City is pleased to partner with Run Seal Beach
On behalf of City Council, our staff and citizens, welcome everyone and thank you for joining us for the 40th Annual Run Seal Beach!
This Ruby Anniversary has special significance for the City as we move towards our Centennial in 2015. The City is proud to run and walk beside and in partnership with Run Seal Beach over its history.
On Saturday, some of you will walk, run or a do a combination of the two. Whatever the case, my fellow council members and I are pleased that you’ve decided to participate and spend time in our wonderful town.
Your participation in this event means many community organizations will have additional funding to move forward with worthwhile programs and projects. We as a community are so appreciative of the contributions that the Run has made to so many of our local organizations and particularly our school district.
If you are a visitor, we invite you to not only enjoy Seal Beach for this event, but also to come back and walk the pier, visit our shops, dine in our restaurants and spend time on the beach. Seal Beach is proud to be ranked one of the friendliest towns in these United States.
Finally, to our residents and city staff, along with the tireless efforts of the race directors, organizers and volunteers – thank you. We truly are a small town with a big heart. Enjoy race day!
Mayor Ellery Deaton
Seal Beach
Re: tram poll
If a nice dinner restaurant goes in on the pier, a rickshaw, tram, electric car or something will be mandatory. High heels don’t do well on those pier planks!
Marc Loopesko
Seal Beach
For the people who can’t or don’t want to walk the pier I say rickshaws are the way to go.
Barbara Brown
Seal Beach needs public restrooms
I agree with Kevin Fitzgerald, 55-year resident of Seal Beach, on his “NO Restroom at Marina Park” letter (Sun Newspapers, March 27, 2013).
I’ve lived here since 1941. My only grievance about town is not having a restroom available when shopping downtown.
Most business owners post signs in their store windows which read “Restroom Facilities for Patrons Only,” or none at all.
At the restaurants, you can use their facilities if you are a patron. With the buses running again from Long Beach to Main and Electric Avenue, we will have more out-of-town shoppers. Let’s accommodate their restroom needs.
Oh, the pier has had bathrooms forever. Then there is City Hall, if the restoom doors aren’t locked to the public—and that’s it!
The only time Seal Beach steps up to the potty and provides public facilities -is for the Seal Beach Car Show. Then, you will find porta-potties on Central in the Bank of America parking lot. Nothing at Christmas Parade time. Those who attend the Santa Claus Parade just go to the pier bathrooms and wait in line; a long line since all participants in the parade are waiting to use the facility. They come from miles to get here and have their needs.
I attended a Seal Beach Recreation meeting at the Mary Wilson Library several months ago and talked to the group about building some bathrooms on Main Street. For instance, on Marina Drive and Main, where the buses stop to pick up folks, there is a grassy area that would accommodate restrooms.
Then, there is the lot on Electric Avenue and Main by the former wine shop which has a green area and room for a restroom.
There are no facilities at Dolphin Street and the Ocean area next to the beach where I go to swim. Never was. As a youngster, and even now, I will use the ocean for my needs. No time to run to the pier. I hope more people in town address this need for public bathrooms.
Paula Goetz
Seal Beach
Get out the vote
Students, staff, and teachers of Long Beach City College will wear red to rally for “Get Out the Vote Weekend” on Thursday, April 3, at 12:00 on the public sidewalk in front of the T Building near the corner Carson and Clark. We are so excited to usher in change at the college that we want to dance about it!
The Political Action Coalition has endorsed united candidates, Sunny Zia of District 3 and Gregory Slaughter of District 5, for the Board of Trustees election on Tuesday, April 8. Janét Hund, Chair of the Political Action Committee, stresses that “These candidates get the pulse of the college: Change is needed for LBCC to continue our historic mission of serving our diverse community. Slaughter is in pursuit of fairness for all, opposing vocational program cuts and administrative bloat at the expense of the campus community, including students, teachers and staff; Zia is also opposed to the vocational program cuts and attuned to the budget, pledging to cut waste without putting hard budget times on the backs of our students.”
The PAC believes that the opposition is out of touch with the needs of students, faculty, and staff. In fact, the opposition stands for the controversial the two-tiered tuition hikes which Slaughter and Zia oppose. Baxter emailed Foundation donors last August to support AB955 at the state level; Kellogg voted for AB955; Ursua has not said that she will outright oppose AB955 scheduling. Additionally, Kellogg’s ballot statement claims that “LBCC offers students additional opportunities for high-demand courses for winter and spring breaks.” However, the college does not offer courses during spring break. Not only does Kellogg not understand how the controversial AB955 affects students, he doesn’t even know when LBCC courses are offered.
Thomas Hamilton, President of Classified Staff AFT
Janét Hund, Political Action Committee Chair, Full-time Faculty
Karen Roberts, President of Part-time Faculty CHI
Speakers running for office
The club’s focus on presenting Republican candidates running for local and state office continues with the April 19 meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott (5865 Katella Avenue at Valley View). Guest speakers at the April 19 meeting are:
Lydia Gutierrez, candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Helen Hayden, candidate for Orange County Superior Court Judge
Andy Whallon, candidate for U.S. Congressional District #47 (to replace Alan Lowenthal)
The club, representing Rossmoor, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Seal Beach, Leisure World and surrounding cities, invites the community to the April 19 networking brunch meeting. It starts with a delicious brunch at 9:45 a.m. and concludes at noon. For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Chris Barnes at 562-865-3258 or Chris.Barnes4727@gmail.com.
Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated President Margene Walz said that the club’s spotlight throughout 2014 will be on Republican candidates. “Our meetings are open to like- minded men and women who want to meet the candidates and understand the issues.”
The cost is $20 for members/guests. This includes networking, buffet breakfast, meeting and guest speakers. There is free parking.
Meetings are open to women and men who want to work with like-minded individuals to improve the political landscape. For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Chris Barnes at 562-865-3258 or Chris.Barnes4727@gmail.com.
As part of the Orange County Federation of Republican Women (OCFRW), which is an affiliate of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), the Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated has been serving the community since 1961 – Rossmoor, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Seal Beach and Leisure World. They welcome new members and guests at events and monthly meetings. Membership is $29 per calendar year ($20 for associate members). Monthly meetings (except July and August) are held on the third Saturday each month at the Courtyard by Marriott, 5865 Katella Avenue, Cypress, 9:45 a.m. – noon.
Lydia Gutierrez is a long-time California educator and an elected official on the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. “The California educational system is in disarray,” Gutierrez said. “And Common Core mandates are not the answer. School districts across the states will be forced to settle for mediocrity under the cover-up name of ‘College and Career Ready.’” In her critique, Gutierrez pointed out that parent and local control is pivotal in every child’s academic success.
“I am running to create transparency and accountability of the tax dollars allocated to education and assure that those dollars are making it in the hands that need it most, our schools, Gutierrez said. “I do not support Common Core as a valid measuring tool to bring about academic success when it has not been piloted to prove its academic success and directly takes parent and local control away,” Gutierrez stressed.
Helen Hayden, who was born in Philly, raised in South Jersey, and has made her long-time home in Newport Beach, is a business attorney with 28 years experience practicing law. “I have personally handled hundreds of lawsuits throughout my career. As a volunteer, I serve as a temporary judge in Los Angeles County Superior Courts.”
Hayden said the reason she is challenging Judge Derek Johnson is based on the offensive statements he made from the bench during the sentencing stage of a rape trial. “His statements, which reflect his personal views regarding rape, make it obvious that he doesn’t belong on the bench. We need fair and impartial jurists who serve to uphold the laws, not recreate them based on their own biases. I have the temperament, experience and work ethic to serve our community as a judge.” Hayden pointed out that this is Derek Johnson’s first election since his Public Admonishment in December 2012. “Help me make it his last.”
Andy Whallon, a Long Beach resident since 1986, says that the essential idea of his campaign is that your life is your own. “As your representative, this will be my fundamental governing principle. I will be on your side against elected officials and bureaucrats who do not respect your family, your work, your choices, or your life.”
He goes on to say that America was, ought to be, and can be again, the freest country on earth, a place of overflowing opportunities, a place where you can peacefully build your life, pursue your values, and live according to your own judgment the way you see fit, whether or not the government or your neighbor or anyone agrees.
Margene Walz
Seal Beach
La Verne Avenue home to become parking lot
No doubt you have heard this discussed at one or more meetings, read about it in a newspaper article or on line, or even seen the television coverage.
First was a public meeting at Simmzy’s: Bill Lorbeer announced the plan: the city will purchase this attractive home for about $650,000, then demolish it and pave it for only 8 parking spaces! After Lorbeer spoke, a large group of La Verne Avenue residents voiced their opinions – all were against it. Council member Gary DeLong would not state his position (we have since learned that he supports it).
Following that was the Parking Commission meeting, on February 20: thirty residents attended, possibly a record crowd for that meeting. Many spoke against the demolition, but the commissioners voted 4 -1 to proceed. Resident representative Eric Forsberg voted against it.
Lastly, the issue was discussed at the Belmont Shore Business Association meeting, on February 25. Almost all the merchants at that meeting supported it.
Some of the candidates to replace Gary DeLong as Third District Council member have spoken up and denounced this effort to demolish 205 La Verne.
For this plan to go forward, both the Planning Commission and City Council must vote their approval. Dates for those meetings have not been announced.
However, continuing action by residents can help stop this, by speaking in the public participation segment of upcoming city meetings. The Belmont Shore Parking Commission met again on Thursday, March 20, at 9 a.m. at the Bay Shore Library; they allowed public comment at the beginning of their meeting.
BSRA will alert you when this home demolition plan officially goes to the Planning Commission (and later City Council). In the meantime, in addition to attending the city meetings noted above if possible, you may send a letter or email to the mayor.
At its regular monthly meeting on March 13, the BSRA held a discussion of the city’s plan to purchase the home at 205 LaVerne Avenue and demolish it for conversion to a parking lot. The Board voted unanimously to oppose this action.
Belmont Shore Residents Association, Long Beach
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun. The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 300 words maximum. Letters should be emailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication). The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. Email letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
