Dear Senator Coburn:
I am a former City Councilman in Long Beach, CA. I was made aware of your report on stimulus
funding recently. My concern was the skate park in Long Beach.
The 14th Street Skate Park is a 3,000 skate plaza (expansion to be 8,000 sq. ft.) in what the Long
Beach Police Dept. and the local newspaper consider the most dangerous neighborhood for
youth in our City.
In the past year several young people have been victims of gang violence and
death in this neighborhood. All of the kids have been under 18 years old.
This skate park has
given hundreds of kids in the neighborhood an alternative to drugs, gangs and the many
negatives they face each day. These kids are choosing to jump in the skate park and not jump
into gangs.
The neighborhood has very few opportunities for kids and little park space. The
skate park has been a safe haven for the kids.
I would not support the spending of stimulus dollars for a skate park in an affluent neighborhood. This skate park has proven itself to be our contribution to the health and public safety of a very poor neighborhood.
I have a video we did at the skate park with the kids and of the kids testifying at the June 2nd Council meeting to say thanks for the stimulus dollars. Trust me: it is moving and convincing the dollars spent on this park are well worth the money now and into the future. I will arrange to have it sent to your office in Washington.
I have a great passion for these kids and their futures. In this area the skate park gives kids self
esteem and healthy way to enjoy their neighborhood.
I follow you guys a lot. I understand your frustration with spending money on "no where" projects, turtle tunnels, never used train stations and the like. I agree 100%. I do not believe this is one of those projects.
s/ Mike Donelon
Former Councilman
Long Beach, CA
