Help Stop Cuts to Long Beach Libraries

 

Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West have proposed cuts to library services in Long Beach in this budget.

Particularly serious is the continued cut in the library services materials budget -- which means new books and materials cannot be purchased. This budget has been reduced severely for the past 5 years.

Also in the 2012 budget is a proposal to turn three branches -- Alamitos, Brewitt and Bach (pictured) -- into "reading rooms." Not sure who thought up this new concept of downsizing city services.

Sign on to the petition to stop these cuts and come to City Hall on Tuesday, August 16 at 3pm as the Council begins discussing these cuts to services.

Also stop by these branches and tell the librarians that you support them. We cannot cut these important services.

Council Approves Schipske Request for Analysis of How to Change Business License Fees to Create Jobs in Long Beach

I want to thank my council colleagues for supporting my proposal to request the City Manager and Financial Management to assess how the city can provide incentives with our business license fee and taxes that will encourage business to locate here and to keep those businesses that are here...here. It will also be sent to the Council Committee on Economic Development.

It is not rocket science. Long Beach has the highest rate of unemployment in the area. Small businesses grow the most jobs in an economy. Long Beach has the highest rate for a businesses licenses -- particularly home business licenses. (City of LA has waived licenses for 3 years and only charges a business license if business makes more than $25,000.)

Long Beach needs to put in place several incentives that will grow jobs in our city. It can't start too soon.

Sign Up Here for On Line Petition to Stop Budget Cuts to Fire Stations 18 & 19

Check out the blog on the left and sign up on line for a petition to send a message to the Mayor and City Manager to stop the cuts being proposed to Fire Station 18 & 19!

This is unbelievable at the same time they are proposing to spend the increased oil money on an underground tunnel to connect the yet to be built new courthouse and the police department. Let the state pay for it!

There are a number of other serious cuts being proposed in the FY 2012 budget. Send your opinion on this issue. We will follow up with additional on line petitions.

Fire Station 18 was proposed to be closed two years ago and you helped stop that nonsense. Help again!

Residents Can See Budget in Understandable Format

Schipske Invites Taxpayers to
“See for Themselves How the Budget Breaks down,”
With An Interactive Program on Her Council Website

(Long Beach, CA) – Informed taxpayers can be effective advocates during the city’s budget process between now and September 15^th, says Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who has a way for them to process arguments on her City website.

The $2.8-billion budget for Fiscal 2012 includes about $5 million in cuts proposed by City Manager Pat West and Mayor Bob Foster. “Some really hit home for District Five residents,” notes Schipske, “including replacing the Station 18 fire truck with a paramedic unit, reducing coverage on some fire trucks from four firefighters to three and downgrading the Ruth Bach Library from a branch to a reading room.”

Schipske has an interactive version of the budget on her City Council website. Taxpayers can compare the entire Fiscal 2011 and 2012 budgets with pie charts and bar graphs.  People can click on individual departments and compare their share of the budget in general and special funds. If they hover over a piece of the pie, it will show them a percentage and an amount of money. General funds are red, special funds, such as grants, are purple.

“Too often, the budget is way too complicated for most people to fathom, and the only folks who show up at the hearings or watch them on-line or on television are the department heads, reporters and an occasional community activist,” she notes.

“This is the people’s business, ” says Schipske.  “They shouldn’t need Master’s degrees in Public Administration to understand it. “   She adds, “It’s truly their tax dollars at work. We work for them, and it’s our job to make budgeting straightforward.”  

To utilize Schipske’s interactive program, go to http://www.longbeach.gov/district5/default.asp  and look for the box on "Find Out the Details of the Mayor and City Manager's Budget for 2012."

In addition, Schipske is holding a Community Budget Meeting Monday, August 29, at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 N. Studebaker Rd., at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all Long Beach residents.

                                                                   ###

DeLong Blasts Schipske for Telling the Truth

Councilman Gary DeLong just sent out an email blasting me for pointing out the cuts proposed by Mayor Foster in the "Mayor's Budget.":

I am flattered by Councilman DeLong's continued fixation with my blog. I believe he has sent several emails to his email list in which my blog or I are the focus; which I have to tell you results in more sign-ups for my blog and e-news.

Seriously, there you go again, Gary, attacking me for telling the truth and for calling the public's attention to the truth.

The budget presented at the press conference last week at which you were not there, showcased the Mayor who claimed that the budget presented to the press was "his." He also confirmed that he had reviewed the City Manager's recommendations and that he (the Mayor) was not changing the City manager's recommendations. Ergo, since the Charter requires the Mayor to present the Mayor's budget to the council, anything contained in what he presented is his. The Mayor is a big boy, Gary. He either stands by the recommended cuts or he doesn't. You don't have to rush to his defense. Honestly, this isn't 8th grade.

The facts remain: the Mayor and City Manager are proposing to cut 27 firefighters, 14 police patrol officers and reduce 3 library branches to "reading room" status. Meanwhile, the City sits on an oil windfall -- some of which management wants to use to build an underground tunnel between the new courthouse and the police station.

Are you saying that you failed to do your job as Chair of the Council Budget Oversight Committee by not recommending deep cuts to public safety cuts in their budgets in past years? You know better, Gary.

