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The month of August was incredibly busy for me and my two other Budget Oversight Committee (BOC) members. We have attended BOC meetings every week and between the three of us we have attended as many budget meetings around the city as possible. Personally, I was able to host a 3rd District Community Budget Meeting on August 26th,
and also attend the budget meeting for the 4th District. Additionally, I was able to attend the 8th District Public Safety forum where I heard residents weigh in on how
public safety budgets should be prioritized. It's definitely interesting to hear how residents
in other parts of the City engage at council meetings and to learn about their priorities. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to get a broader view of resident needs and priorities since, as Vice Chair of the BOC and Chair of the Public Safety Committee, it's important for me to prioritize issues and resources with a balanced City-wide lens.
In terms of my priorities, like most of my council colleagues, I have projects and efforts that I think should be a priority. My thoughts, of course, always have to be balanced alongside those of my colleagues in developing budget priorities that are best for the entire City. For me, I always advocate spending the bulk of our money on public safety and infrastructure. This is where the majority of the City budget is currently allocated and that's a pattern I will continue to support. In addition to these priorities, I am a
huge believer in the concept that we should be investing in programs and services that
benefit the entire City, every resident, every senior, and every child, regardless of what part of the City they live in. Whatever we do, we should make sure services are offered throughout the City. Investment in the arts, libraries, and park programming help make a City a community and, in my opinion, must be prioritized.
Additionally, we need to think about how to best support our residents in every part of the City. We cannot let differing priorities lead to divisiveness and pitting one community against another. We are one City and we must act that way. As a representative of the south east side of Long Beach, I am confronted by the implication (or sometimes more directly told) that the needs of my district, and my part of town are less important than the needs of other parts of the City. This is baloney. Every child,
senior and resident in this City is important and deserves to be supported by our City. No member of the community or legislature has a right to say the needs of our residents don't matter. While one child in
the City may face challenges due to living in one part of town, or having certain financial challenges, or deal with certain demographic issues, a child of the same age may be struggling in another part of town due to complete different family financial pressures, or commu
nity stresses, or personal and demographic difficulties. The needs are there for both of these young residents and the City's responsibility is to provide education, outreach, programming, and support for these residents as equitably as possible. That is the duty of the legislative body in a diverse and large City like ours. I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that our budget priorities reflect the unique needs of all of our residents, no matter where they live. The City is here for all of our residents, no matter who they are, where they live or what they need. We have to do our best to
serve all of our community, which is why
we have a councilmatic district form of
government. Every voice matters, as does the need of every resident. No judgment should ever be placed on our neighbors in another community. That type of divisiveness does not lead to good budgeting or representative government. We are stronger together and good things happening in one or more parts of town only make us better as an entire City. We are one Long Beach and our budget and support for all of our diverse communities should reflect that.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you want to talk through any of your thoughts on budget priorities or anything else that's on your mind at Suzie@suzieAprice.com
In collaboration,
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3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS & NEWS
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Street Repaving Projects
I am often asked about street repaving projects and how we determine what streets to repave in today's infrastructure priority-setting environment. People sometimes assume that the decisions are subjective, meaning that I, or my staff, look at a street and give the green light for repaving. That is not how it's done today.
The best practice in today's world of engineering is to use an objective standard for decision making using the data collected for the creation of the Pavement Management Index ("the Index" as I will refer to it here). The Index is an engineering tool that measures the structural foundation of every street in the city. Aesthetics are not generally a key indicator
in determining the structural health of a street, and from there, the "need" for repaving.
What that means is that sometimes a street looks terrible, but is actually in good structural health. Street improvement decisions, therefore, are based on prioritizing actual needs to preserve the foundation of a crumbling street.
For those who are interested in what we have done since I was sworn into office, the map below shows you what streets we have repaved since 2014. We have paved over 42 square miles of streets in the 3rd District alone. We have done a lot of work to improve our streets, but we are no where close to done with improvements.
We have a citywide repaving plan for the next several years so if you want to know how your street rated in the Index and whether it is going to be repaved in the next few years, please reach out to my office and let us find out for you.
