By Nick Diamantides, Staff Writer
David Carlton, new president of the Wrigley Association, promised more programs and activities sponsored by the organization when he addressed about 60 members at the group’s August 6 meeting. “We’re looking forward to anything that builds a sense of community,” he said.
Carlton pointed to the organization’s first annual Summer Fest, which took place at Veteran’s Park on July 20. “It brought fun to the community, and about 400 people came,” he said.
Earlier this year, the association was torn by differing opinions on how much focus should be placed on its annual Christmas Tree Lane event. The contention was so sharp that some feared the organization would divide into two separate groups.
Carlton said most members want to put that issue behind them. “We’ve had a lot of renewed interest in the association,” he said, noting that quite a few residents have joined recently, and some disenfranchised members have rejoined. “That tells us that we are on the right track,” he noted. “We want to get more residents involved in making this a better community.”
Early in the meeting, two Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers updated the audience on law enforcement activities in the Wrigley district.
Lieutenant Robert Smith talked about some recent robberies and the July 24 discovery of a murder victim near the corner of 28th Street and Chestnut Avenue. Police do not yet know the motive for the killing and have no suspect. “The investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Commander Billy Quach briefly outlined the LBPD’s Safe Passage Program, and asked residents to volunteer their time to expand it.
The program provides officers to patrol neighborhoods in the vicinity of high schools for about an hour before and after each school day. It is designed to protect students from gangs and other threatening individuals who prey on kids going to and from school campuses.
“If we just had one resident on each street that was willing to stand in front of their house and look up and down the street for about 40 minutes before and after school, our streets would be safer,” he said. “If you see suspicious activity, just call us.”
After the officers spoke, Sumire Gant, from the Long Beach Department of Public Works, and Melani Smith, principal of Melendrez, a Los Angeles-based landscape architecture consulting firm, briefly talked to the audience about the city’s Livability Plan for Long Beach I-710 corridor neighborhoods.
“The purpose of the planning effort is to work with corridor neighborhoods to identify and develop plans to address the impacts they are experiencing from the operation of the (Long Beach) Freeway,” Gant said.
She stressed that the plan is not part of the soon-to-be-initiated I-710 corridor improvement project, which will aim at improving the freeway itself. “Our plan will focus on the neighborhoods adjacent to the freeway,” she noted.
Smith encouraged residents to attend upcoming neighborhood design workshops so that her firm and city officials can get ideas on what changes people want in their neighborhoods. “I promise if you come to a workshop, you will be doing most of the talking,” she said. The next workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the community center of Cesar Chavez Park.
Long Beach City Council Members Tonia Reyes-Uranga and Dee Andrews also spoke briefly to audience about events in their respective districts.
Association Sergeant-at-Arms PG Herman gave an in-depth report on the Summer Fest.
Board Member Gavin McKiernan described attempts to get the financial records of the Christmas Tree Lane program from the chair of that program Maria Norvel, and Joan Greenwood, past association president.
“We have run into continued resistance in our efforts to get those records,” Carlton added.
The board has hired an attorney to help resolve the conflict.
Final speakers, Brenda Martinez and Lisa Wibroe, described the association’s plan to plant 150 trees in the Wrigley District with a $5,000 grant from the city.
Carlton closed by thanking the members for their participation in the association and encouraging them to continue their involvement in the community. “We only get the neighborhood we ask for,” he said.
