Webinar on Human Trafficking Cases Available on September 27

Responding to Intimidation in Human Trafficking Cases

Webinar  Click http://www.aequitasresource.org/trainingDetail.cfm?id=101 to register.

September 27, 2013
From 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Presented by Audrey Roofeh, Polaris Project and Jennifer Long, AEquitas (Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women)

This webinar is designed to raise awareness, for prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals, about the dynamics and indicators of human trafficking as well as intimidation, and will challenge participants to reevaluate their approach to detecting and prosecuting these crimes. The webinar will explore the complex issues faced by prosecutors in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting human trafficking and intimidation while balancing offender accountability with the impact of criminal prosecution on victims. 

Related articles

• Human trafficking cases moved to federal court
• SENATOR MARK OBENSHAIN: Continuing the Fight Against Human Trafficking
• Human trafficking manual launched
• Human trafficking reported in tourist hubs

Schipske Says US DOJ and CAL Attorney General Link Sex Trafficking to Gangs -- So Council Should Restore Gang Unit

Long Beach Police Department (California) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As a member of the Council Public Safety Committee, I am very concerned about the cuts that were made in the Long Beach Police Department's Gang Unit in the Mayor's Budget.

I am concerned that our police do not have the resources they need to target the gangs that are often linked to the violent crimes being committed in some Council Districts (not the 5th). 

And because the politicians in Sacramento (even our own representatives) voted to release prisoners and send them back home, we are experiencing an increase in property crimes on the east side of Long Beach.

Now we learn that there is an increase of sex trafficking in Long Beach which is directly tied to gangs.

Sex trafficking is the third biggest criminal industry after drugs and arms trafficking and involves the exploitation of mostly young women and girls through forced prostitution. 

Street gangs operate commercial sex rings which make profits from the sale of young women. Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has called human trafficking a low-risk and high-reward crime for gangs.

If we are really interested in combating this crime we need to fully restore the gang unit in the Long Beach Police Department to give them the resources they need to combat this horrendous crime. 

A fully restored gang unit can gather critical intelligence on the methods of recruiting, transporting, harboring, marketing, buying, and selling involved in gang-related human trafficking. It can help target gang-related trafficking in addition to other criminal charges.

The current "gang unit" in the LBPD has been funded at half-strength since the Mayor proposed cuts in the FY 13 budget. I proposed the restoration of the gang unit but it was opposed by the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Robert Garcia.

It's time to restore those cuts. We need to get the scourge of all gang-related activity out of Long Beach. All of our neighborhoods deserve to be safe. All of our children deserve to be protected from these sexual predators. 

I have worked in Long Beach for so many years on public safety issues. I am a life time honorary member of the Long Beach Police Chief's Women's Advisory Committee because I helped establish it and worked diligently to start the Sexual Assault Response team and the Domestic Violence Response team. Because of my work, I was appointed to the United States Attorney General's National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. 

Related articles

• Human trafficking reported in tourist hubs
• Human trafficking cases moved to federal court
• San Bernardino, CA's law enforcement decodes gang graffiti to curb violence

Schipske Proposes Boeing Donate Building and Archives for Aviation Museum Before It Leaves Long Beach

English: MD-21 Blackbird with mounted D-21B Drone Displayed in Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Williams X-Jet Displayed in Museum of Flight in Seattle. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Long Beach, CA – September 20, 2013 – Having spent weeks researching her books on Long Beach aviation in the archives stored at Boeing, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is convinced that they need to stay in Long Beach, “preferably in an aviation museum that could be established with a building donated by Boeing before it closes its C-17 plant in 2015.”

“While the announced closure of the C-17 plant in 2015 by Boeing will end this era of Long Beach history, it presents an excellent opportunity for the City to partner with Boeing to create a lasting legacy to commemorate our aviation history and to preserve thousands of archives, photographs and memorabilia that are specific to the history and residents of Long Beach and which are now in storage at a Boeing facility,” says Schipske, who represents the area in which Boeing is located.

Schipske notes that the Boeing archives and photographs not only chronicle the history of Douglas Aircraft, McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing operations in Long Beach, but provide a unique look at our local history during all of those periods in time.

“They have the rosters of employees from the 1940s. The newsletters feature photos and information on the people who worked in the plant – many of whom lived in Long Beach.  Other photographs document how Long Beach workers produced the more than 15,000 planes made at the site. It is an incredible wealth of historical documentation and it should remain in Long Beach,” emphasizes Schipske.

Schipske believes that Boeing should be asked by the City to not only donate the archives specific to Long Beach, but should also be urged to donate a building that could be used as a Long Beach Aviation Museum that could house the archives and more.

“The City of Long Beach has spent considerable time, money and energy in support of Boeing’s efforts to maintain funding of its C-17 by the U.S. Air Force, but unfortunately production will cease in 2015. So now is the time to ask Boeing to help establish a Long Beach Aviation Museum.”

