LBPD Needs Help in Fatal Hit-and-Run
LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Police Department is still looking for the public’s help with information relating to a fatal hit-and-run collision that took place, at about 12:11 a.m. Sept. 13, near Sprint Street and Studebaker Road.
The victim, 20-year-old Daniel Gomez of Long Beach, was struck by a vehicle as he attempted to cross Spring Street.
Through their investigation, detectives were able to determine that the vehicle involved in the collision is a 2011-2014 silver metallic Honda Fit.
As a result of the collision, the vehicle may have sustained damage to the front driver’s side consisting of dents to the front bumper and hood, a broken driver’s side head lamp, a broken or missing driver’s side mirror housing and possibly a broken windshield.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the driver or who recognizes the vehicle description is urged to come forward and call (562) 570-7355 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Emergency Landing on at Long Beach Airport
LONG BEACH — At about 09:15 a.m. on Sept. 18, an outbound JetBlue flight from Long Beach Airport reported an engine problem and was rerouted back to Long Beach Airport for an emergency landing at 9:29 a.m. Evacuation slides were deployed and all 142 passengers deplaned safely along with five crew members.
Airport Operations followed all safety procedures, including closing the runway and associated taxiways. At 11:15 am, two hours after the incident, the aircraft was cleared from the runway and commercial flights resumed at the airport, with some delays expected throughout the day. General aviation activity was not affected.
The Long Beach Fire Department treated three passengers at the scene, and transported one passenger to a local hospital.
The Jet Blue Airbus 320, Flight No. 1416, departed at 9:05 am and was heading to Austin, Texas. JetBlue re-booked the passengers on a different flight so they could reach their destination.
Long Beach Cargo Numbers Slip in August
LONG BEACH — Container cargo shipments declined by 9.1 percent in August at the Port of Long Beach.
A total of 573,083 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were moved through the port in August. Imports dropped 8.2 percent to 300,851 TEUs, and exports declined 17.7 percent to 126,856 TEUs. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be refilled, fell 2 percent to 145,376 TEUs.
The downturn last month followed a surge in Long Beach from April through June 2014, when retailers shipped their products early ahead of the expiration of the longshore contract at the end of June.
Last year’s August was very busy and started off the typical August through October “peak season.” That peak season may have occurred earlier this year.
The first eight months of 2014 saw a 1 percent increase in volume. This past year, against which 2014 is being compared, was the third-busiest year in port history with a total of 6.73 million TEUs.
With an ongoing $4 billion program to modernize its facilities, the Port of Long Beach continues to invest in long-term, environmentally sustainable growth.
For all the latest monthly cargo numbers, click here.
For more details on the cargo numbers, please visit www.polb.com/stats.
Environmental Lawyer Joins Harbor Commission
LONG BEACH — On Sept. 17, environmental lawyer Tracy Egoscue joined the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners as the first commissioner appointed by newly-elected Mayor Robert Garcia.
She was approved by the City Council the prior week for a six-year term.
Egoscue heads a Long Beach-based private law practice, and in the past was executive officer of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board – Los Angeles Region. Prior to that, she served as executive director of Santa Monica Baykeeper, an environmental advocacy group. She has also practiced environmental litigation as a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice, and worked on issues encompassing the Air Resources Board, the California Environmental Quality Act and the Federal Clean Water Act.
She is the 67th Long Beach Harbor Commissioner since the current structure was set in 1925, and the seventh woman to serve on the board. Egoscue fills a seat vacated by the departure in July of Susan E. Anderson Wise, whose term ended.
Egoscue serves on the boards of directors of the California League of Conservation Voters and Mujeres de la Tierra, a nonprofit environmental justice organization. She received her law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her bachelor or arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a member of the State Bar of California and is also licensed to practice in Connecticut.
The Board of Harbor Commissioners directs the 500-person staff of the City of Long Beach Harbor Department in development and promotion of the Port of Long Beach.
Marriages at City Hall Becomes Law
SACRAMENTO – On Sept. 19, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 1525.
The measure adds city clerks to the list of officials allowed to solemnize marriage ceremonies that already includes county clerks, judges, justices, mayors, county supervisors, legislators, and members of Congress.
The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2015.
Brown Signs Bill Cracking Down On Cheating Contractors
SACRAMENTO – On Sept. 17, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a plan to help curb California’s underground economy by cracking down on contractors who cheat.
Senate Bill 315, which now goes into effect Jan. 1, 2015. SB 315 would improve the ability of the Contractors State License Board to arrest and criminally charge uninsured, unlicensed contractors who undermine law-abiding contractors and skirt state contracting and advertising laws.
Under SB 315, unlicensed contractors only will be allowed to advertise their services for projects that total less than $500 in combined material and labor costs. Current law allows unlicensed contractors to openly advertise for all construction projects, including those clearly in excess of the $500 legal limit. Unlicensed contractors still will need to state in all ads that they do not hold a California contractor license.
SB 315 also will strengthen Contractors State License Board’s ability to investigate companies exhibiting underground economy behavior. The bill will enable the Contractors State License Board enforcement representatives to access business and project locations, whereas current law limits that access to joint enforcement efforts conducted with the Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Labor Standard Enforcement.
Another provision of the bill will allow Contractors State License Board to pursue criminal charges against contractors who continue to contract for work after their license has been suspended for outstanding civil judgments or tax liabilities.
Groups supporting SB 315 are: Contractors State License Board (sponsor); Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Association; Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Association; American Subcontractors Association, California Inc.; California Chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association; California Landscape Contractors Association; California Legislative Conference of the Plumbing, Heating and Piping Industry; California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors; United Contractors.
There was no opposition.
LA Neighborhoods Excluded from Promise Zone
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sept. 19, the Barack Obama administration launched the second Promise Zone competition designed to create high poverty communities with economic opportunity.
Obama announced the first of five Promise Zones in January selected by an interagency panel led by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 2009, the Obama administration adopted place-based efforts to promote economic opportunity and economic growth by connecting key federal programs that support growth, such as education, economic development and infrastructure.
Unfortunately, the U.S. of Housing and Urban Development announced that it forces mayors to support only one Promise Zone application.
“Today’s announcement by HUD is extremely disappointing,” said Rep. Janice Hahn, in a statement. “A mayor of a large city should be able to support more than one Promise Zone application from his or her city. HUD’s policy penalizes Los Angeles and other large cities that have many areas that are impoverished and in need of help for revitalization. As a result, some impoverished regions of a major urban area might not be considered for much needed federal funding.”
However, Hahn was pleased that HUD had responded favorably to her request that Promise Zones communities in areas with a higher poverty rate. Going forward, HUD has raised the eligibility criteria for urban areas to an overall poverty rate of 33 percent. “If there is a bright spot in today’s announcement, HUD’s new focus on urban areas with higher poverty rates could help South L.A. communities like Watts qualify in the future,” Hahn said.
Hahn called on the administration to eliminate the guideline limiting applications to one per one local government area. Neighboring communities in need of funding should not be pitted against themselves and all applications should be eligible for consideration. She also urged changes regarding Promise Zones eligibility and selection aimed at making the process fairer and ensuring the program is accessible to underserved communities in need.
She submitted official comments to HUD and also joined her colleagues in the Los Angeles County Congressional delegation in sending a letter to HUD expressing concerns.