Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 - DECEMBER 7, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
Upset Protestors Rally Against Ferguson Verdict, Block Freeways by jennifer schlueter
Mike Brown, who was killed by a Officer Darren Wilson in August
With great suspense spectators all over the nation awaited the verdict of the grand jury in Ferguson last Monday whether to arraign police officer Darren Wilson or not. When the man
who shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was not indicted, people everywhere went into the streets to show their disapproval of the jury’s decision. Whereas some protests in
- Facebook Photo
Ferguson escalated and shops were lit on fire, demonstrations in LA and its surrounding counties remained mostly peaceful; Please see page 4
Insurance Enrollment Event at The Center The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services will hold a health insurance enrollment event on Saturday, December 6, from 10 am to 2 pm at The Center Long Beach, 2017 E. 4th St. Certified Enrollment Counselors will assist community members with Medi-Cal and Cov-
ered California applications during the current enrollment period. Language assistance is available in Spanish and Khmer. “I am committed to making sure that as many residents as possible have access to health care,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “Having health insurance is an impor-
tant tool to ensure that our City is healthy and vibrant.” Covered California is an easyto-use marketplace implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in California. “This is an important event Please see page 2
VOLUME 1, NO. 31
Leondra Kruger Appointed By Gov. Brown to California Supreme Court Leondra R. Kruger has been selected by Governor Brown for a vacancy on the California Supreme Court. The Governor’s nomination will be submitted to the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and must be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Ms. Kruger is a member of the Washington, D.C. and California Bar Associations and is admitted to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. “It is exciting to learn that Leondra Kruger has been nominated for the California Supreme Court. Raised and educated in the 41st Assembly District, her nomination is a reflection of her stellar academic background. Her academic and professional careers have exhibited a commitment to excellence,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). Ms. Kruger was a resident of South Pasadena and graduated from Polytechnic School in Pasadena as a Presidential Scholar and a National Merit Scholar. She earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard, and her law degree at Yale Law School. She interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. She has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice since 2013, and the Office of the Solicitor General prior to that. The last time an AfricanAmerican was appointed to the California Supreme Court was in 1996.
2 | DECEMBER 1, 2014 - DECEMBER 7, 2014
“Hands-On” Hearing Assistive Experts Develop Technology Demonstration Action Plan for Southern you have trouble hearing free event every third Friday of California’s Water Crisis on theDophone and have trouble the month. A representative from Mayor Garcia and Congressman Alan Lowenthal Reiterate Importance of Water Conservation and Cooperation Water experts from Southern California and beyond convened at the Aquarium of the Pacific yesterday to identify new strategies to deal with the water crisis now and meet increased demand in an uncertain future. Participants included meteorologists, hydrologists, oceanographers, communicators, municipal water department managers, and others. The Long Beach Water Department asked the Aquarium to convene the forum to explore ideas for dealing with the drought and to develop an action plan. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Congressman Alan Lowenthal also spoke to reporters at a press conference and emphasized their support for new and innovative water conservation measures. “Southern California’s reservoirs are at record-low levels, we expect drastically lower allocations from the State Water Project next year, and our reserve of groundwater is being depleted,” said Jerry Schubel, president and CEO of the Aquarium. “We must adopt a new and permanent culture of water conservation in California and reduce water use across the board, from agricultural and industrial to domestic and municipal uses.” Participants discussed action items necessary to reduce the impacts of a drought and ensure water supply in an uncertain future. These included: restrictions on outdoor water use, such as lawns and highway medians, cemeteries, large commercial landscapes, and golf courses; a new tiered pric-
ing structure for water to reflect high use while protecting those least able to pay; a groundwater inventory; and a public education program. Opportunities identified by the forum to improve supply included expanded use of water recycling, stormwater capture, smart meters for consumers, permeable pavement, and certified greywater systems, as well as investment in water infrastructure to eliminate loss. They also emphasized the need to keep all possible contributors “on the table” such as desalination and improving the efficiency of Delta transfers. Participants urged the clean-up and management of groundwater for sustainable use so that surface and groundwater can be managed together in a comprehensive management program. They called for targeted research on high priority issues needed for state water management. “The forum participants have come up with tremendous ideas to move California forward when it comes to water conservation,” said Kevin Wattier, general manager of the Long Beach Water Department. “Long Beach is already a leader in water conservation, and we look forward to implementing new measures to do even better.” The Aquarium regularly hosts scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders in forums to search for solutions to the most pressing and complex problems facing the ocean and environment. For more information, visit aquariumofpacific.org.
hearing conversations in restaurants? Can’t hear the doorbell ring? New technologies are available for you to try “hands on” Friday, December 12th 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
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 562-630-6141 or visit www. hlalongbeachlakewood.org .
