Read the rest of LBPD Crime Stats Show Drop in Murders to Record Low

Read the rest of DA Files Charges Related to Recent Homicide

Pedaler Society uses a cargo bike to help cyclists bring groceries home safely.

Beginning January 28, 2012, and at no additional cost to the shopper, Pedaler Society will offer a grocery delivery service for residents residing within a one- mile radius of Trader Joe’s in Bixby Knolls. This service has been made possible by the Bike-Friendly Business District (BFBD) program in partnership with the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association. The BFBD program is made possible by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the City of Long Beach.

The couriers (or “Flyers” as they are called within Pedaler Society) will provide a courteous and efficient method to get your groceries home after riding your bike to Trader Joe’s. Customers will benefit from a healthy bike ride to and from Trader Joe’s and a great conversation with your “Flyer” on the way home! 

Read the rest of Ride a Bike to Trader Joe’s for Free Home Delivery in Bixby Knolls

On Friday the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is releasing the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Regional Connector Project for a 30-day public review period.

The Regional Connector, a Measure R transportation project, is a proposed fully underground light rail line that will connect the Metro Gold Line to the Metro Blue Line and soon-to-open Expo Line. The Final EIS/EIR contains recommendations for the nearly 2-mile alignment and three station locations. The report also includes recommendations for environmental mitigations for the project.

The Metro Board is expected to consider the report recommendations at its February 23, 2012 board meeting. Pending funding approval, construction could begin in 2013. 

Read the rest of L.A. Metro Announces Open Houses to Examine Final EIS/EIR for Regional Connector Transit Corridor

On Wednesday, two men were charged with the murder of five people at a homeless encampment in 2008.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe released a statement following the arrest of two men involved in the murder of five people, four of whom were homeless, in the City of Long Beach at a homeless encampment on November 2, 2008:

“I am proud of the diligent investigation conducted by the Long Beach Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office that ultimately brought the suspects behind this heinous crime to justice,” said Supervisor Knabe.

“This was a gruesome crime that took the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our community and the County of Los Angeles will not stand for such a deplorable act. The City of Long Beach is safer with these men behind bars.” 

Read the rest of Two Suspects Arrested For Quintuple Murder at Long Beach Homeless Camp

Child sex trafficking is a problem for girls as young as 11 and 12. (Photo by Ira Gelb, Flickr)

At Tuesday’s Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Supervisor Don Knabe commemorated National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.  “While we often think of child sex trafficking as a problem in other countries, it’s happening right here in our backyard to girls as young as 11 and 12,” said Knabe.

Data from the County’s Probation Department shows that 84% of the children arrested for prostitution in Los Angeles County in 2010 lived in the Fourth District, mostly in Long Beach and the South Bay area.  The children arrested for prostitution are often released, as it is a misdemeanor charge.  

Read the rest of Knabe Calls for Aggressive Prevention to Stop Child Sex Trafficking in L.A. County

Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert

The Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office announced today that it filed a 58 count criminal complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Pacific Coast Container, Inc., for illegally transporting overweight shipments in violation of the California Vehicle Code.

In addition to Pacific Coast Container, Inc., the complaint charges Umex Freight System, Inc., and 19 employees of the corporations responsible for overweight shipping. If convicted of all charges, the defendants could be ordered to pay $153,193.00 (plus penalties and assessments).

Read the rest of City Prosecutor Files 58 Count Criminal Complaint For Transportation of Unsafe Loads

Councilman Dee Andrews

The Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews and the Peace Week Committee are pleased to announce the Long Beach 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Maker Awardees.

Five award recipients will be honored at 5:00 pm, on January 10th, at the Long Beach City Council meeting, 333 West Ocean Blvd, as part of Peace Week —a week-long celebration leading up to the City of Long Beach’s 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade Celebration, on January 14th. The candidates have been selected for their history of volunteering, community work, or support in areas of peace making, nonviolence, and community support/building.  “The Peace Maker Award acknowledges the spirit in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated compassionate, non-violent strategies toward peace and community building, which are ideas we value in the City of Long Beach”, said Councilman Andrews. This year honorees include King Chan, Jessica Quintana, Darryl Smith, Food Bank of Southern California, and Ralphs Food 4 Less.

