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Jan. 27, 2012
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New: Within Hours of Town Hall On 1st dist. Shootings, A Shooting Occurs Approx 1.5 Miles East in 6th dist, 1600 block Gundry

New / With VIDEO Coverage: At Town Hall Meeting, LBPD West Div'n Commander Josef Levy Announces Measures In Response To Recent Shootings/Gang Activity In Washington Middle School Area

New: Man & Woman (Both Adults) Shot/Wounded, 100 block E. Plymouth, In What PD Believes Was Ongoing Neighbor Dispute; SWAT Activated In Overnight Search For Suspects.
Advisory: State Sen. Alan Lowenthal To Hold Community Meeting At El Dorado Neighborhood Library (2900 Studebaker Rd.), Sat. Jan. 28, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
New / VIDEO: VIDEO Q & A With Candidates Seeking To Replace/Succeed Council Incumbents in Districts 2, 4 and 8 (Seen LIVE On LBReport.com Webcast From Jan. 21 Candidate Brunch)

Janet Ballantyne, 2nd dist.

John Watkins, 4th dist.

Daryl Supernaw, 4th dist.

Lillian Kawasaki, 8th dist.

Al Austin, 8th dist.

Gustavo Rivera, 8th dist.
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  • Perspective / Opinion: The Mythological Mayor: Beverly O'Neill In Balance
  • Transcript Excerpts of Historic Feb. 13, 2001 City Council Vote on QW Bay "Pike" Development
  • How ELB Traffic Project Was Canceled And $1,000,000 Diverted For Downtown Walkway; Other Projects At Traffic Circle & Iron Triangle Not Delivered As Promised
  • 2003: Independent Consultant Says City Hall "Has Created A False Impression Of Solvency"
  • Deputy City Auditor Report Shows LB Convention & Entertainment Center Operations Cost LB Taxpayers $2.5 Million in FY 2000, $3.0 Million in FY 99; Cumulative operating losses since 1978 opening exceed $60 million; City Auditor Burroughs' Recommended Action: "Receive and File"
  • MORE On LBReport.com

    Midmorning Shooting (Jan. 23), 1500 block Linden Ave.



    Coverage coming LBPD West Division To Hold "Town Hall" In Cooperation w/ Councilman Garcia's Office re Shootings in Washington Middle School Area

    On LBReport.com maps above: Red Xs=murders since Jan. 1, 2011; Blue Xs=Shootings since Aug. 2, 2011; Purple Xs=shooting since Aug. 2 (person missed); Green Xs=shooting since Aug. 2 at an occupied building; Brown Xs=2010 murders. Maps show portion of shootings/murders citywide
    Via SacBee.com: Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg tells SacBee.com's Torey Van Oot: Extending Redevelopment Agencies [SB 659] "Not Going to Happen"
    19 Yr Old Charged With Murder & Attempted Murder In Noon-Hour Shooting, Orange Ave./21st St.
    LB School Board Member Dr. David Barton Resigns, Cites Health Reasons


    CSU Board of Trustees Votes To Cap Salaries Starting This Year On Newly Hired Campus Presidents: $325,000; Sen. Lieu (Who Criticized $400,000 Salary in SD) Said He Supports This
    Council Gives Marina Pacifica Ten More Years To Amortize $750,000 Loan City Hall Made in 1997 Using Fed'l Community Development Block Grant Funds
    Action comes after city mgm't says "no downside" to deal and sales tax rebate program participation is separate
    LB Police Officers & Firefighters Associations' Political Arms Endorse Councilman Patrick
    Melody Ross Civil Trial Jury Returns Verdict For School District, Denies Damages To Ross Family

    Photo from Nov. 2009 LBPD news conference announcing arrest of suspects in Ms. Ross' murder. The suspects were convicted and sentenced in a separate criminal trial.
    Councilwoman Schipske Won't Pursue Assembly Seat, Says She'll Focus on City Hall Issues For Remainder of Second Term...And Itemizes Multiple Items On Which She's Dissented From Current Council Majority & Mayor Foster
    LBReport.com Seeks, Obtains & Publishes Memo Seeking Mayor/Council Responses re City Staff-Prepared Comments re EIR on BNSF-Sought, WLB-Impacting SCIG Railyard; No Council Vote Scheduled Today (Jan. 24) On Issue With Filing Deadline Feb. 1
    Public hasn't seen/heard Council responses, if any, or seen city staff's finalized filing response


