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Earthquake: Fri. 12:20 a.m. Initial magnitude, 3.7, initial epicener WSW of Compton, depth about 24 km, sharp jolt felt all the way into ELB (Bellflower/Wardlow area)
USGS shake/contour map
Better Housing for Long Beach / Joani Weir File Fed'l Court Lawsuit Challenging Long Beach "Tenant Relocation Ordinance" And Statewide "Rent Cap/Just Cause Eviction" Law (AB 1482), Alleges They Violate Provisions Of Fed'l & CA Constitutions
Council Votes 7-0 (Supernaw Motion) For Community Hospital Lease That Lets LLC Terminate For Any Reason, Requires LB Taxpayers To Pay $1-2 Mil Annually (Up To $25 Mil Over 15 Yrs) Likely Taken From Measure A Sales Tax AND -- In Outcome City Mgm't Calls "Likely" -- Lets LLC End Lease Early Requiring LB Taxpayers To Reimburse LLC For LLC's Costs Incurred And Enabling LLC Or Other Buyer To Buy Community Hospital For Health Care Purposes Other Than Acute Care Hospital
As seen LIVE: Council Votes 5-1 (Uranga Dissents, Pearce Leaves Prior To Vote, Richardson Absent Entire Meeting, 1st dist. Vacant) To Send Support "Letter" -- Not Council Policy-Setting Resolution -- After Andrews Flips/Opposes Agenda Item He Co-Agendized And PreviouslY Voted For; Price Scrambles To Change Motion To Support Letter (Might Be Signed By City Mgr, Not Necessarily Mayor) LB Homeless/Vagrant Council Policy Showdown Coming In Re-Vote Tonight (Oct. 15) On Whether To Support L.A. County's "Friend of Court" Brief Urging US Supreme Court To Reverse Lower Court Opinion That Blocks Local Laws Against Vagrants/Homeless Sleeping Outdoors Unless Sufficient Shelter Beds Available
Governor VETOES SB 268 Citing Lack Of Transparency, Would Have Let Cities Avoid 75 Word Ballot Summary, Instead Tell Voters To "See Voter Guide" For Taxpayer-Impacting Details Of Ballot Measures Seeking Multi-Level Taxes Or Property-Tax Raising Debt-Bonds
Some LBREPORT.com readers responded to our editorial and emailed Governor urging veto after LB Council quietly let Mayor Garcia support the bill; all of LB's Sac'to lawmakers voted for it
Cindy Allen, Contributor To Mayor Garcia/Multiple Council Incumbents And Previous LBPost Publisher/Owner, Enters 2nd Dist. Council Race
Follow the Money: See Who Gave Recent Large Contribs To Put These Candidates On LB City Council (1st Dist.)
To Mary Zendejas: BizFed ("Voice of L.A. County Employers Since 2008") + Ass'yman O'Donnell 2020 Re-Election Campaign
To Ray Morquecho: Two Apt. Ass'n Advocacy Groups
To Misi Tagaloa: Oakwood AcademyBombshells: Proposed Community Hospital Lease Details -- Disclosed Days Before Council Vote -- Would Give For-Profit LLC These Incentives And Could Leave LB Taxpayers With This "Likely" Outcome City Management Memo Acknowledges
Sun Nite: Homicide, 6000 block Linden (Roughly Two Blocks From Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 9th Dist.)
