Councilmember James Johnson

On Tuesday, January 31st, join Councilmember James Johnson as he hosts the 7th District Aquarium Night.

The Councilmember invites all 7th District residents to join him for a fun and educational evening at the Aquarium of the Pacific. This popular event attracted over 1,800 residents last year, and a greater attendance is expected this year. The Aquarium of the Pacific will validate parking tickets for a reduced cost of $8 for the evening. Bring the whole family for a fun, free, enriching evening at one of Long Beach’s most exciting attractions.

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Councilmember James Johnson

The Office of 7th District City Councilmember James Johnson and the Departments of Parks, Recreation & Marine and Public Works invite the public to a groundbreaking ceremony for Baker Park on Tuesday, October 11, at 10:30 am. Baker Park is located at 625 Baker St., near Golden Avenue.

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Left to Right Fresh & Easy employee Steve, Councilmember James Johnson, Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester, and BKBIA Executive Director Blair Cohn

On Wednesday, September 14th, 2011, Fresh & Easy opened a new store on Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach’s 7th District. With this opening, along with a new store opening downtown at Promenade & 5th Street in the City Place Center, Fresh & Easy doubled the number of stores it has in Long Beach and created more than 50 jobs in the community.

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Councilmember James Johnson

On Thursday, September 1, 2011  7th District Councilmember James Johnson will host a community budget meeting at Vista Del Mar.

Join Councilmember Johnson, City Manager Pat West, Financial Management Director John Gross, and representatives from Public Safety for a discussion of the City of Long Beach’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. The community budget meeting will be a great opportunity to voice any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the proposed cuts for FY 2012.

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Councilmember James Johnson

7th District Councilmember James Johnson, in conjunction with the Long Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division and the Long Beach Junior Chamber, will be hosting a unique and interactive Public Safety career day for youth in West Long Beach, sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, LA County Supervisor Don Knabe, and the Long Beach Marriott.

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Councilmember James Johnson

On Friday, July 1st, join your 7th District Councilmember for First Books at First Fridays, a monthly event held at Dana Branch Library.

Councilmember James Johnson and his guests will read their favorite children’s books beginning at 5:30 PM. This month’s theme is Stars, Stripes, and Sounds, with special guest reader and performer: Long Beach City Clerk Larry Herrera.

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The 1.9-acre dog park at the northwest corner of Wardlow Road and Golden Avenue was the site of the former police horse stable and later became passive open space.

“The Wrigley and West Long Beach areas are desperate for increased access to open space for recreation,” said Councilmember James Johnson. “The Wrigley Heights Dog Park will be an example of how to maximize the usage of available open space to serve the community.”

Read the rest of Councilmember Johnson Invites Public to Wrigley Heights Dog Park Dedication Saturday, May 21st

Learn how to access more than 50 on-line job sources through www.HireLB.com, receive helpful tips on posting your resume on-line, find out about Pacific Gateway’s job search services, and learn about job opportunities for Long Beach Port and Airport infrastructure jobs.

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Councilmember James Johnson

On Friday, May 6, 2011 join 7th District Councilmember for First Books at First Fridays, a monthly event held at Dana Branch Library.

Councilmember James Johnson and his guests will read children’s books beginning at 5:30 PM. This month’s theme is Pirates Ahoy, with special guest reader 4th District Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell. There will also be a surprise guest, treasure hunt, fun activities, and light refreshments.

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Photo by Scott Lowe

Community Forum on the Clean Air Benefits of Zero Emission Technologies

On Thursday, March 24, 2011  join 7th District Councilmember and the West Long Beach Association for a community presentation by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

The presentation will discuss the current air quality in West Long Beach, health effects of air pollution, and zero emission technologies. With expansion plans of near-dock rail being considered, it is pertinent to consider zero emission technologies as an efficient and greener way to move goods.

“The technology currently exists to move containers to near-dock facilities without polluting our communities. Such zero-emissions goods movement technology represents a true paradigm shift, as we would be able to move goods quickly and efficiently to market without sacrificing the health of our neighborhoods,” says Councilmember James Johnson.

This free presentation is open to all concerned residents. Light refreshments will be served.

