National and International Press Take Notice of Idea to Use Long Beach's Urban Forest

It was exciting to read all of the national and international news coverage of my proposal to explore how the City of Long Beach can utilize its "urban forest" of 393,000 trees in medians and in parks and market the carbon offset credits these trees produce. I want to thank my two co-sponsors: Councilmembers Garcia and Johnston.

The marketing of these carbon offset credits and the revenues produced could help our city better trim and maintain these trees.

Under AB 32, California's landmark climate regulations, a cap and trade system is established that allows the selling and buying of carbon offset credits. The use of an "urban forest" for these credits is a new one but one being explored in California as evidenced by a recent workshop conducted by the University of California at Davis which you can view at: http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events/carbon-offsets-the-urban-forest-1/carbon-offs

Also check out some of the news stories featuring our proposal in Long Beach:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48671231/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/california-city-eyes-carbon-credit-revenue-its-trees/#.UC1mM6P-t8E

http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/reader/welcome.aspx?linkid=288761

http://www.carbon-future.co.uk/?page_id=33

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-california-carbonbre87e0az-20120815,0,2906616.story

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_21294645/long-beach-study-possibility-selling-carbon-credits-industry

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=california-city-eyes-carbon-credit

http://www.dailybulletin.com/california/ci_21313900/long-beach-endorses-trees-carbon-idea

http://cmta.net/page/search-results.php

http://www.environment.ucla.edu/research/southwest-climate-alliance.asp

http://www.thenewsworld.info/california-city-eyes-carbon-credit-revenue-from-its-trees.html

http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/rss/displaypost.php?pno=6047

http://www.dailyclimate.org/solutions/

http://www.silobreaker.com/california-city-eyes-carbon-credit-revenue-from-its-trees-5_2265907184598515752

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• California city eyes carbon credit revenue from its trees

Public Budget Meeting Set for August 20th at 6 pm -- Cuts to Be Discussed

For immediate release

Contact: Tiffany Andrews: 562 570-6932

Schipske To Hold Community Budget Meeting Monday, August 20^th at 6 pm –

Discussion of Impact of Budget Cuts on City

August 16, 2012 – The public is encouraged to attend a meeting to discuss the impact of proposed budget cuts on the City of Long Beach this coming Monday, August 20^th at 6 pm, today announced Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske. The open meeting will be held at the Long Beach Water Treatment Plant, at Redondo Avenue at Spring Street.

“We will present the cuts in services proposed by the Mayor and the City Manager and have staff on hand to answer any questions,” explains Councilwoman Schipske. “It is very important that residents throughout Long Beach come to this meeting and the meetings held in other council districts as well. These proposed cuts threaten the safety, character, and quality of life in this city.” 

Councilwoman Schipske is a forceful advocate for making local government more open and accessible and in addition to the public budget meeting she has implemented an on line way for residents to discuss the proposed budget cuts and to add a few of their own at: http://5thdistrictbudgetchoices.ideascale.com/ 

“IdeaScale is used extensively in other levels of government and in the private sector to really get a sense of what citizens and customers feel and expect,” says Schipske. “What is particularly effective about this tool is that everyone who logs on can see what everyone else feels about a specific question. It’s like talking together while sitting at the kitchen table.”

Schipske also brought to the City Council the on line “budget challenge” provided by Next10. “This organization launched the California Budget Challenge and made it available for cities to set up a budget challenge specific to their finances,” says Schipske.  “So now Long Beach residents can go on line to www.longbeach.gov/budgetchallenge and participate in  a simulation of the tough choices we are faced with in Long Beach.”

#30

Why People Are Attached to Their Community

Check out these videos from the Knight Gallup project "Soul of the Community" which identified those key drivers that make people feel attached to their community.

To keep Long Beach alive, we need to make certain we aren't killing the soul of this community by cutting out important opportunities that help residents feels attached.

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• We are hurting the soul of this city

We are hurting the soul of this city

I was struck by a 2010 Knight Foundation story that surveyed the factors that make a resident love their city -- what makes the soul of a city. The story showed in 25 cities -- including Long Beach -- that residents who love their city help make the economy grow. What residents want are places to gather, clean and green spaces and openness -- acceptance by others.

The cuts being proposed go to the soul of Long Beach. Our residents need and depend upon our libraries and our parks and recreation programs. Our families count on after school opportunities and a place for their children to study and to read. Our kids want to play sports and stay busy. Those with disabilities need adaptive recreation and safe swimming pools so they have the chance to interact with their peers. Our seniors want to attend programs that enable them to keep active and out of nursing homes.

