Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014 - DECEMBER 28, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
Rep. Schiff Announces Federal Funding for Earthquake Early Warning System By terry miller
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. This $5 million in funding will allow those developing the statewide system to begin purchasing and installing additional sensors, build new stations, speed up the ShakeAlert system, and come closer to deploying comprehen-
The Belmont Plaza Pool was found structurally unsafe and permanently closed to the public in February 2013. Plans are underway to replace the permanent structure with a state-of-the-art aquatics facility. The City Council, however, Please see page 3
Please see page 3
sive early earthquake warning coverage throughout earthquake prone regions of the West Coast. “An earthquake early-warning system is essential to save lives, reduce property damage and protect critical infrastructure. This five million dollar federal investment is a down payment on building an integrated, statewide system,” said Senator FeinPlease see page 4
Creative, Innovative Belmont Temporary Pool Receives Project of the Year Award The American Public Works Association (APWA) Southern California Chapter has presented the City of Long Beach with the Project of the Year Award for the Belmont Temporary Pool. The 50-meter pool was recognized in the Creative and Innovative Category for demonstrating
resourcefulness and the use of imagination. "This award affirms what the Long Beach community already knows: The pool is a world-class facility that has allowed our residents to stay active and healthy until a permanent replacement pool is built," Mayor Robert Garcia said.
Richard Rocchi Appointed Deputy Police Chief Long Beach City Manager Pat West and Police Chief Robert Luna today announced the appointment of Commander Richard Rocchi, a 27-year veteran of the Police Department, as Deputy Chief, effective December 13, 2014. "Richard Rocchi displays the highest levels of integrity, service and community engagement," Chief Luna said. "His consistent dedication and professionalism has earned him the trust and respect of those within the Police Department and throughout the community." Commander Rocchi's most recent assignment has been Commander of the West Division, the busiest patrol operation in the City. He began his career as a police officer with the Long Beach Police Department in 1987. He has worked many diverse assignments, including Patrol, Field Training Officer, Special Enforcement Section, SWAT, Gang Enforcement, Community Policing, Internal Affairs, Crimes Against Persons Section, and Academy Director. In addition, he has worked as an Academy and Department instructor and has served on a variety of committees and working groups. "I am honored to be named Deputy Chief, and I will continue to dedicate myself to providing the best service possible to our committed employees and the entire community," Commander Rocchi said. Commander Rocchi grew
Congressman Adam Schiff (D¬Burbank) announced that Congress has included $5 million in funds this year towards the Earthquake Early Warning System during a press conference at Caltech Monday morning. – Photo by Terry Miller
On Monday morning Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced that Congress has included $5 million in FY 2015 funding bill, also known as the CROmnibus, for a West Coast Earthquake Early Warning System, the first time Congress has ever provided funding specifically for the system. A limited system developed by Caltech, UC-Berkeley
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Cal State Long Beach’s Hall-Biakanja Team Captures Moot Court Western Regional Title By Shayne Schroeder It looks like 13 is a lucky number for Moot Court student competitors at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) as a team from the university won the Western Regional competition and is advancing to nationals. CSULB hosted the 13th Annual American Collegiate Moot Court Association (ACMA) Western Regional competition for the 13th consecutive year. In all, four Long Beach two-person teams will advance to the national championship of intercollegiate moot court that will take place Jan. 16-17 in Miami at the Florida International University College of Law. The team of Ashley Hall, a senior political science major from Long Beach, and Krist Biakanja, a senior political science major from Huntington Beach, won all seven of its matches to capture the regional title. “This is the toughest regional in the country and they beat two teams that are probably among the top 10 if not the top five teams in the country,” said political science faculty member and team coach Lewis Ringel, who is now in his ninth year heading the program. “I’m not surprised they won
