 students in grades K-5.

What a great school. Dedicated principal (for real) Mark Andreatta who loves the students and took me to every class on the campus. The teachers are fantastic and everyone of them had the kids totally engaged in learning.

It was a treat to meet everyone and to talk with the 3rd graders who met in the auditorium to ask questions of both principals for a day. I have to admit I was outclassed by Sgt. Scott Minkus who came in full police uniform. So thank you for the experience.

Three of my staff also served at other schools: Patrick Henry Elementary, Cubberly Elementary and Helen Keller Elementary.

We had a scare..

The newest member of my extended family, Layne Mancini, had to be hospitalized shortly after her birth.

Haven't prayed in a while, but I did this time.

Fortunately, all is well and baby is home.

Press Telegram Does Excellent Analysis of Benefits of Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios

Click here to read a great article in Press Telegram today about Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios coming to the Boeing property.

My biggest concern at this point is that neither a movie studio nor Tesla Motors will locate in Long Beach.

The Mayor of Downey called me and told me the very same story of why Downey would prefer Tesla Motors over the movie studios that are there. Bottom line: Tesla can create jobs in a very short period of time. He's pretty confident that Downey will get Tesla. Afterall, he and his City Council assembled a "red team" and aggressively marketed Tesla Motors. (Sadly, I couldn't get the City Council, Mayor nor the Chamber of Commerce to assemble a "red team" on this one.)

So when the dust settles and Tesla and LB Studios become (or don't become a reality for Long Beach) I do hope the Press Telegram will do an in-depth analysis of what went wrong so it doesn't happen again.

Making it on the top ten list.

Was stunned that I was included in the list of the top 10 most powerful people in Long Beach compiled by LBPOST.com.

Really.

There are a lot of people in this town, some known, some unknown who are very powerful both in a good way and in a bad way. Power has many meanings.

I have received some very nice calls and emails (some from my council colleagues and one from someone who is also on the list) about being on the list.

I do appreciate the mention but I also realize I wouldn't be on that list without the help and support of a lot of people (staff, family, friends, constituents). I'd list them all but there are way more than 10.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled for LB Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center

The City of Long Beach will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, on Monday, October 26, at 10 am at the park site at Conant Street and Clark Avenue (adjacent to Fire Station 19). The ceremony will celebrate the development of the park and interpretive center dedicated to the women who worked at the Douglas Aircraft plant during World War II. Named by the City Council in 2006, the park is near the original site of where thousands of women assembled bombers and cargo planes during the early 1940s.

"The park and interpretive center will provide the community a living memorial to a significant part of Long Beach's history," said Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, whose district includes the park. "We are excited about bringing this era to life and providing a focal point for visitors to learn about the history of our city."

Drew Satariano, President of the Parks and Recreation Commission added, “The Parks and Recreation Commission is honored to be a part of developing this gateway into Long Beach's past through this wonderful project.”

The park will be designed in two phases. The first phase includes a walking path with interpretive signs and a guided tour by cell phone that takes visitors to the 1940s when Long Beach helped with the war effort. A memorial featuring reproductions of scenes from the National World War II Memorial and a Victory Rose Garden are tucked in a grove of trees. It will provide a tranquil spot where visitors can reflect upon the sacrifice of those women and men who served in the military and civilian organizations. A compass rose, long used by aviators to navigate their way, will be featured and will be a replica of the one that was in the main lobby of the Administration Building of the Roosevelt Naval Station in Long Beach. A walk through of a life-size sculpture of two women riveters takes visitors to the interpretive center located in the Long Beach City College Foundation building behind the park. The interpretive center will feature memorabilia and displays provided by The Boeing Company, successor to McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

The second phase includes an additional walking path that is comprised of memorial pavers donated by those wishing to honor a loved one: a "Rosie," a member of the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) or any branch of the US military. A concrete sculpture outlines a B-17 bomber to provide an amphitheater and garden for public events. Historic benches, lighting and banners will complete the park.

The park design was led by NUVIS Landscape Architecture and Planning with input from the Rosie the Riveter Taskforce and The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation, a non profit organization formed to support the park and interpretive center.

Funding for the first phase was made possible through a grant given to the City of Long Beach by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe specifically for the park and donations raised by The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation.

For more information about the Rosie the Riveter Groundbreaking event, please call Josh Butler, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, at 562.570.6932.

Welcome to the World Layne Mancini!

Wow. Now I remember why I loved working in the Newborn Nursery and the NICU. Newborns are wonderful and it is amazing to watch them transition in a matter of seconds from being in utero to being in the world.

