Bill Pearl Passes

Diana Lejins

Last week we lost a journalistic giant who was always shaking up the establishment with his dogged style of investigating and reporting.

For over 20 years Bill Pearl has been the epitome of what an investigative journalist should be.  His matter-of-fact reporting has exposed the many corruptions in the Long Beach city hall and surrounds. He doggedly got information and documents in spite of continual avoidance and evasion from the "powers that be." Pearl may have been a "one-man show," but he did the tireless work of ten.

You can see his work on LBReport.com.  However, as of late, he was suffering from a terminal illness; and you will not see entries since Thanksgiving.  His death is a tremendous loss not only to Long Beach but to the entire country.

I have known and at times worked with him since day one in August 2000.  I am broken hearted and can't begin to imagine the loss to his family.

 

 

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For those of you that follow local and state politics, you probably already know the name Bill Pearl.  He has been our local hero in journalism for the last 22 years in Long Beach, publishing the on-line news publication LBreport.  Bill has been fighting cancer for the past couple of years and when he stopped posting on Nov 25th 2021, it was a sure sign he was in trouble. 

His dedication to tracking down news stories is legendary and all the election news surfacing right now would have been tantalizing to him.  He would research, analyze, and take apart the details of what was going on in Long Beach piece by piece, digesting it and producing thoughtful newsworthy articles explaining the angles to the rest of us.   His was an important job in our community and no one could have been more dedicated to the job of keeping the lights turned on in Long Beach.  

The words "rest in peace" are customary when people pass.  I can't imagine Bill Pearl doing anything of the kind.  I believe he will rage on, inspiring the rest of us to fight the good fight holding honesty and integrity as our sword, and always always speaking our trut

His passing was announced by his family.  They intend to continue publishing LBreport as were his wishes.   There is an article published on facebook at the link below  His funeral will be on Monday January 10th in Costa Mesa.  You can honor his memory by posting your thoughts on facebook and/or contributing to the go-fund-me to assist the family in covering funeral costs (links below).

  https://www.facebook.com/LBReport/posts/10158301590672109

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-pearl-family-with-bill-pearls-funeral

He will surely be missed.

Corliss Lee

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