Rosie the Riveter Honored At Long Beach Veterans Parade Today

 The women featured below were honored as Grand Marshals of the Long Beach Veterans Parade. These women worked in the aircraft factories, shipyards, munitions plants and other businesses during World War II so that the men could serve in the military. They were collectively and affectionately referred to as "Rosie the Riveter: after a song performed by an African American group called the Four Vagabonds.



Councilman Steve Neal of the 9th District hosted the parade and award ceremony.

RosieBio2010

November 6th Veterans Parade in Long Beach

Veterans Parade

18 Rosie the Riveters to be feted at Long Beach Veterans Parade November 6th

18 "Rosie the Riveters" will be feted as Grand Marshals of the November 6th Veterans Parade.

These are the women who worked on the homefront during World War II and made the planes, tanks, munitions and ships that helped win the war.

All will be riding in "antique" firetrucks (which by the way means any truck made before 1953!!)

Come out on the parade route on Atlantic Avenue beginning at 10 am and cheer them on.

Public Documents You Need to Read

Here are a variety of public documents you need to read so that you know what I know:

• Public pension reform legislation at state level
• What Long Beach will do if we have an oil spill
• Quarterly Crime States in the City of Long Beach
• How Long Beach boundaries are being changed

Service Credit Opportunities for Youth Ages 15 - 19

City of Long Beach Seeking Youth for New Animal Care Exploring Post

Animal Care Services Launches New Career Development Program

Contact: John Keisler, Manager, Animal Care Services    562.570.7387


Youth between the ages of 15 and 19 who are interested in a career involving law enforcement and animals, are invited to attend the orientation kickoff meeting of the Animal Care Exploring Post on Nov. 9 from 7 to 8 pm.  The meeting is at 7700 E. Spring Street, Conference Room 3, Long Beach, and attendance is strongly encouraged for people who want to join the Post.

The program with monthly meetings is open to qualified young people who wish to serve the public and make the community safer for people and animals.   Students of Long Beach Unified School District will receive service hours credit.
The program is designed to provide interested young people exposure to careers in public safety and the humane treatment of animals, with opportunities to grow personally and professional through a program of community service, in a climate emphasizing leadership and responsibility. 


REQUIREMENTS: Applicants Must:


Be at least 15 and not yet 19 years old by start of the academy.

Have a clean police record and good citizenship record.

Maintain at least a "C" grade average at school.

By physically fit with plenty of stamina and courage.

Be willing to devote necessary time to meetings emergencies.


Explorers will be trained in the procedures of handling animal-related situations related to public health and safety which they will encounter throughout their lives and briefly explore the many phases of the law enforcement, animal care, and public health service professions.  More information is available online at www.longbeach.gov/acs/donations_and_volunteer_opportunities/explorer_program/default.asp  

The Post is supervised by professional animal control officers and veterinary professionals from the City of Long Beach, and includes classes in animal handling, veterinary care, herd health care, rabies control, law enforcement, wildlife management, and special investigations. 

Animal Care Services is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The Village is closed on Monday, Tuesday and all holidays.  Call 570-PETS (7387) for service.  Visit ACS online: www.longbeach.gov/acs.

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State Controller Requires Posting of All Cities' Salaries and Benefits

Click here to see salaries and benefits for city of Long Beach

The State Controller of California has directed all cities to provide information concerning salaries, pensions and other benefits paid to public employees.

By clicking the above link you can find the City of Long Beach and all other cities in California.

5th District Night at the Aquarium

First of all, if you haven't been to the Aquarium of the Pacific lately, you will find a great surprise. It looks great. The exhibits are fantastic.

Secondly, we had a wonderful time with the kids and their families. Lil Devils and the Aquarium provided gift certificates for the "winners" of the sea theme Halloween contest for those under 10 years of age.

Here are some of the highlights:

And it came from the sea...

Non costumed adults

Elmo as a garabaldi.

Sweet little sea creatures

A winning octopus

The family that swims together...Psst..the adults are kelp

Yes you can go to the Aquarium gift shop now

A sea cowgirl. Love the boots.

For residents without a $400 Smart Phone..You can Still Call Me for Help

The City announced that owners of Smart phones can download an application that allows you to text in any problems you encounter in the city of Long Beach -- like sidewalks, trees, graffiti, etc.

Many people in Long Beach cannot afford an expensive smart phone, so please remember how you can contact my office without downloading an application:

• Call me -- 562 570-6932.
• Email me -- district5@longbeach.com
• Go on my website and fill out a service request (a system that I installed several years ago to make it easier on residents): http://www.lbdistrict5.com/
• Fill out a contact me on this blog -- look in column on right.

I applaud the move to modern technology. But constituent service can still be and is accomplished the old fashioned way as I have outlined above.

And while we may develop new and fancy ways to receive requests for service, we still as a council need to grapple on how we can pay to provide those services.

Check this information out

The City Manager's Recent Newsletter

Friday Newsletter 10-22-10

Get Ready for the Big One!!

Senator Jenny Oropeza Passes Away

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you Senator Jenny Oropeza died last evening at Memorial Medical Center.

My partner, Flo, and I have known Jenny since she first ran for office -- we held a fundraiser in our home.

