LB Police Department Issues Crime Stats for Quarter

The Long Beach Police Department has issued the quarterly stats on crime in Long Beach. No way around this, we need more police on the streets. Police Stats Qtrly_00000

Playing Gottcha Doesn't Help Anyone

I have a number of email addresses that I don't check on as I do my City Council email address -- which I check hourly. So when I get an email from the press or an inquiry from a resident, I answer back almost the same day.

When I receive an email on my personal email, I respond as soon as I read it (which again maybe every couple of weeks). Over the years, former Councilmember Les Robbins has emailed me on my yahoo account -- but has also contacted my council office directly when he wants to report a problem in his neighborhood. So I was shocked when I received a scathing email from him yesterday blasting me for not answering his questions about police staffing.

Well, as it turns out, he had not contacted my council office on this issue, nor sent me an inquiry on my council email. He sent me an email on October 21 on my yahoo account -- which I had not read because I had not reviewed yahoo in a while. Now he informs me that because I didn't answer his yahoo email I am "not going to like the column I am writing" in the Beachcomber. The following is his October 21 email:

From: LESLASD@aol.com
To: egschipske@yahoo.com
Sent: 10/21/2012 3:57:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: (no subject)

 

Councilwoman, I have a couple of questions re: the police department that I need answered before I finish an article for the Beachcomber.  You should know the answer to these questions so I am going to ask you.

1.  How has the staffing level reductions on the police department affected their calls for service policy within the patrol division?

2.  How has closing the substations to walk-in activity from the public for the purpose making a police report impacted that issue?

3.  In the event that we no longer dispatch a black and white to certain calls for service such as auto burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles, residential burglaries, petty thefts from property, etc. how do we document those crimes?

 

My wife was the victim of a vehicle burglary in Cypress last week and when she called 9-11 out there they sent a patrol officer to her location, where he took a 459 PC report, and then handed her some very valuable and pertinent information regarding how to report her stolen credit cards, I.D. check book, purse, etc. etc. etc.

 

4.  I have witnessed a couple of multi vehicle traffic accidents in the 5th district in the past 4 days, one this morning at Wardlow and Palo Verde.  The one that I saw on Friday was at Willow and Palo Verde.  At both of those traffic accidents I saw a multitude of black and white present, with at least 5 at the Willow and Palo Verde accident.  The accident this morning at Wardlow and Palo Verde also had at least three fire apparatus present with two engines and one paramedic squad....lots of black and whites, at least 4, but I drove by too quickly to be sure....I am just curious how we can have that many black and white present to traffic collisions.  Hopefully we have so many out here now that we can have a respectable calls for service policy within the patrol divisions.

 

Please let me know the answers to my questions as soon as possible.

 

Respectfully,

 

Les Robbins

Now, Les knows better. He was a councilmember and he knows that if a constituent asks a question about a city department that the answer is official. So he should have contacted me through official channels and I would have answered him as soon as I got a response from the Chief of Police. He also knows as a former law enforcement member that it would take me more than an email to get the responses he is asking since I would have to go to the Chief of Police to get the answers on documentation and dispatching.

I actually had been working on a council agenda item that requests a report on police response time to all levels of calls. Because we only have two council meetings in November, the agenda item will appear in December. I am also asking for a public discussion of fire department response times.

So playing gottcha with this issue doesn't help anyone. Just come out and say it, Les -- you don't want an answer-- you want the LA County Sheriffs back in Long Beach.

Rebelmouse.com Provides One More Social Media Connection

Just had dinner with my friends George and Daphne and learned about a new social media aggregator called www.Rebelmouse.com. Allows you to combine Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest with RSS integration on one page.

Developed by former Huffington Post executive Paul Berry. Check it out.

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Schipske Elected Vice President of Medical Board of California

 

Schipske Elected as Vice President of the Medical Board of California

San Diego, CA – The Medical Board of California unanimously elected Gerrie Schipske as Vice President of the 15 member board today during its quarterly meeting. Schipske, who is serving in her second term as the appointee of the Senate Rules Committee had just completed her term as Secretary of the Board.

“This is a hard working regulatory board that is dedicated to the protection of the consumer. I am very honored to have the support of my colleagues to serve as Vice President for the coming year,” says Schipske.  

Schipske is the first and only Registered Nurse to serve on a state medical board.President, Dr. Sharon Levine; Vice President Gerrie Schipske, RNP/JD; and Secretary, Dr. Silvia Diego.