The City Council has cut both fire and police to levels too low for a major metropolitan city with an airport, port and hundreds of miles of underground gas and oil lines. I know you are very busy reading my blog, but do you not read the WCL's -- the Police notifications -- of the weekly and sometimes daily "hit shootings" that are occurring mostly in the 1, 2, 6, and 9 council districts? Have you not received briefings from the east side Police commander of the increase in auto thefts and residential burglaries on our side of town?

You are damn right I want the public to understand what cuts are being proposed and to provide their input.

And you can posture all you want attacking me. But your real agenda is going after the police and fire unions. In the words of your favorite politician, George W. Bush: You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.

Calling for citizens to help identify cuts in City budget

I just sent out an email to ask for citizens who want to help identify cuts in the City budget that are compatible with public safety and quality of life in Long Beach.

Mayor Bob Foster has proposed reducing the fire department by 27, police patrol by 14 and downgrading three library branches -- including Bach -- to "reading rooms." Fire Station 18 and 19 are also targets of cuts by moving units from 19 to Station 18 -- leaving the area "thin" for coverage.

Anyone interested in attending my August 29th Community Conversation on the Proposed FY 2012 Budget, should click on this link and start reading what is being proposed by the Mayor. I need your feedback and your ideas.

Press Asks Why I Wasn't at Rally Against Hate Crimes

How do I begin? Last week I learned of a management proposal to seriously restructure the fire department. I asked my staff to get a community room at El Dorado park and we sent out an invitation to my constituents on AUGUST 1 announcing a meeting on Thursday, August 4 at 6:30 pm to discuss the proposal. The local press ran articles about the meeting.

On Tuesday, August 2 during city council, members of the public came before the council about the recent hate crimes against gay men in Long Beach. I strongly condemned the crimes and even suggested how the victims could get compensation from the Victims of Crime fund. At the end of council I again announced my community meeting on public safety to be held on Thrs.

Not one word was mentioned during council or afterwards that there would be a public rally on this issue.

On Wednesday, August 3 at 2:45 pm my office received a email from another council office telling me of a rally at Hot Java to show outrage about the attacks and slurs. My staff reminded the other council office that I already had a meeting planned at the same time and that with such late notice I could not cancel the meeting.

I held my community meeting on the mayor's proposed serious cuts to the fire department on Thursday, August 4th at 6:30 pm.

However, I sent my staff to the rally to make sure people knew of my support.

Now I get calls from the press asking why I wasn't there? Come on. Stop looking to make trouble in the lesbian and gay community.

My update from the White House on Intergovernmental Affairs

Just received this briefing:

White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Local Update
Welcome to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs local update. In this week’s issue we hear about the Vice President's call with local officials, give you details on HUD's latest Sustainable Communities grants, introduce the SBA 100, and learn about the benefits of green infrastructure.

Keep an eye on your inbox and check out the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Website for more information.

Vice President Biden Speaks with Local Leaders about Debt Deal
On Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden joined over 440 state, local, tribal and territorial officials on a call to talk about the debt ceiling deal signed by President Obama on August 2 and the Administration's ongoing economic priorities.
Vice President Biden thanked the many state and local officials who spoke out during the debate for a balanced, bipartisan approach to the debt negotiations. He talked about the tough budget choices that state and local officials make every day, and discussed the President's insistence that costs not be passed on to state and local governments that can ill afford more budget cuts during these times. He also highlighted the significance of preserving funding for infrastructure, education, and innovation to help grow the economy and create jobs.
Following the Vice President, Jason Furman of the National Economic Council took questions from local officials on the call. These city and county leaders echoed the President’s remarks that now, with the debt ceiling raised and calamity averted, the conversation urgently needs to turn to job creation. Officials from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to Utah thanked the Administration for their efforts to stimulate job growth and encouraged federal officials to continue to push for programs that create jobs in states and cities.
We encourage you to send your additional questions about the debt deal, the President’s commitment to helping state and local governments, the Administration's jobs agenda, and other topics to localgovernment@who.eop.gov and we’ll answer some of them in an upcoming blog post.
For more information on the bipartisan compromise, check out the deal explained in three steps and an overview of the myths and facts.
HUD Announces New Sustainable Communities Grants  

Last week, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the availability of $95 million to support sustainable local initiatives through the FY 2011 Regional Planning and Community Challenge Planning Grant Programs from HUD’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities.

This year’s Regional Planning Grant program will encourage grantees to support regional planning efforts that integrate housing, land-use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure developments in a manner that empowers regions to consider how all of these factors work together to enhance their economic competitiveness and catalyze community revitalization. This year’s Regional Planning Grant program will set aside $17.5 million for jurisdictions with populations under 200,000.
The Community Challenge Planning Grant program will be competitively awarded to state, local and tribal governments for efforts such as amending or replacing local master plans, zoning and building codes to promote mixed-use development, building more affordable housing, and the rehabilitation of older buildings and structures with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local and neighborhood levels. In addition, this year’s Community Challenge Planning Grant program will set aside $3 million for jurisdictions with populations under 50,000.
Community Challenge Planning Grant program applications are due September 9, 2011, and the pre-applications for the Regional Planning Grant Program are due August 25, 2011.
To read the full text of the advance funding announcement, visit HUD's Sustainable Communities Grants website.  
Introducing the SBA 100

This week, Small Business Administrator Karen Mills announced the SBA 100, a showcase of 100 small businesses that got SBA help to create at least 100 jobs. These include Main Street businesses ranging from a small brewery in Delaware to a Dairy Queen owner in Alaska. They also include high-growth, high-impact firms that have made a major impact on our economy.

