Struggling with Equal Benefits Ordinance Process

When Councilmember Robert Garcia approached me last Sunday afternoon to co-sponsor an ordinance that would be placed on the Council Agenda to mandate Equal Benefits for any business doing business with the City of Long Beach, I asked that we sit down and discuss exactly what was being proposed and also discuss the timing of doing something like this in the current economy. Councilmember Garcia told me we would talk but that he would go ahead with it without my co-sponsorship.

And he did the next day by placing it on the agenda with another co-sponsor for July 14, not the 21st.

So I have had to do extensive research on the concept and what other cities have enacted. As far as I can see, every city that has adopted this ordinance did so after several public hearings and with input from the business and gay and lesbian communities before the ordinance was crafted.

In fairness to everyone, we need to do the same: refer it to a council committee and the Human Relations Commission for public hearings and in-put. That way we can work out the details in public -- such as the dollar threshold for the requirement to kick in. Several cities set it at $50,000 and above -- some set it lower. Also in Minnesota, only employers with 51 employers or more (considered to be large employers) would be required to comply. They also exempt religious organizations. We also need to hear from the City Attorney about how we word the ordinance so not to conflict with our legal responsibility to select the lowest bidder -- which is now causing New York City problems.

The concept is right. The City should not do business with businesses that discriminate against their employees with domestic partners. And since it costs the same for an employer to provide health care benefits to the spouse of an employee as it would for the domestic partner of an employee it is only fair.

That being said, I believe the City Council has an obligation not only to propose law but to get as many people who will be impacted by that law involved. The Council has done this on fire sprinklers, lobbyist registration, second story moratorium, large trucks and many other proposed code changes. It just makes for better law. It just makes sense.

So I will be asking that we refer the matter to the Council Committee on Economic Development and the citizen Human Relations Commission so that the Council can support an ordinance that will really be effective.

Residents Angry About Proposed Water Rate Increase...and Lack of Enforcement for Overwatering

The letter just started to hit my district. You know. The one that says because we have a shortage of water, the Water Commission is going to raise water rates.

Oh that one. Try explaining to anyone why if Long Beach has conserved more water than any other jurisdiction, it is now being rewarded by higher water rates.

Also, as I walk the district (and respond to many emails), people are mad as hornets over the Water Department's advertising campaign encouraging people to turn in those who waste water. In some instances this has turned into an instant neighbor feud. In others, residents complain to me that when they report offenders, the overwatering continues. (That's because there are no teeth in the water shortage/conservation effort. No fine. Just stern warnings.)

I am voting against any increase in Water rates and for real penalties for overwatering.

Walking and Talking

I am out in the 5th District again walking and talking to neighbors. The feedback is positive. Residents like my outreach and communications efforts. They also like this blog and the fact that I "fight for them" when I ask questions and probe further when proposals are brought to council.

Don't get me wrong. Residents still want their sidewalks fixed and their trees trimmed and speeding stopped on their residential streets. They also expect prompt responses from police and fire. They support our local libraries and the programs in our parks.

They do not want additional taxes or for the city to spend money on non-core services.

If I hear anything different, I'll let you all know.

P.S. It is hot out here on many of the streets where residents had the city trees removed. I've asked a couple of them if they a new tree and usually the answer is "no" because they don't want one more thing to take care of.

All Extra Money Should Go Into General Fund

Last night Council considered a very complex financial transaction that essentially "tenders" 30% of the pre-pay natural gas contracts we agreed to with Merrill Lynch.

Doing so will return about 25 million to the Gas and Oil Department. More importantly it will not increase the cost to the consumer.

In the memo to the Council was a proposal to use some of these new funds to pay for the relocation of the Public Service Yard which is a necessary component of the proposed wetlands and land swap. The council approved my motion that removed that provision so that any additional funds from the tendering of 30% of the bonds will go to the General Fund and not to pay to move the Public Service Yard -- which we can wait to do until we are financially solvent.

Alcohol in the Parks -- Redux

After a meeting with park protection activists and Phil Hester, Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Department I think we may have worked out a compromise that protects the parks but allows alcohol in specific places (actually reduces the number of places originally proposed) and under very specific circumstances (i.e. weddings, corporate picnics, Octoberfest, etc)

These park protection activists worked years ago to keep alcohol and a sports park out of El Dorado Park and are concerned that the latest proposal would open all the parks to alcohol and would create serious problems -- especially since we have cut the number of Park Rangers.

