Martha Thuente: North Long Beach Civic Presence, Community Volunteer, Neighborhood Improvement Advocate
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(April 6, 2019) -- Martha Thuente, a visible and audible presence in Long Beach civic matters, and in North Long Beach in particular, has passed away. She was 81. (We learned of her March 24 passing last week but withheld immediate mention at her family's request.)
The family says a private service was held for Martha,, and a Celebration of Life will now be held on Friday April 12, at from 1:00 to 4:00 at Lakewood Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Boy Scouts of America, Long Beach Area Council (562) 427-0911 (LongBeachBSA.org), California Aquatics/Pools of Hope (310) 537-2224 (caaquatictherapy.com), or US Vets Long Beach (562) 200-7300 (usvetsinc.org/longbeach).
Photo source: LB Neighborhood Resource Center Newsletter, Fall 2006
Ms. Thuente was actively involved and plain spoken on matters ranging from Redevelopment (long-time member of its the North Project Area Committee) to LB's Veterans Day Parade (tireless advocate and volunteer.)
A fall 2006 edition of the Neighborhood Resource Center's newsletter credited Ms. Thuente's involvement in neighborhood issues.
...Cal Trans promised North Long Beach residents a sound wall to buffer the freeway noise, but ten years later,
construction of the wall had not yet begun. As Chair of the Hamilton Chapter of the North Long Beach Neighborhood Association, Martha started a successful campaign to remind Cal Trans of the promised sound wall. Around the same time, the Redevelopment Agency began the process of adopting the North Project Area and Martha was one of the first residents appointed to the newly formed North Redevelopment Project Area Committee (North PAC)...Martha’s future vision for North Long Beach includes a new North Branch public library, and attractive, thriving business corridors that offer services tailored to local residents' needs. She sees a vibrant community that is willing to reach beyond individual cultures and work together, and envisions neighborhoods that embrace the philosophy "All of us together, not us against them."
[Scroll down for further.]
Although she favored trying to find common ground, Ms. Thuente didn't shy away from speaking her mind when it was politically incorrect, including naming the new NLB library (which she and more than a few others favored naming for someone with LB connections instead of then-First Lady Michelle Obama, favored by NLB Councilman/then-Vice Mayor Rex Richardson.)
Her daughter, Mary Uht, says Martha Sue (Coble) Thuente was born Christmas day 1937, the second of 11 children, who grew up in Ash Grove, MO. The family moved to California in 1954; she married Albert Thuente in 1960; they began a family (three kids) and Martha became active in school and scouting activities.
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[Ms. Uht's remembrance text]...Her service to the community began as a neighborhood advocate, by "fighting city hall" for a sound wall along the 91 Freeway to improve the quality of life for the residents. Martha and Al's passion for honoring Veterans led them to become founding members of the Long Beach Veteran's Day committee, leading as President of the committee for 15 years. Her influence was also very present in her local Neighborhood Association and North Long Beach PAC, where she served as Chair for over 8 years. Her colleagues respected her firm, no-nonsense leadership style and affectionately bestowed upon her the nickname Atilla the Hun.
Throughout her lifetime, Martha was an avid crafter, seamstress, and quilter, all skills she learned from her grandmother and mother. She generously shared her talents by making clothes, blankets, quilts, centerpieces, and gifts for people. Martha and Al frequently went on mini vacations throughout California. She loved to visit sewing shops and return with FARTs (Fabric Acquired on Road Trips). Martha found an outlet for her beloved hobby by participating in a quilting group at a local church, where she personally donated hundreds of crocheted and quilted blankets that were distributed to children through local hospitals, and Long Beach Police and Fire Departments.
A favorite end-of-life story of Martha’s is one where she is on a boat crossing a lake. As Martha leaves the shore she is bid farewell by her husband Albert, son Gregory, daughters Mary Helen Uht and Julie Willett, grandchildren Thomas Willett, Anna Estes and Grant Thuente, and her two great-granddaughters Anastasia and Sabrina Estes. Also waving good-bye are her brothers and sisters Sharon (Cookie) Brookes, Michael (Mick) Coble, Pamela Coble, Mary Foss, Rebecca Hopewell, and Deborah Coble, along with her nieces, nephews, and those who hold her dear. The other side of the lake has a gathering of loved ones who are awaiting her arrival: parents Orus and Hellen Coble, brothers Charles, Richard and Thomas, and her sister Patricia, and other family and friends Martha has missed since they made their own voyage across the lake.
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From its inception, Ms. Thuente appreciated LBREPORT.com's detailed news coverage and let us know her views. Her calls to us often began with: "I know you're not going to agree with me on this but I want to tell you..." and she did, and in detail, sometimes in calls lasting about half an hour. And of course we listened, and we learned and whether or not we agreed with her we reported her views in detail:
Feb. 3, 2003: When the City Council voted 9-0 to approve a City Hall-backed plan to use up to $12.5 million in NLB Redevelopment money to build a North Division police facility (expected $9.3 million) in Scherer Park with replacement park land on 55th Way (expected $3.0 million), Ms. Thuente testified in pertinent part:
...Mr. [Gerald] Miller, Community Development Director Melanie Fallon and Barbara Kaiser (Redevelopment Bureau Manager), agreed to some very important concessions in return for the Redevelopment dollars. Per that agreement, all programs now in progress or planned will be carried out. All unspent funds related to the construction of the North Police substation and development of the park on 55th way are to be returned directly to the North PAC budget. In addition, any unspent funds from projects or programs in progress or budgeted are to likewise be returned to North PAC...
...North PAC voted in what we felt were the best interests of the community. I ask each of you to think about the best interests of the community before you cast your vote tonight. Forget that past promises regarding funding have been and broken. Think of this city's responsibility to provide a safe workplace for our police officers...
Oct. 21, 2009: Re the Atlantic Theater, Ms. Thuente ("expressing my personal opinion" while chairing the North Redevelopment Project Area Committee ("NorthPAC") wrote that NLB deserved a modern, up to date library, not a second best facility in an old relic...and took LBREPORT.com to task in the process:
...Saving old buildings has its value. However, in this instance to preserve/restore the Atlantic Theater would be a major project...Use of the structure as a library is not feasible. First, and foremost, it is too small to accommodate the library and community facility planned for the North Village. Secondly, there are no windows to allow natural light into the space, and, to preserve the integrity of the building, none could be cut.
Even if restored, what use would be made of the building? Who would operate a theater/playhouse there? Not one group has come forward seeking to do so. Could that be due to a lack of interest in the building? Or is it due to the realization that it is not financially lucrative?
It is time that North Long Beach be allowed to show some progress. Retaining old, outdated buildings in the midst of a project built to today's design standard is not the way to show that progress. North Long Beach deserves a modern, up to date library as a part of that project, not a second best facility in an old relic.
To be honest, LBReport.com, I am surprised that you are even dealing with this issue. This is not new - the fate of this property has been "on the horizon" since 1996. It is not, as they say, news. To be sure, as they say, you are "a day late and a dollar short" this time. The public comment period for the EIR ended September 18. Next step is certification of the EIR by the Redevelopment Agency Board in November. Their decision is final.
Nov. 1, 2006: LBREPORT.com noted Ms. Thuente presence as LB's Redevelopment Agency bulldozed buildings in the NE quadrant of Atlantic Ave./Artesia Blvd. [LB's RDA acquired the properties at a cost of over $7 million; roughly a decade later [after Ms. Thuente's RDA involvements] after Sacramento ended LB's RDA, the City sold the properties to a developer in 2016 for $2.1 million; in 2018, the Council approved discounting the price by $1 million more and the developer will now develop properties.]
August 24, 2009: Ms. Thuente supported an action of LB's Redevelopment Agency Board (3-2 vote) that relieved LB City Hall from paying Aquarium bond debt by having the Port repay the sum from a portion of the Port's North Redevelopment Project Area property tax increment.
Ms. Thuente testifies to the RDA Board.
Ms. Thuente visible in foreground, listens to the proceedings.
[A month later in Sept. 2009, a slim Council majority narrowly approved the transaction [5-4: Yes: Garcia, Lowenthal, DeLong, O'Donnell, Andrews; No: Schipske, Tonia Uranga, Gabelich, Lerch.]
December 2015-Feb 2016: Ms. Thuente was among long time supporters of a new NLB library, including retired Vice Mayor/9th district Councilman Val Lerch, retired 9th dist. Councilman Jerry Shultz and veteran NLB community advocate Laurie Angel, who urged naming the library for some local individual (a few suggestions, no immediate consensus) who had connections to Long Beach. They did so in response to a proposal to name the library for then-First Lady Michelle Obama agendized by 9th dist. Councilman Rex Richardson, joined by then-Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal and Councilmembers Suzie Price and Al Austin] [A Feb. 9, 2016 Council vote approved the action (Yes: Councilmembers Lena Gonzalez, Suzie Price, Daryl Supernaw, Dee Andrews, Al Austin and Rex Richardson with Councilwoman Stacy Mungo exiting the Council Chamber before the vote and returning thereafter.)
LBREPORT.com will miss Ms. Thuente's civic involvements. We sent our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Thuente's family and many friends. Thank you for sharing her with us and the city.
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