The Canalis Report

LB Taxpayers Association to host City Prosecutor Tom Reeves

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:31:38 -0800

The principals of the L.B. Taxpayers Association asked that I post this announcement about their Thursday night session with City Prosecutor Tom Reeves, who is running for city attorney. Sounds like an informative event.

Long Beach Taxpayers Association will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 18^th at 7:00 p.m., Eccos's Pizza 2123 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach.

Our guests will be current Long Beach City Prosecutor, Mr. Tom Reeves, who is challenging incumbent, Mr. Robert Shannon for the office of Long Beach City Attorney. Current Long Beach Assistant City Prosecutor, Mr. Tim O'Reilly is challenging Mr. Doug Haubert for the office of Long Beach City Prosecutor. Both Mr. Reeves and Mr. O'Reilly bring with them years of practical law experience, as well as distinguished professional and military careers.

Tom Reeves has served Long Beach in his current role of City Prosecutor for the past 12 years. He was recognized as 'Lawyer of the Year' in 2003 by the Long Beach Bar Association and is currently serving as their President. Mr. O'Reilly is currently serving as Assistant City Prosecutor under Mr. Reeves. He proved his leadership under the management of City Prosecutor Tom Reeves in a very brief period of time and rose from Prosecutor to Assistant City Prosecutor.

The City Prosecutor's office has been responsible for the prosecution of thousands of cases. Their office is currently leading the fight against MedPot Dispensaries throughout Long Beach.

For information contact: Kathy Ryan or Tom Stout
Long Beach Taxpayers Association
www.longbeachtaxpayers.org

LB Taxpayers Association to host City Prosecutor Tom Reeves

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:31:38 -0800

Long Beach Taxpayers Association will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 18^th at 7:00 p.m., Eccos's Pizza 2123 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach.

Our guests will be current Long Beach City Prosecutor, Mr. Tom Reeves, who is challenging incumbent, Mr. Robert Shannon for the office of Long Beach City Attorney. Current Long Beach Assistant City Prosecutor, Mr. Tim O'Reilly is challenging Mr. Doug Haubert for the office of Long Beach City Prosecutor. Both Mr. Reeves and Mr. O'Reilly bring with them years of practical law experience, as well as distinguished professional and military careers.

Tom Reeves has served Long Beach in his current role of City Prosecutor for the past 12 years. He was recognized as 'Lawyer of the Year' in 2003 by the Long Beach Bar Association and is currently serving as their President. Mr. O'Reilly is currently serving as Assistant City Prosecutor under Mr. Reeves. He proved his leadership under the management of City Prosecutor Tom Reeves in a very brief period of time and rose from Prosecutor to Assistant City Prosecutor.

The City Prosecutor's office has been responsible for the prosecution of thousands of cases. Their office is currently leading the fight against MedPot Dispensaries throughout Long Beach.

For information contact: Kathy Ryan or Tom Stout
Long Beach Taxpayers Association
www.longbeachtaxpayers.org

Garcia: Google Long Beach

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:47:00 -0800

This time, Google is doing a search, and Councilman Robert Garcia wants Long Beach to be among the results.

The 1st District councilman who represents downtown Long Beach would like the search giant to test its forthcoming high-speed Internet service in Long Beach.

Sunnyvale-based Google this week announced plans for a fiber-optic service that could run at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than existing services provided by cable and telephone companies.

Google hopes to reach speeds of 1 gigabyte a second, far faster than the 50 megabites where some other broadband services top out.

Google is looking for test markets with populations of 50,00 to 500,000 to try out what it calls a low-cost service. Long Beach has an estimated population of 463,000, according to the U.S. Census.

"In this city we should dream big," Garcia said, "and this is one way to strive for it."

Google's application deadline is March 26. Garcia, Councilman Dee Andrews and Vice Mayor Val Lerch on Tuesday will ask the City Council to direct Technology Services Department to fill out the application.

"I want the council to bless it as soon as possible," Garcia said.

Technology has been a focus of the first-time councilman. He uses social networking extensively to communicate with constituents, pushed for an iPhone application that lets City Hall employees tap into the city network and publishes his calendar online.

"Long Beach needs to be a technology leader," he said. "This is one simple step we can take to help make that a reality."

Home-based broadband service in Long Beach is provided primarily by Charter Communications and Verizon Fios.

How serious Google is about becoming an Internet service provider remains unclear.

The company has called the upcoming project limited in scope and has not stated how much it will charge.