The Clean Air Benefits of Zero Emission Technologies event is Thursday March 24th, 2011 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at Silverado Park Community Room
1545 W. 31st St., Long Beach, 90810.

For more information, contact the 7th District Council Office at (562) 570-7777 or district7@longbeach.gov.

Photo Credit

Photo by Monika Bargmann

On Saturday, February 26th, join Councilmember James Johnson for Read Across the 7th, a family event at Bret Harte Library.

Meet your 7th District Councilmember and explore the many resources Bret Harte Library has to offer! Enjoy games, prizes, and reading as Councilmember Johnson and staff promote literacy across the 7th District and the City of Long Beach.

The Read Across the 7th event is Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at Bret Harte Neighborhood Library 1595 West Willow Street, Long Beach, 90810.

For more information, contact the 7th District Council Office at (562) 570-7777 or district7@longbeach.gov.

Photo Credit

Officers responded to the area, contained it and conducted a through search. With the community’s help along with various departmental resources, the officers apprehended three suspects in the vicinity.  The men arrested for the crime are a 24-year-old resident of Signal Hill, a 37-year-old and a 19-year-old, both residents of Long Beach. The property they stole from the residence they broke into was recovered and returned to its rightful owners.

Read the rest of Alert Citizen’s Call To Police Nets Three Residential Burglary Suspects

Photo by Ann Larie Valentine

On Friday, February 4th, join your 7th District Councilmember for First Books at First Fridays, a monthly event held at Dana Library.

Councilmember Johnson and his guest, 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, will read children’s books beginning at 5:30PM. Animal Care Services will be bringing special guests of their own. Light refreshments will be provided.

This Month’s Theme:
Love and Animals

First Books at First Fridays is February 4th, 2011, from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM at the Dana Library Community Room 3680 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, 90807.

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Photo by Everett Taasevigen

The office of 7th District City Councilmember James Johnson and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine invite the public to attend a ceremony for opening of the new Silverado Park Skate Spot on Saturday, January 8 at noon. The date was been changed from December 18 due to expected heavy rain on that day. Silverado Park is located at 1545 W. 31st Street in Long Beach.

The skate spot will open on the south side of the park, near the basketball courts. According to 7th District Councilmember James Johnson, “The new skate spot will enhance recreational opportunities for our youth in order to stay healthy and provide a safe place to enjoy their sport. I am grateful for the support of the West Long Beach Association, and the assistance of local skate park advocate Mike Donelon, and the Tony Hawk Foundation for making this dream a reality. This is a great example of taking advantage of outside funding sources to improve our facilities for our community.”

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Photo by Everett Taasevigen

The office of 7th District City Councilmember James Johnson and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine invite the public to attend a ceremony for opening of the new Silverado Park Skate Spot on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Silverado Park.

The new skate spot will open on the south side of the park, near the basketball courts.

According to 7th District Councilmember James Johnson, “The new skate spot will provide enhanced recreational opportunities for our youth in order to stay healthy and provide a safe place to enjoy their sport. I am grateful for the support of the West Long Beach Association and , the assistance of local skate park advocate Mike Donelon, and the Tony Hawk Foundation for making this dream a reality. This is a great example of taking advantage of outside funding sources to improve our facilities for our community.“

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Councilmember James Johnson

On Friday, November 5, 2010, join Councilmember James Johnson for First Books at First Fridays, a monthly event held at Dana Library. “Libraries had a great impact on my life and I look forward to sharing my love of reading with families throughout the 7th District,” Councilmember Johnson said.

Councilmember Johnson and his guest(s) read children’s books beginning at 5:30 pm. Live entertainment will be performed by Jules Music for Kids; light refreshments will be provided.

This Month, Councilmember Johnson Hosts:

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Residents of the Wrigley neighborhood are concerned about the safety of the gas lines in connection with the recent events in San Bruno, will have the opportunity to have their concerns addressed by Christopher Garner, of the Long Beach Gas & Oil Department.

Read the rest of Long Beach Gas & Oil Director & Long Beach Animal Care Services to address the Wrigley Association

With 6,534 votes counted, Johnson will be headed to council chambers with the support of 52.9% of the electorate.

