Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 - FEBRUARY 15, 2015
belmontbeacon.com
Port Aims to Boost Clean Power, Speed Cargo Delivery Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup on Thursday unveiled ambitious plans for congestion-beating smart systems for cargo movement and an all-out push to achieve energy resilience for port operations with wind turbines, solar cells and other clean technologies, in his firstever “State of the Port” address. Speaking to a record audience of nearly 900 at the Long Beach Convention Center’s Pacific Ballroom, Slangerup summed up the Port of Long Beach’s achievements in 2014 then gave his expectations for 2015 and beyond, setting high goals for himself and the Port. Slangerup’s address followed welcoming comments by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond and Harbor Commission Vice President Rich Dines. Appointed just last July, Slangerup said the Port is making tremendous strides in its efforts to compete with other seaports by modernizing terminals, roadways, bridges and
Cherry Ave. to be Widened from PCH to 19th St.
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Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup
railways, with its $4 billion capital improvement program this decade. The first phase of the $1.3 billion Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment project will be completed this summer and Port tenant Long
– Courtesy photo
Beach Container Terminal and its parent company Orient Overseas Container Line will begin operations this fall, increasing overall Port container Please see page 3
Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Long Beach Shooting On Jan. 30, a 23-year-old gang member was sentenced to 12 years in state prison after he was convicted of a shooting in 2013, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Raymond Rene Rodriguez of Long Beach pleaded no contest to one felony count of assault with a firearm in case NA099187. The defendant also admitted gun and gang allega-
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tions. Deputy District Attorney Rachel Hardiman, who prosecuted the case, said that on Mar. 22, 2013, Rodriguez got into a fight with another man near Del Amo and Long Beach boulevards in Long Beach. During the physical encounter, Rodriguez pulled out a gun and shot at the man who was armed with a knife, the prosecutor said. A stray bullet from the gun struck
a boy who was with his family at a nearby gas station, the prosecutor added. The child was immediately taken by authorities to a hospital for medical treatment. Following the shooting, the defendant fled the scene. More than a year after the incident, police located Rodriguez and arrested him in connection with the shooting. The case was investigated by the Long Beach Police Department.
ork will begin this week on the widening of Cherry Avenue from 19th Street to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), in the City of Long Beach south of Signal Hill. The cities of Signal Hill and Long Beach have worked closely together to bring this project to fruition. The project's $6.7 million budget is entirely funded by Federal Highway Administration and State Transportation grants received by the City of Signal Hill. "I'm proud that we are working collaboratively with the City of Signal Hill on this important project," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "Not only will it benefit commuters and residents in both cities, it will also improve and beautify our infrastructure." The City of Signal Hill has taken the lead role on the funding, planning, and construction of this important project that will greatly improve the overall traffic flow through the intersection of PCH and Cherry Avenue while also reducing cut-through traffic in the adjacent residential neighborhoods. "The project is a great example of our ongoing partnership with the City of Long Beach," said Signal Hill Mayor Edward Wilson. Improvements include the addition of two new travel lanes from south of PCH, by 330 feet, to 19th Street, as well as a new dual-use lane for southbound traffic going Please see page 4