Did you know that the City of Long Beach plans to build a giant aquatics center on the beach in Belmont Shore?
The Belmont Beach Aquatics Center, with 2 Olympic-size pools and a platform diving pool, will cost $82 million and was approved in January 2020 by Long Beach City Council. The project must now get permits from the California Coastal Commission because the project site is in the coastal zone.
The Coastal Commission is concerned that Long Beach residents from under-served communities were not adequately consulted and considered during the planning and approval of this pool project.
THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
HOW: We urge you, and your friends and neighbors, to send your email comments to the California Coastal Commission by 02/04/21. Send it to:dani.ziff@coastal.ca.gov
Subject Line: Public Comment on 02/04/21 - Agenda Item Th14a - Application No. 5-18-0788
WHEN: Write to them by 2/4/21! The public hearing date is Thursday, February 11th (9am to 7pm) and will be conducted electronically via ZOOM.
WHAT: Please ask them to stop this project on the beach, and to consult Long Beach residents all over the city to build it in a neighborhood that needs a community, public pool.
We’re a group of residents opposed to the project because of future sea-level rise (the beach site is expected to flood in 30-50 years), the cost ($82 million, from Tidelands Funds) and the fact that there’s already an existing outdoor pool at this site – installed 5 years ago when the old Belmont Pool was demolished in 2015.
But only you can tell the Coastal Commission that there are places in Long Beach with a greater need for recreation and sports facilities!The entire City of Long Beach has only 3 public pools Long Beach needs more community pools and this pool should be built in a neighborhood where more Long Beach residents can easily reach it to enjoy the benefits of swimming and recreation.
Subject Line: Public Comment on 2/4/21-Agenda Item Th14a - Application No. 5-18-0788
Paid for by Long Beach residents who believe there’s a better place in Long Beach for this public pool.
Contact us: ABetterPlaceForAPool@gmail.com
LBReport.com
News
Nat'l Vaccine Shortage + Outcome Of Mayor Garcia Vax Policy = No LB First Vaccine Doses In February and Possibly March
a
a
If LBREPORT.com didn't tell you, who would?
No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.
LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
(Jan. 29, 2021, 11:40 p.m.) -- After days of boastful Tweets by Mayor Robert Garcia and management-facilitated events for media consumption, Long Beach city management acknowledged at late afternoon Jan. 29 that first doses of COVID=19 vaccines for LB residents ages 65=74 and teachers/education sector employers likely won't be available in February. Barring some major change in vaccine availability, the city admission means first COVID-19 doses likely won't be available until March.
Although the underlying problem results from a shortage of vaccines statewide and nationally, part of the problem arguably stems from a policy urged by Mayor Robert Garcia to vaccinate as many persons as possible without planning for the medical results. The vaccine requires two doses spaced within a certain time window. So while Mayor Garcia was able to claim LB was "ahead" of other cities and received kudos from Governor Gavin Newsom, LB residents are now left with the cosequences. The City must put aside some amount of its vaccines to ensure needed second doses for those who received their early first doses...an outcome leaving the rest of LB residents unable for at least a month (unless vaccine availability changes) to obtain their first doses.
In the vaccine context, it's similar to an immature familymember who chooses to spend all of the family's income for immediate pleasures without prudently conserving some amount for anticipated forthcming expenses. Garcia's early vaccine rollout, which didn't put aside suffient necessary second doses, drew media attention to the Mayor but with consequences now impacting LB residents at highest risk who will have to wait longer to get their first doses.
The City's update tells LB residents who haven't received their first doses yet to be patient as "we will not be able to offer more first dose appointments until we have sufficient supply to cover second dose appointments."
As a practical matter, the City's admission will extend for at least a month the frustrating experiences encountered by LB residents, reported by LBREPORT.com for over two weeks.
[Scroll down for further.]
e
Under Gov. Newsom's recently imposed state-run vaccine allocation system dubbed "My Turn" and linked on VaxLB.com, those logging in are asked various questions to learn if they're "eligible" for the vaccine. For many, this brings bad news: the vaccine isn't available and those seeking appointments should sign up for a waiting list or try back later. (It's a "don't call us, we'll email you" system.)
