Letters to the Editor

July 4 Drunken Brawl

Apparently, Belmont Shore is the “to go place” for outsiders to celebrate the birth of our country with excessive drinking and brawling. There was a police presence, but it wasn’t until 6:30 p.m. that more than 50 police officers cleared the intruders out.

This is our “neighborhood,” not “the hood.” One woman called the police 14 times to report fights and said the police did respond, but the crowds were overwhelming with fights everywhere as well as an abundance of trash, glass and vomit. The city of Long Beach needs to do a better job of protecting this community.

Dorothy Kistler
Belmont Shore resident

Deport Trump’s Kids

Now that the smoke from the fireworks has cleared, let’s look back at this Fourth of July.

As we celebrated the 249th anniversary of our independence from the tyrannical rule of a monarchy, are we not wanting to face the fact that we have invited another one in?

Many of us who decided we needed a new barbecue to help celebrate the day were apprehensive about frequenting our favorite Home Depot for fear of being caught up in a “swarm” of federal agents searching for immigrants. Surely there was also some hesitancy in stopping by a hot dog stand for a Fourth of July wiener, for fear that an unmarked vehicle might pull up at any moment, full of masked agents ready to jump out and beat the vendor. Is this anyone’s idea of festive? Or, for that matter, what freedom looks like?

As we were enjoying our Independence Day celebrations, our president was cheerfully signing into law a bill providing more money for ICE to round up, detain and deport anyone suspected of the crime of having been born in another country, or born here to parents who were born elsewhere. Ironically, Trump’s first wife, Ivana, did not become a US citizen until 1988, meaning that all three of their children together – Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr. – are, ironically, dreaded so-called “anchor babies” and qualify for deportation. So, for that matter, is Barron, born to Melania a few months before she became a US citizen in 2006.

That Big Beastly Bill that Trump signed on July 4 also means that millions of us will lose healthcare, including the poor, disabled and most vulnerable among us, all while closing hospitals and ending medical research across the country.

And as we are watching the death and destruction resulting from the catastrophic flooding in Texas, we are listening to the accusations aimed at the National Weather Service, accusing them of not giving advance notice of the dangers of the impending storm – never mind that our president had just shut down the severe weather early warning system in order to “save money” and to ensure massive tax breaks for his billionaire buddies, and had also made cuts to FEMA. For that matter, shouldn’t the National Guard that is still “defending” LA be sent to help in Texas, where they are truly needed?

One of the most frightening parts of all of this is that we are becoming accustomed to this chaos. It is becoming our way of life. We are getting used to seeing uniformed (and plain clothed), armed military personnel moving around among us. We are becoming less likely to look twice when we see marked and unmarked military vehicles on our streets.

We are accustomed to wondering if we will be pulled over and questioned, as was one of my neighbors, and possibly detained. We are protesting in the streets, but where is the outrage? It now seems muted. Our congress is being silenced by threats from our president, and while we were celebrating “Independence Day” and watching fireworks, our very democratic existence was being whittled down into the autocracy we supposedly defeated forever 249 years ago. Is this what we celebrated on July Fourth?

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, “This government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Let’s hope.

Merry Colvin

Utility Rates Skyrocketing

The rate proposal adopted by the LB Utilities Board on June 17 are as follows:

1. Gas Fund: 15% increase starting Aug. 2025 and 12% increase starting April 2026
2. Water Fund: 12% increase starting Oct. 2025
3. Sewer Fund: 12% increase starting Oct. 2025

The increases for water and sewer rates are subject to a Proposition 218 Hearing, scheduled for Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. It establishes that revenue from the fees and charges may not exceed the costs of providing such services. Proposition 218 helps ensure that the proposed levy amount is proportionate to the cost of the related governmental activity and prohibits local governments from using fee revenue on unrelated expenses.

While natural gas companies need to cover their operational costs and generate a reasonable return, their pricing is not completely unchecked. It’s subject to the oversight and approval of regulatory bodies, which aim to ensure that rates are fair, reasonable and provide for reliable service.

The meetings of the LB Utilities Board regarding the rate increases were blatantly advertised as budget workshops. This was a totally misleading misnomer. They were actually regular board meetings with only a short public comment. No questions allowed. The first meeting was devoid of any agenda info so that the public had zero information to consider. Whatever happened to open and transparent?

Hugely concerning is that the Long Beach utilities were combined not too long ago, with the promise that costs would be reduced overall. But, in reality, the rates were raised 9% in 2023, 11% in 2024 and 10% in 2025. Coincidentally, these dollar amounts are approximately the amount refunded to rate payers from our victorious lawsuits re unlawful transfers of money to the general fund.

This board consistently sends dollars to the General Fund as excess and usually closely matches the amount of the yearly raise. On top of that, add the 5% Utility Users Tax. This is very telling and not conforming to the spirit or definitions expressed in Prop 218. It is blatant stealing from the ratepayers.

What can ratepayers do?

• File a Complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): If you are concerned about increased natural gas prices or have other utility issues that cannot be resolved through informal means, you can file a written complaint with the CPUC through their online portal or a formal complaint process.
• File a complaint with the CA State Auditor. Write to your so-called local and state representatives.
• Post comments and send letters to post at hearings and meetings re these outrageous rates. Attend those meetings.
• Do not vote for the same politicos who support these crushing rates.

Diana Lejins
Greater LB Taxpayers Union