Enter the SBA 100 Gallery
What they all have in common is that they directly benefited from SBA help at a critical moment in their growth. Some received great advice from SBA staff or counselors. Many got SBA loans. Others won federal contracts. Still others used unique programs like Small Business Investment Companies or the Small Business Innovation Research program.
Browse through the gallery of stories and see how the SBA can help businesses in your community build, expand, and hire.
Working Together for Clean Water and Strong Communities  

This week, EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe explained on our blog how green infrastructure is helping communities across the country:

EPA is always looking for new ways to keep communities clean and healthy, while creating jobs and fostering economic growth. One way we’re accomplishing this goal is through innovative, sensible and cost-effective investments like green infrastructure. When it rains, stormwater picks up oil, pesticides and other chemicals on our streets and buildings and carries those pollutants into nearby waters. Communities have traditionally considered this stormwater to be wastewater that needs to be stored and treated – something that’s very costly to cities and towns on a budget. Green infrastructure manages stormwater by treating it like the valuable resource it is, working with Mother Nature, not against her. By using permeable pavements, rain barrels, landscape changes and other techniques, green infrastructure changes capture and filter stormwater so our waters will stay clean. We’ve seen the success green infrastructure investments can have in communities throughout the nation. Like in Seattle, Washington, where adding trees and shrubs to a city block reduced 99 percent of the stormwater runoff – leading local residents to advocate for similar changes on their streets. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where innovative strategies and investments like planting trees and installing green roofs have helped the city save about $170 million since 2006, according to city estimates. These cities and many more have realized the benefits of coordination and are working with EPA to determine how green infrastructure plans can best help them meet their stormwater management needs now and in the future.

Learn more about how communities across the country are incorporating green infrastructure and other innovative techniques into their long-term clean water plans.Get Updates 

For more information, visit the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs website.

Find your new Congressional, Assembly and State Senate District

Click on the link and type in your address to find out your new congressional, assembly and state senate district  drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The maps become final on August 15th, however there is a possibility several groups may sue because the lines draw out communities of interest from their current political districts.

Urgent Community Meeting on Fire Department Staffing

 

Schipske Calls for 'Community Conversation' on Fire Department Staffing Issues

 Long Beach, CA -- Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske will hold a "community conversation" on the issue of whether or not staffing on fire trucks should be reduced from the current levels.

"This issue is too important not to engage the community right now," says Schipske, who led a fight to keep Station 18 open two years ago.

"In light of the fact that the City continues to 'brown out' stations and now apparently management is floating proposals to cut staffing further, I think the community needs to hear a full presentation and provide their input."

The "Community Conversation" will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 6:30pm at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road.

All residents of Long Beach are invited to attend.

Getting Long Beach Back to Work

I am sure you agree that Long Beach needs jobs!

That's why I am asking my colleagues on the City Council to approve two measures I have placed on the agenda.

1) Revamping the business license law to allow small, home based plumbing, masonry and construction businesses. We have many out of work residents who have worked in the building trades and want to operate a one person business from their home. I am asking that our code be revised to allow this -- but obviously with protections so the character of residential neighborhoods are not negatively impacted.

2) Reducing or waiving business license fees and taxes to encourage business to locate here or to remain here. While we don't have the highest business license fees and taxes, these are sometimes a block to getting business to locate here or to remain here. My proposal asks City Manager to develop a way we can waive or reduce these fees as incentives. These fees would be reduced or waive with the creation of jobs by these businesses.

The City has very few of its own means at its disposal to provide incentives to business to create jobs.

These two proposals are a start.

We need to put Long Beach back to work. Our unemployment is the highest in the county.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Schipske Elected Secretary of the California Medical Board

Today at its quarterly meeting in Sacramento, I was elected by the other members of the California Medical Board to serve as Secretary of the Board, and as a member of the executive committee.

The California Medical Board is the state regulatory agency charged with the licensing and disciplining of physicians.

Members are appointed by the Governor, the Senate Rules Committee and the Speaker of the Assembly.

I have served since 2007 and am so honored that my colleagues unanimously supported my election.

Additionally, I have been appointed as Chair of the Access to Care Committee and the Application Review Committee. I serve on a hearing panel, the Enforcement Committee, the Education Committee and the Advisory Committee on Physician Responsibility in Supervision of Affiliated Health Care Professionals.

I am the first and only registered nurse practitioner to serve on a state medical board.

Long Beach Chopped Up by Redistricting Commission

If you click on the link and type in your address you can find out which new congressional, assembly and state senate district you now reside.

Long Beach was chopped up because the commission claimed that they had heard "Long Beach was a tale of two cities" and did not have communities of interest that needed to be kept together. Thus we now have a State Senate district drawn into Orange County (Santa Ana) and a Congressional District drawn into Garden Grove.

