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4 sIGnAl TrIbUne
Thoughts from the Associate Publisher by Steve Strichart
Associate publisher mauled by tiger
Okay. Okay. It was a baby tiger, but a TIGER just the same! So, how did this come about? As many of our readers know, Neena and I are involved in greyhound rescue. The organization Fast Friends, located in La Habra Heights, puts together an annual “good will” bus trip to the Caliente race track in Tijuana, Mexico. This year we went on Saturday, Oct. 13. We were met at the border by armed guards and escorted right to the track. They give us a wonderful lunch and all the margaritas and beer we can drink. This is the closest track to Southern California and we, along with some other groups, rescue ex-racing greyhounds from there to be placed into their forever homes. The owner and management cooperate with us completely to see that no dog, even one with a broken leg, gets destroyed. If you own a greyhound, you really must make this trip and see them in all their glory running on the track. They are truly poetry in motion. Also, they are the second-fastest land animal in the world. Another reason I like to go each year is that the owner of the track has a private zoo located on the track property. I have become friends with the vet and have had the opportunity in the past to hold a baby tiger (both normal and white), baby lion and baby black jaguar, and
oPInIon
I even got pushed over on my butt by a baby brown bear. I have hand-fed American bison, zebras, giraffes, camels, emus, ostriches, and a number of different types of deer and antelopes. I have even petted some North American wolves. Back to the baby tiger. Everyone was taking turns holding this little 3-month-old baby girl, and all was going fine. I was the second-to-last to be handed the little “beast” and by now she was getting a little tired of being passed around. First, she tried to bite my neck, then tried to jump from my arms and finally scratched my hand. She was magnificent! I wouldn’t have traded those moments with her for another margarita. (Did I mention we got lunch and all the margaritas and beer we could drink?). After my “attack,” the manager insisted and brought me two margaritas right away, for medicinal purposes, of course. All and all, it was a great trip, and I’m looking forward to going again next year. Who knows what I might get to play with?
And now, just a word about greyhounds. Wow. How do I start? If anyone out there is considering adopting a dog, please give some thought to an ex-racing greyhound. First of all, they are adult dogs usually between 2 and 5 years old. (No puppy crap.) After they have been with their foster family for a short time, they come to you having had all their shots, spayed or neutered, house-broken and ready to give you more doggy love than you can imagine. To learn more about these wonderful dogs check out their website at fastfriends.org, or if you would like to meet my two girls, I will be at Petco in Signal Hill located at Spring Street and California Avenue tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 27 from noon to 3pm. Stop by and say hello.
LETTERS
Taking the initiative?
oCTober 26, 2012
TO TH E ED I TO R
Kudos to the Signal Tribune for publishing an article that cleared up a lot of misunderstandings about the Taxpayers’ Right to Know and Vote initiative. In last week’s article “Signature drive continues for proposed initiative to require twothirds vote for taxes,” Carol Churchill, attorney and former Signal Hill mayor, responded to those misunderstandings, saying City officials, “either do not understand the language of the initiative or they are deliberately trying to mislead the voters about the initiative’s impact.” Ms. Churchill, point by point, referred to both State law and the language of the initiative to refute objections voiced by the city manager and similar to those complaints we continue to hear from our Council. First, City Manager Ken Farfsing claimed that the initiative would require a vote on a host of small City fees like bicycle license fees and burglar alarm fees charged by the police department. Ms. Churchill pointed out that the initiative explicitly states that it complies with existing State law, within which is found the provisions of Proposition 218, passed by California voters in 1997. Prop. 218 excludes from voter approval certain fines, forfeitures, library fees, traffic ticket costs and other small fees. Ms. Churchill clarified that the Know and Vote initiative covers property-related fees that appear on property tax bills, not those small fees Farfsing was complaining about. Second, Farfsing also complained that the initiative would “sunset” in 10 years, implying that requiring a vote on taxes like the oil-barrel tax would place an unrealistic burden on the city. Once again, Ms. Churchill pointed out that the initiative does not include the barrel tax, the hazardous-waste facility tax or the transient-occupancy tax. “If the initiative is approved, the City will be able to enact all those without voter approval,” she said. Third, Farfsing complained that the initiative would require a city-wide vote on yearly assessments to pay for the California Crown neighborhood landscaping and lighting assessment district. Again, Ms. Churchill pointed to Proposition 218 that would exclude the California Crown assessment district. I