because I consider Ashley and Krist among the top 10 teams in the country.” Moot Court, also known as mock Supreme Court and Supreme Court Simulation, is a simulation of an appellate court proceeding. It involves teams of student contestants, clients burdened by a legal problem, briefs and oratory detailing the dimensions of the legal problem before an appellate court, and the judging of performances by panels of law students, attorneys, professors, law faculty, or, on occasion, members of the judicial branch of government. Teams from colleges and universities throughout the nation are arguing the same case. This year’s hypothetical case asks whether a fictional law requiring that women seeking an abortion undergo a transvaginal ultra-sound procedure and limiting what physicians can tell their patients about the risks of abortion is constitutional. “I don’t think you take for granted that you’re going to beat a good team, but I’m not surprised they won,” he added. “Krist has never lost a regional and Ashley is the winningest
mooter in Long Beach history. These two are terrific.” Last year, Hall and teammate Kyle Maury finished as the national oral advocacy runner-up in a split decision and for CSULB it was the first time it captured multiple orator awards at nationals, becoming just one of four schools to advance to the finals more than once. With their regional success, Hall now has a lifetime overall record of 38-7 and Biakanja’s career mark stands at 33-5-2, which is the second most wins in the program’s history. The Western Regional has produced five national champions, more than any other regional, and includes a CSULB team that captured the national title in 2002-03. The regional has produced 12 national semifinalists, including six in the last three years. The other CSULB twoperson teams advancing to nationals through the Western Regional are Amethyst Jefferson-Roberts, a senior Africana Studies and political science major from Compton, and Dominique Noble, a senior political science major from Santa Clara; and Julieta Hernandez, a senior Chicano/Latino Studies and political science major from Long Beach and Chris Nielson, a senior philosophy and political science major from Santa Ana. In addition, Jefferson-Roberts and Noble each won speaker awards as did CSULB’s Will Torres, a
senior political science major from Glendale. In November, Kevin Poush, a senior political science major from Long Beach, and Shelby Morgan, a senior political science major from El Dorado Hills, qualified for nationals by winning all seven of their matchups in Iowa City, Iowa, at the Upper Midwestern Regional, where CSULB repeated as champs. Moot court teams’ combined oral argument must be 20 minutes with each member of the team presenting a minimum of seven minutes. Not knowing which viewpoint it will be presenting, each team should have the ability to support both arguments. Moot court judges ask students questions and grade them on the basis of their knowledge of the case, their response to questioning, their forensic skills and their demeanor. As far as Ringel’s expectations at the upcoming national tournament, he makes no guarantees, but is confident in his teams’ abilities. “I expect to win,” he said. “I’m not guaranteeing that, but I think it’s a realistic expectation based on how we have performed all year. We’ve been in five events so far this year and we’ve won all five and I see no reason to not think we can win. Our regional was hard fought, we have nothing but respect for our opponents and we are excited to head on to nationals.”
Breakfast with Santa Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Elves and the entire CHILL family each Saturday during the holiday season as the Queen Mary hosts Breakfast with Santa. Visit their website for more information at www. queenmary.com/events/chill/breakfast or call (562) 435-3511. Runs through Jan. 3, 2015.
DECEMBER 22, 2014 - DECEMBER 28, 2014 | 3
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Project of the Year Award
Waterfront New Year’s Eve
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wanted to provide uninterrupted pool access to the community during the three years required to construct the new facility. The temporary pool was designed with materials that can be reused or sold in the future. Other components of the pool were designed for reuse, including pool mechanical equipment, light poles and fixtures, bike rack, and portable restroom and shower trailer. "The temporary pool is a great asset to the community now," Councilwoman Suzie Price said, "and the ability to sell or reuse materials means it will remain an asset in the future. It's another great investment of our Tidelands resources." Built in the parking lot
adjacent to the Belmont Plaza Pool, the temporary pool is equipped with a moveable bulkhead, and is programmed for a variety of swim events, providing uninterrupted service for thousands each month. The temporary pool was designed and installed in only 10 months, and opened on December 19, 2013. The $5.3 million pool was paid for by the Tidelands Fund. The pool was designed by RJM Design Group and constructed by the OK Earl Corporation. The APWA Award Ceremony occurred on Thursday, Dec. 11 in the City of Lakewood.
