Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 - OCTOBER 12, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 23
Family members can ask court to seize Recycledguns from unstable loved ones water bill by Jennifer schlueter signed by Governor Brown as drought persists
infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches contaminated surfaces. “We always urge residents to wash their hands with soap and water to prevent disease transmission,” said Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Long Beach City Health Officer. Additional recommendations include: -Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers.
Most homeowners want cheaper water bills. If provided the infrastructure, they’d gladly use recycled water to wash cars and irrigate lawns. Many cities have vast reservoirs of recycled water. If provided a market, they’d gladly allow the water to be used for more than just landscaping medians. Drought-scorched California took bold action to make these visions a reality as Governor Brown signed AB 2282. The groundbreaking legislation by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) would require the state to adopt building standards for recycled water in newly constructed commercial and residential buildings. “The drought is a reminder that we need to make the best use of our limited water resources,” noted Gatto. “Recycled water is cleaner than most of the water in our natural aquifers. It’s wasteful and inefficient to dump this water into the ocean when we could use it for productive purposes.” It is expected that providing this new source will reduce water bills for many. Gatto’s bill specifically protects homeowners and businesses by requiring state agencies to consider the cost of various recycled-water infrastructure and determine which methods will provide the greatest cost savings for consumers. AB 2282 continues Gatto’s legislative efforts to address important water-policy issues. In 2011, the legislature passed Gatto’s AB 849, which fostered the use of gray-
Please see page 2
Please see page 2
Elliot Rodger who went on a shooting spree in Isla Vista killing 6 and injuring 12 more people -Courtesy Photo
After 22-year-old Rodger Elliot went on a shooting rampage this May in Isla Vista killing 6 and wounding 12 more people, officials called, again, for stricter gun control laws. California assemblywomen Nancy Skinner consequently sponsored a bill allowing guns to be seized from mentally ill individuals. The law, which was
signed into effect last Tuesday, lets people demand a court order to temporarily seize guns from family members who pose a threat to the community or themselves. In order to prevent these potentially dangerous individuals from buying firearms, they will also be added to a list. Prior to his planned shooting,
Eliot had legally acquired three guns, and his parents had repeatedly warned police of his unstable condition. California has recognized that “family members are the ones who most acutely understand when their loved ones are in a dangerous situation,” according Please see page 4
Enterovirus D68 confirmed in a child in Long Beach The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services confirms that an infant in Long Beach has been diagnosed with Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). The child was briefly hospitalized and has recovered. From mid-August to October 1, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 500 people in 42 states and the District of Columbia with respiratory illness due to EVD68.
Enterovirus D68 causes mild to severe respiratory illness. Children with asthma are at highest risk of developing severe complications. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, and body aches. Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing. The virus is found in an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum. EV-D68 can spread from person to person when an