The City Council approved a revised sex offender ordinance late Tuesday night, but in an odd face-off, City Prosecutor Thomas Reeves said he won't prosecute the law.
The council meeting went late, and as I was filing other stories I missed part of the discussion, so look at the Press-Telegram Web site Wednesday (I can't promise the time, but I'll try to get the story up as quickly as possible) or at Thursday's paper for a full report on the discussion.
It was a bit strange, to be sure, just like the whole sex offender residency issue. I'll boil the situation down for you.
Last winter, neighbors of 1149 E. First St. were alarmed to learn more than a dozen registered sex offenders were living in the apartment building. Their representative, Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, had the city attorney's office create a law to restrict where sex offenders live in Long Beach and to limit how many can live in a building. The law was passed by the council, then challenged on its constitutionality and the city suspended enforcement of the law, but last month a lawsuit was still filed by 35 sex offenders against the ordinance.
So, the city attorney's office rewrote the law, eliminating its retroactive effect, which means it won't apply to the 800 registered sex offenders living in Long Beach, nor any others who were convicted before the law takes effect 31 days after the mayor approves it. The law also has several other changes, such as limiting to one the number of sex offenders than can live in a single residential unit, such as an apartment, rather than in an entire apartment building as originally written. Furthermore, it eliminates the creation of "child safety zones" of 300 feet around places where children gather.
However, the ordinance keeps certain provisions, such as requiring that sex offenders live at least 2,000 feet from schools and parks. It also restricts property owners from knowingly renting to sex offenders in the restricted areas.
City Attorney Robert Shannon says he will still use civil penalties against those who violate the ordinance, but without Reeves on board, there won't be any criminal penalties for violators.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
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.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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