July 2010 Archives

Los Angeles County animal license inspectors are scheduled to assist ccLong Beach Animal Control workers to crackdown on delinquent pet owners citywide, beginning Friday.

It is estimated that there are over 225,000 household cats and dogs in Long Beach that must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies and licensed, officials said.

County and city workers will update animal license records through door-to-door canvassing.

"Licensing your dog is an important component of responsible pet ownership, promoting public health and promoting community safety," said Ron Arias, director of the Long Beach Health Department. "Licensing your dog or cat is also the only way to ensure that you will be contacted if your pet becomes lost or impounded."

 Pet owners can reduce the cost of the license if animal is altered (spayed or neutered). Current prices: altered dog, $20; unaltered dog, $90; cat altered, free until Jan. 1; replacement tag, $10.

The door-to-door canvassing will increase this week throughout the city until it is completed, officials said.

License inspectors will be knocking on doors to check on delinquent licenses, to initiate a license for a new pet, or to ask for proof of rabies certification.

 Citations or warnings may be issued for delinquent licenses and expired rabies inoculations.

In order to avoid a citation for having an unlicensed or unvaccinated animal, residents are encouraged to secure a dog license in advance of the canvassing effort by visiting the PD Pitchford Animal Companion Village at 7700 E. Spring St., or visit http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/pet_license/default.asp.

Animal Care Services is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Village is closed on Monday, Tuesday and holidays. Call 570-PETS (7387) for service. Visit ACS online: www.longbeach.gov/acs.

Residents in Wrigley are inviited to attend the National Night Out to Fight Crime celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the mini-park near 932 W. 21st Street.

The Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance will play host to the potluck event and invites residents and families to bring food to share -- salad, side dish, casserole or dessert. WANA will supply beverages -- water, soft drinks, coffee -- plates, napkins and silverware. There will also be a grill and charcoal.

Invited guests include Long Beach Police Department West Division Commander Joe Levy,Wrigley patrol officers andK-9 Unit.

Organizers say "If you have been thinking about forming a Neighborhood Watch, now is the time to act. Our Wrigley Neighborhood Watch (NHW) representative Maria Norvell will be there to talk about the program."

For more information or questions call  Maria at 552-427-5021 or email :wrigleyalliance@msn.com.

 

State officials have launched a new statewide policy that allows for the immediate restoration of food stamp benefits.

 Previously, if benefits were terminated for failing to comply with a program requirement, clients were required to start the process over by re-applying.

However, under the new system, benefits' restoration will be automatic if the household is able to comply with program requirements within one month of benefits termination, according to John Wagner, director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).

In late 2009, CDSS requested the waiver from the federal Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to allow county welfare departments the ability to restore benefits when an easily curable condition, such as failing to submit paperwork, is corrected. The new policy makes it easier for eligible households to maintain their benefits and creates new program administration efficiencies at the county level.

Californians can download application forms and complete them in advance of their visit to a county welfare office to apply for food stamps. A list of county welfare offices can be found at  www.dss.cahwnet.gov/foodstamps/PG839.htm, or for more details on the Food Stamp Program, visit www.dss.cahwnet.gov/foodstamps/PG847.htm.

To qualify for food stamps, an individual's household gross income may not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty level -- about $1,984 a month for a family of three. Households with elderly and disabled individuals may have incomes up to 165 percent of the federal poverty level -- about $2,518 a month for a family of three.

Individuals who apply have up one year to comply with the fingerprint imaging requirements of the program.

Between March 2007 and March this year, the number of Californians receiving food stamps grew from 2.1 million people to 3.27 million.

The next meeting of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance ( WANA ) will be Monday, July 19, 7-9 p.m. at Veterans Park Social Hall. 

Courtney Aguirre will be the speaker and give an update on the Pedestrian & Bike Access Study for Blue Line Stations.