It is likely that several groups will bring litigation about the lines -- particularly the residents of Little Saigon who were drawn into a largely Long Beach congressional district.

The California Supreme Court will likely redraw several of the districts and then the fun begins as candidates scramble.

We need an answer: why are we still putting fire stations on brown out when we have seen a huge increase in oil revenue?

I have just asked Councilman Robert Garcia to call a meeting of the City Council committee on Public Safety as soon as possible so that we can discuss and review the continued "brown out" of fire stations while the city has realized a continued increase in oil revenue due to the continued high price of oil.

Additionally, I will be scheduling a "Community Conversation" in the 5th District to discuss the staffing of fire trucks and stations and the standards set nationally.

Unfortunately, again another proposed budget cut is being leaked out to the news media before the City Council has even seen the budget.

Knowing these cuts to public safety continue and may increase, I think it is urgent to have a community conversation on these issues.

Phone Conference with White House

Just finished a conference call earlier with Secretary of Defense Panetta and Valerie Jarrett along with other LGBT national leaders regarding DADT elimination. 

Great information and a wonderful victory for those in uniform and their families who wish to serve AND for our nation! Thank you President Obama!

California Redistricting Commission Cuts Long Beach Up

Click onto the link and type your address to see where the California Citizens Redistricting Commission has placed you in the newly drawn state assembly and senate and US Congressional districts.

The Commission -- because it never heard officially from the City of Long Beach -- has cut up the city several times. The most egregious cut are the state senate districts -- one of which starts five houses from me on Spring and then goes all the way over to Santa Ana.

The congressional district puts north Long Beach with Compton and then puts the rest of Long Beach with Westminster, Garden Grove, Cypress, Los Alamitos -- central and west Orange County.

Don't think many other cities in LA County are being cut up and placed with another county.

The commission is still accepting emails or phone calls about their decisions. Suggest if you are interested, check out the maps and then contact the commission. Time is running out. The decisions are about to be made final.
Click here to email.

Schipske Keeps Promise to WWII Icon -- Edith Shain

Schipske Keeps Promise to WWII Icon to

Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive in Long Beach!

July 21, 2011 – In 2008, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske made a promise to Edith Shain that she would do what she could to make certain that the City of Long Beach celebrated National Spirit of ’45 Day.

On August 14, Schipske keeps her promise by sponsoring “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive Day” at the El Dorado Senior Center, 2800 N. Studebaker.

Shain was a nurse working at Doctors Hospital in New York on August 15, 1945—the day Japan surrendered during World War II. Shain says she rushed into the streets of Times Square to join in the impromptu celebration that followed the news. Shain is the nurse being passionately embraced by a sailor in a photo shot by famed photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt on that day.

 “I met Edith when she came to the Queen Mary in 2008 to campaign for a permanent annual day that would ensure that her generation’s achievements could inspire a new generation of ordinary heroes to come together to face the complex issues and challenges America is struggling with today,” explains Schipske who has led the efforts to establish the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center. 

“She was excited to hear what we were doing in Long Beach and I promised that we would include ‘spirit of ‘45’ in our efforts.”

In 2010, Congress designated the second Sunday in August as “Spirit of ’45 Day” to commemorate the end of WWII on August 14, 1945 and many communities across the U.S. are holding ceremonies and events to mark this historic time. http://www.spiritof45.org/site/  Edith Shain passed away in June 2010.

The City of Long Beach events will include the placing of a memorial wreath at the military memorial in Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center located at Conant Street and Clark Avenue on Saturday, August 14, followed by a  4:30 pm – 7 pm, 1940s Swing Dance and special appearance by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 N. Studebaker.

Music is provided by Johnny Kleker and the Big Band. Light refreshments will be provided. Suggested donation at the door: $10 for those born after 1945. Proceeds will go to the non-profit Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation. 

Plastic Ban Agenda Item Pulled from Council Tonight -- Thwarting Efforts to Repeal

Did you blink? Then you might have missed it. Late last week an item was placed on the Council agenda because I disclosed that the plastic bag ban impacts larger stores which use larger bags such as Target, Kmart, Walmart -- even though council was told by the author of the bill that it didn't.

Tonight, without any explanation or apology, the item was removed from the agenda -- could it be that it was done because I announced I would make a motion to repeal the ban and the ten cent fee on paperbags?

Trying to get to the bottom of this switch. It was unfortunate that residents came to council and were told at the last minute the issue would not be discussed.

I have never received so much email on a topic as I have on the plastic bag ban and the ten cent fee. I have never received so much angry email -- residents are mad that this was passed.

We haven't heard the last word on this issue.

LGB on Airport Parking Structure Does not Stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual

I knew from the moment I saw the letters on the front of the beautiful newly constructed parking structure at the Long Beach Municipal Airport that someone would think that the "LGB" stood for something other than the call letters assigned to the airport by the Federal Aviation Administration.

And yes. I got the question today.

No, LGB on the airport does not stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual. Not only would that be politically incorrect because it neglects, "T" and "Q" (transgendered and questioning) but it has nothing to do with the fact that we have a very large lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (ok, questioning too) population and the largest Gay Pride Parade and Festival...

