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Belmont Beacon

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

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Ten day waiting period for guns ruled unconstitutional BY JENNIFER SCHLUETER

Fresno. The case was introduced in 2011 by two individual gun owners and two gun owner rights groups, the Calguns Foundation and the Second Amendment Foundation, who disagreed with the waiting period. According to the San Francisco Gate (SF Gate), “the two individual plaintiffs in the case,

open for vessel operations during the storm surge, and trucking operations at all terminals, including at TTI and Crescent, were unaffected. The Port’s maintenance and engineering teams were working to clear rocks and debris washed onto roadways and Please see page 2

Please see page 2

had decided not to make the purchase because of the time and expense needed for a second trip to a gun shop.” Last Monday, Ishii declared the waiting period unreasonable because people who rightfully purchased a gun had already passed criminal Please see page 2

Cargo operations resume

Repair work begins after storm surges subside The Port of Long Beach resumed full cargo-handling operations Thursday, Aug. 28, after a lessening of storm surges from Hurricane Marie that had battered south-facing piers and interrupted the loading and unloading of four vessels a day earlier. With swells down to 8 to 10 feet, from a peak of 15 feet

or more on Wednesday, Total Terminals International on Pier T went back to work on two Mediterranean Shipping Co. container ships. Crescent Terminal on Pier F also resumed the unloading of MercedesBenz automobiles and wind towers from two vessels. All other terminals at the Port of Long Beach remained

California awards $553,000 for MacArthur Park rehabilitation Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) has been awarded a $553,000 grant to renovate MacArthur Park, 1321 E Anaheim St. The funding comes from the California Department of Housing and Community Development Housing-Related Parks (HRP) grant program, which creates incentives and rewards local governments for building affordable housing to fund much-needed parks in their communities. “Every time we improve a park we improve our city,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “Renovating MacArthur Park will bring new life to the community and provide better opportunities for everybody to enjoy our wonderful parks.” “This grant funding will enhance community recreational opportunities by replacing the playground, installing fitness zone equipment and rehabilitating grounds and facilities at MacArthur Park, which is one of the most heavily used park in our City,” said Councilmember Dee Andrews, who represents the 6th District. The renovation also will bring the park into compliance with the American’s With Disabilities Act, as well as playground safety standards; help address ongoing maintenance efforts; and enhance community recreational opportunities. HRP provides leadership,

-Photo by Terry Miller

First-time gun purchasers in California not only have to go through a detailed background check, but also wait ten days to hold their new gun in their hands. In Silvester v. Harris, such a ten day waiting period for already-judged competent gun owners was ruled unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii of

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Guidance on unaccompanied immigrant children issued to CA schools Setting aside $3.5 million in federal funding to assist schools that see an increase in unaccompanied immigrant children this school year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson last week advised school districts of their obligation to serve every child in California regardless of where they come from or where they were born. “We don’t make immigration policy in our classrooms; we help every child who comes through our doors,” Torlakson said. “With our help and support, I am confident that California’s schools will be able to provide a safe haven for children waiting for authorities to reunite them with their families.” Torlakson said the $3.5 million represents federal Title III funds to help school districts that may have experienced a significant increase in immigrant students. The funds may be used for improving instruction, providing tutoring and intensified instruction, and conducting community participation programs. School districts are eligible when data demonstrate a growth of 3 percent in the qualifying student population as compared to the average of the two previous years. To receive funding, school

districts submit a plan for a quality supplemental program to help these children, and then apply for the Title III Immigrant funding. However, this funding does not distinguish between those students who enter the United States accompanied or unaccompanied. CDE receives and distributes funds from several federal programs to supplement existing programs designed to assist immigrant children, whether they enter the United States accompanied or unaccompanied. These services include: •Services for educationally disadvantaged children (Title I, Part A); •Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); •English language acquisition programs (Title III); •McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and •Migrant education programs (Title I, Part C). Other assistance is available directly from the federal government. The United States Department of Education outlined assistance to help schools welcome immigrant children through its fact sheet on Educational Services for Immigrant Children and Those Recently Arrived to the United States.

