Another Effort I Have Working on -- TEDx-SOCAL to Happen in Long Beach

      
Press Release

For immediate release
Contact Name: Tiffany Andrews, Chief of Staff, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
Contact Number: 562-570-6932
www.TEDxSoCal.org

Your Ticket to “Thrive”
TEDxSoCal Tickets on Sale Friday, May 13 at 10am

Long Beach, CA  -- TEDxSoCal, an independently organized TED event, comes to the Center Theatre in Long Beach this July. The day-long conference and interactive experience features short talks and performances from inspiring and innovative people with big ideas. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 13, 2011 at 10am at www.TEDxSoCal.org.The event  – organized along the theme of “Thriving” – looks at the way communities, organizations and individuals are flourishing and prospering through the lenses of well-being, creative cultures, sustainability and lifelong learning.
At the May 10^th Long Beach City Council meeting, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske revealed a short video introducing the event and highlighting the TEDxSoCal speakers. The video can be seen at www.TEDxSoCal.org.
The TEDxSoCal Planning Committee continues to add groundbreaking speakers and performers from around Southern California. Confirmed participants include:

· Dr. Sylvia Earle – American oceanographer, explorer and 2009 TED Prize Winner· Chip Conley – Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Joie de Vivre, author · Dr. Judy B. Rosener – Author, researcher and Professor Emerita at UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business · Paul Dateh – Singer and violinist, known as the “Hip-Hop Violinist” · Josh Tickell – Environmentalist and director of the 2008 Sundance Audience Award winning documentary FUEL · Lalo Alcaraz – Satirist, writer and creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip “La Cucaracha” · Tim Carpenter – Founder and Executive Director of EngAGE · Elizabeth Amini – Social entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Anti-Aging Games, LLC · Charles Gandy – Cycling, pedestrian and livable communities expert · TAIKOPROJECT – Award winning American Taiko group · Rebecca Harrell Tickell – Author, producer and activist · Rosie Romo – Chef and Director of Culinary Operations at SMG · Nick Pugh – Artist, designer and educator – known for his work in digital fine art · Darren Saravis – Engineer, designer, musician and founder and president of Nectar Design

What: TEDxSoCal, where x = independently organized TED event
Theme: Thriving! Well-Being, Creative Cultures, Sustainability, Lifelong Learning
Where: The Center Theatre at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
When: Saturday, July 16, 2011; 9am – 4:30pm (followed by an evening reception)
Ticket Information: Tickets on sale Friday, May 13 at 10am at www.TEDxSoCal.org

$40 General$20 Students

About TEDx

In the spirit of "ideas worth spreading," TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxSoCal, where x = independently organized TED event. At TEDxSoCal, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

About TED                                                                                          

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

TEDGlobal 2011, "The Stuff of Life," will be held July 11-15, 2011, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

Long Beach City Manager's Weekly Report -- Black Hawk Meeting

Newsletter 050611 Final

Step Back into the 1940s and Win a $100 Savings Bond

"Home Front Theater" Features "Swing Shift" movie and 1940s Costume Contest

-- Best "Rosie the Riveter" to Win $100 Savings Bond

Long Beach, CA -- 4/25/11-On Sunday, May 15, the public is invited to step back into the 1940s and wear their best "Rosie the Riveter" outfit to the premiere of "Home Front Theater," today announced Gerrie Schipske, President of the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation.

"We're showing the movie 'Swing Shift' and we thought what a great way to kick off our Home Front Theater fundraiser," says Schipske, adding that the "best 'Rosie the Riveter' will receive a $100 savings bond."

Home Front Theater is a fundraising project of the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation and brings to The Art Theater a series of movies and newsreels that focus on the home front during World War II.

Although "Swing Shift" was made in 1984, it is set during WW II at an aircraft plant that looks very much like Douglas Aircraft, points out Schipske. "The story line of the movie is actually what happened to many, many women and men during WWII."  "Swing Shift" stars Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Christine Lahti.

The May 15 program begins at 11 am at the Art Theater, 2025 E. 4^th Street, Long Beach. Tickets are sold at the door on the day of the event. Suggested contribution: $15 if in 1940s attire; $20 general.

The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation is a 501 3 (C ) non profit organization established to develop and enhance the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center at Conant Street and Clark Avenue.

See you there!

Come celebrate Armed Services Day in Long Beach on May 14th

Armed Services Day Ceremonies Planned at Rosie the Riveter Park –

National World War II Memorial Artwork to be Dedicated.