Critics of the company have said they do not believe Google is truly interested in the project, calling it a public relations ploy aimed at calling attention to Internet-access issues

LB Pride chooses Schipske, Garcia to lead Pride Parade

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:29:53 -0800

City Council members Robert Garcia and Gerrie Schipske have been named political grand marshals in the 2010 Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade.

Both officials are openly gay, but they were chosen for their overall political records, said Sergio Macias, co-president of Long Beach Pride.

"We don't always have a local political grand marshal, but we really thought it would be good to honor them because they are elected officials and openly gay candidates," Macias said. "And they've been doing a good job on the council, regardless of what the issue might be."

Both council members are in their first terms and up for reelection April 13. Garcia, who was elected last year in a special election, represents downtown's 1st District. Schipske, who was elected in 2006, represents the Eastside's 5th District.

"I am honored to be selected," Garcia said. "Anytime I can represent the community and represent Long Beach, it's great."

Garcia last year introduced an "equal benefits ordinance" that requires many contractors who do business with the city that provide benefits to married employees to give them to domestic partners as well.

Macias cited the ordinance, which won council approval, as one of the councilman's achievements. Schipske supported the measure.

"I am very honored to have this opportunity, to be one of the grand marshals," Schipske said. "Robert and I will certainly have a great time at the event."

Both council members have ridden in the parade, but this will be their first stints as grand marshals.

Last year, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom -- then a candidate for governor -- served as political grand marshal. Though he later dropped out of the governor's race, he was well-received by the Long Beach crowd, largely for temporarily allowing legal gay marriage in his city and then taking a stand for it in the court cases that led to the Proposition 8.

This year's Pride Festival events will take place May 15-16, with the parade on the second day. The rest of the parade lineup, including more grand marshals, has not yet been finalized.

Rudd sponsors 'Father-Daughter Dance for Charity'

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:07:20 -0800

The Community Action Team, or CAT, will sponsor its annual Long Beach Father-Daughter Dance for Charity from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21.

The event will take place at the Bay Shore Church community hall on The Toledo and Nieto Avenue in Belmont Shore.

Justin Rudd who operates the non-profit CAT hopes to raise about $1,500 for a variety of projects, including beach cleanups, animal welfare projects and spelling bees.

More than 50 fathers and daughters are expected to attend.

"It will be a special, area-wide, semi-formal evening for fathers and daughters of all ages," according to Rudd's event description. "The evening (will be) complete with decorations, old-fashioned refreshments, wholesome music, girls in dresses, dads in ties, fathers giving corsages, and daughters learning how a gentleman treats a lady -- all to benefit great environmental, youth and animal welfare programs in our area."

Music will be played by DJ DanaT. Prizes will be awarded to winners of various dance contests by Happy Tails to You, the music sponsor.

Moms can bring baked goods to the event, and CAT will also provide some. Rudd will provide fee "prom-style" photos.

Guests will include pageant winners from several categories in the recent Miss Long Beach contest.

Because the event is meant to promote bonding between fathers and daughters, moms will be invited to watch from the back of the room for only the last 20 minutes.

Reservations can be made by credit card at www.JustinRudd.com/dance.html or by mailing or hand-delivering checks payable to "C.A.T." c/o Justin Rudd, 5209 E. The Toledo No. 1, Long Beach, Calif. 90803. Reserved tickets will be available at will call and can also be purchased at the door.

Prices are $30 per couple per couple by Feb. 14; $40 by Feb. 18; $50 after Feb. 18; or $10 for low-income people by Feb. 14. Another $10 will be added for each additional daughter a father brings.

City to offer H1N1 shot clinic Wednesday at El Dorado

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:11:00 -0800

The Long Beach Health Department will offer a free H1N1 flu vaccine at a special clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday in the El Dorado Park Senior Center, 2800 Studebaker Road.

Appointments are not needed.

H1N1 flu vaccine is recommended and will be available for residents over 6 months of age. One dose is required for patients over the age of 10. Two shots are needed for children 9 and under, but those doses should be at least three weeks apart.

"The Health Department encourages everyone to get the H1N1 flu vaccine to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza or spreading the disease to others," Dr. Helene Calvet, city health officer, said in a news release.

The vaccine is free of charge and paid for by federal grant funding.

The Long Beach Health Department has given more than 16,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine since November.

In addition, more than 100,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine were supplied to about 200 private providers and clinics in Long Beach.

The Health Department will continue to offer free H1N1 flu vaccine at the immunization clinic located at its headquarters, 2525 Grand Ave.

Clinic hours vary each week, and an appointment is required.

To make an appointment, call 562-570-4103 between 8:30 am and noon or 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays though Fridays.

Appointments can also be scheduled online by going to http://lbdhhs.genbook.com.