Downtown Long Beach will celebrate the New Year with a high-energy street party at the intersection of Pine and Broadway Aves. with 10 outdoor bars and three stages. Fireworks will take place at at 9pm. Visit http://downtownlongbeach.org/Latest-News-Detail/ Downtown-Long-Beach-NewYears-Eve-with-Fitz-and-theTantrums?id=67565.
Rocchi Appointed Chief
Baldwin Park Continued from page 1
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up in Long Beach and is a graduate of Polytechnic High School. He holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Administration of Justice from Long Beach City College, a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Studies and a Masters of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. He is also a graduate of Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the 221st session of the FBI National Academy. Commander Rocchi is a member and past president of the Long Beach Police Command Officers Association and the FBI National Academy Associates, and he serves as a Council Member of Special Olympics of Southern California.
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4 | DECEMBER 22, 2014 - DECEMBER 28, 2014
Long Beach Cargo Edges Up Slightly Modest Growth Brings Busiest November Since Before 2008 Recession The Port of Long Beach’s cargo volume saw 2.1 percent growth in November when compared to the same month last year, but the modest rise was enough to mark the busiest November since 2007. A total of 581,514 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were moved through the Port in November. Imports were recorded at 293,984 TEUs, down 0.9 percent from last year. Exports saw a 14.5 percent decrease to 129,960
TEUs. Empty containers surged to 157,570 TEUs, an increase of 30.2 percent. Cargo numbers were flat in October and November at the Port of Long Beach. Retailers had the majority of their goods shipped in early autumn to be prepared for the busy holiday shopping season currently underway. Last year, against which 2014 is being compared, was the third-busiest year in port history with a total of 6.73 mil-
lion TEUs. Through November, the Port has seen a 1.7 percent increase in cargo. With an ongoing $4 billion capital improvement program to modernize its facilities, the Port of Long Beach continues to invest in long-term, environmentally sustainable growth. For all the latest monthly cargo numbers, click here. For more details on the cargo numbers, please visit www.polb.com/stats.
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-Photo by Terry Miller
stein. “These federal dollars are sorely needed, but more funding is still necessary to complete the system. While the state and private sector must contribute their fair share, I will continue to work with West Coast senators and representatives to prioritize federal funds for this life-saving project. We must get it done before the next major earthquake strikes.” “It’s absolutely critical that the West Coast implement and build out an earthquake early warning system to give us a heads up before the ‘big one’
hits, so we can save lives and protect infrastructure,” said Congressman Schiff. “This funding will help build out additional stations, speed up the ShakeAlert system, and make it more reliable in our highest priority areas - including Los Angeles and the Bay Area and those critical few seconds or a minute of warning will allow people to seek cover, automatically slow or stop trains, and pause surgeries. This first phase of funding will allow the work to begin expanding the system, and we will continue to work to secure future funding along with our other federal, state and local partners.” “We at Caltech applaud Congress for approving the impactful initial funding for an earthquake early warning system,” said Thomas F. Rosenbaum, president of the California Institute of Technology. “This vital step toward implementation wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of the California congressional delegation.” Earlier this year, Schiff led a group of 25 Members from California, Washington and Oregon in organizing a request that the
committee fund an early earthquake warning system. Schiff s letter requested additional funding for the Earthquake Hazards Program in USGS to kickstart the process of building out the early warning system so we can be ready for the next big quake. Senator. Feinstein was critical in securing the language in the Senate -Appropriations bill. The text in the bill reads: Funding for Natural Hazards programs includes $59,503,000 for earthquake hazards, of which $5,000,000 is provided to transition the earthquake early warning demonstration project into an operational capability on the West Coast. A critical component of the earthquake early warning system is maintaining the existing real-time broadband and strong motion seismic networks along with geodetic monitoring networks. As the earthquake early warning system is developed, USGS is directed to collaborate with universities, companies and other Federal agencies with expertise and existing digital seismic observing networks to continue precise observation of critical fault locations.