    OC Sheriff Endorses DeLong For Congress
    City Mgm't Asks Council To Give Marina Pacifica Ten More Years To Amortize $750,000 Loan City Hall Made in 1997 Using Fed'l Community Development Block Grant Funds
    Subsequent development above
    Council Avoids Recorded Vote on City Position Re WLB-Impacting BNSF-Sought SCIG Railyard Environmental Impact Report; City Mgr. Preparing Or Has Submitted City Position On EIR "Technical Issues" Following Dec. 6 Council Motion
    LBReport.com seeks copy of document given to Mayor & Councilmembers; no Council discussion or vote on SCIG issue scheduled for Jan. 24 Council meeting
    Woman Shot & Wounded in WLB (south of Wardlow Rd., west of Santa Fe Ave.)
    Advisory: LBReport.com's Big News Sunday webcast live as scheduled Sunday at 10:00 a.m. but we experienced a computer crash later that day (we've blown up several computers due to duty cycle overload). We're working to incorporate the VIDEO in stories coming shortly, including Q & A with the candidates seeking to become LB's new Councilmembers in districts 2, 4 and 8 (VIDEO from our LIVE Saturday webcast from Dan Pressburg's pre-election candidates' brunch: District 2: Janet Ballantyne; District 4: John Watkins & Daryl Supernaw; District 8: Lillian Kawasaki, Al Austin, Gustavo Rivera). We regret the technical issue and we're moving forward to surmount it.
    First (Again) on LBReport.com: City Employee Unions Representing Police & Fire Preparing To Endorse Incumbent Councilman Patrick O'Donnell As Write-In For Third Term
    O'Donnell initially sought Assembly seat when Bonnie Lowenthal sought state Senate; when she changed plans to seek another Ass'y term, he announced third-term Council bid
    Sic Transit: R & B Pioneer Johnny Otis ("Hand Jive") Passes At 90, Just Days Before Etta James ("At Last"), Whose Career He Boosted, Dies At 73
    In 1950s, Otis had popular R&B radio show on Long Beach's former KFOX radio
    Transient Attacks Police Officer, 1400 block E. Ocean. Blvd.
    VIDEO: Occupy Long Beach Supporters Demonstrate Outside ELB Bank of America: "Banks Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out"


    Follow-Up / Perspective: UPDATED: Mayor/Council-Majority Action (Inaction) To Become Redevelopment's "Successor Agency" Could Cost City Taxpayers' Gen'l Fund (Covers Police, Fire, Parks, Libraries) Sum Currently Unknown; City Mgm't Says Costs May Exceed Now Est. $1.9-$4.5 Mil State May Provide
    Revelation follows Council session closed to public citing a case to which City wasn't a litigation party.


    LBReport.com Learns of Second "Shots-Fired" (Missed) On Jan. 17: 1600 block E. Anaheim St.


    New: Two Men Shot-At, Bullets Miss, 3100 block E. 11th St. (1 block south of Anaheim, 3 blocks west of Redondo)


    Continuing Follow-Up: Sheriffs Dept. Says "Shotspotter" Gunfire Location System Recently Helped Make Handgun Arrest in Willowbrook Area
    DA Charges Two Alleged Gangmembers With 2008 Murders Of Five People In WLB Homeless Encampment (Near 405/Santa Fe); LBPD Investigated The Crimes
    5 deceased Nov 2/08
    LBReport.com photo, Nov. 2, 2008

    CA Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Appeal of (Appellate-Court Stricken) LB Medical Marijuana Regulation Ordinance; Court Denies Challengers' Request For Temporary Order Preventing LB From Banning Medpot Dispensaries
    Council voted Jan. 17 to delay until Feb. 14 decision on whether to ban medpot outlets in LB
    City Attorney Shannon Acknowledges City of Long Beach "Not Technically" A Party To Redevelopment Lawsuit [Cited As Basis For Jan 10 Closed Council Session] But Says City Is a Member of CA Redevelopment Ass'n Which Filed The Case & City Was Assessed A Surcharge For Cost of the Litigation; On That Basis Says Closed Session "Easily Complies With The Spirit" Of Brown Act's Exception To Open Meeting Req't
    Passage: Darwin Williams, Father of LB First Lady Nancy Foster, Sic Transit

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    Gerrie Schipske's Blog

    New: "My Comments During Council's Vote on 2nd/PCH"