Mr. Hester is taking the changes back to the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department and then to the City Council.

It was a good meeting. Let's hope we get a good resolution to this issue.

Contact City Manager About Fire Station Cuts

Okay. So I have heard it now not less than 5 times that coming soon to your local city council meeting are proposals to "brown out" several fire stations -- two of which are in my council district.

If I were a worrying sort, I'd say the timing is suspicious right before the start of campaign season. But I am giving the powers that be the benefit that they are "putting everything on the table" and not targeting a specific district.

So help me tell the City Manager and the Mayor to take it off the table.

The 5th Council District has three fire stations: 5, 18 and 19. Click here to see them:
http://www.longbeach.gov/fire/station_locations.asp

I understand the plan is to shut down one station in the morning and one in the evening.

Let me tell you why that is wrong and so very dangerous. The majority of calls for service in my district are for paramedics. If you even add 3 minutes to a response time because the station is closed and another has to respond, you are wasting precious minutes especially for those who are in cardiac arrest.

For three years I have called for establishing a paramedic subscription program that would bring in funds at the same time help our residents by waiving their co-pay. Many, many cities are doing this.

You can contact the city manager at: patrick.west@longbeach.gov and the Mayor at Bob.Foster@longbeach.gov. Tell them it is a bad idea to cut fire services.

Nyet on Using Gas Contract Money For Public Service Yard

In the spirit of Obama being in Russia, I thought I would say "no" in a different language.

I know that some are a twitter (and are twittering) that the cost of moving the City's Public Service Yard can be paid for out of an arrangement involving our natural gas contracts.

So again. "Nyet." "No."

For you see, the cost of moving the Public Service Yard is about $500,000 and stands in the way of closing the land swap deal in which the city gives the public service yard to the owner of the "wetlands properties" -- thus necessitating the City to move out of the Public Service Yard at a cost of $500,000.

Yes. I am most interested in saving the wetlands. But I am more interested in saving the City of Long Beach from financial ruin or cutting fire and police or other necessary services because we don't have the money.

Use the $500,000 to keep our fire stations open. Use the $500,000 to make certain we have enough police on the streets. Use the $500,000 to restore the Library's budget that has been so cut this year and next.

You have to ask yourself why in this economy and with all of the problems the city and state faces, we are focusing on spending money for anything that isn't our core service.

LB Health Care Reform Town Hall Sobering

I was invited to speak at a town hall on health care reform sponsored by St. Mary Medical Center. Congresswoman Laura Richardson and several other speakers also talked about the need to reform our current health care system.

While most of the speakers focused upon changing the financing of health care, I spoke on the need to deal with the delivery system.

Below are some of my remarks:

"As the first Registered Nurse Practitioner to sit on the Medical Board of California, the agency which licenses and disciplines the 117,000 plus physicians in my state, I need to share with you my perspective on how the current health care system is taking its toll on these physicians and putting the medical profession at odds with the nursing profession and how if these problems are not addressed, we will not be able to ensure that every American has access to health care.

More and more doctors say they want to leave the profession in the next few years. Many others say they wouldn’t recommend the profession to their own children. The suicide rate among male physicians is 40% higher than among the general male population and 130% higher among female physicians than among the general female population.

Those who remain in medicine are mad as hell.

Who can blame them? Doctors are under constant attack from about everyone, for trying to do what they spent many years in training to do.

Doctors note that they are no longer the “captain of the ship” in health care. The medical profession no longer provides the autonomy nor the prestige once given, as insurance companies pay doctors pennies on the dollar for the care they provide and managed care company clerks place limits on the type of care they can give. Doctors spend too much time filling out forms and focusing upon billing problems; time that could be better spent with their patients or their own families.

They agonize as they watch helplessly as some of their seriously ill patients struggle to get insurance companies to cover their health care needs or to pay for the prescription medicine that could save their lives.

The government tells doctors whom they must treat and fines them if they don’t. Patients sue when they don’t like the outcome of the care they receive resulting in malpractice insurance coverage costs taking more of their income.

We began having a shortage of physicians in this country beginning in the 1980’s -- just about the time managed care arrived and began undercutting how doctors practice medicine. To fill this shortage, my own profession provided advanced clinical training for nurses who became nurse practitioners. Although paid far less than physicians, nurse practitioners nonetheless provide primary care in many health care settings.