Parking and on-site child care are provided at no charge. For more information or questions call : Maria 562 - 427 - 5021 or email wrigleyalliance@msn.com

SooooooooOOOOOOooooo. You've got a little energy left over from Saturday chores around your home?

Volunteers are needed for a 6th District Neighborhood Cleanup scheduled for 10 a.m. July 24 at 323 E. Dayman St.

Councilman Andrews encourages his neighbors to join him for a chance to make a change in their area.

"Making a difference in your neighborhood can be as simple as picking up a broom," he said in a prepared statement. "It's amazing what we can accomplish when we come together in one sweep."

The 6th District Neighborhood Cleanup is a joint effort of Andrews' office, Neighborhood Services Bureau and Olive Court Condominiums, along with community members and youth from the surrounding neighborhoods.

 Cleanup materials will be supplied and community service hours are offered.

For more details, call Andrews' office at 562.570-6816 or visit www.longbeach.gov/district6.

Want to make a difference?

If you live, work, or own a business on Pine Avenue -- between Third Street and Anaheim -- you're encouraged by 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia to join the newly formed North Pine Avenue Taskforce.

The new panel will team up with the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance, interested area residents, Pine Avenue businesses, the city's Community Development Department, Redevelopment Agency and the Downtown Long Beach Associates to address numerous challenges and opportunities.

The North Pine Avenue Taskforce will work in conjunction with City efforts to improve the Pine Avenue landscape from Ocean Boulevard to Eighth Street, including business facade improvements, green spaces, tree plantings and residential properties.

To get involved, email district1@longbeach.gov with your information.

Seal Beach Police Officer Al Cabrera has received the O.C. Vehicle Theft Recovery Officer of the Year Award for 2009.

It's the third time he's earned the award in his career.

The award is given by the Auto Theft Advisory Committee, which is a partnership between law enforcement, insurance, and auto-related companies to reduce auto theft.

It is a subcommittee of the Western States Auto Theft Investigators Association-Southern Chapter.

Newly appointed commander Josef Levy of the Long Beach Police Department's West Division will reach out to the community on Tuesday.

Levy will meet the public from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library's community room, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

He will give an overview of the West Division operations. Residents, community leaders and business owners will be introduced to the West Division command staff and officers, learning ways to work for a better neighborhood.

Khmer and Spanish translation will be provided. Please RSVP to bryant.ben@longbeach.gov or 562.570.1691.

 

Long Beach is hosting a second informational seminar Thursday for its first-time homebuyer financial assistance program, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2.

The NSP2 informational seminar is scheduled 6 - 8 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral Event Center, 855 Elm Ave.

Participants will learn about the advantages of the NSP2 program, including up to $200,000 in silent second mortgage loans for qualified first-time homebuyers. They may also qualify for up to $40,000 in grant funding to fix code-related violations, make energy-efficiency improvements and assist with closing costs.

Residents interested in attending the NSP2 Informational Seminar are asked to RSVP at 562.570.6949.

For more details, call 562.570.6841 or visit www.longbeach.gov/cd

City Hall on a bus?!

Not exactly, but not far from it.

On Monday, July 12, the Long Beach Housing Development Company, Long Beach planners, elected officials, major employers and city Leaders will tour city neighborhoods to preview new affordable housing.

The bus tour will focus on housing developments being built throughout the city. The participants will also   learn how affordable housing is good for everyone: teachers, nurses, artists, small business owners, hotel and restaurant workers.

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Constituents of Fourth District Councilman Patrick O'Donell are invited to attend the monthly "Chat with Pat" discussion on Wednesday, July 7, at the Los Altos branch library 5614 BrittonDr., from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Also on hand will be Long Beach Police Department East Division Comander Lisa Lopez to talk about police issues.

Information is available by calling O'Donnell's office at 562-570-6918 or by e-mail at district4@longbeach.gov.

 

City crews have begun a new round of installation of historic style lamposts in the California Heights neighborhood.

