September 28, 2018 | Vol. XL No. 40

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. 40

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

www.signaltribune.com

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS

Introducing a new kind of ‘promise’ Officials announce Promise 2.0, updated admission program between LBCC and CSULB.

Animal advocacy group alleges LB mayor hid comments on Facebook Mayor’s chief of staff says office does not hide social-media comments.

Sebastian Echeverry Production Manager

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Page 3

SH City Council awards Calbrisas Park playground contract

Landscape Structures, Inc. plan to complete two new play structures and ADA-compliant surfacing at park by spring 2019.

Page 6

CULTURE Theatre review

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club at Long Beach Playhouse

Page 8

September 28, 2018

Handicapped Scuba Association instructor Bryan Boxter (left) checks in with Carlos Tizcareño (right) during a scuba-diving lesson as part of a swimming-rehabilitation program at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Sept. 22.

Volunteer divers provide pediatric rehabilitation patients ‘freedom’ with ability to scuba dive ‘It’s a sense of accomplishment for my boys,’ parent says.

Lissette Mendoza Editorial Intern

Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach and the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) teamed up to provide pediatric-rehabilitation patients ranging from ages 6 to 17 the opportunity to learn how to scuba dive Sept. 22.

For patients with disabilities, in-

cluding spina bifida, traumatic brain injuries and neuromuscular disorders, the scuba lessons provide the patients a therapeutic diving experience by utilizing the indoor rehabilitation pool on the hospital campus, according to the hospital’s press release Sept 19.

Patients were allowed to swim freely or with assistance from certisee SCUBA page 15

Testing...

Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue nationwide test message.

Paige Pelonis Multimedia Editor

A loud, electronic alert tone will precede test messages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that are scheduled to be sent Oct. 3 to cellular devices nationwide.

“This is a test,” Reginald Harrison, director of the City of Long Beach’s Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Department, told the Signal Tribune Sept. 26. “It is only a test.”

The messages will sound similar to AMBER Alert messages and will occur at 11:18am PST, according to a public notice from the City of Long Beach sent Sept. 25.

“If your phone is in proximity to a cell tower, if you’re phone is connected to a cell tower, if you haven’t otherwise disconnected this in your settings somehow […] you will get that message unless you somehow disabled your phone,” Harrison said.

“We’re talking about smart devices.”

Shortly following the cellular-device messages, which will test FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will take place.

The EAS test will be available to radio and television, broadcasters, wireline-video providers, satellite-radio and television providers and cable systems, according to the

A variety of LATE-STARTING CLASSES begins Oct. 22

see ALERT page 8

A group of self-identified animal advocates submitted a citizen-complaint letter to the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury last week alleging that Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia hid critical comments on his public-figure and official Facebook pages.

According to the 146-page letter, the group is asking the civil grand jury to investigate if Garcia “attempted to place unconstitutional restrictions on members of the public as to their First Amendment rights to free speech and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.”

The document claims that 56 comments were hidden from public view, and it contains various screenshots of the alleged hidden messages. The letter also alleges that the blocked comments suppressed criticism of Garcia before the City’s primary elections for mayor and city council on April 10.

In an email to the Signal Tribune Sept. 26, Mark Taylor, Garcia’s chief of staff, wrote that “the mayor’s office does not delete comments or block users.”

He added that an “internal policy” for the City is in a draft form and will be completed in the near future.

“The finalized internal policy for City departments will address ‘hiding’ comments, which does not delete comments but limits views,” the statement reads. “The mayor’s office is not hiding comments and is looking forward to the development of this policy.”

The comments in question concern two images posted on the mayor’s official and public-figure Facebook pages on April 4.

The images are bar-graph charts detailing the number of

live impounds and animal-euthanasia cases citywide from 2005 to 2017. Both of the posts display information from Long Beach Animal Care Services.

On the mayor’s official Facebook page, the post reads, “In 2013, the number of animals euthanized at our animal shelter was more than 4,000. Last year, there were 1,065.”

The mayor’s office also states in the post that the decrease in euthanasia cases is only the beginning and that more work needs to be done.

“As part of our requested audit, we are launching a new visioning process for the shelter and are putting together a task force to help create this vision,” the statement reads.

In the comment section of the post, some residents congratulated the decreases in animal deaths per the statistics shown.

Others criticized the City’s handling of the animal shelters, stating concerns they had in the way in which the shelters were administered.

The letter claims that comments criticizing the City’s methods were hidden from public view.

Kristie Mamelli, a No Kill Long Beach advocacy group supporter, is one of the four individuals who signed the letter sent to the civil grand jury. Others included Tracy Smith, Leslie Shapiro and Jeanne Morales.

During a phone interview with the Signal Tribune on Sept. 25, Mamelli said that the aforementioned comments in question have since then been unhidden and users who are not “Facebook friends” with those who wrote the alleged comments can now view them in the posts from April.

She added that a similar letter concerning the alleged hidden social-media comments was sent to the Los Angeles County see COMPLAINT page 14

2

Signal Tribune

September 28, 2018

NEWS

September 28, 2018

Signal Tribune

Meeting garners community input, informs about Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan

3

The public can write and submit concerns about plan’s land uses, potential environmental impacts.

Denny Cristales Managing Editor

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

Long Beach College Promise partners pose for a photo op Sept. 26 at Long Beach City College.

Introducing a new kind of ‘promise’ College officials announce Long Beach College Promise 2.0, updated version of admission program between LBCC and CSULB. Denny Cristales Managing Editor

If college officials’ claims are true, then beneficiaries of the Long Beach College Promise have plenty to gain from Long Beach City College (LBCC) Superintendent Reagan Romali’s insomnia, the cause of sleepless nights and late-night brainstorming sessions that allegedly– and jokingly– led to the second iteration of the promise program.

During a pubic event Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the LBCC Liberal Arts campus, partners of the Long Beach College Promise, a guaranteed-admission program between LBCC

and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), commended Romali, CSULB President Jane Close Conoley and those who were closely involved in updating the new version of the program.

Dubbed the Long Beach College Promise 2.0, this new version for Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) 2019 spring graduates offers the following for students who qualify, according to LBCC officials: • •

A lower tuition rate by attending LBCC, including free tuition for the first year Transferable college credit at LBCC toward a bachelor’s

• •

• •

degree at CSULB Priority registration for classes at LBCC A guaranteed transition from LBCC to CSULB after completing required course work for a major Guidance from LBCC counselors and CSULB academic advisors A student ID card from both institutions, allowing students to participate in special events at CSULB and LBCC “The Promise 2.0 provides a see PROMISE page 15

If Wednesday’s meeting is any indication, there are a lot of details– environmentally and architecturally– that need to be ironed out before the Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan can begin to take shape in the near future.

The City of Long Beach and a team of consultant firms have been working on the Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan (GCSP), a project that intends to outline and prepare future land use for the area encompassing the former Boeing C-17 manufacturing site and surrounding commercial industrial corridors. The site in question includes a portion of Cherry Avenue between Spring and Carson streets, and Spring Street between Orange and Redondo avenues, according to the GCSP’s website.

The plan targets the central portion of Long Beach that borders Long Beach Airport and the cities of Lakewood and Signal Hill.

The City hosted its third community workshop Wednesday, Sept.

26, at Hughes Middle School, to display a presentation of the draft plan and garner public input about land use in GCSP’s designated area. The City, in partnership with environmental firm Dudek and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), has hosted separate workshops in February and June to continually modify the plan and

address resident concerns about the proposed developments.

“It’s not taking anyone’s property, it’s not telling anyone that you have to use your property in a new way,” Carrie Tai, planning officer with the City’s bureau staff, said about the plan and possible impacts on existing properties. “It’s a planning study. It studies what you could do in the future, should you choose to, but it also allows you to continue doing exactly what you’re doing if you’re doing it today.”

