Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Volunteer Evening
By Joe Mello | March 13, 2008
Few grassroots organizations can say they fought City Hall and one of the nations biggest retailers…and won! Long Beach’s own grassroots environmental group the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is looking for potential volunteers to continue the needed work to “save open open space, preserve nature, avoid traffic congestion and help stop new development in Long Beach and Seal Beach”.The group will be meeting on Tuesday March 18th, from 7 pm- 8:30 pm right here in Los Altos, East Long Beach at Beach City Brew and Deli (2001 Palo Verde Ave, LB) for an informational evening. The group invites those interested to just show up for coffee or tea and dessert -their treat! Need more information- just call 562-4986372.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Schroeder Re-Use Meeting at Buffum Elementary Recap
By Joe Mello | February 29, 2008
Over one hundred concerned citizens attended the Neighborhoods First sponsored information meeting on the proposed Schroeder Base Re-use Plans. Fourth District Councilperson Patrick O’Donnell made brief introductory remarks. A presentation by the Long Beach Police Department and City Staff was followed by questions.
In summary, those in attendance from the community focused on the fact that they were upset this was the first time they were notified and had the opportunity to comment on the plans ( the original city notice apparently only went out to buiness interests with-in 300 feet of the base). While everyone seem to not have any issues with the planned relocation of the East Division Police Sub-division Station at the surplus base, the location of a homeless mental health referral facility at the Schroeder Base adjacent Long Beach Health Department offices created many questions regarding how far the city had thought the procedures and process for protecting the neighborhood through. In addition, many were concerned about were the clients would be coming from and where they would go after appointments at the proposed facility.
After the city officials had left, the audience seemed more emotional and angry that at the process and what appears to be a singled focus attempt by the city to proceed with the current plans regardless of the communities concerns.
Please watch this website for future updates on this important neighborhood issue.
City representatives promised to
Topics: Homeless Center | No Comments »
Schroeder Re-Use Meeting at Buffum Elementary February 27
By webadmin | February 26, 2008
Neighborhoods first in conjunction with the neighborhoods effected hosted a community meeting Wednesday, February 27 beginning 7PM at Buffum Elementary School, 2350 Ximeno Avenue, to discuss the proposed re-use of the Schroeder Army Reserve Base as a police station and a homeless services center.
All Neighborhoods First members were encouraged to attend, as well as residents who live in the neighborhood near the intersection of Willow Street and Grand Avenue, where the Army Reserve Base is located.
Please read the articles written by Bill Pearl at LBReport.com about the meeting by clicking here and clicking here.
The Press-Telegram wrote an article about the February 27 meeting in Friday’s edition: Click Here to read the article.
Topics: Council Action, Homeless Center | 1 Comment »
City Hosts Housing Meeting February 27
By webadmin | February 26, 2008
The City of Long Beach is hosting a 2008-2014 Housing Element Community Meeting from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, February 27 at Jackie Robinson Academy, 2750 Pine Ave. Topics will include state requirements for housing plans, the city’s housing element and regional and local housing needs. Attendees are also encouraged to provide input on programs and potential locations for new housing.Some of our members will be at another meeting that night. Please click on the link below to download the Long Beach Housing Survey in either the PDF or the Word Document format. You can fill out your responses and send them to our 6th District Representative, Annie Greenfield who will be at the meeting to submit comments. Send your completed surveys to annie at Annie@LBNF.org
Housing Survey PDF Housing Survey Doc
Topics: Council Action | 1 Comment »
Long Beach Port Neighborhood Forum Feb. 13
By webadmin | February 9, 2008
The Port of Long Beach is sponsoring community outreach meetings in neighborhoods throughout the city. The meetings provide a general explanation of port operations, give information on planned port improvements and receive public comment.
The next forum will be Wednesday, February 13 at 7 p.m. at Rogers Middle School, 365 Monrovia Ave. (just off of Appian Way). Please plan on attending this event, bring your neighbors and share with the Port staff your concerns about Port pollution and what Port expansion will mean to our city.
