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VOL. XLII NO. 38
www.signaltribune.com
THEATER
September 11, 2020 LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL
Police maintain stature as LB City Council approves 2021 budget Emma DiMaggio Production Manager
Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Shakespearean Company via YouTube
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s teacup pig Hamlet is part of the theater’s family.
MEET HAMLET
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s very own attention hog Anita W. Harris Senior Writer
Patrons of Long Beach Shakespeare Company (LBSC) know Hamlet well– not the play but the pig. For seven years, Hamlet has been entertaining LBSC’s guests before shows and during intermissions. Hamlet even makes an appearance in LBSC’s current streaming production of “As You Like It,” circling and kneeling in exchange for treats during the inter-
mission. Wearing his Elizabethan white ruffled collar, this small “teacup” pig has reveled in engaging young and old alike with his porcine cuteness and squeals in the lobby of LBSC’s home, the Helen Borgers Theatre at 4250 Atlantic Ave. Hamlet’s caretaker, Dana Leach, who is also LBSC’s producer, told the Signal Tribune that the very intelligent pig loves being adored by audiences and has missed them since the pandemic caused the theatre’s closure in March.
“He definitely misses the treats and the photo ops,” Leach said. “He misses the actors. Theatre is family. Hamlet gets to be part of this extended family. He misses that contact with the people who love him.” Hamlet had to celebrate his seventh birthday at the end of August at home this year rather than at the theatre. His domestic companions include a dog, a cat, an iguana, a tortoise and a new puppy arriving this week.
see HAMLET page 7
SIGNAL HILL CITY COUNCIL
Council focuses on disaster preparedness, encourages residents to have a plan Anita W. Harris Senior Writer
Since September is National Preparedness Month, during the Sept. 8 Signal Hill City Council meeting, Emergency Operations Coordinator Angel Hernandez shared steps individuals and families can take to prepare for local disasters. In addition to preparing for pandemics like the current COVID-19, local residents should
brace for potential calamities such as earthquakes, wildfires, power outages, droughts, heatwaves and landslides, Hernandez said. “Disasters don’t wait,” he said. “Make your plan today.” Hernandez referred to the Department of Homeland Security’s website Ready.gov as a comprehensive place to find disaster-planning information. The site lists a number of questions to begin the disaster-planning process, such as “What is my
family/household communication plan?” and “What is my evacuation route?” Hernandez stressed that households should have alternative escape routes in case the main one becomes blocked. Families should also practice executing their evacuation plan after receiving an emergency alert, just like with a fire drill at school or work, he said.
see PREPARE page 4
What should you put in your kit? - Food and water - Clothing for all family members - First aid kit - Sanitation supplies - Important documents - Extra prescription medications
Months of protests came to an inflection point on Tuesday night as the Long Beach City Council settled in for their final deliberations over the city’s 2021 budget. In the wake of worldwide demonstrations against police violence, the People’s Budget Coalition, a leading voice for racial equity in Long Beach, called for divestment from the police and a reimagining of community safety. When the budget was approved, it included a mere one percent reduction in LBPD’s budget— a far cry from the 20 percent reduction the coalition advocated for. This year’s budget deliberations have faced particular scrutiny. In parallel with calls for increased racial equity, the City has also faced a substantial loss in revenues due to COVID-19. These losses, compounded by additional pandemic-related costs, have created a $30 million deficit in what Councilmember Dee Andrews described as “the roughest budget” he’d ever negotiated during his tenure on the council. During the meeting, the People’s Budget Coalition was invited to present on their vision for the budget. Echoing previous stances, the coalition urged the council to make further cuts to the LBPD budget, which currently makes up the largest portion of the city’s general fund. They cited the costs of police violence. Besides the cost of lost lives, LBPD has racked up $31 million in litigation costs for cases involving the use of force, officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths. “All of this cost points to a toxic culture and system of white supremacy that you all vote to protect and expand every time see BUDGET page 7