I was blessed to be at the birthcenter at Memorial Medical Center yesterday and today to greet the newest member into my extended family. Layne Mancini came in yelling and ready to cuddle with her moms, grandmas, aunts, uncles, grandpas, and greatgrandparents --all visiting, waiting, hoping. Then she came into the world and it obviously won't be the same for all of us.

Quite honestly there is nothing more special than a new baby at Christmas time...can't wait. It's been a while (my kids are in their 20's) since we've had a baby around.

News from City Hall

El Dorado Nature Center Stream Restoration:

Created in 1969, the El Dorado Nature Center is a 102-acre public environmental, education and recreation center. It contains two lakes, connected by a half-mile stream. During the 40 years that the Nature Center has been in existence, vegetation has grown to shade and clog the stream. Stream banks have eroded and silt and debris have accumulated on the stream bottom. The resulting wider and shallower stream does not provide healthy aquatic or riparian habitat and is eroding into the walking trail.

The City Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has been working with stream restoration experts on a plan to transform the stream into a thriving ecosystem closely modeled on natural streams.

The Nature Center stream restoration is being funded by grants under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, and Coastal Protection Bond Acts of 2000 and 2002, and mitigation paid by Mc Donnell Douglas for violations under the Clean Water Act. Construction is expected to take approximately four to six months, during which time the walking trails adjacent to the stream will be closed.

Busiest Intersections in Long Beach:

The City Traffic Engineer, David Roseman, has listed the following information on the busiest streets in Long Beach:

1. 7th Street
2. Ocean Boulevard
3. Lakewood Boulevard
4. PCH
5. Cherry Avenue
6. Carson Street
7. Anaheim Street
8. Willow Street
9. Del Amo Boulevard
10. Spring Street

Top accident prone intersections:

1. Traffic circle
2. PCH and Cherry
3. LB Boulevard and Wardlow
4. 7th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue
5. Pramount and South Street
6. Los Coyotes Diag and Bellflower Blvd.
7. PCH and LB Blvd
8. 7th Street and Redondo Ave
9. Alamitos Avenue and Anaheim St.
10. Atlantic Ave and Artesia Blvd.

Number of Construction Permits in District 5:

The Development Services Department (aka Planning) reports that 175 construction permits were taken out in the 5th Council District this past August and 755 inspections were completed by Development Services of properties/businesses.

60-foot high wireless pole not appropriate for neighborhood

I have just received notice that T-Mobile wants to construct a 60-foot-high wirless telecommunications monopole disguised as a pine tree located at 3401 N. Studebaker .
It was scheduled for the Planning Commission and then the City Council.

I have told Planning staff I am opposed to the placement of such a high pole in essentially a residential area. I understand the item will not be taken up at the October 15th Planning Commission meeting because T-Mobile wants a chance to meet with the community.

As soon as I learn of a date for such a meeting, I will let residents of that area know so they attend and make their views heard.

Charter Amendment Could Open Up Bargaining Process

I am placing an item on the Council agenda (Public Pay Bargaining Sunshine Requirements) that requests my colleagues to refer to the Charter Amendment Committee (which is the full city council) a proposal that would go before the voters next April to open up the process utilized by the Council in negotiating wages, benefits and working conditions with our public employees.

The public is clamoring for transparency and input --not only of what the City negotiates but how much it costs the city for the agreements over the life of the agreements.

Collective bargaining is regulated by state law -- the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act which is found in the Government Code. Enforcement of this law is done by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the same agency which regulates labor laws for teachers, faculty members and employees of public universities and schools.

Currently, state law requires that the collective bargaining process for employees in higher education and employees in school districts provide for the "sun shining" of initial proposals for negotiations, including re-openers as well as proposals that arise later in the course of bargaining. The laws also require a delay after the proposals are presented at a public meeting to allow the public to become informed and provide input regarding the proposals. Additionally, in the case of schools districts, the Superintendent must disclose the costs of the contract and certify that the costs of the contract can be met by the school district during the term of the agreement.

Opening up the process to the public is needed. There isn't any reason that our City Council cannot do the same as is required by the Long Beach Unified School District.

Read below and see what the school district must do: (you'll see why we need to do the same)

Government Code Section 3547 provides:
(a) All initial proposals of exclusive representatives and of public school employers, which relate to matters within the scope of representation, shall be presented at a public meeting of the public school employer and thereafter shall be public records.
(b) Meeting and negotiating shall not take place on any proposal until a reasonable time has elapsed after the submission of the proposal to enable the public to become informed and the public has the opportunity to express itself regarding the proposal at a meeting of the public school employer.
(c) After the public has had the opportunity to express itself, the public school employer shall, at a meeting which is open to the public, adopt its initial proposal.
(d) New subjects of meeting and negotiating arising after the presentation of initial proposals shall be made public within 24 hours. If a vote is taken on such subject by the public school employer, the vote thereon by each member voting shall also be made public within 24 hours.
(e) The board may adopt regulations for the purpose of implementing this section, which are consistent with the intent of the section; namely that the public be informed of the issues that are being negotiated upon and have full opportunity to express their views on the issues to the public school employer, and to know of the positions of their elected representatives.

