Woman Is Shot/Wounded, Parked Cars Also Hit, Seaside Park/14th St. Park Area Near Chestnut Ave., Roughly 1.5 Miles Due North of City Hall

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Shooting comes less than 10 days after budget hearing on proposed FY16 LBPD budget at which no Councilmembers made any motions, or indicated any willingnes to do so in coming weeks, to restore all of part of LBPD's former field anti-gang unit, or any of roughly 200 officers no longer provided to taxpayers

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(Aug. 28, 2015, 8:10 a.m.) -- A woman (adult) was shot and wounded, and some cars were damaged by gunfire, last night (Aug. 27) in the Seaside Park/14th St. Park area near Chestnut Ave., roughly one and a half miles due north of Long Beach City Hall.

LBPD Overnight Watch Commander Lt Poe Siavii tells LBREPORT.com that at about 11:30 p.m. (Aug. 27), an female adult was hit, transported to a hospital with wounds described as non-life-threatening; as of dawn today (Aug. 28) the motive is unknown and an investigation is ongoing.

The latest Long Beach shooting comes after Aug. 24 gunfire wounded a 17 year old male in the Wrigley area (Burnett St./Linden Ave.), and two shootings occurred within two days of each other not far from last night's shooting: on Aug. 24, shots were fired but no person and no property were hit in the area of 16th Pine, and on Aug. 23 a man was shot and killed in the area of PCH/Pine Ave.

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Red Xs=2014 and 2015 murders to date; Blue Xs=2014 and 2015 shootings, person wounded; Brown Xs=shots fired at victim(s), not hit; Purple Xs=2014 shots at occupied residence/vehicle; Green Xs=shots at unoccupied vehicle/residence; Grey Xs=shots fired (no hit, no target identified); Orange X's=non-fatal stabbings. Map is unofficial. A separate map (not shown here) indicates add'l shootings in NLB.

On Aug. 18, 2015, 1st district Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez joined a unanimous Council in making no motions at a budget hearing on the proposed FY16 police budget for which management and Mayor Garcia haven't included any funding to restore any or all of the field anti-gang unit or any of roughly 200 officers no longer provided to taxpayers citywide. (The Council took no budget adoption votes on that date; they're scheduled for the first half of September.)

LBPD's former field anti-gang unit previously deployed 20 officers + 2 sergeants in gang impacted neighborhoods, where officers could observe conditions firsthand, work contacts and gather intelligence. LBPD still has a budgeted anti-gang unit (handling investigations, filing cases and the like) but not an anti-gang unit operating in the field as previously.

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Seaside Park area is very close to the so-called "Mayor's Build" Habitat for Humanity refurbished house (to which a deserving family was given possession in Oct. 2011) for which then-Mayor Bob Foster raised funds...and less than a year later proposed a budget that would have entirely eliminated funding for field anti-gang unit. Instead, the Council used "one time" funding to allow up to half the unit in FY13, then let the funding disappear in FY14, and (under incoming Mayor Garcia and a new Council majority) didn't restore it in FY15.

As in previous years, a Mayor-chosen "Public Safety Committee" (currently comprised of Councilmembers Price [chair], Austin and Mungo) has failed to hold hearings on the public safety implications of the Mayor's recommended budget.

In early August 2015, Councilwoman Gonzalez acknowledged multiple shootings in the area and announced that 18 "security cameras" will be funded for installation with about a dozen at Seaside Park and half a dozen between Pacific and Chestnut Aves. near Seaside and 14th St. parks.

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On Aug. 8 (about ten days before the hearing on the proposed FY16 police budget), Councilwoman Gonzalez's office, working with city management departments, held what it called a "Safe Long Beach Fair" in Seaside Park (14th/Chestnut) displaying [press release text] "existing programs and services that enhance safety in the community"; the event included a "Kids' Zone with inflatable jumpers, face painting, a photo booth, crafts and games. Music, entertainment, and complimentary food will also be provided for all to enjoy...'The Safe Long Beach Fair will empower residents by promoting the services and resources of our Long Beach Public Safety Continuum,' said Councilmember Lena Gonzalez..."

[City press release text] The City of Long Beach has an explicit focus on the Public Safety Continuum. The Continuum recognizes that City agencies and programs must work together in order to cultivate and sustain a safe City. The Continuum includes Parks, Recreation and Marine, Police, Fire, Libraries, Health and Human Services, Workforce Development, Development Services Neighborhood Services Bureau and Building and Safety Bureau, among other agencies. Their efforts, joined by citizens and community-based organizations, are critical to preventing violence.
This event is part of Safe Long Beach, the City's Violence Prevention Plan. Adopted by the City Council in May 2014, Safe Long Beach addresses a broad safety agenda aimed at reducing all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, hate crimes, bullying, gang violence, and violent crime. The Plan draws upon the City's many existing assets to target violence at its root and attain the goal of building a safer Long Beach by 2020.

A day earlier, on Aug. 7 Councilwoman Gonzalez held a meeting urging support for City Hall's self-described "Safe Long Beach" plan

[Aug. 7 City press release text] The round table discussion expanded on the goals and initiatives of Safe Long Beach, including increased resident engagement, neighborhood improvement, career development, and reduced crime. "The safety of families in the Washington Neighborhood is my top priority," said Councilwoman Gonzalez. "Building community leadership and working in tandem to tackle challenges and deliver essential programs and services is crucial to maintaining a safe and sustainable community."
Representing those that live, work, and play in the Washington School Neighborhood -- City officials, local school principals and teachers, faith leaders; community-based organizations, business owners, and members of the community -- gathered at The Guidance Center Headquarters to initiate a call to action for achieving the outlined priorities of Safe Long Beach.
Adopted by the City Council in May 2014, Safe Long Beach, the City's Violence Prevention Plan addresses a broad safety agenda aimed at reducing all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, hate crimes, bullying, gang violence, and violent crime...