Insurance Enrollment Event Continued from page 1
and if you need guidance on how to select a health plan, learn if you qualify for subsidies, or how to enroll, certified enrollment counselors will be available to help you,” Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal said. “Remember that open enrollment for Covered California ends on February 15, 2015 and Medi-Cal applications are accepted yearround.” No appointment is required but interested individuals must bring the following documents in order to complete a health insurance application: 1) birth certificate, U.S. passport or resident alien card (green card); 2) proof of income such as recent paychecks and recent tax forms; 3) proof of Los Angeles County residency such as a driver’s license, utility or phone bills, rental agreement; and 3) Social Security cards for everyone in the family applying for health insurance. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is participating in various community enrollment forums. Also, walk-ins and appointments are welcomed Monday throughFriday from 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Service, 2525 Grand Ave. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Khmer. In addition, the Health Department will provide Saturday appointments upon request. For more information on
Covered California enrollment services and/or community enrollment forums, please contact Anthony Ly with the Medi-Cal Outreach Program at 562.570.7979 or visit www.longbeach.gov/ health/fss and click on “Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Outreach Program.” You can also obtain Covered California information atwww.coveredca.com. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is one of three local health jurisdictions in the state of California that is comprised of five bureaus: Community Health, Environmental Health, the Housing Authority, Physician Services and Policy, Planning, and Prevention. The mission of the organization is to improve the quality of life by promoting a safe and healthy community in which to live, work, and play. For more information, visit www.longbeach.gov/health. The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach serves over 21,000 people a year with an array of services including support groups, youth services, legal assistance, employment referrals, rental and roommate referrals, a hate crimes hotline, mental health referral, women’s health programs, cultural and social activities (including a Film Festival), educational forums, and HIV prevention and support programs. For more information, visit www.centerlb.org.
DECEMBER 1, 2014 - DECEMBER 7, 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
Rep. Schiff Renews Push for Body Cameras for Law Enforcement On Tuesday Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a former federal prosecutor who recently urged 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, released the following statement: "Last night, following the decision of a grand jury not to indict the policeman who shot and killed Michael Brown, several buildings were set ablaze and violence again plagued the streets of Ferguson. Brown's death and this new spate of violence has exposed anew the deep mistrust between many Americans, particularly those of color, and law enforcement. "I join the family of Michael Brown, the Attorney General, and the President in calling for an end to the violence, and for calm and restraint, both by protestors and police. As the President said late last night, we are a nation of laws and the grand jury's decision -- whether we agree with it or disagree -- was theirs to make. "We cannot undo the past -we cannot bring Michael back, but we can create a better future for our children and make our streets safer for citizens and police alike. That will not be an easy task, but a good start would be committing to further diversify our police forces so they are more representative of the communities they police, and equipping officers with body cameras -- cameras that may have put to rest the fevered speculation that has characterized this case, or better yet, avoided the deadly altercation altogether.” Schiff, along with other Members of Congress, recently sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice to help fund local police departments’ purchase of small body-worn
cameras. 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 deescalat-
ing 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 | DECEMBER 1, 2014 - DECEMBER 7, 2014
Listen Carefully Contest Challenges Students to Create a PSA About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss To raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss in teens, Listen Carefully, a Starkey Hearing Foundation program, launched a national video contest November 24 challenging middle school and high school students (ages 13-18) to create public service announcements (PSAs) about the importance of hearing protection. The winning student(s) and their school will win a private concert by Interscope recording artist Aloe Blacc in 2015. The “Listen Carefully Contest” was created in response to data showing that noise-induced hearing loss increased 30 percent in teens over the past decade. Today 1 in 6 American teens has permanent hearing loss due to high volume sounds. Listen Carefully is a domestic program of Starkey Hearing Foundation, an international nonprofit that gives the gift of hearing to people in need around the world.
