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NEWS
Federal government ends 16-day shutdown with 11th-hour deal
After a negotiation led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to put an end to a 16-day political standoff that suspended federal programs, President Barack Obama signed a Congressapproved deal on Oct. 16 that ended the shutdown. Congressmember Alan Lowenthal (D–Long Beach) voted “yea� on the Reid-McConnell bill to re-open the government and temporarily raise the debt ceiling. “I am glad that this irresponsible shutdown has ended, and the full faith and credit of our country remains, for the moment, intact,� Lowenthal said in a press release emailed on Wednesday night. “Tonight’s vote proved that even after all other possibilities were exhausted, the majority of Congress did the right thing. “I cannot say that I am proud of some of my colleagues for
allowing this to go until the 11th hour, but I can say that I am undoubtedly relieved. This shutdown, which could have been avoided, cost the U.S. $24 billion. My hope is that cool heads will prevail from here on out so as to ensure this folly does not happen again, especially as we renew efforts to reverse the across-the-board sequestration cuts. “The Reid-McConnell bill was a clear sign of bipartisan leadership from our friends in the Senate, and I commend Speaker Boehner for allowing the House to vote on it. Now, those 800,000 furloughed government employees– including over 30,000 in Southern California– can come back to work with the peace of mind that they will be able to pay their bills, put food on the table, and get back to work for the American people.� Source: Alan Lowenthal’s office
After agreement, Long Beach becomes largest city in CalPERS to achieve full pension reform
The City of Long Beach announced on Oct. 14 that agreements had been made that day with the last four remaining bargaining units in the City– engineers, lifeguards, confidential and management. With these final agreements, Long Beach has achieved full pension reform, with all City employees paying their full share of pension costs, making Long Beach the largest California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) city to achieve this milestone, according to a press release issued by the City. “What some believed was not possible has now been accomplished for California’s largest CalPERS city,� said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. “Long Beach has achieved full pension reform with lower and more sustainable benefits for new employees and full employee participation for all employees.� The agreements use the same methodology as the previous agreements with the Police, Fire and International Association of Machinists (IAM) associations to achieve pension reform. The agreements will result in existing employees paying the full 8 percent (9 percent for safety) of salary towards their pension costs. Additionally, it will provide the equivalent salary increase
The California Nurses Association have endorsed Patrick O’Donnell in his campaign to represent the 70th District in the State Assembly, according to Brian Mineghino, O’Donnell’s campaign manager. • State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and Long Beach Unified Board Members Diana Craighead, Jon Meyer, Mary Stanton and Felton Williams have endorsed James Johnson for Long Beach City Attorney, according to an emailed announcement from Johnson. • First District Long Beach City Council candidate Lena Gonzalez announced on Oct. 10 that she has received the endorsements of the
of 1.3 percent per year when averaged from FY 09 to FY 15, less than the average 2.1 percent inflation rate since FY 09, according to the press release. The City’s engineers, lifeguards, confidential and management groups have not been awarded any salary increase for five years, a first in the City’s history (with the sole exception of 3 percent for confidential in 2009). During the challenging years from FY 09 to FY 13, these four groups saved an estimated $6 million in the General Fund and $26 million in all funds by forgoing increases. The agreements will also help with issues of compression and inequity by replicating the same agreements offered to other employee organizations. “Long Beach has become a smaller, more nimble organization, reducing management in city manager departments by 28 percent and eliminating 786 total positions since 2007,� Foster said. “But we needed to address an issue of inequality in the City organization and compensate our remaining employees fairly. We ask a tremendous amount of these employees and will continue to do so as we trust them with the management of the City’s improving finances. Without these agreements,
The Campaign Trail
