February 2009 Archives

There's a new place to nosh and mingle on Pine Avenue.
ICE, a venue that serves up sushi, tapas and a place to socialize, is opening at 45 Pine Ave.
Mayor Bob Foster is expected to cut the ceremonial ribbon on March 5.
Not a whole lot to their website yet, but check it out here for future stuff.

Sitting through often lengthy Long Beach City Council meetings most Tuesday nights, I've come to notice certain trends. Combine that with occasional moments of boredom
-- and some long stretches of boredom -- as I await the next big item to be debated, and here's what we get: The Long Beach City Council Drinking Game.

Though I wouldn't recommend playing the game at the council meetings (unless you want to find yourself playing a different kind of game, one you probably won't win, with the police officers on duty there) this could be a fun way to pass the time at home while waiting for your council item to come up for discussion.

Disclaimer: This game shouldn't be played by anyone under age 21, nor should you drink yourself to the point of any health risk. If you find yourself rolling on the floor laughing at all of the council members' jokes, or you decide that this is the greatest reality TV show you've ever seen, you should probably stop drinking. And I would recommend this game be played with beer, not shots of hard liquor. Remember, council meetings have been known to go until midnight.

Following are the drinking rules. Please add your own drinking rule ideas in the comments section. And if you try the game, I'd love to hear how it goes.

Take a drink when:

• The pet being put up for adoption is a dog. If it's a cat, give away the drink to your friend.
• Gadfly Harvey Cochran speaks to the council.
• Cochran says "ring around the rosey" or a similar phrase.
• Mayor Bob Foster has to cut Cochran off, ask him to summarize or gets visibly annoyed with the loquacious gadfly.
• Councilwomen Gerrie Schipske, Tonia Reyes Uranga or Rae Gabelich cast a dissenting vote (one drink for each vote).
• City Attorney Robert Shannon gets upset with council members for not asking for or heeding his legal advice.
• Councilman Patrick O'Donnell says "a tired kid is a good kid."
• The phrase "Mayor and members of the City Council," or some variation, is uttered.
• Gadfly Larry Goodhue mentions the fence at Marine Stadium, government corruption, the Alamitos Bay farmers market or calls for City Manager Pat West to be fired.
• The council votes unanimously.
• The phrase "core services" is mentioned during budget discussions.
• A council member actually appears to be listening during public comment (one drink for each council member who is listening).

Down your entire glass when:

• The council doesn't have a quorum and council members have to be called back to their seats.
• Cochran doesn't speak during an entire meeting (it actually happened last week, the first time in two years).
• Councilman Dee Andrews speaks (other than during comunity announcements at the end of the meeting).
• Foster and Schipske spontaneously give each other a great, big, loving bear hug.

Down the whole damn six pack when:

• The mayor announces he is resigning from office to pursue his acting career. Look out Hollywood!

New fleets of electric cargo trucks being assembled at a Harbor City plant are expected to help drop emission levels in area communities, but are they driving up pollution levels in communities where electric power is generated?
While the rigs, which will be used to haul cargo around marine terminals and to area railyards, emit zero pollutants on site, charging their batteries inevitably produces measurable levels of pollutants by increasing loads at area power plants.
Port authorities are studying the pollution effect of electrification to determine how many emissions are produced "down-line" when ships, trucks, cranes and other equipment are powered by the electrical grid.
Results are expected sometime this year.
Meanwhile, the port posted this video about the new electric trucks, built by Balqon Corporation. The company has hired 50 engineers, electricians and line-workers from the area to build drayage trucks and assemble high-tech motor "controllers" for outside electric fleets.
Their initial orders call for 25 drayage trucks and 25 controllers, which will be purchased by a bus operator in California.

A bill that included funding for several Norwalk projects passed 243-177 in Congress today.

Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (H.R. 1105), which will head to the Senate, includes "crucial funding for more than a dozen projects critical to the long term economic prosperity of the 38th District," according to the office of district Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, who apparently fought to include the projects in the bill and voted for it.
 