Many physicians perceive expanding the “scope of practice” of non-physicians to allow health care professionals such as nurse practitioners to diagnose, treat and prescribe, as a further attack on the status of medicine and are waging battles in several states to stop the expanded authority of nurse practitioners. This despite the fact that most studies show that nurse practitioners can safely and effectively provide 80% of all primary care.

The medical community recently sounded the alarm against the a new “Doctor of Nursing Practice” that moves nursing in the direction of other health professions such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, physical therapy and audiology which all offer clinical practice doctorates.

Expanded scope of practice for non-physicians has been the only means of meeting the need of providing access to health care in many communities.

We need to bring the medical and nursing professions together to discuss how we can work collaboratively to expand access to patient centered primary care in this country.

In some health care settings, that may involve physicians and nurse practitioners working in “multidisciplinary teams” with the “understanding of the distinctive roles, skills, and values of all team members” – as the American College of Physicians just stated in its policy monograph about nurse practitioners in primary care.

But it may also require that in some health care settings, nurse practitioners substitute or replace primary care physicians in order to provide access to primary health care; a possibility that the American College of Physicians strongly opposed in the same monograph.

This independent role of nurse practitioners (which is already allowed in several states: AK, AZ, DC, IA, ID, MT, NH, NM, OR, WA) obviously requires acknowledgement that appropriately trained nurse practitioners can safely and effectively provide such care and that they can access other health care resources such as admitting privileges at hospitals, adequate malpractice insurance and equitable reimbursement for the care provided.

Our health care system must acknowledge and value that each profession, by its training, has a different focus on patient care. Nurse Practitioners are often sought by patients because of our abilities to spend more time with patients and our holistic approach in caring for patients and their families. Physicians have extensive clinical training and experience and are consulted when the patient’s condition requires advanced care. Using a combination of medical and nursing professionals expands the sources of care in all communities.

Medicine and nursing must not be at war with each other over whom should care for patients, especially at a time when such care is so needed in our country.

We need to bring about a change in our health care system that not only benefits patients but those who provide the care."

Note: My remarks are my own and not to be construed in anyway as reflecting the California Medical Board.

Some things you can't do in Long Beach...

Thought I would post a partial list of the "most common life-safety and quality of life Long Beach Municipal Code Violations" otherwise known as the list of things you cannot do in Long Beach. If you see any of these violations, please call my office at 562.570-6932 and we'll send out Code Enforcement to cite the offender:

• Discharge fireworks
• Obstruction/storage blocking ingress and egress
• Locked, latched, chained exist doors prevent egress
• No exit sign
• Inoperable smoke detector or fire extinguisher (for business)
• Excessive fuels (over 5 gallons) stored in dwellings or garages
• Weeds or unsightly debris visable to public view
• Abandoned, boarded up buildings
• Broken windows
• Overgrown vegetation
• Junk in front or side yard
• Trash cans stored in front or side yard visible from street
• Graffiti
• Garage conversion
• Extension cords used as a substitute for permanent wiring
• Spitting/discharging mucus from nose or mouth on sidewalk or public place
• Vandalism
• Possession of alcohol in public park
• Juvenile (under 18) curfew violation -- 10 pm to 6 am
• Shed, add-on, non-permitted room used as dwelling
• Unsafe housing
• Possession of a shopping cart
• Loud music
• Storing, selling, displaying vehicles for sale on street
• Repairing, painting, displaying automobiles on street
• Living in the parks
• Canopies in driveways or front area or side area

Inside the C-17

Wow, what an experience I had yesterday --thanks in part to Congresswoman Laura Richardson. You see she was visiting the Boeing plant to talk to executives and workers about the importance of continuing the C-17. I attended because Boeing is in my district (and the Mayor and Vice Mayor were not available).

We had several briefings and then went to the plant to view a plane being assembled and then on to a finished plane where we entered the cockpit and the two of us sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats. (No, I don't know which was which...)

Anyway I credit Laura for my access because she made certain that I was included up front and she acknowledged my being there several times. (This is something Asssemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal is also very good at doing when she attends an event and there are other elected officials.)

We also met with several of the suppliers -- companies which provide parts and other services to make the C-17 happen. They and the employees at Boeing amount to 30,000 jobs across the US directly related to the C-17.