We should not be pitting these quality of life services against police and fire for funding. It should not be an either or especially when the city has a surplus.

Response Times for Emergency Medical Services Increased with Budget Cuts

First as background -- let me tell you that before I became a Registered Nurse Practitioner I trained as an Emergency Medical Tech (EMT) and did my ride alongs with Fire Station 1 in downtown Long Beach. So I know a little more than the average elected about paramedics and the national response times that have been set as the standard.

Please see the following documents that were provided in response to my request at City Council that we be given data about the response times for emergency medical services -- paramedics. As you will note, as I was concerned, the data shows that response times have increased with recent budget cuts -- rolling brown outs of fire stations.

This is a serious report because there are now more proposals on the table to reduce fire services even more and possible close Station 18 which is at Palo Verde and Wardlow.

We cannot jeopardize the safety of our residents who call  9-1-1 and expect a response in keeping with national standards.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/102787758/Memo-on-Response-Times-for-Fire-Medical#fullscreen


Complete breakdown of response times by Fire Station:http://www.scribd.com/doc/102787577/ResponseTimeProfilebyStationAreaCY07thruCY11v1#fullscreen

Check out Vial of LIFE for Long Beach

 Check our Public Service Announcement about VIAL of LIFE for Long Beach -- a new program to put critical medical and prescription information in the hands of emergency first responders. After you view the video, click on to the website for more information about this life saving program. Click here.

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• Long Beach Needs to Get Ready for Big One

Thank You Volunteers for Shaping Up the 5th District and Pan Am Park

Two dozen volunteers from the neighborhood, local Walmart stores and church groups came out on a hot Saturday morning to help paint, landscape, spread mulch and paint some more. Pan Am Park on Centralia looks so good after their efforts.

Check out Openuplongbeach.com for Latest Budget Info

Please check out Openuplongbeach.com on which I am posting information concerning the proposed cuts to the City Budget.

Related articles

• City Council Adopts On Line Budget Information System
• Schipske Responds to Mayor's Budget Proposals -- Says cut disproportionately hit 5th Council District
• It Isn't "Normal" But Certainly Is "New" to Cut Police and Fire Services When Crime and Calls For Services Are Up

LB Public Health Warns About Flea Borne Typhus

Scanning Electron Micrograph of a Flea. See bellow for a colorized version of this image. Fleas are known to carry a number of diseases that are transferable to human beings through their bites. Included in this infections is the plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Long Beach Public Health Officials Issue
Recommendations to Prevent Flea-Borne Typhus

The City of Long Beach is alerting the public about flea-borne typhus, a disease transmitted to humans by fleas.  In 2012 to date, eleven cases of flea-borne typhus have been reported among Long Beach residents, as compared to nine reported for all of 2011.  Officials conducted a detailed investigation into the cases that have been reported, and believe that in all cases, exposure to fleas carried by opossums, cats, or rodents may have been the source of infection.  Prior to 2006, flea-borne typhus was not known to be present in the City of Long Beach.

Flea-borne typhus (murine typhus) is a disease spread by fleas living on rodents (rats, mice), opossums, cats, and raccoons.  People get the disease through the bites of infected fleas.  Flea-borne typhus is not spread from person to person.  The most common symptoms of flea-borne typhus are high fevers, severe headaches, body aches and a rash.  The disease is rarely fatal, but people can become sick enough to be hospitalized.  

Public Health Officials will continue to monitor and test for evidence of flea-borne typhus in areas throughout the City.  Informational materials will also be distributed to inform the public of this disease and how to avoid it.  The information can also be found on the City's Health Department’s website at www.longbeach.gov/health.  Area veterinarians will receive a letter requesting they educate pet owners on the importance of flea control in preventing flea-borne typhus.  Long Beach has also issued letters to area health care providers providing guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.  

