Long Beach becoming tech leader
I am proud to report that for the second year in a row, Long Beach has been named a Top 10 Digital City by the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology. Long Beach was recognized for many successful innovations implemented over the past few years to reduce costs and improve efficiency, as well as increasing community involvement.
We are transforming our city into a technology leader thanks to the leadership and support of Mayor Foster, the investments the City Council has made in technology, and an incredible technology team led by our Director of Technology Services Curtis Tani. These investments are making our city more competitive and positioning us to lead in this new economy.
Some of our accomplishments include:
Launching the Go Long Beach smartphone app, which has made reporting neighborhood issues easier and faster.
Moving more permits and city services online.
Creating the LBCOP technology to combine law enforcement data with real time video monitoring to support public safety, and enhanced the Police Department’s mobile data system to get information to our police faster and save over $1,000,000 in new mobile computers upgrades.
Reduced the Library’s annual telecom expenses by $75,000 with a new E-rate application.
We have been improving city communication through an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
We are in the process of redesigning our city website to create an active 24 hr online city hall.
We should all be proud of everything our city is doing to lead the way on technology, efficiency, and government transparency. We will continue to advocate for technology investments, and ensure that Long Beach remains a national leader.
Go Long Beach,
Robert Garcia
Long Beach City Councilman
Help keep Main Street merchants’ door open
As a merchant of long standing (since 1997), I witnessed another retail icon on Main Street go the way of many small businesses these days. Belinda of Art on Glass closed her doors this week after many years of providing art to Old Town. I have seen too many storefronts go dark in my tenure as it gets harder every year to compete with big-box stores where you get what you pay for but allow small businesses to die.
I started with the mission to keep bikes and service going for Seal Beach until I pulled the pin, as my lifelong dream to live and work in Seal Beach. I am writing this as a plea to residents—please shop local. Otherwise Main Street, will become three-blocks of food court interrupted by some coffee-shops and salons. Keep our small-town charm by supporting local merchants. A dollar spent at WalMart or Target is a nail in all small shops’ coffin.
Dave Dunton, owner
Main Street Cyclery
Seal Beach
No facts in illegal workers claim
Editor’s Note: The following letter is in response to a letter that ran in the Nov. 15 (“Suspicioius Times in Rossmoor”) issue of the Sun, in which the writer questioned the number of undocumented immigrants working in Rossmoor on any given day.
How does this person know the amount of unlicensed work being done? My neighbor’s gardener has a license and so does my gardener and tree trimmer. Many of the people that offer these services are Hispanic. Is that what he is pointing out when he says, “Well, just drive through Rossmoor and there are a multitude of individuals committing infractions?” I would like to know if Mr. Burgess stops and asks all these “individuals” for their licenses. I feel the letter published lacks credibility. All the agencies he mentioned ignore him for the very reason he cites, “no specifics.” Mr. Burgess needs to get some facts before he starts throwing out accusations to hard working “individuals.”
Jeff Breitung
Rossmoor
Poll results
Should the Salon Meritage memorial be paid for with taxpayer money or private donations?
Taxpayer money—5 percent
Private Donations—95 percent
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 e-mailed, 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. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