-Suzie Price
3rd District Councilwoman
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Third Street Street Repave Update
As many of you have likely already seen, Third Street to Bennett is getting a lot of work
done. This is a street the Councilwoman has advocated for getting repaved for a number of years, so we are excited to see this project underway. In addition to being  repaved, the Third Street project also includes repairs to sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and ADA ramps. The project is being completed in phases which are already underway.
Work on sidewalks, curbs, and gutters will first be completed in sections, and then street repaving will take place throughout the length of the project area all at once when all sidewalk and curb phases are complete, in order to minimize impacts to the neighborhood.
Phase 1: Nieto Ave. to Argonne Ave. was completed end of last month.
Phase 2: Argonne Ave. to Park Ave. has just begun and should be completed September 12.
Phase 3: Park Ave. to Quincy Ave. is expected to begin next week and be completed first week in October.
Phase 4: Quincy Ave. to Bennett Ave. is expected to begin end of September and be completed November 1.
Paving Phase: Nieto Ave. to Bennett Ave. is expected to begin being repaved November 4 and completed by about November 22.
This is the anticipated schedule, however with any project unexpected issues, or weather may cause the schedule to be changed or delayed.
Please feel free to contact our office with any questions during the course of construction.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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We hear you:
"Studebaker needs to be repaved"
As some of you know, I take Studebaker Rd. multiple times a day and, over the course of the past few weeks, we have received a lot of emails to our office regarding the condition of this roadway. It is in bad shape. Due to the foundation of the roadway, it's proximity to a fault line and the landfill, the road often feels like a roller coaster. I have talked at length with our Public Works Director, Craig Beck, and we are working diligently to
identify funds to regrade and repave Studebaker Road. The total cost is approximately $12 million, so it's a  significant expense for the City. Having said
that, we know it's a priority so
we will be looking to procure the funds through Measure A dollars, applying for
grants, using some money from a recent legal settlement we received, and partnering with other entities to make it happen.
We are also working with my counterparts on the Seal Beach City Council to beautify the on-ramp/off-ramps of the 22 at Studebaker/7th street. We hope the project will include better signage and landscaping. The new Studebaker, once funded and approved, will include new medians, better landscaping along the AES corridor, and flatter and smoother turf.
I am committed to this significant project and hope we can make this project a reality in the next 1-2 years. I thank you in advance for your patience and for continuing to share with me your experience on this roadway. It validates what I experience every day as I drive to and from work, meetings, and events. I look forward to adding this to the 42 square miles of roadway we have already paved in District 3 since 2017.
-Suzie Price
3rd District Councilwoman
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Development of App That Addresses Homelessness
Developing new out of the box and creative ways of addressing homelessness is always one of Councilwoman Price's leading priorities. She and our whole Third Council District team are very excited about another one of her initiatives moving forward to better address homelessness here in Long Beach. Last month the City Council voted unanimously in favor
of her proposal to explore a real-time app to help get homeless people connected with
services.
An app-based program would give homeless outreach teams, and first responders in police and fire, real-time data on bed availabilities in public, private, and nonprofit shelters, rehabs, detox facilities, mental health centers, and many other services focused on helping the homeless within the region. This technological approach is a huge opportunity to get more people the help they need.
This is the first step in developing a program that would put real-time information on bed availabilities in the hands of our homeless outreach teams, police officers, and fire fighters. Doing this would cut down on delays and give a better chance for those in need to accept the services that will help them get back on the right track.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Councilwoman Price is Bringing Parking Items to City Council
In much of Long Beach, homes and neighborhoods were built before every residence was expected to have at least 2 cars, and back when cars were much smaller. These changes mean parking can be difficult to find in much of the City and the Third District in particular, which is largely designated as "Parking Impacted." So, the Councilwoman wants to do something about this.
In the past, Councilwoman Price has worked
to make it easier for residents to update their garages that are too small to fit modern cars. Often garages built before the 1960's are too small to fit even a new compact car. The Councilwoman wants to continue building on this work to better address parking as we work to manage our limited street parking by looking at opportunities to be more efficient.
Cars remain a part of our daily urban landscape so we want to better manage the curb space we have, especially in neighborhoods already designated as parking impacted. Stay tuned as Councilwoman Price will be introducing a number of initiatives with the goal of improving parking for residents and businesses.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Councilwoman Price is Bringing Parking Items to City Council
Another great concert in the park will take place on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 6 PM. Join Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell and Councilwoman Suzie Price as they take this opportunity to meet and greet Third District residents and guests at Marine Stadium Park. The featured band will be 80s Tribute Band, Knyght Ryder! Food trucks will be on hand as well as a kid zone, and booths from The Port of Long Beach and other vendors. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday evening.
-Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Programs
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No Bridge Jumping
Safety is always our primary focus for our residents, and with that in mind it has become important that we remind residents that jumping from bridges into the bay is dangerous and illegal. This summer there was an increase in the number of kids doing this on the Appian Way bridge as well as 2nd Street bridge. Recently the bridges have also been vandalized and our Police Department is collecting additional information on who was responsible in order to enforce these violations and damage to public property, as well as contacting the responsible parties' parents.
Although this may be a Long Beach tradition for many it has become a growing problem and is dangerous to those jumping as well as others in the water below in boats, kayaks, gondolas, or swimmers. Additionally, this practice has now grown to include serious damage to the bridges. So, we encourage you to tell your kids not to jump from the bridge. We are working closely with the Police Department to strictly enforce this violation on anyone who jumps from these bridges as they continue gathering details on who was responsible for the vandalism of the bridge.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Kudos to Third District Residents
The Third District Council Staff has long known that we had the very best residents, but today we have an opportunity to prove how great the Third District residents are. Every year there are surveys for Long Beach residents to fill out asking them for their input on  budget priorities for the coming fiscal year. These surveys can be useful for the City Council to understand more about where resident priorities lie for people Citywide.
This year we were very glad to see that more residents of the Third District than any other district participated in this survey and helped to shape the City's 2020 budget. 21% of all residents who responded to the survey were Third District Residents. It is great to see such a large proportion of residents participating in this process and taking the time to ensure their opinion and input was included.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Walk like MADD
September 14th
MADD is the nation's largest non-profit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. Walk Like MADD is their signature fundraising event and we invite the public to join this noteworthy cause. As a District Attorney in my day job, I seek to support these events to bring awareness to MADD's life-saving mission.
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Docu-Shred & E-Waste Event
September 28 from 8am - 11am
Saturday, Sept 28 at 8 am - 11am at Marine Stadium Parking Lot.
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Long Beach Police Department Online Reporting
 The LBPD's Online Police Reporting System allows you to submit select police reports online at your convenience. This online reporting system accepts reports regarding Lost Property, Theft or Attempt Theft, Vandalism, Hit and Run, as well as Harassing Phone Calls. If your incident does not fall under any of these categories, you may reach the Police Dispatch at (562) 435-6711 to request that a police officer be dispatched to your location. This online reporting system does not accept violent crimes, hate crimes, or crimes that occur outside of Long Beach. Along with these crime reports, the online system does not allow photo or video evidence to be submitted. For more information on how to file these reports, please click here.
-Mollie Wilson
3rd District Legislative Assistant
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End of '100 Days of Summer'
Throughout the summer, Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine, in partnership
with the Long Beach Convention and visitor's Bureau, has offered free or
low-cost cultural programs, sports activities, and special events throughout the city. Here in Council District 3, Marine Stadium Park hosted weekly concerts, bringing the community together through song, dance, and great food. In total, Long Beach residents have had the opportunity to experience 74 concerts, 100 free movies, and numerous festivals, sporting programs, and camps. We hope the community has taken advantage of these incredible offerings, and continue to participate in the year-round programs offered by Parks, Recreation, and Marine!
-Mollie Wilson
3rd District Legislative Assistant
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Following the Arts & Exploring the 3rd District Art Scene
September 3rd
Arts and Crafts Event
Meeting Dates
From Sep 03, 2019 to Sep 24, 2019
Each Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM
College Estates Park * 808 Stevely Ave Long Beach, CA 90815
September 7th
Flux Art Space
410 Termino, LB 90802
(562) 588-9153
https://www.facebook.com/pg/fluxartspace/about/?ref=page_internal
Flux Art Space is a curated project space at the front of the storefront-studio of visual artist, Betsy Lohrer Hall. Located in the beautiful Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach, California, Flux connects emerging and mid-career artists with each other and with members of the vibrant community of southern California through exhibitions, workshops, and gatherings. We encourage cross-cultural and cross-generational dialogue and celebrate creative expression as an integral part of life.