Sponsor
Sponsor
Some individuals have received vaccine appointments and vaccinations using the VaxLB/state system but many have not...although it's not clear (yet) exactly how many. As of Jan 16, city management acknowledged to LBREPORT.com that it had roughly 15,000 persons on its age 65-74 "waiting list." City mnaagement hasn't provided requested information on waiting lists for LB school employees but the number can be estimated in the thousands (see beoow),. The number of still unvaccinated emergency services workers is less clear, [LBREPORT.com publisher Bill Pearl is among those 65+ who signed up early, received a robnotic "wait list" email and has since heard nothing further from the system...and he's not alone.]
Sponsor
Sponsor
The inability of many LB residents to obtain their first vaccine dose contrasts with the City of Long Beach bending state vaccination rules to enable LB Mayor Garcia and LB City Councilmembers to receive vaccinations ahead of others. As of dawn Jan 30, LBREPORT.com is to our knowledge the only LB outlet to have reported LB electeds action in detail here.
A similar action by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti who obtained a vaccination for himself has been reported by LA media outlets; Garcetti said "medical personel" recommended he receive the vaccine, likening himself to a "front line" worker (noting he helped direct traffic at a Dodger Stadium mass vaccination event.) Garcetti's action has drawn criticism in L.A. with critics charging it's an example of self-serving privilege. In contrast to Garcia, Garcetti has significant executive powers. Under LB's City Charter, LB's Mayor isn't LB's chief executive; Garcia has no policy setting authority (LB city mnanagement has executive authority as directed by LB's policy setting City Council.)
A Jan. 14 city release indicate LB Councilmembers (names not included, specifics still uncertain) also obtained the vaccine for themselves ahead of others. (A writtem statement by the City's chief spkesperson said letting the Mayor and Councilmembers onbtain vaccinations ahead of others is meant to ensure the "continuity" of LB city government. [Comment: The City Council hasn't met in person for months and conducts its meetins digitally including from their homes. Mayor Garcia has been visible at multiple media event; the Council has allowed him to amass 11 taxpayer paid staff members (well above the level allowed prior Mayors, answerable to him and listed on his City Hall website.)
The LB electeds and others who got their first vaccine doses will now get their second doses while other LB residents will wait to get their first doses..
Earlier today (Jan. 29) Mayor Garcia used his Twitter channel to boast of 500 vaccinations given to LB school district employees. But figures provided to LBREPORT.com by an LBUSD spokesman (not cited by Mayor Garcia) indicate that roughly 90% of LBUSD teachers and other school district employees will remain unvaccinated after the 500 vaccinations.
LBUSD spokesman Chris Eftychiou indicated that before today's vaccinations, roughly 1,000 LBUSD teacher and staff out of roughly 12,000 LBUSD full and part time employees had received the vaccine. That left roughly 91.7% of teachers and education workers unvaccinated. The additional 500 vaccinations brought the total to about 1,500 vaccinated, leaving roughly 87.5% unvaccinated. LBUSD's vaccines are provided through the City of LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services (a city management operated agency.)
Developing with further to follow.
Sponsor
In a Jan. 29 emailing (from "covid19vaccine@longbeach.gov") the City said as of Jan. 29 "more than 40,000 vaccine doses have been administered in Long Beach" and "this past week, more than 10,500 people were vaccinated in Long Beach." The email said the City will continue to "use VaxLB and employers in the eligible sectors to notify" residents "as appointments become available to receive their first vaccination " It added:
Long Beach residents 65 and older, emergency services personnel and healthcare workers in phase 1a will continue to be contacted through VaxLB as vaccine becomes available to receive their first vaccination through a partnership with MemorialCare and several other providers throughout the city. Grocery workers may be notified by their employers to be vaccinated through grocery store pharmacies. Education sector workers will be contacted through their employer when appointments are available and will be vaccinated through the Health Department, dependent upon supply. Some vaccine has been allocated directly to healthcare providers, and people also are encouraged to check with their healthcare provider for vaccine availability.
Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