Schipske says there are thousands of retirees from Douglas, McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing who would welcome the opportunity to help establish and docent such a museum. “This could become a major tourist attraction for Long Beach,” pointing to the Seattle Museum of Flight (http://www.museumofflight.org/), where the Boeing Company was started, as an excellent example of what an aviation museum can do for a city. “More than 500,000 people visit this Smithsonian affiliate each year.”

Schipske has placed an item on the City Council agenda for October 1, requesting the City Manager to discuss with Boeing the donation of both a building and the historical archives now in storage.

Related articles

• Boeing To End C-17 Airlifter Production, Close Long Beach Plant In 2015 (losangeles.cbslocal.com)

End of an Era -- Closure of Boeing

English: Commandant of cadets flies new C-17 Globemaster III home: Brig. Gen. Susan Y. Desjardins flies a newly accepted C-17A Globemaster III over the U.S. Air Force Academy cadet area Oct. 2 in Colorado Springs, Colorado General Desjardins accepted the aircraft into the United States Air Force's inventory at Boeing's facilities in Long Beach, California, and flew it from the Boeing facility to its new duty station with the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

End Of an Era: Councilwoman Schipske Comments on Boeing Announced Closure of C-17 Line 

Long Beach, CA – September 18, 2013 – Upon receiving news that Boeing, currently one of the largest employers in Long Beach, has decided to close the C-17 line in 2015, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske issued the following statement: 

“This is the end of an era that started in the 1940’s with Long Beach being the home of aircraft manufacturing where the best planes ever built have been produced,” said Schipske, in whose district Boeing resides.

“The production of excellent aircraft for military and commercial use has provided thousands of well paying jobs for Long Beach residents, and has been the heart of skilled trades jobs in our community. I hope that Boeing will provide retraining for their employees for comparable paying jobs in our City.

“The Mayor and City Council have done everything possible to convince the U.S. Air Force to continue to purchase the C-17 aircraft, but they decided not to order any more of them.

“This is an opportunity for other companies in the area to take very experienced, well-trained Long Beach worker and put them to work in tech and growth industry jobs. It’s important to be able to provide new opportunities for these workers while the City of Long Beach has an 11.9% unemployment rate as of August (in California the unemployment rate for the same period is 8.7%), and a 22% poverty rate.

“On the positive side, the C-17 site will most likely be added to the Douglas Park development planned by Sares Regis, which is doing incredibly well. Businesses moving into the development will also be providing good jobs.

“I’m hopeful that Boeing will give the City of Long Beach the historical archives from the early days of McDonnell Douglas manufacturing on the site to the present. It would be a great gift from Boeing to ensure that important history of our City’s role in producing aircraft for our nation and ultimately for the world,” Schipske concluded.

Related articles

• Boeing To End C-17 Airlifter Production, Close Long Beach Plant In 2015 (losangeles.cbslocal.com)
• Boeing to end C-17 airlifter production in 2015 (nzherald.co.nz)
• Layoffs likely in St. Louis as Boeing ends C-17 airlifter production (kmov.com)

Go Long Beach! Technology and Innovation Moves Forward

Tonight, the City council approved reviewing the idea of establishing a technology and innovation commission. The City has done some incredible things in technology, including our Go Long Beach smartphone application, our new online permits and licenses, the use of social media, an open government initiative, an online city contract database, free WiFi initiatives for our parks and libraries and upgrading our technology throughout the city.

To ensure we continue providing cutting edge services to our residents, visitors and businesses, and that we maintain, expand and capitalize on our leadership position, Long Beach will create a technology and innovation commission.

Technology and innovation is needed in Long Beach because we are facing high unemployment (11.3%) and a high poverty rate (22%). These industries are where the new jobs will come from.

Last year, I proposed that the City explore a Clean Tech Zone which would attract these businesses. With this Commission, we can move that idea forward.

We are fortunate that we have had a technology advisory committee comprised of residents who have expertise and willingness to share, who have served for several years. I have asked that these members be allowed to serve on any new commission concerning technology.

Long Beach is seeing a boom in technology . We have We Labs and Long Beach Tech. We have offers from Code for America to help form a “brigade” – wizards who can create applications and software for public use. We have so much potential.

Go Long Beach. Together, we can create jobs and opportunities for our residents.

Schipske Asks Auditor to Include Look at Foreign Travel by Mayor and City Councilmembers -- Wants Politicization of Port to Stop

English: "Green Port" flag of the Port of Long Beach. I work for the communications dept. for the Port of Long Beach and the pictures I use meet the criteria of being "free content." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Cranes at the Hanjin Shipping terminal at the Port of Long Beach (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Councilwoman Asks Auditor Doud to Include in Her Audit – Travel Expenses of Non-Harbor Commissioners – Mayor and City Councilmembers

September 13, 2014 – Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today called on City Auditor Laura Doud to include in an audit of travel expenses of the Board of Harbor Commissioners, a review of the travel expenses of non-Commissioners who traveled on port dollars.