September 14th
Long Beach Art Walk
SEPTEMBER 14 @ 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Walk 7 city blocks with 6 Galleries, 21 Murals, and 30 businesses and experience unlimited possibilities.
Event Cost:
Free
JULY 24 - SEPTEMBER 29
Art of Bloom
*
Wednesday - Sunday 12pm-10pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday
PRICE
EARLY BIRD $20 $24, Adult Tickets
EARLY BIRD $10 $12, Kids Tickets (4-12 years old)
PARKING
Street parking and public parking lots are available within a few blocks. Nearest lots (3 minute walk):
* City Place - Lot C:
51 East 3rd street
(First 2 hours free parking)
* City Place - Lot B:
51 East 4th street
(First 2 hours free parking)
https://theartofbloom.com
Throughout history, people have seen flowers as vessels to project all kinds of meanings and messages. At our happiest and saddest, at our birth and death, flowers have always been by our side. Perhaps we see a reflection of ourselves in them, full of life and fragile at the same time.
Symbiosis is the theme of the debut installation of The Art of Bloom. Flowers have instilled in us great meaning and symbols. In turn, we cultivate flowers to help convey our deepest emotions, signal change, and celebrate life stages. Humans and flowers are stimulated by one another, reacting to each other to learn and grow.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Robert Senske
Robert Senske, Jr. (age 54) is a fourth generation Long Beach native, by all counts, and not too many of us can say that. His great grandfather owned a furniture store on Pine Avenue during the 1920's and his grandfather, Vaile "Bud" Young, attended Carroll Park Elementary school with fellow city founder Lewellyn "Bix" Bixby. Bud would later build Buffums Department Store - as President - into the legendary retail powerhouse that still gets mentioned today with reverence and pride at local cocktail parties. How ironic that Bud and Bix would be together again decades later as grandfathers - in Paris, France, no less - to celebrate the birth of the artist (back in LB) in May of 1965.
Bob's other grandfather, Jack "Senior" Senske, was a tough-as-nails Foreman on our very own THUMS oil islands during the last century and raised four boys himself, all of whom attended St. Anthony High School during the 1950's. These four sons spawned 19 kids between them, of which the artist (Bob, Jr.) is a member. Don't ask how many Senske's these 19 grandchildren have produced...
"It's real close to 50, if I'm not mistaken," added the artist, father of ten year old twins himself.
Senske attended Lowell Elementary after his family moved from El Dorado Park to the Peninsula in 1974. He would then attend Rogers and eventually Wilson High (class of '83), but his professional art career started officially at age 14 and without any formal training. That's when another local Naples artist, mentor and close family friend, Nancee Tinsley, encouraged him to start monetizing his free-hand pen & ink drawings of local scenes and homes.
"She was the first adult artist who told me I was good enough to 'go pro'," Senske said. "She filled me with so much confidence that I never looked back."
That same year, 1979, Bob starting marketing his 11"x14" pen & ink drawings of local real estate listings to agents all over town. However, it was Naples based realtor Ken Trossen who took to Bob's talents the most, employing him so regularly over the next several years that Bob never had to get a "real" job delivering papers, bussing tables or working in the mail room of his dad's insurance agency. He was a real-life professional illustrator before he was old enough to drive a car.
 About this same time, Belmont Shore business owner Nona Daly (Nona's Art Gallery, near the corner of Park and 2nd) began taking Bob's drawings on consignment and featured him in her store-front window for the next two decades.
Surprisingly, Senske took no art classes of any kind after his freshman year and didn't even discover color until 1984, when a fellow fraternity member and artist (Bob was an SAE) introduced him to acrylic paints. Luckily for Bob, art was not his only talent - straight A's were the norm throughout his academic career and they propelled him right into the University of California, Berkeley in the Fall of 1983. However, he arrived not with a paint brush in hand, but on the wings of a partial journalism scholarship (Cal's School of Journalism), where he dabbled for a semester before ultimately graduating with a degree in Political Science (Class of '88).
Because of his Long Beach roots, artistic talent, and ability to write, Bob was immediately hired upon graduation by Grunion Gazette publishers John and Fran Blowitz (1987-1988), who would eventually promote him to Assistant Editor before he was he was abruptly recruited by yet another firm, based back in Northern California, just one year later (1989).
