LBReport.com posts below the text of a February 10, 2003 letter by Long Beach Vice Mayor and 3d District Councilman Frank Colonna endorsing the VERB project. We post the text in HTML form below (for quick reading) as well as in pdf form.
The letter is addressed to the Bixby Hill Community Association, a homeowners group which ultimately did not support the project, originally proposed for a wall along the Cerritos Channel between Bouton Creek and 7th St. (which the letter indicates belongs to the Bixby Hill Community Ass'n).
After being turned down by that group, the Bixby Hill Gardens Association did support the project (details in LBReport.com main article text) at its current location (Iroquois Ave. and Anaheim Rd.)
[begin letter text]
February 10, 2003
Bixby Hill Community Association:
I am writing on behalf of the mural project being proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control, regarding the "VERB, It's what you do" campaign and their effort to promote positive physical and social activities among youngers.
The VERB campaign, a five year national campaign, has been designed to improve the habits of children, ages 9-13, many of whom now favor television, video games and internet surfing over more physically dynamic activities. The VERB campaign will present one of a kind VERB events in Los Angeles County. The events encourage children to find a VERB or several VERBs that fit their personality and interests, and use them as a launching pad for better health.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has chosen the wall along the Cerritos Channel between Bouton Creek and 7th Street, belonging to the Bixby Hill Community Association, to paint a mural promoting the VERB campaign. The mural is a paid, risk free endeavor. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is offering the Community Association a rental fee of $2,000.00 for use of the wall, for a 30 day time period. After the 30-day period, if the Community Association should choose to have the mural removed, the wall will be painted white, free of charge.
The City feels a mural at this particular location will have unlimited exposure promoting well-being for youngsters. The location is key in attracting the attention of many passers by including, the parents and students of Hill Middle School. Also, a mural will enhance the visual aesthetics of the wall and the community as a whole.
The Third District Council Office has endorsed this mural project and would like to see it move forward with the support of the homeowners. We hope you agree this is a positive, risk free opportunity to make a welcomed improvement in the Third District.
Best Regards,
s/ Frank Colonna
Vice Mayor and Third District Councilmember