The Air Force continues to say privately it wants the C-17 as its cargo plane -- because of problems with the C-5. However, when the budget comes, AF doesn't put a request in for it. So the House of Representatives added a request for 15 planes.

Currently, most of the planes being purchased are for commercial uses in the Middle East. The C-17 requires little crew, is reliable and can carry a ton (actually many tons) of cargo and personnel.

Long Beach needs the C-17. So does the U.S.

Nominate Your Good Neighbors

It's that time of the year when I ask residents to nominate organizations, youths or adults who have earned the title "Good Neighbor." That means they went out of their way to do something special that qualifies them to be called a "Good Neighbor."

You can click here and go on line and complete the nomination form.

Please don't nominate yourself because the nomination needs to come from someone else who thinks you deserve to be honored and I have to announce you nominated yourself.

I need the forms completed not later than August 31st so that I can give out the awards at the 3rd Annual Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic on Saturday, September 26th at 10 am until 3 pm in the Good Neighbor Park at Studebaker and Barrios.

By the way, this year's festival and picnic will be a lot of fun: free food and drink, music by The Elm Street Band, pie eating contest, penny arcade, info booths, free bike helmets, games for kids, and a sidewalk chalk art contest.

So mark your calendars and enjoy.

Back in Long Beach -- after Metropolitan Water District Tour

Vacation is over. Back to business in Long Beach. Several issues are brewing -- allowing alcohol in the parks; the proposal wetlands land swap; the $3 million debt of the Musuem of Art; the growing City deficit with threatened state take aways.

Yesterday I went on a day long tour of Diamond Valley Lake in Riverside County to view a portion of the water system maintained by the Metropolitan Water District which provides most of Long Beach's water.

5th District resident and neighborhood activist, Phyllis Ortman, led the tour. She is employed by MWD and has to be the most knowledgeable person on water issues that I have met.

It was very hot down there in Riverside. Diamond Valley Lake has a visitors' center and the Western Center for Archeology and Paleontology -- which is worth the trip.

The excitement of the day was when the wind whipped up and blew my hat off into the treatment basin. Yes, it had to be fished out and for a brief moment as the hat floated on the water it looked like I may have gone overboard too.

Travel Records and Council Budgets

While I was away on my first major vacation in many years, I learned that a public records request was made by the local media on travel expenses. No folks, I wasn't on official travel to Alaska.

Apparently over the course of 3 plus years I have spent slightly around $1300 for travel to various city conferences -- that works out to be around $400 a year in travel. Am not sure what budget it comes out of because I submit the bills and they are paid through the council liaison office.

I don't have a travel budget. So I would imagine it comes from the Legislative Department's budget which is a pool of money to pay for Council and Mayor travel.

I keep official travel to a minimum because I don't like to travel and I think we need to be frugal with tax dollars. I also don't take my council staff -- I can't imagine why anyone would.

Back Home

It was great to land at Long Beach Airport from Seattle. I had a wonderful time and spent the afternoon touring Bainbridge Island off Seattle. Beautiful place. Then took the public bus (saving $50) from the Pier to the SEA-TAC Airport. I only was able to do so because we had shipped our luggage from the ship directly to Alaska Airlines (missed flying on Jet Blue) and didn't have to lug them around the bus or airport.

Didn't feel too on vacation when I read the Seattle Times and its editorial was going after a local councilwoman.

Final note on the day. It is a sad commentary when every television program in the airport was focused on who knew Michael Jackson and the various theories on how he died. Folks we have so many serious issues facing us right now -- the wars, health care reform, the economy, etc. News coverage on all of this vanished and celebrity fodder took over.

Alcohol in the Parks

I need to be fair to Phil Hester, our Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Department who has talked with me for several months about possibly having an OctoberFest in El Dorado Park. This would mean the sale of alcohol. I understood it would be in a very specific contained area with appropriate security.

I supported the concept again provided it was in a contained, secure area with sufficient security, with revenues returing directly to the Parks Dept instead of the general fund. Also, I requested that the community be briefed on the concept before it was brought forth for a vote.

Several thousands of miles away I understand the concept has been expanded to several parks on a year round basis and the proposal was brought directly to the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission before it was brought to the community -- particularly the community that was so involved in stopping the Sports Complex in El Dorado Park which also had an alcohol sales component.