On display inside the Hughes Middle School cafeteria were maps and outlines of the plan and intended industrial or commercial use for specific areas within the region of the Cherry Avenue corridor and C-17 site. Also visible were some changes that have been implemented since the community met in June and expressed written questions and concerns about the project.

Some modifications of the GCSP include: • • • • • • •

Providing pedestrian-oriented retail amenities Improving safety and appearance of streets Allowing flexibility in permitted uses and standards Protecting existing businesses Ensuring sufficient parking Improving transit service and bicycle continuity Involving more local residents and youth into the planning input see PLAN page 9

4

OPINION

Signal Tribune

Thoughts

from

O

ver the last decade or so, there has been so much talk about identity theft and fraud. Those in the public-safety field have warned about keeping one’s credit cards, social-security cards and driver’s licenses protected and away from prying eyes. We have also been warned about how to recognize phone, computer, mail and doorto-door rip-off artists. I am thankful for all the advice and have implemented many of those suggestions. Although some of the folks in my circle of friends have taken the same information to heart, they have at one time or another let their guards down and have been victimized. I don’t have space in my column today to list all of the con-jobs that have left some of my friends feeling embarrassed and ashamed of themselves for allowing such acts to take place.

I have recently uncovered what I think should be a new concern for all of us. This particular issue deals with postings we make on Facebook.

Many of us do our banking and bill-paying online. Most of those computer-generated websites ask for security questions to be answered before our accounts can be viewed.

Some of the questions I have seen are: • • • • • • • •

COMMENTARY

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month Even as month comes to close, medical information is critical.

By Kristine Penner, M.D., MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center

Publisher

the

By Neena Strichart

What was your first dog’s name?

What is your mother’s maiden name?

What was the name of your high school?

What is your favorite food?

What was the first street you lived on?

What was your first girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s name?

Where is your favorite place to vacation?

What is your favorite restaurant?

September 28, 2018

It is estimated that there will be more than 91,000 new cases of gynecologic cancer diagnosed in the U.S. this year alone– resulting in a predicted 28,000 deaths. Some gynecologic cancers are called “silent killers” because women are often unaware of the signs and symptoms and don’t catch them until it’s too late.

Gynecologic cancer is an uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that originate from the reproductive organs. There are several types of gynecologic cancers, which include cervical, endometrial, fallopian, ovarian, peritoneal, uterine, vaginal and vulvar.

Some of the symptoms of gynecologic cancers include: • Extreme and sudden onset bloating • Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge that is not associated with menstruation • Pelvic or abdominal pain Although many of the symptoms associated with gynecologic cancers may seem common and oftentimes are due to other causes, it’s important to be in tune with your body and pay attention to any changes. If you notice the aforementioned symptoms that are occurring almost daily for more than a few weeks, this can be a sign of a gynecologic cancer. Do not hesitate– you should seek medical attention immediately.

Pap tests are very effective in prevention and early detection of certain gynecologic cancers. Regular pap tests help screen for the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer and some vaginal and vulvar cancers. If possible, get your pre-teen vaccinated against HPV so that the number of women diagnosed each year is lowered.

The MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center offers advanced diagnostic technology and individualized treatment plans. Long Beach Medical Center’s gynecologic oncologists are internationally recognized for their work in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques. In addition to advanced treatments, the care teams offer supportive care to treat your mind, body and spirit.

For more information on gynecologic cancers, see your gynecologist or call the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at (562) 933-0900.

Prevention tips in light of wildfire dangers

I’m sure there are many others that I can’t remember or haven’t been asked yet.

Getting back to my Facebook postings worries, I have, especially recently, been aware of questions posed by seemingly benign sources that have been asked, answered, “liked” and then shared by my Facebook friends. I have also been seeing a lot of self-postings by friends regarding where they are currently vacationing, their health issues and many other personal comments.

My worry is that some of that information could be used to either figure out email passwords or to answer questions posted by banks, etc. Below is a list of examples of Facebook information I have seen lately. Please think about participating in such postings.

There might just be identity thieves out there watching and waiting for your postings to help them do their dirty business.

If your pet was on a dating website, post the photo that would be his or her profile picture… those responding, posted pictures of their pets and pets’ names.

Posting listing that she was out of town, where, name of son, and college he is attending.

That day’s photo taken at Disneyland with favorite cousin and name of cousin.

How many of you learned to dance at “Friday Nighters” in your Jr. High’s gym? Answers included which school, year and name of friends who were also in attendance.

Did you use lockers in school? Responses included name of schools and locker combinations.

Current picture of son/ daughter with teacher’s name, child’s name, grade and name of school.

My husband/wife is in the hospital with illness and name of hospital disclosed.

Ad infinitum …

By the California Poison Control System

California Poison Control System (CPCS), the largest single provider of poison-control services in the U.S., has issued a warning about the dangers of wildfire smoke for children and adults with so many fires burning now in California.

“Wildfire smoke exposure can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs,” Dr. Rais Vohra, medical director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS, said. “Infants and young children, seniors and pregnant women tend to be more susceptible than others. Those with current or chronic illnesses, such [as] heart or lung disease, should take extra cautions to keep all medications with them at all times, especially when evacuating or relocating. Consult your healthcare provider regarding precautions you may need to take.”

Symptoms of smoke inhalation vary. Consult your healthcare provider for: • • • • • • •

Difficult breathing Chest pain or tightness Headaches Coughing Eye irritation Sore throat Fatigue Dr. Vohra recommends the following for those in the vicinity of wildfires:

• • • • • • •

Check the air quality reports on the news frequently. Changes in wind or other conditions can severely impact air quality in your area.

Avoid using devices that increase local pollution in your home or neighborhood, such as fireplaces, barbeques, gas lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc.

Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in smoke-impacted areas.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Do not drink sodas.

Check with your healthcare provider to see if he or she wants you to make any changes to your regular medications.

Routine use of masks is not generally recommended. Most masks are not sufficient to prevent smoke inhalation.

If you see or smell smoke, head indoors or leave the area to prevent further exposure.

Keep windows and doors closed tightly to avoid bringing smoke into your home.

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

Cory Bilicko CJ Dablo Anita W. Harris

MANAGING EDITOR

Denny Cristales

CULTURE WRITERS

Adam Buchsbaum Ava Homa Rachael Rifkin

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Paige Pelonis

EDITORIAL INTERN

Lissette Mendoza

PRODUCTION MANAGER

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

COMMUNITY

September 28, 2018

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5

Long Beach officials reveal redesign options for breakwater structure, seek ecosystem restoration.

Sebastian Echeverry Production Manager

Keller Williams Coastal Properties CalBRE 01091037 & 01443822

Signal Tribune

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Los Angeles representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other city officials revealed six breakwater redesign options Sept.

24 at Bluff Park during a media event.

The breakwater options presented during Monday’s event derived from the 2016 East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. Local and state officials used the study to identify the benefits of rehabilitating habitats near the breakwater, as well as to evaluate the impacts the proposed alternatives would have on the current breakwater to both offshore and nearshore resources.

“This study will now be moving into the environmental-review process,” Garcia said, “which is the next step for projects of this size and magnitude.”

The mayor highlighted all six options, three of which focused primarily on reconstructing the ecosystems that were once present in the region, Garcia said.

Kelp Restoration Alternative This project is the least costly and meets the minimum requirements of the environmental review.

It includes the restoration of three habitat types, including field grass, nearshore rocky reef and kelp reef in the open water along the breakwater.

This alternative design is considered the “base plan” for more complex options to be built upon.

Reef Restoration Alternative This proposal would add two rocky reefs to the region and would provide habitat diversity, according to Garcia.

Scarce Habitat Restoration Alternative This project plan is the third and largest of the ecosystem-restoration projects. It would build upon the previous two alternatives.

Spanning from Long Beach to San Pedro, this option will add a 24-acre sand island near the Long Beach Peninsula. The project will also add two new coastal wetlands, including a 10-acre wetland near the Los Angeles River and a 42-acre

wetland just outside of the Port of Long Beach.