“I think the public needs a full accounting of how the Port of Long Beach has spent funds on travel and who have been the recipients of these funds,” says Schipske.  “Harbor Commissioners have a specific duty to help expand trade relations with other countries and the shipping industry and their travel is justified. Other's travel is highly questionable.”

Schipske adds that unless wrongdoing can be proven concerning the current Board President, Thomas Fields, “it appears there is a witch hunt going on against a commissioner who dared disagree with the current Mayor about where to locate the Port headquarters. This continual politicization of the Port of Long Beach is causing serious harm in the shipping community and it needs to stop.”

#30

I goofed about 9-11

September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City: View of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. (Image: US National Park Service ) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Late last night I sent out an email with a montage of photos in remembrance of 9-11. Unfortunately, I used a template and did not change the content which referred to the 10th anniversary of this horrible event. (I was tired as I am as I write this apology.)

Almost immediately I received responses from readers chastizing me for sending something out that had a mistake it in. "Oh my god, I can't believe you wrote it was only 10 years..." You get the gist.

Well, I apologize that the email didn't say it was the 12th anniversary. Whether it is 10 or 12 or 20 years, I will never forget waking up that morning and turning on the news before work only to see saw the horrendous terror that was inflicted on this country that day.

But my mistake and the immediate "gotchas"  caused me to also remember that 9-11 (yesterday) was also the "9/11 Day of Service." It was created to observe September 11 every year as a day of charitable service and doing good deeds. It was created soon after 9/11 to provide a positive way to forever remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together in peace to improve the world.

Yesterday, millions of Americans participated by taking time out to help others in need, in their own way. Many posted notes on the website quilt (http://www.911day.org/the-quilt/) about their promise to do something good. Here's just a few:

"I will support mentorship and help youth"
" I will say thank you to the police I meet"
"I will donate food to our local pantry every month" 

and the one that I needed most:

"I will make someone else's life a little easier."

Related articles

• Remembering 9/11 Victims and Heroes (newsplex.com)

Councilwoman Schipske Brings Volunteers to Sweep Down Standing Water in Gutters

Councilwoman Schipske Brings Volunteers to Sweep Down Gutters Because Residents

Worried Standing Water Might Breed Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus

Long Beach, CA – September 5, 2013 – Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and a group of volunteers are heading for El Dorado Park Estates this morning to sweep down gutters on Marna, Claremore and Ring streets because of resident concerns that standing water in the gutter may be a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

“Even though the temperature has run into the high 90 degrees these past few weeks and gutters should be bone dry, residents on these streets are concerned that run off from sprinklers is pooling in their gutters and may be a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus,” explains Schipske, who has responded to several complaints via email and letter and urged residents to stop allowing water to run into the street until funding can be allocated to replace the curbs, to cut tree roots and to replace asphalt.

“Fixing Marna Avenue was estimated by Public Works as costing $375,000,” Schipske notes. “Each councilmember was only allotted $500,000 and so I asked the residents at a series of public meetings to prioritize where to spend the funds in the district. Several block locations were selected ahead of Marna Avenue – Fanwood, Lees, Keynote and Lanai and were repaired. There are many other locations on the list as well and as funds become available, they will be fixed.”

Schipske has held numerous meetings with the Public Works department on how best to deal with the standing water problems in her district. For several years she was able to convince the Water Department to use its vacuum truck to suck up standing water after heavy rains. “They stopped doing that because they sold their truck.”

“Public Works is looking at the possibility of installing French/trench drains in several locations to remove the standing water as a less expensive option,” says Schipske, adding that she is making sure Vector Control sprays the area for mosquitoes even though it is unlikely that the water in the gutter allows breeding.

“I was faced with a tremendous backlog of unrepaired infrastructure when I took office seven years ago,” Schipske points out. “Once funding became available, we began an aggressive program to go through neighborhoods and repair sidewalks, curbs and streets and trim trees. We have made remarkable progress but more needs to be done.” Schipske has posted all repairs on her city website: www.lbdistrict5.com.

Schipske’s volunteers are taking a “break” from cleaning up the alleys in the 5^th District to tackle the standing water issue. The alley clean up was started several summers ago and focuses on removing debris, dumped items and overgrown weeds. 

Catching Up

City Budget: The $3.2 billion budget was passed by City Council on September 3^rd. No cuts in service for the first time in several years. It included additional funding for sidewalk and street repairs as well as for fixing up our libraries and parks. Management informed Council that due to the number of infrastructure projects that would be generated that the City staff was at capacity and that “project managers” would need to be hired to manage the work. We set aside more funds to pay down unfunded liabilities. We were able to negotiate pension reforms with our employees which will save taxpayers many millions of dollars. Both the budgeting process and its format need serious revisions, however. Not enough time was given for the public to provide input and there are few “performance measures” that taxpayers can review to see if they are getting their money’s worth.

