Come to a 1940s Era Dance.

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske invites you to step back into the 1940's when Long Beach was working on the home front to support the troops in the war.

Come visit the Smithsonian "Produce for Victory" Exhibit made possible by The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation and The Historical Society of Long Beach.

The closing event of the exhibit will feature USO style entertainers and dance music! Food and much more. You are invited to come in costume.

April 2, 2010 at 6:30 pm - 9 pm at The Historical Society of Long Beach Gallery, 4260 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807.

Tickets are $40.00. Proceeds go to The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation and The Historical Society of Long Beach, both non-profit organizations.

Response to LBPOST column on why 5th District is getting more infrastructure repairs

LBPOST -- it would have only taken a moment to call me to get the information your article lacks.

First of all the 5th District is the largest district -- 11.5 sq. miles which means we have the most streets, the most sidewalks and the most city trees. So we have the most infrastructure needs.

Unlike prior councilmembers, I have worked with Public Works to bundle repairs in an area so that it wasn't done on a shot gun approach. That approach has been inefficient and the costs of sending crews from one corner of a district to another is silly. That is why the Ranchos got their sidewalks done and we are moving north and west (something I go over in great detail at my state of the city). That is why one area gets their trees trimmed instead of here and there. And because I brought saw cutting to the city, we are able to fix many more sidewalks at a lower cost than we have ever done in Long Beach. (You can see the video on my city website: www.lbdistrict5.com).

Now as to the major streets being fixed in the 5th with stimulus monies -- Spring goes from Orange County to the west border of the City and is a major thoroughfare. Los Coyotes dissects the east part of the city south to north. These projects have been slated for repair for several years. They were shovel ready and have a tremendous impact on the traffic.

Regarding the lack of an alley behind Euclid -- that has been a problem for 40 years. I have worked on it (albeit quietly) for 4 years I have been in office. Those homes have been ruined because of the flooding and the city wouldn't do anything about it. Now they are fixing it.

I also have a serious problem with streets raised up to 3 and 4 feet because of stone pine tree roots. Those problems have been there for many years and I am pushing the City Attorney and the Public Works department that they need to be removed because they are hazards.

I also constantly walk and inspect my district and leave constituent service cards with residents and email the problems via Blackberry. I also have a sophisticated computer tracking system that monitors when we call in a problem so we can follow it up to get it done. I was the first to place an on line service request form that can be accessed 24/7 and so we are on top of the complaints.

My job is to advocate for my residents in the 5th District. If I hadn't been doing that you'd be the first to blast me for not doing my job.

Gerrie Schipske

5th Council Districts Gets Big Share of Fed Street Improvements -- and Largest Share of City Sidewalk Monies

The federal government has agreed to fund (@ $15 million) the reconstruction of 10 major streets -- including installing handicap access to ramps to meet current federal ADA guidelines.

The 5th Council District is getting 3 (of the 10) streets fixed:

• Spring Street from Clark Avenue to the east city limit
• Los Coyotes Diagonal from Outer Traffic Circle to Studebaker
• Wardlow Road from Clark Avenue to Woodruff Avenue

Other good news: The 5th Council District is receiving the largest share of City sidewalk monies this budget year. More than $600,000 will be spent on fixing or replacing broken sidewalks in the 5th District. This amount represents twice the amount ever budgeted for the 5th Council District and over turns the long standing policy adopted by the former councilperson that sidewalk monies should be divided evenly.

Thanks to my colleagues on the council for agreeing that these monies should be budgeted based upon need!

On upcoming posting, I will put on line the list of the many sidewalk locations that will be fixed this year. It is impressive but we much to do.

Catching up on my medical board work and other items

Ah, the weekend. Started this am up in North Long Beach at Holly and Dan Pressberg's house which is a historical landmark. The food was great and quite a crowd of candidates and electeds.

Got to chat with first district candidate Jana Shields (whom I had not met before) and said hello to Gabrielle Holt who is circulating a petition to make the state legislature part-time. (No, I didn't sign but I always enjoy talking with her. She's a very smart person.)

Also on the scene as Mr.Wielenga --formerly known as Dave Wielenga of the now defunct District Weekly. Bill Pearl of LBReport.com. Art Levine from Straight Talk (still haven't been invited to talk on his show cause I get you really have to be straight...)

City Attorney Bob Shannon, James Johnson and Jack Smith. Not to mention several people who want to take Laura Richardson out...of Congress.

Back home and then to Long Beach City College to talk to students who were attending a Habitat for Humanity workshop. Drive around Lakewood Village dropping off campaign signs then back home to the computer.

Numerous cases on line to review as a member of the Medical Board of California. As the regulatory board we have to review proposed discipline when it is appealed by the physician. We also actually hear cases in person (just went to Sacramento two weeks ago to hear a case.)Although I am the only (and first Registered Nurse) to be appointed to a Medical Board in the US, I am serving as a public (non physician member)... so I represent the public. I take this work very seriously because we are deciding on whether or not a physician should retain his or her license to practice or to be placed on probation with a list of conditions. And I get paid the grand sum of $100 when I attend a medical board meeting.