No conspiracy fans, the letters are assigned by FAA and they are on flight maps, tickets, baggage claims, etc.
Okay. Okay. I do get suspicious that the home of the "Octoberfest" beer fest gets the call letters "BER" (Berlin, Germany).


"LGB" stands for LonG Beach.

These letters are important. You could wind up in a far different airport just by switching around one letter "LBG" ( Paris - Le Bourget, France) or if you tried to be partially politically correct "LBQ" ( Lambarene, Gabon).


Come on folks, lighten up.

May be next time someone should read what they are voting on

No issue has angered voters in Long Beach more than the newly enacted ban on plastic bags. I voted against it on many grounds -- particularly we have no business imposing a tax not approved by the voters and it was not clear what stores it would impact.

Now that it is getting ready to be implemented, I posted the documents and I am posting the ordinance for your review. And guess what, I asked if Walmart, Target and Kmart were on the list and was told by City management that they were not exempt --- despite the council being told by the author of the bill that these stores and the types of bags they use would be exempt.

How embarrassing that now council is scrambling to delay  the implementation because someone finally read what the ordinance does.

I am going to make a motion to repeal the ban and the tax. 

So read the ordinance below and contact the City Council and tell them to repeal the ban and the tax entirely.
Plastic Bag Ordinance

Learn How Long Beach Became a Major Part of Aviation History in 1911

Where Plastic Bags Are Banned in Long Beach...More than was disclosed

Below is the city management memo and list of retail stores in Long Beach that will not be able to use plastic bags. Things that were not disclosed when the majority of the council voted (with my vote "NO") on this ban:
Plastic 001

Things not explained about the plastic bag ban

I will have to pull the video on the debate. I could swear that we were told during the discussion that stores such as Target, Walmart and Kmart that used much larger and thicker plastic bags would be exempt from the ban imposed by the City Council on local shoppers.

That's not the word I received today when the list came out and Target, Walmart and Kmart were on there as places where plastic bags are banned in Long Beach.

I again asked city staff to explain and received the following:

The only  bags allowed to be given away free under the Ordinance must be reusable:   1.  Have a minimum life of 125 uses.  (Capable of carrying a minimum of 22 pounds at least 175 feet)2.   Have a minimum volume of 15 liters3.  Machine washable or  made from a material that can be disinfected.4.  Must meet certain labeling requirements, and
5.  If plastic, must be a minimum of 2.25 mils thick.  
Staff has spoken to both Target and  Walmart and they understand their bags do not meet the requirements of the Ordinance to be given away free and plan to comply.  Staff has not spoken  with KMart. 

Boy or Boy are there going to be many angry residents over this one.

Schipske Votes Against Octoberfest

I was the lone vote against allowing an Octoberfest in the El Dorado Park again this year. I did so because last year was a disaster for the park.

The promoter cut off access to a great deal of the park. And because of rain, much of the grass area was torn up. Access to the event was very difficult. It really looked more like a carnival and less like an Octoberfest. The beer garden was a slightly fenced off area.

I  received numerous complaints from residents last year about the event and spent many hours in meetings to listen to their concerns.

Not quite sure why the Parks and Recreation Department ok'd the event again this year. The City didn't make much money. Attendance was poor. The venue was disappointing. The promoter took many months to pay the city. Geez, we can do better than this.

Current City Council Supports 1976 Boundaries -- Which Means Port Goes Back to First District

Several of my colleagues heaped praise on me the other night for distributing a copy of the 1976 council boundaries. Obviously, they liked the map because it showed the 7th District once had Bixby Road - which they used to support the taking of the same area grabbed the other night on a 7-2 vote.

So glad they appreciate history. I distributed the map to show that at one time, districts were very compact and not gerrymandered like most are now.

And now that I know how much they liked the "old boundaries" I am going to propose that we go back again to that map and move the Port of Long Beach back into the First Council district where it belongs. Fair? I think so. And I am sure they will heap more praise for bringing that to their attention as well.

See the 1976 map:

1976 Redistricting

Compare with current boundaries:

Current City Boundaries

LB Police Response to Constituent Concern About Burglaries

In response to a constituent's email to me about hearing about residential burglaries in the east side, I am posting Commander Lisa Lopez's response. I am also posting an illustration done by an alarm company in Maryland that pretty much sums it up about preventing residential burglaries:

The East Division has had an increase in residential burglary in 2011.  The East Division has been diligently working on suppression efforts, as well as increasing community awareness.  We have been assisted by volunteers, including Police Explorers and Search and Rescue, to distribute a flyer about residential burglary prevention and speak with residents about burglary trends in neighborhoods throughout East Division.  We have also been sharing information about crime trends at community meetings and encouraging people to report suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods.  Many great burglary-in-progress arrests have been made as a result of calls from the community about suspicious behavior.

In addition to Patrol Officers, we have an excellent team of Detectives who follow up on burglary incidents.  Our investigations are multifaceted, involving surveillance, follow up on repeat offenders, and search warrants.  We study trends within East Division, the entire city, and surrounding cities.  The majority of residential burglaries in East Division occur during daytime hours, when many houses and apartments are empty.  Over half of the residential burglaries in Long Beach occur to houses and apartments with open or unlocked doors and windows.  This is one of our most important messages for the community - please keep residences secure.  