Bob moved back up to Silicon Valley that same year to work for InsMark, Inc., a burgeoning software manufacturer that sold products exclusively to the life insurance industry. Even though he was presumably hired as a graphic artist, Bob knew the industry well because of his dad's agency back in Long Beach.
Meanwhile, Bob produced 18 original acrylic paintings featuring land and seascapes of Long Beach (all 24"x36") while living and working in San Ramon, California during the spring/summer of 1991. His very first exhibit was to take place in the modest family patio at 80-63rd Place on the Peninsula.
All 18 paintings sold in just two days for an average price of $450. The line for newly commissioned work was so far around the block that Bob immediately considered the unthinkable - resigning from his corporate position to paint full time - and back in his beloved home town of Long Beach! After a heartfelt talk with his parents on Catalina Island about a year later, Senske resigned from corporate life and eventually relocated back to Long Beach permanently in 1994.
Since then, Senske has established himself as a world-class maritime and portrait artist, not to mention the largest publisher of art (in the world!) featuring scenes of Long Beach, California. In 1998 he was honored by the American Society of Marine Artists as the youngest member participating in a show (entitled "A Brush with the Sea") held at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. His iconic sailing scene featuring Naples Sabots racing in front of palm trees in Alamitos Bay ("Logjam", 36"x48") was honored along with a stunning panorama of San Francisco Bay ("Summer in The City", 18"x72"). His work hung side by side with those of Englishman John Stobart, who was widely considered the greatest maritime artist alive at the time.
From 1994 to 2006, he served legendary Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill as her personal holiday card designer and in the process filled City Hall, Long Beach Airport, The City Goods Store and American Golf Corp (who owns LB's five public courses) with so much local art that it's been handed down in some cases to the next generation of city employees!
In 2003, popular Press Telegram writer Tim Grobaty dubbed him, "All but the official artist of Long Beach."
In 2015, he began an exclusive relationship with local real estate magnate Spencer Snyder, who produces a truly one-of-a-kind calendar featuring Senske's most iconic paintings every month of the year. However, for Snyder's 2020 calendar - released later this year - Senske told us that we're in for a treat: 13 (including the cover) brand new, never-before-seen-or-published acrylic paintings of the Long Beach coast and Alamitos Bay.
"Put simply, if you love art and love Long Beach and we haven't met yet, CALL ME," he says with enthusiasm.
Senske paints right out of his studio on 58th Place on the Peninsula and although he's maintained two websites for decades (SenskeArt.com and WindsorProductions.com), his latest work and new, affordable product line can only be seen by contacting him directly.
For more info, call his studio at (562) 248-2438 or text him at (562) 212-4923 or e-mail him at Bob@SenskeArt.com
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Wouldn't it be great if your dog walker was also a dog trainer-and lived close by? Meet Sara Prator, owner of
Destiny Dog Services, LLC. Sara is a Peninsula resident who is also
a Certified Dog Trainer of Animal Behavior College. In addition to training and walking services, Sara provides pet sitting based on availability and is CPR and pet first-aid certified.
As a dog trainer, Sara uses positive reinforcement, reward-based techniques to teach basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stay, focus, come, leave it, drop it, and shake. This strengthens the bond between canine and human, and teaches impulse control. She can also assist you with household management of your pet and correcting the behavior issues that fray the pet-owner bond, such as leash
pulling, potty training, jumping, chewing, puppy-proofing the house, crate-training and
barking.
If dog walking and leash training are what you need, Sara will practice leash
manners,
basic obedience, and stopping leash reactivity with
your pet while on walks. You can book visits to have Sara walk and/or train your dog while you are at work, or
schedule one-on-one instruction where she will guide you on training techniques and
behavior modification. Training lessons are always customized to meet your specific needs.
Visit
www.destinydogservices.com for rates and more info. You can also reach Sara by text or phone at (562) 380-1777 to book a free, in-home meet and greet or training consultation.
Sara Prator
Dog Trainer, Walker and Sitter
(562) 380-1777
-Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Business Relations,
Programming & Outreach
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Glass Half Full Ride Along
Friday, August 9th I went on another ride along with Officer Rich Armond from the LBPD, East Division Quality of Life unit. In case this is your first time reading about Quality of Life officers, this is the LBPD unit that solely focuses on assisting people experiencing homelessness. They do their best to service dispatched calls, but a lot of their time is spent in the field often playing a role as a case manager to help however they can.