Government Code Section 3547.5 provides:
(a) Before a public school employer enters into a written agreement with an exclusive representative covering matters within the scope of representation, the major provisions of the agreement, including, but not limited to, the costs that would be incurred by the public school employer under the agreement for the current and subsequent fiscal years, shall be disclosed at a public meeting of the public school employer in a format established for this purpose by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(b) The superintendent of the school district and chief business official shall certify in writing that the costs incurred by the school district under the agreement can be met by the district during the term of the agreement. This certification shall be prepared in a format similar to that of the reports required pursuant to Sections 42130 and 42131 of the Education Code and shall itemize any budget revision necessary to meet the costs of the agreement in each year of its term.

Nothing in the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act which governs labor relations of municipalities prohibits the City from adopting the same requirements for public disclosure and input.

In fact, the California Supreme Court commented on the school district approach favorably: "Thus, although the public is excluded from actual negotiating sessions . . . its opportunity to be fully informed and to express its views is preserved." San Mateo City School District v. PERB, 33 Cal.3d 850, 864 (1983).

I hope my colleagues and the voters agree to open this up.

Long Beach Studios

If the news is correct, it appears that Long Beach Studios -- a new movie company -- will locate on the Boeing property in the 5th Council District.

Let's cross our fingers because this is about the 7th time I have been told the deal was on --only for it to be off again.

But this is exciting news if it is for real. Finally, the empty Boeing 717 property will be occupied and hopefully LB Studios will bring much needed jobs to Long Beach.

I am still hopeful something can be worked out to bring TESLA Motors to Long Beach as well --maybe to the Douglas Park property that sits vacant but has all the environmental clearances needed to go full steam.

Bottom line --"Long Beach is good enough, and smart enough, and doggone it people like us!! (To use the words of movie star and now US Senator Al Franken.)

Long Beach Airport Capital Improvement Plan

For all you readers interested in what the City is planning on doing to improve the parking and terminal at the Long Beach Airport, I have posted to the right of this article, the presentation given to the City Council last Tuesday from the Airport Director, Mario Rodriguez, on what is planned for the parking and terminal improvements.

It has been a slow process because of the two law suits filed against the City -- one by the Long Beach Unified School District and the other by the PTA. Both law suits were unsuccessful.

So now the City can proceed with improving airport parking and the terminal. Funds will come from airport passenger fees -- no general funds will be used.

Long Beach Airport Quiet Home Program

Last Tuesday, the Council received a final briefing on the Airport's Quiet Home Program.

Look to your right on the blog and you can read the powerpoint presentation that we reviewed on this program.

Funds for making homes and schools quieter in the higher CNEL paths are obtained from airport passenger fees -- not the City general funds.

If you need more information, please contact my council office at: 562 570-6932 or contact the Airport staff person coordinating the effort: sharon.diggs-jackson@longbeach.gov.

Long Beach Chamber Sends Positive Appeal to Tesla Motors

Thanks so much to all the readers who contacted the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, urging them to help recruit Tesla Motors to Long Beach.

You can read the very positive message, sent today by the Chamber's Executive Director, Randy Gordon, to the right of this posting. Just click on the document and it will enlarge to full screen.

I sent my thanks to Mr. Gordon and the Chamber. This was the positive boost we've needed to encourage Tesla to come to Long Beach.

Video not working

Oh, well the best laid plans...the video put up pointing out Long Beach can offer tax credits and Downey cannot in the battle to woo Tesla, crashed and is down...but Tesla got the point.

One more push to get Tesla to come to Long Beach

Haven't heard officially what decision Tesla Motors has made about where it will locate its plant that will produce the Model S and create 1,200 jobs. Also have not heard a peep out of our city officials about what is being done to recruit this job maker.

So I am doing one more push of letter writing and a 30 second video on You Tube showing why Long Beach should be selected over Downey. The mayor of Downey was a nice guy to take a gift basket to Tesla, but Long Beach has a great site at the Boeing property and we can give a tax credit in the enterprise zone for every job created...better than a gift basket wouldn't you say.

