September 2008 Archives
A second likely contender for the 1st District City Council seat has emerged, assuming of course that Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal is successful in her bid for the 54th Assembly District in the Nov. 4 general election.
Bill Francisco Grisolia, a legal and policy specialist, confirmed for me tonight during the monthly Beer & Politics event at Gallagher's Pub and Grill that recent rumors are true -- he plans to run for Lowenthal's council seat if she goes to the state Assembly.
Grisolia has long been involved in Long Beach organizations, is an advocate for the homeless, is former owner of the Island Sunfish Grill and is a musician. Though he has many local political connections, the 50-year-old Grisolia has only run once for office in Long Beach, when he was among a slew of candidates last year that vied to replace the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald in the 37th Congressional District. That seat, of course, went to Laura Richardson, a former council member turned state Assembly member.
Another unofficially announced candidate for the 1st District council seat is Robert Garcia, who is the communications director for Long Beach City College.
While Garcia and Grisolia's candidacies rely on Lowenthal, a Democrat, winning the Assembly seat, she is considered a virtual shoe-in in the heavily Democratic 54th District.
Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell will host a public meeting Saturday (Oct. 4) to discuss the timeline and scope of the Long Beach Breakwater Reconnaissance Study.
The study, which was approved by the Council in 2005, but remained unfunded until July of 2007, could help determine the federal government's interest in a full assessment of the breakwater's reconfiguration, his staff noted..
"I am looking forward to this discussion, which could be the first step towards clean water and restoring our shore," O'Donnell said in a prepared statement released Tuesday. "This is the public's first opportunity to learn about the scope of the reconnaissance study."
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The meeting is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Aquarium of the Pacific's Honda Theater. This event is free to the public. There will be a $6 charge for parking. For more information, please call (562) 570-6918.
Mayor Bob Foster's efforts to clean the air at the Port of Long Beach, improve water quality and "green" the city seem to be paying off -- not in the environmental sense, but in a political way.
Foster has been appointed to chair the U.S. Conference of Mayors' environmental committee, Foster's office announced today. The Conference's president, Manuel Diaz, appointed Foster to the one-year term.
One of the first functions of the former head of Southern California Edison will be as a featured speaker in a forum Thursday called "Environment and Energy" during the Conference's annual meeting in Miami.
If you have questions about Mayor Bob Foster's infrastructure improvement parcel tax, Measure I, or anything else that would be worth cornering him on, Tuesday will be your chance.
The monthly Beer & Politics gathering will take place Tuesday at Gallagher's Pub and Grill, 2751 E. Broadway, beginning at 7 p.m. Mayor Bob Foster will be there for what is to be an ongoing series of "Ask the Mayor" sessions, according to Beer and Politics organizers.
If you can't go to the event, you can watch it online at the Beer & Politics Web site.
Who knows? Maybe if the mayor gets a little beer in him, we'll get to see a different side of ol' Bob. Can anyone say Beer Bongs with Bob?
The three Long Beach area members of Congress were divided today on the failed $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. Interestingly, the split wasn't down party lines.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, both voted against the Pres. Bush-backed plan, while Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, voted for the bailout. Richardson and Rohrabacher followed their party majorities in the vote, as a majority of Democrats supported the bailout while a majority of Republicans opposed it.
Rohrabacher represents the 46th Congressional District, which runs from Huntington Beach through a narrow strip of coast in Long Beach to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Richardson's 37th District includes most of Long Beach, Carson and Compton.
Sanchez represents the 39th Congressional District, which includes Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Mirada, Lynwood, Paramount and South Gate, plus portions of Long Beach, Whittier and unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will deliver remarks at the League of California Cities 2008 Annual Conference in Long Beach.
The announcement was made during Wednesday's opening ceremony by League president Jim Madaffer.
The governor is expected to address the estimated 2,000 elected and appointed officials attending the annual event, which is being held at the Long Beach Convention Center.
He's schedule to speak at 11 a.m., Madaffer said.