If you are unable to attend this month’s meeting, please check your calendar and plan to make the next meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 7PM at the International Elementary School, 700 Locust Avenue in Downtown Long Beach.
Spread the word. Send a strong message that we stand for cleaner air and water for our city.
Topics: Port of Long Beach | 2 Comments »
Neighborhoods First Meeting
By webadmin | February 4, 2008
Our next monthly meeting is this Wednesday, February 6 at El Torito Restaurant, 3301 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach (just north of the 405 freeway) beginning at 7PM.
This month we will hear from John Morris, owner of Smooth’s downtown and his take on the Port of Long Beach’s Community Outreach efforts.
We’ll also talk about the Schroeder Hall Reuse Plans at Willow and Grand with Paul De Jung and finish our meeting with an update on the appeal of the proposed airport parking structure.
If you are a neighborhood representative, please prepare to give us an update on your area.
We welcome new members. Tell your friends and neighbors about our Wednesday meeting. If you have any questions, please leave us a message on the NF hotline:
See you Wednesday night!
Topics: Port of Long Beach, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Neighborhoods First supports Schipske’s Proposals
By webadmin | January 22, 2008
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Gerrie Schipske is proposing that the Port pay more for its impacts to
Another proposal by Schipske would be to increase the tax on the bunker fuel cargo companies use to pollute
Neighborhoods First supports Long Beach Council Member Shipske’s ideas to counter the ill effects of the Port of Long Beach; supports any and all potential sources of revenue that would be available for repairing city infrastructure and for public safety needs, and urges all our members to attend tonight’s meeting to show her and other council members our support.
Neighborhoods First also urges its members to call their council member and tell them they need to support the proposed ballot measure:
1st District - Bonnie Lowenthal 570-6919
2nd District - Suja Lowenthal 570-6684
3rd District - Gary DeLong 570-6300
4th District - Patrick O’Donnell 570-6918
5th District - Gerrie Schipske 570-6932
6th District - Dee Andrews 570-6816
7th District - Tonia Reyes Uranga 570-6954
8th District - Rae Gabelich 570-6685
9th District - Val Lerch 570-6137
If you have any comments, we’d love to hear from you. Please use our comment section below to share your opinions.
Topics: Port of Long Beach, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
New Year News for January
By webadmin | January 1, 2008
Happy New Year everyone. 2008 promises to bring change to our city. Let’s work to bring change for the better.
A more immediate need is a discussion about the proposed Homeless Center in the 5th District (Press-Telegram story linked here.) What do you think? Write us and let us know!
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Council Meeting Dec. 4 - And Another Change
By webadmin | December 3, 2007
For Council Meeting Agenda CLICK HERE.
This week’s City Council Meeting will take up one controversial item – Item 16 proposed by the Mayor that would change the notification period for Council items to 12 days.
Under the Brown Act Public Meeting Law, the City must post items for Council action in advance of its meetings. Presently, the Council agendas are prepared on the previous Thursday. Some items are sneaked in on Friday, which do not appear on the agenda until it is updated the Monday before the meeting. Loosely defined we have a four-day notice requirement that can become a one-day notice for late items.
The Mayor wants to change all that. His proposal calls for the Council to put items up for consideration 12 days in advance of the meeting. Of course there is an escape clause (there always is) that would create an “expedite” list which would include pressing matters that could not wait.
This begs the question- which items are worthy of an expedite? How does something get expedited without a vote of the Council? Who has the power to decide?
Are you in favor of the change? Do you think this is too fast, too soon after the November 20 Consent Calendar vote? Decide for yourself and bring your opinion to the City Council. The meeting begins at 5PM December 4 at City Hall: 333 W. Ocean Blvd.
Feel free to leave your comments below. We would love to hear your “two-cents”, here!
Topics: Council Action | 3 Comments »
Thanksgiving, and a New Beginning
By webadmin | November 26, 2007
We hope you had a good Thanksgiving Holiday. Family, friends and good food are very comforting at this time of year.
The Neighborhoods First website team spent this holiday weekend to change to a new format. Our front page features a blog style. Let us know what you think by clicking and submitting your comments below.
With your help, we can make Long Beach a better place!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »