(June 6, 2009) -- LBReport.com has learned that and confirmed that 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong is planning an office meeting in the coming business week (June 8-12) that will include selected individuals and city staff regarding 2nd St. in Belmont Shore.
Over the past several weeks, videos have begun appearing on YouTube.com showing various levels of disturbing actions and sometimes physical violence in the adjoining residential area allegedly attributable to patrons of some businesses in the area.
On May 19, Belmont Shore Residents Association President Mike Ruehle came to the Long Beach City Council meeting and testified during the period reserved for public comment on non-agendized items that it was [paraphrase] just a matter of time before something more serious occurred.
On May 28, a midnight-hour 2nd St/Belmont Shore officer-involved shooting occurred, involving an individual allegedly breaking windows on the street who allegedly seized an officer's baton.
Photo credit: Kate Cohen, SealBeachDaily.com
The officer-involved shooting was first reported before dawn by LBReport.com and quickly drew additional media attention...including the DistrictWeekly.com, Press-Telegram.com...and NBC4/KNBC, Los Angeles whose report included the views of neighborhood residents and 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong. [To view it, click here]
That was followed by a visible LBPD presence on 2nd St. the next night (May 29-30).
We asked Councilman DeLong for a quick email description [we didn't ask for details] of his upcoming office meeting, and he provided the following:
Over the last several months I have met with, or talked to, many stakeholders in the Belmont Shore area. Including, Belmont Shore and Belmont Park residents, various business people, and front-line police officers and management. These individuals have shared their experiences, and suggested solutions, with me.
While many long-term Shore residents tell me that 2nd Street "problems" have existed for as long as they can remember, other residents believe that problems have increased over the last 3 - 5 years. Either way you look at it, I have come to the conclusion that there is room for improvement.
The next step in the process is to brainstorm with City staff potential solutions. I have already had one meeting with staff, and this second meeting will include a business owner and a member of the BSRA. These individuals are not formally representing those two organizations, but will bring both the business and resident perspective to the table.
As the process of building consensus among the various stakeholders continues, I will continue to reach out to individual residents and solicit their perspectives and ideas.
If the problem was easy to fix, it would have been solved a long time ago. However, I am confident that collectively we will shortly develop tangible solutions that will result in an improved environment for all.
Last weekend, I personally went down to 2nd Street after midnight to see the situation for myself, and will continue to monitor.
LBReport.com has independently learned that one of the individuals invited by the Councilman to attend is City Planning Officer Derek Burnham...and among those not invited to attend is BSRA President Ruehle.
