Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
Egg freezing now a female employee benefit at Facebook and Apple by jennifer schlueter
cal procedures the two tech giants, both dominated by about 70% of male employees, want to attract and keep female talent to increase diversity. Forbes quotes a spokesperson for Apple: “We continue to expand our benefits for women, with a new extended maternity leave policy, along with cy-
the flu, including people ages 60 and older, pregnant women, caregivers of seniors or infants, and anyone with an underlying chronic medical condition (such as heart or lung condition) or who are immune compromised such as persons with HIV/AIDS, on dialysis, or receiving cancer treatment. Please see page 4
Please see page 2
ropreservation and egg storage as part of our extensive support for infertility treatments.” In the same statement, Apple also said that they “want to empower women […] to do the best work of their lives as they care for loved ones and raise their Please see page 2
Prepare for flu season with annual shot The change in seasons and cooler weather is a reminder that it’s time for residents to get their annual flu shot. While winter is the typical time for flu activity, outbreaks can occur as early as October, so it’s not too early to get a flu shot now. “Everyone age 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine each year, especially those with a health condition
that may increase their risk of serious complications from the flu,” said Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Long Beach City Health Officer. “By getting the vaccine, people can protect themselves from seasonal flu and may also avoid spreading the flu to others.” Flu shots are especially important for people at high risk for serious complications from
California only state to see progress covering uninsured children Alex Johnson, Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund - California, released the following statement on the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Health Insurance Coverage Estimates: “Today’s health insurance numbers show more than a 6 percent drop in the number of uninsured children in California between 2012 and 2013 – which means 56,884 more children now have health coverage. Significant progress increasing the number of covered children nationwide has decreased the number of uninsured children to historic lows. These gains are mostly due to the strong coverage guarantees in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which last year provided comprehensive health and mental health coverage to more than 44 million children across the country, and more than half of California’s children. “Since 2011, CDF-CA in partnership with AASA, the School Superintendent’s Association in California has increased the capacity of school districts to identify uninsured children and link them to health coverage. California was the only state in the country to see a statistically significant decrease in the number of uninsured children in 2013. “However, even as we
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg -Photo by Niall Kennedy
Last Tuesday, NBC announced that Apple will soon follow Facebook’s example of financially supporting their female US employees who want to freeze their eggs. This would allow ambitious women to put family planning on hold in order to pursue their career. By covering up to $20,000 in medi-
VOLUME 1, NO. 25
2 | OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014
Cherry Avenue improvement project set to begin The City of Long Beach is set to begin work this week for street improvements on Cherry Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The City is coordinating efforts with the City of Signal Hill for their Cherry Avenue Widening Project, which continues north from PCH to 20th Street. “This is an important infrastructure project, and by coordinating our efforts with the City of Signal Hill, we are going to make sure there is minimal inconvenience to residents,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. The rehabilitation work consists of replacing damaged curbs and gutters, driveways, alley entrances and sidewalks; repairs to damage drainage devices; installation of bus pads; trimming or shaving tree roots; reconstructing areas of deteriorated pavement; cold milling and resurfacing the pavement; and installing pavement markers, markings, traffic striping, signing and curb paint. “This important infrastructure project will rehabilitate a major thoroughfare in our city, extend its usefulness and also fix some flooding issues that we’ve had along Cherry Avenue,” Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal said. The old asphalt material to be removed under this contract will be recycled into new asphalt concrete, or utilized as base mate-
rial on other street projects. The street will be resurfaced with asphalt containing up to 15 percent recycled material. Approximately 122 tons of road base made from recycled concrete, rock, sand and asphalt will be utilized in this project and all concrete work will include recycled waste ash, diverting these material from landfills. “This project will bring much needed improvements along the Cherry Avenue corridor,” Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell said. “During this time, access to businesses and neighborhoods and bus stops will be maintained. Our continued push for infrastructure improvements is showing success.” Street sweeping enforcement will be temporarily suspended on adjacent side streets to accommodate displaced parking and provide additional parking. The City is working closely with Long Beach Transit to minimize impacts to bus patrons, as Cherry Avenue is used as a bus route. Lane closures will be required during construction, and while the roads will stay open during working hours, motorists can expect some traffic delays. Therefore, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes during construction. The $1.8 million project is financed with Proposition C funds, and is expected to be completed in March 2015.