    Rae Gabelich's Blog

    The Road Is Not Always Paved With Good Intentions...MORE
    Tonia Reyes Uranga's blog
    Tonia Reyes Uranga
    Another decision pushed behind the closed door...MORE

    EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT
  • New Perspective: "It's Not My Job" Is Wrong Response By City To Toxic Risks To Neighborhood Residents
    by Kerrie Alley
  • Hear Appellant Kerrie Aley's Testimony re City's Planned Handling Of Toxic Contaminated Colorado Lagoon Soil...And City Mgm't Response & Her Rebuttal
  • Read CA Court of Appeal Ruling (Late 2004) Reversing L.A. Council, Chastising Its Councilmembers Who Voted To Deny Appeal After Not Paying Attention To Testimony In Quasi-Judicial Appeal Hearing
  • Video Shows Councilman Garcia Typing, Texting, Seemingly Not Focused On Testimony During Residents' Quasi-Judicial Appeal of City's Planned Handling Of Toxic Contaminated Colorado Lagoon Soil
  • What Some Councilmembers Did While Taxpayers Testified On Toxics

  • Wall of Neighborhood/Community Group Websites
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    Mates3 broad
    www.aqmd.gov

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  • Archival Access: Hear What Council Was Told In 1995 About Aquarium Paying Its Bond Debt Without Taxpayer Bailout
    Aquarium, Nov. 21/04
    Photo: T'giving wkend 2004 (not typical)
    Study Says Areas Including Downtown LB, Belmont Shore, Los Altos, Bixby Knolls At Estimated Heightened Cancer Risk From Port Operations

    "Draft Estimated Diesel PM [particulate matter] Cancer Risk From POLA and POLB" cited in Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure Assessment Study for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, p. 8
    24 Hrs. in LB Air: Bixby Knolls AQMD Monitor, Dec. 2003. Details, click photo
    AQMD Air Monitor in LB, Dec. 2003
    2005: Scientists @ LB Conference Say Air Pollution in L.A.-LB Region is High Enough to Cause Illness and Deaths; Economist Says Ports Receive Subsidies That Invite More Growth
    RecentlyAbout a week or two agoAbout two-four weeks ago
    Salient portions of Jan. 17 City Council meeting
    Council votes 7-1 (Schipske dissenting, Lowenthal absent) to support having City of Long Beach become the "successor agency" to the (now former) Redevelopment Agency Vote comes after the City let a Jan. 13 deadline pass by which the Council could have voted to opt-out. City staff indicated that General Fund resources may be required to support the Successor Agency. The potential exposure of the General Fund is an among the issues that led the Los Angeles City Council to vote (9-3) in a Jan. 11 public session NOT to become the L.A. Redevelopment agency's successor agency. Councilwoman Schipske criticized LB city staff for not agendizing the issue for a public Council vote before the Jan. 13 deadline passed...and urged city staff next time not to treat the Council as "rubberstamp." No other Councilmembers publicly objected to staff letting the Jan. 13 choice deadline pass or to Jan. 10 "closed session" that was agendized to discuss as "existing litigation." (The case cited as the basis for the closed session was CA Redevelopment Ass'n v. Matosantos...in which the Court rendered its final judgment on Dec. 29...and LB wasn't a co-plaintiff, intervenor or amicus in the litigation.
    New: LB School Board Votes To Oppose Certifying Draft EIR As Currently Circulated For Proposed WLB-Adjacent Container Transfer Railyard Sought By BNSF (So. Cal Int'l Gateway/SCIG)
    Warren Furutani, Backed By L.A. Mayor & Unions, Trounced In L.A. Council Bid By Newcomer Joe Buscaino, An L.A. Cop Who Ran As An Outsider Promising New Voice At City Hall & Support For Public Safety Budgets
    Gov. Brown's State of State Message: Choose Between Higher Taxes Or Cuts To Schools/Core Services
    CA Republican Legislators' Response to Gov. Brown's State of the State
    We Find No Record of City of Long Beach As Party (Co-Plaintiff Or Intervenor) Or Amicus ("Friend of the Court") In Redevelopment Case (CRA vs. Matosantos) Cited By City Hall To Prevent Public Access To Council Sessions
    Councilwoman Schipske Launches OpenUpLongBeach.com, Website & Project To Make LB City Hall "More Open, Transparent & Collaborative" w/ Residents

