S IGNA L T R IBU N E Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
VOL. XXXVIII NO. 34
August 19, 2016
LB City Council approves sale agreement of 30 parcels of former RDA property LAB Holding, LLC has purchased 176,613 square feet near South and Atlantic. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
The councilmembers representing Long Beach’s 8th and 9th districts are praising the city council’s approval Tuesday night of a purchase and sale agreement with LAB Holding, LLC (The LAB) for 30 parcels near the new Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library for $6,943,200. The approval marks the sale of the last north Long Beach properties formerly owned by the City’s redevelopment agency (RDA) and recently owned by the City through the Long Beach Successor Agency Long Range Property Management Plan. The project includes land that totals 176,613 square feet near the intersection of South Street and Atlantic Avenue.
“We’re thrilled to welcome The LAB to our community,” said Vice Mayor Rex Richardson, who represents the 9th District. “They now round out the trio of retail development partners on the North Atlantic Corridor, Frontier Real Estate Investment and Westland Real Estate Group, who are tasked with revitalizing the Atlantic corridor. The LAB’s art-based, town-center style development will complement and be anchored by the new Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, a focal point of the Uptown Renaissance. It will be a development like no other in the city of Long Beach, and we’re proud that it will be based in north Long Bweach.” Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin also lauded the sale. “The investment of the LAB see DEVELOPMENT page 15
Courtesy 9th District Council office
The Long Beach City Council Tuesday night approved a purchase and sale agreement with LAB Holding, LLC for 30 parcels near the new Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library for $6,943,200.
Congressmember addresses ‘gun safety,’ other issues during community discussion Residents also asked Lowenthal to work on decreasing student debt and education costs. Denny Cristales Editorial Assistant
Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune
Congressmember Alan Lowenthal, who represents California’s 47th District, hosted a community-coffee event with residents at Signal Hill City Hall inside the council chamber on Saturday, Aug. 13. Lowenthal primarily discussed gun control and education costs.
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Normally host to city council meetings, Signal Hill City Hall was the scene for a different crowd last Saturday, as residents had the chance to discuss various issues with Congressmember Alan Lowenthal at a community-coffee event. The conversation with residents primarily covered the topics of gun control and education costs, and the congressmember, who said he was feeling optimistic about the dialogue, was eager to begin “following up on all the different issues.” “I thought it was fascinating. It was very open and honest,” said
Lowenthal, who represents California’s 47th district, after the event in an interview with the Signal Tribune. “They listened to each other, they respected each other, and it was a very positive mood. And we talked about a variety of issues. I think this is what makes government work. People have the ability to talk to their congressmember... We have to use that passion in positive ways.” Guns Lowenthal addressed gun control– or “gun safety,” as the congressmember prefers– specifically, two bipartisan bills: one that seeks to close the “loophole” for background checks; and another that would establish a “no fly, no buy” law for those on the federal watch list. GOP Rep. Peter King of New York introduced and co-sponsored the two bills in the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting in June. Although background checks are
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necessary when purchasing weapons from a licensed firearms dealer, Lowenthal explained there is no such requirement when acquiring guns from an individual or independent party. “There’s no reason why other people shouldn’t go through these procedures and to not close these loopholes,” the congressmember said during the event. “That would also enable us to have some coordinated registry that we know, when they are checking these background checks, if you should or should not have a gun.” The “No fly, no buy” bill aims to extend the consequences of individuals on the federal watch list and limit them from purchasing weapons. Suspects on the list are already denied air-travel access. Omar Mateen, who killed 49 peo-
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