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Vol. 34 No. 28
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SERVING BIXBY KNOLLS, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, LOS CERRITOS, WRIGLEY AND THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
A local legend saves the day
December 14, 2012
59th Annual Daisy Lane Parade carries on neighborhood tradition
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
Neena Strichart/Signal Tribune
Christian (left) of the Pedaler’s Society with the “Knolls Ranger” (right) wind their way through the historic Daisy Lane Parade. Last Saturday, Dec. 8 marked the 59th year of the historic Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade, which continuing a neighborhood tradition that began in 1953. This year, over 75
Neena Strichart/Signal Tribune
Local legend and notable businessman Mel Pinkham dons a Santa Claus suit while participating in Urban Cottage’s fundraiser for Los Cerritos Elementary School. Long Beach resident Marjorie Grommé (left) reacts as Santa (Mel Pinkham) kisses her hand. Pinkham agreed to participate in the charity event after he was asked by an organizer who read the Signal Tribune’s “Living Legends, Unsung Heroes” feature in the Dec. 7 issue. For the full-story, see Thoughts from the Publisher on page 4.
Hotel workers call on LB City Council to implement new ‘living-wage’ law Sean Belk Staff Writer
In response to claims that some Long Beach hotels are taking steps to dodge a new voter-approved law that requires they pay their workers higher wages, city councilmembers in support of the measure vowed Tuesday night to look into possible legislation to make sure hotels follow the regulation, which goes into effect next week. The Long Beach City Council at its Dec. 11 meeting unanimously certified the results of Measure N, also known as the “living wage” measure, which
passed by 64.32 percent of voters during the general election, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/ County clerk. The initiative, which requires that hotels with 100 rooms or more pay their workers at least $13 an hour and impose a mandatory 2-percent annual pay raise, becomes law next Friday, Dec. 21 and is expected to affect about 17 hotels. The council’s notion comes as a crowd of hotel workers and supporters of the measure made claims that hotel managers are making plans to cut hours and eliminate staff members while
Friday
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reducing guestrooms below the 100room threshold in an effort to “undermine” the new regulation. The speakers, who wore buttons and waved signs that read, “The people have spoken!!” called on the City Council to correct any potential loopholes. “I’m very upset and angry about the reaction that the hotel industry here in Long Beach has taken since we’ve won this law,” said Jose Landino, a 13-year cook for Hilton Long Beach in downtown who spoke through a Spanish-tosee COUNCIL page 18
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Seven candidates are vying for three SH City Council seats
Nick Diamantides Staff Writer
Although national election campaigns ended only a few weeks ago, a new, local campaign season has begun. Seven candidates are running for three seats on the Signal Hill City Council. The election is scheduled for March 5, 2013. According to City Clerk Kathee Pacheco, the prospective candidates had from Nov. 13 to Dec. 7 to obtain their official nominating petitions from City Hall, and nine candidates did just that. In order to be placed on the ballot, the candidates had to circulate their petition and obtain 20 certifiable signatures from Signal Hill registered voters. Deputy City Clerk Becky Burleson
December 14 through December 18, 2012
Monday
entries, hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators filled the block of Daisy Avenue, as families looked on from the sidelines to enjoy a wide vari-
Tuesday
60° 61° 64° 62° This week’s Weekly Weather Forecast sponsored by: Cool with clouds
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see PARADE page 4
explained that candidates were allowed to get a maximum of 30 signatures. At that point, the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters has to verify that at least 20 of the signatures are valid, she noted. Seven candidates turned in the signatures by the deadline, which was 4:30pm last Friday, Dec. 7. Those candidates are Mike Noll, Ellen Ward and Ed Wilson– and four challengers– Robert Mendoza, Nancy Sciortino, Elizabeth Wise and Lori Woods. Burleson then forwarded the signatures to the County and received them back, all certified, on Tuesday afternoon. On the day the candidates turned in see ELECTION page 18
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