Aug. 3, 2018 | Vol. XL | No. 32

S IGNAL T RIBU NE Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill with 30,000 issues every Friday

VOL. XL NO. 32

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS 24/7 urgent-care mental-health center opens Uranga says facility’s operator has addressed all residents’ concerns.

Page 3

Congressmember hosts LB townhall

Lowenthal looks to upcoming election for change in leadership.

Page 3

New commission chair: finding home in LB ‘felt right.’

Suely Saro is the first Cambodian-American to serve as chair of Long Beach Citizens Police Complaint Commission.

Page 6

CULTURE Playhouse show tells story of gay community in LB circa 1914 Performers ‘offer a masterclass in acting.’

Page 8

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

www.signaltribune.com

After July closure of Community, next hospital CEO targets Jan. 1, 2019 reopening The hospital task-force meeting informed about transition process, rehiring employees and projected timeline.

Denny Cristales Online Editor

It’s been half a year of the Community Hospital Task Force’s campaign to “save the ER” and the City of Long Beach’s efforts to locate a new medical operator, and now that Community is on its way to transition from MemorialCare’s hands to Molina, Wu, Network, LLC. (MWN), the focus has shifted from salvaging the hospital to reopening it.

During the Community Hospital Task Force meeting on Monday, July 30 inside the VA Long Beach Healthcare System’s Pantages Theatre, the next CEO of the hospital, Virg Narbutas, said his goal is for Community to recommence acute-care services and “take the first patient” on Jan. 1, 2019.

“I’m trying to be realistic,” Narbutas said during the meeting. “If we can get it open sooner, that’d be great. I know that flu season is really going to impact us, and we’re going to need those beds, we’re going to

August 3, 2018

Number of CSULB law students interested in immigration law increases Professor says current migrant situation at U.S.-Mexico border sparked interest.

Sebastian Echeverry Staff Writer

the better, obviously.”

There are 300 employees current-

The amount of law students at California State University, Long Beach interested in studying immigration law has seemed to increase, according to Dr. Jason Whitehead, an associate professor of political science at CSULB. During a phone interview with the Signal Tribune Wednesday morning, Whitehead said he’s noticed a 75-percent spike in Latino students that want to study immigration law.

He said the current political landscape in regard to immigration is the catalyst that has some of his students

see HOSPITAL page 14

see IMMIGRATION page 14

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

Virg Narbutas, the next CEO of Community Hospital Long Beach, informed the hospital task force during its meeting at the VA Long Beach Medical Center on Monday, July 30 that the target date to reopen the facility will be Jan. 1, 2019.

need that ER. So, with a goal of Jan. 1– maybe we can get it sooner. I’m pushing as hard as I can. The sooner

Garcia, West release Long Beach FY ‘19 budget proposals Mayor says budget is ‘best’ of the five he has worked on.

Cory Bilicko Managing Editor

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and City Manager Patrick West this week presented what Garcia said is the best budget of his tenure as mayor so far.

During an overview of their Fiscal Year 2019 budget at Rancho Los Alamitos on Tuesday morning, the two leaders indicated that the City is making significant investments in areas such as homelessness, safety and infrastructure improvements.

“Of my five budgets as mayor– and this is my fifth– I think this is by far our best one yet,” Garcia said.

“It is balanced. It continues to be responsible, thanks to the hard work of all of our team, and it makes critical investments in public safety, in infrastructure, in programs that help people that need our support in our community.”

Garcia also said he is proud that the City has maintained “really strong” fiscal policies and that its reserves continue to grow.

The mayor said that, through funding generated by Measure A, which voters approved in 2016, four

Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune

Long Beach City Manager Patrick West (left) presents his city budget proposal during a press conference Tuesday morning at Rancho Los Alamitos. Pictured right is Mayor Robert Garcia.

new quality-of-life officers will be added to the police department and two HEART Team firefighters will join the fire department. The budget also allots $41 million to rebuild the police and fire academies, fund body-worn cameras and modernize communication technologies for both public-safety departments.

“The rebuilding of the police and fire academies will be the largest investment in those two facilities in many, many years,” Garcia said.

“They both need to be rebuilt, and they both need to have modern facilities to train the very best police and firefighters that we can.”

He added that Fire Engine 17 will

also be restored with 12 new firefighter positions added and that the Community Rapid Response Bike Team will add six police officers.

In discussing homelessness, the mayor said there are significant resources available to the City, including $12.3 million in one-time funds from the State– proposed by the Big 10 California Mayors– $3.4 million in capital funding for a year-round homeless shelter and $2.6 million from LA County’s Measure H. He added that the Everyone Home Innovation Grants will fund community organizations and neighborhood groups to reduce homelessness, the Clean Team will employ people experiencing homelessness and parking meters will provide opportunities for donations to address the issue as well.

Garcia added that, through Measure A funds, $13.4 million will be dedicated to improving streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and facilities.

“This is just a sampling of what is in this budget– there is a lot more,” he said. “But some of the things that see BUDGET page 15

Fall Semester starts

August 27

Culinary Arts

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2

Signal Tribune

August 3, 2018

NEWS

3 Lowenthal looks to upcoming election for change in national leadership

August 3, 2018

Signal Tribune

Townhall meeting includes discussion of wide range of national issues.

Paige Pelonis Contributing Writer

Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune

Fourth District LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn (far right) addresses those assembled for the grand opening Monday morning of the Long Beach Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center, located at 3200 Long Beach Blvd.

24-hour behavioral-health urgent-care center opens in Long Beach

Uranga says facility’s operator has addressed all residents’ concerns about the center’s location and services.

Cory Bilicko Managing Editor

In what City and County officials say is a significant effort to help those with mental-health issues get appropriate help– as well as ease the burden on hospital emergency rooms, reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalizations and assist law-enforcement with behavioral-health challenges– the Long Beach Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC) opened this week as a 24-hour, seven-days-aweek psychiatric facility.

The BHUCC, located at 3200 Long Beach Blvd., is a Medi-Cal-certified and Lanterman-Petris-Short-certified crisis stabilization unit designed to provide quick access to mental-health assessment and medication support.

It will also provide case management and linkage to recovery-oriented, community-based resources through a “trauma-informed lens” integrated

with interventions for co-occurring substance-abuse disorders.

At the center’s grand opening Monday morning, Kent Dunlap, president and CEO of Stars Behavioral Health Group, the statewide operator of the new facility and others like it, called the process of getting it open and operational “a long and winding road.”

He said that, although his company is opening several other such facilities throughout the state, the new one in Long Beach is significant to him and his staff.

“I have to say, in all honesty, this one is special to us,” Dunlap said.

“And the reason for that is that Long Beach is our back yard. Our company headquarters is about two miles from here. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year as an organization, and we’ve been providing services in this community for most of that time.” see FACILITY page 11

The nearly 600 people who attended Rep. Alan Lowenthal’s (CA-47) townhall meeting Monday at Millikan High School heard one point repeated several times by the congressman throughout the night: vote this November.

“The soul of our nation is being tested,” Lowenthal said to the nearly 600 people who attended his townhall meeting at Millikan High School on Monday. “If you don’t vote, and you Photos by Paige Pelonis | Signal Tribune don’t tell people that you know […] Rep. Alan Lowenthal addresses nearly 600 guests at his townhall meeting to vote, and if people are not involved Monday at Millikan High School. in changing the House of Representatives, this nightmare will continue.” vote. There are about 30 Republican members of ConLowenthal committed the majority of the time at the gress that want to sign the discharge petition, that should townhall to answering a wide range of questions from be encouraged to do that, they could go home– they the audience, and he anticipated that the most common would take on their leadership– but they would be hailed topic of conversation would be President Donald Trump. as heroes in their districts if they would do that. Short of “I thought the most common questions would be is- that […] we will have to wait until after the election.” sues, questions, fears, whatever it is, all about Trump,” Jeff from Long Beach, who did not disclose his last Lowenthal said. “It’s real clear that I disagree with the see LOWENTHAL page 13 President […] but he’s the President, and as such, I speak with respect, even though I disagree with him tremendously. It’s kind of a balance.”

James, 10, from Long Beach, asked Lowenthal about Trump and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“I want to keep DACA alive, and, as you can see, I’m 10 years old,” James said. “I’m a kid too, and I support DACA to save all of the immigrant children. I think this immigration problem is getting out of hand. Does Trump even care?”

Lowenthal said DACA is one issue that may have to wait for the upcoming election before Congress can move toward providing protections for DACA recipients.

“We should’ve fixed the DACA problem in 2013 when we did comprehensive immigration reform,” Lowenthal James, 10, from Long Beach, asks US Rep. Alan Lowenthal said. “But because of the far right, they got to the Speak- about DACA at a townhall meeting Monday at Millikan er of the House, and that led to it never coming up for a High School.

“

4

Signal Tribune

Thoughts

from

OPINION

LETTERS, EMAILS, WEBSITE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS Successful, or self-serving?