2012 We Can Do It Award Winners

On October 19, the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation honored the following women for their "We Can Do It" spirit during a luncheon hosted by the Foundation and Keesal, Young & Logan:

Carmen Perez, Julie Bartolotto, Eunice Sato, Jill Rosenberg, Blue Collar Women, Maria Elena Durazo, Neena Strichart, Dr. Lynn Shaw, Sue Ann Robinson, Nien Lien Wacker, and Pat McCormick (represented by her son). Former winners included Jane Templin, Dr. Beverly O'Neil and Terry Braunstein.

We Can Do It poster for Westinghouse, closely associated with Rosie the Riveter, although not a depiction of the cultural icon itself. Pictured Geraldine Doyle (1924-2010), at age 17. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Schipske Launches LB Winged Wonders Call for Artists

Long Beach Winged Wonders - Calling All Artists 

To Create An Urban Bird Walk 

 

Long Beach, CA -- October 16, 2012 - Ever walked the El Dorado duck pond and wondered who were all those beautiful winged wonders who inhabit the pond? Once local artists respond to the call to submit their renderings of the wild birds, you will be able to see them via the "Long Beach Winged Wonders" banner project being launched by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.

"Local artists are being asked to submit artwork depicting 44 wild birds that inhabit the pond," says Schipske, who established a Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands Task Force five years ago. "The selected entries will be placed on banners which will be hung on the light poles that circle the duck pond in El Dorado Park off Willow Street and Studebaker, which is the home for hundreds of wild birds. The banners will also feature the names of the wild birds that inhabit the pond and information about the importance of these birds to the environment.   

Schipske notes that she launched the partnership between the art community and supporters of our wild life to help educate and promote awareness about the numerous birds who make their home in our local pond. "The colorful, creative banners will be accompanied by bird sounds and a narrated tour that can be accessed by visitors' cell phones."

The "call to artists" is being coordinated by the Arts Council of Long Beach and the Long Beach Museum of Art and is open to all artists that live or work in Long Beach. There is no age restriction. Submissions of two dimensional artwork are welcome. Art must be a single image in color with no background. Work must be original and done on a flat surface of canvass or paper with each individual artists' chosen medium. Photographs or three dimensional artwork will not be accepted. Artists are permitted to submit original art of up to three different bird species, and each can be created with a different medium. All submissions will be juried by an independent review panel assembled by the Arts Council. A list of the bird species is available by clicking here: http://www.longbeach.gov/naturecenter/birds.asp.

Deadline for submissions of original artwork is Monday, November 30, 2012. Submissions must be submitted to the following address: http://artscouncilforlongbeach.submittable.com.  Each artist will need to provide his/her name, artist statement and description of each piece submitted. Up to three images, each depicting a single species, can be submitted with an optional detail shot of each image.

Schipske is partnering with Partners of Park, Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, Waste Management, and the Port of Long Beach to raise funds for the printing of the banners and a book featuring the artists and their works that will be made available in the El Dorado Nature Center.

For more information, please contact Molly Gardner at the Arts Council: 562 435 2787.

Please Participate in Great Shakeout on October 18

Community Encouraged to Participate in the
'Great California ShakeOut' Earthquake Drill on Thursday, Oct. 18

The City of Long Beach is encouraging all residents, businesses, schools and visitors to join our neighbors around the state and participate in the annual "Great California ShakeOut" earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 10:18 am. Last year more than the 8.6 million Californians participated in this drill.

Earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning.  They can occur at any time of the year, day or night. Long Beach and Los Angeles County are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes.  Though earthquakes cannot be predicted, there are steps you can take to prepare your home and family for an earthquake.

At 10:18 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012, millions of people in government offices, homes, businesses, schools, and public places throughout California will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during a simulated drill of what we would do during a real, significant earthquake.  The Long Beach Civic Center is participating in the drill.

Practicing earthquake plans and creating earthquake kits are critical steps in preparing for the difficult conditions that will occur with a major earthquake.  Basic services such as electricity, water, gas or sewage treatment may be cut off for an extended period of time.  Most experts will tell you to prepare to be self-sustaining for a minimum of five to seven days after a major earthquake.  Store enough food and water for each per person in your home for five to seven days.  Do not forget to include items for your family members with special needs (seniors, infants, etc).  Remember to include food and water for your pets as well.  
 
The Great California ShakeOut is organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance.   Simulating what would happen in a major earthquake is an invaluable opportunity for us to better understand how disaster of this magnitude could affect our homes and loved ones.  Please participate in the Great ShakeOut.  