Egg freezing new employee benefit Continued from page 1
families.” Both companies already offer financial assistance with adoption and fertility treatment and up to 18 weeks maternity leave. Facebook additionally pays “new parents $4,000 in so-called “baby cash” to use however they’d like,” as NBC reports. Supporters see the idea as an empowerment for women, who, instead of fearing their biological clocks, are now able to hold off a career-hindering pregnancy and fully establish themselves in the workforce. Christy Jones, a promoter of the egg freezing technique and founder of Extend Fertility told NBC that the companies’ new benefits “can help women be more productive human beings.” Also according to NBC, Lynn Westphal, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University Medical Center, states that “the benefit will likely encourage women to stay with their employer longer, cutting down on recruiting and hiring costs. And practically speaking, when women freeze their eggs early, firms may save on pregnancy costs in the long run.” Opponents view the new measure not only as an intervention in nature, but also warn of the short- and long-term health risks for mothers and their children associated with the not yet
fully researched process of egg freezing. Even worse, the procedure is never a guaranteed success to become pregnant. Naomi Cahn, law professor at George Washington University who writes about reproductive technology told MarketWatch. com: “Egg freezing creates the opportunity to transcend the biological clock, but it also creates the illusion that we will always be able to transcend the biological clock.” Moreover, detractors such as Glenn Cohen, faculty director at Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics, are skeptical about the companies’ message: “Facebook should be careful it isn’t sending the message that women at 25 can’t get pregnant if they want to be successful there instead of creating a work environment where young mothers can also thrive,” he said according to MarketWatch.com. Jessica Cussins, Project Associate at the Center for Genetics and Society criticizes the companies’ motives in a Huffington Post article: “Unfortunately, when you work for a company that wants you to spend your entire life at the office, in a society that under-prioritizes all occupations traditionally undertaken by women, there will never be an ideal time to start a family.”
CA covers uninsured children Continued from page 1
celebrate progress in providing children a healthy start, CHIP faces a very real threat. If Congress doesn’t take action, there will be no new funding for CHIP starting this time next year. If that happens, millions of children could lose their health coverage, and millions more would pay more for less coverage. Since CHIP’s bipartisan beginning in 1997, it has been a lifeline for millions
of children in working families and has played a critical role in reducing the rate of uninsured children by half. CHIP remains a crucial source of coverage for millions of children, even in the post- Affordable Care Act (ACA) world. Congress must act to extend funding for CHIP this year to ensure that children’s health coverage and outcomes continue to improve.”
OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014 | 3
hlr media EDITORIAL editor@belmontbeacon.com Editor Jennifer Schlueter Publisher HLR Media Advertising advertising@hlrmedia.com Submissions:
Please send all press releases to: editor@belmontbeacon.com HLR Media, LLC .All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at HLR Media, LLC 525 E Seaside Way, Suite 101B Long Beach 90802
Phone: (626) 386-3457 Fax: (626) 600-4452
Alhambra PRESS
Baldwin Park
INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT
California nurses endorse water bond, Proposition 1 Citing the importance of stabilizing the state’s water supply in an era of drought and climate change as a public health priority, the California Nurses Association announced its endorsement of Proposition 1, the Water Bond measure, on the November 4 ballot. The measure would upon approval, enact general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, surface and groundwater storage, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment technology, water supply management and conveyance, wastewater treatment, drought relief, emergency water supplies, and ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration. “Access to a clean and adequate water supply is vital for public health,” said CNA Copresident Deborah Burger, RN. “Water is life sustaining, critical for drinking, for hygiene, for cleaning our food, clothes, and living spaces. Lack of adequate and steady supplies of water can lead to unsafe sanitation and the spread of infectious diseases and pandemics.” “With the erosion of our water supply in the current drought – and the likelihood that more droughts, directly associated with the climate crisis – this becomes a critical issue for the future of all Californians. That’s why nurses are joining with Governor Brown and many state lawmakers and organizations in supporting Proposition 1,” Burger said. CNA, the largest state organization of nurses with 86,000 California members, said that Proposition 1 will clean up our contaminated groundwater which serves as a critical buffer against drought by providing additional water in years when there is not enough rainfall or snow. Proposition 1 provides funding for clean drinking water in communities where water is contaminated and will invest in new water storage increas-
-Photo by Terry Miller
ing the amount of water that can be stored during wet years for the dry years sure to come, said CNA. Proposition 1 protects California’s rivers, lakes, and
streams from pollution and contamination, which is also critical for public health, and provides for the restoration of our fish and wildlife resources.