The manufacturer unexpectedly dropped off 72 of the replicas to the city's Public Works department, setting off a beehive of activity to install the lights and clear the space they were taking up, according to John Royce of the Cal Heights Neighborhood Association.

A little more than half of the new "old" fixtures have been placed in the neightborhood on 36th Street and east of Atlantic Avenue on 37th Street. The installation should be completed after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

According to the Cal Heights Newsletter "Our latest phase is made possible, once again, by private sponsors, $9000 in dedicated CHNA funds and a very special $25,000 grant that we were so luckily awarded this spring from the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association." 

The California Heights Neighborhood Association was formed in 1927 to petition the city for paved streets and decorative lighting. In 1999, the community association took on the goal of restoring all 233 lamposts in the neighborhood. In 2007, the Cal Heights Neighborhood had old-style lamposts installed along Orange Avenue.

 

 

 Long Beach's new Police Chief Jim McDonnell is scheduled to speak at the next meeting of the Belmont Shore Residents Association.

The July 8 meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bay Shore Library, 195 Bay Shore Ave.

All residents of Belmont Shore are invited to attend the BSRA's monthly meetings held the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. The BSRA represents homeowners and renters in the Belmont Shore area, and invites new members.

Threepeat!

Long Beach officials are exercising bragging rights these days about the fact tha 99 percent of graffiti tags are removed within 24 hours of being reported to the city.

That record has been reached for the past three years.

Long Beach's 24-hour Graffiti Hotline - 562.570.2773 or Pw-graffiti@longbeach.gov results in an average of 20,000 tags being removed from 3,500 sites.

"I will do everything in my power to keep graffiti from taking root in our beautiful city," City Manager Pat West said in a prepared statement.

Graffiti reduces property values, diminishes the quality of life, and lowers neighborhood pride. Neighborhoods where graffiti is allowed to remain tend to attract more crimes, according to city spokesman Ed Kamlan.

In late 2006, Long Beach officials hired a contractor with five specially equipped trucks to respond to the graffiti hotline. This contractor also patrols and proactively eliminates graffiti from city property and from private property accessible from a public right-of-way, such as the wall of a residence or business adjacent to a street or alley.

The contractor, Graffiti Protective Coatings (GPC), can water-blast, air-blast or paint out graffiti found on stucco, concrete, block walls and wood, matching paint or other surfaces to a high degree of accuracy. The company will also remove stickers.

The GPC crews are also available for emergency service 24/7, and a sixth GPC truck is now dedicated to removing graffiti from the city's parks and marinas.

Funding is provided by the Redevelopment Agency, and the Departments of Community Development, Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine.

Tips for addressing and preventing graffiti.

-- Remove graffiti as quickly as possible.
 
-- Make sure buildings and property have ample lighting. Consider motion-sensor lights as effective tools.
 
-- Use anti-graffiti coatings on walls, windows and other surfaces.

-- Use shrubs, thorny plants, vines, etc. to block views, limit access and cover areas that might get tagged.

-- Control access to property via fencing, fixed entrance/exit points, barriers, etc.
-- Limit access to roofs by moving vehicles, storage bins, etc. away from buildings.

-- Install high fences when low fences act as ladders to roofs.

-- Maintain building and facility appearances. Littered parking lots, graffiti, broken fences and windows, overgrown landscaping, etc., encourages more graffiti and other crimes.

-- Take advantage of the Long Beach's Free Paint Voucher Program, which provides a gallon of free paint for removing graffiti from the exterior of buildings. Call 562.570.2773

Important Graffiti Phone Numbers

City of Long Beach Graffiti Abatement Hotline, 562.570.2773 or Pw-graffiti@longbeach.gov

Graffiti on City of Long Beach Parks and Marina facilities at 562.570.4895

Long Beach Water Department facilities and fire hydrants, 562.570.2390

Los Angeles County Graffiti Hotline, 800.675.4357 (including flood control structures)

Freeway on/off ramps or signs, CalTrans, 323.259.2352