“From the studio to the stage, my hearing is a critical part of my art,” said Interscope recording artist Aloe Blacc. “I am so honored to join Listen Carefully to help raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss and look forward to performing at the school of the video contest winner,” he continued. Football games, concerts, portable listening devices, lawn mowers and even hairdryers can damage kids’ hearing in as little as 10 seconds. “At the core of creating a revolution in hearing health is the conscientiousness that teenagers must develop regarding their own ears,” said Dr. Vanessa Rothholtz, a Board Certified Otolaryngologist in Los Angeles, California. “This begins with education and influences in their environment, such as the music industry, their parents and their friends. However, it is ultimately the young adult’s responsibility to actively participate
in the protection of their hearing,” she added. “Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, but often preventable,” said Tani Austin, Co-Founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation. “We hope this contest will help provide a creative way for students to learn and educate their peers about the longterm health dangers associated with high-volume sounds.” The Listen Carefully contest is accepting 30-second video submissions between November 24 and December 31, 2014 from teens ages 13-18 who are enrolled an accredited U.S. middle school or high school. Video should be submitted to Listen Carefully’s official contest page (http://www. listencarefully.org/video-contest/ ). Qualifying entries will be made public for general voting from January 13-31, 2015. The top three finalists will be notified on February 1, 2015 and the grand
prize winner will win a private concert from Aloe Blacc at his or her school. Second and third place winners will each receive a GoPro© camera and a trip to attend the concert with a parent or legal guardian. About Listen Carefully: Listen Carefully is Starkey Hearing Foundation’s domestic initiative to raise awareness about noiseinduced hearing loss and help prevent a hearing loss epidemic. Today, 1 in 6 American teens has permanent hearing loss due to high-volume sounds. Football games, concerts, music players, and hairdryers can damage kids’ hearing in a matter of seconds. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, but preventable. For more information, visit Listen Carefully online at listencarefully. org, via Facebook at facebook. com/listencarefully, Twitter.com/ listencarefully, or Instagram.com/ listencarefully_org.
Upset Protestors Rally Against Ferguson Verdict, Block Freeways Continued from page 1
however, several freeways including the 5, 110 and 10 were blocked for hours. Sit-ins and rallies in Leimert Park, Beverly Hills, and other areas were reported, where people raised signs and their hands shouting “hands up, don’t shoot.” Long Beach resident Leisette Rodriguez shared her resentment with
the Los Angeles Times: “I’ve had enough,” said the 46-yearold. “It seems like it is never going to come around where communities of color even matter.” She feels for Brown’s family: “My heart is hurting so much for them.” The LA Times quoted a statement of Los Angeles Coun-
ty Sheriff-elect Jim McDonnell, in which he urges angry protestors to “respect the outcome and processes of our legal system.” He adds: “The greatness of our nation comes from our ability to come together peacefully and lawfully, to speak up about what is on our minds, and to respect one another.” According to the LA Times, Darrin Johnson of Redlands signed the petition “We Call on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to file federal criminal civil rights charges against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the Slaying of Michael Brown” on Change.org. He told the paper: “I’m frustrated beyond belief. Signing this petition is at the moment the closest thing I have to taking action. I want to see people of color treated with the same dignity and humanity that whites are by those in power.” Since the killing of their child, Michael Brown’s fam-
ily have advocated body-worn cameras for officers, and started a campaign. In a statement, they wrote: “We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen. Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera.” According to the Signal Hill Tribune, the Long Beach Police Department is currently “conducting studies to determine policy, vendor selection and costs of the new equipment.” The Daily Beast reports that several more black teens have been shot by cops since the killing of Mike Brown. One of them in Long Beach: “Officers were responding to a report of a missing juvenile girl, and found her in the house of Carey Smith-Viramontes. According to police, Smith-Viramontes was armed with a knife and was shot dead by an officer on the scene,” The Daily Beast said.