Please call me if you would like to discuss this further.  I am happy to attend community meetings. 

Please know that I meet with Commander Lopez frequently and also receive updates via my Blackberry about what is occurring.You can also log onto www.Crimereports.com and enter your zip code to find out crimes that have been reported.

City Documents and Council Agenda Links

Happy 4th of July!

After you recover from this day and night of celebration, settle down and read several documents given to me down at City hall.

You will find them interesting -- I did.

Click here to read a proposal given to Councilman Patrick O'Donnell from the LB Firefighters Association which he gave to the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee. It proposes to create an independent Fire Protection District as a means of funding the department directly out of property tax increments instead of the City's general fund. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before the City embarks on this. Other cities may be exploring this as well in light of recent state legislation that requires tax increment to be paid first to schools and then fire protection districts.

 

Southern California Edison provided me with a briefing (Click here) on their electricity utility. They are again reaching capacity over here in the 5th district due to all the electrical gadgets we use -- so they will be needing to install additional transformers so we don't have brownouts.   

As you already know, the City Council agenda is on line. Just click here to see what we are doing on Tuesday, July 5. You can leave a comment by clicking here. 

Hope you had a great holiday. And thanks for taking time to stay involved in the issues that face our City.

Yours,

Gerrie 

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

Shaping Up the 5th Yields Results

THE FIRST “SHAPING UP THE 5^TH” YIELDS A  “TO DO” LIST
A SECOND “SHAPING UP THE 5^TH” IS SET FOR July 30

(Long Beach, CA) – Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and her staff are processing 133 service requests generated when residents took a walk around the Rancho Estates area on June 25^th looking for infrastructure problems and other issues.

“If these residents can spot 133 problems, just think of what an entire neighborhood could do,” said Schipske.  “It’s a great way to keep your body and your neighborhood in shape.”

The most common problems noted were raised sidewalks, cracked curbs, “alligatored” (multiple cracks and cratering) streets, faded street signs and trash cans left out after pick-up day. Some street signs were missing altogether.  Some homes had dry and overgrown foliage, which presents a fire hazard.

“We don’t just walk the walk, ” she said. “The service requests are sorted out and forwarded to the city Public Works Department or whichever department applies and we’ll keep tabs on them to see that some action is taken. Many repairs made now will save the city a lot of money in the future.”

The next “Shaping Up the Fifth” is July 30^th, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., covering the area east of Studebaker Road and north of Ward low Road.  All residents are invited to wear their comfortable shoes and meet in front of Keller Elementary School, 7020 Brittain Street.

Important Reminder: Support the Long Beach Fire Fighters Memorial Association 4th of July Fireworks Show

I was remiss in not pointing out earlier that the fireworks show at the Veterans Stadium is being done by the Long Beach Firefighters Memorial Association -- as they have done each year.

These guys do an incredible job putting this event together and use the proceeds to benefit a number of youth organizations in our community. Each year the costs for doing the event increase.

The cost is only $5.00 and you get to see a show inside the stadium that is not viewable outside.

The entire east side of Long Beach gets to see this show from the outside and those of you who will be at Rosie the Riveter Park, I ask that when we "pass the hat" around that day that you will give generously so that the firefighters can continue to provide this wonderful family event.

Free 4th of July Concert in Rosie the Riveter Park

Grab you chairs, blankets and food (but no alcohol) and plan on a fun evening concert and a view of the fireworks at Rosie the Riveter Park at the corner of Conant Street and Clark Avenue on July 4th beginning at 6pm.

The sounds of Motown will ring out in East Long Beach the evening of July 4th, when Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske hosts a "Custom Made" concert, at Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, Clark Avenue and Conant Street, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

"Custom Made" is the name of the band that will perform music from the 60's through the 80's, Motown and Top 40. The group has performed all over the world, including Las Vegas, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Disneyland, Germany, and for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Rosie the Riveter Park is three acres, adjacent to the former Douglas Aircraft Plant dedicated to the women who labored in the jobs men left behind during World War 2 and the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

You can also walk around the park and learn more about the women who did their part to help keep us free.

The park is adjacent to Veterans Memorial Stadium, where the city's annual fireworks display will be put on after sunset, so it offers a great viewing spot.

There are still tickets available for the fireworks show at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Schipske Launches "Shaping Up the 5th District" -- Combines Walking with Inventory of Infrastructure

June 20, 2011 – Is there a sidewalk that needs fixing in your neighborhood? Has a street sign faded and needs replacing? Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske invites  you to join her and other residents in launching “Shaping Up the 5^th District”--  a project that encourages walking while at the same time giving residents a chance to help inventory the things that need fixing in their neighborhoods.

“I started walking the 5^th district several years ago,” says Schipske. “But the district is 11.5 square miles and I need help in order to get to every street so that the city has a complete inventory of what needs to be repaired or replaced.” 

Schipske adds that rather than having the city spend funds on a street by street inventory of its infrastructure, she wants to encourage walking, while at the same time getting residents involved in the process of identifying what needs to be fixed. Residents who walk a neighborhood will be given a bright yellow “How Can I Help You?” card that includes a checklist that can be used to identify what needs to be fixed at each location walked.