Publisher

the

By Neena Strichart

O

August 3, 2018

ver the years Steve and I have had more than our share of dogs, cats, fish, reptiles and even a tarantula or two. Most of those pets have been rescues that came into our lives through one circumstance or another.

My life-long friend Becky (her birthday is today– see the poem I wrote for her on this page) lives up the street from us and knows what animal lovers we are. In a recent email, she sent me the following message that had been written by a friend of hers (who prefers to remain unidentified). I need to share it with you, our gentle readers. What a compelling story.

We went to the shelter looking to bring another little bundle of love home. Walking along the rows of kennels, this little Chihuahua mix caught my eye. I put my hand down so he could sniff it and, to my surprise, he reached through the slats of his kennel, grabbed my hand between his paws, held on and started licking my hand, then did the same thing to my husband and daughter.

He had been at the shelter for almost two months. We could not believe someone else didn’t want to take this sweet little guy home. We adopted him immediately but had to wait a few days to bring him home so he could be neutered. We changed his name to Stewie.

Once home, he fit right in with our other animals and immediately became the “caretaker.” Stewie is always checking on everyone and is constantly by our sides. He is so grateful for his forever home. He jumps up and down excitedly twice a day as we are preparing his food as if he still can’t believe his luck.

We adopted him in August of 2014. In November of 2017, Stewie started to sniff me really hard in one spot, was very insistent and did this daily for two weeks. While there is no history of breast cancer in my family and I did not feel a lump, I decided I had better get it checked out. Sure enough in that exact spot they found a tumor, and I was diagnosed with stage-1 breast cancer.

My family and I will be forever grateful to our little Stewie for saving my life. Without him, I would not have gone to the doctor and it may have been discovered too late. We saved him from the shelter, but really Stewie saved me! What a little hero.

I cannot say enough about adopting an animal from the shelter. It is such a fulfilling and heartwarming experience. They have so much love to give.

Save a life… you will receive so much unconditional love in return.

I recently listened to a radio host talking about government. He noted how people often complain about the way it spends our money. They say it needs to be run like a business, where those in charge are actually concerned that monies are spent wisely.

One local example of such improper spending would be half a billion dollars in escalating yearly payments on an unneeded new civic center. Or contracting for a new Gerald Desmond Bridge that was supposed to cost around $800 million but will ultimately be closer to one and one-half billion dollars. And claiming the added cost is due to unforeseen petroleum pipelines, etcetera when the area was once covered with oil derricks. Yet this wasn’t anticipated? Even thinking about spending over $100 million on a swimming pool is yet another example.

In spite of such egregious examples of absurd spending, Long Beach actually is run like a business– a very successful business.

The problem is we residents see ourselves as the stockholders– those whom the enterprise should benefit. But city management takes a far different view. They see City employees as their shareholders. Viewed from that perspective, Long Beach is a fabulously successful enterprise.

Until Governor Brown recently got a raise, there were 39 City employees making more than the governor’s just-under-$200,000-a-year salary. And 1,462 Long Beach employees are making over $100,000, with fantastic benefits and retirement.

This in a city that’s short almost 200 police officers and has two fire stations without a pumper able to put water on a fire. We have a growing homeless population and numerous roads that resemble a motocross track.

Would appear to be a failing city. Not at all. Get more taxes with Measures A and M and keep on giving raises to City employees.

Do we really want to make it easier for these city council members (who’ve gotten us in this terrible mess in order to serve their real constituents– City employees) to get four more years in office?

Richard Gutmann Long Beach

Counting on the County

The independent investigation [by information-technology company IBM Security Services] has shown that the problems voters experienced during the June 5 election had nothing to do with foul play but were the result of a software error.

While I am relieved that this was not a cyberattack, what happened was unacceptable, and we are going to ensure that the Registrar-Recorder’s Office fixes this issue so that this never happens again. Now more than ever, we need to ensure the public’s trust in our election system.

Janice Hahn Supervisor Los Angeles County Fourth District

An urge to merge?

“Ode to Becky Lou”

Happy birthday, Becky dear, You’ve been my pal for years.

We love our wine for sure, no doubt, And had our share of beers.

Now on this day I reminisce I Love Lucy was our fave.

We loved her then, we love her now She never would behave.

We’re all grown up and still in place, Same street and neighborhood.

Signal Hill has been our town, Do we plan to stay for good?

When looking back on memories, They are so sweet, ‘tis true.

Those thoughts bring smiles forevermore, And that’s because of you.

– Neena Strichart, 2018

We are most concerned that the [Long Beach] mayor and city council are proposing a major change in the city charter to merge the gas and water departments into a public-utilities department without any documented analysis of the impact of such a merger.

We have reason to believe that this merger is being proposed to remove the independence of the water department to make certain it is no longer “a rogue department” that makes actions independently of the mayor and city council. This merger will facilitate transfers of revenue without objection.

We also share the concern of some city staff who believe that the mayor, city council and major management are possibly being “lobbied” to contract out or to privatize the city’s utilities, which include water, gas, refuse, sewers and a City-run electricity service that is currently being considered.

All of these issues need to be brought out into the open before the proposal is placed on the November ballot so that the voters are clearly informed.

Diana Lejins Gerrie Schipske Tom Stout Joe Weinstein

Mea culpa

The July 27, 2018 story “Long-term solution to short-term rentals expected before Long Beach City Council by fall,” in stating that the city has more than 1,300 active short-term rental units, should have indicated that that figure represents three quarters of a percent of the city’s housing stock.

S IGNA L T R I BU N E

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Neena R. Strichart

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Barbie Ellisen Katherine Green Sharon McLucas

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Stephen M. Strichart

STAFF WRITERS

CJ Dablo Anita W. Harris

MANAGING EDITOR

Cory Bilicko

CULTURE WRITERS

Adam Buchsbaum Ava Homa Rachael Rifkin

ONLINE EDITOR

Denny Cristales

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Izzie Hallock Lissette Mendoza

DESIGN EDITOR

Sebastian Echeverry

COLUMNISTS

Claudine Burnett Blair Cohn

The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. Letters are due by noon on the Wednesday before desired publication date. The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit ­letters for grammar, language and space requirements. Letters must be 500 words or fewer. The Signal Tribune will publish no more than one “pro” letter and one “con” letter on a particular topic in a single issue. The Signal ­Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other ­publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct ­information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. We do not run letters to the editor submitted by individuals who have declared their candidacies for public office in upcoming races. This policy was put in place because, to be fair, if we publish one, we would have to publish all letters submitted by all candidates. The volume would no doubt eliminate space for letters submitted by other readers. Instead, we agree to interview candidates and print stories about political races in an objective manner and offer very reasonable advertising rates for those candidates who wish to purchase ads. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 30,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $50.

1399 E. 28th St., Signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 595-7900 www.signaltribune.com newspaper@signaltribune.com

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5 Long Beach high-school football players attend first youth police academy Signal Tribune

Student athletes learn ‘a different perspective on the profession of law-enforcement.’

Izzie Hallock Editorial Intern

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna explained that, in an era with various social-media outlets, the public sees only about 10 to 20 seconds of a video and thinks that it is the whole story.

“We are going to show you today, our world, and how that is a little bit different,” Luna said to a crowd of high-school football students ready to participate in the first youth community police academy on Saturday, July 28.

Despite the ongoing controversy of how the public views policing, Luna discussed what he hopes will be the takeaway for the student athletes.

“This last year, specifically if you are talking about the NFL, there has been a lot of controversy as it relates to policing. When you talk about police brutality, mass incarceration, there’s so many issues going on out there that you hear about, you read about on social media,” he said.

“There were teams from the NFL on down– college, high school, even pop warner– they were talking about, ‘Hey, let’s take a knee to protest this and protest that.’ I am not going to sit up here in front of you and say you should do A or B, but I think it is our responsibility as leaders in this city to show our young men and women what this city is about and what our police department is about.

In a sense, we are reaching out to you to be our connection, our disciples, to go back to your teams, to go back to you community, and say,

Courtesy LBPD

Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officer explains a specific scenario to local high-school athletes at the city’s first youth community police academy on Saturday, July 28.

‘You know what? I spent the day at the Long Beach Police Academy. I learned who they were, how they do things. I was able to participate myself, ask tough questions, and this is why they do things.’”

Five different Long Beach high schools, including Poly, Wilson, Millikan, Cabrillo and St. Anthony, had nearly four students representing each school.

“I bleed green and gold,” Sixth District Councilmember Dee An-

drews said jokingly to the student athletes. “That’s alright. You guys have got to bleed your colors too and represent them the way you should.”

Training division commander Rudy Komisza added how he believed the day will go for the highschool students.

“I think it is going to be very fruitful,” Komisza said. “It is going to give you a different perspective on the profession of law enforcement.” see ACADEMY page 13

AROUND TOWN A PET PROJECT What Family-fun, pet-education event Who Hosted by spcaLA When Friday, Aug. 3 from 11am to 2pm Where 7700 E Spring St. More Info Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in craft-making, face painting and behind-the-scenes tours. Free snacks and beverages will be provided. Families will learn how spcaLA helps animals in need and make cat toys for the cat sanctuary on site. Attendees are encouraged to bring one of the following items as a donation benefitting shelter animals: canned kitten food, canned puppy food, dry dog or cat food, soft dog treats and new/gently used (clean) blankets or towels. (No pillows or comforters will be accepted.) RSVP required. Contact Angela at (631) 813-9145.

WALKS OF LIFE What North Pine walking tour Who Hosted by Long Beach Heritage When Saturday, Aug. 4 from 9:30am to 11:30am Where Meet in front of Gold’s Gym, 345 Pine Ave. More Info The tour will travel north to 8th Street and circle back to the old Press-Telegram building at 6th and Pine. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased in advance through Pay Pal at lbheritage.org.

tributing to the fundraiser should indicate it to the cashier at check-out, so that 33 percent of their payment benefits the food rescue organization. Online orders will not be included in the fundraiser total. To ensure a purchase is counted in the fundraiser, customers must order and pay in the restaurant.

Gift card purchases during fundraisers do not count towards total donated sales, but purchases made with an existing gift card will count.

WALK THE WALK What East Village walking tour Who Hosted by Long Beach Heritage When Saturday, Aug. 11, from 9:30am to 11:30am Where Meet at Ocean Boulevard and Linden Avenue by Modica’s restaurant More Info Tour highlights will include the Broadlin Hotel, Cooper Arms, Lafayette Complex and the Royal Hotel. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased in advance through PayPal at lbheritage.org.

When Saturday, Aug. 11 Where Bixby Knolls Park, 1101 E. San Antonio Dr. More Info The ‘80s flashback concert will start at 4pm, and kid-friendly activities will include a moon bounce, face painting and balloon animals.

Attendees are welcome to dress up in ‘80s attire. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. Email district8@ longbeach.gov.

BURGEONING BOOKWORMS What Children’s storytime Who Hosted by The African-American Heritage Society of Long Beach When Saturday, Aug. 18 at 1pm Where Burnett Neighborhood Library, 560 E. Hill St. More Info Additionally, free children’s eye evaluations will be offered

by St. Mary’s Low Vision Center prior to storytime, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Free glasses will be provided for children with deficient vision.

Call John at (562) 436-4352.

SHAKE AND STIR What Fundraising event Who Hosted by the Steel Magnolias When Sunday, Aug. 26 from 5pm to 8pm Where Friedmans Home Experience, 1827 East Spring St. More Info Guests are invited to shake, stir, mix and mingle at the end of summer food and wine soirée presented by the Steel Magnolias. Cooking and cocktail demonstrations from FOOD FOR THOUGHT chefs and mixologists from GladWhat Fundraiser for Food Finders stone’s, Thai District, Lasher’s KitchWho Hosted by Chipotle restaurant in en, Chianina and more. Proceeds Signal Hill LIKE, TOTALLY... will benefit the Stramski Children’s When Friday, Aug. 10 from 4pm to What Councilmember Austin’s Developmental Center at Miller Chil8pm 1980s Flashback Celebration dren’s & Women’s Hospital Long Where 959 E. Spring St. Who Hosted by 8th District Coun- Beach. Tickets cost $100 and can be More Info Those interested in con- cilmember Al Austin purchased at TheSteelMagnolias.org.

WRITE RIGHT What Monthly writers meeting Who Hosted by The California Writers Club of Long Beach When Saturday, Aug. 11 from 2:30pm to 5pm Where The Ruth Bach Neighborhood Library, 4055 Bellflower Blvd.

More Info Mary Vensel White will discuss “Getting Out and Staying In: Making Writing Connections and Editing Tips and Tricks.” The event is free. Visit calwriterslongbeach.org.

6

Signal Tribune

Animal-welfare group criticizes LBACS for increased euthanasia, lower adoptions in first half of 2018 LBACS manager says newer statistics tell a different story.

Cory Bilicko Managing Editor

City records indicate that, in the first half of 2018, Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) euthanized more than 19 percent of animals it took in– up nearly 5 percentage points from the same time last year– while animal adoptions during the same period decreased, and a local animal-advocacy group is not happy about it.

However, Ted Stevens, LBACS manager, said the facility has made major improvements in the last few years and that a true evaluation of the shelter’s statistics is not possible to develop until the end of the year. In fact, he said, the numbers for July 2018 already indicate positive outcomes for animals.

In a press release Monday, Patricia Turner, Ph.D., director of No Kill Long Beach, criticized the City of Long Beach for the drop in adoptions and increase in euthanasia rates, which she attributes to inadequacies identified in City Auditor Laura Doud’s December 2017 review of LBACS. That report indeed cites “very limited standard operating procedures, which have resulted in inconsistent decision-making and conflicting shelter practices, as well as in changes being implemented without proper direction and explanation” as a problem area for the facility, despite also determining that it has “shown improvements in reducing animal impounds and increasing positive outcomes.”

“In spite of the fact that LBACS

has taken in fewer animals during the first six months of 2018, LBACS is nevertheless euthanizing animals at a higher rate than they were the same time last year,” Turner said. “From January to June this year, LBACS has euthanized 19 percent of animals, whereas during the same period last year, they euthanized 14 percent. That’s a significant increase. If they’re taking in fewer animals, they should be euthanizing a smaller percentage of animals. Instead, it’s the opposite. This is bad news for the animals, and it’s a clear step backward for the City of Long Beach.”

Turner compared the performance of the Long Beach shelter to that of others like it in the country and blamed the deficiency on a loophole connected to inadequate funding.

“The audit definitely found that LBACS needed to do a better job, but it left a huge loophole for the shelter to get out of doing so by recommending that LBACS euthanize animals if more funding wasn’t secured,” Turner said. “Yet, LBACS is spending more than twice as much per animal than Sacramento and more per animal than Austin, which has a 98-percent live-release rate. This level of inefficiency is something that should concern people in Long Beach.”

Turner said a focus on increased funding is too simplistic of a solution and that the City needs a mandate to have an adoption program and a foster program see SHELTER page 11

NEWS

August 3, 2018

New commission chair says finding home in Long Beach, ‘felt right’ Suely Saro is the first Cambodian-American chair of Long Beach Citizens Police Complaint Commission.

Paige Pelonis Contributing Writer

In fourth grade, she drew a picture of a store with herself inside. Her dream was to grow up and become a store manager– not because she felt inspired to run a store, but because she thought that was the highest she could climb.

Growing up in Los Angeles as a Cambodian refugee, Suely Saro thought owning a store would be the only career path available to her.

She arrived in the United States with her family when she was 2 years old, joining the wave of Cambodian refugees who arrived in Camp Pendleton, California, while Cambodia was under the reign of the Communist Party of Kampuchea.

Not wanting to move any farther than they had to, Saro’s parents found work in LA and moved around the big city a handful of times as she grew up. Reflecting on those years of moving around and struggling to make the new environment a home, Saro described her childhood as one filled with sadness and disconnect.

“I remember just growing up in an environment of grief,” Saro said.

“I remember a lot of adult conversations about not knowing where family was. My mom didn’t know where her brother was, and my dad didn’t know where his sister was. It was kind of like [...] survival, like, ‘How do we find work here?’ and us going to school and just feeling lost and not knowing what I was supposed to do in school. It was really actually a very hard time even as a child growing up in that environment.”

Saro’s mother was a homemaker,

Paige Pelonis | Signal Tribune

Suely Saro (right) presents a certificate of recognition on behalf of State Senator Ricardo Lara to Jose Flores, a former commissioner of the Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission Wednesday.

and her father worked a variety of manual-labor positions. She grew up in the middle of three brothers, which she said taught her from a young age not to complain and to fight for herself when necessary.

“I have always advocated for myself,” Saro said. “Even as a small child, when we were getting our lunch program tickets, and I didn’t– for some reason– get tickets, and I said, ‘I need those tickets so I can eat’ […] my parents couldn’t be an advocate for me because they were dealing with so many challenges.’”

Saro said she thinks the element

of having refugee parents who struggled to be present is a common thread shared by many Cambodians in her generation.

“I think that’s reflective of the Cambodian community today,” she said. “The generation that is getting deported is my generation that have gotten into, you know, bad situations and were influenced by things, you know, they were surrounded by and made a lot of mistakes because they didn’t have adults who were mentally present to be able to check in with see SARO page 10

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CULTURE

Signal Tribune

Theatre review

August 3, 2018

The Twentieth-Century Way at Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre Anita W. Harris Culture Writer

In The Twentieth-Century Way, at Long Beach Playhouse’s Studio Theatre through Aug. 18, Noah Wagner and Christian Jordan Skinner offer a masterclass in acting. The two not only portray covert deputies who entrap and arrest members of the Long Beach gay community circa 1914, but also take turns as some of their own victims. Switching between roles on the turn of a dime, the two actors sustain a riveting and visceral narrative of this dark chapter of Long Beach’s history.

The play’s guiding conceit– that Wagner and Skinner are actors improvising playing the two undercover cops, Warren and Brown– reflects its subject matter in an interesting way.

W.H. Warren and B.C. Brown were, in fact, actors conscripted by the Long Beach Police Department to round up 31 gay men. But instead of scripting a linear historical drama, playwright

Photo by Michael Hardy Photography

Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

From left: Christian Jordan Skinner (Brown) and Noah Wagner (Warren)in Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre’s The Twentieth-Century Way

Tom Jacobson turns the riveting story inside out to brilliantly explore what “acting” means– especially important in the context of being gay.

The play opens with Brown (Skin-

ner) arriving on a stage set with a few minimal props, thinking he is auditioning for a film. The dapper Warren (Wagner) soon arrives with an aggressive intensity but also an air of mys-

tery– who is he when he is not acting?

The two engage in a discussion of acting, which soon escalates into a competition of sorts, at the end of which Warren challenges Brown to demonstrate his acting chops by luring suspected gay men to expose themselves and literally be marked with indelible ink.

One of their victims is the kind and honest florist Herbert Lowe, a Minnesotan transplant to Long Beach beautifully played by Wagner. As Brown meets with Lowe in a sailor’s club, Warren (also Wagner) walks him through how to engage with Lowe as a gay man, until Lowe eventually agrees to let Brown move in with him and be arrested in a sting.

John Lamb (Skinner), a Scottish member of the vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, is engaged by a German immigrant, played coyly by the zealous Warren (Wagner), to meet him in a beach changing area for what California soon thereafter outlawed as “oral sodomy.”

Despite the sordidness of these en-

trapments, the overriding message here is one of human compassion, evinced most powerfully by Brown, who develops an attachment to the gentle Lowe, but also evident in Warren’s shock when the Scotsman is found to have committed suicide.

That emotional intensity is a testament to the playwright’s inspired meta-theatrical structure, as well as to director Reed Flores’s skill in managing the fast-paced story– including using subtle costume and lighting changes to mark character switches– and especially to the keen and emotive acting. We see actors Warren and Brown become, at the end, actors Wagner and Skinner, fully exposed, revealing through their nakedness the layers of masking and deception that prevent each of us– gay and not– from connecting as people.

The Twentieth-Century Way continues at the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim St., through Aug. 18, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $20 to $24.

Tickets and information are available by calling the box office at (562) 4941014 or visiting lbplayhouse.org.

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NEWS

August 3, 2018

Hahn directs $1.5 million to affordable apartment project in Long Beach

Courtesy Hahn’s office

Rendering for SPARK at Midtown, a five-story, mixed-use development that will include 95 affordable apartment units for low-income and formerly homeless residents, as well as house the new YMCA of Greater Long Beach on the ground floor.

Fourth District Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn this week directed $1.5 million to an affordable apartment building coming soon to Long Beach. The SPARK at Midtown is a five-story, mixeduse development that will include 95 affordable apartment units for low-income and formerly homeless residents as well as house the new YMCA of Greater Long Beach on the ground floor, according to Hahn’s office.

“The SPARK is an exciting project that will not only mean new affordable homes for 95 families, but will be an asset to the entire midtown Long Beach community,” Hahn said. “These are the kinds of projects that allow neighborhoods to

thrive, and we have a great nonprofit partner like LINC Housing working to ensure this project succeeds.”

LINC Housing, which specializes in building and preserving low-income affordable housing, is developing the housing complex, which will be built in the 1900 block of Long Beach Boulevard near the Blue Line. It will consist of 95 one-, twoand three- bedroom apartments. Of the 95 units, 47 will be reserved for formerly homeless residents, 47 will be reserved for families earning 60 percent or less of the area’s median income and one unit will be reserved for the building’s manager. The new Greater Long Beach YMCA office will be on the ground floor, as well as 12,388 square feet of commercial

retail.

For the project, Hahn is allocating $1,500,000 in Homeless Prevention Initiative (HPI) funds set aside for the 4th Supervisorial District and $120,000 in residual funding remaining after the completion of the South Whittier Library project, for a project total of $1,620,000. Of this amount, LINC Housing will receive $1,500,000 in project funding, and the Community Development Commission will retain $120,000 for administrative costs.

The project is set to break ground in January 2019 and be completed in Fall 2020.

Source: Hahn’s office

Signal Tribune

9

County Board of Supervisors votes to expand school-shooting prevention team The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal by 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger to expand and strengthen a program that aims to prevent shootings and violence at LA County schools.

The School Threat Assessment Response Team (START) is a program established under the Department of Mental Health (DMH) made up of mental-health professionals who respond to principals, counselors, school security officers or parents worried about students who have talked about suicide, exhibited concerning behavior or made threats.

After receiving a credible threat, START members visit the school, evaluate the student and go to the student’s home, according to Hahn’s office. In most cases, START can recommend counseling. In more serious cases, the student might be put on a 72-hour hold or arrested if a crime has been committed.

The START program currently is made up of 10 staff members. However, in response to the increase in high-profile school shootings across the country, in February Hahn and Barger proposed examining ways the team could be expanded and strengthened. Since that first motion was passed in February, the START team has received 133 calls of possible threats.

“I have no doubt that the START program has saved lives,” Hahn said. “But this team’s resources are stretched thin. In a county of over 10 million, we need more than a team of 10 people working on this issue.

We are investing in the START program and giving them the resources

they need to take every single threat seriously because our children’s lives are at stake.”

The DMH provided a report back with several recommendations including expanding the START program, developing an education outreach program to train students, teachers and community members to recognize and report threats, and develop a countywide communications awareness campaign. With Tuesday’s motion, the DMH has been instructed to implement the recommendations and hire an expert consultant to develop the best way to expand the START program to best meet the needs of our schools.

With passage of this motion, the DMH will partner with the Los Angeles County Office of Education to reach out to all LA County school districts to provide resources for a school-violence prevention-awareness campaign, training modules and a school-violence prevention video for school orientations ahead of this coming school year.

“In partnership with law-enforcement and our schools, the START program is an important tool that can work to prevent tragedies by responding to clear warning signs and cries for help by those who may be a danger to themselves or others,” Barger said. “We must ensure that our schools, parents, teachers and students help us gather information and so that mental health professionals can effectively assess and address concerning behavior.”

Source: Hahn’s office

10

NEWS

Signal Tribune

Saro

August 3, 2018

continued from page 6

them because they were dealing with their own trauma.”

In school, Saro didn’t feel challenged by the classes she was placed in at first. She remembers spending time with the kids in the accelerated programs and wanting to read the books they were reading and try the advanced assignments they were given because she loved to learn.

“I was a lot smarter than the classes they were putting me in,” Saro said, reflecting on how she worked to get herself into the honors program in school and put herself on track for college. “I’m the only one who actually went to college of my three brothers [...] I kind of overcompensated by getting my doctorate because all of them barely graduated high school, and I wanted my parents to at least feel like [...] they sacrificed for at least one of their kids to be able to take advantage of going to college.”

Leaving her ambition to one day manage a store far behind, Saro explored a handful of career paths before discovering what she feels is her true calling: advocacy and community organizing.

Saro realized shortly thereafter that she wanted to begin building her own home on top of her career. She settled down in Long Beach with her would-be husband and secured a position as executive director for the newly created Khmer Girls in Action (KGA). The organization began in 1997 as HOPE for Girls, and, at 25 years old, Saro was determined to “hit the ground running as a startup.”

Friend and colleague Cindy C. Sangalang was a staff member at KGA at that time. She said the extensive search process for an executive director for the organization led right to Saro, because of her activism and her deep involvement with the community.

“Her application stood out because of her background in community organizing,” Sangalang said. “[Everyone] was impressed by her qualifications [...] but also by her well-roundedness in terms of being rooted in the community.

[Saro] is very committed. I am always impressed with the way she has always been balancing a number of roles and committees.”

Saro remained in her position with KGA for five years, applying her community-organizing experience and skills to empower women. A young executive director of a newer organization, Saro said she never imagined she would have ended up working for an elected official, which is the role she fills today.

She is a field representative for a California state senator, and she was most recently named the first Cambodian-American chair of the Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission (CPCC) since its origin in 1990. The commission investigates allegations of police misconduct and reviews the service provided by members of the Long Beach Police Department.

“I think that [being chair of the CPCC] is a great opportunity for [Saro] in Long Beach,” Sangalang said. “There is a need for someone to represent, not only [the Cambodian-American community], but all of the communities that have been marginalized [...] I think [Saro] has the skills, the capacity, the leadership and the vision to take on this type of role.”

Saro said one of her goals as CPCC chair will be to increase community involvement to help to clarify the role and the nature of the commission.

“I think there’s a lot of kind of hesitation because of the miscon-

ception or stereotype about who we are,” Saro said. “Some people think that we advocate for the police, and sometimes the police thinks, ‘Oh, they’re out to get us.’”

The commission consists of 11 individuals who are volunteers in their positions and are appointed by the mayor and the city council. Nine of the commissioners each represent one of the Long Beach council districts, and two commissioners are at-large. Saro is an at-large commissioner along with fellow commissioner Dana Buchanan.

“Suely is smart, fair and tenacious,” Buchanan said. “She possesses the ability to keep our meetings on task while allowing for necessary dialogue in both our open and closed sessions. I am in eager anticipation of her leadership over the next year and looking forward to well run, succinct and productive meetings for the CPCC.” Saro has plans for the commission to present before neighborhood associations and community groups in the upcoming year as a means for improving community engagement and awareness.

“I’ve always known there haven’t been very many Asian Pacific Islanders in general, much less Cambodians, on the commission,” Saro said.

“I think that people have always felt intimidated and scared because of the history we came from of fearing government [...] I hope that my role inspires other younger generations that you can really get more involved into the city and that your place is in the city [...] that you can do public service.”

The generational difference in perspective toward government and police is one that Saro has faced with her parents since she was a child.

“Other parents might be really excited that their daughter is the chair

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[…] I think for [my parents], they come from an environment where they’re still kind of fearful about what that means, “ Saro said. “Growing up, it was always, ‘Don’t speak out, don’t be so vocal, don’t be so involved.’”

Her parents’ concern and advice notwithstanding, Saro said her personal practice has been to say yes to every opportunity. As such, she will soon be taking on an adjunct faculty position at the California State University, Los Angeles School of Social Work. In this role, she will be

teaching part-time the vocation that she says has become her lifestyle: community organizing.

Now raising two children of her own, Saro said she almost cannot believe her fourth-grade self who thought becoming a store manager was the biggest dream she could have.

She intentionally brings her kids with her to as many work-related events as possible because she wants them to see the work she does and learn early the importance of belonging to and contributing to a commu-

nity.

“Growing up, every Sunday, we would come [to Long Beach] because it was a break for my family,” Saro said. “It was like feeling like we were home, like it was Cambodia for [my family] for a bit [...] we would come here, go to the supermarket, hang out with family [...] For me, being in Long Beach was like seeing my parents not as stressed. I never felt like I belong in L.A. more than I did here. L.A. always gave me the feeling of being lost. [Long Beach] felt like home. It felt right.” ✦

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COMMUNITY

August 3, 2018

Facility

Shelter

continued from page 3

The BHUCC– which will be staffed with doctors, nurses and mental-health therapists– will include: a walk-in crisis-center component; individual and group therapy rooms; and linkage to housing, social services and other resources. It also features separate intake doors and areas for adults and juveniles.

“We know this is a program that can make a profound difference,” Dunlap said. “It can help reduce the incidents of suicide. It can help individuals who are homeless and living with a mental illness to stay within the community so that they can access services and support to help them get off the street. This will be a big time-saver for law-enforcement, as they intervene to help people in need.”

Jonathan E. Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., director of the LA County Department of Mental Health, called Monday “a really special day” in that the facility will serve as a critical part of his department’s care continuum in mitigating the need for hospitalizations and addressing overcrowded emergency rooms.

“This place is a welcoming, clean, high-quality environment,” Sherin said. “And we have to [provide it]– it’s a part of battling stigma. It’s a part of getting individuals who need help to embrace the help that’s available to them.”

Fourth District County Supervisor Janice Hahn praised Sherin for his work on the project and particularly for his helping to erase stigmas associated with behavioral health.

“I think he’s done more than anybody to begin to have us change our perceptions about those who have mental-health challenges here in Los Angeles County,” Hahn said, “and the care that they not only need, but the care that they deserve and they have a right to have, with dignity and respect.”

She also commended 7th District Councilmember Roberto Uranga for his support of and involvement in getting the center into his district.

“This would not have happened without your belief and your passion and your commitment and support for

11

continued from page 6

Photos by Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune

The Long Beach Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center opened this week as a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week psychiatric facility to help those with mental-health issues get appropriate help, as well to as ease the burden on hospital emergency rooms, reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalizations and assist law-enforcement with behavioral-health challenges. Pictured is the waiting room on the adult-intake area of the facility.

this facility opening up in your district,” she said, addressing Uranga.

When he addressed the crowd, Uranga explained that he had presented numerous restrictions and conditions to Stars Behavioral Health Group to meet in order to ensure safety in the neighborhood. Some of the concerns Uranga raised, he said, regarded release hours, types of services provided, transportation to and from the facility and security cameras.

“And they stepped up, and they met those challenges,” Uranga said. “And I want to The new Long Beach Behavioral Health Urthank you for doing that be- gent Care Center has separate entrances for cause it helped to allay a lot adults and juveniles to be admitted and asof those fears that we had out sessed. here.”

The councilmember said “So, my challenge was: Do I do the that residents living as far as a mile political thing? Because I did want to from the new center had contacted his get re-elected,” he joked. “I could take office, sometimes in anger, with con- the political route and agree with my cerns about the facility increasing the neighbors and my constituents and the burden on law-enforcement, adding to electorate and say... ‘Not here, not in blight and worsening the homeless- my district.’ Or I do the right thing, ness situation in the area. Uranga clar- which is to support it, fight for it and ified that the center is not just about to encourage people to use it and learn helping homeless individuals but also more about it because it’s going to those who have a home but need men- contribute to this community.” ✦ tal-health services.

Obituary Richard Vernon Meese September 6, 1954 - July 21, 2018 Born in Fort McClelland, Alabama

R

Signal Tribune

ichard Vernon Meese passed away on July 21, 2018, after a short and hard battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer. He was 63. Richard was born to J.R.Meese and Gladys Timms at Fort McClelland Alabama in 1954. Richard lived on Army bases in his early childhood including Alabama, Hawaii, Japan, and San Francisco. He graduated Hamilton High School in Los Angeles in 1972 and received his AA degree from Santa Monica College and then his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from USC in 1977. Richard was a career salesperson by trade with his most recent assignment with ADT Commercial Security.

Richard was a writer of novels, plays, and screenplays and acted in many productions in the local Southern California theater scene. He wrote, produced, and often appeared in many independent films. He is a USC alumnus and member

of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and the Trojan Knights. Richard is survived by his wife Gigi Fusco Meese, of Long Beach; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kelly Meese, of Los Angeles; his daughter and son-in-law, Monica Meese Gunther and Dylan Gunther and grandaughter Ophelia Gunther, of Auburn, Alabama; and his father and stepmother, his stepfather and his brothers and sister and their spouses, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Richard was a strong man who did what he wanted, supported his family and was a great supporter of the arts. In lieu of flowers, Richard’s wish was everyone to be kind to each other. Love each other. His wishes were, should you feel inclined to, contribute to his favorite charity, Caterina’s Club (www.caterinasclub.org), or as he was a supporter of the arts, a donation to the performing arts group of your choice. Plans for a celebration of life are pending.

Inquires can be sent to FIGHTONRICHARDMEESE@gmail.com.

“We’ve been asking for an adoption program over the past five years, yet the City refuses to have one, in spite of repeated calls for one from the animal-welfare community,” Turner said. “The City has said that SpcaLA is the adoption arm of the shelter, but last year, SpcaLA only took in 25 percent of the animals at LBACS, leaving the rest at LBACS, which only adopted out 682 animals in 2017.”

Turner pointed out that Sacramento– a city with similar demographics, population numbers and median income– adopted out more than 5,600 animals during the same year.

Turner added that, from January to June of this year, LBACS adopted out 262 animals– a decrease of 23 animals from the same period last year.

Sacramento Animal Care Services, however, has adopted out nearly 2,000 animals since January, according to Turner.

“This is very troubling,” she said. “Mayor Garcia promised the animal-welfare community in 2014 that he would increase adoptions– we’re seeing a decrease in adoptions, in spite of the fact that Mayor Garcia and city council have had plenty of time to address the need for a full adoption program at the city shelter.”

Turner said her group has hope, however, since, just prior to the April 2018 election, Garcia announced that a mayoral task force to address issues at the LBACS shelter would be formed, and he solicited members for the task force on his mayoral and public-figure Facebook pages and through email.

“We’re hopeful that having more people involved in the process of thinking about the shelter will help steer the shelter toward ‘no kill.’ The shelter does not have an effective adoption or foster program, and that means animals are being killed unnecessarily,” Turner said. “This is something we hope the task force will address.”

In an emailed response to the Signal Tribune Wednesday, Stevens defended the shelter by pointing out that LBACS has seen “tremendous positive outcomes” over the past several years, including record-low impounds and euthanasia and record-high live-release rates.

“The report from this group only reflects the first six months of the year and does not take into account all factors that influence the statistics,” Stevens said. “It is expected that, by the time the year is over, the positive trends seen in recent past years will continue in 2018. There have been many recent changes that will help ACS to achieve these goals.”

Stevens said that, as approved in the FY18 budget, LBACS has recently brought on a full-time community-information specialist to help promote adoptable animals and also hired a third full-time registered veterinary technician to help with medical care.