PS I have convinced the medical board to finally hold a meeting in Long Beach which they will do in November.

Check Out Code Enforcement Cases In Long Beach

You can click on this link http://www.longbeach.gov/cd/neighborhood_services/code/current_open_cases.asp and find out how many code enforcement cases are currently open in the city -- the addresses and what has been done to date.

Often constituents turn in an address to code enforcement and then complain that "nothing is done." Due process and notice is required and the offending address is allowed to fix the problem without being cited...as long as they fix it.

Checking this list will tell you exactly what is going on.

City Council Votes to Regulate Medical Marijuana Collectives

The Council on a 5-4 vote approved the first reading of an ordinance that will strongly regulate when and where a medical marijuana collective can locate in Long Beach. At my urging, the Council agreed to expand the buffer zone between these collectives and schools to 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet for high schools (at the urging of Councilman O'Donnell).

Additionally, at the advice of our City Attorney and our Chief of Police (as well as the District Attorney) the council requires these collectives to actually grow marijuana on site in order to operate. This keeps drugs from being transported in by drug cartels and it follows the Attorney General's guidelines.

Some of my colleagues were upset about the requirement to grow at the collective? Really, folks. Where do you think these places were getting their supplies if they weren't growing it as a collective???? They were getting marijuana from drug dealers.

The voters of California approved law that allows a collective of "patients" needing medical marijuana to grow and distribute medical marijuana for the use of only those members of that collective. By requiring that they do so, Long Beach is following the state law and making certain that the phony "collectives" go out of business. The ordinance also gives our law enforcement the tools they need to make certain the law is followed.

Councilman Andrews' Heart is in the right place

Ok. So constituents have contacted me about Councilman Dee Andrews' plan to offer job training and other services to soon to be released prisoners. I do honestly believe that Dee's heart is in the right place and he understands that if we don't train those returning from incarceration they are more than likely to return to crime and be imprisoned at the taxpayers' expense.

Nevertheless. This isn't a good idea for Long Beach. Not right now. Not when 14.5% of our population in unemployed and I suspect many more underemployed. The City doesn't have the money nor the resources, nor should this be on our list of things to do.

The City should explore whether or not to sue the State of California and/or the County of Los Angeles if either level of government prematurely releases prisoners into our City. It's bad enough that the State had raided our coffers and continues to dump parolees into communities, but to let prisoners get out early when the governor and legislature refuses to do their jobs is unthinkable.

To use City resources to provide services for the prisoners isn't appropriate. Let's spend what resources we have on preventing our youth from committing the crimes that is putting their elders in prison.

Need I say more???

Excuse me -- Can I just say -----

There were probably many, many times this year
when I may have disturbed you, troubled you,
pestered you, irritated you, bugged you, or got on
your nerves with all the e-mails I send.

So today, I just wanted to tell you...









Suck it up, "Cupcake!"

'Cause there are NO changes planned for 2010 !!!

Tea with Rosie

The Historical Society of Long Beach was packed yesterday with women and men eager to listen to re-enactments of the oral histories of women who worked on the home front during World War II.

Tea with Rosie was the creation of the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Historical Society as one of several events to draw the public to see the Smithsonian exhibit: Produce for Victory. The exhibit is a joint project with The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation and will be at the Historical Society until April 4th.

The closing of the exhibit will be celebrated with a USO style dance and entertainment from the Swing Dolls.

We need to regulate marijuana collectives

Like it or not, state law (voted in by the voters) allows collectives to be formed to dispense marijuana for medicinal use only.

Using that state law, many, many collectives have opened in Los Angeles County and specifically in Long Beach. As a consequence of no local law regulating these collectives, they have managed to open and operate without business licenses.

The City Attorney has drafted an ordinance that allows the City to regulate these collectives and to restrict them to non residential areas and away from schools. Additionally the ordinance would not allow the importation of marijuana from outside the city. Marijuana could not be grown except in areas zoned for growing agricultural crops.

Unless we approve the regulation of these collectives, the City will be unable to make certain that only those qualified under state law operate.

This ordinance gives law enforcement the tools they have needed to make certain that the state law allowing medical marijuana is not exploited for illegal purposes.

WASP Barbara Erickson London Receives Congressional Medal From President Obama

Today in Washington, D.C. the surviving members of the WWII Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) received a Congressional Medal of Honor. These women flew the airplanes that were produced at defense plants during WWII -- often risking their lives. 38 died in the line of duty.

Because of the shortage of male pilots during the war, these women who were already civilian pilots learned how to fly every plane manufactured. They were not recognized as part of the military and received minimal pay and no benefits. When they died, their families had to pay for their funerals.

Before the war ended, the military disbanded the WASP because of complaints from male pilots returning home that women should not be flying the planes. It was not until the 1970's that Congress finally recognized these women and granted them honorable discharges and veterans status.

