S IGNA L T RIBUN E Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
VOL. XXXVIII NO. 10
March 4, 2016
Citywide forum draws all candidates from April’s ballot
The Leadership Long Beach-sponsored event included all 18 individuals vying for seven seats in the April 12 election. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
In stark contrast to the 2014 mayoral forums, to which only select candidates were invited, the Leadership Long Beach-sponsored forum at the downtown library on March 2 seemed to be characterized by a theme of inclusiveness. Every qualified candidate for Long Beach’s April 12 election was in attendance, including those campaigning for three city council seats, two Long Beach City College Board of Trustees positions and two Long Beach Unified School District Governing Board spots. Also included was Dee Andrews, the termed-out 6th District city councilmember who is pursuing a write-in campaign. Even Daryl Supernaw, the current 4th District councilmember who was
Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune
Long Beach City Clerk Maria de la Luz Garcia (far left) leads an oath of candidates for Long Beach City Council districts 2, 6 and 8 during a forum on Wednesday, March 2 at the city’s main library.
unopposed in seeking a second term but was recently granted that seat by the city council, was at Wednesday’s
event and given a chance to speak to those in attendance. Moderator John Glaza, a graduate
of Leadership Long Beach, officiated the event, which was also organized by the Long Beach Public Library,
Long Beach Community Action Partnership, Public Access Digital Net-
see FORUM page 15
Bond... June Bond? The success of LBCC’s $850-million bond measure could depend on its timing. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Just in time for the June 7 election, the Long Beach City College (LBCC) Board of Trustees announced last week that it will be asking voters in the community-college district to approve an $850-million bond measure. The primary focus of the measure will be to address aging infrastructure. A press statement released by LBCC outlines several of the school’s needs. Many of the campus buildings were constructed in the 1950s and are in need of being updated, according to the statement. This particular measure is meant to upgrade science, engineering and technology classrooms and labs and make needed repairs to leaking roofs and gas, electrical and sewer lines. In addition, the statement notes that the school plans to improve earthquake safety, campus security and handicapped accessibility. In a phone interview with the Signal Tribune, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, who serves
Source: FM3 Graph by Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune
Last December, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) surveyed 600 randomly selected voters in the LBCC district who said they were likely to vote in the June election. About 65 percent of the respondents favored the proposal for an $850-million bond to fund primarily infrastructure and construction needs at the college.
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as LBCC District superintendent-president, was asked about the need for a new measure. He explained that a previous one, known as Measure E, was passed in both 2002 and in 2008. The college’s initial plans for Measure E had anticipated “an ongoing investment” in infrastructure and future buildings by the State of California. However the State did not provide any funding toward these construction costs since that time, he said. The bond did raise more than $600 million toward construction costs, he explained, and a few projects that are scheduled to be completed will be using the remaining funds from Measure E. There are still other projects that need to be done. “Certainly the recession was a big blow to the State and its ability to fund K-12 and community college construction as well as provide funding for the aging infrastructure,” Ortiz said. “And we certainly understand that. However, you know, the facilities continue to deteriorate, and the longer that goes, the more expensive it will become. So, we’re hoping to be able to deal with that sooner, rather than later.” Ortiz was asked about the timing of the bond measure, since Long Beach residents see LBCC page 9
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