Councilwoman Schipske singles out DAR and Mayor Foster for helping raise funds.

 Armed Services day will be celebrated at 10 am, Saturday, May 14 at the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center today announced Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske. There will be a flag presentation by the Army JROTC from Millikan High School to honor our armed forces. A representative of each branch of the military will also attend and read the names of the 12 men who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. A member of the Long Beach Police Department will play "Taps."

The events will also include the public dedication of the ‘Rosie the Riveter’ bas relief produced by Raymond Kaskey, designer of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“Mr. Kaskey reproduced one of his 24 bas reliefs featured at the National World War II Memorial for our Long Beach park,” explains Councilwoman Schipske. “The artwork depicts the women who assembled the airplanes that helped the U.S. win the war. We are grateful to Mr. Kaskey for allowing Long Beach to be the only location outside of Washington, D.C., to display this wonderful work of art.”

Schipske also noted that without the generous support of a number of contributors the bas relief could not have been purchased.

“I specifically want to thank Nancy Alexander, State Regent of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) who made certain that funds raised by DAR went toward this artwork,” says Schipske. “The sales of NSDAR’s publication: ‘The Legacy of Rosie the Riveter – Rosie’s Daughters’ provided funds for the artwork.”

Schipske also thanked Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster for helping raise funds for the artwork. “Mayor Foster’s mother was a ‘Rosie’ and he told me of his interest in the project and offered to put the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation in contact with several local businesses who might be interested in donating. And they did donate.”

In addition to the NSDAR funds, contributions were received from Southern California Edison, Union Bank, Toyota Auto Body Company (TABC), and Toyota Motor Sales (TMS). The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation is a 501 3 (c) non profit established to develop and enhance the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center at Conant Street and Clark Avenue.

Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center are located at the corners of Clark Avenue and Conant Street.

Meeting on May 4th on Black Hawk Helicopters

The public is invited to a meeting at the El Dorado Community Center at 2800 Studebaker, to hear what is being proposed for the staging of Black Hawk helicopters at the Los Alamitos Joint Training Forces Base. The meeting will be held at 6:30 and the public has a chance to hear the plan and to see where the helicopters will be flying over.

I have also requested staff from our Airport Department to be on hand to talk about noise issues. The military needs to hear your input on this project.

Schipske Donating Salary Increase

See below for the announcement that pursuant to the City Charter, elected official salaries are raised 1.3% which is the Consumer Price Index amount.

Accordingly, I will be donating my @ $300 to The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation, a 501 3 c non profit organization established to develop and enhance the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center.

I am also calling for the Mayor and City Council to stop out of state travel and attendance at conferences until we can get out of this financial mess.

Elected Officials Annual CPI Salary Increase 4-27-11

Just contact the California Citizens Commission on Redistricting Directly

For the first time in the history of California, politicians of either major party will NOT be having influence on how the boundary lines are being drawn for the districts of elected office. And that is they way it should be. District boundaries should not be drawn in a way to favor one political party over another.

That's why it is important that non-elected residents of Long Beach directly contact the California Citizens Redistricting Commission about how they would like the boundaries drawn. The Commission is mandated to:

• Draw districts with equal population.
• Comply with the federal Voting Rights Act to ensure minority voters have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
• Draw districts that are contiguous.
• Respect counties, cities, communities of interest and neighborhoods, where possible.
• Draw districts to be compact, where predictable.
• Draw districts to nest within each other, where practicable. The goal is for one State Senate district to contain two State Assembly districts, and one Board of Equalization District to contain 10 State Senate Districts.

The Commission which is meeting in Long Beach on April 27th in City Hall at 6pm is asking for the following direct input from residents concerning how the boundaries should look. A handbook on redistricting, suggests that the Commission should hear from residents about: "Important places, such as parks, cultural centers, religious or government buildings, a commercial area, schools or clubs; Census or demographic data about the residents of our community; Issues that bring residents together such as where to locate a new road or transit line, or traditions such as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march; Important stakeholders who represent different parts of the community; Boundaries of our community."
 
You don't need to go through anyone, elected or otherwise, to let the Commission know your opinion on how boundaries must be drawn to provide equal representation. In fact, if the Commission believes that the input is politically directed, it may ignore the information to avoid the appearance that once again, lines were drawn to suit politicians and not the voters.

You can attend the public hearing or go online at http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/ to read more about the process.