Among the most famous of the WASP was Barbara Erickson London who at the age of 23 commanded the women at the Long Beach Army Airfield. Erickson received an Air Medal for her service during the war -- the only WASP to receive the award.

Check out the US Defense Dept website on these women and the information concerning the Congressional Medal of Honor.

You can also check out my two books on Long Beach history that include information about the WASP and Erickson during WW II: "Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach" and "Early Aviation in Long Beach" -- both published by Arcadia and available at any local bookstore.

Also check out the historical display at the Long Beach Municipal Airport on the WASP.

Council Approves Ordinance to Require Buffer Zone Around Schools for Medical Marijuana Collectives

The City Council agreed with my request that we require that medical marijuana collectives not be allowed closer than 1,000 feet from all elementary and middle schools in Long Beach and 1,500 feet from high schools.

This is a big change from what the council voted on last month -- which allowed the collectives as close as 500 feet from elementary and middle schools and 1,500 from high schools.

I contacted the Long Beach Unified School District and asked that it indicate to the City Council their support of the 1,000 foot buffer. This buffer conforms with federal and state laws that require schools to have a drug free zone of 1,000 feet. While some may argue that medical marijuana is allowed for use, the federal law still considers marijuana a controlled substance which is illegal to sell.

Another important part of the ordinance is the requirement that all marijuana cultivated for medical use must be grown in the city in order to comply with federal and state law prohibiting the transporting of marijuana other than for a reasonable distance. There will be requirements regarding where marijuana can be grown.

The ordinance acknowledges the state law allowing cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes while giving our law enforcement the tools they need to properly enforce the law.

Because the collectives currently in Long Beach have not been legally operating, this ordinance will allow collectives to apply for a business license and in turn be reviewed by the police in order to determine that the collective is following the law.

NOTE: See the Attorney General's Guidelines on Medical Marijuana on this blog. Our ordinance follows these guidelines.

Thank You USS Dewey and Friends

The 5th District received a gift of green as 50 crew members of the USS Dewey joined 70 others from the neighborhood, El Dorado Park South Association, Neighborhood Services and my staff in planting 45 trees in El Dorado Park South last Wednesday.

It is a Navy tradition that with a commissioning of a ship, the crew does a project in adjoining areas. They picked Long Beach -- specifically the 5th District -- and through a grant obtained by the El Dorado Park South Association they were able to plant the trees.

This is great. I am working with Walmart to get some work done on our duck pond area.
Our next Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands clean up with tackle a restroom and picnic benches.

Spring Street Being Spruced Up With Federal Stimulus Funds

I have been receiving emails from residents who: a) are concerned about where the city got the money or b) think that the repair along Spring Street from the westside of Long Beach to Orange County is unnecessary or c) think that the street needed to be fixed but not the curbs and gutters and storm drains.

So to clarify:

• Spring Street needs a structural repair -- the street, the curbs, the gutters and the storm drains. Water pools in several part after rains.
• The repairs are being totally funded out of federal stimulus funds.
• Spring Street is a major street in Long Beach -- going from the westside to Orange County. It is heavily traveled.
  
• Long Beach had the project on the drawing board for many years so it was ready or as they say "shovel ready."

Other issues:

• Yes, there are other streets in Long Beach that need repair too and we are applying for funds for all of them.
• No, the federal stimulus funds weren't available for residential streets -- only streets that are non-residential and have higher useage.
  

TED-X Long Beach

Last night the Council approved my agenda item calling for the City of Long Beach to obtain a license (free of charge) for a Long Beach TED-X conference.

For the past two years, the Long Beach Convention Center has been the venue for TED.

According to its website: "TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.

"Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDlndia Conference and the annual TED Prize.

"TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, 'ideas worth spreading.' The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

"At TEDx events, unique talks given by live speakers combine with TEDTalks videos to spark deep conversation and connections. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis."

A TEDx event is being planned and hosted by numerous cities (such as Manhattan Beach, Monterey, Boston, San Francisco and New York) as a way on a local level to:
1. Educate and inspire
2. Bring together innovators and explorers
3. Encourage the responsible use of resources and talents
4. Foster an environment of sharing and embracing passions.

A TEDxLong Beach would give the residents of the City of Long Beach the opportunity to experience and to participate in this innovative way to build a stronger and better community.

FAQ:

• The annual TED conference in Long Beach charges $6,000 a person to attend and limits who can attend.
• There is no charge for a community to receive a license from TED to organize a TEDx event.
• More and more cities across the U.S. and around the world are holding TEDx events in their communities.
• TEDx events are usually free of charge to attendees.
• TED provides a step by step video and website outlining how to organize and conduct a TEDx event in our community at http://www.ted.com/pages/view?id=343
• In every community that hosts a TEDx, the event is "sold out" within days of announcement and sparks on-going community discussions beyond the event.

Business license tax exemptions for artists

I raised some questions last night at council as to why we would waive business licenses for artists while so many small businesses are struggling in the city.

• The home business license is $198 a year.
• We don't have a definition of "artist."
• We don't know how many home businesses or artist businesses this waiver would cover.
• We still would need businesses to register with the city so that we don't have a proliferation of businesses operating without licenses.