For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit www.longbeach.gov/fire/emergency_prep/earthquake.asp, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/preparedness.php or www.oes.ca.gov.

Let all of California know you participated in the ShakeOut by registering on the Great California ShakeOut website, www.shakeout.org. 

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Schipske's Efforts Go City-Wide -- Mayor Foster Praises Program

For Immediate Release

From the Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, 5^th District

562 570-6932

SCHIPSKE’S VIAL OF LIFE PROGRAM GOES CITY-WIDE –

Mayor Foster Praises Program As “Simple yet effective”

Long Beach, CA – October 15, 2012 -- It took 6 years after her bid for City Council for Gerrie Schipske, a Registered Nurse Practitioner and former EMT who did ride alongs with the Long Beach Fire Department, to get the VIAL of L.I.F.E. fully implemented in the City of Long Beach, but now that the City has announced it is taking it city-wide, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is very pleased.

“As someone who has worked in our local emergency rooms, I thought it was important to find a way residents could communicate their medical conditions and medications to the paramedics when they responded to a call for service,” explains Schipske. 

“When I walked door to door in the 5^th Council District in 2005, I handed out my own ‘Vial of LIFE’ kits that my volunteers and I put together. They were a hit. So after my election I worked with local medical facilities, the Long Beach Fire Department and several charitable organizations to improve the program and make it work for Long Beach,” Schipske notes. “Today, the City of Long Beach announced that it is taking the our program and expanding it city-wide. I want to thank Mayor Foster and the Long Beach Fire Department and Long Beach Fire Fighters Association for their strong support of this important effort.”

The Vial of L.I.F.E.is a nation-wide effort to put medical and prescription information into the hands of first responders. L.I.F.E. stands for Life Saving Information in Emergencies. The program is simple. Residents fill out a medical information form and place it inside a pill vial, place the pill vial in the top shelf of the refrigerator and put a magnet on the outside of the refrigerator to let  paramedics know the information is inside the refrigerator.

“The ‘Vial of L.I.F.E.’ program saves lives by speaking for residents who can’t speak for themselves,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “This simple yet effective program will quickly provide the information that 911 responders need when they administer critical help to an injured or sick person who might not be able to speak.”

Schipske has raised several thousands of dollars to launch the VIAL of L.I.F.E. in Long Beach to pay for a website (www.lbvialoflife.com), printing of medical forms, labels and refrigerators magnets. “Walmart stepped up and donated 10,000 pill vials,” says Schipske. “I ran the medical form by Dr. Steven Shea who heads up the ER at St. Mary Medical Center and works directly with our paramedics so that we know it contains the information that is needed to make quick medical decisions.”

Schipske reports that “senior and  youth volunteers” assemble the kits which she has worked to distribute the Vial of LIFE throughout the City of Long Beach. “We have distributed 3,000 VIAL of L.I.F.E. kits to date. Any resident of Long Beach can pick up a VIAL of L.I.F.E. kit at the locations on the list to the right.” 


Additionally, 300 VIALS were given to Meals on Wheels for their clients. 

“We also produced a public service announcement with Chief Duree that you can view on our website: www.lbvialoflife.com. VIAL of L.I.F.E. can save your life.” #30

The Curse of the Oleander Scorch

Oleanders (Still Fighting) (Photo credit: Accretion Disc)

Oleanders - Sickly (Photo credit: Accretion Disc)

Gather round children as I recount the tale of the oleander scorch that gobbled Long Beach... well, I know it sounds spooky but Long Beach has been hit by an insect which causes a bacteria to grow called the oleander scorch that is devastating ...you guessed it...our oleanders -- particularly in the 5th Council district.

Hmm. Sounds suspicious that it would just hit here.

Anyway, the following is the memo with photos just sent to council offices.

Citywide 001

Economic Development Will Happen if Long Beach Is Safe

I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this item forward. Certainly, no one on this council or the Mayor is opposed to Economic Development, because we all see it as a necessary component of expanding revenue sources for the City.

I think the public needs to be aware that there has been extensive Economic Development efforts taking place in Long Beach without an Economic Development officer – through our partnership with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (click here) which most recently helped bring AIRGAS to the Douglas Park with the leadership of Barbara Levine, Regional Manager for LA Economic Development Corporation and current President of the LB Chamber of Commerce Jerry Miller.