Slurry Seal: The 5^th Council district is the first district to have streets slurry sealed and the Public Works Department selected the streets. I received numerous complaints about the work done in El Dorado Park Estates and the contractor was required to come back out and redo several areas. Our Public Works Department is still following up on issues related to the work.

Curb Number Painting: As you know, I arranged with Rosie the Riveter Charter School to paint house numbers on curbs. These young people are learning how to run a business and they send out a notice to homeowners asking for a small donation and then go to the home and collect the donation and paint the house numbers. The Charter school is excited about this project because of the skills it teaches.

Standing Water: There are several locations in the 5^th district were water pools in the gutters due to rain or in the case currently when gutters should be bone dry, over watering and allowing run off. The pooling happens because of curbs raised by tree roots. Nuisance water is the single largest contributor to standing water issues. Nuisance water is domestic water that is discharges to the curb and gutter. Nuisance water can often be attributed to improperly set irrigation timers, washing down driveways instead of broom sweeping, draining swimming pools, and residential vehicle washing. With the range of reported West Nile Virus cases expanding over the past several years, it is important for both the City and its resident to minimize the amount of standing water that accumulates.

It is unlikely that standing water in the gutter can provide breeding conditions for mosquitoes due to the constant replenishment with new nuisance water and the fact that the gestation period of the mosquito is longer than the street sweeping frequency.

Marna, Claremore and Ring streets have serious problems. I went out personally with a group of volunteers to sweep the water out of the gutters and to gather up debris that was blocking the flow of water. I have been working with Public Works on resolving this problem but in the case of 3400-3600 Marna – it would cost in excess of $375,000 to repair the curbs, cut the tree roots and replace asphalt. Each councilmember was only given $500,000 this year to make repairs so I held several public meetings at which residents prioritized where to repair. Portions of Fanwood, Lees, Keynote and Lanai were selected and fixed. As more funds become available, more streets will be fixed. During rainy season I was able to get the Water Department to use a vacuum truck to remove water. They sold the truck and so I don’t have access to one. I also have Vector Control spray the gutters to prevent mosquitoes. Please try to prevent water runoff into the streets until we can get the problems fixed.

Alleys: For the fourth summer, my office is coordinating groups of volunteers to do clean up of the 40 alleys in the 5^th district. The groups start at 8 am and remove debris, chop down weeds, and get dumped items removed. Potholes and graffiti are reported.

Newcomb: After numerous attempts to get information, we have learned that construction should begin this fall. Please report problems with dust/dirt, noise, etc.

Wardlow: The Gas & Oil Department will be performing work to install a new gas facility along the north side of the 8000 block of East Wardlow Road (between Lama Avenue and El Dorado Drive).  The sidewalk will be closed until approximately September 12th. 

September 28^th Good Neighbor Festival: It’s that time again to nominate a “good neighbor” for our 7^th Annual Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic at (of course) Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker at 11 am til 4pm. Send your nominations to me at: district5@longbeach.gov. There is free food, booths, games and entertainment by Flyer and The Elm Street Band.

New Dog Park in El Dorado Regional Park: A 1.5 acre large and small dog park is coming in El Dorado Regional Park off Spring Street in the late fall. This will be the first dog park on this side of town and promises to be a great site for dogs and their owners.

Schipske responds to Fed announcement about Medical Marijuana

English: Discount Medical Marijuana cannabis shop at 970 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For Immediate Release

Schipske Says “Now that feds have made it clear they will not stand in way of States which have made medical marijuana legal – Long Beach needs to move forward”

Long Beach, CA – August 29, 2013 – In response to US Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that the Obama Administration would not stand in the way of states where voters have supported legalizing marijuana either for medical or recreational use as long as those states maintain strict rules involving the distribution of the drug, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske issued the following statement:

“The City of Long Beach has rightfully been concerned that even though State law allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the federal government continued to arrest and prosecute those who grew and dispensed it. The release of a memorandum by US Deputy Attorney General James Cole to US Attorneys, today, outlines the position of the US Department of Justice which supports those jurisdictions that have legalized the use of marijuana and have put into place ‘strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale and possession of marijuana.’

The memo further acknowledges that is not an efficient use of federal resources to focus enforcement efforts on seriously ill individuals, or on their individual caregivers and draws the distinction between the seriously ill and their care givers on one hand, and large-scale, for profit commercial enterprises on the other. The latter will continue to be the target of federal prosecutors if it is determined that these operations violate any of the following enforcement priorities of the federal government:

• ·        Preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors;
• ·        Preventing the revenue from the sale of marijuana going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels;
• ·        Preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property;
• ·        Preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;
• ·        Preventing state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;
• ·        Preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;
• ·        Preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use; and
• ·        Preventing the growing of marijuana and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands.