I have a home business license because I am a writer and when I sell my books I have to be licensed as a business and I have to pay sales tax. The 5th Council district has a large number of home based businesses --because quite frankly it is the small business that is creating employment right now.

The arts are important to a community. But so is business and I don't want the city encouraging one type of business over another. Either give all small businesses a break on business licenses for a year or don't single out one type of business.

Agenda Item on City Manager Precludes Doing Anything More than an Evaluation: Brown Act Requires Public Disclosure of Votes Taken in Closed Session

It's unfortunate that as the press runs stories about the Council going into closed session next Tuesday to evaluate the City Manager (which is required in his contract), the press fails to remind readers the basics of the Brown Act which requires that items to be taken action on need to be specifically stated and that pursuant to the Brown Act any vote taken in closed session must be announced by the City Attorney when the Council returns to open session.

Why are employee evaluations allowed to be conducted in closed session? The court has stated:

[T]he underlying purposes of the 'personnel exception' are to protect the
employee from public embarrassment and to permit free and candid
discussions of personnel matters by a local governmental body."

If the Council agenda sent to the public states: "Pursuant to Section 54957 of the California Government Code regarding Public Employee Evaluation: City Manager" then all the City Council can do is an evaluation. To go beyond an evaluation the agenda item would have to state: "Public employee discipline/dismissal/release."

Evaluation of City Manager Should Be Done Properly

The local press is running articles on the upcoming evaluation of the City Manager, Pat West and the revelation that the President of the Long Beach Police Officers Association thinks the City Manager should be fired and that the Long Beach Firefighters Association thinks he shouldn't be fired.

Residents, employees and their representatives are certainly entitled to their opinions. But under the City Charter of Long Beach, the decision to hire and fire the City Manager is vested solely in the City Council.

It is also the responsibility of the City Council to evaluate the City Manager on a regular basis so both he and the council can measure if the City Manager is doing the job he was hired to do. The International City Management Association (ICMA) has identified the three major roles of a City Manager as managerial (supervising City activities and employees), policy making (making policy decisions and policy recommendations to City Council) and political (advocating and winning support for various policies, coalition building, and public relations—but not supporting candidates or parties).

The Long Beach City Charter outlines the powers of the City Manager and gives him wide discretion on how he focuses his efforts. So unless the City Council has established specific goals and objectives it is impossible to measure performance objectively.

I spent several years teaching students at CSULB Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration on how to become city managers -- so I am more than familiar with the process by which city managers should be evaluated as recommended by the ICMA:

• The evaluation process will be enhanced if both the entire Council and the Manager are involved from the start in developing the criteria and agreeing on them.
• It is essential that the City Council clearly define goals and objectives for the City Manager.
• The City Council, the City Manager and department heads should provide evaluations.
  
• Before the Council makes a final decision about any action as a result of the evaluation, or make any final statement as a Council about the Manager’s performance, it is important to discuss the results of the evaluation with the Manager first.
• A Council that is serious about evaluation should understand that its performance often affects the Manager’s performance.
  
• The Council should ask the Manager about how the Council’s performance has enhanced or hindered the Manager's performance.

There are some serious problems with the City Council going forward on an evaluation of the City Manager: while we have evaluated City Manager West before, we have not clearly defined goals and objectives we want him to accomplish, nor have we ever asked for feedback from his department heads, nor have we asked him about how our performance has enhanced or hindered his performance.

The Council can fix the evaluation process by setting goals and objectives, getting feedback from department heads and analyzing whether or not it is the council's responsibility if the City Manager has failed or succeeded.

No. I won't discuss the City Manager's evaluation in the press.

A reporter from the Press Telegram left me a voice mail yesterday asking me to comment on a rumor that several councilmembers were planning on voting to fire City Manager Pat West next week when we review his annual evaluation.

I didn't return the call because I don't think it is appropriate for employers (the City Council) to discuss a personnel matter with the press. Since I have not read the evaluations from other Councilmembers, I have no idea what they feel about extending the City Manager's contract. I'll find out in closed session and if the Council takes any action, it will be announced to the public by the City Attorney.

LBPD Arrest Suspect in Slaying -- Victim Dumped in 5th District

The Long Beach Police Department have arrested a 17 year suspect in the slaying of a male whose body was found near Vuelta Grande and Los Arcos.

It has not been disclosed how the body of the victim (not from Long Beach) wound up in East Long Beach.

The fast arrest is one more reminder of why it was important to restore funding for detectives.

Cell Phone Tower at Studebaker and Wardlow

A meeting of neighbors adjacent to the church site at Studebaker and Wardlow where a cell phone tower was proposed to be cited, was well attended for a Saturday morning -- @ 45 people.

Residents are concerned about the potential emissions from cell phone towers and the fact that they are concerned that it might lower property values because there are many people who do not want to live near these towers. Several families spoke about their children already having health problems and they did not want to bring in something that there is debate about whether or not it is safe. A firefighter spoke on how he had measured the emissions on these types of towers and that there were several schools within 1500 feet (which is the recommended distance from a cell tower and a school).