Though you may not have heard much about this political race, state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, practically a Democratic institution in Long Beach in his own right, is up for re-election Nov. 4.
In the Democratic-leaning 27th District, Lowenthal, a long-time and much beloved politician who has served on Long Beach City Council and in state Assembly, is considered pretty much a shoe-in. His opponent is Republican Allen Wood, a Cerritos businessman.
But Wood may be the last opponent Lowenthal ever faces, the state senator indicated Sunday during a forum hosted by the NAACP Long Beach Branch.
"This probably will be my last election," Lowenthal told the crowd.
I cornered him after the forum to clarify what he meant. Was he saying there's no gubernatorial, Congressional, mayoral or other political bid in his future?
Probably not, he told me. Assuming Lowenthal wins re-election to another four-year term in November, the former professor of community psychology at Cal State Long Beach may get back to teaching, he said.
"My heart is still as a teacher," Lowenthal told me.
While his academic expertise is in psychology, imagine the insight and experience he could share with a political science class. If I were a student with political aspirations, I would pay close attention in that class, particularly if it's "How to spend 20 years in elected office."
By John Canalis
Staff Writer
LONG BEACH -- The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce took no position today on Measure I, Mayor Bob Foster's infrastructure-improvement measure, sources at the meeting said.
The chamber's governing board rejected the advice of its government-affairs council to oppose the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot and instead decided to take no official position.
The $571 million parcel tax would use bond financing to improve streets, sidewalks, curbs, alleys and public buildings. Though homeowners would pay $120 a year, commercial business owners would pay based on a formula that considers the size of their properties.
"It just shows the mayor's support from the business community is not as strong as he thought it was," said Randy Terrell of the No on I campaign.
The mayor's office, however, noted that two other prominent business groups, the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Downtown Long Beach Associates, endorsed Measure I.
"It's one of the most tired tactics in politics to attack the people rather than the merit of the issue," Becki Ames, the mayor's chief of staff, said of the No on I campaign. "It's unfortunate they have chosen to take that tack."
Representatives for the mayor and the Rebuild Long Beach campaign, which supports Measure I, and Chamber President/CEO Randy Gordon could not be immediately reached for comment.
The vote was not immediately available.
The advisory council, of which Terrell is a member, voted Sept. 11 to oppose Measure I. Terrell is not on the chamber's governing board.
Bonnie Lowenthal's campaign has announced that all five members of the Signal Hill City Council have declared their official support of the Long Beach councilwoman's bid for the state Assembly.
"Bonnie will be a dynamic person for all the people of the 54th Assembly District," said Mayor Michael Noll, expressing the sentiments of his council colleagues. "She is a fighter, and she will do a great job in
Lowenthal's supporters, the spokesperson added, span the Assembly district and include Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Douglas Stern and Avalon Mayor Bob Kennedy.
The supporters and opponents of the Rossmoor cityhood proposal are firing up the email system. The following have been shared with the Press-Telegram:
The Rossmoor Entity, for the past 50 years, has been home to nearly 10,000 people of good will, now urged without reasonable justification, to vote for Cityhood and the leveling of hefty fees.
I have a brief list of reasons to incorporate per the original petition at the door.
Police Response - Police response is deemed not good enough. According to the Rossmoor Crime Log in the throwaway newspapers, and that's all we have; the response time is excellent. Is there a different conclusion from another source?
The Orange County Complaint - Orange County can't seem to make it on the rates we have paid over the past years and wishes at this time to divest itself of the present level of services. This may stem, as proponents say, "from a bankruptcy". It was not Just a bankruptcy; it was the "largest Municipal Bankruptcy in the history of the United States," according to the News Media. Let's tell it like it is.. The only way for Orange County to withdraw and quit present service levels is through City Incorporation of Rossmoor. If we do not incorporate; services will remain at status quo.
There are other motives but these were the two basic reasons to favor incorporation. The decision to incorporate is up to the voters of Rossmoor, not the bully story of David & Goliath to overwhelm Rossmoor by having nearly four million County Voters swamp the few, now boxed into a corner (see front page Rossmoor Signature News, July 2008 issue). Rossmoor will still vote Yes or No as they see fit.