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 | OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014
Mayor, harbor commissioners on trade mission in Asia Meeting with shipping lines to build business for Port of Long Beach Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Harbor Commissioners and senior Harbor Department staff are traveling to several Asian countries, meeting with the Port of Long Beach’s key customers to retain and bring more business to Long Beach. The Long Beach officials are scheduled to meet with senior leadership of shipping lines based in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan to explain the Port’s competitive advantages for business, and to introduce the new Mayor, Harbor Commissioners and Chief Executive. Mayor Garcia said the trip is an opportunity to bring more jobs and economic development to Long Beach, and to underscore his and the Port’s continuing commitment to green, envi-
ronmentally sustainable growth. “I am excited to be part of a dedicated city team building business and relationships overseas,” said Garcia. “Our port is a major economic engine and reaching out to key customers and meeting potential new ones will reap dividends here at home.” The group will meet with companies including current customers Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), COSCO, “K” Line, Hanjin and Toyota. Meetings with prospective clients have also been scheduled. The Mayor and Harbor Commissioners will seek to strengthen relationships with the customers that have made Long Beach the second-busiest container seaport in the United States. Trade that flows through the Port of Long Beach sustains 300,000 jobs in
Southern California. With congestion issues front and center in Long Beach and the Harbor Commission focused on implementing solutions, another topic of the meetings with key customers will be congestion relief. While traveling, Commissioners and Port staff will remain in constant contact and continually updated on local congestion issues. Shipping executives will be updated on ongoing modernization and capital improvement projects like the Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment and the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement. OOCL is one of the Port’s longest-standing terminal operators, having opened its Long Beach Container Terminal in 1986. In 2011, OOCL signed a 40-year, $4.6 billion lease with
the Port for a new terminal, the Middle Harbor facility currently under construction. This is the largest lease of its kind for any port in North America. The Middle Harbor facility will be one of the nation’s most productive, and the world’s greenest terminal. “We are eager to meet our clients face-to-face and thank them for their business and support of our environmental programs,” said Board of Harbor Commissioners President Doug Drummond. “We want to hear from our customers so that, together, we can address issues of common concern and work toward our mutual success. We’d also like to introduce our new Mayor and our new Chief Executive, Jon Slangerup, to the industry.”
Prepare for flu season with annual shot Continued from page 1
Residents should contact their regular doctor for information on where and when they can get a flu shot. Many private providers have already received flu vaccine and are making it available to their patients. In addition some neighborhood pharmacies are providing flu vaccine to the public at a low fee. The Health Department is
hosting several neighborhood flu clinics throughout the city. Appointments will also be accepted at the Health Department during regular business hours by calling 562.570.4315 (a small administrative fee may apply). Adults with Medicare Part B or other insurance are urged to bring their Medicare/ insurance card to their appointment. Parents should bring
their children’s immunization records - some children will need two doses of the vaccine given one month apart depending on their immunization history. No appointment is needed at the following sites: 2014 Health Department Flu Clinic Schedule Monday, October 20, 9:00 am-12:00 pm at American Gold Star Manor, 3021 N. Gold Star Drive (enter on Spring). Thursday, October 23, 2:00-7:00 pm at Long Beach Health Department Main Facility, 2525 Grand Avenue. Monday, October 27, 9:00 am-12:00 pmat McBride Park/ Cal Rec Center, 1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. Tuesday, October 28, 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Houghton Park Community Center, 6301 Myrtle Avenue. Thursday, October 30, 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Avenue. Thursday, November 6, 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Scherer
Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd. The Health Department also recommends that all persons practice healthy habits to prevent getting or transmitting the flu: -Avoid close contact with people who are sick -Stay home from work or school if you are sick -Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze -Wash hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer frequently -Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth -Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, take vitamins, get plenty of rest, do not smoke, and avoid alcoholic beverages. In addition to offering flu clinics, the Department is also working with local hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other healthcare providers to ensure that their staff are vaccinated against the flu in order to protect patients.