“Through the end of July 2018, fewer animals have been euthanized compared to the same time in 2017,” Stevens said. “Additionally, impounds are down 17 percent compared to the same time in 2017, and, by percentage, more animals are being reunited with their owners than in previous years.” ✦

LBCC’s Senior Studies Program class schedule now available The fall schedule of classes and day tours for the Senior Studies Program at the Lifetime Learning Center at Long Beach City College is now available online at lbcc.edu/seniorcenter.

Registration for the classes and day tours starts Aug. 21 and 22 from 10am to 2pm in QQ 122. All classes are conducted at the Pacific Coast Campus in

LIVES LIVED

Dorothea Andrews 96 William Bryant 68 Dean Tolzman 55 Wesley Gasper 24 Sabina Rodriguez 84 Elsie Saylor 80 John Theoharis 84 Rebecca Shearer 70 Mildred Williamson 89 Lois Kuencer 88 Johnny Layne 59 Yvonne Gilbert 89 Lanorma Shirey 94 Bernice Phillips 97

The families were assisted

by McKenzie Mortuary.

For more details on service dates and times, contact (562) 961-9301.

the Lifetime Learning Center Building QQ. Music Appreciation & Musical Theatre Lovers will be Mondays, Aug. 27 to Dec. 10 from 1pm to 3pm with Lucy Daggett and Sidney Hopson. World Affairs with Mary Thoits and guest speakers will take place Wednesday, Aug. 29 to Dec. 12 from 1pm to 3pm. Tai Chi for Better Balance will be on Fridays from 10:30am to 11:30am beginning Aug. 24.

New this semester is Beginning Drawing & Basic Watercolor Techniques on Tuesdays, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 30 at 9:30am to 11:30am, taught by retired illustrator and artist Mori Morikawa. Music & Film: An Indepth Profile of the Greatest Composers of Hollywood with Angela Romero Anderson will start Sept. 25 and run through Nov. 13 from 1pm to 3pm.

Classes range from $30 to $55.

Day Tours include Pretty Pasadena with guide Jonathan Daugherty, Malibu’s Past and Present, Yakult Factory and Anaheim Brewery, Spirit of Hollywood with lunch at the Stinking Rose, the Braille Institute and Guide Dogs of America, Stained Glass Tour with Curtis Tucker and lunch at the Biltmore Hotel, and Myrtle Creek and Botanical Gardens for the Holidays.

Tours range from $69 to $98 per person.

Long Beach Transit will join the program on Aug. 21 from 10am to 2pm to take photos and applications for the senior transportation TAP cards.

The Lifetime Learning Program is a nonprofit organization and operates under the LBCC Foundation.

For more information, call Theresa Brunella at (562) 938-3047 or (562) 938-3048.

Source: LBCC

12

Signal Tribune

TST5722 / Case No. VS030943 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 PETITION OF Julie Villalobos on behalf of Ariel Oliva.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: Julie Villalobos on behalf of Ariel Oliva has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her daughter’s name as follows: Present Name: ARIEL JANE OLIVA to Proposed Name: ARIEL JANE OLIVA VILLALOBOS. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: August 29, 2018; Time: 1:30A M; Dept. C, Room 312. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 2018 ___//ss//___ Margaret M. Bernal, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 5, 2018

TST5723 / Case No. NS034492 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 275 Magnolia, Long Beach, CA 90802 PETITION OF Quelin Rojas Martinez by her mother, Maria Isabel Martinez de Jesus.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: Quelin Rojas Martinez by her mother, Maria Isabel Martinez de Jesus has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her daughter’s name as follows: Present Name: QUELIN ROJAS MARTINEZ to Proposed Name: KELLY ROJAS MARTINEZ. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: August 16, 2018; Time: 1:30A M; Dept. S26, Room 5500. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 2018 ___//ss//___ Michael P. Vicencia, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 5, 2018 TST5724 / 2018 164561 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: STRIVE PROTECTIVE SERVICES, 5491 N. Paramount Blvd., Apt. 204, Long Beach, CA 90805. Registrant: DESHAWN R. CLEVELAND, 5491 N. Paramount Blvd., Apt. 204, Long Beach, CA 90805. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Deshawn R. Cleveland. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in July, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on July 5, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: July,13, 20, 27 & August 3, 2018.

TST5725 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 12/14/2006. UNLESS

PUBLIC NOTICES YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale.

Trustor: UCHE P. RODRIGUEZ, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN Duly Appointed Trustee: LAW OFFICES OF LES ZIEVE Deed of Trust recorded 12/22/2006 as Instrument No. 20062851899 in book , page of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, Date of Sale:8/15/2018 at 11:00 AM Place of Sale: By the fountain located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 Estimated amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $614,674.46 Note: Because the Beneficiary reserves the right to bid less than the total debt owed, it is possible that at the time of the sale the opening bid may be less than the total debt owed.

Street Address or other common designation of real property: 1934 CHERRY AVE SIGNAL HILL, California 90755 Described as follows: Please see attached Exhibit “A” Legal Description.

A.P.N #.: 7216-014-059 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale.

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property.

You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property.

You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale.

If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800) 7588052 or visit this Internet Web site www. homesearch.com, using the file number assigned to this case 15-37130. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.

Dated: 7/12/2018 LAW OFFICES OF LES ZIEVE, as Trustee 30 Corporate Park, Suite 450 Irvine, CA 92606 For Non-Automated Sale Information, call: (714) 848-7920 For Sale Information: (800) 758-8052 www.homesearch.com _________________________________

Andrew Buckelew, Trustee Sale Assistant THIS FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE EPP 26025 Pub Dates 07/20, 07/27, 08/03/2018 TST5729 / Case No. NS034507 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, 275 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802.

PETITION OF Randy Cannon.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: RANDY CANNON has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing his name as follows: Present Name: RANDY CANNON to Proposed Name: TECHNO CANNON. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: August 31, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. S27, Room 5400. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 20, 27, & August 3, 10, 2018 ___//ss//___ Patrick T. Madden, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 17, 2018 TST5728 / 2018 173185 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: LUCY’S BOUDOIR, 3925 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: LOS CERRITOS ENTERPRISES, LLC, 3553 Atlantic Avenue, Ste 617, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Taiwan Rogers. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in January 2017. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on July 13, 2018.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: July 20, 27 & August 3, 10, 2018.

TST5727 / 2018 173038 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: IMWELL, 135 E. Pepper Drive, Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: NOVOSOL GROUP, LLC, 135 E. Pepper Drive, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jaime S. Kamei, President. The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on July 13, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: July 20, 27 & August 3, 10, 2018.

TST5735 SUMMONS CASE NO. 18NWLC01258 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: Justin Brock Gerber, DOES 1 to 10 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: Fion lp NOTICE: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days.

Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case.

There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the Califor-

nia Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is: LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT , NORWALK COURTHOUSE, 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney is STEPHEN M. DENNING, ESQ., The Law Offices of Stephen M. Denning, a P.C., 6067 N. Fresno St., Ste. 107, Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 438-5600.

Date: January 16, 2018. Judicial Officer, Sherri R. Carter, Clerk, C. Nash, Deputy Published in the Signal Tribune Newspaper on July 27 & August 3, 10, 17, 2018.

TST5732 / Case No. YS030354 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, TORRANCE COURTHOUSE, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503.

PETITION OF Maryjade Villoria Connor by her father Joel Macaraeg Bedania.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: MARYJADE VILLORIA CONNOR by her father Joel Macaraeg Bedania has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing his daughter’s name as follows: Present Name: MARYJADE VILLORIA CONNOR to Proposed Name: MARYJADE VILLORIA BEDANIA. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 7, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. B. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 27, & August 3, 10, 17, 2018 ___//ss//___ Eric C. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 16, 2018 TST5733 / Case No. YS030359 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, TORRANCE COURTHOUSE, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503.

PETITION OF Kitaro Cory Takesue Webb.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: KITARO CORY TAKESUE WEBB has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing his name as follows: Present Name: KITARO CORY TAKESUE WEBB to Proposed Name: KITARO CORY TAKESUE. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 7, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. M, Room 350. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 27, & August 3, 10, 17, 2018 ___//ss//___ Eric C. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 19, 2018 TST5734 / Case No. YS030360 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, TORRANCE COURTHOUSE, 825 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503.

PETITION OF Aisha Christie Webb.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: AISHA CHRISTIE WEBB has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: AISHA CHRISTIE WEBB to Proposed Name: AISHA CHRISTIE TAKESUE. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING:

August 3, 2018 Date: September 14, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. B, Room 340. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: July 27, & August 3, 10, 17, 2018 ___//ss//___ Eric C. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 19, 2018 TST5730 / 2018 178861 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SEREY SOPHORN, 2418 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804. Registrant: WILLIAM REATTHANAK SONG, 2418 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: William Reatthanak Song. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name.

The registrant began using this fictitious business name in July, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on July 19, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: July 27 & August 3, 10, 17, 2018.