“What is most instructive to the City of Long Beach is the following statement from US DOJ:

               ‘In jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing marijuana in some form and that have also implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale and possession of marijuana, conduct in compliance with those laws and regulations is less likely to threaten the federal priorities set forth above. Indeed a robust system may affirmatively address those priorities by, for example, implementing effective measures to prevent diversion of marijuana outside of the regulated system and to other states, prohibiting access to marijuana by minors and replacing an illicit marijuana trade that funds criminal enterprises with a tightly regulated market in which revenues are tracked and accounted for.’

It is now time for the City of Long Beach to re-visit the issue of how the Compassionate Use Act can be implemented in the city through a strong and effective regulatory and enforcement system that protects the seriously ill and their care givers while at the same time complies with the federal priorities to prevent criminal enterprises.”

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske represents the Fifth Council District in Long Beach. She is a Registered Nurse Practitioner and attorney at law.

The US DOJ memo can be viewed at this link: http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf 

Related articles

• Feds won't sue to stop marijuana use in 2 states (news.yahoo.com)
• Feds won't sue to stop marijuana use in 2 states (bostonherald.com)
• Dept. of Justice won't stand in the way of legalized marijuana, Holder says (newsday.com)
• DOJ and Obama Administration (finally) announce plans concerning federal marijuana enforcement (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
• Justice Department Gives Yellow Light to Marijuana Legalization (forbes.com)

The importance of libraries in Long Beach

Libraries Work Because We Do! (Photo credit: circulating)

Look carefully at the Mayor’s budget. It does not restore one cut to the City’s library system. It does not return librarians who were replaced by self-service check out systems. It does not replenish the materials budget which was slashed from $1.8 million in FY 2008 and is now down to $677,000.

It pretends to be an appropriate size budget for a library system that serves a population of 450,000. But through slashing and cutting and intimidation of staff who are afraid to speak out about what has been done to the library system in Long Beach, this budget helps feeds into the myth promulgated by the Mayor about the inevitable demise of libraries. After all, he told the Los Angeles Times that because of the internet, libraries have become smaller.

The library budget totals only 3.1 percent of the general fund. The FY 2014 budget proposes spending one-time funds for the north library furniture and books but does not budget one penny for staff. Small funds are proposed for tables to plug in lap tops but no funds are proposed to upgrade the wiring necessary to feed electricity to the lap tops. Minimal funding is proposed for some roof repairs – but details of which libraries to be repaired are missing. No funding is proposed to fix and repair all of the branch libraries that suffer from infrastructure neglect.

If we allow these cuts to remain and the library system to be diminished it is because we haven’t made it clear to our elected officials that libraries are more than a book-lending service – especially during bad economic times and high unemployment. Libraries add to the city’s economic growth and vitality by providing access to information and research, literacy programs, and spaces for reading, relaxing and working. For some, libraries are a safety net where they can access the internet.

Our libraries are providing numerous resources in various forms. We need to educate our elected officials what would will be lost if adequate funding is not provided for our libraries. Perhaps then, as one supporter of libraries wrote: “they will see a future for the library that is worth funding and avoid the folly of penny wise and pound foolish decisions that would withdraw this key service from the public.”

Proposed State legislation would require elected officials to take financial management training

Finance (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

Now here's an idea. Elected local officials are required by state law to take ethics training every two years, so why not require them to take financial management training as well?

That's why Assembly member Gordon who thinks that with recent budget problems in several cities, that it might not be a bad idea to require all elected officials to undergo financial management training, which according to his bill is:

“Financial management training” includes, but is not limited
 to, the following:
 (1) Laws and commonly excepted accepted best practices
 relating to local budgeting, including, but not limited to, revenue
 sources, debt instruments, budget monitoring, and financial
 policies.
 (2) Laws relating to financial reporting requirements for local
 agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, including auditing
 requirements.
 (3) Laws and commonly accepted best practices relating to
 long-term financial planning, cash management, and investments,
 for local agencies.
 (4) Laws and commonly accepted best practices relating to
 capital financing and debt management.
 (5) Laws relating to purchasing and contracting practices.

It would also help to require training in pension financing and setting performance measures for local budgets.

What do you think about this idea? You can read his bill at http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_1201-1250/ab_1235_bill_20130701_amended_sen_v97.pdf

East side dog park groundbreaking today

Today we celebrated the ground breaking of the east side dog park in El Dorado Regional Park. Lots of 4 legged friends brought their owners to see the 1.5 acre site just inside the entrance to the El Dorado Regional Park. Also in attendance were ME 2 Nick Antis and his partner Ryder, a Belgian Malinois, who serve in the US Coast Guard National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program which makes our Port of Long Beach safe and secure.

