(Nov. 16, 2006) -- About 125 people attended a Nov. 15 meeting at Hughes Middle School that City Hall indicated in an advisory would provide an "opportunity to be updated on the events of Halloween night that took place on Linden Ave."
But city officials provided nearly no new information -- and effectively provided no details of any kind -- regarding what actually took place on Halloween night in the 3800 block of Linden Ave. when three women were beaten and suffered severe injuries.
The meeting at Hughes Middle School continued to leave the public reliant on media accounts, some of which were cited and undenied by officials. The Press-Telegram and at least one L.A. TV outlet, managed to obtain interviews with some of the victims and their families; LBReport.com has cited mainly LBPD-released information to date.
[The female victims haven't spoken with us; the juveniles charged have not been identified by police due to their age].
Twelve juvenile alleged assailants arrested by LBPD each now face three serious felony charges filed by the District Attorney; LBPD says additional suspects are still outstanding. LBPD has said the beatings followed racial taunts directed at the women from a group of individuals. The beatings ceased when a Good Samaritan intervened. He is an African American (thus far unidentified) as are the alleged assailants; the three women who were beaten are white.
Commander Robinson cited an ongoing investigation in declining to provide further information...but did add two factoids, indicating that LBPD units responded within four minutes of the reported beatings and ten of the twelve alleged assailants were apprehended within 15 minutes. In response to an audience question, Commander Robinson indicated that in over twenty years with LBPD he couldn't recall the type of attack allegedly involving multiple assailants against a small number of individuals taking place in the city.
With an opening caveat from 8th district Councilwoman Rae Gabelich that verbal attacks or theatening remarks would result in the person being asked to leave, the remainder of the meeting amounted to an open-mike talk show...with the public offering opinions and reactions based on media accounts. Some members of the public praised and criticized press accounts. Public comments from the diverse audience were nearly entirely non-polarizing with multiple speakers urging understanding and common ground. Virtually all expressed compassion for the victims of the beating.
There was loud applause when one public speaker said he wanted to learn the identity of the Good Samaritan whose intervention effectively ended the attack.
Another speaker, an African-American woman, said "I feel very proud to be a resident of Long Beach tonight...I had horrible thoughts that we'd have those folk up there that are looking to make matters worse, extremists [would] come and inetrfere in this meeting would stop us from doing what we really need to do." Her comments drew loud applause.
LB Mayor Bob Foster wasn't present, on a trip to DC on city business (a Mayoral aide attended). Vice Mayor/1st District Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal, 9th district Councilman Val Lerch, LBUSD Board member Mary Stanton and LBCC Trustee Jeff Kellogg all attended.
LBPD Police Chief Anthony Batts was present, along with senior LBPD command staff. City Manager Jerry Miller was visible, as was city management's Human Dignity Officer, Anitra Dempsey. Ms. Dempsey didn't speak until the end of the 90+ minute meeting. She offered no new information but invited residents to contact her office if they had questions or concerns. "My office will be available if anyone is interested in specific assistance. We are helping the families as well, and as a city we are all part of the group affected by what has happened. So my assurance to you is that there are many people who are working very hard and diligently...[W]e're here to work with the community," she said.
No one from the District Attorney's office attended. "I'm really saddened that we don't have someone here from the [DA's office] to at least give us just a general overview, no specifics," an audience member said. He received applause.
8th district Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who presided at the nearly 90+ minute meeting, indicated that she'd initially planned a small gathering for residents of the immediate area of the Halloween night disturbance...and was surprised by city management's advisory more widely promoting the meeting, which was then reported by the Press-Telegram and drew L.A. media outlets including KTLA/5 and KTTV/Fox 11.
Councilwoman Gabelich indicated that she hoped a small, neighborhood size meeting would permit information to be conveyed to the neighbors directly affected without triggering a media presence...but that drew criticism from an audience member who said he wanted more information, not less. Adding that he was often critical of the Press-Telegram, the speaker commended the paper for its coverage of what had taken place.
Councilwoman Gabelich later added, "My intention was to give a platform, a safe area for the community that was immediately impacted to have a place to speak and that was what my intention was. It doesn't mean there won't be more opportunities. I'm sure there will be."
And Councilwoman Gabelich asked for a show of hands from the audience indicating those who favored continuing the discussion in the format that had just taken place. About half of those attending (who filled roughly half of the auditorium) raised their hands..and Councilwoman pledged a future meeting.