The City's Health Department urges residents to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors from flea-borne typhus by following a few simple guidelines:  

1. Consult your veterinarian regarding safe flea control medications for your pets;
2. Keep your home and yard in good repair by removing overgrown vegetation and debris where rodents, opossums, and feral (wild) cats may hide. Keep screens on crawl space covers and vents in good repair.
3. Avoid contact with animals that carry fleas. Do not attempt to capture and relocate these animals to other areas.
4. Eliminate all food and water sources around your home, including open trash cans, fallen fruit around the yard, pet food, and bird feeders;
5. When cleaning nesting areas of rats and opossums, spray area with disinfectant, and wear protective clothing and equipment (i.e., mask, goggles, gloves);
6. When treating your yard or animal harborage areas with insecticides, only use products labeled for flea control and follow all directions carefully;
7. Contact the City’s Animal Care Services by email at animalcare@longbeach.gov, if you have questions about managing opossums and stray or feral cats on your property. More information on urban wildlife is available online at: http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/urban_wildlife/default.asp.
8. Report dead opossums or cats to Animal Care Services for removal by calling (562) 570-PETS (7387).

For more information about fleaborne typhus, please contact the Health Department’s Epidemiology Program at (562) 570-4302.  Information is also available online at www.longbeach.gov/health.

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Schipske Schedules Work Party for Pan Am Park

Schipske Continues To Shape Up the 5^th District
Work Party At Pan American Park To Focus On Landscaping And Painting

(LONG BEACH, CA; August 8, 2012) – Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske invites you to join her and other residents to “Shape Up The Fifth District” this Saturday at 8 am, August 11^th at Pan American Park, located at 5157 East Centralia Street, Long Beach, CA.  “Shaping Up the 5^th” is a program designed by Councilwoman Schipske to engage residents in identifying things that need to be fixed or upgraded in the parks and neighborhoods of the Fifth District. The items are reported to the appropriate city departments and tracked by the 5th District staff.

The "Shaping Up The Fifth" Work Party at Pan American Park expands the program to include landscaping, clean up and painting.  

"My staff and I, along with the help of residents, will be painting benches and tables, spreading mulch on several areas, and planting new shrubbery around the park’s snack bar."  
“This park is very important for families in this neighborhood, and with budget cuts looming, it is important that we all participate in doing what we can to keep Pan Am Park looking good," adds Councilwoman Schipske.  

On June of 2011, Councilwoman Schipske launched “Shaping Up The Fifth” to keep account of a street-by-street inventory of infrastructure that needed repair. The program gives residents the opportunity to participate in identifying what is needed to keep the City of Long Beach clear of any safety hazards.  Residents are encouraged to notify Councilwoman Schipske on line at www.lbdistrict5.com, and can fill out a simple form that lets her know about broken sidewalks, uprooted trees, standing water issues, faded street signs, and raised curbs, and gutters.

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

For more information on Shaping Up The Fifth at Pan American Park, please contact the Office of Councilwoman Schipske at 562 570-6932, or by email: district5@longbeach.gov.

Long Beach Needs to Get Ready for Big One

The Long Beach earthquake, estimated magnitude 6.25 Ms, occurred at 5:55 p.m., March 10, 1933. Brick buildings with unreinforced masonry walls, including many school buildings failed catastrophically. 120 people died in the quake largely from collapsed buildings or falling debris. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The City of Long Beach was devastated in 1933 when a major earthquake hit the city. 90% of the schools were destroyed due to faulty construction. Students had to attend classes for almost 2 years -- in tents and on the grass at local parks.

Back to the future. Right now small quakes have been hitting southern California. Last night and then this morning, several more.

Long Beach needs to get ready for the next big one that is coming. I have mandated my staff to complete CERT training (as I have done). Community Emergency Response Training is one of the best ways to get prepared. It is training provided by the LB Fire Department.

Here's what city government needs to do:

• Fill the position of Disaster Preparedness Director. A few years ago, the Disaster Preparedness Director left the city. He has not been replaced.
• Mandate that every senior city staff person completes NIMS -- National Incident Management System. Encourage the local school districts and hospitals to have their senior staff complete it as well.
• Expand CERT training so that more and more residents can get trained on what to do if an earthquake hits.
• Upgrade the city website on emergency preparedness so that is includes more information and looks like www.readyla.org. (I requested this several months ago.)
• Communicate with residents about what to do and where to go if their homes are destroyed by an earthquake. 
•  Make sure pet owners know what they need to do to prepare in the event of an earthquake. www.readyla.gov has information.

Related articles

• 4.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Yorba Linda
• Aftershocks rumble Southern California after 4.4 earthquake
• 4.4 earthquake hits near Yorba Linda
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City Council Adopts On Line Budget Information System

Tonight the City Council reviewed the Long Beach Budget Challenge -- an online system that allows residents to review the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013 to engage residents in making decisions on how to balance our city's budget.