Hopefully , the dog park will be dedicated to those canines who are in service to our country, our city and owners who need their assistance. Guide, service and K9 dogs provide wonderful service in so many ways and it would be great for Long Beach to be the first to acknowledge that service in this park.

The park is slated to open in late November and will feature space for small and large dogs and ADA accessibility. While 1.5 acres, it can be expanded with community funding and help.

The initial park is being funded with infrastructure funds from a budget given to each council member. I have used most of the $500,000 for street, sidewalk and curb repairs. This park will use $65,000 of that fund.

My office is currently seeking additional corporate support for the park. Donations can be sent to Partners of Parks, 2760 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815.

We Can Do Better Long Beach..

Is the moon full? Is there something in the water? Something is not right at City Hall. Maybe it is the fact that more than half of the Council is potentially leaving and running for other offices, as is the Mayor.

Someone needs to come up with an explanation why the City budget isn't what it needs to be, nor is the process for involving the residents.

Two big issues stand out: a lack of real performance measures and a concerted effort to reduce the number of City Council meetings with therein reduces the opportunities to review the entire budget in a public setting.

As I wrote earlier, the proposed $3.2 billion dollar budget given to the City Council on August 1 by the Mayor contains a paltry few performance measures. Performance measures are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound. Without them, employees cannot gauge if they are doing a good job. More importantly, taxpayers don't get to see if they are getting the best return on their tax dollars.

When I asked in Council why they were again not included, I was told by the City Manager that the City could not afford to hire staff necessary to do performance measures. Then the Mayor chimed in (since it is really his budget) that there were performance measures. So once again I read the entire budget. Here is what I found:

For instance, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department budgeted at over $52 million has exactly 4 performance measures: Marina Slips Occupancy, Water Usage in Median and Parks, Percentage of Animals Released to Owners, and Hours of Free After School Programming. PRM has numerous programs -- where are performance measures so that taxpayers can determine if their dollars are being used wisely?

Fire with a $94 million dollar budget has 3 performance measures: Response time to structure fires, Response time to dispatch calls, Percent of fires confined to room of origin. Where are the performance measures concerning fire inspections, ambulance transport rates, costs per transport, Safety plan checks, hazardous materials contained, arson investigations, etc. And most importantly, where are the measurements concerning response times for paramedic and medical service calls?

Public Works has a $146 million dollar budget and has only 4 performance measures listed in the budget document: Percentage of residential street rated in“good” or better condition, Number of potholes filled on a monthly basis, Number of traffic safety and parking investigations completed, Tons of debris diverted (Street Sweeping). How about the number of projects completed on time and under budget? Number of vehicles in the fleet and how quickly are they repaired?  How about measures on the many, many things this department does?

I could go through each department (and I have) to list what performance measures were include...and not included. 

There is a saying in organizational theory and behavior -- a topic I have taught several times at CSULB -- that if something is not measured, it cannot be managed. Bottom line, how do we know these are the right programs in the right departments at the right budget levels?

The Mayor's statement about the budget having "performance measures' reminds me of Bette Midler's famous parody of Mae West -- "I have my standards. They're low. But I have them."

Tonight, the Mayor pushed through cancelling the August 20th council meeting on a 7-1 vote (I voted no and DeLong was absent). The Mayor said that the City Manager had suggested the meeting be cancelled because several council members wanted time off during the summer. 

Oh my, I guess everyone forgot that the Mayor just gave the Council his budget on August 1 and that we need to meet in public to discuss the 12 or more departments, the proposed surplus, the infrastructure budget, our fees and services, etc. (By the way, the City Manager stated in his briefing today that the Mayor put the item on the agenda to cancel the meeting.)

Now, let me put this in perspective. We received the Mayor's budget on August 1 and we have until September 15 to pass a $3.2 BILLION dollar budget. We didn't work on the budget tonight (although we heard a sobering presentation on pensions costs and unfunded liabilities). We won't have a budget meeting on August 20 and we are not scheduled to meet on August 27th. So we come back to council on September 3 and then have one more meeting before the deadline.

The Mayor angrily responded to me at council (what else is new in the past 7 years...) and stated that we've been talking about the budget since March. Really Mayor? Then why did it take you until August 1 to give it to us? We didn't talk about this specific budget nor did we tell the public that we were "talking" about the budget and that is what the budget process in August and early September is all about.

Note that there is also no on-line interactive budgeting this year for residents to participate in. Was told "don't need them because we don't have any cuts this year." Really? We don't need citizen input on how we are going to spend their dollars? So much for civic engagement.

Come on Long Beach. We can do better. And we can get help. The International City Management Association (ICMA) assists local governments in assessing their performance over time and in comparing their performance with that of their peers. ICMA also has complied performance measures for all the city departments.

Why is this important? There is a growing expectation that taxpayer dollars be justified. So performance measurement helps evaluate the way a city does business and at the same time increases civic engagement and improves public transparency. And that would be better for all of us.

