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Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill VOL. XXXIX NO. 49
Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
Seismic Issues: Splay Fault Line
LB Community Medical Center ending emergency-care services in 2019 Hospital closure will also prolong transport distance for patients. Sebastian Echeverry Staff Writer
Acute care An active fault line detected beneath the Community Medical Center in Long Beach is forcing the hospital to end its emergency-care services and other acute healthcare needs by mid-2019, according to City officials. During a Long Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 14, John Bishop, chief executive with MemorialCare, said the hospital does not meet the seismic-safety regulations established by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, which killed 72 people, Senate Bill-1953 (SB-1953) was signed into law and stated that acute-care hospitals had to meet OSHPD earthquake-safety standards by Jan. 1, 2013. Senate Bill90 offered a deadline extension for many hospitals, including Community Medical Care. This extension pushed the date back to June 30, 2019. Bishop said MemorialCare had
Courtesy MemorialCare Long Beach
The red lines in this graphic showcase where the fault lines are located below the Community Medical Center in Long Beach. During a Long Beach City Council meeting, MemorialCare CEO John Bishop said a new seismic report confirms the faults are much bigger than previously thought and could lead to severe structural damage in the event of an earthquake.
been aware of the fault line when the company acquired the hospital on April 29, 2011. “We thought it was a single fault that was running along the back-left portion of the property,” he said. The most recent study of the fault lines indicated that Community Medical Center now stands on two larger fault lines as compared to one. Bishop said the company has invested more than $22 million in operational enhancements, includ-
Anita W. Harris Staff Writer
Calls for change peppered the Signal Hill City Council’s Nov. 28 meeting in the wake of Mayor Edward Wilson’s Nov. 17 arrest on domestic-violence charges. Members of the public spoke on Wilson’s character and requested his resignation, and two councilmembers asked to agendize items at the next meeting on council reorganization and a code-of-conduct policy. Despite this distraction, the council carried on business as usual, adopting ordinances regulating marijuana. It also approved a vot-
er-participation plan, a commemorative-brick program at the new dog park and a contract for landscape maintenance. On another note, Wilson introduced Scott Williams, who had been serving as the City’s acting finance director, as the new administrative services and finance director with the finance department. Mayoral conduct As reported in the Press Telegram and Signal Tribune newspapers, on Nov. 17, Wilson and his partner Deborah Betance were both arrested on domestic-violence charges at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach. Though both were released the same day on bail, some Signal Hill residents and councilmembers took issue with the public nature of the incident and its reflection on the City. One member of the public, who
Bixby Knolls to see new businesses, program anniversaries in early 2018 BKBIA executive director stresses need for residents to shop locally to preserve neighborhood. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
ing $15 million in capital funding. Nearly $1 million has been spent on evaluating options to become compliant with the seismic law. “When we acquired the property, we were fully intending to be able to keep it in operations beyond 2020,” Bishop said. Three seismic studies have been performed over the last eight years. The two most recent studies confirm that the fault zone, where the hospital is located, is considered active.
The fault zone was not triggered during the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, but it did rupture 300 years ago, according to Bishop. “That may sound like a long time ago, but the seismic window, from the state’s perspective, is 11,000 years,” he said. “It will not be considered inactive for another 10,700 years.” After two years of working with see HOSPITAL page 18
Signal Hill City Council conducts business despite mayor misconduct Councilmembers and public alike call for change following Mayor Edward Wilson’s domestic-violence arrest.
December 1, 2017
identified herself as Rebecca Hinder“[...] I am truly sorry for any er of Long Beach, embarrassment or hardship spoke in support of Wilson. to the City that this situation “I just wanted to may have caused.” say that Ed is a dear friend of mine and Edward Wilson a pillar in the community,” she said. Signal Hill mayor “A lot of people in life say that they paramount for Ed Wilson.” want to do wonderEarlier, just after the pledge of alful things for their community or to help people or to progress society legiance, Wilson had taken the opin general, and I think that when it portunity to publicly apologize. “The Press Telegram and the Sigcomes to Ed Wilson, and you look nal Hill Tribune [sic] both reported at his history, he’s definitely been on the forefront of making things hap- on an incident that is very embarpen and a guiding light for me and rassing on a personal level, and I am a bunch of other people in our com- truly sorry for any embarrassment or munity. When it comes to women hardship to the City that this situaand our rights and who we are and tion may have caused,” he said. “As feeling that we’re strong, he stands reported, no charges have been filed. by that, and respect for women is see COUNCIL page 14
In just a few weeks– on Dec. 17– Blair Cohn will celebrate his 10th anniversary of serving as executive director for the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA). He’s been around to witness the consequences of the economic downturn at the start of his tenure. He’s seen several longtime local businesses close their doors after decades of serving the public. However, he has also observed the district undergo a significant transformation, as well as the landscape of types of business change. “We’re far better off what we are now than what we were 10 years ago, no question,” he said in a recent interview with the Signal Tribune at the BKBIA office. Cohn also described many of the changes taking place in the Bixby Knolls area, including much renovation in spots formerly occupied by businesses that have either closed or moved. First focusing on the northern part of the business district, Cohn said a dental office has joined the shopping center where Aldi market and CVS pharmacy are located. He added that the area has no shortage of dental offices, since another has recently moved into a space on Carson Street and Atlantic Avenue, occupying the last spot in the Bixby Point center. For some time, a Smart & Final has been expected to open in Orchard Supply Hardware’s former location, but Cohn said it could be late 2018 before that chain of warehouse-style food and supply stores opens a location there. Just south of that area, George’s ‘50s Diner is being renovated, after a two-alarm fire broke out there on Dec. 16, 2016. Cohn said the adult children of the owners are stepping up to oversee the construction and re-opening of the iconic eatery. “Now the kids are going to be more involved with the business, and I hope that it presents more of see BUSINESS page 19
Based on the Paramount Pictures Film Written for the Screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Book by David Ives and Paul Blake
December 1- 10, 2017
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