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. 21
May 20, 2016
‘Can you hear me now?’ Frontier Communications attends townhall meeting to discuss service issues. Sebastian Echeverry Staff Writer
Frustration and anger were expressed throughout a May 14 townhall meeting as representatives from Frontier Communications and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) addressed issues the company had recently experienced with its services. District 70 Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell hosted the meeting, which took place in the Expo Arts Center in Bixby Knolls. As some audience members listened to the meeting from the center’s lobby, the room next door had 28 Frontier consultants ready to sit down with individuals to help them with their service needs. Since Frontier Communications took over Verizon’s services in April, the company has received a steady flow of service complaints ranging from slow or unresponsive Internet and phone lines to unusable television service, according to company representatives. Long Beach resident Sally Kilbourne said that she experienced significant medical problems as a result of the issues pertaining to Frontier. “I went through a series of people coming to my house,” she said. “I sat on the phone for I don’t know how
June’s primary election will feature new ideas to encourage higher voter CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune
Seventieth District Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell hosted a May 17 townhall meeting in Bixby Knolls where members of Frontier Communications discussed customer-service issues.
many hours, and for I don’t know how many days.” Kilbourne said she was in shock
place. According to Kilbourne, being
with the way Frontier handled its customer service, but she was glad that there was a townhall meeting taking
see FRONTIER page 11
Popular senate bill expected to curtail frivolous ADA lawsuits However, advocacy group says SB 269 disregards rights of disabled citizens. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that will eliminate minimum statutory damages for certain minor and technical violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to the California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), which applauded Brown’s approval of it as a measure of avoiding frivolous lawsuits. However, one nonprofit disabil-
ity advocacy group is discontent with the legislation, indicating that the civil rights of those with disabilities are still being neglected, even 26 years after the ADA was signed into law. Senate Bill 269, which 31st District State Sen. Richard Roth (D–Riverside) introduced, is a modified version of last year’s Senate Bill 251, which Roth also authored but that the governor vetoed. According to Roth’s office, SB 269 removes the tax credit that was the focus of Brown’s veto, reduces the employee ceiling for qualifying businesses from 100 to 50 employees and makes other
clarifying changes. Roth referred to SB 269 as the first significant reform to the State’s disability-access regulations since 2012. A statement from his office described it as “a narrowly crafted provision to provide businesses with much needed disability-access education, resources and training, and allows small businesses that have been proactive in identifying access issues a reasonable amount of time to fix any problems identified before a lawsuit arises.” “This is a major victory for all Californians,” Roth said. “SB 269 is a bipartisan, common-sense
City of Long Beach
Police Recruit
solution that will guarantee access for disabled Californians by providing small businesses with the tools and resources necessary to comply with state and federal disability-access regulations. I am glad the governor agrees with the critical need for this reform, and I am proud to have delivered this victory for California’s small businesses and disability community.” CALA is a nonpartisan grassroots movement of concerned citizens and businesses who are fighting against lawsuit abuse in California, according to the organization’s website. Ken Barnes,
Friday
Partly Cloudy
67° Lo 57°
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Partly Cloudy
Sunny
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
68°
Lo 57°
71° Lo 57°
68° Lo 58°
69°
This weekʼs weather forecast sponsored by: Starting Salary: $30.54 per hour while in Academy REQUIREMENTS TO FILE Twenty years of age or older at time of filing Possess a Valid Driver’s License Have a U.S. High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalency Be a U.S. citizen, or have applied for citizenship No felony convictions
Apply online: www.longbeach.gov/civilservice *For additional retirement information, visit the website above.
LONG
BEACH
POLICE
DEPARTMENT
City of Long Beach Civil Service Department 333 W. Ocean Blvd., 7th Floor Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 570-6202 An Equal Opportunity Employer
Photo credit: CaughtintheMoment.com and the Long Beach Police Department
Just in time for the upcoming June presidential primary, both LA County election officials and even a nonprofit organization are hoping that a few innovations will encourage a better voter turnout and create new enthusiasm for civic engagement. At least this time– just like back at school– everyone gets a sticker…the one that says you participated in the democratic process. Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan announced in a statement that his office will now be including the iconic “I voted” sticker in the vote-by-mail ballots. “The most influential method of increasing voter participation is peer-to-peer outreach,” Logan said. “When people share the value and importance of voting with those in their personal and professional network, the likelihood their peers will vote goes up. The ‘I voted’ sticker serves as a symbolic statement that voting is a part of community.” Logan’s office also announced on May 18 that there will also be a new “will call” program for voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot either by phone or online, and the ballot will be available for pick-up at “a location of their choice.” “Voters can request will-call ballots starting on May 23 to be available beginning May 28 continuing through June 6,” according to the press release. The county clerk’s office further ex-
see BILL 269 page 15
May 20 through May 24, 2016
NOW HIRING
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS $33.93 - $42.02 per hour upon Academy graduation 27-1/2 week paid Academy training Comprehensive benefits package Retirement 2.7% at 57 (P.E.R.S.) * Pay incentives for education - AA, BA/BS, MA/MS degrees Variety of assignments (K-9, SWAT, Motors, Narcotics) Excellent Promotional Opportunities
From stickers to block parties
Check out the Rock for Vets ad we sponsored on page 6!
Lo 57°
see VOTING page 13
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