I recommended that the Council utilize the system developed by Next10.org, a non profit organization which developed the California Budget Challenge.

The online Long Beach Budget Challenge can be accessed at: http://www.longbeach.gov/budgetchallenge/

Go online today and find out what the budget is and give us your input on what decisions need to be made to balance the city's budget. I will keep sending additional information on the budget -- when we will have meetings and how you can become engaged.

It Isn't "Normal" But Certainly Is "New" to Cut Police and Fire Services When Crime and Calls For Services Are Up

The Mayor has announced serious cuts to the Police Department and the Fire Department (see future blogs on that one) and declared that his budget is "The New Normal."

He also stated that elected officials should not "get caught up in a panic or rush to judgment regarding crime increases..."

Well, it isn't "normal" but it is certainly "new" that a Mayor or City Council would cut public safety services at a time when crime is up and increased crime is projected because of thousands being released from prison.

But don't just take my word as someone in "a policy position" -- here is the latest from the Long Beach Police Department:

Schipske Responds to Mayor's Budget Proposals -- Says cut disproportionately hit 5th Council District

 

For immediate release

Contact: Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske: 562 570-6932

Schipske Responds to Mayor’s Release of FY 2013 Budget

Long Beach, CA – August 1, 2012 – Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today issued the following statement in response to Mayor Bob Foster’s release of his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget. The City Charter requires the Mayor to give his budget by August 1 so that the City Council can pass a balanced budget not later than September 15^th.

“I want to thank the Mayor, the City Manager and the staff of Financial Management for their work and diligence in preparing the recommended FY 2013 budget. It is not an easy task because of the scope of services provided in this city and the complexities involved in funding these services.

The city budget is the most important policy document this city council will review as it charts the course for the city’s future and maps out what we want that future to look like.

This budget must balance the need to provide core services in an economy which has reduced revenues and that has been slow to fully recover. 

That being said, I listened to the Mayor and read his statement. I also reviewed the materials which were only given to the three council members in attendance after the press conference. I am concerned that for the second year in a row, there is an announced oil surplus (in excess of $17 million), yet reductions in services in police, fire, library and recreation services are being proposed. There is also a list of items on which the ‘surplus’ is to be spent as outlined in the Mayor’s proposals.

This approach doesn’t make sense. If I have debts, the very first thing I must do when I get more money than I budgeted, is to pay those debts – not to go off and buy a new car. 

For the past two years, we have been told – to cut essential city services such as police, fire, recreation, and libraries – and then spend the so called ‘oil surplus’ on projects.

Alternatively, the budget deficit announced for FY 2013 is not a surprise. It was announced in last year’s budget. So it doesn’t make sense if you knew you were facing a deficit in the coming year that you would spend surplus funds. Why wasn’t the ‘surplus’ of last year used to prevent a deficit this year?

The proposed budget cuts should be of particular concern to residents of eastside Long Beach -- especially the 5^th Council District:

• ·        A further reduction in fire department services and a major change in the staffing of medical services response units which will downgrade the level and type of staff on each rescue unit;
• ·        A reduction of three police divisions into two and the planned retirement of 40 police officers;
• ·        The elimination of after school and youth sports programs from all 5^th District parks so that they can be provided only in ‘areas with greatest density, highest crime and limited alternative recreation activities’;
• ·        Cutting Park Ranger patrol services of city parks to three days a week only at El Dorado Regional Park;
• ·        Reducing branch libraries to becoming ‘self-service’ locations with minimal library staff and the laying off of 17 positions; and
• ·        Cutting $1 million dollars (1/3 of total amount) for sidewalk repairs (the 5^th has the most sidewalks needing repair in the entire city).

I am particularly concerned to hear (and read) the Mayor’s response to the increase in crimes on the eastside:  Mayor Foster stated: ‘No one in a policy position should get caught in a panic or rush to judgment regarding crime increases. We all should remember that crime hit 40 year lows, so recent increases in some segments are applied to a very low base.’

Excuse me? Violent crimes are up in the eastside. Residential and commercial burglaries are up in the eastside. Auto theft is up in the eastside. At every public meeting held by the Long Beach Police Department, there is a discussion that with prison re-alignment this level of crime will continue and increase. And council shouldn’t ‘rush to judgment?’

