Long Beach resident passes out at council meeting

The City Council was barely through with its budget hearing on Tuesday when a resident apparently passed out and local firefighters, police and others in attendance rushed to his aid.

Solomon Wasserman — a regular at City Council meetings who, on occasion, has caused the ire of residents for going over the allotted three-minute speaking time — was standing against one of the large window panes toward the front of the sixth floor auditorium.

The meeting, packed with hundreds of residents and union members who came to voice their concerns about increased taxes and layoffs, was suddenly interrupted by a mild thud when Wasserman — who just minutes earlier had spoken out from the audience against union layoffs, as City Manager Jack Schnirman talked about the city’s finances— seemingly fell unconscious and a police officer called for others to assist.

A number of firefighters, police officers and residents rushed to Wasserman’s aid. The incident forced a pause in the meeting for a few minutes, as Wasserman was carried into an adjacent room as a stretcher was brought in. Some residents called on city officials to turn up the air conditioning, saying that it was too hot.

A few minutes later, emergency personnel ushered Wasserman through the crowd on a stretcher. However, Wasserman, who was wearing an oxygen mask, seemed to be alert at this point, and gave the crowd a “thumbs up” and received a round of cheers.

Wasserman was transported to a local hospital and city officials said they did not have an update on his condition, though sources said he was OK.

Ironically, some of the five recently hired firefighters who may be laid off were among those who rushed to Wasserman’s side.

“They didn’t jump up just by chance,” firefighter Sam Pinto told the council. “They jumped up because the city gave them the opportunity to respond … they have a duty to respond and help.”