Bits 'N" Pieces

City Manager West Announces Departure

Long Beach City Manager Patrick H. West has announced he will be leaving his post as the chief executive of the city to bring his insights and knowledge to the private sector. West started with the City of Long Beach in 2005 as the executive director of the redevelopment agency and community development director after serving the City of Paramount for 25 years. In 2007, West was appointed city manager by the City Council.

During West’s tenure with the city, Long Beach has seen advancements in development, public health and safety, and livability. Despite gaining the city’s top post during the country’s Great Recession, West has delivered his 13th consecutive balanced budget, the latest of which is $2.8 billion.

Highlights of the city’s last 13 years include a recent development boom, which currently includes $3.5 billion in private construction. This boom was made possible largely in part by an innovative and streamlined Downtown Plan, allowing for additional housing and a reimagined skyline.

West has overseen the development of a unique and innovative public-private partnership (P3) to build a new Civic Center, which includes a new LEED certified and seismically sound City Hall and Port Administration building, a new main library and a new downtown park. The P3 allowed for $520 million of investment into public facilities without any new taxes.

During West’s time as city manager, the city has also seen an increase in livability initiatives, projects and programs. Major advancements in complete streets has taken place in the city, including the emergence of a safe and dedicated bicycle lane network, better ADA access, roundabouts and increased walkability with outdoor dining and activities.

The city has also redeveloped many major corridors and continues to rise in prestige as having one of the best parks systems in the country. The city also initiated a popular bike share program and expanded its beach bike path with separate lanes for walking and riding. The city has also seen a dramatic positive change in water quality, with Heal the Bay now consistently rating all Long Beach beaches as excellent during summer months.

Long Beach’s economy is thriving, and in 2018, the city saw its lowest unemployment rate in 30 years, at 4.1 percent. And the city has also become safer over the last 13 years with Part 1 crimes and aggravated assaults significantly decreasing. Long Beach is also being recognized as a leader in providing support to people in the community experiencing homelessness, and providing the services needed to get them into housing and the support needed for them to stay in housing. The services provided has helped decrease the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by 40 percent in less than ten years and has placed thousands of people in permanent housing.

West’s last day with the city will be Sept. 20.

Submitted by City of LB

Parks/Rec Fall Class Registration Begins

Registration for new recreation classes offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) began Aug. 5. More than 400 classes in art, music, nature, fitness, special interest subjects, adult sports leagues and aquatics programs will be offered starting in September.

In addition to fee-based classes, the Recreation Connection, PRM’s program guide, lists dozens of free and low-cost activities for families, youth sports leagues, teen centers and senior centers.

New classes for fall 2019 include options for every age range.

Preschool

Little Hoopers basketball fundamentals class.

Youth

Roblox Coding using Lua code, a language similar to JavaScript.

Audition Prep for Solo Pop, Musical Theatre and More.

Adults

Palette Up! watercolor painting fundamentals, with options for advanced techniques.

Capoeira, which combines martial arts, music, dance and acrobatics.

Older Adults

Dance, yoga and Zumba classes catered to adults 50 years and older.

Residents can register using a variety of methods: online at lbparks.org, by calling (562) 570-3111 or by visiting the Registration Reservations Office (2760 Studebaker Rd.) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

New Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance

A new City of Long Beach Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance took effect Aug. 1. The ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council in June, will require landlords of multi-family rental units to provide relocation assistance payments of up to $4,500 to tenants displaced through no fault of their own.

Under the ordinance, landlords who own multi-family residential rental housing in buildings containing at least four units are required to pay relocation assistance to tenants if any of the following occur:

A tenant receives notice of rent increases totaling 10 percent or more in any 12-month period.

A tenant receives notice to vacate due to the landlord rehabilitating tenant’s unit.

A tenant in “good standing” receives notice to vacate for any reason. “Good standing” means that the tenant has resided in the unit for one year or more, is current in payment of rent and not in violation of lease, and has not damaged the unit, interfered with other tenants or used the property for an unlawful purpose.

The ordinance specifies that landlords are exempt from relocation assistance requirements in the following cases:

A landlord owns only one building of exactly four units in the City of Long Beach.

A landlord occupies a unit in the building as their primary residence in a multi-family building of any size that is subject to the ordinance.

A landlord issues a notice to vacate for a landlord, or an immediate family member of the landlord, to occupy the unit, to occupy a unit in a multi-family building of any size that is subject to the ordinance.

A landlord is recovering possession to comply with a government order to vacate due to a natural disaster.

The unit to be vacated is an affordable housing unit restricted by deed or covenant to be affordable to lower-income households.

The unit was built after February 1, 1995.

As detailed in the ordinance, the relocation payments are required to be equal to two times the citywide average small-area, fair-market rents established by the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach, up to a maximum of $4,500.

If a relocation payment is triggered by a tenant leaving due to a 10 percent or greater increase in rent, then the tenant must notify the landlord of their intent to stay in the unit at the increased rent within 14 days. If they do not, they must vacate the unit and the landlord must pay the first half of the relocation assistance within 24 days of the receipt of the initial notice by the tenant, and the remaining half within five days of the tenant moving out.

If the relocation payment is required due to rehabilitation of the tenant’s unit, or in the case of a tenant in good standing being given a notice or non-renewal or notice to vacate by the landlord, then the landlord must pay the first half of the required relocation assistance within 10 days of the notice and the remaining half within five days of the tenant moving out.