don’t understand why there are some who don’t want us to have the right to participate in decisions that affect our pocketbooks. The Taxpayers’ Right to Know and Vote initiative is not a Democrat or Republican issue, nor is it a conservative or liberal issue. And it is not an anti-tax issue. It is about citizen participation in the decisions that affect our lives. It’s about trusting the intelligence of our citizens. If our City officials have reservations about our ability to make intelligent and reasoned decisions, they might be reassured by a study conducted by the non-partisan think tank Public Policy Institute of California. The study found that 42 percent of those measures requiring a two-thirds vote to raise revenues from taxpayers was passed by the voter. Not 100percent passed, to be sure, but local jurisdictions were able to convince their voters, 42 percent of the time, that they had gone as far as they could go with expenditure reductions, been as creative as they could be at finding alternative revenue sources, and that, indeed, for the taxpayers’ own good, needed to dip into their pocketbooks. This is what Community First’s Taxpayer Know and Vote initiative is all about. richard Harris signal Hill Community first
Questioning qualifications
I just finished reading Nick Diamantides’s Oct. 19 cover article “Signature drive continues for proposed initiative to require two-thirds vote for taxes.” I am confused. The article leads you to believe all city fees, taxes, assessments, will be subject a two-thirds registered voter’s approval if the “charter change” makes it to the ballot and passes. Does this vote require a two-thirds approval? Ms. Churchill said state law would preclude fee and assessment from this charter change. Who is right? I also understand Ms. Churchill wrote the proposed “city charter” change. Is she a lawyer? What specialty, and is she qualified in state and municipal law? devon r. Austin signal Hill
A place for r&r
Yesterday (Monday, Oct. 22), in partnership with the nonprofit Long Beach design firm City Fabrick, I was proud to host the opening of our city’s newest public space– Park [D] Plaza at Frontenac Court. This new public plaza on 4th Street between Elm and Linden in the East Village Arts District is a creative, exciting way to transform ordinary urban spaces into places for the public to gather, rest, people-watch, and enjoy the sights and the fresh air. Where before there was just a parking lot, now there is a spot to eat, sunbathe, read, and spend time with others in the community. And, thanks to the creative, efficient use of space by Brian Ulasewski and his team at City Fabrick, no parking spaces were lost. In fact, one new additional space was created. East 4th Street and the entire East Village have gone through many positive changes lately, and adding Park [D] Plaza to the same block where Berlin, Fingerprints, and Zephyr are is helping to continue creating one of the most interesting and successful enclaves in our city. And we’re looking forward to enhancing and transforming more public space in a similar fashion in the future with help from City Fabrick and other community partners. I want to thank the DLBA, the Housing Authority of Long Beach and the City Office of Development Services for their partnership in this project. And I want to invite everyone to come down to 4th Street, grab a coffee and snack at Berlin, or [patronize] the food trucks that will be stopping by the Plaza regularly, and spend some relaxing at the new Park [D] Plaza.
Vexation without representation?
Carmen lourdes Valdés long beach
MAnAGInG edITor
Stephen M. Strichart
Neena R. Strichart
Sean Belk
Stephanie Raygoza sTAff WrITers
CJ Dablo
ColUMnIsTs
Nick Diamantides
Jennifer E. Beaver Carol Berg Sloan, RD
desIGn edITor
Cory Bilicko
AdVerTIsInG ConsUlTAnTs
Jane Fallon
robert Garcia Vice Mayor long beach
I was stunned to read the condoning [by] Shirley Thomas (“DeLong and Short of It,” Oct. 19, 2012, Letters to the Editor) of Gary DeLong’s assault on a young woman who attended the recent League of Women Voters Congressional candidate forum at CSULB. The fact that Mr. DeLong was unable to control himself and acted irrationally when provoked, speaks volumes to his lack of character. In my opinion, he is no different than a man who rapes a woman because she is provocatively dressed, while Ms. Thomas cheers him on chanting, “She’s asking for it!” Mr. DeLong’s lack of self-restraint also reflects his arrogance and does not express the quality of the people of Long Beach, and for this he should not be allowed to represent us in Congress.
AssoCIATe PUblIsHer
PUblIsHer/edITor-In-CHIef
Photo by Justin Bender
Leighanna Nierle
AdMInIsTrATIVe AssIsTAnT/WebsITe MAnAGer CUlTUre WrITers
Daniel Adams Vicki Paris Goodman Gregory Spooner
ConTrIbUTInG PHoToGrAPHer
Matt Sun
edITorIAl InTern
Ariana Gastelum
Tanya Paz
ConTrIbUTInG WrITer
Rachael Rifkin
desIGn InTern
Kaelyn Bruno
The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. Letters are due by noon on the Tuesday before desired publication date. The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, language and space requirements. The Signal Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. The Signal Tribune is published each friday with a circulation of 25,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $45.
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