Johnson currently leads Uranga 3,408 to 3,034 votes, although the results could potentially change once the City Clerk receives the results of 851 provisional and vote-by-mail ballots. The final election results are expected to be certified by next week.

Here are the most up-to-date unofficial election night results for he 7th District council seat.

Read the rest of Election Results: 7th District run-off sends Johnson to City Hall

Election results

There are two candidates seeking election to this office:  incumbent Council Member Tonia Reyes Uranga, and Assistant City Auditor James Johnson.  Both candidates advanced to the June 8th run-off election as they were the top-two finishers in the City’s April 13, 2010, Primary Nominating Election.

Read the rest of Election results for City of Long Beach 7th District Council seat available tonight

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster was the first to give an acceptance speech last night when it became clear that opponent Steve Merino would not get enough votes pose a challenge. The 21-year-old mayoral candidate was definitely a long shot, but managed to capture 16.2% of the ballots garnering  5,057 votes to Bob Foster’s 26,175.

The only election heading towards a run-off is the 7th District Council seat. With votes cast for 5 candidates—Jill Hill, Jack C. Smith, James Johnson and write-in candidates Fernando Bernabe and Tonia Reyes-Uranga—only two will move on the next round. Since no candidate was able to earn more than 50% of the votes, incumbent Tonia Reyes-Uranga will face off with James Johnson at a run-off election in June.

(The election results for Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 9 are expressed as percentages. For actual number of ballots cast, see the table at the end of this article.)

Read the rest of Long Beach Election Results: District 7 moves to run-off; One newcomer prepares for City Hall

“Just more than a year ago, I voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so important projects like the Arlington Street storm drain could be accomplished. Seeing this much-needed project go from the wish list to reality shows me that my vote was the right vote for our families, our neighborhoods and the economy,” Congresswoman Laura Richardson said.

“Through its construction and completion, this project will benefit our community in many ways, including helping to protect the families of the Arlington neighborhood from flooding and the damage it leaves behind, both for individual property owners and for the local environment; providing local jobs, which is especially important with state and local unemployment at the highest rates in decades; and updating vital local infrastructure, which improves the value and health of the neighborhoods and boosts the local economy.”

The $1.5 million storm drain project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment (Stimulus) Act through a Community Development Block Grant. The project was completed just before the heavy rains that hit Long Beach in January and February of this year, thus preventing flood damage to the homes in this area.

Read the rest of Completion of Arlington storm drain project capped with ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday

The guest speaker will be James Johnson, candidate for the 7th Council District. James currently serves as the Assistant City Auditor for the City of Long Beach where his focus has been to make the city as efficient and effective as possible.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and a law degree from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. He is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach and an Eagle Scout from Long Beach Troop 120. For more information about the 7th District candidate visit his website.

The club will also honor Summer Hanson as woman of the year at the event.

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7th and 8th District Council Members Tonia Reyes Uranga and Rae Gabelich will host the meeting and welcome guest speaker Long Beach Police Department North Division Commander Hendricks. Safety meeting topics will include:

• how citizen involvement can help city officials and the police department keep the community safe and secure.
• updates on recent activities, neighborhood watch and security precautions will be presented and discussed.

Read the rest of Community safety meetings urge Bixby, Cal Heights residents to get involved

There are 4 candidates vying for the 7th District Council seat: Jill Hill (www.jillhillforqualityneighborhoods.com), James Johnson (www.johnsonforcitycouncil.com), Jack Smith (www.justvotejack.org) and write-in candidate Tonia Reyes-Uranga (www.longbeach.gov/District7). All the candidates have been invited to attend. Alan Tolfkoff, long time leader at the Wrigley Association, will server as moderator at the forum.

Read the rest of 7th District Council Candidates to square off in forum Monday.

Did you know that the solid waste in the city of Long Beach does not go to a landfill? Instead, it is incinerated at extremely high temperatures at the remarkably efficient, clean waste to energy plant, the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility.

Long Beach, like other Southern California communities, used to truck its solid waste to neighborhoods outside the city for burial in landfills. Closure of a nearby landfill in 1980 led to a realization that Long Beach could no longer rely on the export of its solid waste to other neighborhoods.

Read the rest of Cal Heights Clean Street team gets rare tour of SERRF