Related articles

• Council attendance at budget committee meetings is 78 percent (cjonline.com)

We Couldn't Afford Performance Measures? This is not responsible budgeting.

Last night at the Council's first budget session, I asked the City Manager why there are no performance measures in his or the Mayor's budget document so that taxpayers can determine whether or not they are getting their money's worth and whether or not management can determine if a department and its programs are working effectively. I have asked each budget year for these measures. We had them 5 years ago and they disappeared.

The answer I received from the City Manager and which the public heard was astounding.

"We haven't been able to afford staff and time to do them."

What??!!! Performance measures are the essence of transparency and effective government. They tell us:

• How well we are doing?
• Are our customers satisfied?
• Are we meeting our goals and objectives?
• If and where improvements are necessary

Every business, every level of government needs to have performance measures. You can't have a strategy without measurement. As the saying goes: "what gets measured, gets done."

How do our city employees know if they are doing a good job? How do we know?

Our measures need to include:

• What and how much do we do?
• How well do we do it?
• Is anyone better off for doing it?

Let's take a look at what other cities in California do:

San Jose: The Budget Office also compiles performance measure information for the City. This information is incorporated into the annual budget process and is used by department staff throughout the year to measure progress in meeting performance goals.

San Diego: Performance Indicators are statistical indicators of City departments’ operating performance. They provide meaningful current and historic performance information for the City’s residents and to the Mayor and City Council to use in developing informed budgetary and policy decisions. (In fact, click here to read the performance measures used in San Diego. http://www.sandiego.gov/fm/annual/pdf/fy06/09v1sea.pdf)

 

There is no excuse for a Mayor or City Manager budget not to include performance measures nor for City Council members to state this budget is "responsible."

In most cities, Department work plans are required to support the cities' strategic planning priorities and are the basis for budgeting, requests for enhancements and reduction alignments. In most cities, the City Manager has a preliminary meeting with each department to review the department's work plan and to ensure that they support the strategic priorities. 

In San Diego, the Mayor has included performance measures in his budget presented to the City Council after the City Council insisted that such measures be included in the budget. The City Council then passed “Ten Fundamental Principles for an Effective, Cooperative and Transparent Mayor-Council Form of Government” (“Principles”) to ensure that future Mayors are committed to a governance structure guided by 

the overriding principles of effectiveness, cooperation and transparency and that also work 

within the parameters of the City’s Charter." A key principle is: "publicly report performance results for core city services."

The Long Beach City Council approved retaining a consultant -- Management Partners -- to determine efficiencies -- let's have them help city management develop performance measures so taxpayers can determine what they are paying for. To do less, is not responsible. 

Schipske Responds to City Manager/Mayor Proposed Budget -- Need to Focus on Job Creation in Long Beach

New-Long-Beach-City-Seal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Schipske Responds to Proposed Budget -- Says Time for City to Wage A Real War For Jobs – Calls for Portion of One Time Funds to Be Used to Spur Private Job Creation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development in Long Beach – 

Also Calls for relief for residents from high fees and fines

August 2, 2014 -- In response to the release of the City Manager/Mayor budget for Fiscal Year 2014, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske released the following statement:

“As required by state law and City Charter, the proposed budget for FY 2014 is balanced. This year, it reflects a large surplus in revenue caused directly by the return of property tax dollars due to the dissolution of redevelopment and the continued high price of oil.

While $5.5 million of this revenue surplus – also called one time funds -- are being proposed by the Mayor for Public Safety (something for which I have strongly advocated over the past several years), there is no provision to utilize any of the surplus to deal with the high unemployment rate and the lack of private sector job growth in Long Beach.

Long Beach continues to experience the highest unemployment rate in California. As recently as March 2013, the rate was 11.6% as compared with 8.8% percent for California and 7.6% nationally. This should be unacceptable to any elected official in this City and reversing this problem should be our first priority.

The State Legislature just abolished the ‘enterprise zone’ tax credits that Long Beach was able to use to recruit companies to create jobs here, so now more than ever we need a strategy that pulls together entrepreneurs, educators and City leaders to find out how together we increase job creation.

The City must utilize a portion of this $56 million dollar surplus to wage a war on creating and retaining private sector jobs. We need to figure out why our unemployment rate is so high and why other cities, particularly in the Bay Area of the state, are thriving and creating sustainable, good paying jobs. We need to closely examine what part our city government can play in developing a local solution.

As John Clifton writes in his article: “Cities: Where Good Jobs Are Created” -- Have your whole city wage a war for jobs. Everybody in charge of anything needs to focus on job creation. If they divert their attention, vote them out. Be ruthless. If the bike path doesn't have anything to do with job creation, there is no bike path. If rezoning improves the jobs outlook, rezone.

