Drug Lab Discovered at Residence
LONG BEACH — At about 1 a.m. Nov. 7, the Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Fire Department responded to Bixby Highlands residence in the 4300 block of Maury Avenue in regards to a complaint of a strong chemical odor.
The initial investigation at the scene led officers and firefighters to believe the smell was related to a possible clandestine laboratory. Officers quickly contained the scene and evacuated residents in the immediate area to ensure their safety during the investigation.
Long Beach Detectives wrote a search warrant for the property and upon entering the residence they discovered an active Phencyclidine (PCP) Laboratory. Several large drum containers containing PCP were located on the property. Long Beach’s Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team responded for recovery of the chemical waste.
Long Beach Terminals Work to Clear Congestion
LONG BEACH — Strong cargo volumes continued into early November at the Port of Long Beach, resulting in delays due to a shortage of truck trailers, but underscoring this year’s rebound in international trade and pointing to an economic upswing.
The Port of Long Beach is working to establish a more consistent supply of truck chassis and is coordinating with all stakeholders to solve the current congestion issues that have slowed some shipments.
One solution the Port is pursuing is to free up more of the chassis – the wheeled trailer-frames that carry cargo containers – by finding a place in the Harbor District to receive and temporarily store the empty containers that terminals may not have room for at this time. This allows truckers to use a chassis to carry a loaded container, rather than sit idle with an empty container.
oA busy peak shipping season, the advent of larger ships and a change in the ownership system for chassis fleets brought congestion to many seaports this year.
Both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles are experiencing similar issues, the ports are working to gain permission to collaborate further on finding solutions.
Founder OC Investment Firm Pleads Guilty in Fraud Scheme
SANTA ANA — John Packard, co-owner of a now defunct Southern California investment firm pleaded guilty to mail fraud that collectively lost more than $110 million.
Packard, 64, is one of two owners of Pacific Property Assets. He is accused of running a Ponzi scheme that ended in company wide bankruptcy. The company, which took a hit alongside real estate decline, still owed hundreds of investors when it filed for bankruptcy in 2009. Packard also admitted to knowing that his business partner falsified the financial standing of the company to bring in new customers.
Pacific Property Assets, which had offices in Long beach and Irvine, owed 647 private investors more than $91 million and banks about $100 million. In the 2009 bankruptcy proceedings, private investors received nothing, while banks lost an estimated $24 million. Packard, a Long beach resident, faces up to 20 years maximum in federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 18, 2015. Stewart awaits trial during April of the same year.
Garecetti Highlights LADWP’s Energy Efficiency Goal
LOS ANGELES — On Nov. 10, Mayor Eric Garcetti highlighted the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s energy efficiency goal of 15 percent by year 2020.
The new goal, adopted by Garcetti’s appointees to the Board of Water and Power in August 2014, exceeds the 10-year, 10 percent energy efficiency requirements set by Assembly Bill 2021. It is expected to create jobs, while promoting energy savings for customers.
The 15 percent goal represents a total of 3,596 gigawatts in energy use reduction which equates to the benefits of removing 440,000 cars from Los Angeles’ streets each year. The energy efficiency programs also will create 16 jobs for every $1 million invested, according to the jobs creation study conducted by UCLA. LADWP is working with commercial, industrial and institutional customers who use quality contractors that employ skilled union labor and therefore provide these important work opportunities.
Business programs include the Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance Program; the Commercial Lighting Incentive Program; the Food Service Program; the Small Business Direct Install Program; and the Retrocommissioning Program administered in coordination with the Southern California Gas Company.
The LADWP’s energy conservation program complements its water conservation program, announced in October by Mayor Garceti with an executive directive to dramatically reduce the use of fresh water and the purchase of costly imported water. Details: www.tinyurl.com/ladrought, www.ladwp.com/energyefficiency