You can then contact the Commission directly at http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/contact.html
or send an email directly to votersfirstact@crc.ca.gov

Get involved. This is a once in a 10 year chance to decide how political boundaries should be drawn -- and they should be drawn by you, not elected officials.

POA and FFA Independent Expenditures in 2010 Campaign

I just learned what was spent by the LB Police Officer's Association (POA) and the Long Beach Firefighters Association (FFA) on independent expenditures during the last 2010 campaign for council, City Prosecutor, City Attorney and Mayor.

An independent expenditures means just that -- independent of the candidate's campaigns.

I knew the Firefighters had paid @ $1440 to have campaign signs printed for my campaign -- because they brought a stack of them after they had distributed them to their members.

I did not know however, (until I read the report today) that the POA spent @$1,200 to place my name on two slate mailers which go out to high propensity voters (voters most likely to vote in a city election).

So here are the links if you want to read the entire reports on what was given in 2010.
Firefighters Expenditures

POA Expenditures

Working with Traffic Engineering and Police on 7th Street Closure

I met with the city Traffic Engineer and a representative from OCTA yesterday to discuss what I observed as impact of the closure of the 7th Street bridge by OCTA. The signage is confusing both on the freeway and on our city streets. This will be corrected.

Additionally, we need police in the morning and the evening to help guide drivers until they become accustomed to the closures.

I also requested a no u-turn sign at Willow and Palo Verde to discourage drivers unfamiliar with the area to turn around after they get off the 405.

Several problems occurred yesterday -- CSULB came back to school and there was a police action at Bellflower and 7th -- greatly causing congestion. Additionally, some drivers apparently thought that the 604 north bound was also closed and it was not.

This closure will take some time for adjustment. I want to assure readers that the City traffic department, the LBPD and OCTA are working together to make this situation as painless as possible.

Yes, my life flashed before my eyes...

Ok. I admit it. I hate fast cars and rollercoasters so it was amazing that I said yes last week when I was invited to take a spin in a race car in front of the students at Cubberly Elementary. I will spare you the impact the short ride had on me...but yes, my life indeed flashed before my eyes as the driver took me around two laps in the parking lot.

This is why education is so important

San Diego Trying to Save Its Local Schools With Redevelopment Money

The San Diego Unified School District is laying off teachers just as being done here in Long Beach. Apparently they have come up with an answer to their financial problems by using redevelopment money to keep the teachers who received pink slips on March 15th.

The attorneys at SDUSD believe this is a legal use of redevelopment funds.

When schools are in a redevelopment area, the redevelopment agency usually has agreements to pass back some of the tax increment collected for redevelopment.

I am going to agendize a council item asking for a report on the relationship of Long Beach redevelopment with the Long Beach Unified School District and the Long Beach Community College District -- specifically asking: 1) how much does RDA pass back to the schools and 2) how can we free up redevelopment funds to help keep our local schools open.

2nd Annual Solar Grand Prix -- Lots of Fun and a Great Success

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, staffed and sponsored the 2nd Annual Solar Grand Prix held on Saturday, April 9th in El Dorado Park.

More than 500 students participated in design and racing contests. The students were amazing. So enthusiastic. Such team spirit.

Take a look at these photos and also check out: http://www.lbreport.com/ and http://www.presstelegram.com/. Very nice coverage.

LBreport.com Alerts El Dorado Park Estates Homeowners About Coming Impact

LBreport.com has posted an article about the pending impact of Black Hawk helicopters flying out of Los Alamitos Air Station. Click here to read article.

While the City of Long Beach apparently responded to the plan via the Planning department, I am trying to find out why my office wasn't alerted directly so that residents could have weighed in. Apparently the comment period  for this item ends today!

I encourage readers to link to the article on lbreport.com and then follow up with comments postmarked today.

It's like watching sausage being made...

I have attempted not to use this blog to report on the negative stuff that happens being on the City Council.

But a very thoughtful constituent from the 3rd Council district just sent me a copy of an email he sent to Councilman Gary DeLong in response to DeLong's diatribe against the majority of the city council who shot down his scheme to dole out street sweeping services to one of the many businesses he had already alerted would get a chance to bid.

DeLong had threatened in a previous email to "tell" his email list who dared to vote against his proposal. And while he insulted one councilmember last night by characterizing the councilmember's comments as "nonsense" and "disingenious" -- he was a gentleman enough not to call out that particular councilmember in his email blast.

But instead  De Long took a shot at me in his email blast today -- only me -- by stating that "once again" Gerrie Schipske was wrong because I said that street sweeping produces revenue. Despite his knowing that street sweeping does produce revenue because it is linked to street sweeping tickets of cars parked on street sweeping day, he continues to deny the fact and came very close to calling me a liar.