The representative of the company which installs the towers was very informative but the consensus of those in attendance was that the neighborhood doesn't want it adjacent to their homes.

The cell tower is being proposed to expand coverage for T-Mobile. Other carriers could pay to attach their equipment. The church would be paid @$1,000 a month for the cell tower to use space on its property.

Several cities are placing a moratorium on placing cell towers because of the growing concerns of residents about the potential impact.

Update of AYSO proposal to put lights on soccer field

I have been walking the area directly across from where AYSO is proposing installing field lights so their team members can practice after dark.

Several neighbors are circulating a flyer alerting neighbors about the proposal which has generated many, many emails to me in opposition. I also have been circulating a smaller flyer about the AYSO proposal asking that residents contact me with their opinion.

I want to clarify this proposal again: (also see right hand column for AYSO slides)

1. This is AYSO's proposal and not the City's. The City doesn't have money to install lights on any field.
2. AYSO claims that the lights are needed so their team members (up to age 19) can practice after dark.
3. They propose to place them at Willow and Studebaker where they practice and play currently.
   
4. AYSO is proposing to pay for the lights if the city waives field fees and electricity charges.
5. A city staff report on the impact of these lights and costs to the city has not been completed.
6. Residents who have contacted me in favor of the lights cite that the lights will enable their children to have more soccer practices after school. (Conversely, several soccer parents are opposed to the lights because they don't want their children practicing until 9 or 9:45 pm.)
   
7. Residents who have contacted me in opposition to the lights cite that the lights will change the character of the park and will bring increased traffic and noise to the neighborhood after dark and will negatively impact the birds and wildlife. (Conversely, some residents feel that the use of the park at night by young people is a good thing if it keeps them busy.)
8. I am concerned that without a recreation "master plan" in place we will be spot developing parks all over the city.
   
9. Because of the increasing impact of team sports at local parks and the neighborhoods that surround them, I have asked city staff to find park space away from the neighborhoods where soccer fields and lights could be placed.

Some have suggested doing what other cities such as Riverside have done: have portable lights on the field one night a week to enable a night practice or game. The lights can be rented and it prevents the park from being turned into a full week of night activities.

Other point out that the wattage and intensity of lights used strictly for practice and not games is much lower and less invasive.

Other suggestions: use Milikan High School (am looking into that); Vets Stadium (also inquiring)....

Note: No decision on the lights will be made unless and until there is a full public hearing at which all concerned parties on both sides will be invited to attend.

Meeting today on cell tower placement

Despite my stated concerns against placing a cell tower on a church lot in the 5th District at Wardlow and Studebaker, the cell phone company thinks it can convince the neighborhood.

I don't think so. I was at a Neighborhood Watch in that neighborhood on Thrs. night and no one there wanted the cell tower.

Today is also the 90th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters. They are celebrating at Los Altos Library at 10 am.

Voted Against Gas Rate Increase

Yep. Last night voted against a 2.9% increase in natural gas rates for residents. Was the only one to do so. With residents hurting from this economy, it makes no sense to increase rates just because SoCal Gas did so.

The City charter clearly spells out that the City utility has to have comparable rates with surrounding utilities -- the intent was to make sure residents don't pay more than other customers of gas utilities. So increasing our rates because SoCal Gas did isn't logical.

Especially, when on the same council agenda the council voted to give back 50% of sales tax to a local toyota dealer because of the harsh economic realities that car dealers are hurting for business.

Our residents are hurting too, specifically our seniors who are on fixed incomes. A 2.9% increase wasn't warranted.

Virginia and Snow and 39 Years Ago and the CIA

The Answer: Virginia, snow, 39 years ago and the CIA.
The Question: Where was I in Feb 1971?

I watched the weather channel and saw the snow come down in the east coast -- especially on the Washington, DC area. It brought back memories of 39 years ago this week when I left California to take a job with the Central Intelligence Agency in McLean, VA. Not knowing anything but a little fog and temperatures not below 50, I foolishly packed my bags with polyester pant suits and promptly froze when I landed at Dulles Airport.

It took two months to get my first pay check from the CIA -- because I had to undergo an intense security clearance -- so I had to wait to get warmer clothes and by then the snow turned to icy rain.

I was just 21 and it was quite an adventure. I wound up working in the North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodian section proofreading intelligence reports sent from those countries on the war we were waging. I lived in a duplex with 4 other people for $50 a month who also worked at the CIA. We were all clerk typists and I was the only one from California. The other applicants from California were promptly dismissed when it came out that they used drugs.
That duplex was a pit. The owner's idea of cleaning it was to put new varnish on the furniture which captured a couple of cockroaches in the process.

After several months of going to work at 5:30 in the morning so I could catch the appropriate public buses, I saved some money and bought an MG midget. That was great fun to drive -- especially on the New Jersey Toll Pike on my way to the Army Navy game in Philadelphia. All that on $3900 a year.