This option will also add a small oyster bed near the Alamitos Bay Jetty.

Garcia also pointed out two other options that would require reconfiguration of the breakwater.

Breakwater Western-Notching Alternative This redesign option would incorporate all of the aforementioned ecosystem-restoration measures, and it would require officials to create two 1,000-foot notches into the western end of the breakwater structure.

In changing the breakwater’s structure, Garcia said this proposal would increase wave activity.

“Preliminary wave modeling shows that this alternative would result in increased swells and could impact the oil islands, Pier J, as well as the Carnival Cruise terminal,” he said.

To counter the anticipated impacts of the waves, officials will implement “protective structures” along the three aforementioned points of see BREAKWATER page 7

AROUND TOWN Closing Weekend!

562-494-1014 lbplayhouse.org 5021 E. Anaheim St

RESCUE CHEFS What Fundraiser Who Hosted by Food Finders When Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 6pm to 9pm Where The Long Beach Masonic Lodge, 3610 Locust Ave. More Info Food Finders is challenging local chefs to create “Edible Extras”; tasting samples and small plates made from repurposed food that otherwise would end up being tossed away, to highlight reducing food waste. Tickets cost $45. Visit foodfinders.org.

BEST BREAST What Seminar Who Hosted by the Long Beach Medical Center When Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 5:30pm to 7pm Where Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Ave. More Info Attendees will learn about mammograms, new treatments, radiation therapies, surgery and what to do if diagnosed. The

lecture is free. Call 1-800-MEMO- When Thursday, Oct. 18, from RIAL to register.

7pm to 9pm Where Jenny Oropeza CommuniWRITE RIGHT ty Center, 401 Golden Ave. What Writers meeting More Info The free workshop will Who Hosted by The California teach participants to evaluate, neWriters Club of Long Beach gotiate and articulate themselves When Saturday, Oct. 13, from in the job market. Details and reg3pm to 5pm istration available at salary.aauw.

Where Meet at the Ruth Bach org/longbeach.

Neighborhood Library, 4055 Bellflower Blvd.

DANCING DEAD More Info The club’s October What Festival speaker, Nancy Cole, will talk Who Hosted by Councilmember about “Adding the Element of Lena Gonzalez, Centro C.H.A. and Surprise: How to Keep the Reader Opus Technique Engaged in Your Work.” Cole re- When Friday, Nov. 2, from 5pm to tired after a 25-year career in radio 11pm and now writes mystery narratives. Where Pine Avenue between 4th The meeting is free. Visit calwrit- and 6th erslongbeach.org or email info@ More Info The 5th Annual Dia De calwriterslongbeach.org.

Los Muertos will feature costumes, dance, food, arts, crafts and music WORK SMART from the Latin community. The What Workshop family-friendly event is free. Visit Who Hosted by Councilmember longbeach.gov.

Lena Gonzalez and the American Association of University Women

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6

Signal Tribune

COMMUNITY

Signal Hill City Council awards Calbrisas Park playground-construction contract Landscape Structures, Inc. plan to complete two new play structures and ADA-compliant surfacing at park by spring.

Anita W. Harris Staff Writer

With a quorum of three members at its Sept. 25 meeting, the Signal Hill City Council approved a playground-construction contract and a purchasing ordinance. It also presented recognitions for Concerts in the Park sponsors and volunteers and awards for sustainability efforts.

Calbrisas playground The council approved a contract with Landscape Structures, Inc. to resurface the play area at Calbrisas Park and replace aging playground equipment. The half-acre park at 2451 California Ave. is adjacent to the 92-unit Las Brisas affordable-housing community.

Kelli Tunnicliff, public-works director, said the contracted company will replace two play structures originally built in 2005 and install 2,683 square feet of new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant safety surfacing. One of the new play structures is designed for children from ages 5 to 12 and the other for 2- to 5-year-olds.

Tunnicliff said the project is part of the City’s 2018-2019 capital-improvement program. She explained that some additional funding is needed because, though the contract price of $207,475 comes in below the budgeted total of $214,412, the budget didn’t leave an adequate 10-percent contingency.

“The construction environment continues to be unpredictable,” Tun-

nicliff said. “The contract price actually was $12,635 higher than originally projected, which diminished our original contingency.”

The council, therefore, also approved moving $13,811 to the project from the City’s capital-improvement reserve fund to ensure an adequate contingency for a revised total project cost of $228,223.

Tunnicliff said that construction would begin once equipment is delivered in December and would be completed by spring 2019.

Aly Mancini, community services director, said Landscape Structures had also built playground equipment at Reservoir Park, which she said has proven to be “very popular” and has had no maintenance issues.

Councilmember Edward Wilson asked Landscape Structures representative Nate Stutz, who was present at the meeting, about the longevity of the new equipment, given that the old equipment is being replaced after only 13 years.

“Landscape Structures equipment is definitely built to last,” Stutz said.

“Probably closer to around 20 to 30 years rather than 13 years, with proper maintenance and depending on volume of usage.”

Stuzt said that, in addition, the City could opt to replace component parts of the playground equipment at any time rather than replace the entire structure.

“It’s definitely an added benefit for the lifetime cost of the playground,” he said, adding that the structure also comes with material

warranties ranging from 15 to 100 years.

Wilson commented that the new playground is something local residents have wanted for some time.

“There should be more smiling faces at the park soon,” he said.

Purchasing ordinance The council conducted a second reading amending the City’s municipal code to allow cooperative-purchasing agreements and master “oncall” agreements.

Specifically, ordinance 2018-091502 amends sections 3.20.100 and 3.20.195 of the municipal code and adds sections 3.20.220 and 3.20.230 related to purchasing.

Deputy City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn had explained at the council’s Sept. 11 meeting that the City’s municipal code regarding purchasing guidelines had not been updated since 1989 and did not reflect more modern and efficient purchasing and contracting practices.

While the council had generally approved the principles behind the changes, it only supported the ordinance with a reduced threshold amount of $100,000 instead of $175,000 that staff could contract without council approval.

“Based on city council direction at the meeting of Sept. 11, the proposed ordinance has been amended to establish a $100,000 limit for individual contracts awarded under on-call agreements for maintenance of public works,” Shin-Heydorn see COUNCIL page 13

September 28, 2018

New report highlights significant impact of immigrant population on LB, SH economy City releases ‘New Americans in Long Beach’ report during national Welcoming Week.

Paige Pelonis Multimedia Editor

A first-of-its kind economic impact report indicates that, between 2011 and 2016, the immigrant population in the Long Beach area increased by 14.3 percent. Released last week– aligned with national Citizenship Day and Welcoming Week– the New Americans in Long Beach report includes several statistics that show the immigrant population impacted the local economy significantly.

The City of Long Beach is one of 25 cities selected by New American Economy for the 2017-18 Gateways for Growth Challenge, according to a press release. The challenge is a competitive application process in which local communities receive tailored research on the contributions of immigrants, direct technical assistance to develop multi-sector plans for welcoming and integrating immigrants or matching grants.

Director of State and Local Initiatives for New American Economy Kate Brick said that this is the second year for the Gateways Growth Challenge and that 50 communities applied in 2018. “[Immigrants in Long Beach] have a huge share of spending power because immigrants are such a large share of the population,” Brick told the Signal Tribune by telephone following the press re-

lease. “Immigrants are more than a quarter of the population– 26.6 percent. So, you can sort of see how there’s a correlation between their share of the population and the huge economic imprint that they have locally.”

On top of the key findings of the report, Brick added that the immigrant population in Long Beach is responsible for the population growth in general in the Long Beach area between 2011 and 2016.

“The other thing that’s important to note about Long Beach is that immigrants are really helping drive population growth,” Brick said.

“Had it not been for immigrants, the city would have actually seen a slight decrease in the population over the five-year period that we looked at, which is, I think, important to know because having a stable and growing population is really essential to economic growth. Had it not been for the immigrant community, we wouldn’t have seen that robust population growth.”