His email with my name in it might explain why I started to get nasty comments in emails this afternoon.

Don't know why De Long thought it was necessary to put my name in his email. But it does appear that more and more when he doesn't get his way he becomes a very angry man and says demeaning, belittling comments about two of the females on the City Council. Guess it was my day (again) to be his target.

Here's the Land Swap Case that Put a Wrench in the Pike Project

Here's the ruling that states the City inappropriately used tidelands for the Pike Project. Now the City needs to find suitable land to give to the State so that it can continue to use the land where the Pike Project is as a commercial and retail development.


California Land Exchange Agreement -

We Love Long Beach Breakfast

We Love Long Beach hosted a breakfast last Saturday at Marshall Jr. High in the 5th Council District. What a wonderful turnout. Great energy.

A breakfast helps build a sense of community and being connected with each other. It may not be the most serious of events, but judging by the turnout and the comments made during the breakfast, many, many people thought it was just what was needed.

Thanks to the Friends of the El Dorado Dog Park who are working so hard to get that dog park built. Ruff, ruff!

Thanks to the hosts and to everyone who attended.

Long Beach Struggled from the Beginning to Fund the Municipal Band

When it formed the Long Beach Municipal Band in 1909, it did so to stop foreign musicians from playing on the local beach and making money. The push for the band was that Long Beach wanted "American" musicians and not Italians and so an ordinance was passed that made the Municipal Band employees under the direct control of the city.

While a tax was eventually passed to pay for the Municipal Band, other means of financial support were explored, including "municipal advertising" by sending the band across the U.S. on a "California on Wheels" tour as detailed in this article from a 1912 OUTWEST magazine.

School District Provides Update on Construction of New High School to Replace DeMille

The Long Beach Unified School District has provided an update about the completed demolition of DeMille on Parkcrest and the beginning of construction of the new high school.

Check this link for the latest announcement.

Please contact me as construction progresses if you have any problems in the neighborhood.

Message from City of Long Beach Health Officer Regarding Concerns About Radiation from Japan

I received the following message from the City's Health Officer in response to constituent inquires about precautions needed due to the radiation in Japan:

I was just on a statewide conference call, and the radiologic experts at the state continue to emphasize that the nuclear reactor problems in Japan are extremely unlikely to pose any health threat to the US due to the types of releases that have occurred so far, the weather conditions in Japan (rain and snow for last 3 days) and the distance between Japan and the US (5000 miles). As a precautionary measure, there are numerous radiation monitors throughout the state, which are very good at picking up changes in radiation levels, and no change has been detected to date. As a mother myself, I have absolutely no concern about this affecting the health of my child. If anything changes, we will certainly put out recommendations for what people should do to protect themselves.

Helene Calvet, M.D.

Health Officer and TB Controller

Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services

2525 Grand Ave., Long Beach, CA 90815

Phone (562) 570-4047, Fax (562) 570-4049

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer Sends Letter to Little Hoover Commission...and Councilman Gary De Long

In response to the Little Hoover Commission's report on public employee pensions and Councilman Gary De Long's current attempt to get the City of Long Beach to adopt the report, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer has written the following letter : (well, Lockyer actually only sent it to Hancock, but hopefully Councilman De Long will read it and Lockyer's additional remarks before attempting to push this on the City Council next Tuesday....)

Lockyer's Response to Little Hoover Commission

Statement regarding airplane crash today in Long Beach

I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who died or were injured in today's tragic plane crash at the Long Beach Airport.

I also commend the Long Beach Fire Department and the Long Beach Airport staff for their quick response to the scene and for their continued professionalism in handling the news regarding this horrible event.

While the City of Long Beach is Being Attacked for Its Use of Tidelands Monies...

I don't hear any concern or discussion about the State of California's use of tidelands funds that are mostly generated in Long Beach.

Is everyone aware that the State can use Tidelands funds for purposes other than the improvement of harbors and other projects directly related to the tidelands areas? Is everyone aware that Tidelands funds were the primary source of funding for higher education in California but the monies were re-directed to water projects?

Click here and read an article on the topic that you might find very interesting.

Tidelands monies generated in Long Beach are being used to fix, repair and improve infrastructure in the Tidelands areas. The same cannot be said for the State of California's use of these funds.

Deja Vu -- Ideas That Might Have Worked...

Thought you all might enjoy some ideas that I brought to Council a couple of years ago....

