Hypodermic Syringe On LB Beach Stabs A Jr. Lifeguard...And It Shouldn't Take A Public Records Act Request To Find Out What Really Happened

LBReport.com

News / Perspective

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

(July 10, 2018, 8:25 a.m.) -- It shouldn't take a Public Records Act request to get basic information and answers to some obvious follow-up questions about a hypodermic syringe on a City of Long Beach beach that stabbed (stuck) a LB Junior Lifeguard sometime over the past few weeks. Parts of the story are missing. Like where (beach cross streets)? And when (date)? And answers to plenty of other questions.

[Scroll down for further.]

Councilwoman Suzie Price has suggested that the syringe might have come from upriver cities via the L.A. River...but we checked two separate internet databases and they don't show recordable rain that would propel large numbers of items down the river in June, and only small amounts of rain in May and April. If the City's beach-sand raking/cleaning is effective, a syringe shouldn't remain in late June after March rain.

Sponsor

We can't prove it but it seems to us more likely than not that the syringe came from one of the vagrant/transient encampments and their drug-addicted inhabitants increasingly visible in Long Beach. Yes, court rulings [that we believe deserve to be revisited] currently constrain city responses, and yes, Prop 47 has created unintended consequences [that we believe deserve voter revisiting.] But in our view, these factors should prompt greater caution by a City that oversees miles of beaches and invites residents and visitors, adults and children, to use them.

Sponsor

In our opinion, it was just a matter of time until a resident or visitor was stabbed/stuck by hypodermic syringe tossed on the sand by a vagrant/transient intravenous drug addict. We wouldn't be surprised to learn that this has happened to others besides the Jr. Lifeguard.

LB's Junior Lifeguard program, operated by the Long Beach Fire Department, states on its website that a "Welcome Picnic" was scheduled June 23 and the Jr. Lifeguard program runs from June 25 to August 3. The program (website text) "offers students ages nine to seventeen instruction in lifeguard rescue techniques, first aid, ocean sports, physical conditioning, and marine ecology. Participants also have the opportunity to become CPR certified" and "gives students the experience they need for future careers as lifeguards or in various public service professions."

It's not immediately clear if other Councilmembers, the Mayor or other city officials were informed about what occurred, if so when and by whom, and what they were told.

Sponsor

Yesterday (July 9), LBREPORT.com invited responses from the LB Health Dept, the Long Beach City Manager's Office (city spokesperson), the LB Fire Department's Public Information Officer (no response despite three pager calls on Sunday July 8) and the Councilwoman (we learned later was out of town on vacation). When we heard nothing by late afternoon, LBREPORT.com sought information under CA's Public Records Act. It may take weeks, and the answers may not come easily if at all, but we will do our best pursue them.

Developing.

Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to incumbent Long Beach officials, development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.