TST5736 / 2018 182229 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: BUILDER BOY, 1819 Redondo Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: BUILDER BOY INC., 1819 Redondo Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jereme James, President. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in July, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on (date) . NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: July 27 & August 3, 10, 17, 2018.

TST5731 / 2018 178861 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME The following person has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: SEREY SOPHORN, located at 2418 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804.

The fictitious business name(s) referred to above were filed on November 24, 2015, original File No. 2015298563, in the County of Los Angeles. Registrant(S): MILLEENA SONG, 12549 Rose St., Cerritos, CA 90703. This business was conducted by an Individual. Signed: Milleena Song. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on July 19, 2018. Pub. The Signal Tribune: July 27, & August 3, 10, 17 2018.

TST5737 / Case No. TS021119 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, Compton Courthouse, 200 W. Compton Blvd., Compton, CA 90220.

PETITION OF Olivia Rene Joseph.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: OLIVIA RENE JOSEPH has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: OLIVIA RENE JOSEPH Proposed Name: YAKINI OLIVIA HOLLOWAY. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 4, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. A, Room 904. The address of the court is the same as above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: August 3, 10, 17, 24, 2018 ___//ss//___ Maurice A. Leiter, Judge of the Superior Court Dated July 19, 2018

August 3, 2018

EYE ON CRIME

NEWS

Signal Tribune

Academy

13

continued from page 5

CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT Thursday, July 26 11:26am Misdemeanor warrants Stanley Ave./E. Hill St. (suspect arrested) 12:08pm Indecent exposure 2500 block Cherry Ave. 3:09pm Identity theft 3300 block Lemon Ave. Friday, July 27 2:17am Possessing paraphernalia; misdemeanor warrants 2700 block E. PCH (suspect arrested) 10:10am Criminal threats 3300 block Falcon Ave. 11am Burglary 2400 block Cherry Ave. 11:39am Stolen vehicle– recovered 1800 block Freeman Ave. 11:57am Auto burglary 900 block Vernon St. 5:58pm Elder abuse 900 block E. 25th St. 10pm Driving with license suspended/revoked; DUI Saturday, July 28

1am DUI Cherry Ave./E. 27th St. (suspect arrested) 6:35am Grand theft– motor vehicle 1100 block E. 32nd St. 10am Petty theft 1600 block E. Willow St. (suspect arrested) 1:31pm Auto burglary 2200 block E. 21st St. 5:53pm Identity theft 1100 block E. Burnett St. 9:02pm Robbery 2200 block E. 21st St. Sunday, July 29 7:43am Auto burglary 2000 block E. 21st St.

12:44pm Auto burglary 2200 block E. 21st St. 3:18pm Felony warrant 1800 block Molino Ave. (suspect arrested)

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6:40pm Indecent exposure 1600 block E. Willow St. 9pm Driving without license; misdemeanor warrants Cherry Ave./E. 20th St. (suspect arrested) Monday, July 30 2am Possessing paraphernalia; misdemeanor warrant 2600 block Myrtle Ave. (suspect arrested)

Wednesday, Aug. 1 1:51pm Robbery 1600 block E. Willow St.

9:53am Auto burglary 2100 block E. 21st St.

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4:47pm Auto burglary 2700 block Cherry Ave.

2am Scavenging 2600 block Myrtle Ave. (suspect arrested)

9:15am Auto burglary 2400 block E. 19th St.

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4:22pm Auto burglary Myrtle Ave./E. Wardlow Rd.

5:18pm DUI: alcohol/drugs causing bodily injury E. Spring St./Cherry Ave. (suspect arrested)

Courtesy LBPD

Long Beach high school athletes complete various simulations designed by the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) on Saturday, July 28 at the Long Beach Police Academy.

The student athletes participated in an interactive training course through classroom and scenario-based activities that covered topics such as patrol operations, laws of arrest, internal affairs and community engagement to understand how the law works and how officers have little time to process the information being thrown at them.

“You will walk away going, ‘Woah, I did not realize things happen that fast and decisions have to be made that fast,’” Luna said. “It is the same in football, right? When you are doing your stuff. You train a certain way. You prepare a certain way, so when that play comes up, when that situation comes up, there is less time to think, and you just react to it. It is no different here.”

Lowenthal

continued from page 3

name in order to protect the identity of an Iranian refugee who is one of his many Muslim friends and the subject of his question, asked Lowenthal about Trump’s Executive Order 13769.

“What Congressional legislative action is possible, or what

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would you be willing to support, in response to Mr. Trump’s Muslim ban?” Jeff asked. He shared a story about his friend who, because of her leadership in the Iranian Green Movement in 2009, was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for two years by what he referred to as “the Iranian secret police.”

Jeff said that his friend was

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The officers that trained the student athletes throughout the day are the same individuals who train the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) members.

“The staff that is out here at this police academy is the best of the best that we have,” Luna said.

Before beginning the day of training, lessons and simulations, Luna noted how important the experience will be for the student athletes sitting in the audience.

“At the end of the day,” Luna said, “Long Beach is about us. It is not just about the police. It is not about just the City. You live here. You go to school here.

Your families live here. You need to be invested in this community. We are, and we want you to join us.” ✦

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forced to flee after being released from prison and she was granted asylum in the United States, where she joined the Army. Her family is unable to join her in the U.S to help her care for her 3-year-old daughter because of the travel ban. He said she is also ineligible to serve in the Army counterintelligence operations because her family lives in a foreign country.

“I think the only chance to deal with the Muslim bans […] is now in the courts,” Lowenthal said.

“We’re not even dealing with the Dreamers, so Congress is not going to take up anything. Even in the horrors of when the Trump administration talked about the Muslim ban, and we all said this is discriminatory, this is an attack on a religion […] this is just a way to cleanse the nation of a particular religious belief, and we spoke out against it. We could not get Republicans to want to raise the issue against the President at this time.

I think that’s an issue that will be raised by the Congress if the nature of the Congress changes in 2018.”

Additional topics for the evening included Social Security, health care, education, immigration, foreign affairs, the environment, civil rights, gerrymandering and a handful of specific local concerns.

Lowenthal’s office indicated that nearly 1,000 people signed up to attend the townhall.

Lowenthal said he thinks attendees came looking for answers during what he called “a very unsettling moment” for the country.

“They didn’t just want to have another lecture,” Lowenthal said.

“You know, you never answer adequately for everybody all the questions, but I try to answer all the questions. And I think what people left with is, ‘Well, he tried.’” ✦

14

NEWS

Signal Tribune

Immigration

August 3, 2018

continued from page 1

hungry to pursue a career in migrant litigation.

Whitehead, along with Dr. Lauren Heidbrink, CSULB assistant professor of human development, and Dr. Kristina Lovato, CSULB assistant professor of social work, is studying ways in which family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border are affecting immigrants who are detained.

The Signal Tribune reached out to both Heidbrink and Lovato for comment, however, an interview could not be conducted by press time.

In a response email, however, Heidbrink wrote that she was in Italy collecting data on child migrations. Her field of study includes Central-American child migration to countries such as the U.S. In April, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in a Department of Justice (DOJ) memo that anyone entering the country illegally will be met with “the full prosecutorial powers of the DOJ.” The memo reads, “the situation at our southwest border is unacceptable. Congress has failed to pass effective legislation that serves the national interest– that closes dangerous loopholes and fully funds a

wall along our southern border. As a result, a crisis has erupted at our southwest border that necessitates an escalated effort to prosecute those who choose to illegally cross our border.”

In recent months, it was reported in the media that thousands of children were separated from their families as a result of the Zero Tolerance policy– which allows law-enforcement to prosecute adults who illegally enter the country, including those accompanied by minors, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

Pressure from the public and the media eventually caused Trump to enact legislation to end family separations. San Diego Federal Judge Dana Sabraw ruled on June 26 that migrant families who remained separated at the border must be reunited within 30 days, according to Ballotpedia.

Since then, the federal government has been attempting to locate adults who were detained and released in order to reunite them with their children, which Whitehead said is difficult to process.

“It’s very hard to find those fam-

ily members– it’s very hard to find those parents,” he said. “It’s not like a criminal that’s being released with an ankle bracelet or something like that. It’s very difficult to track.”

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez released a statement on July 26 condemning family separations.

“The unconscionable cruelty continues,” the statement reads. “Once again, the Trump administration has defied a court order and failed to reunite children with their parents after heartlessly tearing them apart.

When history is written, Donald Trump’s treatment of immigrant families will be remembered as one of our nation’s darkest hours.”

Despite his disapproval of family separations, Whitehead said that the Trump administration was following federal orders established since the 1997 U.S. Supreme Court Reno v Flores case ruling.

It was decided in that hearing that the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s regulations– an agency that dissolved in 2003, according to a National Archives web page– regarding the release of undocumented and unaccompanied minors did

not violate the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Whitehead said he believes the Trump administration could have handled the issue a different way, despite federal agencies following legal guidelines.