Residents Deserve An "Autopsy" To Find Out The "Cause of Death of Tesla Deal"

November 23, 2009-- Gerrie Schipske, councilwoman for Long Beach’s fifth district, has been outspoken in her desire to keep alive the possibility of Tesla Motors locating its plant in Long Beach.

She personally contacted Elon Musk, President of Tesla to ask him what the City of Long Beach was doing to encourage his company to locate there. She also mounted a letter writing campaign called "Long Beach -- We Can Do Better Than Downey."

She used her blog to prod Long Beach officials to actively market the City to get Tesla here. So today upon learning that Tesla has signed a letter of intent with Downey to locate a plant which will manufacture 20,000 electric vehicles and produce 1,000 jobs she issued the following statement:

"The taxpayers of Long Beach deserve a full explanation about who or what killed the deal to bring Tesla to Long Beach. How did we lose this revenue producing opportunity to Downey? Long Beach has so much more to offer to a business than most southern California locations -- we have manufacturing space at the Boeing site, nearness to freeways, an airport, a port, railroad, convention center, training programs at our local community college and most importantly a workforce ready and willing to work. We also have an enterprise zone that provides tax credits for employers. And just recently the City announced it won the 'Most Business Friendly City Award' in Los Angeles County.

So what went wrong?

Anyone who has worked in corporate America knows how important it is to develop positive relationships in order to do business, which is exactly what the City of Downey did and the City of Long Beach did not do.

Unlike the City of Downey, which marshaled its Mayor and Council to actively court Tesla through calls, letters, ads and personal outreach, Long Beach apparently treated Tesla as a 'second-class citizen' according to comments made to me and to the press by Tesla President, Elon Musk. (It would be interesting to examine how much time and effort was really expended by Long Beach officials and staff in recruiting Tesla.)

I would like to congratulate the City of Downey for getting Tesla, and thank them for helping to keep these important types of jobs in the region."

We've Got Trouble, Right Here in Long Beach City, Starts With T and Rhymes with P and its stands for PCBs

Ya got trouble,
Right here in Long Beach city!
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for PCBs.
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in Long Beach City!


With apologies to Professor Harold Hill of Music Man fame, we apparently do have trouble right here in Long Beach City.

Seems like the US Environmental Protection Agency got tipped off by the O.C. District Attorney back in 2008 that there might be some hazardous things called PCBs a lurking over on the 33 acres owned by LCW Oil Operations -- yes, that same bundle of joy being adopted by the City of Long Beach in a land swap labeled "wetlands."

Remember that infamous day when city staff told the City Council, you need to hurry up and do this deal or the owner will walk away? Now or never was the battle cry from the council dais.

Well it is now many months later and we just find out that the owners of that parcel knew way back in February 2009 that the EPA wanted the land checked out for these hazardous substances and that EPA suspects several areas of the land have contamination.

So I am putting an item on the Council agenda (again) asking for full disclosure of what EPA found on the property, why it wasn't disclosed to the Council during negotiations and how the City can protect itself from winding up with property that is going to cost a bundle to clean up.

If you'd like to learn more...please go on line directly to EPA website's and feast your eyes on all the reports and letters about the problems on this property.

So After the Main Library's Roof Is Replaced -- How Is Park Being Replaced

The good news is that the roof of the main library is being fixed because even though it was meant to be park area or more precisely garden space, it leaked over the years.

The bad news is that the reason the roof of the main library that way in the early 1970's was because when the civic center and library were built, it reduced the amount of park space available at Lincoln Park.

In my research on the history of Long Beach I found a letter to the editor that outlines the concerns of some residents when Lincoln Park was taken for a civic center and main library. Ironically the writer was correct but no one listened:

The architect of the new main library is quoted as partially justifying the building's design on the basis of the thought that, "it provides more area for landscaping than the park it replaces."

Such a statement is surprising from a man who is in the business of designing things for people's use. Whether or not there is more landscaping than existed in old Lincoln Park is of no interest to those who realize that it takes more than landscaping to make a park.

Old Lincoln Park was the visible center of downtown, the social center for a large
number of citizens, and the 90-year-old repository for gigantic trees, donated benches, statues, cannons and outdoor markets.

It was accessible to everyone from the street, its users had full view of the activities of the street and in the park, it was reasonably safe because of its visibility from the street, and it had large chunks of lawn for snoozing or ball playing and lots of benches arranged for conversation or idling.

The new landscaping on the roof of the library is not a park; it has lost the vital connection with the street and will never be the center of anything except perhaps
crime. Access is by long flights of stairs or the crowded elevator in the City Hall lobby.

The seats are not arranged for comfortable conversation and face in, with no possible view of the active street nor the ocean. The little patches, of grass on the raised steps are of no use for any kind of activity, and there is no view into the area day or night from the street or plaza, a prime incentive for crime.