Read the rest of Councilman Dee Andrews Announces the Recipients of the 5th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Maker Award

On Friday, December 30, 2011, Long Beach police officers arrested 33-year-old Andrew Dodson at his Long Beach residence on a drug charge and transported him to the Long Beach Police Department. He was booked and processed without incident, and placed into a jail cell at approximately 9:05 p.m. A jail detention officer making rounds discovered the inmate, who was alone at the time, hanging from the jail cell bars by his sweatpants at approximately 10:53 p.m. He was immediately freed from the bars and jail staff, including a registered nurse who is staffed in the facility, began life-saving efforts without delay. Long Beach Fire Department paramedics responded and took over-life saving efforts while transporting him to a local hospital. He was placed in ICU and listed in critical condition, where he remained until he was pronounced deceased on January 1, 2012.

Read the rest of Detectives Investigate Arrestee’s Death

Officers working a two-officer car were on patrol in full uniform and in a marked black and white police vehicle when they heard a gunshot coming from the 1700 block of Cherry Avenue. They drove to the area to investigate when they came across a group of subjects. One of the subjects, identified as 33-year-old Chhann Chhaim of Long Beach, attempted to walk away from the officers and refused to stop. The investigation later revealed that prior to the officers arriving on scene, he had fired his weapon into the air. As Chhann walked away from the arriving officers, he dropped a handgun. A second subject in the group, identified as 25-year-old Songha Lewis and also from Long Beach, picked up the gun and started running down the sidewalk in the direction of one of the officers and an officer involved shooting occurred.

Read the rest of Officers Involved Shooting in 1700 Block of Cherry Avenue

Photo by LaurelsPhotos'

The City of Long Beach ban on single-use plastic bags will be expanded on January 1, 2012, when smaller retailers will stop distributing plastic carryout bags.

“Our plastic bag ban has been very successful in helping to reduce litter in our neighborhoods; reduce plastic debris in our waterways and storm drains; and reduce waste transported to landfills,” said Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal. “By promoting the use of reusable bags and expanding the ban, we are helping to make Long Beach an even cleaner city to live, work and visit.”

Read the rest of January 1 Marks Expansion of Long Beach Plastic Bag Ban

Read the rest of New DNA Technology and NIJ Grant Help LBPD Solve 1989 Murder of Wilson High Student

Los Angeles State of the County

Supervisor Don Knabe will be addressing the state of Los Angeles County and the Fourth District at a luncheon at the Long Beach Convention Center on Thursday, December 8, 2010 at 11:30 a.m., hosted by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

In his fifth annual address, Supervisor Knabe will speak about the ongoing challenges of the global economic crisis and the impact of the state budget on Los Angeles County.  With the County’s caseloads for programs and services at an all-time high, he will discuss how the public and private sectors must join together to put people back to work.  

Read the rest of Knabe to Address the ‘State of the County’

Read the rest of Join The Community Bike Ride To the Third Annual Cambodian Arts & Culture Exhibition

Photo by Kelly

Belmont Plaza Pool, 4000 East Olympic Plaza, re-opened to the public today, November 14, at 5:30 am after being closed for several weeks for maintenance and repairs.

“The Belmont Plaza Pool is going to reopen with a splash, and I invite the community to attend our Open House on Monday and take advantage of the improvements,” said 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong.

Read the rest of Maintenance Complete, Belmont Plaza Pool Re-Opens Today

A Memorial Service for LBFD fireman Darren Rockett is scheduled for November 18, 2011 with a location to be determined.

It is with great sadness that the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) announces the death of active duty Fire Engineer Darren Rockett.  Engineer Rockett was born November 10, 1963.  He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1981 and attended Santa Ana College where he studied Fire Technology.  He married his wife Jeanne on July 27th, 1989 and together they have been raising their family in Long Beach since 1992.