Information regarding the ordinance has been previously made available to the general public, tenants and landlords through the Department of Development Services website, notices, mailers and email blasts. For more information, including the full ordinance and required forms, visit: www.longbeach.gov/lbds/hn/tenant-assistance-policies.

CSULB Ranked One of the Best For Your Money

Money magazine ranked California State University, Long Beach the 13th best college for your money, and the 10th best public school in the country. The ranking compared 727 universities in the nation. Cal State Long Beach ranked the highest when compared with other CSU campuses, and fared seventh among UCs.

To determine its ranking, Money examined six-year graduation rates, student-to-instructor ratios, the outcomes of Pell Grant recipients and affordability among other criteria.

“College is the ultimate investment, and our Best Colleges franchise gives us an opportunity to connect with families leading up to one of their most significant financial milestones,” said Editorial Director of Money.com and Finance Content Strategy Adam Auriemma. “Higher education is a hot topic, and with more options than ever, we offer insight into educational quality, affordability and alumni success, and we help guide students in the right direction.”

Described as “one of the best bargains in education,” Money magazine focused on Cal State Long Beach having strong departments in practical subjects including healthcare administration, accounting and engineering – areas where students are more likely to get high paying jobs after graduating.

The ranking also focused on the number of low-income students who become upper middle class (38 percent) and percentage of students in need who receive grants (80 percent).

Last year CSULB ranked 22 on this list, this ranking moves the campus up nearly ten slots in the ranking.

Red Cross Urgently Needs Blood Donations

 With many regular donors delaying giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start, the American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donations to help end a summer blood shortage.

While thousands of donors have rolled up a sleeve this summer, blood and platelet donations aren’t keeping pace with patient needs. More donations are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for patient emergencies.

Make an appointment to donate blood now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red donations can be given every 112 days.

With the help of a generous $1 million donation from Amazon, the Red Cross is thanking those who help overcome the shortage by coming to give July 29 through Aug. 29 with a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Long Beach:

Aug. 17 thru 31: (Times vary)., Long Beach Blood Donation Center, 3150 E. 29th St.

8/20/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., P2Sinc, 5000 E. Spring St., 8th Floor

8/21/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., World Trade Center, One World Trade Center

8/22/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., North West College, 3799 E. Burnett St.

8/22/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., LD Products, 3700 Cover St.

8/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 5500 Wardlow Rd.

8/26/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., MOD Pizza, 3861 N Lakewood Blvd

8/27/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., PCPI Shoreline Square, LLC, 301 E. Ocean Blvd

Memorial Care Ranked Among California’s Best

In a rigorous assessment of more than 4,500 adult hospitals, U.S. News & World Report recognized MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center as “high performing” in 14 clinical categories, including for cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, orthopedics, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, colon cancer surgery, gastroenterology & gastrointestinal surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip replacement, knee replacement, urology and nephrology.

Long Beach Medical Center ranked among the Top 6 Hospitals in Los Angeles County. Top 15 in California and the highest ranking in the Greater Long Beach region. Along with MemorialCare sister hospitals Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, the trio together were ranked as “high performance” 30 times in several clinical categories.

The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions and common elective procedures. Scores are based on several factors, including outcomes, patient safety and patient experience. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.

LGB Teams Up with Motiv

The Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Motiv today announced a new partnership for the 2019 JetBlue Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon. Southern California’s premier fall marathon will welcome more than 15,000 participants to the oceanfront streets of Long Beach the weekend of October 11-13.

“Motiv assumed management of the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon in 2017 and has since worked hard to uphold its high standards and increase its visibility in the community year-round,” said Alex Bennett, executive race director. “We are proud to enter into this partnership with the Long Beach Airport, which is such an important institution that defines the Long Beach community. We invite all runners to experience the tradition and excitement of the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon in October.”

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with one of the city’s iconic events like the marathon as we broaden our commitment to the local community and commemorate our yearlong 95th anniversary celebration,” said Cynthia Guidry, Long Beach Airport Director. “We’re looking forward to a terrific event that brings runners, spectators, airport employees and the community together in a positive and memorable way.”

The JetBlue Long Beach Marathon has been one of the most popular and respected marathons in the country for over thirty-five years.  The 26.2-mile scenic course showcases the city’s miles of sandy beaches and unique neighborhoods.  Last year, over 15,000 runners, walkers and bike tour participants registered for the event.  This year’s event will be held on the weekend of October 11-13, marking its 35th anniversary.

For more information on the 35th JetBlue Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon or to register for the event, visit RunLongBeach.com and follow the JetBlue Long beach Marathon on social media @LBMarathon with hashtag #RunLongBeach.

Be Responsible, Drive Sober Labor Day Weekend

As summer comes to a close, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking drivers to not get behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs that impact your ability to drive safely.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in the national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. During this period, which runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2 (Labor Day),  the Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on the road looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

In addition to patrols, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will hold DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints on Aug. 16, 23 and 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the cities of Norwalk, La Mirada, Palmdale and Lancaster.

Labor Day Weekend remains one of the deadliest times of year for alcohol-involved crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 376 deadly crashes nationwide during the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (Sept. 1 to Sept. 5). Among those crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved a drunk driver. Last year, two people were killed, and 31 others injured in California on Labor Day alone.

“There are so many ways to get home safely without driving,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Robert Hill, said. “Driving while drunk or high is dangerous, irresponsible and causes too many senseless tragedies. We hope that drivers get the message that driving impaired will never be tolerated.”

Driving while impaired is illegal, whether it is alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications or marijuana.

If you plan on drinking or are taking medications that can affect your driving ability, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service. If you see someone driving impaired, call 911.