Schipske notes that she offers residents several other ways of alerting her to what needs to be fixed: a website “Service Request” form that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (at www.lbdistrict5.com) ; email (district5@longbeach.gov); contact form on her blog (www.gerrieschipske.com) or by telephone during working hours (562 570-6932).

“Shaping Up the 5^th District will be just one more way residents can get involved in making certain the city is informed about what needs to be fixed.” 

“Shaping Up the 5^th District” will kick off in the Rancho’s neighborhood on Saturday, June 25, 9 am - 11am, 7130 E. Premium Street.  The walks will be scheduled monthly. Please wear comfortable shoes.

“I invite residents from other areas of the 5^th District to join in all of these walks so that you can see the conditions of all neighborhoods.”

#30

Fire Station Brownouts and Oil Revenue and Fire Insurance Rates

The City has received news...or let's say it became public.. but the price per barrel of oil has been much higher over the past year than was budgeted. City management budgeted oil revenue at $45a barrel. The average price oil has been in excess of $65 a barrel.

Now I know this won't last forever or then again it might, but don't you all think it is time that if the city has this revenue that we restore the cuts that were made to public safety?

For instance, Station 19 in the 5th district was on a brown out last Sunday. I know because I went over to the station and no one was there for the entire afternoon (or at least til 3 pm when I left the adjacent park).

We should be taking that revenue and staffing the fire department. We do not need to risk being classified as a Class III fire department because of inadequate staffing levels. Fire insurance rates are determined by the quality of local fire departments.

We also should be taking that revenue and scheduling a police academy for the fall so that we don't go further behind on staffing levels.

I will be sending out a survey asking if you agree that any additional revenue should be spent on restoring cuts to public safety services.

Why we need to care about what happens to hotel workers

There is a story that isn't getting much coverage in the Long Beach press about a group of hotel workers who contend that they have been fired from a local hotel because they complained about unfair working conditions -- which they are entitled to do under the National Labor Relations Act without fear of being retaliated against.

The story is complicated because it appears that the hotel utilized an agency to hire the workers, and the workers did the very same work as the directly hired housekeepers. However, the agency workers complained to the hotel that they did not receive the same pay. nor benefits as the other workers did doing the same work and that the agency failed to deduct the appropriate taxes from their pay. A state agency interviewed some of the workers and the workers were let go by the hotel.

Now, I know that some think that in this economy people should be grateful for even having a job and that if they don't like the conditions at their job then they can leave.

There are several things wrong with that line of thinking: no economic condition should ever justify the waiving of legal rights and working men and women (most of the housekeepers in this country are women) should not be forced to give up their rights to work under the laws that govern employment. And, workers should be paid equal pay for equal work.

More and more stories are coming out about the injuries, abuse and mistreatment of hotel housekeepers across this country. Hotel workers are 48% more likely to be injured on the job than the typical
worker in the service sector. Hotel workers also have higher rates of serious, disabling injuries—those that require days away from work or reassignment to light duty.

Apparently, the hotel industry's use of heavy mattresses and the repetitive work of lifting the mattress to put on and tuck in sheets causes serious back strain. Pushing supply carts that can weigh as much as 300 pounds across carpeted floors puts additional pressure on workers arms, backs and legs. Repetitive motions of lifting, bending, stretching and pushing to scrub, clean, dust and vacuum, are not the only dangers they face. Housekeepers are also exposed to potent industrial cleaners on a daily basis and chemical-induced skin rashes and eye irritations are common.


Housekeepers have long been silent about their working conditions because they do not want to lose their source of employment. So it takes great courage to speak up to an employer when you are making below poverty level wages and doing back breaking work that you know you need to do in order to support your family. 

Many people have become sensitive to not purchasing clothing made by child or slave labor -- no matter how inexpensive the product may be. Clothing manufacturers have pledged not to use sweat shops as a result of public pressure. We know that cheap clothing made by children or slaves is not right. We know that it is not fair.

Well, it is not right to enjoy the luxury of a clean hotel room, stocked with fresh linens and mini-bar, while knowing that the people who provided the services have not been treated fairly.

Community Meeting Packed

The Water Treatment plant was filled to capacity tonight as residents came to listen to information on many subjects impacting the 5th Council District:

• redistricting
• plastic bags
• medical marijuana
• crime
• development at Douglas Park and at Lakewood and Willow
• city budget
• sidewalk repair, street repair and tree trimming
• summer programs and concerts in the parks

I want to thank the residents, my staff and other city staff would came out tonight to make this successful. As soon as the new budget is released, we will meet again to go over the details.

Shoppers mad at City Plastic Bag Ban

Okay so I am home today because I have an eye infection and pharyngitis.

I go to the pharmacy at my local grocery store. I am recognized even in my disguise of sunglasses. The pharmacist begins telling me that many, many of his customers have told him that when the plastic bag ban starts, they are going to Lakewood to shop.

Oh, great. At least I got a smile when I said I voted against the ban.

Report shows collapse risk of LB Memorial Hospital 9.8% vs LB Community Hospital Which Was not Assigned a Risk

Recently, Long Beach Community Hospital was taken over by Long Beach Memorial Medical Center due to financial troubles that largely included a projection of substantial costs related to earthquake retrofitting for LB Community Hospital. When LBCH was taken over, Memorial indicated that it would remain an ER and acute care hospital only if it was feasible for Memorial to retrofit LBCH.

Well, that is certainly interesting in light of a recent report found by clicking here from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development  that indicates Memorial Medical Center is in fact in need of earthquake retrofitting due to an estimated 9.8% risk of collapse of its main tower and additions should it be hit by an earthquake of 7.1 or greater, while Long Beach Community Hospital was not assigned a collapse risk. (St. Mary Medical Bauer Wing was assessed having a 4.6% risk of collapse. Its south wing was assigned a 3.6% risk, while Pacific Hospital was not assigned a risk percentage.)

Hospitals which have been assigned a collapse risk of 1.2 percent of more must retrofit, replace or remove patient care from those buildings by 2015.

The report is not clear as to whether or not LBCH (or Pacific Hospital) submitted itself for assessment of collapse risk. Hospitals can escape the mandates to retrofit if they undergo an assessment that results in less than a 1.2% risk of collapse.

Survey Shows Support to Ban Styrofoam -- Opposed to Banning Plastic Bags

You can click here and read the results of the survey I just ran asking people for their opinions on whether or not to support State Senator Alan Lowenthal's bill to ban styrofoam containers and whether or not they supported or opposed the City Council recent vote to ban plastic bags in grocery stores. (I voted against the ban.)

The survey runs along the lines of the emails  received before the vote on the plastic bag ban -- people oppose this ban and the fee -- while they support banning styrofoam.

The survey was sent to 3800 people.

City Manager Posts Proposed New Maps of City Council Districts

You can see the proposed new maps of how City Council boundaries might be depending upon how City Council votes.

New boundaries are required because of changes in the census population. The only anomaly in the 5th Council District is that the 4th District boundary continues to jut into the 5th district in order to take park property even though there are no residents adjacent. Kinda silly. This would be like the 5th Council district boundary jutting downwards to include some beach property!(?) Oh well, we have much more important issues to grapple with than this.

Click here to see the proposed maps.

The Story of SEADIP -- How Corruption Brought a Plan

There is much confusion over exactly what is SEADIP in Long Beach, how it came about, whether or not it has to be followed today and why the issues it dealt with are the very same ones now being raised by potential developers at 2nd and PCH.

History:
In the 1970's Long Beach was famous for allowing the building of developments without much care for their impact. The City Planning Director in fact was convicted of taking more than $52,000 in bribes from a team of architects who worked on 6 projects..that by the way were built...including Marina Pacifica (at that time the largest building permit ever issued by the City Planning Department).

The City Manager resigned before being ousted and the Council formed taskforces to deal with a number of issues including: citizen participation, reforming appointments to committees, commissions and boards.

Prior to the arrest of the planning director a citizen taskforce north of Seal Beach. The plan to be developed was called Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan (SEADIP). Members of the taskforce became very upset when it was disclosed that 4 of the developments for which bribes were accepted were in the area being studied for regulation.

The focus of the taskforce was to deal with development in a responsible way that did not adversely impact the existing neighborhoods. Residents contended that PCH and Second Streets were clogged.
They argued that projects already under way (Marina Pacifica Shopping Center and the Market
Place) were too big for their approaches and that coordination of planning between city and developers
was inadequate.

As the Chairwoman Jan Hall told the local press: "It would be a tragedy to allow high density development in the SEADIP area that would compel unacceptable traffic conditions or radical measures..."

One of many newspaper articles pointed out that increasing the density of the SEADIP area would not be consistent with the Naples-like character recommended for the area in a shore line study done for the city by Sasaki-Walker.

When the 113 page document was finalized by the taskforce and adopted by the Planning Commission, SEADIP was hailed in editorials by the local press because it was a compromise of development with preservation. -- setting a maximum commercial building height of 35 feet.

SEADIP became an amendment to the 1961 general plan and was adopted unanimously by the City Council in 1977.

See below to read a series of newspaper accounts of what went on during the formation of SEADIP.
 Traffic Snarls SEADIP
Del Sol Project Approved
Beginnings of SEADIP
SEADIP Talks Extended
SEADIP Hearings
LB City Council Adopts SEADIP
 SEADIP A Dilmemma for the City
 Heart and Soul of SEADIP Gets Approved
Citizens Help in Planning
The Map of Long Beach's Last Frontier
Editorial Praising SEADIP


There are many more articles on SEADIP. But these should give you an idea of the intent and purpose of those many citizen meetings.

LBTV Wins Two First Place Awards for Coverage of 5th District Solar Grand Prix

Long Beach Television (LBTV), a division of the City's Technology Services Department, received 11 government programming STAR awards at the States of California and Nevada National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (SCAN NATOA) annual conference in Long Beach on June 2, 2011.  The STAR Awards were established in 1996 to recognize outstanding community television programming produced by local jurisdictions serving California and Nevada communities.

"LBTV provides our community with some the nation's best local programming," said Mayor Bob Foster.  “I know first-hand that the LBTV staff are talented and hard-working professionals who are vital to telling viewers why it’s great to live and work in Long Beach in an informative and entertaining way.”

LBTV received first-place awards in four categories, second-place awards in five categories, including the prestigious Overall Excellence Award, and two third-place awards.