    Website screen save Jan. 17 www.openuplongbeach.com

    Subsequent development above:
    LB City Hall Quietly Lets Deadline Pass To Opt-Out Of Becoming LB Redevelopment's "Successor Agency"; LB City Mgm't Doesn't Mention Option In Agendizing Memo
    L.A. City Hall analysis presents pros and cons, L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa urges against L.A. becoming successor agency, L.A. Council votes 9-3 NOT to become L.A. RDA Successor Agency citing costs and potential exposures

    Updated and now available on-demand: L.A. City Council Cites Risks & Opts Out, LB City Hall Quietly Lets Choice Deadline Pass And Is Now "Successor Agency" To LB Redevelopment Agency
    DA's Office Charges LBPD Officer With Multiple Counts of Assaulting & Threatening His Wife
    LBReport.com / Schools
    A service of LBReport.com

    Subsequent action above:
    Alleging Adverse Impacts on Nearby Schools, LBUSD Top Mgm't Advises School Board To Oppose Certifying Draft EIR For Proposed WLB-Adjacent Container Transfer Railyard (BNSF So. Cal Int'l Gateway/SCIG)
    New / Advisory: Jan. 21 Is Chrissy Strong-Marshall Memorial Kickball Tournament; Donations Welcome To Benefit Nat'l Law Enforcement Cancer Support Foundation Led By LBPD Commander Josef Levy
    Motorcycle Rider Dies After Striking Vehicle, 7th/Redondo
    Gunfire Reportedly Exchanged Between Two Persons On Opposite Sides of LB Blvd. @ at 69th St. (NW LB)


    UPDATE: Reunited In a release Mon. afternoon (Jan. 16), LBPD says 74 year old Sandra Mata, reporting missing yesterday, was found at a hospital in Torrance today at 10:45 a.m. where an officer was dropping off fliers...and is now reunited with her family. Ms. Mata was brought to the hospital "unharmed and in good condition after being found in Carson the night before," LBPD says in a release. LBPD also notes that it offers a program called "Safe Reunion/Long Beach" in which the participant wears an emergency locator bracelet, which can be activated when he or she goes missing. The bracelet is free to those that suffer from a cognitive disorder. For more information about the Safe Reunion/Long Beach Program, LBPD invites the public to call (562) 570-1436.


    Passage: Retired LBFD Capt. Bob Caldon, Sic Transit
    (Jan. 15, 2012) -- LBReport.com is saddened to report the loss of retired LBFD Capt. Bob Caldon, who suffered a stroke while playing golf with friends. He was 62...MORE


    City Council Candidate Election Line Up:
  • 2nd dist. Incumbent/Vice Mayor Lowenthal faces reelection challenge; VIDEO: 5 p.m. at City Hall as 2nd dist. announced candidate Wideman learns his campaign didn't subsmit sufficient valid voter signatures to qualify
  • 6th dist. Council incumbent Andrews has no filed challenger
  • 8th dist. has three filed candidates
  • 4th dist. has two filed cndidates + incumbent O'Donnell says he'll use write-in procedure seeking third term
    In Detail: By the Numbers: LB's Police Staffing Is Now Below Level When Mayor O'Neill Took Office (1994)
    Supporter of Downtown Homeowners Unite -- Janet Ballantyne -- To Run Against Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal in April 2012 Election; Grassroots Group Has Spoken Out Against Attempted Assessment On Downtown Residents By Downtown LB Associates

    Photo source: Ballantyne for Council campaign

    Perspective: Nine Eleven People Shot/Wounded, Shot/Missed Or Shot/Killed In LB In First 11 Days of 2012; Jan. 11 Murder (14th St. Park Area) Makes Three in LB Since Jan. 1
    Man Murdered (Jan. 11) Predawn, Area 14th St. / Pacific Ave.


    Shooting (Jan. 9), 1600 block Locust Ave.


    Shooting (Jan. 9), 2100 block Cerritos Ave.