The New Americans in Long Beach report has been approximately one year in the making, according to Eric Romero, project manager for the Long Beach Economic Development Department.

Romero said the newly released report was prompted by the Blueprint for Economic Development, which was adopted by the City of Long Beach April 2017. see REPORT page 11

COMMUNITY

September 28, 2018

Long Beach City Council approves Pearce’s item for review of hiring, training procedures

Signal Tribune

Breakwater

7

continued from page 5

Discussion points to need for clarification of ‘trauma’ terminology.

Cory Bilicko Staff Writer

New employees with the City of Long Beach may eventually receive more thorough orientations, particularly regarding their rights and responsibilities related to discrimination and harassment, now that the city council has approved an agenda item for a human-resources audit.

At the Sept. 18 council meeting, 2nd District Councilmember Jeannine Pearce introduced an item that would direct the city auditor and city manager to conduct a review of procedures related to hiring, training and on-boarding new employees. The item requests that the review study, report on and provide recommendations in four key areas.

The first area concerns the on-boarding processes for all new employees, including officials who are elected and appointed. The second area relates to the procedures for informing workers of their rights and responsibilities concerning discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation, and it applies to paid employees, including commissioners, as well as interns and

volunteers.

The third area concerns improving the turnaround time for hiring new employees. The fourth relates to current practices and training in trauma-informed approaches for employees.

The council amended the item to include the city attorney’s office within the scope of the audit and the city manager’s report on processes within that office for handling harassment claims with departments that do not fall under the city manager.

In a press release the following day, Pearce’s office called the item “good government” and indicated that it positions Long Beach as a new model city that holds itself accountable and works to improve the future for its employees, residents and businesses. The press release also cited findings by the U.S. Equal Employment Commission that estimates that 75 percent of workplace harassment goes unreported, often because employees do not want to put their job or reputation at risk or be traumatized again. see REVIEW page 11

LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES PRESENTS

Wildlife in Urban Areas Communi�y Mee�ing

Thursday, October 18, 2018 6 – 7 pm

Courtesy City of Long Beach

Discovery Well Park Community Center 2200 Temple Avenue, Signal Hill

The renderings shown above highlight two out of the six breakwater-redesign proposals that Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Los Angeles representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Sept. 24 at Bluff Park during a media event. The two proposals, the Breakwater Western-Notching Alternative and the Eastern Removal Alternative, would physically reconfigure the breakwater from its current state.

Join us for a discussion with Ted Stevens, Long Beach Animal Care Services Manager, on the challenges of living with wildlife in urban areas.

Topics of discussion will include laws surrounding wildlife protection and tips to mitigate wildlife concerns.

Eastern Removal Alternative This project would see the removal of one-third, or 24 acres, of the current breakwater structure. It is also the largest and most costly of the redesign options.

This fifth proposal includes the ecosystem measures

Open to the public.

Please RSVP to 562-989-7330 by Monday, October 15, 2018.

concern, according to Garcia.

highlighted in the Kelp Restoration Alternative project.

According to Garcia, waves caused by this breakwater reconfiguration would impact the oil islands, the Navy’s explosives anchorage and possibly Belmont Shore.

Similar to the Breakwater Western-Notching Alternative proposal, protective obstacles would be built to mitigate the impact of waves on the structures.

No Build Alternative Garcia said a scenario where no action is taken will also be considered.

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As the review moves forward, Garcia said that the safety of nearby coastal structures and communities is the main level of concern. Ed De Mesa, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District planning division chief, said the six options are in early stages of development and that public input would drive the design concepts further.

According to the City website, the six draft alternatives that were announced during the event on Monday will be available for the public during a meeting on Oct. 10 at the Bixby Park Community Center at 5:30pm.

De Mesa said officials are anticipating the release of a full review of the designs in early 2019. ✦

8

CULTURE

Signal Tribune

September 28, 2018

NEWS

Theatre review

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club at Long Beach Playhouse

Photo by Michael Hardy Photography

From left: Rick Reischman (Mycroft Holmes) and Tim Thorn (Sherlock Holmes) in Long Beach Playhouse’s Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club Anita W. Harris Culture Writer

If you like thrillers, you are in for a treat with Long Beach Playhouse’s (LBPH) Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club. Written by Jeffrey Hatcher and adeptly directed by LBPH veteran Mitchell Nunn, the play combines an elegant mystery with eloquent wordplay, all brought to life by expert acting.

One part send-up and three parts serious Sherlock Holmes adventure, the play involves many of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original characters, including narrator and Holmes’s sidekick, Dr. John Watson (Peter Stone), who sets the stage for the intrigue about to unfold.

We are soon treated to Holmes (Tim Thorn) correctly guessing

Watson’s recent activities based on his minute observations of the latter’s appearance and preternaturally accurate deductions. Such scenes recur a few times, adding delightful humor to the otherwise serious plot.

The story turns on Holmes’s participation in a club that allows upstanding but despondent men to respectably achieve their suicidal purposes by being assassinated by other club members. It’s not murder, but rather “suicide by second party,” as one member describes it.

The club’s secret meetings are run by a woman (a well-cast Terra Taylor Knudsen) who dramatically orchestrates the choice of who dies that night and who assists, using an intricate system of differently colored billiard balls.

But is there something else going

on beneath the civilized veneer of the club? Holmes must sleuth out the truth, an especially complicated task given the international array of characters and political conspiracies of 1914 Europe on the brink of World War I. This compelling story is made all the more entertaining by excellent acting. Tim Thorn impressively immerses himself in the Holmes character, from his crisp dialogue to his every facial expression, right down to eye movements as he tracks each suspect. Peter Stone as Watson is equally engaging and fully believable as Holmes’s astute and

well-meaning assistant, who sometimes gets things wrong, but for the right reason.

Rick Reischman as Holmes’s brother, the politically connected Mycroft, also does not disappoint, nor does Henry Weaver as the wheelchair-bound Mr. Henry, nor John Russell, who plays a German club member and a British inspector equally well, nor, really, any of them! There are no weak links, even with a few actors playing multiple roles.

The stage is set efficiently, though it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between Holmes’s Baker Street apartment and the Russian Prince Starloff’s (Cruz Flores) fancy hotel room, but hanging backdrops of London, along with gunshots, fog, transitional music and lighting effects, enhance the story well. Costumes by LBPH designer Donna Fritsche are exceptional, as always, especially some of the sharply tailored suits for Holmes and Watson.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club thus makes for a superb theater experience. With a cast of very professional actors in director Nunn’s capable hands, this well-paced play is pleasurable both for its sophisticated story and sympathetic treatment of characters. The only logical conclusion– which must be the truth– is that this Holmes adventure is not to be missed.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club continues at the Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim St., through Oct. 20, with shows Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $20 to $24. For tickets and information, call the box office at (562) 494-1014 or visit lbplayhouse.org.

Alert

continued from page 1

FEMA website.

The FEMA web page regarding the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System National Test indicates that the WEA test will last approximately 30 minutes and the EAS test will last one minute.

FEMA announced on Sept. 17 via press release the postponement of both tests from the original date of Sept. 20 to the “backup date” of Oct. 3 as a result of “ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.”

More information about the tests is available at fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.

Harrison said that although people cannot opt out of the FEMA testing scheduled for next week, the local AlertLongBeach emergency warning system does require residents to sign up.

“We need people to receive these messages,” Harrison said. “If the message that we want to get out is to evacuate like the fires in northern California, we want people to receive that message, or if the message is ‘shelter in place.’ And so, we appreciate that FEMA has these tools available, and they’re gonna test them. They’re looking to see where they need to make improvements to the system.”