Schipske Brings Package of Financial and Environmental Items
A spokesperson for Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today disclosed that Schipske is placing several items on the January 22nd Council agenda aimed at dealing with some of the serious financial and environmental problems facing the City of Long Beach, including a proposal to increase the transfer of Port of Long Beach funds and allow use of a portion of the transferred funds for non-tidelands area programs and costs to cushion funds taken by the State of California.
 "Councilwoman Schipske is greatly concerned that the current financial and environmental problems facing the City of Long Beach need to be dealt with aggressively and creatively," stressed Josh Butler, who serves as Schipske’s Chief of Staff. "For this very reason, she is bringing five items forward to engage the City Council and the public in discussing new solutions to these problems."
The "package" of Council items includes a proposal that would limit the City Manager from increasing non-bargained salaries or giving bonuses to management employees beyond the current Consumer Price Index ("CPI") instead of the 7 percent recently approved by the City Council. "The Councilwoman feels she made a mistake in voting to allow the City Manager to give increases up to 7% without some type of provision that allows the Council to control the amount if the City’s finances warrant a smaller amount," says Butler. "No one should be receiving a 7% increase in this economy."
Schipske is also proposing that the voters be asked to approve an amendment to the City Charter that would increase the percentage of funds transferred to the City from the Port of Long Beach’s net income. The current percent is set at 10% and the funds must be used for programs and services within the "tidelands area." Schipske’s proposal would increase the transfer rate to 15% plus add 5% which would be available for use in the City’s "general funds."
"Long Beach needs financial relief from the State of California," Butler notes. "Not only has the State of California been transferring "tidelands funds" into the State’s "general funds" to help its own financial situation, but the State is also continuing to raid local property tax revenues thereby financially strapping cities such as Long Beach. This increased transfer would provide a needed cushion for our City." The increased transfer would have to be approved by the Long Beach voters and most likely require state legislation allowing the non-tidelands use.
Schipske believes that some of these transferred funds could be used to deal with the environmental impact the port is having on the area – both in terms of air pollution from trucks and cargo ships calling on the port and water pollution and trash from the re-routing of the Los Angeles River.
Butler says Schipske also feels that funds need to be transferred to help pay for the costs of the City equipping and staffing police, fire and public health departments which will be called into service should the port ever be attacked by terrorists. "The impact of this port go far beyond the ‘tidelands area’," reminds Butler.
Other proposals being placed on the Council agenda include allowing the City to use a portion of the "refuse collection fees" surplus to pay for weekly street sweeping expenses, thereby freeing up several hundreds of thousands in "general funds" that could be used for other purposes.
"She is also asking the City Council to request the City Attorney to provide a briefing on the potential loss of revenue to the City should pending litigation filed by Verizon and other telephone providers regarding the telephone utility use tax prevail," stated Butler, referring to a December workshop held by the League of California Cities at which cities were told of the problems being created by the lawsuits. The City of Los Angeles is attempting to pre-empt the massive loss of revenue by putting the issue before its voters before the court rules on the issue.
"Councilwoman Schipske wants to know if Long Beach will be impacted and what if anything can we do to mitigate our losses."
The fifth agenda item requests the City council to refer to its State Legislative Committee the issue of the current exemption from the State "Sales Use Tax" on bunker fuel. Bunker fuel is used by cargo ships and is the source of a great deal of the air pollution in the area. The State legislature exempted a portion of the fuel from being taxed at the urging of Assemblymember Betty Karnette and State Senator Alan Lowenthal.

Barcelona Uses Underground System to Handle Its Trash

 While you may not speak Spanish, watch the video anyway and get the idea of what Barcelona, Spain is doing to handle its trash. Bins are placed in every neighborhood and the trash is separated by type, etc., compressed and sent underground for processing into energy. No trash trucks -- just clean streets.

I will look into to see how much it cost to build and operate.

PS Thanks to Regina Walter, owner of Grounds, for sending me the video.

Long Beach Was Devastated in 1933

Building codes have certainly been improved since the 1933 earthquake hit Long Beach. But what is happening in Japan is showing us once again that we cannot be totally earthquake proof. Get yourself and family ready in case we get hit.

90% of Long Beach schools were damaged or destroyed in the 1933 earthquake. Students had to attend classes in tents or sitting under trees in local parks. It took two years for all the schools to be fixed or rebuilt.

 

Damage to the downtown Long Beach was also extensive.

Are you ready for the big earthquake here in Long Beach?