Sat Nite: Man Is Shot/Wounded 2900 block E. Artesia
With Perspective: Governor Newsom Appoints Uduak-Joe Ntuk (LBCC Trustee/Dem Party Partisan) As Supervisor In State Oil/Gas/Geothermal Agency
In Depth Coverage: Gov Newsom Signs Multiple Sac'to Bills Enabling Greater Housing Density, Reducing Local Control; LB's Mayor/Council Remained Mum As Measures Advanced Despite Council Recited Policy To Oppose Bills Reducing Local Control
THREE Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bills require cities to permit one -- and possibly TWO -- ADU's on single family lots in most areas; bills also require cities to permit ADUs inside existing multi-unit (apt.) bldgs. up to 25% of bldg's existing units
State Senators Umberg & Gonzalez voted "yes" but not Ass'yman O'Donnell
LB's New "Billie Jean King Main Library" Will Be Locked/Closed Sundays Despite Measure A Millions And Despite 88k In FY20 Recently Allocated By Council; Four Sunday-Open Branches Will Shrink To Two From Nov.-June, Then None Open Sunday Unless Council Budgets More, Library Mgm't Tells Mayor/Council
LBREPORT.com Learns That On Oct 1, City Mgm't Agreed As Queen Mary Landlord/Lessor To "Major Change" In City's Lease With Urban Commons Acknowledging Lessee Doesn't Intend To Finalize Entitlements For Its "Queen Mary Island" Project Within Next 24 Months
Urban Commons requested the change on Sept. 10
Coverage In Detail: Who Approved Donation Meters Inviting Money For Mayor's Fund To End Homelessness? Who Governs The Privately-Run Non-Profit That Now Will Get The Money To Distribute? Who Voted To Give Them The Money To Distribute? LBREPORT.com Provides Details...And Names Names
These Councilmembers Met (Again) For Approx Three Minutes As Members Of Their "Housing Authority"...For Which They Can Now Collect $50 Each; Records Show Their Housing Authority "Meetings" In 2019 Have Run Mainly 1 to 4 Minutes
Despite Andrews Support, Council Falls One Vote Short (With Mungo Exited/Austin Absent) Oct. 8) Of Approving Resolution To Support L.A. County "Friend of Court" Brief Urging US Supreme Court To Reverse Lower Court Opinion That Blocks Local Laws Against Vagrants/Homeless Sleeping Outdoors Unless Sufficient Shelter Beds Available; Lead-Agendizer Price Signals She'll Re-Agendize Item For Re-Vote
Developing / Perspective: Homeless Data Bombshell: L.A. Times And CA Policy Lab/UCLA Find L.A. And Nat'l Homeless Data Understate Persons With Mental Illness/Substance Abuse; LBDHHS Reviewing Newly Published Data, Response Pending
Some public perceptions proven correct? New data arguably invite rethinking some current responses to homeless/vagrant issues
>All clear with CSULB suspect in custody. CSULB's police list on their activity log: "10/7/2019 2:07:25 PM, call_description: SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE, Status: STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER." At late afternoon,CSULB issued the following statement:
"This afternoon, the university received an email threatening violence to our campus. Our University Police department immediately responded, and were able to identify a suspect and their location. University leadership issued a shelter-in-place order to help ensure the safety of the campus community. The suspect is now in custody, and there is no current threat to campus. We understand that this type of order is alarming, but the university must take these threats seriously. Law enforcement will pursue all legal options." Earlier at 3:48 p.m.: CSULB students were sent alert re credible threat, said out of "abundance of caution" campus closing and to stay away. Again: ALERT NOW LIFTED, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
Man Is Shot/Killed NW NLB (69th Way); It's NW NLB's FIFTH Shooting Crime Scene Since June; LBPD Deploys Add'l Resources In Response
FOURTH Shooting Crime Scene Since June Near NW NLB's Coolidge Park (Coolidge Triangle) Leaves Woman In Critical Condition
Outside Of Public Hearing, City Staff Gave Offices Of Councilmembers Pearce & Price These Talking Points Supporting $13 Million/9 Yr. "Economic Development Subsidy" For "The Breakers" Downtown Luxury Hotel; AUDIO: Hear Various Councilmembers' Explain Their Reasons For Approving It (7-0)
Perspective / LB Politics For Grown-Ups: In What Ways, If At All, Would Candidates Seeking To Become LB's Next 1st Dist. Councilmember Have Voted Differently Than Prior Incumbent Gonzalez On These Actual Council Agenda Items? We Asked And Here's What They Said/Didn't Say
At ELB's Towne Center
South rigley Gunfire Fri Night, Casings Found, 1800 block Cedar Ave.
In Depth / Perspective: No, This City Hall Fix-It-Or-Lease-Default-Letter Doesn't Put Queen Mary Lessee Urban Commons In Imminent Danger Of Forfeiting Its Lease; Here's The Full Story Including Lease Terms That Allow Cure And Invite City Hall To Tap LB Taxpayers To Advance More Repair Costs
Cindy Allen, Contributor To Mayor Garcia & Multiple Council Incumbents/Previous LBPost Publisher/Owner, Sells Her Ad/Marketing Agency, Presumed Prepping To Enter 2nd Dist. Council Race
Subsequent coverage above Report By City's Real Estate Economic Consultant Indicates "Economic Development Subsidy" For Pacific6 "The Breakers" Downtown Luxury Hotel ($13 Mil Over 9 Yrs From 80% Of Hotel's Room Tax) Would Amount To Roughly Twice All Revenue City Would Receive From Hotel's Net Room Tax + Generated Sales Taxes + Property Tax Over First 10 Years
City's consultant doesn't recommend against subsidy; Council hearing/Oct. 1 vote will decide
As seen LIVE: Council votes 4-3 (Richardson, Uranga, Pearce dissenting; Andrews absent) to approve amended motion by Price to draft Council resolution supporting amicus brief filed by L.A. County Board of Supervisors to overturn 9th cir. Boise opinion [held "cruel and unusual punishment" to enforce criminal provisions of local laws against vagrants/homeless unless local gov't provides sufficient shelter beds] (County Supes vote was 3-2 Sept. 17: Yes: Hahn, Ridley-Thomas, Barger; No: Kuehl, Solis.) During intense LB Council discussion, Councilwoman Price framed the issue as supporting the right of the City to enforce its local anti-camping ordinances; Councilman Richardson opposed motion, framed the issue as local capacity in providing sufficient shelter beds. Item left to final agenda item of the meeting; Mayor Garcia not present/left earlier. Multiple Cities Filed "Friend of Court" Briefs Urging US Supreme Court To Review Lower Court Opinion That Blocks Local Laws Against Vagrants/Homeless Sleeping Outdoors Unless Sufficient Shelter Beds Available; City of LB Missed Deadline To Submit Initial Brief...But Oct. 1 Price/Mungo/Uranga/Austin Agenda Item Seeks Ways To Submit Subsequent Brief If Four Supreme Court Justices Agree To Hear The Case
See Who Gave Sums And In What Amounts To Put These Candidates On LB's City Council From 1st District...Where One Of Them Will Cast Votes On Spending And Developments Impacting Taxpayers And Neighborhoods Citywide
City Mgm't Recommends, Council Will Vote Oct 1 On $13 Million "Economic Development Subsidy" For Pacific6's "The Breakers" Planned Luxury Hotel/Spa (Ocean Blvd/Locust Ave.)