    Opinion: Council Should Appoint "Green Ribbon" Task Force To Create Better Medical Marijuana Ordinance
    by Diana Lejins
    Council Approves "Downtown Plan," Inviting Increased Density With Less Environmental Impact Review Required For Developers


    With AUDIO / Stunner: 2nd/PCH Developer David Malmuth Addresses Council, Raises Possibility Of New Vote on Project; Hear His Comments & Reaction From Councilman DeLong


    Mayor Foster's 2012 State of the City Message

    Editorial: Facts Mayor Foster Fears & Didn't Face In His 2012 State of City Message


    On-scene AUDIO comments (on-demand): Click to hear Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, Councilmembers Gary DeLong, Dee Andrews, James Johnson, Steve Neal and Patrick O'Donnell. On scene audio reporting by Community Correspondent Joe Mello.
    To read full text of Mayor Foster's State of the City message (as prepared), click here

    Perspective: Mayor Foster's State of City Message Signals Coming Changes, Perhaps Final Curtain, For Current Independent LB Redevelopment Agency Board & Related Groups
    Mayor/Council Major Redevelopment Move: On 24 Hrs Notice, Mayor Foster Agendizes Meetings Tuesday Jan. 10 w/ Community Dev'ment Advisory Comm'n & LB Housing Development Co. (On Their Future Roles) & LB Redevelopment Agency (To Discuss Its Future Role & Responsibilities)...And Just Hours Later, Council Will Hold Previously Scheduled Closed Session Re Case In Which CA Supreme Court Ended Local Redevelopment
    LBReport.com Seeks Documents Showing What City Hall Has & Hasn't Done Re ShotSpotter (Gunfire Location) System

    Graphic from ShotSpotter website
  • Heard LIVE Sunday, On-Demand Now:

    Reaction and Q & A with 4th dist. Council candidate Daryl Supernaw, now facing incumbent Councilman Patrick O'Donnell (write-in) as well as challenger John Watkins. To launch this segment, click here.
    Big News Sunday examines what LB City Hall has and hasn't done to implement "ShotSpotter" gunfire location system. Hear LA Sheriff Century Station Watch Commander (where it's up and running); see LB City Mgt. Sept 2011 memo...and ("Amnesia File") recall LBPD Chief McDonnell's words in July 2010. Launch segment, click here.
    Multiple Shots Fired, Man Lightly Wounded, Area Harding St/DeForest Ave.


    UPDATE: Man Dies in NLB Drive-By Shooting, LB Blvd/68th St; Another Man Is Wounded


    FURTHER UPDATED: Councilman O'Donnell Drops Ass'y Run, Will Pursue Third Term Council Write-In; Declared Council Candidates Supernaw & Watkins Say They're In The Council Race To Win; FURTHER UPDATE: Candidate Herlinda Chico Suspends Her Campaign Indefinitely, Will Support O'Donnell
    Predawn Shots Fired (Jan. 5), No One Appears Hit, Area 1900 block Henderson Ave.

    Purple X's indicate shots without person hit. Red X's include 2011 murders. We haven't updated our color coding yet for 2012 murders.

    Brazen Noon Hour Attack Area 21st/Orange, Just Blocks From MLK Park: Suspect Shoots At Two Men, One Is Hit And Dies In First LB Murder of 2012

    Red X's include 2011 murders. We haven't updated our color coding yet for 2012 murders.

    With Audio: 2nd dist. Council Candidate Robert Wideman Appears To Have First Registered to Vote In Oct. 2011, Acknowledges As Much To LBReport.com And Discusses Plastic Bag Ban, City Hall Budget, Bike Lanes, Medpot Outlets, Same-Sex Marriage And His Proposed Sports Stadium @ PCH/Walnut (6th dist)


    In VIDEO carried LIVE on LBReport.com: Gov.. Jerry Brown introduced his 2012-13 budget proposal on Thursday (Jan. 5) at a Sacramento news conference (yes, on short notice; someone in his administration accidentally put the budget documents online early). The Governor indicated that his proposed budget is based on voters approving his "tax plan" (ballot measure would increase state sales tax by a half-cent and raise income taxes starting at $250,000 for single filers)...but with nearly $5 billion in "trigger cuts" to higher education and K-12 school funding if the tax ballot measure fails. "Let's get the taxes, the cuts, and California will be in a better place," Gov. Brown said. During reporters' Q & A, the Governor said that if tax ballot measure fails, Prop 98 will be affected and schools will be cut. Re Redevelopment, the Governor noted that CA Supreme Court invalidated the legislature's new Redevelopment system with payments to support specific programs and upheld the state's elimination of the former system. He said that he proposed cutting Redevelopment last year because state is short of money and "core services trump Redevelopment."
    LASD Says Courtroom Inmate At Sentencing Slips His Handcuffs, Runs From LB Courtroom; He Jumps/Falls From Courthouse 3rd Floor Amid Foot Pursuit by LASD Deputies And Is Deceased
    UPDATED w/ SCAQMD Comments; NRDC, Phys. For Social Resp-LA + Communities for Better Environment Charge U.S. EPA Is Letting SCAQMD Avoid Monitoring Freeway Pollutants, Seek Fed'l Appeal Court Review
    Groups want fwy monitors for pollutants impacting those living nearby
    LBPD Says 33-Yr Old LB Man, Arrested/Booked on Drug Charge, Attempts Suicide Less Than Two Hours After Being Placed in LB Jail Cell; He Dies At LB Hospital
    Occupy Long Beach Exits Lincoln Park, Moves Its Daily "General Assembly" Meetings To Bixby Park
    Long Beach Ends 2011 With Fewer Murders Than In 2010
    Insight: Why I Hate January 3
    by Lisa Ramelow
    Ms. Ramelow, who owns and operates La Strada restaurant in Belmont Shore, is a ubiquitous and tireless public presence in Long Beach.