• The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation has in place several Strategic Advisory Committees which are focusing on the following areas:
• Business Friendly
• Green Economy
• Infrastructure
• Employment Land
• Workforce Development
• World Trade

Our own Mayor Bob Foster is the co chair of the committee on the issue of making LA County more Business Friendly.

We also need to keep in mind that at both California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College we have numerous on going efforts to spur economic development and support of technology and small businesses.

That being said, I am concerned that we are embarking on spending funds on a new effort just weeks after we cut essential police, fire, parks and recreation, library and other services and well before we have even begun the layoffs of employees because of these cuts.

As we are yet to know the full impact of budget cuts – especially on police services – I would not want to see us spend a nickel on a new program instead of funding public safety at the needed levels.

I will support the motion asking the City Manager to report back on the start up and on going costs of an Economic Development Officer. I will however ask that the City Manager agendize a quarterly report of crime stats and a discussion of the impact of budget cuts on public safety before we authorize the expenditure of any funds for a new program.

Finally, I would recommend that we all do the following: 1) log onto crimereports.com and view the growing number of crimes reported throughout the city of Long Beach and 2) review a recent report issued by American Progress entitled: The Economic Benefits of Reducing Violent Crimes which studied 8 major cities in the US and concludes:

In today’s tight fiscal and economic environment, the mayors and city councils of every city—along with state and the federal governments—are searching for ways to reduce their spending and expand their revenues. The common challenge is to achieve sustainable fiscal conditions without hobbling government’s ability to provide the vital goods and services that most Americans expect, all without burdening businesses and families with onerous new taxes.

This analysis provides another way available to many American municipalities: Secure budget savings, higher revenues, and personal income and wealth gains by reducing violent crime rates.

This reports also points out that among several methods for reducing these crimes includes:  placing additional police patrols which have been found to reduce the incidence of serious offenses in high-crime hotspots.

We will not be able to bring economic development and jobs to all part of our city until all parts of our city are safe.

So while I support this motion to receive a report on the costs of a new program, I urge my colleagues to direct any available funds into adding police patrols so that we can reduce the crime level in all of our districts.

A Preview of Sares Regis Development at Douglas Park

Click here to see the link to what is planned by Sares Regis Group at Douglas Park (Boeing property) http://www.sares-regis.com/Experience-Data/Pacific-Pointe-North-Phase-I

The photos show Phase I and Phase II. This development will mean more jobs for Long Beach...and that is a good thing.

What Costume Will You Wear?

So what costume will you wear for Halloween? The National Retail Federation did a survey of which costumes will be worn this Halloween season. See below for that they found: (personally I am dressing up as a City Councilwoman...scary, I know)

Openness About Closed Session Means You Need to Be Honest

Schipske Gets Permission from City Attorney to Disclose Closed Session on Schroeder Army Hall After Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell Releases Inaccurate Description of What Took Place

Long Beach, CA – October 4, 2012 -- 5^th District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today issued the following statement concerning discussions and action which took place in closed session concerning the transfer of military property (Schroeder Army Hall) to the City of Long Beach for use as a police substation. Schipske notes that she conferred with City Attorney Robert Shannon and was told she is free to disclose the action the City Council took:

“I am saddened by Councilman O’Donnell’s inaccurate and inflammatory comments about what occurred in closed session. The motion that he voted against included moving the homeless facility to be operated by MHA away from homes in Artcraft Manor which is in the 5^th District. Staff had offered that site because of Council concerns that another site be found for MHA and council by a vote of 8-1 (with O’Donnell voting against) directed staff that placing MHA on the southeast corner of Schroeder Hall up against the wall that separates the property from the homes would not be compatible with the neighborhood. 

Why O’Donnell chose to distort what took place in closed session is anyone’s guess. But it is clear he issued the press statement to distract from the fact he was the only councilmember who apparently didn’t mind putting MHA on the Schroeder Hall site right beside the neighborhood. He also voted against directing City management to develop restrictions for use of any site by MHA and for directing the City Manager to continue working with MHA to find an alternative site.

In order to be open and transparent to the public about what really occurred, I would like to detail what the order in which discussions occurred in closed session yesterday when the City Council met to discuss the status of the US Army and US HUD’s transfer of military property at Schroeder Army Hall located at Willow Street and Grand Avenue. 

City management briefed us on the fact that the federal agencies want the City to move forward to take the property. In order to do so, the Council had to indicate on which site the homeless services provider (Mental Health America) would be located. Federal law requires the City of Long Beach to accommodate a homeless services provider in order for the City to receive Schroeder Army Hall.