While out with Officer Armond, he received a call from a veteran experiencing homelessness and has all the proper documentations to get into housing. This veteran was hesitant on pursuing a new lifestyle so was not accepting services today, but he called Officer Armond to help his "new friends," Who were a couple in their 30-40sIn just 2 minutes Officer Armond was able to pick up the couple and begin connecting them with services. The glass is "half full" mentality started to kick in for me.
We then head back to the Multi Service Center (MSC) in West Long where the City provides many of our homeless services. Officer Armond had called ahead to arrange for them to be helped when we arrived.
We then went back out to the field. At our next stop one of the three homeless people we interacted with already knew and trusted Officer Armond, and was willing to let him help get his ID and food stamp cards.
Friday, August 9th I took some time to go out with Officer Rich Armond from the LBPD, East Division Quality of Life unit. I have gone on a ride-along with him before to see first-hand what he does.
In case this is your first time reading about Quality of Life officers, this is the LBPD unit that solely focuses on Homeless communities. They do their best to service dispatched calls, but a lot of the time it's about being in the field and more often, playing a role as a social service case manager.
For example: Imagine you have the clothes on your back and you are experiencing homelessness. You're accustomed to the streets, and you know there are services out there, but you're lost in the system and you don't know where to begin. Imagine you don't have a home address, you're not from here, and someone off the streets says, "Talk to Officer Rich, he can help you" as if trusting the cops is a worldwide phenomenon nowadays.
Well, this scenario happen to be 100% true and happened to a couple from Arkansas and being able to see how they were able to receive assistance was utterly impressive.
Officer Armond received a call from a veteran who is experiencing homelessness and has all the proper documentations to get into housing. This veteran was hesitant on pursuing a new lifestyle but he called Officer Armond to help his "new friends". It was a younger couple in their 30-40s from Arkansas. They had a dream to make it to see the West Coast, and found themselves lost in Long Beach because their truck and other belongings were stolen. In just 2 minutes Officer Armond was out and able to pick up the couple. The glass is "half full" mentality started to kick in.
We head back to the MSC (Multi Service Center) in West Long Beach from PCH and Loynes, near the golf course at Bixby Village. We get to the MSC at 12:20pm and share with the couple that this is the center that will get them on the right track. The MSC closes for lunch at 12pm and reopens at 1pm, but Officer Armond had called to arrange for them to be helped. We were able to give them some socks and a new pair of shoes, along with some water bottles and granola bars thus helping two people move forward.
Next spot we go to is Recreation Park off 7th St, before Santiago Ave. I had asked if we could go there because there was an encampment along the fencing that was being posted for cleanup and could find people there to help get into services. One of the three people there experiencing homeless trusted Officer Armond to help him figure out how to get his ID card and food stamp card. In order to get the "official" paperwork started, we had to go to the DMV.
By this time it's already 2pm, moving closer to 3pm, and it's a Friday so my glass half full starts to shrink. We head to the DMV in Long Beach off of Redondo Ave and E. Willow St.
 As Officer Armond fills out the paperwork, I start to learn more about the person experiencing homelessness. He has a girlfriend and a dog, and doesn't want to go into a shelter where he knows his belongings will be stolen and/or his companions can't be with him, which says a lot. Who doesn't want to feel protected or sleep with the ones they love? Well, some shelters have to separate owners from their pets or sleep in separate corridors from their partners.
Officer Armond grabs some money out of his pocket and pays for the new ID card to be issued. It cost $31. The homeless person is in awe and can't believe this is happening and neither can I. So we've got this process started because this person also shares he can get a food card, but needs his ID card in order to get it.
This ID card will be delivered in the mail and can take up to 30 business days! In the meantime, the homeless person has his temporary license for up to 60 days. These official documents are necessary to receive government-aided services, such as food stamps. It nears 4pm and we have yet to stop for gas or lunch, but Officer Armond knows he has a responsibility and has a duty to serve so we continue our mission and head over to get the paperwork started for his food stamps card.
We get to the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services, located in Compton.