In Letter To CA Att'y Gen'l + 3 County DA's (LA/SF/Sac'to), Advocacy Group ConsumerWatchdog Seeks Investigation Of Matters Related To State Insurance Comm'r (former LB state Senator) Ricardo Lara; Group Mentions LB-Area State Senator Lena Gonzalez In Two Places; She Provides This Statement In Response
LBPD Reveals It Opened Criminal Investigation (Independently Sought By LB Animal Supporters) After K9 "Ozzy's" Death...And DA Is Now Reviewing LBPD's Initial Criminal Investigative File
City Mgm't Tells Mayor/Council Two "Critical" Queen Mary Maintenance Issues Will Cost Approx. $7 Million With No Current Funds To Pay For Them; They're Among 8 Of 27 Repair Items Promised But Not Completed With Council's $23 Mil "Historic Preservation & Capital Investment Plan" (2016)
And newly discovered issue surfaces: crack found in at least one wharf piling, report pending on all pilings and related structures, repair cost not yet known
If Governor Signs These Bills -- Approved By LB's State Senators Umberg & Gonzalez But Not Ass'yman O'Donnell -- All CA Cities Will Have To Permit One "Accessory Dwelling Unit" (ADU) Plus A "Junior" Smaller ADU On Single Family Home Lots In Most Areas, Would Nullify Portions of LB's Land Use/Zoning And Recently Adopted ADU Rules
Firearm Displayed By Armed Robbery Suspect At PCH/Clark 7-11 Was BB Gun, Led To Fatal Officer Involved Shooting
LBPD image: The casing was from the officer's weapon.
In Detail / Perspective: Long Beach's "Billie Jean King Main Library": Has Beloved Name But 30% Smaller Size And Without Former Public Auditorium. How'd That Happen?
Arrow shows new library. Image source: Mayor Garcia Dec. 16, 2015 release
Subsequent development above LBPD Says Man Exits Vehicle Suspected In Armed Robberies, Enters 7/11 @ PCH/Clark Armed With Handgun; Officers Who'd Been Conducting Surveillance On The Vehicle Confront Him; Order Him To Drop Gun, He Allegedly Refuses...And Is Shot/Killed
All Eight of LB's Current Councilmembers Just Met For Three Minutes As Members Of Their "Housing Authority"...For Which They Can Now Collect $50 Each; Records Show Their Housing Authority "Meetings" In 2019 Have Run Mainly 1 to 4 Minutes
Taxpayers' cost thus far in 2019: $3,100
Council votes 7-1 (Pearce Dissenting) To Approve $17+ Million New Contract With LB Police Officers Union, Despite Opposition By 20 LB Groups And ACLU To Section Telling Involved-Officers When Someone Seeks Records Re Police Conduct Under New State Law
Coverage In Depth: Sac'to Bill Lets Cities Avoid 75 Word Ballot Summary, Instead Tell Voters To "See Voter Guide" For Taxpayer-Impacting Details Of Ballot Measures Seeking To Impose/Increase Multi-Level Taxes Or Property-Tax Raising Debt-Bonds
LB Council Silently Lets Mayor Garcia Support It; LB Area Sac'to Lawmakers All Vote For It; If Gov. Newsom Signs It, It'll Apply To 2020 Elections
In Depth / AUDIO: City Hall Million Dollar "Media Wall" Will Consume Quarter Million Dollars More In FY20 For Media Wall's "Video Programming" Plus Other Civic Center Related Spending
AUDIO: Councilwoman Pearce makes successful (8-0) motion to reduce "Media Wall" related spending to $288k after Councilwoman Mungo defends/justifies spending $388k from "Special Advertising & Promotion Fund"
Council also approves $120,000 "to monitor social media" / focus on "community engagement"; $200,000 for "planning" and "consultants" for 2028 Olympics; $50,000 "Commemorative History Book" for new Civic Center
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Perspective / Viewpoints
New / Editorial: Sorry, But Councilman Supernaw's Community Hospital Deal Will Eat Millions That Won't Be Available To Continue Providing Fire Engine 17 Beyond Sept. 2021 AND Could Still Leave LB Without Continuing Eastside Acute Care Hospital AND Could Cause City To Lose Its Community Hospital Property Entirely
Follow-up: Gov. VETOES this bill, see subsequent coverage here. Here's How To Tell Gov. Newsom To Veto Election-Tilting Anti-Taxpayer Anti-Transparency SB 268
Editorial: It's Not Streamlining. It Doesn't Promote Public Participation. It Will Affect Your Ability To Speak And Be Heard When City Council Actions Affect Your Neighborhood And Our City. Here's How To Stop It And Send A Message That The Public's Voices Matter
Perspective: By The Numbers: Here Are LB Taxpayer/Neighborhood-Impacting Public Safety Facts That LB's Mayor/Council Haven't Told You
Editorial: This Happened When A Mentally Ill Vagrant Said He Wanted To Kill A Belmont Shore Business' Manager.
Opinion: LB Dem Partisans Try To Link 1st Dist Council Candidate Morquecho To Trump, While He And Multiple Dems Fail To Link Mayor-Backed Zendejas To Multiple Unpopular Council Actions
Editorial: Our Hearts Are With Candlelight Vigils, But LBREPORT.com Is Done Covering Them. We Urge Action
Editorial: Civics Refresher, Rights And Remedies When LB Council Incumbents Try To Reduce (Not Restore) Your Right To Speak And Be Heard At Council Meetings
Their New City Hall
Editorial: ¡Que barbaridad!
UPDATE: Council votes without dissent to approve Opinion: Your Councilmember Will Vote On Whether To Tilt/Rig The Outcome Of March 2020 Election On City Hall-Sought Permanent "Blank Check" Sales Tax
UPDATE: Council votes without dissent to approve consent calendar without discussion. No member(s) of the public or organizations speak to the Mayor's Honolulu travel. Editorial: Mayor Seeks "Consent Calendar" -- No Council Discussion -- Of Taxpayer Costs For His Honolulu Junket...That He Could Pay For Using His Contributor-Funded Officeholder Account Instead
Editorial: Jan. 2019: Mayor Garcia Tells "State of the City" LB Has "Fiscally Responsible Gov't"; July 2019: Mayor Seeks Council-Declared "Fiscal Emergency," Returns From Honolulu Junket, Agendizes "Consent Calendar" (No Discussion Sought) Council Item Claiming No Fiscal Impact From Trips He Could Pay For -- But Doesn't -- Using His Now Contributor-Funded Officeholder Account
Perspecive: He's Paid $100k+ Salary By Union Whose PAC Gave These Contribs to Mayor/Several Council Incumbents; He Moved Into LB In 2017 And Within Weeks Mayor/Council Put Him On Planning Comm'n; Now They Just Reapponted Him For Four More Yrs
Perspective/Opinion: Priorities: Neither Long Beach Mayor Garcia Nor Any LB Councilmember(s) Agendize 21 Shooting Crime Scenes (Fatal + Wounding + No Persons Hit) Since May 5 For June 11 or (Thus Far) June 18 Council Discussion/Action; Mayor Adds Agendized Farewell Ceremony for Councilwoman now state-Senator-Elect Gonzalez
Perspective / Opinion / AUDIO: On April 30, Long Beach City Council's Public Safety Committee Met; Price and Austin Mum Re Restoring LBPD Field Anti-Gang Unit And Supernaw Offered This Reasoning To Rationalize NOT Restoring It; Since Then, LB Has Had 21 Shooting Crime Scenes (None In His District)
Opinion: Listen, Speak, Communicate Openly To Protect Students Facing Rising Tide Of Violence Around Some LB Schools
by Tonia Reyes Uranga
Ms. Reyes Uranga was the 7th dist. Councilwoman 2002-2010. She is the spouse of current 7th dist. Councilman Roberto Uranga
Editorial: Tuesday May 14 Will Show If Your Councilmember Will Defend, Preserve And Protect Your Rights To Speak/Be Heard At Council Meetings...Or Move To Reduce/Erase Them
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