It happened in Japan and it is going to happen here in Long Beach. It is just a matter of time.

So please check out these links on information you need to get ready. Click here.

Also, please read the message from the Long Beach Fire Department on earthquake preparedness that I have posted to the left on this blog.

Pushing for Feds to Remove Cap on Local Hires

Last night , the Council supported an agenda item which I sponsored and which was co-sponsored by Councilman Patrick O'Donnell that will ask the federal government to waive a cap on how many local hires we can require on the construction of the Gerald Desmond bridge. Because federal funds are being used from the federal highway administration, the project is capped to requiring only 30% of the jobs go to local hires.

Long Beach has 14% unemployment -- one of the highest rates in the state. So it makes no sense that any projects that will hire workers would be capped at on 30% of those jobs going to Long Beach residents.

So Long Beach needs to asks the federal government to waive the cap and allow more than 30% of the jobs to go to Long Beach residents!

The agenda item now goes to the City Attorney who will work with the City Manager to craft language making this request of the federal government.

Councilman DeLong Needs to Get His Facts Straight -- and Truthful

So Councilman DeLong thinks that my objections to selling city assets and services to private entities is because I received so much money from the unions.

Don't know if he or his handlers wrote the response to my blog but whomever writes his responses needs to be truthful first. I have not received one penny from the unions that provide the services he is trying to sell -- street sweeping, towing, etc.  Both Mr. DeLong and I received $350 from the LB Police Officers Association. I received an in kind contribution of printing of campaign signs from the LB Firefighters Association. That's the sum of what the city unions contributed.

But I did not receive one penny from the unions whose services I believe should not be contracted out.

Now in comparison, I took no money from Tom Dean either. Mr. DeLong did. So are we to infer that is why he pushed the Dean land swap so vigorously? Since councilpersons are limited to receiving $350 from one source (union or non-union) it would seem silly to infer that any council person could be bought for $350. Don't you think so?

I also sent back a check a towing company sent me during the campaign because I had heard that after the election Mr. DeLong would be trying to get the city to contract out towing services and I felt the money was a conflict of interest.

So back to the facts about contracting out city services. Towing and street sweeping provide an incredible amount of revenue for the city. Revenue that pays for the salaries and benefits of the people who provide the services and then some. The "then some" provides for funding for other things in the city.

So why would we want to share revenue with an outside business? Does that make sense for the taxpayers? No.


So let's have a discussion on the merits and shortfalls of contracting out and what is best for the taxpayers and not the politicians.

Long Beach Assets and Services Are Not for Sale

Ah, can you smell the 2012 campaign season in the air?

I can. Straight out the playbook from the "bootcamps" and "workshops" and other rhetoric camps is coming the pushing to totally privatize city services. Step right up folks and you too can bid on providing services for the City of Long Beach such as towing, trash collection and street sweeping.

Now you won't finder bidders for the more mundane less lucrative services such as libraries and parks. Nah. There isn't a lot of money connected with them.

But as we near campaign season for the free for all that is going to happen with re-districting, watch the bouncing ball as it goes crazy following the numerous suggestions to contract out Long Beach city services to the lowest bidder.

Towing, street sweeping and trash collection bring the City of Long Beach the highest sources of revenue outside our oil production. So it is only logical that the city would want to keep these services in-house, right? No, now we are starting to hear that certain council persons wishing to posture for their political followers want to sell these city services to the lowest bidder.

Oh, great. Our city employees who perform great service and who bring a tremendous source of revenue to the city now are to be replaced by private contractors that undoubtedly will: a) contribute to political campaigns and b) take from the city the very profit we realize in these services.

Luckily the voters of Long Beach were wise enough to vote for a proposition L which requires that the City Manager make a finding that the services  being selected for outsourcing cannot be done cheaper by city employees. And every Prop L study has shown that they are.

So what is behind the move to privatize city towing services and street sweeping? It makes great campaign brochures but lousy public policy. If a certain councilperson keeps this up, some of us will ask the City Manager to do a Prop L finding as to whether or not his job could be contracted out to the private sector.

Schipske Proposes Cameras on Street Sweepers

Ever get a ticket on sweeping day when your car wasn't in the way of the street sweeper? Well, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske may have a solution thanks to new state legislation.

"The State legislature recently passed a bill (AB 2567) to allow the placement of cameras on the street sweepers so that cities can verify that a vehicle was actually parked on the street at the time the street sweeper was there -- not before and not after. This provides a date and time stamp which may result in less street sweeping tickets being issued," notes Schipske who says that she receives complaints from constituents claiming they were ticketed before the street sweeper arrived.