No 10 day waiting period for guns Continued from page 1

and mental health state background check, and thus would not pose a safety concern. Opponents of the ruling, such as Attorney Lindsay Nichols of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a San Francisco gun-control organization, told the SF Gate that she found Ishii’s decision “disturbing” because the waiting period serves as an important “cooling-off” period for people who intend to buy the guns out of an an emotional act such as suicide, or out of anger. Ishii disagreed with Nichols point: “For those who already own a firearm and are known to be trustworthy due to the licenses that they hold and a history of responsible gun ownership, there is no justification for imposing the full 10-day waiting period,” he wrote. Miko Tempski, general counsel for the Second Amendment Foundation, agrees and told the Washington Post: “Basically, the waiting period doesn’t make any sense when someone has already been cleared, has a concealed-carry permit and already owns a gun.” The judge wrote: “The

Second Amendment applies to ‘arms’ and its language does not limit its full protections to a single firearm. Some firearms are better suited for particular lawful purposes than others. Defendant has cited no authority that suggests that the Second Amendment only has application to a single firearm.” Brandon Combs, executive director of the Calguns Foundation, agrees calling Ishii’s decision “an important step toward restoring fundamental individual liberties in the Golden State.” The possibility of an appeal to the NinthU.S. Circuit Court of Appeals exists, because Ishii delayed his 56-page ruling’s effective date for 180 days. This time period would also allow the Legislature to rewrite existing laws. California is one among 10 other states imposing a waiting period on gun purchasers. Furthermore, the state bans models that are legal in other state’s and requires “micro-stamping” in new semiautomatic handgun chambers in order to identify cartridges at crime scenes.

McArthur Park rehabilitation Continued from page 1

policies, and programs to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing opportunities and promote strong communities for all Californians. Grant awards are based on the number of bedrooms in newly constructed ownership and the rehabilitation of rental housing

units that are classified as being affordable to very lowŹ income and low-income households. The City of Long Beach also supports increasing the supply of housing, especially affordable housing and works to improve housing conditions and the health and safety of its residents.

Cargo operations resume Continued from page 1

terminals. There continued to be limited access to the Navy Mole extending from Pier T. The main road on the Mole, Nimitz Road, remained strewn with rocks and was closed

pending an engineering assessment. There was only limited access in the area for the staff at the Sea Launch satellite launching facility and U.S. Maritime Administration supply ship.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 | 3

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Rep. Schiff urges Department of Justice to fund body-worn cameras for local police departments Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he is circulating a letter to his colleagues which will be sent to Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice to help fund local police departments’ purchase of small body-worn cameras in order to increase transparency, decrease tensions between police and community members, and create a record of events. Schiff, who is a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, stated: “As the investigation into the death of Michael Brown illustrates, the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting can arouse the strongest passions in a community and breed an atmosphere of profound distrust. Having a video record of events not only deters the use of excessive force, but it also helps dispute or demonstrate claims of police brutality – in either case it improves community confidence in a just result. Studies done in localities that have implemented body-worn cameras have shown a positive impact by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability and helping to deescalate potentially tense interactions. “Given the Department of Justice’s crucial role in helping state and local law enforcement adopt best practices, I believe it’s time to expand our support to include assistance to law enforcement agencies that would like to adopt body-worn camera technology for their police officers. The Department of Justice can use existing funding streams, or work with Congress to create a new pool of resources for local governments to help implement body-worn cameras for police officers throughout the country.” From the letter: “Police

departments around the country have begun adopting small body-worn cameras for police officers on patrol. These cameras provide a visual and audio record of interactions with the public, so that in the event of a confrontation or policeinvolved shooting, such as the one that occurred in Ferguson, there is an inalterable record of the events. There are also indications that the presence of body cameras has a civilizing effect on both police officers and the public, resulting in lower incidences of excessive force complaints and deescalating tense situations before they

become violent. Perhaps most importantly, cameras can instill greater trust in police departments on the part of the public they are sworn to protect. In communities with frayed police-community relations, cameras demonstrate a commitment on the part of the local police department to transparency and accountability, while protecting officers from false or frivolous complaints. For all these reasons, the adoption of body cameras has been well received in the jurisdictions that have begun to use them, both by the public and the officers wearing the cameras.”

Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086

4 | SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Ten second warning of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” Napa earthquake makes at Long Beach Playhouse On Sep- sign. Together, Donna and Greg the case for full west coast temberLong6, theBeach,LongCA,Beach Play- will create a visual masterpiece house production of Twelfth that will transport audiences to anearly warning system Night opens in the Studio The- other place and time. atre. Directed by Gregory Cohen, "Shakespeare in the Studio

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) released the following statement after the U.C. Berkeley Seismological Lab provided residents in Oakland and San Francisco with a ten second warning before the Napa Valley earthquake shook their homes, businesses and infrastructure: "Today's successful use of the early earthquake warning system shows that a full West Coast system would be successful in giving residents, businesses and critical infrastructure an important warning of a large magnitude earthquake. While this was not the 'big one,' we need to be prepared to save lives and protect vital infrastructure -- even a few seconds of warning will allow people to seek cover, automatically slow or stop

trains, pause surgeries and more." Earlier this year, Rep. Schiff through the Appropriations Committee included $5 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2015 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for the Earthquake Early Warning System, the first time Congress has ever provided funding specifically for the system. Schiff also led a group of 25 Members from California, Washington and Oregon in organizing a request that the committee fund an early earthquake warning system. A limited system developed by Caltech, UC-Berkeley and University of Washington, in conjunction with the United State Geological Survey (USGS), has already been deployed and has proven that the early warning technology is sound.

Update: “Kill-switches” for cellphones now mandatory BY JENNIFER SCHLUETER Last Monday, Governor Jerry inoperable should they fall into Brown signed a bill into law which the wrong hands. Rightful ownrequires cellphone producers to ers would be able to lock their install a “kill-switch” into phones phones with antitheft software. manufactured after July 1, 2015, The bill was introduced by State and sold in California. These “kill- Senator Mark Leno as a result of switches” will make smartphones constantly rising cellphone thefts.

Twelfth Night (As You Will), is one of Shakespeare's romantic comedies. Its title refers to the 12th day of Christmas, the traditional close of the holiday. Twins - Viola and Sebastian - become separated when they are shipwrecked on a mythical island. Countess Olivia is falling in love with Viola (disguised as a boy), while Sebastian is falling in love with Olivia. "It's classic Shakespeare," said Andrew Vonderschmitt, Executive and Producing Artistic Director for the Playhouse. "Mistaken identity and the resulting confusion give actors plenty of room to play in this production." Donna Fritsche is the LBP's secret weapon for any production and particularly so for period pieces. Her artistic talent combined with her knowledge of period costume design always means a visually stunning production. Her talented husband, Greg Fritsche, is the production's set designer. Greg is an outstanding artist and painter. His talent with color and shapes is set free in three-dimensional de-

Theatre is a Playhouse sweet spot," said Vonderschmitt. "Last year we did "A Midsummer Summer Night's Gay Dream" to great reviews from critics and audiences. The year before we did The Scottish Play, also to outstanding response. This year Greg Cohen has assembled a solid cast, featuring some familiar faces and some new-to-the-Playhouse actors. Audiences are going to be delighted." Special events: •Pay what you can Thursday September 4 - community can see this production for whatever they can afford •Two for One Preview Friday September 5 - Tickets are $12.00 •Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on September 6- Tickets are $27.00 Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00. Tickets are available at www. lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562494-1014, option 1. Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St.

Free “hands-on” hearing assistive technology demonstration Do you have trouble hearing on the phone and have trouble hearing conversations in restaurants? Can’t hear the doorbell ring? New technologies are available for you to try “hands on” Friday, September 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at the Weingart Senior Center, 5220 Oliva Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712. The HAT Committee (Hearing Assistive Technology) through Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Long Beach/ Lakewood Chapter provides

this free event every third Friday of the month. A representative from CaptionCall will be on hand to offer information on phones with captioning. Sam Moghadam, Hearing Instrument Specialist from Ascent Hearing Center will also be present to assist with hearing aids. HAT does not sell hearing aids or Hearing Assistive Devices, but provides information on where to purchase items demonstrated. For information, please call 562630-6141 or visit www.hlalongbeachlakewood.org .