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Up in Arms Over Bike Lanes California’s beach cities have the perfect landscape for bicycle riding. Many of those cities have paved bicycle pathways to compliment the terrain and the scenery. “We are a California beach city,” said Allyson Vought, a San Pedro resident and professional cyclist. “And we lack any kind of infrastructure to support alternate means of transportation.” While Capital Drive might offer a too much resistance for the casual bicycle rider, Westmont
Community Announcements:
Harbor Area State of the Second District
Join Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal for the State of the Second District, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 20, at The Edison Theater in Long Beach. Details: (562) 570-6684 Venue: The Edison Theater Location: 213 E. Broadway, Long Beach
Housing Element
Long Beach residents are encouraged to make their voices heard at the at the Long Beach City Council, June 20, when the City of Long Beach presents its draft housing element. The Planning Commission of Long Beach helps set a path for the city’s 2014-2021 Housing Element. The housing element is a road map that lays out priorities for housing development for years to come. The community has a chance to let the planning commission know what they want in terms of quality, affordable housing in Long Beach. Housing Long Beach and its community partners are promoting four components to be included in the housing element: 1) Mixed Income Housing (a percentage of all future development is affordable) 2) Permanent Local Funding Sources for Affordable Housing 3) A Rent Trust to Improve the Existing Stock of Housing 4) Quality Sites that Develop Affordable Housing in Health-Promoting Areas Details: (714) 661-7199; kpayne@housinglb.org Venue: Long Beach City Hall Location: 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach Take advantage of the free used tire recycling collection, June 22, at the Harbor District Yard. Venue: Harbor District Yard Location: 1400 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Community Yard Sale
Long Beach District 6 Councilman Dee Andrews will host a big Community Yard Sale, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Long Beach. If you would like to sell items the cost is $20 per space. Details: (562) 570-6816 Venue: Martin Luther King Jr. Park Location: 1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach
The Local Publication You Actually Read
Free Used Tire Recycling Collection
Drive seems to be ideal. “Westmont is a real nice street to ride up to Western.” Vought said. “It’s not steep; it’s manageable.” Some say that city planners could have done a better job with planning. Contexts and situations within proximity and rush hour could have been looked at specifically when designing the layouts. “This shouldn’t be a rubber-stamped project for all of Los Angeles,” said community activist John Mavar. “[San] Pedro is different than other places and that’s how it should’ve been planned.” A heavy complaint and call volume has led the councilman’s office to assume residents believe Buscaino can instantaneously solve the issue. “A lot of people think the Councilman snapped his fingers to put the bike lanes in and can snap his fingers to take them out” Kvartuc said “That isn’t the case.” Though there isn’t an imminent solution to the issue, Buscaino is attempting to make things right. A town hall meeting took place at Peck Park, 6 p.m. June 11. The meeting addressed all the possible solutions to the issues residents are having. The addition of another pickup and drop-
off area at Taper Elementary School, located on the bottom of Westmont Drive and a left-turn lane on Western Avenue and Westmont Drive, were amongst the solutions discussed. No matter the complaints or congestion, the risks and benefits, Mavar reminded the community of one fact that can’t be overlooked. “We’re going to have to live with this.”
San Pedro Democratic Club
The San Pedro Democratic Club will feature a presentation by Councilman Joe Busicano’s office and a discussion of the election results, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. June 24, at The Whale & Ale Restaurant in San Pedro. Venue: The Whale & Ale Restaurant Location: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro The Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission is seeking new commissioners. The Citizen Police Complaint Commission (CPCC) was established to provide an independent investigative commission to receive, administer and investigate allegations of misconduct against Long Beach Police Officers. Details: www.longbeach.gov/cpcc
June 14 - 27, 2013
Commissioners Wanted
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