More information on H1N1 flu may be obtained by logging onto the Health Department's web page at www.longbeach.gov/health, or by calling 562-570-4103.

Twain School to open new garden

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:13:57 -0800

Mark Twain Elementary School, 5021 East Centralia St. in Long Beach, will dedicate its new garden from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 19. The event will feature a meet and greet, dedication ceremony, garden tour and refreshments. The garden was established by garden coordinator Lisa McCarthy, Principal Ellen Ryan and other volunteers.

Johnson to open campaign off Saturday

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:52:16 -0800

Seventh District City Council candidate James Johnson plans to open his campaign headquarters, 3550 Long Beach Blvd., to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The candidate is challenging incumbent Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga in the April election. Also in the race are two community activists, Jill Hill and Jack Smith.

Johnson encourages guests to RSVP at James@johnsonforcitycouncil.com or (562) 355-2331.

Oropeza bill would bar surcharges on debit-card sales [update]

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:08:10 -0800

State Sen. Jenny Oropeza wants to eliminate fees businesses tack onto debit-card transactions.

Many merchants add surcharges to every swipe, sometimes in hopes of recovering fees they must pay to banks as a condition of accepting the cards.

Oropeza, D-Long Beach, on Tuesday introduced Senate Bill 933, which would bar retailers from imposing the premiums.

"Right now, there is a protection against this type of arbitrary charge for the use of credit cards," Oropeza said. "All we want to do is extend this protection on the use of credit cards to debit cards."

Oropeza said she found it unconscionable retailers would tack on flat fees for products struggling families need, such as jugs of milk and other necessities, particularly in a dour economy.

"We don't want to have them incumbered by a fee that is fairly arbitrary," she said. "It's really a regressive kind of charge."

Oropeza cited another concern: A plan to place unemployment payments on debit cards.Deducting fees from those cards, she said, would nickel and dime those already struggling from a job loss.

Oropeza did not know the range of fees charged to debit-card users. Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported that many businesses charge about 25 cents a transaction, rather than a percentage of a sale. Some businesses charge more, others less.

Debit card use is soaring. More than half of transactions nationwide are paid for with plastic, and since 2006 more than half of those transactions have involved ATM cards.

Merchants also pay fees for accepting credit cards but they cannot legally charge customers a premium on those fees under California state law.

Oropeza realizes that retailers will likely pass any fees they must pay banks or creditors onto consumers, but she would rather see costs reflected in prices, which are more transparent.

"If the market will bear a higher price, the retailers will increase their prices, and that's pretty straight forward, and the consumer knows what to expect," she said. "But if there are these hidden charges there's a real opportunity for a ripoff."

Oropeza's bill has the backing of the Consumers Union and Consumers Federation.

Representatives from the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Retailers Association, groups that advocate for businesses that would be affected by the bill, could not be reached for comment.

A date for the first policy hearing on Oropeza's measure has not yet been set.

L.B. Heritage to give annual preservation awards

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:39:19 -0800

Long Beach Heritage will present its preservation awards, the non-profit organization's lagest annual fundraiser, later this month.

Heritage will give 10 awards to individuals and organizations committed to restorating, rehabilitating and saving properties integral to the city's history and character.

The winners are:

Mary Kay Nottage, director of Long Beach Heritage.

The Cooper Arms Homeowners Association for the restoration of the downtown building's lobby.

Pamela Seager and the Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation for the restoration of the Ranch Los Alamitos Native Garden.

Daniel Walker, president of Farmers and Merchants Bank for the restoration of the original bank lobby downtown.

Todd and Alexandra Cooper for the rehabilitation of a home at 260 Bennett Ave.; Mary Meyer for the rehabilitation of a home at 177 St. Joseph Ave.

Sherron Leno for the rehabilitation of a home at 748 Daisy Ave.

Gina Maguire, president of St. Anthony's High School, for restoration of the school.

Ellen Calomiris and the Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation for the reconstruction of the rancho's water tower and tank.

Louise H. Ivers for the Cultural Resource Study "Long Beach - A History Through its Architecture."

The event will take place Feb. 18 in the Queen Mary's Grand Salon. A no-host bar and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $105, which includes parking. Tables of 10 are $1,000.00. About $55 of each ticket is tax-deductible.

To order tickets, call (562) 493-7019 or visit www.lbheritage, which accepts PayPal.

U.S. Vets to screen documentary in L.B.

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:07:49 -0800

"Soldiers on the Streets," a documentary about two U.S. soldiers who return from Iraq and struggle to reintegrate into society, will be screened Tuesday at the U.S. Veterans Initiative, 2001 River Ave., Long Beach.