International Longshore & Warehouse Union Locals 13, 63 and 94. • James K. Lewis, Stephen C. Bello and Lionel Gatley have all entered the race for the 3rd District Long Beach council seat, according to the City’s Potential Candidate Primary Nominating Election webpage. • Joan Greenwood has entered the race for the 7th District Council seat, according to the City of Long Beach’s Potential Candidate Primary Nominating Election webpage. • International Longshore & Warehouse Union Locals 13, 63 and 94 have endorsed Roberto Uranga to represent Long Beach’s 7th District on the City Council, according to an email from
LB City Council approves speed-limit changes The following are areas where speed-limit changes have been approved by the Long Beach City Council, according to an email from 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske:
Stearns Avenue Redondo Avenue to Clark Avenue– 30 mph Clark Avenue to Marwick Avenue– 30 mph Palo Verde Avenue to Studebaker Road– 35 mph
Termino Avenue Seventh Street to Anaheim Street– 25 mph Anaheim Street to Hathaway Avenue– 25 mph
Conant Street Lakewood Boulevard to Clark Avenue– 30 mph Heinemann Avenue to Lakewood Boulevard– 35 mph
Lakewood Boulevard North city limits to Carson Street– 40 mph Carson Street to a point 710 feet south of Conant Street– 45 mph A point 710 feet north of Willow Street– 45 mph A point 560 feet north of Willow Street to Los Alamitos traffic circle– 40 mph
Cover Street Westreet city limit to Lakewood Boulevard– 30 mph
Worsham Avenue Carson Street to Conant Street– 30 mph
Long Beach may just become a training ground for other cities– a city that cannot attract or retain talent yet grows talent for other cities. If that happens, this will not be the city we all want it to be.� Due to Long Beach’s improved financial position and the strengthening economy, the cost of the agreements will be addressed through anticipated stronger-than-budgeted revenues, according to city officials. It is expected that the City will maintain the $3.5-million surplus projected in FY 14 with these agreements. Together with previous pension reform agreed to by these four groups and pension reform achieved with police, fire, IAM and other bargaining units, the City expects full pension reform to save a minimum of $250-million for all funds, including more than $130 million in the General Fund, from FY 14 to FY 24, according to the press release. These units represent approximately 800 positions, or 14 percent of the City’s workforce. The agreements will be brought to the City Council in open session on Oct. 22 for consideration. Source: City of LB
Sergio Carrillo of Carrillo Strategies campaign-consulting firm. • Ninth District Long Beach Council candidate Rex Richardson will host a “Young Professionals and Progressives for Rex Richardson Mixerâ€? on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Dr. • Marshall Blesofsky has announced his candidacy for the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees to represent District 1, according to an emailed statement by the candidate.
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Metro Briefs
GATEWAY CITIES
More Mobile Fly through tra;c with the help of Metro’s free mobile app. With bus and rail routes, schedules and real-time arrival information, the app puts all the resources you need to go Metro in the palm of your hand. Download the app for iPhone at the Apple App Store and for Android at Google Play.
Upgrades Coming to Metro Blue Line Metro is committing more than $190 million over the next two years to rehabilitate and modernize the nearly 25-year-old Metro Blue Line, one of the most heavily-used light rail systems in the nation. In addition, Metro is considering the purchase of 69 new rail cars for the line at a cost of $262 million.
Metro Co-Sponsors Economic Summit Learn about Metro employment and contracting opportunities at the Crenshaw/LAX Business Opportunities Summit, October 28 from 9am to 3pm at the California African American Museum. The Los Angeles Sentinel and Crenshaw Leadership Council are co-sponsors of the event. Register at metro.net/deod.
Help Metro Prevent Suicides Metro asks for the public’s help in preventing suicides on the tracks. Metro has partnered with the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center to post information on a 24-hour suicide crisis line in all rail stations. If you know or see anyone who may be at risk, please contact the crisis line at 877.727.4747.
Metro Launches Freeway Beauti>cation Program Cleaner and greener freeways are in LA’s future. Metro’s Freeway Beauti>cation Program will improve landscaping at several key freeway intersections, planting more than 150,000 drought resistant plants and installing some 24,000 feet of irrigation pipe and 900 sprinklers. More about Metro freeway projects at metro.net.
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OCTOBER 18, 2013