Our prayers go out to her husband, Tom, and to her family.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Offers a Message of Hope to Lesbian, Gay and Transgendered Youth

Need Your Help for Holiday Events

Dear Readers,

 

Due to our budget cuts, the City is unable to put those wooden triangles with Christmas lights (that look like trees on the water) in any of our local parks.

 

Also, our annual tree lighting, santa claus and outdoor movies have also been cancelled due to to lack of funding.

So I need your help:

• We can restore the "christmas lights" at Heartwell Park and at the duck pond in El Dorado Park at Willow if we can raise $576.00 for each tree/set of lights. We need at least 3 for each location for a grand cost of: $1728 x 2 locations= $2456. Contributions can be sent to Partner of Parks,  2760 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach , CA 90815
• We have a living Christmas tree at Good Neighbor Park which local children are decorating the first week of December. I would like to host a holiday/tree lighting/Christmas carols on Sunday, December 12 at 6pm -- and again need help organizing this event and am inviting any school or church choir that would like to come and lead christmas carols to contact my office at: 562 570-6932.

Pertussis Shots Required by State Law

Pertussis

Octoberfest Coming to El Dorado Park.

Oktoberfest Flyer

Free Medical and Dental Care for Women

I just received this announcement from the First Lady of California -- Maria Shriver. Please pass it along.

Free Medical and Dental Care for Women

October 28 -- 5th District Night at the Aquarium and Halloween Contest

Aquarium 2010

City Management Explains Budget Impact on Fire Department

FIRE DEPARTMENT FACTS
OCTOBER 2010
The City of Long Beach has released the following statement regarding our Fire Department: 

Fire and Medical response times continue to meet the City’s response standards.

Our Fire Department’s response time standard, based on the national standard, is "To arrive on scene of an emergency call within 6 minutes 90% of the time." The department monitors system performance and makes changes based on this standard. Currently, our average response time is less than 5 minutes to emergency calls, an excellent response time for a large department.

In order to offset the pay increase taken by the Firefighters’ Association (FFA), the new service model reduces one engine company per day, while managing responses with the City’s 17 other engines companies, four fire trucks, and eight paramedic/rescues.

The engine reduction is necessary in order to offset the pay increase taken by the firefighters. The engine reduction is managed by removing one engine from service each day from stations that have more than one response unit. This is not a station closure. This service model will ensure at least one unit is assigned at every station throughout the City, allowing the unit to respond from the station, while other units respond from surrounding stations, if needed. This practice is similar to how our Fire Department manages daily operations such as when units are at training, deployed to major fire events or otherwise out of service. For example, in the area surrounding downtown Engines 6, 2, 10, 20, 24 and 3 are all able to respond to fire incidents, if needed. While the engine company was not in service at Station 1 on October 7, Station 1 had a fully staffed Truck and a fully staffed Paramedic Rescue to respond to calls for service.

These service reductions are not a result of a "budget cut;" rather, they are a result of pay increases to the FAA.

Our Fire Department’s budget has not decreased from last year; rather, this year, the City is obligated to pay an additional $2.3 million in firefighter salary increases. As there is no additional money to pay for those raises, service levels must change in order to maintain a responsibly balanced budget. The City tried to avoid the engine reduction by asking the FFA to fully offset the costs of these raises. Unfortunately, while our firefighters negotiated in good faith, an agreement could not be reached.

The City is willing to accept a "dollar for dollar" FFA giveback to restore the engine.

The City continues to engage in discussions with the Firefighters’ Association. As the FFA was previously willing to give up $1.7 million in salary increases, the City will accept those givebacks (subject to negotiations) and "dollar for dollar" restore services.

FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR RESPONSE EVERY DAY

23 fire stations, including 4 within the Port, and 1 serving the airport

17 engines (each with 4 firefighters)

8 Paramedic / Rescue units (each with 2 firefighter/paramedics)

4 trucks (3 with 4 firefighters, and 1 downtown with 5 firefighters)

1 Engine/Truck Light Force (with 6 firefighters)

5 Basic Life Support Ambulances during the day and 3 at night (2 EMTs)

2 Fire Boats and 3 Rescue Boats (year-round)

Library Hours Changed Due to Budget Cuts

Effective Monday, October 11, 2010, the Long Beach Public Library will implement standardized hours for FY 11 as follows:

Four Neighborhood Libraries will close on Mondays:

• El Dorado Library, 2900 Studebaker Road
• Bret Harte Library, 1595 W. Willow St.
• Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.
• North Library, 5571 Orange Ave.

"Despite these reductions, Long Beach Public Library is committed to providing excellent customer service to our Long Beach community," said Library Director Glenda Williams.  All libraries will now be open Tuesday - Saturday.  Open hours are:

MAIN LIBRARY

Tuesday:  10 am – 8 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 6 pm
Friday:  10 am – 5 pm
Saturday:  10 am – 5 pm

ALL NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES

Tuesday: 12 pm – 7 pm
Wednesday:  12 pm – 6 pm
Thursday:  12 pm – 7 pm
Friday:  10 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm

For 24-hour access, visit www.lbpl.org