Finally, I'm sure the new landscaping which replaces the old park costs many times as much to maintain as did the old park.The city and its architects have, in the name of progress, destroyed Lincoln Park,one of the few things that was successful in the downtown and replaced it with plentiful landscaping whose only virtue is its stunning appearance from the upper floors of the City Hall. FRANK COLE, Long Beach

Land Swap Has Problems -- Still

Quietly, a memo was put in my in box from City management informing council that it has been discovered that the Orange County District Attorney filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the discharge of mineral oil possibly containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from transformers formerly located within the Los Cerritos Wetlands property currently owned by LCW Partners, LLC.

Wait, this wasn't done recently. This was done in 2008 and the owners of the "wetlands" property never disclosed this during negotiations. It wook a call from the EPA on August 17, 2009.

The EPA has required the owners to submit a PCB Assessment Workplan because there are two sites known with PCBs and ten other sites needing assessment.

So here's what being recommended by city staff: "...prudence suggests that the city should not consummate the exchange and enter the chain of title while this enforcement action continues, and thereby be identified as a Potentially Responsible Party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

You think?

How about requring staff to complete due diligence to see if there are other hazards and liabilities lurking out there before the deal is done?

I for one am asking the City Attorney to hold a closed session so we can "confer" with our negotiators on this mess, I mean real estate transaction. I am also asking the City Auditor, Laura Doud to look at this issue from the standpoint of financial liability.

You Saved Station 18

Thanks for the wonderful participation of residents in the 5th Council District who called, sent emails, signed petitions and turned out for the open house last Sunday at Station 18 -- the Council on a 9-0 vote approved restoring Firestation 18 and several other cuts to fire, police, library and recreation services!

Your efforts are most appreciated.

The work on the city's financial situation is far from over. We still need to look to remove inefficiencies, redundancies, and out dated services, programs and personnel in all city departments.

I am hopeful Mayor Bob Foster will not veto the restored cuts.

Remembering 9-11

I had the honor of being asked to speak at the 9-11 memorial arranged each year by LB Fire Fighter Gary Biggerstaff. Several hundred people crammed into Bennett street to see the crosses Gary had placed on his lawn as he has each year since the attack on the World Trade Center. Several young people sang. The crowd sang along.

The crosses with names help us remember the fire fighters and police who died that day. Gary does an incredible job helping us to remember the sacrifices that were made that day.

My remarks were brief, as I told people that on that day some ordinary people did some very extraordinary things and that what struck me the most about that day was that people who did not know each other had to rely upon each other and that perhaps we needed to remember this as we look around at the people who were gathered today --that the things that divide us in this country pale in comparison with the things that unite us.

I also added that 47 people from California died that day --including Dorothy Dearaujo, 82, of Naples, who was known as the neighborhood artist, drawing the area's boats, shops and homes in detailed water colors. An avid traveler, Dearaujo visited France, Australia, Italy and Brazil. She earned a bachelor's degree in art at California State University, Long Beach. She was survived by a son, Tim whom she had been visiting i Boston before she boarded United 175 that crashed into the south tower.

On that day, Dorothy and others boarded airplanes with strangers and no one knew what was going to happen on those flights. We never know what is going to happen on a given day. Perhaps we need to live our lives like it will be the last day or the last time we see people. Maybe we'd all be a little nicer, a little more civil, a little less critical.

Station 18 Open House -- Great Turnout -- Residents Are Angry About Cuts

Residents packed Fire Station 18 today to tour the station and to talk with firefighters. They picked up all the remaining signs that say "Save Station 18." They signed a petition opposing any cuts in service at Station 18. Most importantly they stopped to talk about their anger that a closure in Station 18 would even be proposed by the Mayor and the City Manager.

One resident remarked: "Why does downtown always view this section of the city as the golden goose? We pay taxes but everytime they need some place to cut, they do it over here. They need to get a grip or the goose may just fly away."

I am hoping the mayor and city manager are listening.

Open House for Station 18 this Sunday

Reminder: Open House at Station 18 this Sunday, Sept. 13 at noon. Come by and talk to the firefighters and sign a petition in support of keeping Station 18 open.

Council Worked Together Last Night on Budget

It was truly amazing to participate in the council deliberations last night. We worked together without rancor or nasty comments on restoring some of the cuts made to the budget by Mayor Foster and City Manager West.

Granted we were there til midnight and we still have more to do. But we made progress on restoring cuts to fire and police, library, recreation and infrastructure. Looks as if Station 18 will remain open all day long. But it isn't over yet.

