Bits 'n' Pieces

Text to 9-1-1 Service Launched Locally

Beginning Dec. 1, hearing and speech-impaired residents of Long Beach and those in situations where it is too dangerous to dial 9-1-1 for help in an emergency, can text to 9-1-1. “Call if you can – text if you can’t” is the slogan developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), that is currently being utilized by Long Beach and other cities in Southern California that are implementing this new technology.

This new service is available to the public and is especially beneficial to callers who cannot communicate verbally such as people who are deaf and/or hearing-impaired, callers facing domestic abuse, or callers who are injured and cannot speak.

Text to 9-1-1 requires a cell phone that has the capability to send text messages and location services must be enabled. Text messages should be brief, easily understood and should not contain abbreviations, emojis, or slang. While currently, the texting service is only available in English, other language solutions are in development and will be implemented as soon as they become available. Similarly, the system cannot receive photos and videos at this time.

Below are guidelines for how to text to 9-1-1:

• Enter the numbers “911” in the text “To” field.
• The first text message to 9-1-1 should contain the location and brief description of the emergency and the type of help needed.
• Push the “Send” button.
• Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 text taker.
• Text in simple words. Do not use abbreviations, emojis, or slang.
• Keep text messages brief and concise.
• Do not text and drive.

Area 9-1-1 call centers, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and the State Emergency Communications 9-1-1 Department, have worked collaboratively to coordinate the implementation of this texting tool.

Donate Blood, Give Life

 The best gifts can’t be bought in a store. The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give more life by giving blood this December.

 Alison Wissen knows the power of blood donations. She received 22 units of blood products after experiencing complications during childbirth. “I truly owe my life to blood donors,” she said. “Even the skilled hands of my surgeons could not have saved me without the blood.” Because of blood and platelet donors, Wissen will celebrate the holidays with her three children and husband.

In December, donations decline but the needs of patients remain steady. During the holiday season, set aside an hour to give the most important gift – give blood and give more life. To encourage donations, all those who come to give blood or platelets Dec. 21, through Jan. 7, 2018, will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Program

Long Beach’s new Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone (UAIZ) Program is now accepting applications. Vacant lot owners in Long Beach could be eligible for a property tax reduction by committing their lot to urban agriculture for five years. Urban agriculture projects include many types of farming activities including community and educational gardens, as well as commercial farms with farm stands, which provide economic and educational opportunities to the community.

To qualify for the program, vacant lots must:

• Be between 0.10 to 3 acres in size.
• Have no habitable structures; all on-site structures must be accessory to agricultural use.
• Not have any part of the lot listed on the Department of Toxic Substance Control’s EnviroStor Database.
• Be within Long Beach city limits and comply with city zoning codes.

City council passed the UAIZ ordinance last month, creating the program and updating the city zoning code to adopt urban agriculture uses. The UAIZ program provides opportunities for economic growth, community development and increased access to local organic produce while reducing blight on vacant properties.

The UAIZ Program will help match vacant lot owners with local farmers and gardeners to run agricultural programs on eligible lots. Local farmers and gardeners interested in this program should check the city’s UAIZ Program page regularly and sign up at http://www.longbeach.gov/sustainability/programs/uaiz-program/, for updates on current opportunities to farm UAIZ eligible lots.

For more information about this program, contact the Office of Sustainability at Sustainability@longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-6396.

World AIDS Day

On Dec. 1, hundreds of employees, friends and supporters of the CARE Center, an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention program at Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center, enjoyed a commemorative gathering to remember all those who have lost their battle with AIDS.

This year’s World AIDS Day celebration included a poetry reading by Hospital President Carolyn Caldwell, a vocal performance by Kenny Lee of the Gay Men’s Chorale, an emotional reading of names of those who have gone before us and an art display illustrating the journey of HIV through the eyes of survivors.