The place is packed and although Officer Armond made a few calls on the way there, but we still had to wait to be assisted. I can only imagine how a person experiencing homeless would have felt lost or overwhelmed at having to keep track of what to do next of the daunting list of things to do.
People began staring and wondering what is the Officer doing with a younger girl in a Suzie Price, 3rd District shirt, with a homeless man. All I can think about is how when we get back we will be going home, and this man will be reunited with his dog and girlfriend back on the streets.
It's tough, but that's a glimpse of the ride-along. It's a daunting challenge to play the balancing act. Now knowing there isn't an easier streamlined process and that receiving an ID card in the mail, to even begin receive services, takes up to 30 days and it becomes unclear on who to point the finger at.
The main focus of this is to shed light on what it's like to try and get off the streets, navigating the system, and how Officer Armond is building trust every single day with the homeless community. He is in close reach with these people experiencing homeless and is still learning what can be done. His simple words are, "Just make sure we all work together. This can be done, if everyone works together."
Glass half full.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Hawaii Air
Last July I flew out of Long Beach airport to Honolulu on Hawaiian Air to greet many of our third district residents that had raced to Hawaii in the 50th Transpacific Yacht Race.
Long Beach Airport has refined security procedures like no other airport. After quickly passing through security, the open air landscaped walkway must make travelers think to themselves- Why on earth I am leaving Long Beach? We live where others vacation.
The Hawaiian Airlines flight left at 8:30am and I was on the beach in Waikiki in time for lunch. I was in a coach seat and was served complimentary breakfast. (Please don't tell them they are the only domestic carrier that still provides meal service.) Before we landed, rum drink was served to all the adults.
I'm thankful for the carriers that offer flights out of Long Beach. The breakfast and drink was a treat, but I was curious about the airline and their green initiatives.
Alex Da Silva, Senior Manager, External Communications, told me about the airline's approach to ecology.
Murray: In Long Beach, we are trail blazers when it comes to sustainability. We have a "Green Port," and a robust sustainable city action plan, I'm curious about the airline's plans specifically in Long Beach.
De Silva replied, "We operate our nonstop Long Beach-Honolulu route with our new fleet of narrow-body Airbus A321-NEOs. The most fuel-efficient and quietest aircraft of its kind, has allowed us to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by approximately 16 percent compared to previous generation aircraft."
"In addition to our company-wide green initiatives, we are always looking to engage the markets we serve in our sustainable efforts. In conjunction with the June 2018 POW! WOW! Long Beach festival, we commissioned the live painting of our first large-scale mural created by renowned Hawai'i street artist Kamea Hadar.
The piece tells a story of sustainability and the importance of protecting natural resources, drawing inspiration from the flow of water and the role it plays in giving life.
On the last day of the festival, Team Kōkua, Hawaiian's all-employee volunteer group, joined Hadar in Long Beach to organize the adoption of Long Beach's Alamitos Beach. We recruited more than 40 volunteers from Hawaiian, OluKai Footwear and POW! WOW! Long Beach and removed several bags of trash and marine debris from the Alamitos shoreline."
Thank you Hawaiian Air and Long Beach Airport for making me proud of our airport.
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CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
City Council Meetings are held every Tuesday evening, with the exception of the last Tuesday of the month when council is "dark." Meetings are held in City Hall - Council Chambers (333 W. Ocean Blvd.) at approximately 5pm. Times do change, so please check with our office or website for exact times. City Council meetings are open to the public and we encourage your attendance, especially if there is an important topic up for discussion.
Charter (channel 3) and FIOS Verizon (channel 21) subscribers can view the City Council Meetings on their televisions or you can live stream the video through LBTV.com,
View City Council Meeting.
Agenda items change on a weekly basis so please check the city website for the most current agenda. The City Clerk is required to post the City Council Agenda the Monday, a week prior, to the Tuesday of City Council Meeting.
View agenda items
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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DID YOU CATCH SUZIE IN AUGUST?
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| Madd Annual Vigil |
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National Night Out
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| Long Beach Historic Society |
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Community Bike Ride
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| 3rd Annual Rancho Los Alamitos Farm Dinner |
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| Concert in the Park |
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| Earl of Sandwiches Ribbon Cutting |
Neighborhood Association President's Breakfast Naplefest
Shore Aquatics at Council Meeting Community Update with Mayor Garcia
3rd District Community Budget Meeting
Broadway in the Park
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| Councilmember Al Austin's Public Safety forum |
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Visit the link to see all the upcoming events in Long Beach...
