Concerning ‘concerns’
I am disappointed with CJ Dablo’s article about the Signal Hill Library presentation at the Parks & Recreation Committee on Jan 25. To a reader who had not known much before about the proposed new library, it might appear that this was the first time information was presented to the public.
Meetings and workshops have been posted to invite interested residents to attend. I was a member of the 10-member advisory committee, [composed] of city officials, community services staff, as well as local citizens who had answered the public invitation to become involved. This committee volunteered many hours over several months, learning about the plans, visiting similar facilities, and working toward helping provide a well-informed presentation for Planning and Parks & Recreation Commissions (of which I am a Commissioner), the City Council and interested residents.
The community needs assessment of 2008-9 surveyed several hundred local residents regarding their opinions on current and future recreation uses in Signal Hill. Their first listed priority— a library.
When reporting public comments, the term “concerns were voiced” was repeatedly written. The reader may form the impression many people share these views which were stated by one person. Making inflammatory statements without substantial backup is misleading and nonproductive to the discussion.
These questions and concerns were addressed by the architect and city staff, though few [were] quoted.
“Concerns (by one person) were raised” that children are in the library so close to homeless people in the library. An inference does not make it a fact. The staff responded that the library staff serves a diverse cross-section of the community. That doesn’t mean people who appear to be drifters and panhandlers are welcome to use the library as a haven. As a resident and frequent library patron, I have never observed anyone fitting the description of the chronic homeless person loitering in the library.
The architect has provided a blueprint for a visitor-friendly building that salutes the history of Signal Hill as well as recognizing the changing nature of “libraries” now and in the future. It is planned to be a LEED Silver Certified structure for energy efficiency.As one person stated, this facility could become the heart of the Signal Hill civic center, serving the needs and interests of citizens of all ages.
There is still one more opportunity for public participation and information— the Feb. 7 City Council meeting at 7pm.
Louise Cunningham
Signal Hill
Vexation about representation
I want to give some credit to our former seventh district council Representative, Tonia [Reyes] Uranga, for the attention she gave her constituents when they called her office for help with a problem. I realize now that she went out of her way to have one of her office staff take the time to visit the person who called her to see if she could help them in some way.
That is certainly not the case with our current representative. I have called his office twice, and both times I was told he couldn’t help. The last time I called was in reference to the red paint I had paid the City to apply to either side of my driveway because, not only am I a senior citizen who has lived in my house since it was built, but my driveway is narrow due to a sewer easement on the north side of my house. When large vehicles are parked on either side of my driveway, it is impossible for me to see oncoming traffic. The paint is starting to fade, and I thought the City should repaint the area so it could be better seen by anyone wanting to park there.
When I called Mr. Johnson’s office, the current representative for my district, I was told by someone in the office that the City had no money for that. After I hung up the phone, I thought about the dog park Mr. Johnson was so proud to brag about, and I wondered how he got the money to install that in my district. Probably 90 percent of the people living in this district have large back yards that could accommodate the needs of a pet, and the streets and other things could certainly benefit from a bit of fixing more than a dog park. I am a dog owner, so I know what dogs need, and I drive a car, so I know what streets need.
To be honest, I think we need to go back to the time we had City Council representatives who were really interested in doing the best they could for their district. What we have now is a bunch of seekers of “bigger and better” using the first rung of the success ladder to get to their destination by serving on the City Council. We all know the ultimate goal of most of them is higher office with the county, state or federal government.
How sad that our beautiful Long Beach has been used and abused to the point of no return. Give me back “Iowa by the Sea.” When I arrived here in 1943, I wrote to my mother and told her how beautiful and clean Long Beach was. I said, “You can eat off the streets they are so clean.” Now we have scam artists who approach you in the market parking lots and ask for money to get home for one reason or another. (As happened to me, they have a sad story and “promise to pay you back,” and even though you know you are being scammed you can’t be certain so you give them enough money for gas or whatever.)
Anyhow, thank you, Tonia, for your help and understanding of the needs the people you were serving in the seventh district needed a representative for. You did the job well.
Vivian C. Nelson
Long Beach
