Archive for November, 2008
« Previous EntriesSnow and Grand Canyon
Sunday, November 30th, 2008Just returned from a short vacation to the Grand Canyon. Drove to Laughlin, Nevada, stayed the night (that was far too much time in that town) then drove to Williams, Arizona, stayed the night and took the Grand Canyon Railroad to the South Rim.
It was so very cold the first few days. It snowed and […]
Unemployment Impacts on Long Beach –from the City Manager
Sunday, November 30th, 2008City Manager, Pat West with the assistance of Robert Swayze, Manager of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs sent the council a grim memo on the impact of the economy on Long Beach.
It summary, it read: Nationally, the number of Americans continuing to draw unemployment benefits hit a 25-year high in September. In October, the unemployment […]
Happy Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008I will be in the Grand Canyon which will be a nice change of pace for me.
I want to thank my family, my friends and my staff for being such an important part of my life and for providing the support I need to do what I do.
I also want to thank the hundreds of […]
2009 Point in Time Homeless Count
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008The US Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that all Continuum of Care jurisdictions complete a point-in-time street and service based homeless count every two years in the last week of January. The count is being done in an effort to arrive at a local, state and national count defining the scope of homelessness […]
Public Works Wish Lists Are Great — But We Want Our Money Back First
Monday, November 24th, 2008I just learned an interesting lesson in local politics and the media: if you are a Democrat and ask for public works project funding it is called: “pork.” If you are a Republican and ask for public works project funding it is called: “stimulus.”
While it is exciting to put together a “wish list” (oh, that’s […]
Wireless 911 Calls and Thefts From Cars
Monday, November 24th, 2008Cell Phones and 9-1-1
As you might know, when you dial 9-1-1 to get the police what you get is the California Highway Patrol who then has to relay the message to the local police or fire dispatcher.
Many cities have made the transition to assume responsibility from CHP for receiving wireless 911 calls. Next month, […]
What I Really Wrote to the Press Telegram
Monday, November 24th, 2008See below the letter to the editor published in today’s Press Telegram and then compare with what I actually wrote:
Property inventory needed
The latest proposal to do a massive land swap of city-owned property and the attached oil and mineral rights for “wetlands” that have not yet been delineated and whose owner gets to keep the […]
Publishing Council Schedules
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008Several months ago I began posting my council schedule on this blog with the hopes that others would do as well. It didn’t happen. Now magically the local press thinks that’s a great idea. I then proposed that councilmembers be required to disclose exparte discussions before they vote. It didn’t happen. The press didn’t take […]
Why Our ER Rooms Are in Trouble in Long Beach
Friday, November 21st, 2008Wake Up Long Beach!
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the current status of emergency room care in Long Beach.
Panelists:
Diana Hendel, COO, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Ray Jankowski, CEO, Community Hospital of Long Beach
Deputy Fire Chief, Alan Patalono
LA County Supervisor, Don Knabe (not confirmed at this time)
Gerrie Schipske, RNP/JD, Councilwoman and member […]
Why We Need A Lobbyist Ordinance and Full Disclosure of Discussions with Lobbyists
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008The City Council Committee on Elections Oversight has been crafting legislation that would require lobbyists to register in the City of Long Beach and to require members of the City Council fully disclose any discussions they have with lobbyists on issues before the council that take place outside City Council deliberations. City Council members would […]
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