We need a community meeting to discuss the proposal before City Council takes a vote. Unless that happens I am opposed.

Port Appointment

Am writing off the coast of Canada. Read LBreport.com about "deep throat" report on former State Senator Betty Karnette wanting to be appointed to Harbor Commission. That's not much of a secret, readers. I received a letter from Democractic activist Doug Frankenfield urging my support of Betty to replace Jim Hankla.

But I had already met with former fire chief, Harold Omel, who is a 5th District constituent and who asked me for my support -- which I gave. Because of Harold's long-time experience in public safety I thought that would be a great addition to the current Board. Also it would be great to get another 5th District resident on the Board.

Interesting while being on this cruise I did get to see several large ports. And folks, we need to do a better job in Long Beach welcoming visitors to our port area and providing sometype of historical information for visitors to learn about Long Beach while they are there. We need to incorporate more public useage of the port area and not just around the Queen Mary.

What Happened About LB Museum?

Damn. The city didn't broadcast any report out of closed session. So what happened? Did the council vote to do something about the Museum of Art and the debt we're saddled with?

Met a policeman tonight on the cruise as we make our way out to sea towards Ketchican -- who is from Napa. They are having to forego their raises plus they pay 9% of their PERS. Everyone is hurting.

Spent today in Sitka. It is beautiful. Much better than Juneau. Visited a raptor recovery place. No it isn't for birds that drink. It is for eagles who get injured. Quite impressive as was the Tongass National Forest they walked us through.

Got to keep this brief because internet is on satellite and expensive. Two more days of rest at sea.

P.S. I opposing the allowing of alcohol in our parks. I thought the pilot was for a set area in El Dorado Regional that could be controlled. Now I read it is for several parks and several parts of the El Dorado Park. We don't have enough Rangers. This isn't a good idea right now.

Juneau and Glacier Bay

I walked through Juneau, Alaska's state capitol. It is smaller than the 5th Council District but has more bars/saloons. Sorry, Gov. Palin but I can't see Russia from your back door (saw your mansion which cost $2 million to fix up and looks like it should be in Virginia not Alaska). Saw a little graffiti downtown next to city hall. There are some homeless -- god help them in the winter. And a soup kitchen downtown next to all the tourist shops.

Spent the day cruising Glacier Bay and seeing the awful impact of global warming. The glaciers are melting at a fast pace. But it was spectacular.

The seals are pupping. The puffins are floating. The terns are turning before they dive bomb the ship. It is very cold and gray and overcast.

Skate Park, Museum funding, motion sickness

This has to be fast at 75 cents a minute shipboard somewhere near Alaska. Yeah it is rocking and rolling and for a girl who hates roller coasters...well I will survive.

Was distressed to read LBREPORT.com about someone switching the funding for the 14th Skatepark to make it part of stimulus package. Right as usual King Bill. I don't recall the council approving adding it to the stimulus package request. Especially when districts such as mine have neighborhoods where they still don't have a paved alley and where it floods when it rains.

I love the Museum of Art.

I will not support bailing it out however. City Management has had more than 2 years to come up with something other than the city paying the $3 million bond. I remember specifically asking during City Council for management to talk with the Smithsonian or another reputable museum organization to find out how we can save it and get it run efficiently.

Oh, I know some in city hall thought they would rescue the museum with blighting lower income neighborhoods with electronic billboards. What a concept! Put monsterous billboards up in redevelopment neighborhoods so we can fund a museum in a very high income neighborhood.

I do believe that the Museum should be funded with Tidelands funds as it art is funded in San Diego and Seattle by their Ports....

Well at 75 cents per minute on the shipboard computers, I think I will blog everyother day.

On Lake Washington

Went out on a small boat last nite and went past Bill Gates' waterside home...great outlook...stunning vista...lots of windows...okay bad puns...but it was beautiful.

His former partner Paul Allen has bought up a number of old buildings in the downtown to save, including the Cinemax which is featuring Star Trek and the Long Beach City Council Chambers (you have to see the movie to appreciate that).

Still overcast -- guess it stays that way alot. A little drizzle.

On to Alaska today.

Seattle transit is beautiful. No ugly ads. They allow one sponsor for each bus and it has a small logo in the corner.

Saw a little graffiti in the downtown area and a handfull of what looks like remnants of the 1960's hippies. Lots of people with backpacks.