We knocked back a proposal to go forward with digital billboards in redevelopment areas (again).

Four of us worked over the weekend on finding sources of revenue to restore cuts. Those four are: me, Councilmembers Gabelich, Uranga, and Garcia. We brought the proposals to the budget hearing and placed them on an overhead slide so the public could see what we were proposing.

The Council Budget oversight committee comprised of Councilmembers O'Donnell, Lowenthal and DeLong also had a list of restorations -- surprisingly our restorations matched in many places with the major exception that our 4 restored cuts to the Police Department.

Was the process perfect? No. But for the first time since I have been on the Council, there was deliberation, discussion and compromise in a professional, respectful manner. And that was worth the price of admission to the event.

My new book is published!

I just received a box from my publisher (Arcadia) and inside were several copies of my second book: "Early Aviation in Long Beach." (My first was "Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach.")

Each book took a year to research and to write.

I discovered lots of interesting historical facts about how Long Beach was the center of early aviation in the U.S. mostly due to Earl S. Daugherty (for whom our airport was named in 1930 at the opening of the Women's Air Derby Race).

Facts:

• Long Beach Day was featured at the Second Los Angeles International Air Meet in 1910. The LB Trophy for altitude was won by Arch Hoxsey who later in the meet tried to break his record and spun out of control.
• Long Beach was the site of the landing of the first transcontinental flight in 1911. Cal Rodgers flew from New York to Pasadena (crashing many times along the way in his Vin Fiz -- a replica of which is in the Smithsonian). The LB Chamber gave him $1,000 to get him to continue his flight from Pasadena and land in the water near the Pine Avenue Pier. Which he did, making aviation history. A year later, steps from his historic landing, he hit a bird, crashed and broke his neck.
• Ameila Earhart came to Long Beach to watch the air rodeo organized by Earl Daugherty in 1920. She asked for her first ride in an airplane and was taken up by Long Beach Poly High school graduate, Frank Hawks.
• It was one of Long Beach's first Aviation Commissioners, John Montijo, who taught Earhart how to do aerobatics and to fly solo. Earhart then flew in the Long Beach Air Rodeo with Daugherty and Hawks.
• Charles Lindbergh flew to Daugherty Field several times and was able to make an emergency landing after midnight because Long Beach had a light on its field -- a fact he thanked and lauded Long Beach for many times.
• Long Beach housewife and first woman licensed pilot, Gladys O'Donnell beat Amelia Earhart in the 1929 Women's National Air Derby.
• O'Donnell and Earhart were two of the organizers of the 99ers -- the first woman pilots organization.
• The Long Beach Municipal Airport - Daugherty Field Terminal was slated to open the day of Pearl Harbor. After the attack it was painted over and camouflaged and equipped with hot showers in order to house soldiers. In 1945, the pastel colors were returned and the terminal has been largely unchanged since.

There's a lot more in the book.

Voters Aren't Getting Their Money's Worth

Yeah, we met practically all day yesterday in City Council. And even though Dee Andrews' idea to allow homeless to sleep in their cars was mercifully taken off the agenda which would have lengthened the meeting probably until past the 11 pm at which it finally ended, we have yet to hold a budget hearing at which time councilmembers can vote on restoring the cuts made by Mayor Foster and City Manager Pat West.

What you did see was a whole lotta of disrespect going on and a mockery of the process.

While some councilmembers discussed the transfer of RDA funds and other aspects of the budget, others got up out of their seats,walked around, chatted with staff and themselves, and one even clapped after the City Auditor finished her presentation. A vote was switched (after prodding that the wrong vote had been cast) at the last moment so the WestPac couldn't get another chance to review a proposal that impacts their funds.

Makes one wonder if some have already decided and why we even bother to go through this charade every budget year.

The budget deadline is September 15th. Let's see how many more times between now and then a budget hearing is cancelled.

Interesting Information

Long Beach Airport

A recent US Department of Transportation survey determined that Long Beach Airport has the lowest fares of the top 100 airports in the nation. That's beause we charge air carriers the lowest fees to operate.

Rubber Duck Tours and Americans with Disabilities

In response to my request, the new Rubber Duck tour operations are assisting disabled customers to board the vessel for tours with an attendant who can help load a wheelchair. If that is not feasible, they can be picked up from land to the water dock in Shoreline Village which will eliminate the stair climb and allow staff to lower the individual into the vesse. In such cases, the tour route will be reversed and require the customer to provide 24-hour advanced notice.