The cameras include a license plate reader and the operator clicks a picture the ticket is automatically mailed to the vehicle owners. Because the street sweeper is already equipped with GPS locators, the time and location are included with the picture.

Schipske also points out that currently the tickets are issued by city staff which follow the street sweepers in a car.

"The use of cameras would eliminate using staff to follow the street sweeper, freeing parking enforcement to concentrate on other parking problems in the city. "

Schipske has been in discussions with the Public Works Department about using this technology. Her proposal will be on the Council agenda.

Response from City Manager on 72 properties claimed as suitable for MHA

Below is the memo just released by the City Manager in response to Neighborhoods First stating that an alternate site for the MHA project was available on Santa Fe Avenue in West Long Beach. As you will note below the site is not available for such use. Also attached is the City Manager's response to 70 other properties which were claimed to be sites for MHA. None of them were. Finally, MHA has retained the services of a reputable commercial real estate broker to try and find an alternate site. To date, no sites have become available.



MHA- Alt Site Memo

Getting the public involved in how the city spends money

I discussed at length during yesterday's City Council's study session on the growing deficit that we need to engage the public in the solutions to this problem. Despite the feeling by some that the council and mayor "know best" about what to do -- it ain't so. We need the public as a partner in deciding on what services, staff, etc., which be cut and which will be retained.

In a partnership, both sides need information to make decisions. So I am proposed that the city utilize software that illustrates our budget and then allows citizens to decide what should be cut and what should be retained by giving the full information on the impact of the decisions.

Last year, frustrated with the lack of public engagement and disclosure of information, I contacted
 the California Budget Challenge which has developed software that cities can use to fully engage their residents. Below is my email and the response I received from the non-profit. I am sharing this with the City Manager and my council colleagues and hope we get this up and running as soon as possible. I am also looking into software: uservoice.com and peakdemocracy.com that will allow on line comments from citizens (just as if they attended a council meeting) on the budget and any other issue the city considers.

Hi Gerrie,
Next 10 is a 501C3 nonprofit organization. We created the online California Budget Challenge in 2005 and shortly after creating the tool we had requests from different groups to license it, so we developed a deployable version of our California Budget Challenge that municipalities can license for their own use. The one-time license fee is $15k. The software has been used to create the following versions of the Challenge:

Los Angeles: http://labudgetchallenge.lacity.org/budgetchallenge/sim/budget_master.html

Oakland: http://www.oaklandbudgetchallenge.com/

Philadelphia: http://economyleague.org/budget_challenge/sim/budget_master.html

Federal: http://www.federalbudgetchallenge.org/budget_challenge/sim/budget_master.html

California: http://www.nextten.org/budgettool/site/thesim/flashcheck.html



We have received quite a bit of press over the years highlighting the California Budget Challenge. Here are a few of the more recent clippings:

TV: http://www.kcra.com/video/22948316/index.html

TV: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=6799808

PRINT: http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14846764?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

RADIO: http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/24920/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/24920/613/richmedia/LL_Budget_Challenge_on_Next_10.mp3?CCOMRRMID=27089839&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&a



Here is the San Francisco Chronicle article that was published when we first launched the online tool:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/25/BAGOBCEEMJ1.DTL&type=printable



Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is any additional information I can send you about the Challenge. We are really happy with how this has been used across California and it would be great to work with you to create the Long Beach Budget Challenge!



Many thanks,

Sarah

Job Training Available

Job Training

1937 Betty Boop Cartoon -- the Candid Candidate (see part about redevelopment)

This is a hysterical cartoon and so timely as California grapples with redevelopment.

The passing of a stateman: Congressman Steven Horn

Long Beach has lost a statesman, a gentleman and a scholar with the passing of Congressman Steven Horn. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.

Even though we were political opponents, I do appreciate his service to his Congressional district and to our nation.

On a personal note, I want to again acknowledge his professionalism and courtesy during the campaign we ran against each other in 2000. Our debates were civil and informative. Our campaign mailers were the same. He treated me with respect and so did his staff. Something you rarely see in these days of political rancor.

He was a moderate Republican but most importantly someone who truly understood the inter-workings of government, which allowed him to provide excellent service to his constituents.

Thank you, Congressman Steve Horn.

Redistricting Is Coming

Because of the census, the City is required to redraw its boundaries. The following is the presentation we received last night that starts the process. Please know that I will host several community meetings to discuss this issue. The law requires that each council district boundary be drawn to include the same amount of people in each district. Right now the 5th District needs 5,500 more residents.