"When Todd Newton and Luis Pinto returned from Iraq, they were fortunate to find work using the skills they acquired during their military service," according to a synopsis of the film provided by the In Their Boots organization. "Todd found work as a truck driver and Luis got a job as a paramedic. But for these two veterans, their civilian work triggered haunting reminders of their experience in the war zones of Iraq.

"Unable to tolerate the sight of injured people, Luis quit his job. Todd asked his superiors to give him shorter routes - assignments less likely to remind him of the treacherous routes he drove in Iraq. Todd's routes grew shorter and shorter until he was out of work. Soon both veterans were homeless."

A reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. The screening will begin at 6:30 p.m. A question and answer session will follow.

The event is free and open to the public, however, reservations are required. RSVP at http://bit.ly/soldiersonthestreetrsvp, (310) 204-0448

Merino, a candidate for mayor, to kick off campaign Saturday

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:57:08 -0800

A college student and retail worker plans to kick off her campaign for mayor at 3 p.m. Saturday at Shades of Afrika, 1001 E. Fourth St.

Stevie Merino, who attends Cerritos College, is Mayor Bob Foster's only challenger in the April 13 election. Foster is a retired Southern California Edison executive seeking a second term.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation is running Merino's campaign. Her campaign manager has told the Press-Telegram that the candidacy is serious and not to be taken by voters as a college project.

Merino, 21, helped lead last year's protests against the California State University system fee hikes. She previously attended Cal State Long Beach.

Her stated platform includes a mix of local and national issues, some within the purview of City Hall, some not. The candidate wants a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, free public colleges, free healthcare and a tax on the wealthy.

She also pledges to address what she considers racism among police, making Long Beach a "sanctuary city" for immigrants and raising "taxes on oil companies and big corporations" who do business here.

L.B./L.A. longshore workers back Hahn for lt. governor

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:31:56 -0800

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13, which represents workers in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, has endorsed L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn for lieutenant governor.

Hahn, the sister of former L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn and daughter of the late County supervisor Kenneth Hahn, represents the San Pedro area. She is seeking the Democratic nomination for the state's second-highest office on June 8.

"Councilwoman Janice Hahn, from day one, knew the issues of the port and making sure working men and women had quality jobs," said George Lujan, president of ILWU Local 13. "She knows how ports are supposed to be operated and we are excited to support her in her bid for lieutenant governor."

Hahn has longstanding ties with harbor-area labor groups. The ILWU chapter represents close to 20,000 part- and full-time longshore workers, who load and unload cargo at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The local is the West Coast's largest.

The state's No. 2 position is unfilled. In November, former Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who was facing term limits, won a Northern California Congressional seat.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named state Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, to the post, but the appointment has not been confirmed. The state Senate plans to hold confirmation herings next week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.

Regardless of what happens with his nomination, Maldonado is expected to run in the Republican primary for the seat in June. Other expected GOP contenders include state Sens. Sam Aanestad of Grass Valley and Dean Florez of Shafter.

For the Democratic nomination, Hahn is expected to face Sen. Dean Florez of the Central Valley.

Lucille's at the Towne Center to reopen after fire

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:53:51 -0800

A Long Beach Towne Center barbecue restaurant damaged in a Jan. 15 fire will soon be back in business.

Lucille's Smokehouse will reopen Feb. 2, said Craig Hofman, president of the Lucille's and Hof's Hut chain of restaurants.

The eatery at 7411 Carson St. was closed at the time of the 4:46 a.m. fire. No one was inside at the time.

The fire affected an area between the ceiling and roof and firefighters opened holes in the roof to extinguish it. The sprinkler system was also activated.

In all, about 40 Long Beach Fire Department personnel worked on the fire and resulting cleanup over a four-hour period, an LBFD spokesman said.

None of the firefighters who responded to the call was injured.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, a Long Beach Fire Department public information officer said Tuesday.

L.B. couple hopes to raise $40K for Haiti

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:45:36 -0800

The couple behind the Long Beach Basket Brigade, which delivers food to the needy on Thanksgiving, is organizing an effort to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti.

The fund-raiser will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 at El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road. The "40 in 4" event, which seeks to raise $40,000 in four hours, will feature performances by the Elm Street Band. Weather permitting, there will be a bounce house and face-painting for children.

Kym and Jeff Livesay, who put on the Basket Brigade, are doing the 40 in 4 event in conjunction with the American Red Cross. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kym Livesay at 562-900-3574 or KLivesay1@msn.com or search for "40 in 4" on Facebook.