City Requirements for Notices of Public Hearings to Change Effective August 13

Beginning August 13, new requirements for noticing of public hearings will take effect in the City of Long Beach. This will result in increasing community awareness about public hearings and an in effort to increase public engagement and participation. Changes taking effect include:

• The required noticing radius has been expanded to 750 feet around the subject site; for City or institutional project to 1,000 feet.
• In addition to property owners, all occupants (both residential and non-residential) must also be given notice.
• Site must now be posted with a 30" x 40" notice poster.

Last Summer Concert a Wonderful Success

Tonight we held the last concert of the summer at Good Neighbor Park on Studebaker and Barrios under the trees and near the lit gazebo to listen to the steelband music of Panjive.

Panjive is local and gave an outstanding concert. You can log on to their website and listen to what you missed: http://www.panjive.com/sound.htm

It was fun to watch the little kids come out in front of the band and dance to the music.

I really appreciate the contribution of Partners of the Parks which paid for the music and last year helped pay for the gazebo and benches. Signal Hill Petroleum donated the lights in the trees.

It was a nice way to end the summer.

Long Beach -- We Can Do Better Than Downey

See Press Telegram editorial about TESLA, Downey and Long Beach by clicking here

August 30, 2009 -- Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today challenged Long Beach residents to make sure the City of Downey does not beat out Long Beach in the race to get TESLA Motors to locate its plant and bring 1,000 jobs. "I just learned that the Mayor of Downey is asking residents to send letters to TESLA in support of the electric vehicle company choosing their city over the City of Long Beach, " says Schipske who has been a vocal proponent of Long Beach doing more to encourage the electric vehicle manufacturer to the city. "We can do better than Downey and we need to let TESLA Motors know why they should come here."

Schipske prepared the following letter which she encourages residents to mail to Elon Musk, President of TESLA Motors, Main Corporate Mailing Address: 1050 Bing Street, San Carlos, CA 94070 or to email it to her by cutting and pasting it into an email (at district5@longbeach.gov) and she will forward it to him personally:

Dear Mr. Musk:

The residents of the City of Long Beach are excited at the possibility that your company will re-locate to Long Beach, bringing 1,000 or more jobs dedicated to the assembly of the Tesla S2, a four-door, all-electric family car that is projected to cost about $50,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. We understand that production would start in about two years, and when the plant is up to speed about 20,000 cars would be produced annually.

Long Beach has many advantages over other cities: our proximity to major freeways; the excellent workforce training available through Long Beach Community College; advanced technology education at California State University at Long Beach; and our enterprise zone that provides tax credits for hiring workers that can save thousands of dollars on your business' California income taxes.

The specific location in Long Beach you are considering (the Boeing 717 hangars) is directly across the street from Douglas Park, which when completed will include hotels, restaurants, retail and office complexes that would be available as your presence in Long Beach grows.

Additionally, Long Beach is committed to sustainability and lessening our dependence upon fossil fuel as demonstrated in the City's establishing an Office of Sustainability, the Green Port Plan and the annual 5th Council District's Solar and Sustainability Conference and Tour.

TESLA's presence in Long Beach would be a "win-win" for both your company and our city.

We look forward to rolling out the red- or better yet, the green-carpet when you make your decision to come to Long Beach!

Sincerely,


(please insert your name and address)

" The City of Long Beach needs every new job it can create, reminds Schipske. "Our City faces cuts in Police, Fire, Library and Parks and Recreation services. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity to bring an exciting job creator to Long Beach."
#30

Great historical site of photos of Lakewood Plaza

Check out the photography exhibit at the Huntington Musuem (www.huntington.org).

More specifically, see the photos of Lakewood Plaza when it was built in the early 1950's: http://mediabank.huntington.org/fmi/iwp/cgi?-db=Maynard%20L.%20Parker%20Negatives%2C%20Photographs%20and%20Other%20Material&-loadframes

I live in Lakewood Plaza and although my house has been modified, I see many houses that still very close to the original designs.

Remembering Senator Ted Kennedy

When I won the Democratic nomination for Congress in 2000, I met a lot of interesting and wonderful people.

Among them was Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria.

I was invited to a small gathering at his Washington, DC home for those supported by the Human Rights Campaign. As my partner, Flo and I walked around the home, we saw the usual display of family photos seen in any home -- except these family photos were of the Kennedy family!

The Senator asked us several times if there was anything he could get us, as he padded around in black tennis shoes that were worn on the sides. This giant bear of a man, this political giant took time to make certain people were comfortable in his home. I was touched, especially when he motioned Flo and me to sit on the couch with him.

Before we left his home, he asked me if his son, Congresswoman Patrick Kennedy was treating me "okay." Patrick was then the Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and decided which candidates received money and support. I'd like to think it was no coincidence that Patrick later came out to the District to campaign for me.