World AIDS Day was founded as the first ever global health day in 1988. It is important to remember that HIV/AIDS have not gone away. St. Mary Medical Center continues to work collaboratively with various community partners to increase awareness, provide resources and education and raise necessary funds through the support of the St. Mary Foundation to fulfill its mission to serve people in need at the CARE Center.

45 New Police Officers Graduate

The Long Beach Police Department is pleased to announce the graduation of Recruit Academy Class #91. The graduation ceremony was held on Nov. 30, at the Long Beach Performing Arts Terrace Theater.

Forty Long Beach Police Department recruits, three Garden Grove recruits and two Redondo Beach Police Department recruits successfully completed 25½ weeks of intense academic, physical and practical training in areas such as: patrol procedures and law enforcement tactics, firearms training, weaponless defense, criminal law, vehicle operations, community oriented public safety, persons with mental health disabilities, cultural diversity/human relations and procedural justice.

LBUSD Named National ‘District of Year’

The Long Beach Unified School District has earned the District of the Year award from the national business news publisher Industry Dive and its publication, Education Dive. The honor is part of the 2017 Dive Awards recognizing education’s “top disruptors and innovators.”

“These administrators, schools, trends and breakthroughs are transforming the industry and shaping the future,” the award announcement stated.

Washington D.C.-based Industry Dive serves more than five million executives with 13 industry-specific news publications. Through mobile-optimized websites, email newsletters, mobile apps and more, Industry Dive provides business leaders with a convenient way to stay up-to-date on the most relevant industry news, trends, events, jobs, press releases and market research impacting their jobs.

Education Dive solicited suggestions for award nominees from its readers. Winners were chosen by the editors of Education Dive based on resonance and industry impact. The criteria for the award include “a district that has been leading in a specific buzz area, setting an example of how to do things in the context of 21st Century learning.”

Education Dive Editor Linda Jacobson visited LBUSD central offices and Cabrillo High School as part of the award selection process.

“Strong school districts have clear plans for where they want to go and how they plan to get there and they don’t chase after the latest initiative just because it might carry with it some additional funding,” Jacobson said. “The LBUSD has demonstrated these principles.”

Jacobson highlighted the Cabrillo Academy of Law and Justice as one of dozens of career pathways that have helped LBUSD high schools to increase graduation rates in recent years. She described the school district’s focus on “equity and access,” including its nationally recognized Long Beach College Promise initiative and highly successful efforts to enroll more students in Advanced Placement college preparatory courses.

Jacobson’s article notes that LBUSD this year began giving every student, starting in eighth grade, a personalized College Readiness Guide, which was a response to parents asking if they can have all this information in one place.

Jacobson also noted the district’s long-standing efforts to build systems of support, such as instructional leadership teams at each school and at the district level.

Bodek Moving to County Job

Long Beach Development Services Director Amy Bodek has been offered the top planning job for the County of Los Angeles. Bodek was recruited to apply for the position and has been selected by the County Board of Supervisors as the next director of regional planning. The board of supervisors met on Dec. 5 to formally offer the job.

“This is a huge loss for the City of Long Beach, but a gain for the entire county,” said City Manager Patrick H. West. “Amy is one of the very best in her field and it is fitting that she is being offered one of the top planning positions in the United States. We congratulate her on this incredible professional opportunity.”

Bodek has served with the City of Long Beach for over 24 years and currently oversees a department of approximately 180 staff in building and safety, housing and neighborhood services, code enforcement, planning and administration and finance. She also serves as the president to the city’s wholly owned non-profit, Long Beach Community Investment Company, which focuses on the preservation and production of affordable housing.

Bodek has played an integral role in many City of Long Beach projects. These include infrastructure projects like the West and North Police Stations, the new Civic Center and Main Library, economic development engines like Douglas Park and affordable housing projects like Anchor Place and Banner Drive. It also includes programs such as Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program, home rebate programs and the city’s billboard incentive program that has resulted in the removal of almost 150 billboards throughout the city.

Bodek’s last day with the city will be Jan. 19.