I will be holding a budget town hall at which I invite the Mayor and City Manager to address residents about why this budget as presented includes unacceptable disproportionate cuts for the eastside of Long Beach – especially the 5^th Council District."

 Click link below to see full FY 2013 budget and documents:

http://www.longbeach.gov/finance/budget/documents/default.asp

White Fly Infestation -- What We Are Doing

Many constituents have written me recently complaining about the dreaded white fly that is infesting streets of our city trees.


Our City Arborist (tree specialist) has been inspecting these trees and working with both the County of Los Angeles and the University of California -- Davis experts about white fly control.


Here's what they say:

Message from Public Works Department:

“We are still struggling with the overwhelming abundance of white flies. Weather conducive to early and rapid replication created a population of white flies beyond our preparatory efforts for biological control.

"We confer with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and follow their Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. The recommended process to control white flies is through the placement of natural enemies such as lacewing larvae.

“External application of pesticides are not overly effective and the most effective pesticide is Malathion, which we don't want to use. A more recent alternative that has come to our attention is Trunk Injection. This process injects an insecticide into the phloem system of the tree. When the white fly feeds on the tree's sap, they become infected and die.

"This process should not be used on trees that will produce food within the year following the process.

"For Council District 5 in particular, we are focused on Ash trees, so this caveat is not of concern. We have conducted a pilot on a couple of Ash trees on Ladoga and Deborah Streets. The insecticide takes 7-10 days to work through the tree to the sap and we will be checking for efficacy next week. If this process works better than a biological approach, we may go citywide on our 1,500 Ash trees.”

---Michael Conway, Director, Public Works Department

I am including a slide presentation (click here) (done in Florida -- which has the same problems) that you might find helpful, as well as links to articles and websites. (Click here to get article on home garden pest management)

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Another take on what is really being "business friendly" in Long Beach

Click this link to see ratings of 75 cities regarding literacy.

Interview on Medical Marijuana and Early Long Beach

City Documents You Need to Read -- July 2012

Flag of Long Beach (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Dear Readers,

As you know I receive a great deal of documents as your representative on the City Council. I also generate documents -- items that I place on the council agenda for a vote by the full council.

The following documents are important for you to read. They provide a wealth of information on a number of topics. After you read them, please feel free to contact me to discuss: district5@longbeach.gov.

Documents: Click on the title of each document to read full document.

• Decision not to spend $10 million on constructing an underground tunnel to new courthouse. Was pleased that management made this decision -- I opposed the expenditure.
• Update on funding for the Long Beach Municipal Band. This memo has been issued prior to the City Council voting on next year's budget.
• Pension Reform Scenarios. This was presented by City Management this week. Unfortunately, without state legislation the city council is very limited on any additional pension changes it can make.
• Consultant Comparisons of Long Beach with Other Cities. This was prepared by a consultant the City Manager hired to review possible organizational reform.
• Listening to Business. This is my council agenda item that was passed recently to have a forum with small businesses to listen to how we can make the city more business friendly. I will update you when a date is selected.
• Community Gardens Update. During the discussion of where to locate a dog park in El Dorado Park area, there were questions raised about the Community Gardens and possible contamination caused by run off from off leash dogs. The memo is a response to my questions.

Serving on Medical Board of California

I am finishing up two days of a quarterly meeting in Sacramento on the Medicsl Board of California. I have been reappointed for another four years by the Senate Rules Committee. I serve as a public (non physician) member. There are 15 on the board. Eight are
Physicians. Seven are public members. While there is not a slot for other health care professionals, I am the first and only registered Nurse on this board and any other Medical Board in the US.

The Board licenses and disciplines the over 130,000 MDs. We also oversee physician assistants, licensed midwives (non nurse midwives),lens and glasses dispensers, and a new category of polysomnographers-professionals who test for sleep apnea. I currently serve on the Executive board as secretary. I chair the committee on physician supervision and have been working on regulations to deal with the legislation on how physicians should supervise licensed staff in doing laser or light pulse therapies for cosmetic purposes.

Between meetings all board members must review numerous cases on line and render a vote on proposed discipline being considered for physicians who have broken the law.

As part of my health care administration classes I teach at CSULB, I teach about the board and how consumers need to be aware of its functions.

I honored to serve on this board and look forward to my next 4 years.

Special alert on traffic construction

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-Alert----Two-Week-Freeway-Connector-Closure.html?soid=1101716177586&aid=4_zFMdTYNiw