Residents can visit longbeach. gov/DisasterPreparedness in order to sign up for AlertLongBeach messages. ✦

Follow us on Instagram @thesignaltribune

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September 28, 2018

Plan

COMMUNITY

Signal Tribune

9

continued from page 3

Courtesy LB Development Services

Pictured is a draft outline of the Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan’s proposed commercial and industrial land designations

When the Boeing Corporation closed its C-17 Globemaster III assembly facility in Long Beach in December 2015, it left a vacant site that includes a 1.1-million-squarefoot enclosed aerospace manufacturing building that is directly adjacent to Long Beach Airport, according to the City’s description of the GCSP. Employment agency Pacific Gateway, with assistance from Long Beach Development Services (LBDS) planning-bureau staff,

completed what was known as Phase 1 of the C-17 Transition Master Plan in an attempt to promote proper land use, infrastructure planning and economic development at the former Boeing site.

Last November, Pacific Gateway and LBDS were tasked with Phase 2 of the C-17 Transition Master Plan, simply intended to refine the aspects that were introduced in Phase 1. LBDS planning-bureau staff are preparing a strategy to address long-term uses of the

C-17 site and the Cherry Avenue corridor- all of which require the creation of the GCSP, environmental-impact report (EIR) and environmental-impact statement (EIS).

The Specific Plan is in its draft stage, and all aspects of the outline are subject to change, according to city officials. The area the plan modifies- the C-17 site and commercial, industrial corridors- has no residential areas included.

John Kaliski, principal of the AIA and personal firm John Kaliski

Architects, detailed the GCSP’s intended designation of commercial and retail uses to specific areas in the planning region. Kaliski also went into detail about different tiers of developments, which include distinctions in height, amenities and restrictions that might impact some businesses due to their close proximity to Long Beach Airport.

He outlined the intended use of each zone on the map. (refer to map above.)

“Fundamentally, the specific plan refines the land uses that are

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allowed,” Kaliski said. “And, in my language, it sends a signal to those who want to do new projects in this area of what Long Beach’s expectation is in terms of the type of development that’s expected, the quality of the development and the, if you will, intensity of excellence that Long Beach is expecting.”

Scott Kinsey, planner IV with LBDS, explained to the public that the plan is configuring its proposed land uses and zoning strategies, as necessary, to meet standards of the City’s land-use element (LUE), which has been modified this year.

Ruta Thomas, principal at Dudek, said a notice of preparation was submitted publicly Sept. 12. The City established a public review from the time the notice was submitted to Oct. 11 at 4:30pm, during which the City will accept comments about the project in regard to its mitigation measures and potential alternatives to reduce possible environmental effects.

All comments must be received in writing by 4:30pm on Oct. 11.

Reference to the project must be present in a subject line. Craig Chalfant, senior planner with LBDS, is accepting public input via email at craig.chalfant@longbeach. gov or direct mail to 333 W. Ocean Blvd., 5th floor, Long Beach, Calif.

90802.

Thomas said completion of the draft EIR and EIS is projected for early 2019. A 45-day public review period will follow to comment on the documents. Response to comments and completion of the draft EIR and EIS will go into mid2019, when consideration of project approval will reach the Long Beach City Council and Long Beach Planning Commission.

For more information about the GCSP, visit lbds.info/GMCSP. For a full outline of the draft plan, visit bit.ly/2xKZspr. ✦

10

Signal Tribune

September 28, 2018

Parents: are your kids texting, socializing and doing homework on their ride to school?

They should be.

No parent wants their kids to drive to school distracted. That’s what makes the safe, comfortable buses of Long Beach Transit the perfect vehicles to connect your high schooler to and from campus.

Not only do LBT buses offer regular service to all Long Beach area high schools for just $1.25 a ride, but 30-day student passes are available for only $40. For more route and fare information, visit lbtransit.com

NEWS

September 28, 2018

Report

continued from page 6

Signal Tribune

11

Review

continued from page 7

Between 2011 and 2016, the

26.6% immigrant share of the

population in the area grew by

population in the Long

3.3 percent (465,769 —481,172).

Beach area, 2016

Total immigration population increased by 14.3 percent (112,125—128,149).

Without an increase in the foreign-born

population, the area’s overall population would have decreased by 621 people.

Source: New Americans in Long Beach report, 2018 Infographic by Paige Pelonis

“The city, for many years, did not have a strategic vision for how it was going to create jobs, grow businesses and provide opportunities for our residents, so the mayor and city council requested city staff from the economic development department to work with the economic development commission, which is an advisory group to the city council, to start to develop that vision,” Romero told the Signal Tribune. “We went through a series of different community meetings and went out and made sure we had key baseline info for our citywide economy, and those reports were provided by Beacon Economics to inform that decision-making process.”

Romero said the most current data available at the time the compilation of the New Americans in Long Beach report began was from the 2016 U.S. Census American

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Community Survey, which has a time lag.

The report indicates that immigrants in the Long Beach area are more likely to be entrepreneurs.

Immigrants account for 35.9 percent of the area’s entrepreneurs and are 18.5 percent more likely than their U.S.-born counterparts to be business owners, according to the report. The more than 8,400 immigrant entrepreneurs in Long Beach in 2016 generated $162.1 million in business income.

“A lot of [the local, immigrant entrepreneurs] are your typical kind of retail brick-and-mortar storefronts, but the kind of services or products that they provide may range from your cornerstone bodega, where people go to get some, you know, drinks, vegetables and things of that nature, to a wick store

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to a travel agent for example,” Romero said.

“It really ranges, and I think we’re working to try to better understand all of our assets that we have and better understand who makes up our entrepreneurial ecosystem. So, this was really an effort that came from the blueprint and part of the city’s and our department’s larger effort to start to collect more data, better understand that data and then make it available and ultimately get to a point where we can start to make decisions based on that data and have it influence our programs and services.”

Both Brick and Romero told the Signal Tribune by telephone that there is no breakdown available for which industries the immigrant entrepreneurs are pursuing by category due to the limited sample size used for this study.

Brick said “the population that we looked at for Long Beach and Signal Hill is 481,172.”

Additional key findings of the report include: •

•

•

Immigrants in the Long Beach area earned $3.4 billion in income and paid more than $1 billion in taxes in 2016. Of that, $833.4 million went to federal taxes and $280.7 million went to state and local taxes, leaving them with $2.3 billion in spending power.

In 2016, the immigrant population accounted for 26.6 percent of the total population, 32.6 percent of the working-age population and 32.1 percent of the employed labor force in the Long Beach area.

Immigrants were responsible for the creation or preservation of 5,895 local manufacturing jobs. Immigrants, who represent 49 percent of all manufacturing workers in the Long Beach area, help keep manufacturing jobs on U.S. soil by bolstering the local workforce, allowing companies to stay and create jobs in the area.

Romero said he is unsure if the City of Long Beach will apply for the next phase of technical assistance available through New American Economy at this time. ✦

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The council office also reported that the City’s human-resources department recently issued a memo to the councilmembers to announce that, beginning in October, 150 employees in Library Services will be trained in a pilot program for a harassment-free workplace. In January 2019, the training will extend to all staff, according to the memo.

Pearce particularly emphasized the need to make Long Beach a “trauma-resilient” city, and she has directed her staff to work with the health department to devise best practices in that area.

“Our city employees are the heart of our city, and as we make strides to ensure residents in industries such as hospitality have a safe workplace, it is important we ensure all of our nearly 6,000 employees know their rights, and that they have a clear process and protocol if they feel those rights have been violated,” Pearce wrote in the Sept. 19 press release. “By auditing the department, we can ensure we are in alignment with current best practices, and including the trauma-resilience training will ensure all employees have the tools they need to thrive and support the diverse residents of our city.”

At the Sept. 18 meeting, several councilmembers, including 8th District Councilmember Al Austin, who, along with 3rd District Councilmember Suzie Price, supported the item, expressed various concerns regarding it. During the meeting, Austin said that, although he’s happy to sign on to improve local government and relations with City employees, the item includes some terminology that is new to him.

“Working in labor relations as long as I have, this is something that’s new,” Austin said. “I don’t think it’s prevalent in every city and every city’s looking at this. So, this is certainly a new approach that we are going for.”