Projects requested by Rep. Napolitano in H.R. 1105 include:
* Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Transit Center Improvements - $475,000;
* City of Norwalk Water Infrastructure Reliability Program - $119,000;
* Norwalk Public Safety Department Computer Aided Dispatching and Records Management System - $170,000
* Norwalk Transit Agency for new Hybrid Buses -  $29,000;
* Cerritos College, Norwalk; The Realtime Writers and Captioning Training Project -  $95,000

The 38th Congressional District includes Norwalk, Pomona, Santa Fe Springs, the City of Industry, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Avocado Heights, La Puente, Hacienda Heights, West Puente Valley and parts of East Los Angeles, Whittier, Rowland Heights, South San Gabriel, Valinda, and other unincorporated areas.

A pair of local leaders - 54th District Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and 37th District Congresswoman Laura Richardson - will join Long Beach hotel workers at a town hall at Cal State Long Beach on Thursday to discuss the city's return investment on tourism, it was announced today.

The forum comes at the heels of a Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy study released earlier this month on behalf of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community, which contends that the city's investment in the tourism industry has not led to adequate returns and has contributed to poverty in Long Beach.

My colleague Kevin Butler writes about it here, as does the District Weekly's Dave Wielenga. (Check out his story here) The town hall will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cal State University Long Beach's Karl Anatol Center, AS 110 (next to library on south side of campus), 1250 Bellflower Blvd.

Bellflower City Manager Michael Egan will discuss the city's accomplishments from 2008 and its goals and issues for 2009 during the annual State of the City Address on Thursday at Simms Park.

In the program, themed Reaching for the Stars/Growing Together, Egan will talk about the economic crisis and budget challenges, upcoming projects, public safety, blight cleanup and environmental issues.

Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Simms Park, 16614 S. Clark Ave. Seating is limited. Admission is $10 per person and can be purchased at City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive.

Call 562-804-1424, Ext. 2278, for more information.

How much will the new state budget cost you? Tax increases and higher vehicles license fees are part of the Legislature's solution to keep California in the black.

The Sacramento Bee has a great little online tool to calculate just what it will cost you. So much for that federal stimulus. One hand giveth, while the other taketh away.

Norwalk City Manager Ernie Garcia also will give his annual State of the City Address on Feb. 27 at the Norwalk Marriott.

Admission is $30 per person. Feb. 23 is the last day to RSVP. Part of the proceeds will benefit Norwalk Libraries. Last year, $5,000 was donated to the JWCH Health Center in Norwalk.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at 13111 Sycamore Drive. Call 562-929-5527 or 562-400-8188.

Wednesday night on the Westside, a crowd of Arlington Street residents whose homes flooded two weeks ago gathered for a community meeting with officials from the city of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, Southern California Edison and other agencies.

The city marched out an impressive complement of city officials, including Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga, Mayor Bob Foster, Deputy City Manager Reggie Harrison, and various department heads. Officials gave residents assurances that the flooding issue that has plagued Arlington Street for more than two decades, most recently flooding out a dozen homes two weeks ago, will be handled. (See a photo gallery of the flood.)

"Failure is not an option," Uranga told the crowd.

But some residents noted they had heard such rhetoric before, such as in 2005, the last time the area flooded. While Director of Public Works Mike Conway blamed the flood on a drainage culvert owned by Southern California Edison that was blocked with debris, SCE hasn't admitted it is fully responsible and is still investigating the situation.

A city plan to double the capacity of the neighborhood's drainage systems is ready to go, Conway said. County officials have approved it and a right-of-way request to get access to SCE property has been submitted to the company. All that's needed now, he said, is a little cash -- an estimated $2 million.

That's the dilemma. Where does a cash-strapped city, that's already facing a budget deficit, considering cuts, layoffs and furloughs, find an extra $2 million?

Foster told me after the meeting that he's going to put all of his energy into finding the money, looking to funds from the federal stimulus package or combining forces with other area agencies such as SCE and the county. But despite the best of intentions, Foster admitted there's no guarantee the project will get done this year.

"I can't say, with a hundred percent certainty, yes," Foster said.

Until then, some of the residents noted, they may just have to rebuild their lives after a major rain every few years. The city is offering $5,000 rebates to the residents for home repairs and other aid. But for their immediate need, all they got out of Wednesday's meeting was some cookies. Oatmeal, maybe chocolate chip, I think.

North Long Beach's one-block Andy Street was long infamous for crime, gangs and drugs. At the beginning of the decade, neighborhood residents, property owners, city leaders and police began an effort to clean up the residential area. Many consider the efforts a success, as crime has dropped and the community has taken on a sense of pride.

On Friday, KTTV Fox Channel 11 will air a special report called "Songs of our Success - Triumphs of Andy Street" to highlight these accomplishments. The show will air at 10:30 p.m.

Under the Multi-family Improvement District Law passed in California in 2004, Andy Street residents, property owners and city staff formed the Andy Street Multi-family Improvement District, the first of its kind in California. This neighborhood revitalization tool allowed property owners to assess themselves in order to pay for supplemental security service.

Lakewood Center mall officials have announced that the long-awaited 159,000-square-foot warehouse store is scheduled to open its doors on Feb. 26, making it the regional mall's fifth anchor store and the first Costco in Southern California to be attached to a shopping mall.

After two years of speculation over what would replace the former Macy's building, the space called "Project X" would be the wholesale store juggernaut known for its bulk items and retail treasure finds.

Dan Pressburg, whose North Long Beach home has become a center of local politics, is hosting again this weekend a brunch for local political candidates and area politicians.

Pressburg's home, the former site of the historical Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 167 E. South St. The brunch provides an informal setting where the public can meet candidates and ask them one-on-one about their views. Candidates for Long Beach City Council's 1st District and those running for Signal Hill City Council have been invited, as well as a bevy of other local officials and politicians.

You never know who will show up, and often there is a surprise or two. At the very least, the food is always good. RSVP by Wednesday to 562-428-7710.

 

Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and Lakewood Community Development Director Jack Gonsalves will discuss the economic climate in Lakewood and Los Angeles County at the 2009 Business Forecast Luncheon on Feb. 26.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Maple Room of The Centre at Sycamore Plaza, 5000 Clark Ave. For more information call 562-531-9733.

Voters and residents got their first look Thursday night at the 1st District City Council candidates, and it was quite interesting to see the contrast in their personalities, speaking styles and policy stances.

The large crowd too was an interesting mix, with a few rambunctious groups supporting various candidates and several local political figures, including Vice Mayor Val Lerch, Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga, and Gabriella Holt, the Republican candidate for the 54th District of the state Assembly last November.

The forum resulted in a bit of big news and some tough words. See my story that went online last night for a full account of the event. It's worth checking out.

Rick Berry, a candidate for the 1st District City Council seat, is planning a musical campaign fund-raiser Wednesday.

Berry is a jazz musician and a former president of the Long Beach Municipal Band. The event begins at 6 p.m. at diPiazza's Restaurant, 5205 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. Admission is $5 per person, which includes entrance to the Spirit of Zepplin concert by a Led Zepplin tribute band after the fundraiser.

The event is open to All Ages. To RSVP, call Bianca Sovich at (562) 235-8887 , or email her at biancascostumes@verizon.net.

L.B. Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga will join truck drivers, dockworkers and Teamster officials at a 5 p.m. candlelight vigil Wednesday on Pier A to demand a full and rapid investigation into the Jan. 28 death of driver Pablo Garcia, who was killed in a worksite accident while picking up a container.

The memorial is at Berth A90, near the accident site, where Garcia was pinned between two truck chassis after being struck by a forklift driver. Long Beach Police and the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health are looking into the accident. No charges have been filed.

 A 40-year-old father of three, Garcia had been active with the Teamsters, helping organize fellow drivers at Long Beach-based Maritech Leasing in the months before his death. The group negotiated a labor contract providing overtime pay, health care and death benefits - perks Garcia's family is now drawing upon, friends said Tuesday.

"We must ensure these accidents are fully investigated so that all port truck drivers, regardless of employee classification, can work in a safer environment," said Jim Santangelo, President of Teamster Joint Council 42, which represents Long Beach-area drivers.

Deputy Director at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Mario Rodriguez has been named director of the Long Beach Airport, the city announced this morning.

Rodriguez, who will start on Feb. 23, will be in charge of a 125-person staff and a $28 million budget and report to City Manager Pat West on matters that include airport operations, finances and leases, the Airport Noise Ordinance, community outreach and environmental matters.

"Mr. Rodriguez's exemplary background in the private and public sector provides him with a unique understanding of the industry, which will be an asset to the Long Beach community as he faces many significant challenges in his new role," West said in a statement. "We conducted a rigorous national recruitment and Mario stood out with the interview panel, which included several community members. Simply put, we are very excited to have Mario join our team."
 
  As Deputy Director at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Rodriguez managed a 186-person-staff and a $25 million annual operating budget. He also oversaw the Airport's Sound Insulation, Land Acquisition Programs and all aircraft noise monitoring activity, according to the release.

Read more about it in Wednesday's Press-Telegram.

A 1-year-old Cambodian boy brought to the United States for life-altering open-heart surgery and the nonprofit group that made the trip possible will be acknowledged by the City Council Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Soksamnang Vy, who lives in a destitute village outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, suffered from a dime-sized hole in his heart called a ventricular septal defect. Although easily repaired in the United States, untreated the defect leads to fatigue, heart damage and a shortened life expectancy.
Hearts Without Boundaries, a Long Beach nonprofit, helped broker a deal with a Las Vegas hospital to treat the boy and arranged and paid for transportation and lodging for the boy and his mother, Ratha Pang.
Peter Chhun, founder of Hearts Without Boundaries, says Soksamnang, nicknamed Lucky, and his mother will return to Cambodia March 12.
He is now negotiating with Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach to care for another stricken child.
Soksamnang is the second child the nonprofit has brought to the U.S. The first, 9-year-old Davik Teng, returned to her home in July and is reported to be in good health.

Three downtown neighborhood organizations - West End Community
Association, Willmore Historical Neighborhood Association and the
North Pine Neighborhood Alliance - will host a 1st District Candidates Forum on Feb. 12.

The forum will take place at 7 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.

 

Author, sailor and tsunami researcher Craig Smith will give a public presentation Friday evening on giant waves and the threat they post to Southern California's coastline.

Smith's interactive lecture - "Freaks, Rogues and Giants: The Story of Extreme Waves" - will explore how giant waves are formed, where they are most likely to hit and the dangers they pose to coastal communities and habitats.

The lecture is open to the public, but seating is limited inside the aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr. in San Pedro. Tickets are $9 at the door, $7 in advance. For advance tickets, call (310) 548-8396.

In addition to "Extreme Waves," Smith authored a book on construction of Egypt's pyramids, titled "How The Great Pyramid Was Built."

 

 

Today the public has a chance to meet 1st District City Council candidate Bill Grisolia during a community forum and fund-raiser at 5:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Living Center,255 Long Beach Blvd

The event is free and open to the public. Food will be provided and there will be music.

Grisolia is one of seven candidates running for the 1st District seat to be decided in an April 7 special election.

Former Assemblywoman Betty Karnette has dropped her bid for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, endorsing Democratic rival Tom Torlakson for the post in the 2010 election cycle.
Karnette represented greater Long Beach in Sacramento for nearly 18 years before being termed out in December, and her decision likely ends a storied political career that began in 1992, when she defeated 7-term incumbent Gerald Felando in a close race for Assembly.

The bid by Karnette, drawing on more than 30 years' experience teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was well-received among area lawmakers, but she faced a formidable challenger in Torlakson, a Bay Area Democrat, whose reported to hold a significant fundraising and organizational advantage.
With Karnette's departure, only Torlakson and Gloria Romero, D-East Los Angeles, remain in competition for the post, as the GOP has yet to publicly field a candidate.