| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
To The Editor, It is important to me that our elected officials be involved in the community before they are elected to public office. In reviewing the campaign materials of Gary DeLong and Stephanie Loftin, I noticed that Mr. DeLong has been on the boards of the Long Beach Aquarium, Long Beach Public Library Foundation and Long Beach City College Foundation, among others. The only community organization Ms. Loftin has been involved in, according to her Web site, is the Los Angeles County Alcohol Commission. I am impressed that Mr. DeLong has been engaged in our community for many years, and he has earned my vote on June 6. A. Palmer
To The Editor, When I met Gary DeLong, I told him that to get my vote he would have to be willing to put some focus on the problem of graffiti, which he said he was willing to do. Shortly after, I called him to make an appointment to go on a tour of the Third District so that I could point out some of the worst-hit spots. He said, “I’m sorry, Donna, but I won’t be able to go until April 19.” I said that would be after the election. But he said, “That’s all right. I still want to go to these graffiti sites and see what can be done about them.” Guess who’s going to get my vote (again) on June 6. Donna Attwood
To The Editor, What’s up with Stephanie Loftin and the yard signs along Seventh Street? I did not vote for Loftin or DeLong in the April election. But she has convinced me that I will definitely vote for Gary DeLong now. I hope the city charges the Loftin campaign for all the city worker time that has been spent removing her signs instead of working on city projects to benefit the community. G. Adams
To The Editor, I am very disappointed that Councilperson Jackie Kell has resorted to “divide and conquer” tactics to win the upcoming run off election between her and challenger, Gerri Schipske. I guess when all else fails for Jackie Kell, the means justify the ends. I hope her constituents see through all of this by electing her opponent, whose only agenda I see is to represent and serve the Fifth District with honor, respect, and integrity as well as being an effective leader. If the voters of the Fifth District are absolutely convinced that Councilperson Kell is still fit for this challenging job for another four years, then they have every right to support her. But I hope they do it for legitimate reasons rather than for discriminatory ones. Joe Valles
To The Editor, I hope that it’s not too late to add an effective article to your letters to the editor before the mayoral election. If not, I would like to say that before I received some of the “Friends of Frank Colonna” smear tactic ads (two four color ads) I did not have much interest in this election. Now, I am all for Bob Foster! I think an ad campaign planned with such a negative twist is the most unprofessional thing a person could do. This slander may well backfire and I hope that it does. To me, it shows how desperate Frank Colonna is, since he is so far behind. With this kind of attitude Mr. Colonna does not deserve the office or any other office in my city. I will be voting for Bob Foster for sure. I think that the only thing good that has come out of this lousy type of advertising is that it got me up off the couch to vote at all, and definitely, for the other party. Tony York
To The Editor, I’m glad that Frank Colonna is standing up for taxpayers and not jumping on the pro-tax bandwagon. He obviously understands that taxing residents an extra $100 per parcel is not good public policy. If Colonna is elected mayor, I hope that he can convince his colleagues that we are already taxed enough! Jeremy Harris
To The Editor, I recently received my sample ballot and noticed that Frank Colonna does not identify himself as a City Councilman, his current position, but rather as an environmental specialist, a position he has never held. Whether running for re-election or for higher office, I think an incumbent has an obligation to identify him or herself as such. I cannot recall any election where an incumbent has failed to list the current office he or she holds on the ballot statement. Could it be that Frank is running away from his record as a councilman? Integrity and forthrightness’ are two important qualities to look for in a leader. I am supporting Bob Foster for mayor. Julie Heggeness
To The Editor, Throughout the Second District, we have very impacted living conditions, which make “quality of life” issues even more significant. That’s exactly why I am supporting Bry Myown for Second District City Council. She has actively worked to resolve many of the problems that arise with people living in such close proximity and much, much more. This district desperately needs some stability, and I believe she can provide it while firmly standing up for the neighborhoods. Her experience is broad-based, which gives her the ability to provide service not only to residential constituents, but to businesses as well. Her vast knowledge of governmental functions will allow her to navigate City Hall, as her council position requires. Ms. Myown doesn’t just exercise her vocal cords on useless campaign rhetoric. She practices sound, broad-based constituent-oriented service. Bry’s continuous service to and with the community embodies the Long Beach city motto — “Working Together to Serve.” Diana Lejins
To The Editor, Long Beach’s Second District has a choice for change and a better future in the June 6 City Council election. While the other candidates are political insiders or gadflies, Brian Ulaszewski stands out as someone with the passion, drive and intelligence to improve the Second District. Brian brings professional experience as an architect. His efforts at community involvement and activism highlight leadership and stewardship of resources. He’s led the charge to improve our parks and open spaces. Brian also has tried to tackle the mundane, but contentious topic of parking. While many of the other candidates are getting support and money from special interest groups, Brian has been running a grass roots campaign by going door-to-door in the district. He also organized events the 2D:2-D art exhibit to showcase life in the Second District. Instead of tolerating yet another politician beholden to developers and moneyed interests, it’s time we elected Brian Ulaszewski, who cares about Long Beach. Glen Golightly
To The Editor, In this never-ending twilight zone of Long Beach politics, we have the unofficially declared frontrunners for the Second District council seat, based solely one’s last name and the other’s bank account. Regarding the first case, I can’t find a single scholar of government who finds family members serving on the same city council being anything but absurd and rife with the potential for collusion. In the other case, an example of a “spontaneous creation” of a politician, who, if she had saved a cat stuck in a tree back in 1982, would have mentioned it in her glossy, smells like real estate, flyers. I have to hope that the Second District and Long Beach deserves better.
Jefferey S. Kaufmann Election season is heating up early this year. Gazette Newspapers offers Letters To Election as a forum for opinions about candidates or propositions coming before the voters. We will try to print all letters received, with the following exceptions: personal character attacks or comments that may be libelous; organized letter campaigns; or letters not dealing directly with local issues. Letters from candidates are accepted, with the exception that no letters attacking another candidate will be printed the week before the election. Letters should be 200 words or less (300 as space permits), must be signed and any affiliations relating to the campaign should be listed. Mail letters to 5225 E. Second St., Long Beach, CA 90803, fax to 434-8826, or e-mail to editor@gazettes.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
