Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill
MARCHNO. 6, 2015 VOL. XXXIX 12
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
March 17, 2017
Advocates ready to protest Airport Advisory decision Drama surrounding the international terminal won’t fade into the sunset. CJ Dablo
MARCH 6, 2015
Staff Writer
Edward Wilson
Lori Woods
Robert Copeland
tion About America”– took place in the Long Beach City College Auditorium and addressed: the future of the Affordable Care Act, Social Security and Medicare; immigration and refugee policy under the Trump Administration; the fight to protect the environment; and the continuing struggle for civil rights and equality for all Americans. During the gathering, Lowenthal stood at a podium equipped with a microphone but also later walked the stage to move closer to attendees ask-
Neighborhood advocates opposed to any more talk of an international airport have braced for impact. Last month’s decision by the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission to discuss the possibility of asking the city council to revisit the international-terminal issue has galvanized staunch critics, and they planned to make their voices heard at the commission meeting on Thursday, March 16. (That meeting took place at press time, and a future story will include details of the commission decision.) It’s one discussion that will likely draw quite a few attentive ears. On Jan. 24, the Long Beach City Council had declined to approve a proposal to build a federal-inspection service (FIS) facility and had seemed to shut down any further consideration of an international terminal at Long Beach Airport. However, this week, the commission has been looking at a proposal to ask the city council to reconsider their January decision. The news was not welcomed by the community groups that had launched a major campaign to oppose an international airport. Neighborhood-advocacy groups Long Beach Neighborhoods First and LB HUSH2 regularly recruited dozens of residents who filled meeting rooms with signs in protest of the FIS facility over the past two years whenever the topic was discussed. Former 8th District Councilmember Rae Gabelich is a spokeswoman for both advocacy groups. She noted in an interview with the Signal Tribune that the entire controversy over the potential airport transformation has been an “enlightening” experience, adding that “it’s engaged a whole population that hasn’t been engaged before.” Gabelich praised the swift communication between residents from all over the city through social networks and attentive bloggers. City leaders and airport commissioners were not immune from the pressure on both sides of the issue. Long Beach resident Laurie Smith said she filed complaints with both the California Fair Political Practices
see LOWENTHAL page 11
see AIRPORT page 11
Keir Jones
File photos
Woods, Wilson re-elected; Copeland, Jones vying for third spot Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
vement Association (BKBIA), gives a presentation ach Petroleum Club on Thursday, Feb. 26. Discrepancy in results leads to
another hand count. Just before press time, City staff told the Sigrecount onscript Thursday night. classes and writing. We do comnal Tribune that a final hand-verbal recount was o build- munity meetings. You name it.” about to begin. Cristales However, he said there are some to have Denny Measure F, a citizen’s initiative that would have challenges ahead for the business disth man- Editorial Assistant instituted a 10-percent tax on monetary transacundrais- trict. tions for medical-marijuana facilities in Signal Official electionCohn resultsnoted on Thursday morning Hill, In particular, that the vents of did not pass, with 605 “no” votes and 534 Sean Belk/Signal Tribune atBKBIA City Hall showed that incumbents Lori Woods board is looking at(BKBIA), possibly ls Business Improvement Association gives a presentation “yes” votes. The ballot error found in the aftert” at the Long Beach Petroleum on that Thursday, Feb. 26.noon is believed to not cause a significant change and Edward Wilson andClub City Clerk Robert raising its annual assessment it Copeurn this charges members since former uilding land were on voted on as members of the Signal HillWe do in the Measure F vote totals. classes and script writing. comredevelopment-agency whichYou “This is the City Council– with munity onefunding, votemeetings. difference between ed inside Expo buildname it.” Official vote standings as of Thursday mornIA’s we staff Copeland is to and have However, heissaid some theable business district has relied on, here candidate Keir Jones– but athere dis- are ing’s ballot count showed 596 votes for Woods, n involvement with manchallenges ahead for the business disdwindling and insecure. mpany crepancy found later leaves Copeland’s status up 560 votes for Wilson, 534 votes for Copeland, trict. ding’s space for fundraisnd. We in and the air, as ofof press time. In particular, Cohn noted 533 thatvotes the for Jones, 364 votes for City Treasurer ty meetings events BKBIA board is aid. teaches At 11am, a see representative ofpage Martin & Chap-at possibly DISTRICT 12 looking Larry Blunden, 350 votes for Maria Harris, 329 raising its annual assessment that it our chance to turn this man counted more than 250 ballots that included for Carol Churchill, 274 votes for Thomas charges on members since votes former into the iconic building vote-by-mail provisionals postmarkedfunding, on Benson whichand 95 votes for Jason Aula. lls,” Cohn said. “Thisand is allredevelopment-agency the district has relied “I on,think is it’s great,” Copeland told the Signal ty arts center, Marchwhere 7. Thewe results ofbusiness that morning indicated dwindling and insecure. ids Theatre Company that Copeland had won by one vote. Tribune after the announcement on Thursday tions all year round. We staff con- morning, edy group On that Thursday teaches afternoon, however, see DISTRICT page 12 before the ballot error had been discovducted a hand-verbal count of one precinct– Dis- ered that afternoon. “I’m excited for the opportucovery Well Park– as a test to ensure and verify the nity. I’m excited that all the voters supported me. accuracy of the machine count that took place that It’s kind of unfortunate that it was this close, but I Electronic Cigarettes, morning, the results of which showed a discrep- guess that’s the way it happens in an election like ancy. As a result, the City announced it would do Vaporizers, Tanks
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At townhall, Lowenthal fields questions on immigration, health care and civil rights. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
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Congressman Lowenthal speaks to a crowd in the Long Beach City ColLong BeachAlan | 562-494-1442 lege Auditorium during event wer @aStearns St. w w .Blvd. th e v p e dan e p entitled o t .“AcConversation o m About America” on
March 13. The townhall meeting covered: the future of the Affordable Care ach | 562-494-1442 Act, Social Security and Medicare; immigration and refugee policy under the “A Gourmet å environment; and the continuing v a p eTrump d eAdministration; p o t . ctheofight mto protect the Gifting & Baking Company”
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this in a small city, with people really in-tune. I’m just hoping I can satisfy the people who voted for me now.” Copeland maintained his lead over Jones by one vote, the first time such an outcome has occurred since the 2007 Signal Hill City Council election, when then-Mayor Larry Forester won by one vote after being down by nine prior to the counting of additional ballots. Jones refused to comment at City Hall on Thursday morning. As of that afternoon’s recount, there’s a potentiality that Jones may sneak into the third council spot. Wilson congratulated Woods and Copeland on their apparent victories in an interview Thursday morning, and he was happy with the community involvement. “I’m always pleased and honored that the residents and the voters have put their trust in me,” Wilson said. “This is the sixth time. It’s re-affirmation that the city is moving in the right direction [...] I want to congratulate all the candidates who ran for their commitment to the city, because I think it’s important to have that commitment. If
Although the audience response to Rep. Alan Lowenthal at a townhall meeting this week was predominantly positive– with long stints of applause and cheers for his remarks on issues pertaining to immigration and health care– there were a few in attendance that seemed to take a page right out of recent similar events across the country– interrupting the congressmember with yells and waving pro-Trump signs. The event– entitled “A Conversa-
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