Comparison images from the photo-essay genealogy project “From One, Many” by Rachael Rifkin See page 10
Vol. 36 No. 33
January 16 , 2015
SERVING BIXBY KNOLLS, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, LOS CERRITOS, WRIGLEY AND THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
Garcia’s first State of the City focuses on economic development, education and sustainability
Cory Bilicko
Managing Editor
Integrating the three primary concerns of his first State of the City address– education, economic development and environmental issues– Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia’s principal call to action Tuesday night was for local employers to offer internships to the students of the city. The 28th mayor of Long Beach reminded those in attendance that, upon taking office six months ago, he had pledged to double the number of internships available to Long Beach students during his first term. At Tuesday’s address, he announced that the City is “well on our way to achieving this goal.” He credited the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, the City’s “one-stop career and businessdevelopment center,” for its contribution to that goal, as well as the commitments of several other organizations. “[Pacific Gateway] have made a commitment to double the number of paid internships from 400 to 800 just this year,” Garcia said. “The City and the Port have also pledged to double their internships for students this year. And our educational institutions– Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach City College and Long Beach Unified– are also working to expand opportunities for student internships. Now we need your help. Tonight, I’m issuing a call to every employer in greater Long Beach
to partner with us, to support us, and, most importantly, to support our students by providing internships.” The mayor encouraged employers to sign up for the internship initiative at HireLB.com . He then cited a local young woman as an example of how internships can facilitate an effective career path for youth in the area. Cabrillo High School student Brenda Martinez worked with Pacific Gateway to acquire a paid internship at a Bixby Knolls law firm. Now a senior at Cabrillo, Martinez plans to attend Drexel University to study to become a patent attorney. “She’s grown more confident, she’s developed her career goals and built imporCory Bilicko/Signal Tribune tant relationships,” Garcia In his his State of the City address Tuesday night, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia focused primarily on education, economic said. “And Brenda attributes development and sustainability for the new year. her success, in large part, to potential as a great international city. incredibly far” in the last decade, Gar- economic crash of 2008 and the conseher internship.” We will create a Long Beach of the cia first pointed out that Long Beach is quential major budget cuts in the city. Economic development “We cut more than 700 positions Garcia’s speech first concentrated future. Long Beach will take its right- safer than it has been in two generaand trimmed our budget by $134 miltions, with violent crime down to its ful place as a leading city in the U.S. on the successes and progress the City and around the world. And, while we lowest level in almost 40 years. He lion,” he said. “Today, Long Beach is has achieved of late. “I am pleased to report that the state have a lot of work to do, which I’ll talk then asked the audience to give a round in a better place, having balanced our of our city is strong and is getting about tonight, it’s important that we of applause to the police and fire revenues and our expenditures and stronger,” he said. “As we enter the recognize what we’ve already accom- departments, as well as their respective implemented pension reform, which chiefs, Robert Luna and Mike Duree. 15th year of this new century, Long plished.” The mayor then recalled the global Indicating that the city has “come see GARCIA page 9 Beach is poised to live up to its full
Long Beach teen entrepreneur, youth commissioner strives for greatness Sean Belk
T
Staff Writer
Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
Jeremiah Jones, a 14-year-old entrepreneur who runs his own clothing line called JYoungin Education and a recently appointed member of the Long Beach Commission on Youth and Children, lays out his apparel on a bench with his father, far left, Edward Jones, at Bixby Knolls Park. “A Gourmet Gifting & Baking Company”
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here is nothing holding back Jeremiah Jones– not even his age. At 8 years old, he started his own clothing line when his friends and family didn’t believe he could do it. He then opened a retail store at the Pike in downtown Long Beach. Six years later, at age 14, the Hughes Middle School student and recently appointed youth city commissioner has matured along with his company. Last year, he closed his store to focus solely on manufacturing. His clothing line includes T-shirts, beanies and hats with various cartoon characters related to sports and positive achievements. Though he realizes that not everyone is interested in his brand, Jones has never let slow sales get him down and hasn’t lost sight of his goal to run his own business. “I love wearing clothes, and I love the style of me,” he said while sitting on a bench at Bixby Knolls Park not far away from his home. “So, I figured, if I could bring a certain style to the world, maybe somebody would like it.”
Weekly Weather Forecast Friday
74°
Saturday
Mostly sunny and pleasant
Lo 46°
72°
Sunday
Mostly sunny
71°
Times of clouds and sun
Monday
January 16 through January 20, 2015 Tuesday
69° 68°
Mostly sunny
Mostly sunny
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His brand, JYoungin Education, which is named after the first letter of his first name and “youngin,’” the nickname that his grandma gave him, received major notoriety early last year when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wore a custom jacket of his on national television after a game. When word spread on the Internet, the publicity drew the attention of TEDx, an organization that hosts forums on technology, entertainment and design, and Jones was asked to speak in Reno last year alongside some prominent figures. Jones, who also runs a Positive Achievers Awards program that acknowledges students and athletes for their achievements, said his message to the audience during the conference was to “listen to kids.” He added, “my dad didn’t listen to me when I was younger. I had to convince him. So I was telling these adults to ‘listen to your kids, listen to your nephews’ and just listen to their ideas.” This year, the driven and strong-willed teen said he was shocked when Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia appointed him to the Commission on Youth and Chilsee ENTREPRENEUR page 14