Affording A City - According to a recent rebuttal letter, we all know the probability; more taxes and higher assessments long after the vote. Hey (with uplifted palms) proponents say, "they taxed themselves.". If the County of Orange is unable to sustain the present level of services with the dollar amounts we are paying; how is it that Rossmoor would be able to sustain even the same level of services; assessments you have not mentioned? Whatever the climbing fees; residents will have to scrape up the difference, no limit. These costs will go on for the rest of our lives and longer. Very few will afford to live here due to cost hikes. Our Utility Companies are, at this moment, asking for increases. In case of Cityhood, Utilities are to be taxed beyond their existing costs. Here's another one for you; do you care to buy license stickers for your car or cars at $59.00 per with a sliding scale? Give me a break.
The documentation of Rossmoor History is presently available to anyone on the Internet as regards attempts at annexation and/or incorporation.
I don't mind turning the other cheek, boys, but we know your "Cityhood Package Deal" waits just around the corner with a club.
Vote NO On Measure U, Incorporation of Rossmoor
Pat Wells writes:
There seems to be a lot of letters in favor of incorporation that keep telling us to ignore anyone who opposes the incorporation.
The
Will the new utility tax pay for these salaries, plus the vehicles needed for these officials? All cities have their own vehicles, which if you have listened to all the news about elected officials using City Vehicles for personal use, you know that our taxes have to pay for that.
The County has not given us any accounting breakdown for why they feel we have cost them about $600,000.00 per year. Would you pay a bill without seeing the breakdown of costs? The county cannot refuse to provide services to Rossmoor. Vote No to incorporation and more taxes. Vote No on Measure U.
The measure, which goes before voters in November, means $120 per year for single-family homes, or $120 per unit for apartments and other multi-unit buildings. Commercial property owners would pay based on a different formula that takes into account the size of their properties.
DLBA joins other supporters such as the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city's police and firefighters associations, the California Business Roundtable and former Gov. George Deukmejian, a Long Beach resident.
Endorsements in the 54th Assembly District race seem to be falling predictably along party lines.
Today, Republican candidate Gabriella Holt announced that she has the endorsement of conservative Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. Holt, of Palos Verdes Peninsula, is a registered nurse, teacher and former TV station manager who served eight years on the board of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District.
The endorsement adds to other notable ones Holt has racked up, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Women's Leadership Association, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, as well as many state Senate and Assembly members and local officials.
Last week her opponent, Democrat Bonnie Lowenthal, a Long Beach City Council member, announced that she had been endorsed by former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. Lowenthal also has a slew of other endorsements from state Assembly members, Los Angeles and Long Beach officials, and various labor and other groups.
The 54th Assembly District includes most of Long Beach, Catalina Island, Signal Hill, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and part of San Pedro. Assemblywoman Betty Karnette isn't running for re-election because of term limits.
SACRAMENTO Calif. (AP) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for vice president, has urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto a fee on cargo containers going through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach aimed at raising money to cut pollution.
Palin's letter to Schwarzenegger is dated Aug. 28, one day before presidential candidate John McCain announced she was his running mate. Palin argues that the California and Alaska economies would suffer as a result of the fee.
The bill would create a $60 fee for each 40-foot cargo container moving through the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, which together handle more than 40% of the nation's goods.
California environmentalists say Palin has no business getting involved in the issue.
The political watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, has given Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, a dishonorable mention in its list of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress. Richardson is a Democrat who rose from Long Beach City Council to state Assembly to Congress in one year, now representing the 37th District.
The fourth annual report gave Richardson the dubious distinction based on her financial troubles that included her Sacramento home going into foreclosure and multiple defaults on that house and two others in Long Beach and San Pedro. CREW questioned why Richardson was able to get a loan for the Sacramento house -- during her brief stint in the state Assembly -- with such a poor credit history. Furthermore, the report says the fact that she was able to recover the home when the lender, Washington Mutual Bank, rescinded the foreclosure is suspect.