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3rd District Neighborhood and Association Meetings
Alamitos Heights Improvement Association - AHIA
Meetings calendared Quarterly. Please visit their website for more information.
Belmont Heights Community Association
2nd Wednesday of each month
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
Belmont Shore Residents Association
2nd Thursday of each month
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Library
Bluff Park Community Meeting
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
370 Junipero Ave.
Please check their website for meeting details
Friends of Belmont Shore
First Thursday of each month, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Community Congregational Church - 5100 The Toledo
Friends of Bixby Park
Please check their website
Greenbelt Heights Neighborhood Association
All neighbors welcome
Regular meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 8pm - 9pm
917 Bennett Ave., LB
2nd Sunday neighborhood clean-up at 9am
NW Belmont Park Community Watch
Approximately every 3 months as determined
Third District Field Office
Peninsula Neighborhood Association
Stoneybrook Villas Association Meeting
3rd Wednesday of each month
7:00 PM - Clubhouse at 500 Bellflower Blvd
Do you have a community or
neighborhood meeting that you
would like to add to the 3rd
District calendar? Email:
District3@longbeach.gov
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Other Events in Long Beach
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Friends of Bixby Park - Monthly Cleanup
September 7th, 2019
Join Friends of Bixby Park for our monthly cleanup.
Event: Monthly Cleanup
When: September 7th
Time: 9:00A-11:00AM
Where: Bixby Park
Join us at the Bandshell in Bixby Park. Meet new friends and neighbors while making a difference at our local neighborhood park. A little bit of your time can make a big difference. Stick around afterward and enjoy the Farmers' Market!
Gloves, bags, pickups, will be provided.
Thank you for helping make Bixby Park a great place to visit!
See you then.
Visit us:
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Belmont Shore 30th Annual Car Show
September 9th, 2019
About the Organizer:
29th Annual Belmont Shore Car Show is Sept 9th 2019 From 9:00 Am to 3:00 PM. Fourteen Blocks of Classic Cars.
For more information click
here!
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The Fox Den Grand Opening
September 15th, 2019
Sunday Sept. 15th from 10am-2pm. Located at
3714 E. Broadway Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803
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Battleship IOWA Museum Announces July-October Dates for Film Series
Movies Under the Guns
WHAT:
Battleship IOWA Museum is pleased to announce four additional dates for the 2019 film series, Movies Under the Guns. Friends and family are invited to enjoy free movie screenings aboard the famed Battleship IOWA Museum, sponsored by the Pacific Battleship Center and the Port of Los Angeles, on select nights. The schedule of 2019 movies continue through October 2019, and includes screenings of UP, A Dog's Way Home, Captain Marvel, and Frankenweenie. Movies Under the Gunsare free to attend, open to all ages, and take place outdoors under the night sky on the ship's fantail.
WHEN:
August 9, 2019: A Dog's Way Home (2019)
- Film begins at 7:30 p.m.; fantail opens at 7:00pm
September 20, 2019: Captain Marvel (2019)
- Film begins at 7:00 p.m.; fantail opens at 6:30pm
October 25, 2019: Frankenweenie (2012) Annual Halloween Event!
- Film begins at 6:30 p.m.; fantail opens at 6:00pm
- Kids Costume Party & Candy Give-away begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Bow
WHERE:
Battleship IOWA Museum, 250 S. Harbor Boulevard, San Pedro, CA, 90731. Enter by the rear gangway next to the Security Booth. Flat closed-toe shoes recommended.
TICKETS:
Movie events are FREE to attend and open to the public.
- Limited seating is available and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to lay back and enjoy the waterfront view and the silver screen.
- Concessions will be available for purchase. No other food or drink may be brought onboard.
Parking is available at the Cruise Terminal Parking Lot. Please enter at Swinford St. and N. Harbor Boulevard. The first hour is free, and each additional hour is $2 with a maximum of $19 per day.
MEDIA:
Media and photographers may attend and cover Movies Under the Guns with prior approval. Please email ari@theaceagency.com to confirm coverage.
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Call-to-Action Link
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