    With VIDEO Link: Local Comm'l Realtor Brian Russell In Rose Parade With Rotary Int'l Float, Volunteer LB Mounted Police Part of Rose Parade Near-Grand Finale

    Photo source: Justin Rudd Facebook page

    New Year's Day Midnite Hour WLB Shooting: 1200 block W. Burnett St.
    Man Who Allegedly Fired Handgun Into Air On New Year's Eve (And Allegedly Sought To Walk Away From Arriving Officers) Is Arrested, And Another Man Is Shot/Wounded by LBPD After Alleged Assault w/ Deadly Weapon on Police Officer
    Guest Opinion: End Comfortable Numbness, Fund Replenishment Police & Fire Academy Classes Now
    by Val Lerch, former Long Beach Vice Mayor and two-term 9th district City Councilmember (2002-2010), chaired the Council's Public Safety Committee under Mayor Bob Foster

    (December 30, 2011) -- When I hear of another murder or shooting in our great City, when I hear that property crimes are up, and when I hear fire response times are increasing, the opening words of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, go running through my head. Hello? Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?...MORE. (Photo below: June, 2010)



    LBPD Will Monitor Live Video On New Year's Eve From Mobile Security Cams, Borrowed From Port, Parked Along 2nd St. In Belmont Shore & In Aquarium Area To Maximize PD Resources
    (December 30, 2011) -- What is this mobile thing (spotted by an LBReport.com reader, thank you) visible in two locations Thursday (Dec. 29) along Second Street in Belmont Shore? The one in the photo (right) is near Covina Ave (roughly 5200 block) and there's another one along 2nd St. in about the 5000 block. And we've learned there is or will be a third one downtown in the Aquarium area...MORE


    UPDATED: With Clarifying Dispatch re Facebook Dispatch Indicating Justin Rudd Was Talking With Friends About A (Second) Run For Third District City Council
    Foghorns Serenade Foggy Long Beach (Dec. 29-30), And Seem Louder, Many Say
    Perspective / Appreciation: See/Read Retired Postal Mgr./Long Beach Resident's Devastating Comments on Proposed Closure of 2300 Redondo Ave. Postal Facility
    See What El Dorado Audubon Volunteers Saw During Christmas Bird Count
    by Mary Parsell, President El Dorado Audubon


    CA Supreme Court Upholds Sac'to Legislature's Power to Dissolve (Now Former) Local Redevelopment Agencies & Strikes Down Legislature's Newly Enacted System That Allowed Redevelopment With Local Payments to Sac'to For Schools/Special Districts
    LB Mayor Bob Foster: "Regrettably, no one 'wins' with today's decision. Eliminating the economic benefits of redevelopment is neither good for cities, nor the long-term fiscal health of the State. It is the worst possible time to eliminate investments in communities that create opportunities for job growth and increase the state's tax base for the future. Closer to home, we are going to take things one step at a time with the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency. It will take some time to assess some of the provisions within the ruling and how each will impact the City and our local RDA team. We will do everything possible to minimize disruptions to the public and continue our work on moving this City forward."
    Gov. Jerry Brown: "Today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court validates a key component of the state budget and guarantees more than a billion dollars of ongoing funding for schools and public safety."