He added that, before signing on, he consulted with Laura Doud, the city auditor, to determine if the review was feasible for her office, and that she said yes.

However, he also expressed concern over how different personnel might interpret “trauma” and that the issue could expose the City to unanticipated problems.

“I think it could get very, very complicated,” he said, “and could even open us up for some exposure– some unintended consequences. So, I’m a little concerned about that component of this as it was explained.”

Pearce then explained that, although a relatively new concept, dealing with trauma within the workplace is indeed one that cities such as Philadelphia and counties such as Alameda in northern California are addressing, as part of an overall mental-health component. Pearce also said that city employees, such as those who work

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directly with the homeless population, have already undergone such trauma-related training.

“These buzz words come on because grantors [like] their little buzz words,” Pearce said. “But the idea is not to expose any vulnerabilities of the City in our staffing.”

She said the intention is to ensure that staff are equipped with language and a “lens” to facilitate a smoother process with the human-resources department if an employee does feel compelled to report an incident. She also said that having her own staff undergo training in trauma-related issues has helped them in addressing issues with constituents who are experiencing challenges such as homelessness.

Tom Modica, assistant city manager, clarified during the meeting that the discussion on the matter is still preliminary and that staff will need to conduct more research before being prepared to move forward with trainings.

Fifth District Councilmember Stacy Mungo questioned when councilmembers would begin including an approximation of staff hours necessary to implement their agenda items, since the council and the Budget Oversight Committee had adopted that practice several weeks ago. She also indicated reluctance in voting for the item, since Long Beach is the beneficiary of a FUSE fellow who is analyzing the City’s operations, including those of human resources, and will supposedly present those findings. FUSE, a national nonprofit that partners with local governments to help urban communities thrive, partners with cities on issues such as economic and workforce development, health care, public safety, climate change and education, according to the organization’s website.

Modica said the FUSE fellow has indeed shared feedback and suggestions on hiring processes that the City has already begun implementing.

Fourth District Councilmember Daryl Supernaw pointed out that the head of the City’s human-resources department is among the top-paid executive-level personnel in the city and that department should be able to handle the four areas addressed in Pearce’s item.

“I’m thinking this item is saying our HR department cannot handle this task, and, if that is in fact what the problem is, then we do have a bigger problem than just conducting an audit,” Supernaw said. “So, for that reason, I will not be supporting this item.”

Four speakers took to the podium during the public-comment portion of the discussion, and their remarks included an emotional “thank you” for the agenda item, an expression of the need for reform and consistency in the City’s management policies and a criticism of Supernaw’s assertion that the HR department should “conduct this audit of themselves.”

Supernaw then clarified that he did not intend to suggest that the HR department conduct the audit.

“What I was trying to express was that on-boarding, orientation and informing employees of their rights should be something part and parcel to the duties of HR,” Supernaw said. “So, that’s why I thought it should be handled internally.”

After the councilmembers in attendance voted– Suzie Price and Dee Andrews were absent– the item passed 6–1, with Supernaw as the lone vote against it. ✦

12

Signal Tribune

TST5756 / Case No. YS030395 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 825 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 PETITION OF Angela Curtis.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: ANGELA CURTIS has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: ANGELA CURTIS to Proposed Name: ANGELA STOKES. 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: October 26, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. M. 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: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 ___//ss//___ Eric C. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court Dated August 31, 2018 TST5757 / 2018 226289 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: MORRISSEY FABRIC, 2692 Dawson Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: ANITA J. MORRISSEY, 30 VIA DI ROMA WALK, LONG BEACH, CA 90803. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Anita J. Morrissey. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in September, 2015. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 6, 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: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5, 2018.

TST5758 / Case No. NS034565 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 275 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802.

PETITION OF Natalia Bermudez Trujillo.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: NATALIA BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: NATALIA BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO to Proposed Name: NATALIA JASMIN BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO. 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: October 19, 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: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5, 2018 ___//ss//___ Mark C. Kim, Judge of the Superior Court Dated September 7, 2018

PUBLIC NOTICES TST5763 / 2018 218518 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: BEAN LIGHTING, 1600 E. 29th Street, Unit A, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: SETH MORGAN PORTER, 1231 E. 4th Street, Unit 1, Long Beach, CA 90802. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Seth Morgan Porter. The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 29, 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: September 21, 28 & October 5, 12, 2018.

TST5764 / 2018 232412 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: KNICK KNACK, 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro, CA 90731. Registrant: TROY JAMES GARCIA, 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Troy James Garcia. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in September, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 12, 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: September 21, 28 & October 5, 12, 2018.

TST5765 / 2018 238285 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: PARLOUR MARIE, 4166 Norse Way B, Long Beach, CA 90808. Registrant: JOHNATHAN COOLEY, 4682 Milo Dr D, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.

This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Johnathan Cooley. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in September, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 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: September 21, 28 & October 5, 12, 2018.

TST5766 / 2018 212519 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: UNDEFEATED ADACEMY, 332 Argonne Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90814. Registrant: ROBERT

SCOTT WEBB, 332 Argonne Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814. This business is conducted by: a General Partnership. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Robert Scott Webb, General Partner. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in August, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 22, 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: September 21, 28 & October 5, 12, 2018.

TST5769 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE: APN: 7211-030-075 TS No: CA0800033618-1 TO No: 18-0002059-01 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE (The above statement is made pursuant to CA Civil Code Section 2923.3(d)(1). The Summary will be provided to Trustor(s) and/or vested owner(s) only, pursuant to CA Civil Code Section 2923.3(d)(2).) YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED November 16, 2005. UNLESS 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 PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On October 25, 2018 at 09:00 AM, Vineyard Ballroom, Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles-Norwalk, 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650, MTC Financial Inc. dba Trustee Corps, as the duly Appointed Trustee, under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust recorded on November 23, 2005 as Instrument No. 05 2856992, of official records in the Office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, executed by JOSE DE JESUS CASTRO, A SINGLE MAN, as Trustor(s), in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. as nominee for AMERICA`S WHOLESALE LENDER as Beneficiary, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the time of sale, that certain property situated in said County, California describing the land therein as: AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST The property heretofore described is being sold “as is”.

The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 1509 EAST 23RD STREET #B, SIGNAL HILL, CA 907553562 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the Note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said Note(s), advances if any, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligations secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Trustee’s Sale is estimated to be $368,534.93 (Estimated). However, prepayment premiums, accrued interest and advances will increase this figure prior to sale. Beneficiary’s bid at said sale may include all or part of said amount. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the California Financial Code and authorized to do business in California, or other such funds as may be acceptable to the Trustee. In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. The property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the property receiver, if applicable. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further

September 28, 2018

recourse. 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 Auction.com at 800.280.2832 for information regarding the Trustee’s Sale or visit the Internet Web site address www.Auction.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case, CA08000336-18-1. 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. Date: September 11, 2018 MTC Financial Inc. dba Trustee Corps TS No. CA08000336-18-1 17100 Gillette Ave Irvine, CA 92614 Phone:949-252-8300 TDD: 866-660-4288 Myron Ravelo, Autho-

rized Signatory SALE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ONLINE AT www.Auction. com FOR AUTOMATED SALES INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: Auction.com at 800.280.2832 Trustee Corps may be acting as a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained may be used for that purpose.ISL Number 49718, Pub Dates: 09/28/2018, 10/05/2018, 10/12/2018, SIGNAL TRIBUNE

TST5770/ 2018 235906 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: EICHNER FUKUI DESIGN, 2925 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Registrant: 1. MAUNA EIGHNER, 2. LEE FUKUI, 2925 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806.

This business is conducted by: a General Partnership. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Mauna Eichner, Partner. The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name.

This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 17, 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: September 28 & October 5, 12, 19, 2018.