I left the CIA and came back to the warm weather of California to finish college. Went off to Peru to do research and write a paper. Graduated in 9 months with honors and promptly drove back in the summer in my VW to DC and stayed back there through rain, snow, humidity and low wages as I completed my graduate degree and worked in the US Congress for several years.

The City Manager of Long Beach recruited me to come back to Long Beach in 1977 to become the City's first Public information officer and the rest they say is history.

I don't miss the snow or the humidity. Sure do miss my MG Midget and the view of the US Capitol lit at night.

Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission Meeting Agenda -- No Action on Soccer Lights

Although it was originally on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission that it would reconsider the proposal for installing lights on the field adjacent to Willow and Studebaker, the item was withdrawn so that the City can properly notice all parties of the meeting.

That being said, I received over 200 emails over the past few weeks on the proposal -- divided among the following lines: people who live near by don't want the lights; parents of soccer team players want them.

The process needs fixing so that all parties can participate in this decision.

Lake Clean Up Done...More to Come

Thanks to the 39 people (adults and students) who came out today to help clean up the area in El Dorado Park near the back lakes. On top of being a successful event, we were treated to the sights of goregous birds on and near the lakes.

Our next "clean up" will be after Easter and will focus on painting and cleaning the benches, tables and the awful restroom in the back area. All are welcome to help.

My voting record.

The Press Telegram just ran a story on the voting records of the incumbent and candidates running in the 9th District. To save them the effort, here's my voting record from the records of the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters since 1992 (I was registered since 1971 --back in the days you had to be 21 to vote; but the records only show from 1992 onward. And I also voted in April 1992 --that's when I was elected to the Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees):

Polls	05/19/2009
Polls	11/04/2008
Polls	06/03/2008
Polls	02/05/2008
Requested Democrat Ballot	02/05/2008
Polls	05/01/2007
Polls	11/07/2006
Polls	06/06/2006
Polls	06/06/2006
Requested Democrat Ballot	06/06/2006
Polls	04/11/2006
Polls	11/08/2005
Absentee	11/02/2004
Polls	03/02/2004
Polls	10/07/2003
Polls	11/05/2002
Polls	06/04/2002
Polls	04/09/2002
Polls	03/05/2002
Polls	11/07/2000
Polls	03/07/2000
Polls	03/30/1999
Polls	11/03/1998
Polls	06/02/1998
Polls	04/14/1998
Polls	11/05/1996
Polls	03/26/1996
Polls	11/08/1994
Polls	06/07/1994
Polls	04/12/1994
Polls	11/02/1993
Polls	11/03/1992
Polls	06/05/1992

In the pocket of the people.

The fun phrases being thrown around: "union lackey, in the pocket of the unions, union slave..." That's how some people are describing the Mayor and City Council.

I understand that these same people don't like the Mayor and Council's support of collective bargaining or the pension levels that the city is currently obligated to pay (and which need to be addressed by both state and local levels). But name calling doesn't elevate the discussion.

Now the latest I have heard is that the only reason I support using Schroeder Army Hall for a police substation is because the police union wants it.(They omitted the 7 other council members who voted for it as well.)

Really? My understanding is that when this issue was first raised, the Councilman from the 4th District stated that the POA didn't want the east station to move out of the 4th Council district and that they wanted a substation in the 4th and not in the 5th (which is just actually blocks away).

At no time have I ever talked with the police union about Schroeder Hall. Ever.

The proposal to use that surplus army property as a police substation was made by a citizen's committee which approved the city's application for that use. (The committee approved that use instead of the other applications which also included transitional housing units.)

That property -- which is in great condition -- will save the City of Long Beach millions of dollars because of the value of the land and the fact that the buildings do not need to be demolished. The current police substation next to Krispy Kreme is bursting at the seams and is costing the city thousands in rent.

And yes, the 800 pound gorilla is still in the room -- accepting the property from the army requires that the city accommodate the homeless -- which the city is still working on in order to minimize impacts on the surrounding community.

I don't know if people notice my votes on the council. But I am in no one's pocket except the people who elected me.

State of the 5th -- 2010

I presented my 4th annual State of the 5th to a full house at the LB Water Treatment Plant on Spring and Redondo which is posted for your reading to the right of the blog.

Folks got a chance to meet and to hear our new Police Chief Jim McDonnell. The City Manager, Pat West and Eastside Commander Cynthia Renaud also spoke.

Crime is down and low in the 5th. Code Enforcement is up and active as more and more constituents call to have problems taken care of in their neighborhoods.

Fire Services continue to be mostly for medical transport and rescue.

Bach and El Dorado continue to be the most used branches in our library system.

Streets, sidewalks and trees can't be fixed fast enough but we are making good progress in consolidating the areas and getting more done with the monies we have. This year the 5th will received over $600,000 (instead of the usual $300,000) for sidewalk repairs.

I talked about how the biggest challenge to the City is pension reform and creating non-governmental, diverse jobs if we are to get our tax base healthy again.

We had a brief update on our improvements to the Airport and what is going on over on the Douglas Park project.