“I do think that there were ways to do this in a way that respected the human rights of the individuals involved,” he said.

Whitehead explained that the original ruling from the Reno v Flores case stated that children separated from undocumented immigrants had to be held for 20 days.

Deportation hearings currently taking place for families may last longer than those 20 days, so a second choice would be to reunite the families and hold them together in the U.S., he said.

“You can’t hold them together because that violates the law,” Whitehead said. “You can’t hold them separately for longer than 20 days, so if [the federal government is] going to step up illegal-immigration enforcement, they’re really being kept in by these legal rulings.”

Whitehead mentioned that previous administrations had charged de-

tainees with immigration offenses, but then released them into communities– this was known as the “catchand-release” method. He said that undocumented migrants that were released would be monitored and asked to check in to local immigration agencies similar to criminals on probation.

“I haven’t seen any evidence that [proves] that [this] was wildly under-effective,” he said. “The Trump administration and Trump voters have been very upset by this policy– saying that this was responsible for thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants in their local communities.”

Whitehead said reports of current immigration issues have sparked curiosity and engagement in his class.

“When these things are brought up in the classroom, [students] tend to be very engaged,” he said. “They themselves, or family members, are caught up in these events. It’s a very activist generation, in the sense that they don’t want to just learn something, they want to go out and do something.” ✦

lyzing the requirements as it relates to restarting the hospital, transferring the license of the hospital to MWN and establishing a cost for a longterm retrofit to meet the State’s seismic-compliance requirements, which involves developing constructing and engineering plans. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) is working with the City’s architect, Perkins+Will, to create a plan that will consolidate acute-care services to a seismically safe portion of the facility.

“We do feel like we’re moving through the process in a very responsible way,” Keisler said, “and we’re doing it in lockstep with the State Regulatory Agency so that what we project to do in the plans that we’re creating will be acceptable to them.”

The City is also in the process of negotiating the reopening and construction costs with MWN, Keisler said.

“MWN has shown even more investment, because sometimes when you start to get down to brass tacks and start to look at big numbers, people lose momentum,” he said. “In fact, we’re gaining momentum, with Virg being here tonight– to see that they appointed a CEO shows they are serious– and we’re also going through a process of trying to gently transition the facility, so that you don’t see some abrupt cage go up around it. I have staff that are working with our contractors to make sure that we’re doing our best of transitioning everything– from landscaping to the utilities, the whole plant is still running.”

The change-of-ownership application that is required in transferring a license will also take a few

months, Keisler said. Although the Long Beach City Council provided a 180-day deadline to negotiate a lease agreement with MWN, Keisler is aiming to accomplish the task within 90 days in an attempt to reopen the facility more quickly.

Ray Burton, chair of the nonprofit Community Hospital Long Beach Foundation, said the task force’s July 30 meeting was technically its last, as the team will now identify itself as the “Hospital Reopening Group.”

The savetheer.com website the task force created will link people directly to the Community Hospital Long Beach Foundation’s website, chlb. org, within 30 days.

Burton added that MWN will be operating Community Hospital as a for-profit.

The Hospital Reopening Group will have its first official meeting on Monday, Aug. 27 at an undisclosed location and time. ✦

Hospital

continued from page 1

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

The Community Hospital Long Beach Task Force convened on Monday, July 30 at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System’s Pantages Theatre. Pictured, from left: Ray Burton, chair of the nonprofit Community Hospital Long Beach Foundation; Michael Brascia, co-chair of the Community Hospital Task Force; and John Keisler, City of Long Beach director of economic and property development.

ly signed up to return to Community Hospital, Narbutas said. His team is trying to work with Pacific Gateway, a locally based employment agency, and the City of Long Beach to temporarily help Community employees who lost their jobs. The priority is to hire qualified workers who have already been affiliated with the hospital.

There is also assistance from local doctors Andrew Manos, Mike Vasilomanolakis and James Dello Russo in getting additional medical staff in place for a future radiology department, a behavioral unit– which will house 28 beds– and basic intensive-care unit (ICU), among other resources. Narbutas said the process to hire staff, gather medical equipment and establish policies, applications and paperwork will continue along until the end of the year.

“Day one, I just want to get everybody in place, just like it was when Memorial left,” he said. “We want to get the ICU ready. We will slowly open it as we start the first day. Obviously, we can’t flood everybody in, because we may not have enough employees, and that will be dangerous. But, we’ll try to get as much staff as we can [to] absorb as many patients as we can into the emergency room. Those that can’t, we will continue to help divert over to the other local hospitals.”

Narbutas, a Los Angeles native who earned his master’s degree in hospital administration at UCLA, has experience working at Kaiser Permanente, VA Wadsworth, Lakewood

Regional Medical Center and West Anaheim Medical Center.

The next CEO said he enjoys working at local hospitals because of the opportunity to engage with people in the neighborhood.

“And now I’m at my dream job,” he said. “This is going to be so fantastic. This is a great community hospital. I love little community hospitals.

You get in touch with the people, so it’s not about the size– it’s about the quality and the people that work at the hospital that makes it what it is.”

He later concluded, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents of my hometown. I won’t let you down.”

John Keisler, City of Long Beach director of economic and property development, said the City is ana-

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NEWS

August 3, 2018

Signal Tribune

Budget

15

continued from page 1

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Signal Hill Park 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill

Free Family Fun & Games!

Face Painting Free Raffle • Arts & Crafts Food • Balloon Artist Community Group Booths Games • Bounce House Tri-Cycle Races • Firetruck

For more information call (562) 989-7205

Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune

Long Beach officials discuss various aspects of the city manager’s and mayor’s budget proposal during a press conference Tuesday morning at Rancho Los Alamitos.

we’re doing is we are going to be moving to seven-day-a-week access for our Long Beach libraries. Right now, [...] as you know, libraries are not open on Mondays. We have certain libraries that are closed many days of the week. So, this will ensure, in this new system, that there’s a library open every single day somewhere in Long Beach as we move forward.”

The mayor also said the budget makes significant investments into the local arts organizations the Museum of Latin American Art, the Long Beach Museum of Art and the Arts Council for Long Beach.

The budget also invests $200,000 into a youth fund programmed through a participatory budgeting process and another $200,000 into expungement of low-level marijuana convictions.

During his own portion of the

Retirement AT ITS BEST

Seminar: Updating will or Living Trust?

Free event!

An informational event featuring an expert guest speaker Join John T. Anderson, an estate-planning attorney (Long Beach Bar Association’s Lawyer of the year in 2007), who invites you for a free seminar.

Date: Saturday, August 25 Time: 1pm At: Bixby Knolls Towers 3737 Atlantic Ave. Topic: Will or living trust?

Mr. Anderson will cover topics, such as living trusts, wills & probate, to help determine which best suits your needs to protect your family.

Please RSVP to the event by calling Chuck at 562 426-6123 by August 23rd. Seating is limited. Refreshments will be served.

overview, West said public safety is a top priority and that Measure A will preserve 108 police officers and firefighters. He added that other funds and the general fund will cover the cost of transferring 27 airport special-services officers to the police department for greater oversight. The funds will also pay for the creation of a community-services officer classification in the police department to respond to non-emergency calls.

“So, we’ll be able to have our sworn officers take care of the urgent calls, the life-threatening calls, but these [community-services officers] will respond to bike theft, a stolen car, maybe a burglary [...] things like that,” West said. “So our sworn people won’t have to be spinning around and taking time out of the field to respond to things that are non-urgent.”

West said the budget addresses infrastructure and critical needs such as mobility, public facilities, parks and recreation, beaches and waterways, utilities and the airport through a $120.8-million capital-improvement program.

The budget also looks to future economic development, West said, with: a senior structural engineer and planner to facilitate high-rise development applications; a plumbing plan checker and permit technician to improve permit counter turnaround time; two analyst positions to improve community engagement on development and land-use issues; two combination building inspector positions to maintain inspection response time; and $295,000 Development Services one-times to support the General Plan landuse element, the urban design element and zoning code amendments.

West’s budget also recommends that the following needs be among those considered as priorities if new revenues or year-end surplus become available: watering costs for parks and medians that are impacted by low rainfall levels; additional maintenance for streets and sidewalks; additional maintenance for parks, recreation facilities and athletic fields; additional maintenance for buildings; and unfunded employee benefit liabilities such as the subsidy for retiree health insurance.

Officials say the city council will initiate the budget-review process at its next meeting, on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The Budget Oversight Committee will meet later this month to review the budget and provide recommendations to the full city council.

Residents will also have the opportunity to provide input through a budget-priority survey as well as participate in budget hearing workshops.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/yak5xn4l. ✦

16

Signal Tribune

August 3, 2018

LBT goes to dinos and pharaohs.

For the first time ever, Long Beach Transit is offering $15 roundtrip service from Long Beach to LA's Exposition Park.

For a full list of destinations, schedules and directions on how to download the Token Transit ticket app, visit:

lbtransit.com/express For all your LBT related questions, call 562.591.2301.