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL

TST5767 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A NEGATIVE DECLARATION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, the City Council of the City of Signal Hill, California, will conduct a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber located at City Hall, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, California, to consider the following: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 18-02 A REQUEST TO EXPAND AN EXISTING NONCONFORMING AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION REPAIR FACILITY AS A MAJORITY SERVICE PROVIDER TO A SIGNAL HILL AUTO CENTER DEALERSHIP (LONG BEACH HONDA), PURSUANT TO SECTION 20.24, AUTO ACCESSORY USES, OF THE SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE, AT 2370 WALNUT AVENUE IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (LI) ZONING DISTRICT Applicant: Dorothy DesBrisay, agent Property Owner: Santa Monica Auto Plazas LLC Recommendation: On September 18, 2018, the Planning Commission recommended City Council approval.

CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS are reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council at public hearings.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are hereby invited and encouraged to attend the public hearing to present written information, express their opinions or otherwise present evidence on the above matter.

IF YOU WISH TO LEGALLY challenge any action taken by the City on the above matter, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City prior to or at the public hearing.

A NEGATIVE DECLARATION has been prepared in conjunction with the subject project based on an initial study and finding of no significant environmental impacts associated with the project. Written comments may be submitted to the Community Development Department regarding Negative Declaration 09/07/18(1) during the public​ review period from September 7, 2018 to October 9, 2018. The City Council will be the approving authority of the Negative Declaration.

FURTHER INFORMATION and associated documents on this item may be reviewed by the public between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Community Development Department located at 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, California. For any questions or concerns, contact Colleen Doan, Planning Manager, via email at cdoan@ cityofsignalhill.org or by calling at (562) 989-7344.

Published in the Signal Tribune newspaper on: Posted in accordance with S.H.M.C. Section 1.08.010 on: Mailed to property owners within a 300’ radius on:

September 28, 2018 September 28, 2018 September 28, 2018

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL TST5771 NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION Ordinance No. 2018-02-1502 was introduced by the Signal Hill City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, September 11, 2018 and adopted by the City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, September 25, 2018. A summary of the ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 3.20.100 AND 3.20.195 AND ADDING SECTIONS 3.20.220 AND 3.20.230 RELATED TO PURCHASING The ordinance was adopted by the following vote: AYES:

Vice Mayor Larry Forester, Council Members Robert D. Copeland, Edward H.J. Wilson NOES: None ABSENT: Mayor Tina L. Hansen, Council Member Lori Y. Woods ABSTAIN: None Pursuant to Signal Hill Charter Section 315, this ordinance shall become effective 30 days from and after the date of its adoption. A certified copy of the full text of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s office and on the City’s website: www.cityofsignalhill.org.

Keir Jones City Clerk Published in the Signal-Tribune newspaper on September 28, 2018.

Posted at City Hall, Signal Hill Park Community Center, Discovery Well Park, and Reservoir Park on September 28, 2018.

NEWS

September 28, 2018

Council

Signal Tribune

13

continued from page 6

Courtesy City of SH

A rendering of a new playground that Landscape Structures, Inc. will build in Calbrisas Park, at 2451 California Ave., after being awarded a construction contract by the Signal Hill City Council on Sept. 25.

said at this week’s meeting.

Councilmembers had no further questions at the second reading and approved the ordinance.

Presentations The council, along with the Signal Hill Community Foundation (SHCF), recognized the volunteers and sponsors of this year’s Concerts in the Park, which featured different musical artists for each week of the series from July 11 to Aug. 15.

“The 2018 Concerts in the Park series was a tremendous success,” Vice Mayor Larry Forester said.

The council and SHCF recognized sponsors at the meeting, including Signal Hill Petroleum, LA

County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, Neena Strichart of the Signal Tribune newspaper, Terry Rogers of Coldwell Banker and Melissa Guy from the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Other sponsors not present included other restaurants, businesses and organizations, such as Simplus Management Corp., EDCO, the Port of Long Beach and the City of Long Beach Gas and Oil Department.

In addition, many individual volunteers were recognized, several of whom were at the meeting.

Forester then presented awards to Copeland and Dave Dressler, a community representative on the Sustainable City Committee, for their

efforts in promoting sustainable practices as part of that committee, earning the City a Beacon Program award.

“The Beacon Program is sponsored by the Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative of the League of California Cities and honors the efforts of local governments to reduce greenhouse gases, save energy and promote sustainability,” Forester said. “This year, the City of Signal Hill received two spotlight awards– one for energy savings and one for sustainable best practices.”

Conference report Several councilmembers shared

their experiences at the League of California Cities (LCC) annual conference this month.

Wilson, Forester, City Treasurer Larry Blunden and City Clerk Keir Jones said they discussed issues that are becoming important to Signal Hill and other cities, including distribution of tax revenue from internet sales, affordable housing, marijuana regulation, 5G wireless-technology implementation and LGBTQ workplace concerns.

Forester announced this was his final participation in the LCC and its Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Local Officials Caucus, for which he produced a handbook with Blunden on transgender workplace issues.

“I would like to recognize Larry [Forester] and Larry [Blunden],” Jones said. “They’ve done a lot of work on their transgender guide. […] They’re really leading the way from a municipal level, helping other cities understand what’s coming down the pike as far as transgender in the workplace. That’ll be a guide for our nonprofits and other businesses in California going forward.”

The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7pm in the council chamber at 2175 Cherry Ave.

EYE ON CRIME CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT Thursday, Sept. 20 5:30am Auto burglary 3200 block Orange Ave. 7:31am Identity theft 2100 block E. 21st St. 5:15pm Auto burglary 3000 block California Ave 9:27pm Burglary 2100 block E. Hill St. Friday, Sept. 21 8:03am Auto burglary 2100 block Crescent Dr. 3:35pm

Identity theft 1900 block St. Louis Ave. Saturday, Sept. 22 5:58am Auto burglary 2200 block Molino Ave. 12:17pm Auto burglary 1700 block E. Hill St.

1300 block E. 23rd St. 1:38pm Forgery 2400 block Cherry Ave. 6:03pm Auto burglary 2200 block Gaviota Ave.

12:47am Person with a knife 2200 block E. Willow St.

Monday, Sept. 24 2am DUI 700 block E. Spring St. (suspect arrested)

2:52pm Grand theft– motor vehicle 3100 block E. Willow St.

5:14am Burglary 1900 block St. Louis Ave.

Sunday, Sept. 23 11:47am Auto burglary

10:28am Stolen vehicle– recovered Dawson Ave./E. 20th St.

10:50am Battery 2400 block Cherry Ave. Tuesday, Sept. 25 1am Possessing controlled substance E. 21st St./Alamitos Ave. (suspect arrested)

6pm Misdemeanor warrants 2200 block E. Willow St. (suspect arrested) Wednesday, Sept. 26 5:58am Grand theft– motor vehicle 1100 block E. Willow St.

11:23am Identity theft 2500 block E. 21st St.

2:34pm Burglary 2200 block Rose Ave.

3:24pm Grand theft 2700 block Walnut Ave.

3:45pm Battery Junipero Ave./E. 19th St.

6pm Possessing paraphernalia 2200 block E. Willow St. (suspect arrested)

14

NEWS

Signal Tribune

September 28, 2018

Complaint

continued from page 1

Courtesy Kristie Mamelli

A group of self-identified animal advocates submitted a citizen-complaint letter to the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury last week alleging that Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia hid critical comments on his public-figure and official Facebook pages. The 146-page document claims that 56 comments were hidden from public view, and it contains various screenshots of the alleged hidden messages, as shown above. According to the document, the first [left] screenshot displays what Facebook users would see if they were not “friends” with the residents who wrote the alleged hidden comments. The second screenshot [right] shows what was allegedly hidden.

District Attorney’s Office (DA) in August.

The DA has since stated that they “couldn’t make a determination one way or the other” about the claims made in the initial letter, according to Mamelli.

She also claimed that the posts were made unhidden once news spread that a letter requesting an investigation into the matter was sent to the DA. Nathan Winograd, No Kill Law and Advocacy Center national director, drafted a similar complaint letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Division on Aug. 6.