Oh to be a developer in Long Beach.

Last night's council discussion on why the city had to give a piece of land on Terminal Island for $400,000 less than the city appraisal and on top of it to credit any improvements against the rent so that the lessee will not pay rent for 8-10 years is exactly why taxpayers are fed up.

On one hand the council raises fees for its services -- including charging residents $1200 for a traffic study to document that the traffic the city brought to their neighborhood because of sports teams in the parks is causing a parking problem -- and then says because the city is cash strapped can't possibly waive them. But when it comes to developers. Lordy, lordy does it ever bend over backwards to waive, reduce and say goodbye to revenue when it comes to developers.

"We couldn't possibly clean up the mess on the property so we'll let the lessee do it and that's why we won't charge rent." Hello. We are a city, a governmental agency giving away assets.

What was amazing to listen to and watch was the councilmember of the 3rd district rally to support the councilwoman of the 7th district on this deal. That is what I call effective lobbying.

Lobbyists Will Register. All Gifts are Prohibited. More Changes to Come.

The City Council on a 9-0 vote passed the city's first ordinance to register lobbyists. What a difference year and several months makes. Why it was just November 2008 when the existing council (sans Garcia) voted 7-1 (the one being me) AGAINST virtually the same ordinance.

Well, let's not complain. We need to move forward. So the vote yesterday now means Long Beach joined the big boys (those other cities who already register lobbyists).

A very significant change is the "no gifts" provision by any elected or city official (key staff). I have used this rule since my election in 2006 and have pushed for its adoption for a long time.

Have also pushed for disclosure of meetings and discussions out of the public view --ex parte. My colleagues are still reluctant on that one but I will still push.

I am also bringing forward an ordinance to increase the time between leaving elected office or a high level city job and returning as a lobbyist. The revolving door is wrong and needs to be stopped.

The problem is not Murchison. It's always the council's fault.

Today's Press Telegram spends considerable ink profiling local lobbyist, Mike Murchison, and painting him as someone who lives to influence the Mayor, City Council and city staff.

They are correct. Murchison does specialize in influence. That is his job. That's what makes him effective to his clients who are attempting to do business in Long Beach. So does that make him "the bad guy?" Nope. He is effective (on most council people and seemingly the Mayor and his staff) at doing his job. He gets his clients through to the winning line.

(I have to add here that I am amazed why anyone hires a lobbyist to do business in Long Beach...a point I bring up whenever a lobbyist brings in a client to my office. I tell the client -- "you don't need to pay someone to get an appointment with my office. You just need to pick up the phone and call me. I will talk to anyone who requests a meeting. That's my job.")

If Murchison is effective at influencing decision makers it is the decision makers who need to be held accountable. And the council to date has refused to be accountable on the issue of lobbyists. Not one council member sitting on the current council, except me, voted for a lobbyist ordinance in 2008 and voted to prohibit all gifts from lobbyists. Therein lies the fault.

Last time as the council took up the lobbyist ordinance, several council members waxed sadly about how accepting gifts from lobbyists was how you did business and that to refuse the gifts was insulting.

With poetry like that, how did we ever expect city staff to refuse hotels and trips or offers for tickets to hockey games or baseball games? When your boss says its okay to accept gifts from influence peddlers, then it's hard to turn them down when they are offered to you.

From the time I ran for council (you can check out that website to verify) I called for disclosure by electeds before they vote on whether or not they have received anything from anyone connected to the issue. The response I have received to that -- "people can look up campaign reports." Really. How about the electeds taking responsibility for disclosure? I have also called for disclosure of ex parte discussions so that the public gets the benefit of knowing what was discussed on city business behind closed doors.

So this Tuesday, thanks to Councilman Robert Garcia who joined me in calling for a lobbyist ordinance, we will have yet another vote and I will again make a call for no gifts of any amount from lobbyists or anyone doing business before the City Council. I will also support disclosure of ex parte discussions.

Let's stop demonizing those who have taken advantage of a broken system and fix the system.

Meet Our New Police Chief Jim McDonnell

I met with newly selected Chief of Police for Long Beach, Jim McDonnell two hours after the announcement of his selection. He and City Manager Pat West came to my neighborhood office and we discussed what I hope will be the Chief's priorities: honesty with the City Council about policing levels; developing a first class police academy that can become a regional center and training facility for other police agencies which will enhance the image of the Long Beach Police Department and produce revenue; upgrading our technology capabilities and continuing the high level of service currently provided by our police. I also stressed that the City needs pro-active management so that we never again have a "lobstergate" or "donning and duffing" law suit. When a problem is raised it needs to be dealt with appropriately and not ignored until it becomes an expensive lawsuit.

The Chief agreed to speak at the upcoming State of the 5th District to be held Feb 11 at 7 pm at the LB Water Treatment Plant at Spring and Redondo.

Posted below is the Chief's photo and background provided by the Los Angeles Police Department where he served as the Number 2.
First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell was appointed Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in October 2002 and serves as the second in command to Chief William J. Bratton. The LAPD is the third largest police department in the United States, with almost 10,000 sworn officers and 3,200 civilian employees and an annual budget of over one billion dollars.

