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NEWS
NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Environmental groups vow to continue push for alternative I-710 Freeway plan after bill vetoed
SIGNAL TRIBUNE
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DRIVEN TO HELP OUR VETS What Free car wash for veterans and military personnel Who Bixby Knolls Car Wash Where 577 E. Wardlow Rd. When Sunday, Nov. 10 and and Monday, Nov. 11 More Info Bixby Knolls Car Wash will be giving free car washes to veterans and military personnel. A military ID is required. Call (562) 595-6666 or visit bixbyknollscarwash.com .
ALL ABOUT THE VETERANS What Vets Fest 2013 Who Ninth District Councilmember Steven Neal Where Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave. When Saturday, Nov. 9 from 7:30am to 3pm More Info This event is free and open to the public. The Veterans Festival follows the 17th Annual Long Beach Veterans Day Parade and the Veterans Classic 1-Mile Run. The event will feature food trucks, service organizations for military veterans and their families, City departments and other vendors. Live music will be provided by the Jordan High Jazz Band & Drumline, an Elvis Presley impersonator Fernie Ramirez and the Rush Hour Band. Call (562) 570-6137.
Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
A recirculated environmental-impact report on plans to expand a section of the 1-710 Freeway, a major thoroughfare for cargo trucks to haul goods to and from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, should be up for approval in a little more than a year. The billion-dollar project calls for widening an 18-mile section of the freeway in order to reduce traffic, decrease accidents and improve air quality. Sean Belk Staff Writer
Even though the governor vetoed a measure last month that would have ensured that a new alternative be examined for the I710 Freeway Corridor Project, state officials and environmental groups say the plan will likely be considered anyway. SB 811, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Huntington Park/Long Beach), would have required that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) consider what’s called Community Alternative 7 in the environmental-review process for the I-710 Corridor Project. The billion-dollar infrastructure project calls for widening an 18mile section of the freeway. The number-one goal of the project is to improve air quality and public health, followed by decreasing accidents and reducing traffic. The project is considered one of the “largest infrastructure goodsmovement projects” in the country.
Although the governor vetoed the legislation, Lara said in an Oct. 11 statement that Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty has assured him that “the concerns of the community will be heard and Community Alternative 7 will be analyzed.” Lara added, “Though this bill was not signed, we have a relationship and a seat at the table that will still enable us to advocate for clean air, safe roads and healthy communities.” The new alternative was brought forward by a contingent of community and environmental activists who claim that existing alternatives in the draft environmental-impact report (EIR) for the freeway project “fall short of providing a long-term solution to the project area’s congestion, air quality and travel demands,” according to an online campaign letter. Excluding a no-build option, existing alternatives call for expanding the I-710 Freeway with up to as many as 10 new generalpurpose lanes. Alternatives also
propose adding a four-lane freight corridor and developing a zeroemissions goods-movement system. Alternative 7, however, specifically proposes to: invest in public transportation; mandate a committed zero-emission freight corridor; integrate the restoration of natural resources, such as the Los Angeles River; add pedestrian and bicycle elements; and include community benefits, such as double-pane windows, air-filtration systems and landscaped green spaces. Seventh District Long Beach City Councilmember James Johnson, a member of the I-710 Project Committee that consists of local city officials who make recommendations to Caltrans on the project, said in a phone interview that the committee already recommended at its Jan. 31 meeting that Alternative 7 be considered. He said Lara’s legislation would have just forced Caltrans to study the option. see I-710 page 14
FOR FURRY FRIENDS What Free mobile animal clinic Who Fix Long Beach Where Martin Luther King Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. When Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9:30am to 4pm More Info Event will offer free spay and neuter procedures to those who have made appointments. Micro-chipping, de-worming and flea-control products as well as nail-trimming will be offered at discounted prices. Appointments are not necessary to get required shots for dogs and cats. Visit fixlongbeach.com . POP OVER FOR SOME BARBECUE What Wrigley BBQ “Popup” Who Appie van der Fluit Where 19th Street and Daisy Avenue When Saturday, Nov. 9 from noon to 3pm More Info This temporary restaurant in the Wrigley district offers an array of barbecue dishes from pulled-pork sandwiches to quartered chicken. All food is free, however, donations are appreciated. Suggested donations range from $2 for mac n' cheese to $15 for the "Holy Trinity" of beef, pork and ribs. Visit thewrigleybbq.com or call (562) 233-1884.
SAVE A YOUNG GIRL’S LIFE What Bone-marrow donor recruitment drive Who Fourth District Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell Where 6351 East El Jardin St. When Saturday, Nov. 9 from noon to 4pm More Info The community is encouraged to attend the drive to help save the life of 3-year-old Sofia Flores, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that affects only 1 percent of children. Her illness has progressed into acute myeloid leukemia, and she has only two to three months to find a match. Because of her racial and ethnic make-up, her matches are limited. Her family has partnered with A3M, a local recruitment center for Be the Match, to host a donor recruitment drive. The process is quick, noninvasive and only requires testing a swab of saliva to find a match. Call (888) 236-4673 or a3mhope.org . CHIP IN! What Casino Night Who The Signal Hill Honorary Police Officers Association Where Skylinks Golf Course, 4800 E. Wardlow Rd. When Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6pm More Info The buy-in for Casino Night is $85 per person or $150 per couple, which includes dinner, two drink tickets and $500 in playing chips per person. The grand prize for the event is a flat-screen TV. Also included in the festivities will be a raffle of donated items. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Signal Hill Police Officers Association Widows and Orphans Fund.
SUNDAY NIGHT FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE What Command Performance of Avenue Q Who The Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) Where Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St. When Sunday, Nov. 10 at 6pm More Info The performance of the comedic play will serve as a fundraiser for the HSLB LGBT History Project. Tickets are $60 for preferred seating (reserved in first two rows) and $40 for regular first-come-first-served seating. Included in the ticket price is a hosted reception with hot appetizers, wine and soft drinks. A special guest, Lucy T. Slut, resident of Avenue Q, will mingle with guests. Purchase tickets at the HSLB located on 4260 Atlantic Ave. EARLY-BIRD MEETING What Monthly breakfast meeting Who The Good Neighbors of North Long Beach Where Spires Restaurant, 1935 Del Amo Blvd. When Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7am More Info The guest speaker will be Lynn Dymally, director of the Water Replenishment District Board. TALKING POLITICS What Monthly meeting Who Long Beach Republican National Hispanic Assembly Where Mamy’s Place, 1234 Long Beach Blvd. When Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 6:30pm to 8pm More Info Attendees will discuss voter registration and safety in the state.
CALLING ALL SENIORS AND VETS What Senior and Veterans Healthcare Expo Who Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin, Memorial HealthCare and Monarch HealthCare Where Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave. When Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 9am to noon More Info The free event will feature health screenings in the areas of vision, dental health, diabetes and podiatry. There will also be presentations by physicians and information about health plans and Covered California health coverage. Lunch will be provided. Call (562) 570-6685 or email district8@longbeach.gov . PAGE-TURNERS What Monthly community book club Who The Bixby Knolls Literary Society Where Elise’s Tea Room, 3924 Atlantic Ave. When Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7pm More Info This month, the club delves into Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Parking is available along Atlantic Avenue. Refreshments will be provided. Call (562) 595-0081 or email info@bixbyknollsinfo.com .