Engineer Rockett, a 14 year veteran of the LBFD was appointed to the department on September 22, 1997.  He served as a Firefighter at Station 10 and 11, promoted  to  Fire Engineer on June 6th, 2002  and  then served  at  Fire Stations 11-C and 18-C.  At the time of his death, Fire Engineer Darren Rockett was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau where his chief responsibility was a life safety inspector for all high-rise buildings in the City of Long Beach. During his career at the LBFD where Engineer Rockett was recognized for his leadership of the LBFD Rescue Youth Program and he had a positive influence on the lives of dozens of at-risk teenagers. 

Read the rest of Obituary: LBFD Engineer Darren Rockett Also Helped to Rescue At-Risk Youth

On October 11, 2011, at approximately 8:05 a.m., Long Beach Police responded to a “shots fired” call in the 400 block of West Anaheim Street. Once officers arrived, they found 34-year-old Antwan Johnson of Rancho Cucamonga, who had been stabbed. Victim Johnson was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased two days later, on October 13, 2011, as a result of injuries sustained in the attack.

Read the rest of Two Arrested in Connection With Stabbing Death of Rancho Cucamonga Man

Los Angeles County District Attorney, Steve Cooley

Today, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released the findings of their investigation of an officer involved shooting involving two Long Beach Police Department officers. The shooting occurred on December 12, 2010, at a residence in the 5300 block of East Ocean Boulevard, and resulted in the death of Mr. Douglas Zerby. Additionally, Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell is also releasing his findings of the shooting.

Read the rest of District Attorney’s Office Concludes Officers Acted Lawfully in Douglas Zerby Case

Bring your drum for a community drum circle featuring the world-class west african beats of female drumming group ADAAWE.

Those who follow the beat of their own drum aren’t alone. Drummers from across Long Beach will gather to experience the world-class beats of female percussion group Adaawe for an evening of community drumming, fire dancing, soul food, and a celebration of peace. The Arts Council for Long Beach and the Catalyst Network of Communities have partnered together to host “Peace & Rhythm” on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at The Promenade Park in downtown Long Beach.

As the featured performers of the event, Adaawe is a dynamic group of seven diverse women who create rich organic music with the voice and drum. In the Adaawe tradition of Ghana, West Africa, women gather in the moonlight to create music and songs about life’s joy and sorrows. Adaawe brings audiences to their feet with high energy djembe drumming and poetic lyrics. The group has opened for known musicians including James Brown, Los Lobos, Spearhead, James Ingram, Harry Belafonte, Sugar Hill Gang, Yolanda Adams and many others. 

Read the rest of World-class Percussion Group Adaawe Comes Join Community Drum Circle

Read the rest of Supervisor Knabe Welcomes New Residents to Fourth District

The Alameda Corridor East project received $336.6 million to help eliminate street crossings of the busy Union Pacific railroad tracks in San Gabriel. The overall project aims to improve safety and reduce the number of street crossings along 70 miles of railroad tracks in the San Gabriel Valley. 

Read the rest of L.A. County Transportation Projects to Get $448 million from California

Councilman Dee Andrews

Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews, in conjunction with A New Way of Life Reentry Project and All of Us or None, announces the distinguished panelist for the Long Beach Community Peace & Justice Summit, with a focus on reentry, at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00pm, on Wednesday, October 26th, at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Seaside Ballroom, 300 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA.

Read the rest of Panelist Announced For Councilman Dee Andrews Hosted Long Beach Peace & Justice Summit

Read the rest of One Murder Suspect in Custody, Detectives Still Seeking Accomplice

File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The Long Beach Police Department has acquired two air support units from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in an effort to reduce fuel and maintenance costs.

Read the rest of Long Beach Police Replace Helicopter Fleet With Cost Efficient Models

Assembly Bill 946 gives Los Angeles County a do-over on contracts for the emergency radio system after the originals were discarded for being improperly drafted.

With the memory of San Diego County’s recent blackout still fresh in the minds of many  Southern Californians, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB946. The new law will provide funding for Los Angeles County to build a regional radio system so first-responders can coordinate their efforts during a disaster. Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, the Legislature’s point-person on emergency management, wrote the bill which earmarks $270 million in federal grants for a first-responder emergency radio system.

“There were about a quarter billion reasons for the governor to sign this bill, and I’m glad he did,” said Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, who wrote the new law. 

Read the rest of L.A. County Emergency Radio Project Rescued by Law to Save $270M in Federal Funding