Redistricting Process

Councilwoman Schipske Gets Council to Approve Paying Their Pension Costs

I want to thank my council colleagues who voted last night to support my motion on the floor that requires the Mayor and City Council to pay its full "employee share" of the pension costs. Up until recently, the City picked up the 8% of salary that was required for the employee portion as well as the employer portion.

I also asked that the other electeds -- City Attorney, City Prosecutor, and City Auditor -- pay their full share as well, but several council persons were reluctant to impose that on them without them in the council chambers (?) I find that interesting because we don't require the unions to be in the room. Oh well.

Hopefully, the other electeds who earn much more than the City Council does ($30,000 annually) will accept our invitation and pay up. Afterall, if we know all city employees must do this, then let's be leaders.

Yes, Councilmembers and other electeds should pay full share of pension

While this is the first year that any elected in Long Beach has paid toward the pension system, a reporter just asked if I thought we should pay the entire "employee share" instead of 1.8% that is being deducted.

"Of course we should," is my reply. And while we are at it, so should the City Attorney, City Prosecutor and City Auditor and the Mayor.

If this is the direction we are asking the employees to go, then we should be leading the march.

Transparency in Collective Bargaining

Readers: as you know I have proposed a charter amendment to require the City Council to let the public know in advance of the when bargaining with employee groups is taking place and to provide a copy of the proposed agreements before the City Council takes a vote on them.

Because we do not have that requirement right now, I am going ahead and posting the proposed agreements with several of our bargaining groups: Confidential and Management; and City Attorneys and Prosecutors. These contracts will be on the Council agenda for a vote by the full City Council.
Confidential and Management Employees
City Attorneys and Prosecutors Contracts

Government Documents Hot Off the Press

Check these latest government documents on issues impacting Long Beach and the 5th Council District:


What Long Beach did in 2010

Streets Repaired in 5th District

What Gov Brown's Budget Will Do to Long Beach

Environmental Report on Boeing

Community Briefing on Proposed Eastside Police Station at Schroeder Army Reserve Center

Come and hear the latest update on the proposed transfer of the Schroeder Army Reserve Center to the City of Long Beach for use as an Eastside Police Station. The site is located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Willow Street.

 

Wednesday

 February 16, 2011

6:30 pm

LB Water Treatment Plant

2950 Redondo Avenue (off Spring)

Speakers:

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell

City Manager, Pat West

For more information:

Office of Councilwoman Schipske

562 570-6932

Schipske Launches Her Campaign

I am launching a campaign to request the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to correct their newly opened exhibit: Pioneers of Flight.

While in Washington, D.C. I just was given a tour of the exhibit which showcases the First Transcontinental Flight of Cal Rodgers. It is a wonderful display that also includes facts about the Douglas World Cruiser and Amelia Earhart. Unfortunately, it slights Long Beach on several levels.

First of all, the flight of the Vin Fiz -- the name Cal Rodgers had painted on his Wright EX plane as an advertisement for his sponsor -- a grape drink sold by Armour -- went from Sheepshead Bay, New York to Long Beach, California. The exhibit acknowledges the importance of the flight but only includes verbiage on the Sheepshead Bay to Pasadena leg of the trip -- then shows a photo of Cal Rodgers landing the "waters of the Pacific Ocean." Those waters were located off the Pine Avenue Pier in Long Beach. More than 50,000 people gathered along the beach to watch Rodgers fly in because of the historic significance.

Rodgers was going to end his flight in Pasadena but because of the bright idea of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce they offered Rodgers $1000 to finish the transcontinental flight in Long Beach so that he could claim a "coast to coast" flight.

Millions of visitors will see the exhibit at the Smithsonian and it is important the fact that Long Beach, California was the final stop on this important flight be corrected -- especially since the 100th Anniversary will be held on December 10, 2011 right here in Long Beach.

Also it was disappointing not to find any mention in the Amelia Earhart area of the fact that she first came to Long Beach to see an Air Circus and received her first flight the next day from Poly High school graduate and pilot, Frank Hawks. The exhibit also fails to discuss the fact that Earhart flew in many Long Beach Air Circuses after Long Beach pilot John Montijo taught her aerobatic and how to solo fly.

Long Beach was the hub of aviation in the 1920 - 1940's and it is important that we not be left out of the history books or the historical museums.

So I have launched a campaign to request the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to add these facts.