S IGNA L T R IBU N E Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill
‘Happy ’
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
VOL. XXXVIII NO. 15
April 8, 2016
to be with
Pharrell
Long Beach resident makes top 20 on NBC’s The Voice. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
She was the first contestant on The Voice this season to have all four celebrity judges turn their chairs around to see her– and effectively choose her for their teams– after her blind audition. Now, Long Beach native Caity Peters is well positioned to go far on NBC’s singing-competition reality show, having earned a spot in the top 20. Peters, who just turned 22, will now be competing for audience votes on the two-time Emmy Award-winning show, having won the Battle and Knock-Out rounds of the competition during the last few weeks.
When she spoke to the Signal Tribune Wednesday afternoon from NBC studios in Los Angeles, she said she was preparing for Monday’s show by vocally challenging herself with a song that is different from the slower ones she has already performed. “I’m pushing myself,” she said. “I think this song is the most different that I’ve had on the show. I’ve had pretty slow ballads up to this point, so I’m going to give it my all and change it up a little bit.” Unfortunately, local fans of the show will have to wait until early next week to find out just which song that is; she’s not allowed to divulge. She did however say that being the first singer this season to prompt all four superstar coaches– Christina Aguilera, Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton– to turn see VOICE page 10
Courtesy NBC
Long Beach native Caity Peters, 22, has earned a spot among the top contestants on NBC’s The Voice, which airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8pm PST. Peters was the first singer this season to have all four celebrity judges turn their chairs around to see her– and effectively select her for their teams– after her blind audition.
When money talks, will voters hate to listen? The love for some LB City Council candidates can be so expensive for independent committees. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Graph by Denny Cristales Signal Tribune
Source: Campaign finance reports through March 30 from Longbeach.gov
Latest available campaign finance reports filed with the State show that as of Dec. 31, 2015, Long Beach Firefighters reported an ending cash balance of $43,448.28 and LA County’s AFL-CIO’s Council reported $481,858.81.
LAURIE ANGEL
Donate your tax-deductible clothing, furniture, appliances and vehicles to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and provide for the needy.
Receive a tax deduction due to our 501 (c)(3)
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores www.svdpla.org For FREE pick up call (800) 974-3571
Just in time for the April election, four committees have reported raising and spending significant funds in support of their choice for Long Beach City Council, including three union groups and one committee largely backed by business interests in the city. When candidates advertise the endorsement of particular special-interest groups, it’s not always known just how much a committee will invest its resources into a bid for a council seat until campaign finance reports are posted on the Long Beach City Clerk’s web page. Independent groups and political-action committees (PACS) have been a part of the political
Weekly Weather Forecast Friday
Cloudy
68° Lo 57°
Saturday
Rainy
65°
Lo 55°
Sunday
Partly Cloudy
66° Lo 55°
Monday
landscape for a while now. Since they are not candidate-controlled, they are free to send out mailers, solicit voters in support of a candidate and directly donate up to $400 to a candidate’s campaign. The following organizations with significant funds available have been required to file financial reports with the Long Beach City Clerk’s office for their activity through March 26: the Long Beach Firefighters PAC, Local 372; the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Council on Political Education (AFL-CIO); and the Long Beach Police Officers Association; and Long Beach Citizens for Good Government. Independent committee Long Beach Citizens for Good Government did disclose its donors, and most of them are from corporations or owners and executives of companies. California Real Estate PAC (CREPAC) was the only political-action committee noted to donate to Long Beach Citizens, according to the group’s April 8 through April 12, 2016
Tuesday
Rainy
Mostly Sunny
Lo 53°
Lo 54°
66°
69°
campaign finance reports dated through March. 26. CREPAC donated $10,000 to Long Beach Citizens. Long Beach Citizens have deep pockets. According to its reports, it amassed $78,400 in contributions for the calendar year, and its ending cash balance is $58,254.49, after contributions and expenditures have been made. Although this particular committee is not candidate-controlled and has expressed support for Joen Garnica and Wesley Turnbow for their respective 2nd and 8th districts, the rules don’t stop people related to the candidates to make significant donations to that independent group. Randall Turnbow, chairman of Wesley Turnbow’s company, EME Incorporated, has donated $5,000, and Brenda Turnbow, a homemaker, donated $4,900 to Long Beach Citizens, according to the organization’s campaign finance statement. Multiple calls to Long Beach see FINANCE page 7
Laurie Angel for City Council A lifetime of Community Service in the 8th Council District
This week’s weather forecast sponsored by:
Check out our ad on page 6!
For 8th District
VOTE APRIL 12 www.LaurieAngel.com Paid for by Angel for Council 2016 FPPC # 1382583