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NEWS
MARCH 22, 2013
LB city leaders look to rally residents to continue ‘fight’ against controversial railyard project
SIGNAL TRIBUNE
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COME RUMMAGE AROUND What Rummage sale Who Covenant Presbyterian Church Where 607 E. 3rd St. When Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 from 8am to 4pm More Info All proceeds will benefit Rising TIDE, a after-school drop-in program. Call (562) 437-0958, ext 25.
GARNISHING YOUR GARMENTS What General meeting Who Long Beach Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America Where California Heights United Methodist Church, 3759 Orange Ave. When Friday, March 22 beginning at 10:30am More Info This month’s meeting will focus on Ukrainian Border stitch. The Chapter meets the fourth Friday of every month. Call (714) 345-2338.
Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
During a panel discussion at a meeting of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance, Inc. (WANA) on March 18, vocal opponents of a controversial railroad project being proposed in west Long Beach called on residents to rally against the project. Those on the panel included, from left: East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice Co-Founder Angelo Logan, West Long Beach Association President John Cross, 7th District Long Beach City Councilmember James Johnson, and Long Beach Unified School District Boardmember Felton Williams. Sean Belk Staff Writer
In what appears to be an uphill battle, Long Beach city leaders and community activists said they hope to rally residents in coming months against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co.’s (BNSF) $500million railyard project being proposed in Wilmington near west Long Beach, a fight they said may end up in federal court. After years of contentious debate among building-trade unions, goods-movement industry representatives, environmentalists, city officials and local residents, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously voted (5-0) on March 7 to approve a final environmental impact report (EIR) on the project. The EIR, conducted by the Port of Los Angeles, was re-circulated last year after several groups, including the Long Beach City Council, disputed the Port’s original findings.
Despite the approval, on Tuesday, March 12, the Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to appeal the Harbor Commission’s decision, along with environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, which has vowed to take legal action. The appeal will now be taken up by the Los Angeles City Council. For nearly eight years, BNSF has been planning to build a new railyard facility, to be called the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG), in order to load cargo from trucks onto rail lines closer to port docks, which would allow the railroad company to increase capacity and efficiency. Ultimately, the project would also boost the Port’s competitiveness in the eyes of the international-trade industry. Although the facility would add some 8,000 trucks per day on local highways once completed, BNSF claims the project would clean up
pollution in the long term by using all-electric, state-of-the-art goodsmovement equipment, adding that trucks would not be allowed to pass schools or neighborhoods. The project, however, has drawn heavy criticism from environmentalists as well as Long Beach city officials, school board members and residents over what they see are objectionable statistics cited in the Port’s EIR and faulty emissions projections. The proposed near-dock facility would be located on a site just yards from homeless veterans, two elementary schools, a city park, a high school and Villages at Cabrillo family homeless shelter, in west Long Beach, an area called the “diesel death zone” that already suffers from poor air quality. Neighborhood activists say that increased air pollution caused by the new rail facility would not only affect west Long Beach but drift into other
see SCIG page 10
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TOUR THE WETLANDS What Willow Springs Park Tour Who 7th District Long Beach City Councilmember James Johnson’s office Where 2745 Orange Ave. When Saturday, March 23 from 9am to 10:30am More Info The monthly tour is led by volunteers and focuses on the history, wildlife, plants and new developments of Willow Springs Park. Four acres, known as Longview Point, are located at the highest accessible point in Long Beach. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are on a leash at all times. Call (562) 570-7777, email district7@longbeach.gov or visit facebook.com/WillowSpringsLB .
FIX IT UP AROUND HERE What “Neighborhood Fix It” Who 7th District Long Beach City Councilmember James Johnson’s office Where Dana Branch Library, 3680 Atlantic Ave. When Saturday, March 23 from 9:30am to 1:30pm More Info Residents will be surveying neighborhoods in the Bixby Knolls area, including Cal Heights, Los Cerritos, Chateau Thierry, Bixby Terrace and Bixby Highlands, using the “Go Long Beach” app to report graffiti, potholes and sidewalks that need patches or ramps. Visit jamesjohnsonlb.com .
TIME TO TAKE A STAND What Screening of the documentary Bully Who Long Beach Public Library Where Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St. When Saturday, March 23 at 2pm More Info As part of the campaign “A Season for Nonviolence,” residents may join the library at a screening of the award-winning documentary, which examines the issue of peer-to-peer bullying in schools across America. This event is free and open to the public. Call (562) 570-7500.
GREEN THUMB? What 41st Annual Plant Sale Who LBCC Horticulture Club Where LBCC Pacific Coast Campus, 1305 E. PCH St. When Wednesday, March 27 through Saturday, March 30 from 9am to 6pm More Info Thousands of plants from around the world, including drought-tolerant, roses, shrubs, cacti, succulents and bedding plants will be for sale. All proceeds will go toward the horticulture program, student scholarships, field trips as well as community projects and donations. Call (562) 938-4353.
MEET AND EAT What Bixby Knolls Supper Club Who Hosted by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association Where Georgie’s Place, 3850 Atlantic Ave. When Monday, April 1 at 6:30pm More Info Bixby Knolls Supper Club promotes the concept of supporting local restaurants on a Monday night, which is typically a slow night. Residents are invited to meet, eat and support the local economy. RSVP required. Email supperclub@bixbyknollsinfo.com .
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS What Small Business Seminar Who Sponsored by The State Board of Equalization Where LBCC’s Community Multi Purpose Room, 4901 E. Carson St. When Thursday, April 4 from 8:30am to 4pm More Info Seminar will cover topics from permit-holder training, audit and compliance issues, employment taxes to business marketing. Visit boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm . MEET YOUR CITY AUDITOR What Community meeting Who North Long Beach Community Action Group Where North Division Police Substation, 4891 Atlantic Ave. When Sunday, April 7 from 2pm to 4pm More Info During this event, Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud will provide a presentation on her office and two audits, including one for business licenses and nonprofit Partners of Parks, which help secure corporate funding for parks in Long Beach. To RSVP, call (562) 428-7710.
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