Whether Richardson should be on the list at all is debatable -- she has never been charged or convicted of any Congressional ethical or criminal offenses. Here is part of what the report alleges:
Because it is unusual for someone with such a deplorable credit history to be repeatedly approved for mortgages, the House ethics committee should investigate whether: (1) Rep. Richardson received a preferential loan in violation of House rules; (2) whether she had received other favorable treatment from lenders in the past; and (3) what, if any, official actions she may have traded to acquire these preferential terms. The House ethics committee should also consider whether Rep. Richardson's failure to include her mortgages on her financial disclosure forms violates House rules.
Richardson was one of four members of Congress to be given the dishonorable mention, falling short of the list of the 20 most corrupt members.
See the full report here.
The project has been met with support and opposition. Some 200 people signed a petition opposing the proposed five-story, 65-unit senior assisted living facility on property owned by Temple Beth Shalom. Some say the project is too tall, too dense and not appropriate for their neighborhood. Some have appealed the Planning Commission's decision approving the plans. (The commission's recommendation goes to the City Council, which would have to approve a zoning change to allow for a taller structure.)
An appeal hearing is supposed to take place in October.
The developer and temple say the project serves a need for senior housing and has garnered the support of surrounding churches. A petition in favor of the project was signed by about 2,000 people.
Gabelich's community meeting will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Mirage Cafe, 539 Bixby Road
Groundbreaking environmental programs being adopted at a breakneck pace by local port authorities have garnered national attention in a new Newsweek piece. Faced with mounting evidence that port-generated pollution is sickening local residents, the twin ports, the nation's largest, have implemented dozens of measures to crack down on soot-spewing trucks, trains, ships, watercraft and cargo-handling equipment in recent months.
By 2012, if they can manage to withstand the flood of inevitable industry lawsuits, the measures will cut airborne pollution from the ports in half.
With two months to go until the Nov. 4 general election, Bonnie Lowenthal, the Democratic candidate for the 54th Assembly District, says she is well-positioned to win.
Lowenthal today released the results of a survey conducted for her campaign that says the Long Beach City Councilwoman has a strong lead over her opponent, Republican Gabriella Holt, a Palos Verdes Peninsula nurse, teacher and former TV station manager.
The 54th District includes most of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Catalina Island, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and part of Carson.
According to the survey, conducted by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research, Lowenthal has support from 52 percent of voters, compared with 30 percent for Holt. Another 3 percent chose Libertarian candidate John Kling, a Long Beach engineer, while 2 percent responded "other" and 13 percent said they weren't sure, the survey says.
The poll of 400 voters was conducted on Aug. 26 and 27 and has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent. Before the June primary election, Lowenthal also released results of a poll that showed her with a commanding lead over fellow Democratic candidate Tonia Reyes Uranga, and Lowenthal ultimately trounced her opponent with about three-quarters of the vote.
Check out the survey results for the entire 54th and for three key cities below:
|
|
LOWENTHAL |
HOLT |
|
All voters |
52% |
30% |
|
|
54% |
27% |
|
San Pedro (LA) |
57% |
29% |
|
Palos Verdes |
50% |
34% |
BURLINGTON, VT - One of the nation's largest progressive political action communities has endorsed Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook's campaign for the 46th Congressional District.
DemocracyForAmerica.com announced on Tuesday the endorsement of Cook, a Democrat who is challenging incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach..
"Debbie Cook has been a grassroots champion for over 20 years and has a proven record of success in the private sector and as a public servant," said Jim Dean, the organization chairman. "Debbie Cook is running because she's a committed advocate and activist who fights for her constituents and delivers results."
What is the power of a picture? Plenty if the subject is Midnight Basketball.
In Friday's Press-Telegram, a story about Union Pacific's decision to sponsor the popular inner-city league was accompanied by a picture of Mayor Bob Foster and the league's new coordinator, Clarence Rhone, admiring a decorated ball presented to the mayor.