In a phone interview with the Signal Tribune Sept. 27, he said that public integrity division officials took a “very narrow” reading of the complaint letter.

“According to the DA, they will only investigate matters in which a criminal statute is violated that could lead to jail time,” Winograd said. “The federal law that we believe the mayor broke– 42 U.S. Code Section 1983– only provides for civil remedies.”

Winograd added that the DA officials told them that they were not taking a stance on the matter and recommended the animal advocates pursue the claim civically.

He suggested that Long Beach residents should make the claim with the civil grand jury.

Winograd added that he gave permission for concerned Long Beach residents to use the draft of the letter that was sent to the DA, but he was not involved in the drafting process.

In Taylor’s email Wednesday, he wrote that the City abides by its social-media terms of service (TOS) guidelines found at the bottom of its website.

The social-media TOS states that the City reserves the right to remove, without notice, any comments or submissions that it deems to be inappropriate or offensive.

The guidelines state comments that contain defamatory statements, slander, spam, advertisements, profanity and other criteria may fall under the TOS.

During Tuesday’s phone interview with the Signal Tribune, Mamelli said that the alleged hidden comments remained on the topic of the original Facebook post. “[The comments] were on topic and not negative toward him,” she said. “It just made him look bad.”

Mamelli told the Signal Tribune that the civil grand jury had not yet provided a follow up to the investigation-request letter by Tuesday.

Mary Hearn, Los Angeles Superior Court public information officer, wrote in an email to the Signal Tribune Tuesday that the work of the civil grand jury is confidential.

“The court cannot comment on any materials that may have been sent to the civil grand jury, nor can

we comment on what they may be investigating,” Hearn said.

Winograd said the civil grand jury may choose not to take action on the letter.

“If the grand jury decides it does not want to investigate, then the next step is to retain an attorney and file a lawsuit for declaratory injunctive relief,” Winograd said. ✦

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NEWS

September 28, 2018

Scuba

continued from page 1

fied divers, who brought the diving gear for them.

Mariana Sena, a recreational therapist who has worked at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital for more than 20 years, organized the program, which has been running for eight years.

She mentioned that the scuba lessons are held two to three times per year at the Miller Children’s & Women’s indoor rehabilitation pool.

Signal Tribune

Promise

15

continued from page 3

“I think the water is an incredible medium for these kids,” Sena told the Signal Tribune Saturday. “It gives them a sense of control, freedom, self-esteem. These kids went through trauma. It’s a wonderful feeling to see their reintegration back into doing something that’s different.”

Dominique Quevedo, who has two sons in the program ages 10 and 12, agreed with Sena that the scuba lessons are beneficial and a self-esteem

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Handicapped Scuba Association instructor Rosemary Kidd assists a patient during a scuba-diving lesson as part of a swimming rehabilitation-program At Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Sept. 22.

booster for patients.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment for my boys,” Quevedo said. “They’ve been in the program for a couple of years and the instructors are familiar with the kids. [...] They’re confident, it’s a great environment, they’ve blossomed.”

The diving instructors are all certified with a special license to work one-on-one with patients who have disabilities, Sena said.

Ana Monge– whose son Carlos, 17, is in the program– has also seen the benefit of the scuba lessons.

“It’s his element,” she said. “He likes swimming. Last year, he couldn’t go because of aspiration issues but now his coordination and confidence have improved. It’s made it so that he feels normal again.”

Patient Seth Nakamoto told the Signal Tribune that he began scuba diving three years ago as part of his rehabilitation. Nakamoto suffered from pneumonia, which rendered him unable to speak or walk.

“I didn’t start [scuba diving] until I could walk again,” Nakamoto said.

“I knew how to swim, but not scuba dive. It’s fun, it’s easy.”

As for his future plans with the new set of skills, he said, “I want to go scuba diving in Hawaii.”

His mom, Kim Nakamoto, told the Signal Tribune that “He looks forward to the events. He’s advanced so much, [and] he loves the water. It’s a wonderful program. We’re fortunate and blessed for this program.” ✦

Signal Hill Historical Society’s 6th 9th Annual

Pancake Breakfast This Saturday Saturday,

Sept. 19, 2015 8am-10am Sept 29th, 2018

Pancakes Sausage Bacon • •Sausage Scrambled Eggs Scrambled Eggs Hash Browns Juice • Coffee Juice • Coffee Great Door Prizes Prizes!

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Advance sales through Please RSVP at SHHS members only.

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

Reagan Romali, superintendent of Long Beach City College (LBCC), speaks during the college’s announcement of the Long Beach College Promise 2.0 at the campus Sept. 26. The Long Beach College Promise builds off the existing program and will be available for Long Beach Unified School District spring 2019 graduates who qualify.

smoother transition between a community college and a university that is really unheard of in our nation,” Romali said Wednesday morning. “[...] Long Beach, as our mayor will tell you, cannot lose its educated population. Our educated students must stay in Long Beach. They must be educated here, build their homes here, build their families here, get a job here, contribute to their communities here. [...] Promise 2.0 allows that to happen.”

According to a fact sheet provided

by LBCC officials at the event, Promise 2.0 students who meet cumulative-GPA and lower-division requirements for CSULB will receive “advisement under a cohort model and be allowed to transfer as a lower-division transfer student after completion of 45 units.”

Those who are part of the original promise program– Long Beach College Promise 1.0– are provided academic counseling at LBCC and are eligible to transfer after the completion of 60 units.

The Long Beach College Promise applies to all majors, as long as major-specific transfer requirements are met. LBCC officials advise students to meet with academic counselors to develop educational plans and map out their courses.

LBCC officials also said that LBUSD spring 2019 graduates will receive a letter about the Promise 2.0 and an application form to enroll.

“The Promise allows students to finish Long Beach City College, if that’s what they wish, for sure,” Conoley said. “[...] But, it also allows an eased strategy to allow them to get to Long Beach State University.”

Conoley also said there is a planned strategy called “reverse transfer,” which would allow

Promise 2.0 students to work with CSULB academic advisors to ensure that they can get their associate’s degree from LBCC after they transferred to CSULB and completed their coursework at the latter.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, who has been teaching one class at LBCC for the past year, called the College Promise the “single most effective program, across any level of government, that Long Beach has to offer.”

Garcia also noted that LBUSD is the largest employer in the city.

“It’s not a corporation or a business [who is the largest employer], it’s Long Beach Unified,” he said.

“So, not only are they educating our young people, they are also providing the most jobs in the city. [...]

Think about who we are employing.

We are employing people who love education, that are teachers, that are working hard because they love learning and science and fact and are teaching young people between right and wrong and how to advance in their own lives.”

Earlier this year, the Port of Long Beach joined the Long Beach College Promise as the first industry partner. Tracy Egoscue, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, said the partnership allows the port to connect students with training programs and job opportunities in the logistics sector.

“You have international assets here in the Port of Long Beach, and you have international assets in your students,” Egoscue said. “We hope the port can serve as an inspiration for how other businesses can have effects on the Promise and provide advice on curriculum, friendships and scholarships.”

For more information, visit longbeachcollegepromise.org. ✦

shhistory@icloud.com

Ticket quantities are limited! or call us at 562.208.0040 For tickets or Visa • MasterCard • Amex • event cards details call: Discover accepted (562) 208-0040 or (562) 597-4220 Learn about Signal Hill’s History at:

signalhillhistoricalsociety.org www.shhs90755.org donationsby support our Hill Petroleum This adYour donated Signal “Preserving the Past for our Future" programs and Historical Museum space in the NEW Signal Hill Library opening in 2018

Est. 1983

During Long Beach City College (LBCC) and California State University, Long Beach’s (CSULB) event Sept. 26 at the former’s campus, CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said she was pleased with LBCC Superintendent Reagan Romali’s efforts in launching Long Beach College Promise 2.0.

16

Signal Tribune

September 28, 2018

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