Stockton

Went away for the weekend to Stockton to see Sequoia and friends who were renewing their 45th wedding vows.

It was hot up there. Beautiful in Sequoia.

The ceremony was sweet and included all their children and their grandchildren and friends. Afterwards the kids jumped into the pool and the adults sought shade and talked about how quickly everyone had grown.

There are lots of foreclosures in Stockton. Their local newspaper is as thin as ours. People are struggling to make ends meet. Their city is facing financial crisis. Drastic cuts are being made in the city.

But for a moment, we all just focused on family and the weather.

Community Meeting, C-17 Rally and Parking Tickets

What an interesting week.

We had a council meeting but the budget hearing that would have allowed the city council to start taking public action on the budget was canceled.

A community meeting at the El Dorado Senior Center with 80 people who came to talk about the budget and proposed cuts to police and fire services. People are not happy. And they want something done with the high costs of public pensions. Unfortunately, we can't address that problem in the next four weeks we have to pass the budget. But we will bring it forward and engage the public and the unions so we can make changes in the next budget.

Today, I attended a rally at Boeing to encourage Congress to fund 15 C-17's. Also there were Congressmembers Laura Richardson and Ed Royce, Supervisor Don Knabe, the Mayor of Los Alamitos, Troy Edgar. We all spoke about the importance of keeping over 5,000 jobs in Long Beach and the significance of the C-17 in military and commercial operations as an excellent cargo plane. CBS news was there. Please send letters to Senators Boxer and Feinstein because the funding for 15 planes needs their support.

Parking tickets. I once in a while get a letter or email from a resident who has received a parking ticket and wants me to get involved and get the ticket waived. As I explain, it is not appropriate for a councilmember to use their office to interfere with tickets. I am sure that doesn't make anyone happy. But the other day, I received an email from a young man who received a parking ticket downtown out front of the military recruiting center where he had gone inside to sign up for the military. When he came out the parking enforcement person was writing the ticket for an expired meter -- which was the right thing to do. He explained he had been inside signing up to serve his country and should be given some slack. But he was given the ticket -- as he should have been. I told him to send me the parking ticket and I would pay it. Which I did. It was least thing I could do.

Take poll on Saving Station 18

See www.savestation18.com and take the poll to let the Mayor and City Council know if you agree that Fire Station 18 on Palo Verde and Wardlow should be closed.

Someone cancels scheduled budget meeting last night without council approval

Readers -- remember back just a month ago when the Council voted 8-0 to approve a schedule of public budget workshops?

Come on, it wasn't that long ago.

Just click on this magic link and you too can read once again how the City Council (I was there and voting) approved a budget workshop schedule that included a workshop August 18th at 7:00 pm. http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=429644&GUID=73371C4F-6E0C-4DF9-9B0C-6BFEDEF4D940&Search=&Options=

I sat and watched an audience filled with city staff as 7 pm came and went but no budget meeting.

So who canceled the budget workshop scheduled by the city council? I am trying to find out and so should you.

Listen to TESLA President Tell About The Poor Treatment He and His Company Have Received

I invite readers to log onto the following link http://www.lbreport.com/news/aug09/tesla3.htm and to listen to a taped interview Bill Pearl did with TESLA Motors President after the Mayor and City management denied my reports that their treatment of this possible source of over 1,000 jobs has been less than stellar.

After my blog last week and the news article in local press, a memo was hurriedly released at City Hall allegedly showing all the wonderful things the city had done to try to recruit companies to Long Beach. The trouble is the memo trashes TESLA (which the President of the company found insulting and inaccurate)and basically provides nothing to refute the claim of TESLA that they are and have been treated "like second class citizens." The ONLY letter the city sent to TESLA was telling them about a potential E-Vehicle Mall. No thank you for being interested in bringing jobs; no follow-up confirming the so-called high level meetings; no detailed explanation (as had been sent to other companies) about tax credits and other opportunities for their business if they re-located to Long Beach.

I didn't start a "spat" as the local press termed it. Nor was I "grandstanding". I was simply following up with the fact that the Mayor and City Manager handed out a budget document and showed it on the screen for viewers that stated TESLA Motors was a potential source of revenue for the FY 2010 budget.

I met with the City Manager immediately after and asked what had been done to get them there and was told staff had decided a movie studio would be better and they had told Boeing that fact. I called the TESLA President because I am concerned that should the movie studio not happen, we could have an electric vehicle manufacturer/assembler -- and I didn't want us losing both.

Sadly, what I found out and what you can hear for yourself in the taped interview with Elon Musk, President of TESLA Motors, is that he is still waiting to hear that someone besides me wants his company in Long Beach.