The picture miffed several people who were associated with the league and supporters of Leonard Adams, the former coordinator of the league who left the league after a dispute about his duties with staff from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, which oversees the program.
It seemed curious that the ball, dated 2007, would be presented to the mayor at this time. As if it had come from the Land of Lost Souvenirs, which is probably not far from the Island of Misfit Mascots, where the Sexual Harassment Panda lives. But I digress.
The presentation of the second-hand souvenir is no laughing matter to some.
Leva Ross, the artist who painted the ball at Adams' request, thought the photograph mistakenly led readers to deduce that Rhone and the current leadership of the league were taking credit for the ball.
According to Ross in a letter to the mayor, "Mr. Adams purchased the basketball with his own money because he wanted to show his appreciation to you for your support of the then long-running successful Midnight Basketball program. Mayor Foster, I think you should know that I completed the artwork on the artistically enhanced basketball over a year ago."
Adams had intended to present the ball, to Foster to thank him for the city's decision a year ago to retain the program when it was threatened. Adams said the ball was confiscated from him when he left Midnight Basketball.
Ross said in his letter he thought it was disingenuous of city officials to take credit for and present the ball more than a year later and under a different administration.
So now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know "the rest of the story."
Owners Phil and Jackie Smith recently sold the 12,500 square-foot property at 240 Long Beach Blvd. to the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency for about $2.8 million.
They are making way for a mixed-used project being built around Broadway, Long Beach Boulevard, Third Street and Elm Avenue. The project - which officials say is key to connecting downtown to the East Village - calls for student housing, retail and an art center for classes, events and art displays.
Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Craig Beck said the agency has been in talks with Cal State Long Beach and hopes to sign an agreement with the university and secure a potential developer in the next few months.
The deal, struck in April after nearly two years of negotiations, allows the Smiths to stay at Acres rent-free until May 1 to give them time to either relocate or to close shop for good. But the option to relocate is looking unlikely, said Jackie Smith. Acres ' new home would have to be at least 10,000 square feet, available for purchase, have ample parking, be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and not located in a redevelopment area.
After about 15 years downtown, Z Gallerie owner Joe Zeiden said Friday that he has put up for sale his 230 Pine Ave. building.
City officials apparently have been meeting with Zeiden to get the furniture and home accessories business owner to reconsider.
But it may be too late.
"It's gone south on that street," said Zeiden, who founded Z Gallerie in 1979 with Carole Malfatti and Mike Zeiden. "We're outta here."
Z Gallerie has 75 retail locations in 24 states including one outlet in Gardena.
Tonight is a soft opening at the 151 S. Pine Ave. comedy club. The grand opening, set for Sept. 20, is to feature funny guys Rodriguez, Dane Cook, Brad Garrett, Jamie Kennedy, Jon Lovitz and Bob Saget.
Long Beach Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal will launch the final stage of her campaign for the 54th Assembly District seat with an open house celebration Saturday at her campaign headquarters.
The campaign office is located at 2115 Bellflower Blvd. in Long Beach, and the reception is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
"I want our campaign headquarters to be a hub of activity and excitement as we work together toward victory in November," Lowenthal said.
Lowenthal won the June 3 primary election, putting her on the Nov. 4 general-election ballot opposite Republican and Libertarian candidates.
She is seeking the Assembly seat currently held by Betty Karnette, who is not running for re-election because of term limits.
The 54th Assembly District includes most of Long Beach, Signal Hill, a portion of San Pedro, Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
About the Bloggers
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Telegram, he previously has covered
local and state government and politics in San Diego County, Mexico
and his home state of Kansas.
E-mail Paul at paul.eakins@presstelegram.com.
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
E-mail Kris at kristopher.hanson@
presstelegram.com.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Telegram
in April 2002 as a beat reporter, covering the cities of
Lakewood, Bellflower and Paramount. She now covers business,
specifically redevelopment, tourism and small businesses.
She also writes Eye on Redevelopment, a monthly column that
appears in the Business Monday section.
E-mail Karen at karen.robes@presstelegram.com.