After undertaking a major re-engineering and reform effort, the LAPD is now focused on initiatives aimed at using real-time information to further reduce crime, target gang violence, and address the threat presented by terrorism. In the past seven years, crime in Los Angeles is at historically low levels, with Part I crimes down 33.2% and homicides down 41.2%.

Chief McDonnell has served as Chief of Staff for the last five years, after having had citywide command of the Operations and Human Resources functions for the LAPD. He has served with the LAPD for 28 years and has held a wide variety of positions throughout the department. He has received numerous community and department awards, including the LAPD’s highest award for bravery, the Medal of Valor.

Chief McDonnell serves on numerous Boards of Directors that focus on furthering the interests of local youth, leadership and in the policing profession on both a local and statewide level. He is an active member of several more organizations, such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police; California Peace Officers’ Association; California Police Chiefs’ Association; Peace Officer's Association of Los Angeles County, and the Southern California Leadership Network.

Chief McDonnell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s prestigious National Executive Institute, the Senior Management Institute for Police and has completed Executive Education programs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

He regularly lectures at a number of Department schools and has trained criminal justice professionals on a variety of topics, such as leadership, ethics, community policing, handling line of duty deaths, and the recruitment and retention of valuable employees. Chief McDonnell is recognized as an expert on policing issues and has lectured on these topics around the world. He currently teaches public policy issues at the University of California, Los Angeles.

First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell has a great appreciation for the cultural diversity of the City of Los Angeles and values the contributions that all the various cultures make to the City. Chief McDonnell also clearly understands the value of diversity within the ranks of the LAPD and has worked closely with all communities in Los Angeles to understand their specific needs and concerns and to strengthen the relationship between the LAPD and all of the communities that are served.

Council Vote on Locations of Medical Marijuana Collectives May Violate Federal Law

Council vote on locations of medical marijuana collectives may violate federal law – says Schipske. Federal Safe and Drug Free Communities Requires 1,000 foot Buffer and Includes Playgrounds and Youth Centers

February 3, 2010

Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today expressed her concerns that the City Council’s vote to allow medical marijuana collectives within 500 feet of elementary and middle schools may violate the federal Safe and Drug Free Communities Act.

“Federal law still considers marijuana a controlled substance and as such the Federal Safe and Drug Free Communities Act prohibits anyone from distributing, possessing with intent to distribute, or manufacturing a controlled substance in or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary, vocational, or secondary school or a public or private college, junior college, or university, or a playground, or housing facility owned by a public housing authority, or within 100 feet of a public or private youth center, public swimming pool, or video arcade facility,” explains Schipske.

Schipske adds that not only did the Council ignore the federal buffer zone of 1,000 feet but also the request of the Long Beach Unified School District “that medical marijuana collectives not be allowed closer than 1,500 feet from all schools in the City.”

“The City Council voted 6-3 last night to allow these collectives within 500 feet of elementary and middle schools and 1,500 feet from high schools,” says Schipske who was one of the three Council members in opposition. “Additionally, the Council voted to allow these collectives near playgrounds and youth centers.”

“Unless and until the federal government removes marijuana as a controlled substance, the City has no business changing the ‘drug-free’ buffer zones for schools, playgrounds and youth centers.”

Long Beach Designated Olympic Gateway Airport

The Long Beach Airport has been designated by the federal government as one of the sixteen gateway airports for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the only gateway airport in California.

Beginning January 29m 2010, private aircraft heading to Vancouver from the U.S. must be cleared by the TSA at one of the gateway airports before going on to Vancouver. Long Beach's Airport's central location, general aviation facilities, and infrastructure made it a logical choice for the southwestern U.S.

Airport staff is working closely with federal agencies, Airport businesses and users to ensure that aircraft traffic during this time is handled efficiently.

AYSO Proposal to Put Lights in Soccer Field at Willow Street and Studebaker Road

Posted to the right on this page is the proposal presented by AYSO Soccer to place lights on the soccer field at Willow Street and Studebaker Road.

I do not have a staff report to post at this time and am asking that one be done to document the impact of these lights and any alternatives explored.

I have held two community meetings on this issue and asked that the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission hold an informational meeting to obtain neighborhood in-put. I understand that the notice to these residents was defective and that another meeting is scheduled for this purposed.

In the meanwhile, please email me at: district5@longbeach.gov with your opinion.

Haiti Relief and Redevelopment

Don't forget that today is the fundraiser in Good Neighbor Park for relief in Haiti. It is commendable that residents organized this event. I will be there later to make some remarks. Stop by and hear the Elm Street Band.

Have been up in Pasadena because of the birth of my granddaughter. Spent some time in Old Town Pasadena. Wow. What a nice place. Lots of restaurants, shops and people of all kinds walking around and enjoying an evening out. I didn't see a trolley anywhere but a lot of public buses. Whatever Pasadena did to develop its downtown we might want to look at and use it.