In a prior City Council closed session, the Council unanimously directed the City Manager to meet with MHA to discuss the offer of cash in lieu of property so that MHA could go to another location other than on or near the site of Schroeder Army Hall.

The City Manager reported to the Council that he had met and talked with MHA and that there was an expressed interest in cash in lieu of property, provided that the City could ensure that if MHA bought another property they would be allowed to locate there. There was discussion about a potential piece of property which could be purchased by MHA and the City Manager was requested to continue talking with MHA about moving from the Schroeder Army Hall area.

At no time did anyone present in the closed session state that “negotiations had been brought to a halt” or that MHA “has changed their minds about protecting our community.” In fact, the City Manager continues to talk with MHA about alternative sites (actually talking with MHA yesterday prior to O’Donnell’s news release) and the City Council actually engaged in lengthy discussion during closed session about how the neighborhood would be protected including stating that the MHA site should not be located near homes.

Management then presented to the City Council two locations for MHA: 1) behind the Long Beach Public Health Department which provides a buffer from the neighborhood or 2) on the southeast section of Schroeder Army Hall up against the wall directly adjacent to homes.

As the first Councilmember to speak on this issue in the closed session, I strongly expressed my disagreement with any location that is directly behind residences and then stated that I was concerned it had not been made clear with the US Army, US HUD or MHA that a list of restrictions would be placed on any location MHA would occupy and that fact needed to be discussed prior to any EIR or lease.

A discussion continued with several Council members participating, including O’Donnell and me, that those restrictions would include that all clients would have to be transported via van and not public transportation and that the facility would operate from 8 am until 4pm. City staff was directed that these restrictions need to be discussed with MHA prior to the approval of an EIR. Staff indicated that they understood and that any restriction proposed would have to be agreed by MHA and would be included in the EIR for public comment. 

Staff also iterated that in order for Schroeder Army Hall to be reused as an eastside police substation and MHA to operate a homeless treatment center, that there would be extensive community meetings on all issues concerning the properties and that the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would need to be approved.

Council continued to ask how legally the City could enforce any restrictions so that should an alternative site not be found, MHA would make certain that their operations did not impact the neighborhood. The City Attorney’s staff responded that MHA would have to abide by the terms of the lease and the City could enforce the lease.

The vote taken by the City Council – which O’Donnell voted against included: (1) Authorize the initiation of the EIR ; (2) direct staff to continue to identify other potential alternate sites, and (3) direct staff to prepare an initial list of operating restrictions applicable to the MHA facility, no matter the ultimate location.  

After the vote, the City Manager again contacted MHA about seeking an alternative site. I am hopeful that O’Donnell’s inaccurate and inflammatory comments will not derail the progress that has been made in working with MHA to find a more suitable location  and our efforts to protect the neighborhood.”

Addendum: Mr. O’Donnell states that the proposed MHA facility will be on “City land near the Stearns Park area” -- this is very misleading. The proposed location on Burnett is 1.4 miles from the nearest point of Stearns Park and is sheltered by an industrial area.

Feel free to compare what happened with what O'Donnell told the press:

O’Donnell Statement on Schroeder Hall: 

Service Provider Backs Out of Efforts to Protect Neighborhood

Protracted Battle to Move Homeless Center May Be Over

 
Behind-the-scenes efforts, which may have moved a mentally ill homeless facility away from eastside neighborhoods, have been halted due to a service provider’s unwillingness to move forward.

For the last several years, the Long Beach City Council has been debating a proposal to open a treatment center for the mentally ill homeless adjacent to eastside neighborhoods. Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell has been a strong opponent of the project, believing that placing it near a residential neighborhood was "not a good fit," in his words. The proposal resulted from the City's planned acquisition of the nearby Schroeder Hall Army Facility and a correlating requirement that the City provide a homeless accommodation as an in-lieu payment for the Army property.  The Council voted, with O’Donnell dissenting, to move forward with the process of siting a facility on City land near the Stearns Park area.  Behind the scenes discussions had taken place in which the service provider, Mental Health America (MHA) would receive cash in lieu of the property.  The City Council has been apprised that the discussions have been brought to a halt by the service provider, effectively ending efforts to place the facility elsewhere.   
In response to MHA’s recent actions, O’Donnell has released the following statement: 
 
"The proposed location is not fair to the nearby residents and not fair to the homeless.  We all have a duty to help our fellow man, but this proposal was not thought out from the start.  I am very disappointed that efforts to move this facility away from people’s homes has not been successful.  The service provider has changed their minds about protecting our community.”