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To the Editor:
It was simply overwhelming! That is the only way possible to describe the level of generosity of the volunteers of the Long Beach Waterfront Warriors, the Long Beach school children, my fellow VFW Post 1384 members, and all of the Long Beach residents who contributed to the dozens of care packages our squadron received just before Christmas.
The contents were quickly distributed to all of our troops, with any leftovers being consolidated to pass on our replacement unit as its soldiers begin to arrive over the coming weeks. In short, several hundred soldiers here at a remote forward operating base north of Baghdad will have benefited from your incredible generosity.
Cpt. Keith Grant
1-7 CavalryJSS
Istiqla'al, Iraq
Keith Grant is a former editor
of the Long Beach Herald.
The bond was a gift for Republicans
To the Editor:
The Long Beach Republicans gave our tax payers a holiday surprise (“City Council approves $6M capital bond,” Dec.17-23). With the passage of an additional $6 million bond, the Republicans now have our city owing more in bonds than what it collects in taxes over a two-year period. This is similar to owing more debt on credit cards than you earn in two years. It will be painful to pay back.
The bond truly is a holiday surprise. The Republican administration didn’t disclose the bond before Election Day. The Republican administration rushed to approve this additional $6 million before Jan. 1, when two new Democrats took their seats on the City Council and would have acted responsibly in questioning this new debt.
To bond, you need 4 votes out of the five-person City Council. Since Jan. 1, the Republicans have had 3. To spend the money after bonding, the council only needs 3 votes out of 5, which the Republicans still have.
Our roads do need work and our infrastructure constantly needs improvement. But there is no plan. There isn't even a requirement that any specific roads be addressed by this bond, and, in fact, no street rehabilitations were identified. Bonding for the money with no plan for how to use the funds makes no sense.
This bond is nothing more than an opportunistic act of passing it quickly between Election Day and Inauguration Day and hoping that no one is watching.
Yes this truly is a gift from the Republicans that will keep on giving as these bonds will be paid back over up to 40 years. In the worst economy in our lifetime, increased spending, when revenues are down, is a bad choice.
Michael Zapson
Chairman Long Beach
Democratic Committee
City needs to step up traffic safety
To the Editor:
Thank you for writing an article about what is going on with Richard Boodman (“City to resident: take your signs down,” Dec. 10-16).
This has been a long-ignored issue in Long Beach, where a lot of people feel they have to ride their bike at their own risk. I live near the park on Trenton Avenue and I can’t even tell you how many motorists zip past the stop sign because they are on their cell phones or are in a hurry. There are a lot of kids in the area, and when one of them gets hit by a car, only then will something be done to protect their safety.
The City of Long Beach needs to stop being reactive to this issue and be more proactive, and allow Mr. Boodman to bring light to this issue because it is about the well being of people who live in a beach community known for people who cruise around due to a lack of parking in the area.
If City Hall doesn't step up their efforts and work to resolve the real issue of safety more people are going to be hurt and it will only end in tears.
Brendan Rodgers
East Atlantic Beach
Motorists hedge their bets
To the Editor: As a Long Beach resident, I have the following suggestions about traffic safety. Many people with homes on street corner have hedges obstructing the street and making it difficult for motorists to see on-coming traffic. I find myself inching up before I proceed. I also stop at every corner, whether there is a stop sign or not, since it is confusing not to have them all-way. These tall hedges and shrubbery should be kept at a length, enabling a clear unobstructed view. I live on East Broadway and many people speed down the street as if it’s a highway. Additionally, my son takes a bus to school and if he doesn’t get on fast enough these speeders honk the horn at the bus and even sometimes pass it illegally. Issuing tickets for speeding and illegally passing school buses would make East Broadway much safer. Joy Barmack
Long Beach