    AND

    Redevelopment Decided For Now, LBUSD Awaits Governor's Upcoming Budget Plan (Jan. 2012) & Sac'to Lawmakers' Response To Spanning Est. $13 Billion FY12-13 Deficit
    Will Sac'to lawmakers protect or cut K-12 funding?
    LBPD/LBUSD Officers Arrest Six Suspects -- On Xmas Day -- In Two LB School Comm'l Burglaries; Four Are Charged To Date
    Following the Council vote on the 2nd/PCH development, the Council voted in a matter of seconds (with no Council discussion) to cancel its Jan. 3 Council meeting
    Perspective: What Did Councilman Garcia Tell/Not Tell His Constituents About Crime In Their Neighborhoods And His Voted Actions?
    Ass'yman Hall Drops Out of Congressional Race, Cites Need For Dem Unity As Congressional Incumbents Laura Richardson & Janice Hahn Battle Over Newly Drawn District
    Shots From Group Of Five Men Miss Victim, 3100 block Artesia Blvd. (recently learned from Dec. 26)

    Dec. 26 incident comes 90 minutes before man is shot/wounded, area Elm/Hullett
    Man (Adult) Shot, Area 10th St/Ohio Ave.


    Man (Adult) Shot, Area Elm Ave/Hullett St. (NLB)

    Two above maps not to identical scale.
    Man (Adult) Shot, 1600 block Cedar Ave. (Dec. 23)


    Via GreaterLongBeach.com: Poor (Laura) Richardson's Almanac: Little Money, Lots of Anger (cites stories in NYTimes.com and Politico.com)
    Police Chief Memo Cites Crime Stats For First 9 Mos. of 2011
    Thinner Blue Line: LBPOA Publication Says 19 Current LB Officers Exited This Year And A "Very Large Group" Will Retire In December
    Consumer Alert: DA's Office Warns of "Robo-Call" Scams Seeking Sensitive Banking Info
    How/Where To Recycle Your Xmas Tree
    Photo Essay: Christmas In Naples...And At Annual Free Xmas Meal @ Reef Restaurant
    by Diana Lejins



    Mike Kowal's Time Expires To Re-Register Within Redrawn 8th district Boundary, Precluding His April 2012 8th dist. Council Run
    VIDEO: Long Beach Jr. Concert Band Drum Unit Marches To Home Of ELB Man With Cerebral Palsy, Gives Him His Christmas Wish: A Drum...That He Plays Right Away



    UPDATED w/ Statement by Councilman Johnson: Johnson Recall Fizzles, Release Says Unnamed Financial Backers Broke Their Words
    Long Beach Christmas Day, 2011
    At grandparents' house, Daddy's daughter gets a toy car and she takes a test drive.



    VIDEO & Photos: Did You See This on Christmas Eve? LBFD/LBPD Caravan Delivered "Spark of Love" Donated Toys To Deserving Families


    On-Demand Christmas Treats

    VIDEO Special Event Coverage: On-Demand: See/Hear 58th Daisy Ave. Christmas Tree Lane Parade





    Photo Essay: LB Celebrates Christmas In Wrigley: 51 Photos of the Daisy Ave Parade + Entertainment + Displays + Tree Lighting
    by Diana Lejins
    Special to LBReport.com




    VIDEO: Better Balance For LB's Award-Winning "One Day Christmas Store, Shopping With Dignity" Brightens Holidays For Over 3,000 LB Area Residents

    VIDEO: CA Families in Focus + Volunteers Provide Sunday Brunch, Entertainment + Presents To 500+ Women, 300+ Kids From Families Victimized by Domestic Violence


    Cold Sat. Morning: UPDATE: Temp dipped to 37.0 degrees Saturday morning at LB Airport. Friday morning's LGB low was 36.0 degrees. Chilly nights but high today and Christmas day in the 70's.


    LBPD Substations Now Closed To Public Access During Regular Business Hours; Agency Cites [Council-Approved] Budget Reductions

    Perspective: Long Beach Gang Violence As "One" City

    by Doug Haubert
    Long Beach City Prosecutor

    [A] few months ago...I went on a ride-along with LBPD West Division officers and we came in contact with a young gang member named Bryan Soriano-Gutierrez. Just 18 years old, he impressed me as a smart kid -- the kind of kid who might have a future if he could put the gang life behind him. Four weeks after I met Bryan Soriano-Gutierrez, he was murdered. He was shot at close range and left to die around midnight on a Linden Avenue sidewalk near Pacific Coast Highway...MORE

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