I would propose that $2 million dollars be designated to establish a Small Business Services Initiative that would offer seed money for entrepreneurs so that businesses can start, operate and expand in Long Beach. Most importantly, a SBSI would also bring together local educational institutions, entrepreneurs, labor unions, local government and others to address the problems of job loss, low graduation rates, the continued ‘brain drain’ of college graduates who leave Long Beach, and the lack of training programs for blue collar jobs, to ensure we are all on the same page about the need to create jobs. This initiative could also help locate affordable workspaces to support start up businesses. (Perhaps the City could use some of the 296 properties from redevelopment for workspaces.)

The City also needs to pursue locating a ‘Green Tech Zone’ in Long Beach which can serve as an incubator for innovation and would create jobs in these growing industries. I authored legislation last year directing the City Manager to explore this possibility to duplicate what the City of Los Angeles has done.  I asked that a committee of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce work with the City to explore this option for Long Beach. The aim would be to attract clean industries through incentives, including help obtaining permits and tax and utility rebates. 

Long Beach needs to make its top priorities – real job creation and economic growth.

We also have to lessen the burden on the working families of our city who struggle to keep their jobs and pay their taxes. Recently, the City Council passed legislation so that real estate agents no longer have to pay a separate business license if they work under a broker. The City Council needs to review all of the fees and fines we require residents to pay: From the costs of a home business license to the parking ticket for not moving your car in time for the street sweepers. We need to provide some relief.”

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske has represented the 5^th Council District since 2006. She will hold a District 5 Budget Meeting on August 14^th at 6 pm at the Water Treatment Plant, 2950 Redondo (at Spring).

Find out the latest and connect with the Long Beach Police Department

The City of Long Beach has developed or purchased a number of phone apps which can be used to connect residents directly with city services.

See this video on the latest phone app that will connect you with the Long Beach Police Department.

Right Up Your Alley..

Shaping Up the Fifth Summer Alley Clean Up: Volunteers Have Tackled Three Alleyways in First Two Weeks of Project

      

 Before and After photos of alley between Palos Verde and Conquista above.

     

In the first two weeks of the Shaping up the Fifth Alley Cleanup, volunteers have tackled seven blocks of alley in three locations in the Fifth District. Volunteers working under the supervision of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's Office, have raked and swept up dead vegetation, removed weeds and overgrowth, inspected for potholes, graffiti, and reported large dumped items and other hazards.

The alley clean up project will continue every Wednesday through Friday from 8 am - noon through the summer. The project has been done every two summers as part of the Councilwoman's Shaping Up the Fifth initiative. The process began this year with an inspection and prioritization of need. Volunteers will clean approximately 45 blocks of alley that are in the Fifth District this year.

Alleys cleaned so far: 

1. Between Palo Verde and Hackett from Keynote north to where it dead-ends south of Saint Maria Goretti School - about two and a half blocks long. 
2. Between Palo Verde and Hackett from Pageantry to where it dead-ends just south of Wardlow. 
3. Between Palo Verde and Conquista from Pageantry and Killdee.

My staff and I are working hard to track areas with greatest need for improvements and repair. Our biannual alley cleanups have also helped to keep our alley safe.  

I hope that funding will be made available for full alley repaving. Currently, the City of Long Beach has focused only on streets.  

Help Keep Our Fifth District Alleys Clean and Beautiful

Volunteers and residents are invited to join Councilwoman Schipske in this community event to promote healthier neighborhoods and involve residents in keeping their community beautiful. Volunteers will meet at targeted locations each week to help pull weeds, bag up debris, and make note of issues such as faded signs, graffiti, dumped items, and potholes. Ruth Bach and El Dorado Neighborhood Libraries will also get some help from volunteers later in the summer with some fresh paint, and clean up tasks.

  

The meeting place for the next alley to be tackled on Wednesday, August 7th is between Clark Ave and Greenbrier Rd. at Harco St. Volunteers are asked to meet 8 am. Residents are invited to bring their own tools to supplement the limited number of rakes, shovels, hoes, and gloves that will be available.   

Bi-annual Shaping Up the Fifth Alley Clean up Project 

WHEN:

Wednesday through Friday 

8 am - noon

Next Clean Up Session: Wednesday, August 7

WHERE: 

on August 7th, meet at the alley 

off Harco between Clark Avenue and Greenbrier Rd.

Help remove weeds and debris, and inspect for potholes and report graffiti

The Councilwoman's ongoing effort to address infrastructure needs in the Fifth Council District, called "Shaping Up the Fifth," focuses on local alleys every two years. Council staff and neighborhood volunteers continuously inspect and inventory the district's streets and sidewalks,.

It's a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference!

To volunteer for the alley clean up project, 

and to confirm daily locations, 

please call the Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske 

at 562-570-6932 or email district5@longbeach.gov

weekdays between 8 am - 5 pm

A staff member will be able to give you directions to that location. 

Please be sure to include your phone number in your message so you can be contacted directly in the event of rain or unforeseen location changes.