Showing posts with label San Gabriel River trail: news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Gabriel River trail: news. Show all posts

August 13, 2020

Third fire (that we know of) at the Eldorado park nature center August 12 2020

So here we are once again reporting on a fire at the El Dorado nature center on August 12, 2020 (approx 445pm). Pictures here. LB fire tweet here. The fire was in this approx location. When we spoke to the LB Park Ranger on scene blocking the southbound bike path at Spring St. we asked if this fire was due to homeless activity in the nature Center and he said "most likely". The two prior fires were April 3 2019 and June 19 1019 that WE KNOW of and there have most likely been others that were never picked up by the media (like this one). Long Beach city staff and Long beach city council (Mungo and Supernaw; the nature center in Supernaw's district; north of spring St Eldlorado park is in Mungo's dist.) are well aware of the problem (we raised the fencing problem and potential fires in the nature center as far back as Dec 2017 with Mungo and Supernaw as well as city Manager) and we were led to believe that Supernaw's office was going to develop some secret plan with LB Fire dept to fix the issue in the nature center.

The nature center (the restricted area here) is a very problematic area for fires. It is filled with brush and hundreds of very dry trees. It is very hard to access (being a no trespassing area) and in previous larger fires water dropping helicopters had to assist. There are also no hydrants in the area and fences usually have to be cut by the FD to access the area (as was done yesterday) these of course are left unpaired for months on end. So all we need for an out of control fire is lots of dry conditions (8 mo out of the year) and wind. That could cause the entire nature center to go up in smoke. Highly feasible if conditions are right and FD response is delayed to to slow reporting (likely).

So other than complete inaction (ineffectual action) by the city council what are the causes and solutions?

The homeless problem (the criminal element parts of it at least) on SG River and in the area of the nature center is well known. We suspect the LB park rangers and LBPD have been told to leave them alone (based on discussions we have had on this topic with officers). Part of the reason we feel the city takes a "hands off approach" is that not a lot of people (voters) can see the problem on the river and in the nature center as its very well hidden from everyone's view except for the few people who live very close, or walk, run or bike ride on the river path. So the city leaders would just as soon leave the homeless there than chase them over to in a visible are on the street that more voters will see (and demand be fixed).

The city (and county) use the Boise case (Martin v. City of Boise, 902 F. 3d 1031 - Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit 2018) to try to excuse their politically correct stance on the homeless criminal element that are living in NO TRESPASSING areas. The Boise case says nothing about removing people from and keeping people out of no trespassing areas. It simply holds as follows:

"Our holding is a narrow one. Like the Jones panel, "we in no way dictate to the City that it must provide sufficient shelter for the homeless, or allow anyone who wishes to sit, lie, or sleep on the streets... at any time and at any place." Id. at 1138. We hold only that "so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in [a jurisdiction] than the number of available beds [in shelters]," the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for "involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public." Id. That is, as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter."

The city and county will have to commit to keeping all the fencing repaired in that area. They know areas with cut fencing is a sign that homeless are in a no trespassing area but they then refuse to remove them and until removed the fence will keep getting cut. The city and county need to commit to a homeless trespassing removal program and a fencing check/repair program. They likely wont do it. Its not a budget issue its simply an issue of unwillingness to actively solving the problem. Could also be a problem with public unions not wanting to do the work (can never rule out public union pressure when extra work required; public unions are big campaign contributors as well). The other excuse now being thrown around is "covid 19" ..."we cant interact with homeless due to Covid..." (covid is now the generalized excuse for everything in government) Of course Covid did not stop them in interacting with BLM protesters or even in interacting with taxpayers in general.

The other problem as we have discussed before is that when the city or county encounters homeless people in no trespassing areas even if they have beds available (under Boise) they will not force the people to take them and they wont remove them from the no trespassing areas (like the nature center which excludes even taxpayers). This is even true in instances were they know the homeless person is a threat to others (this has been documented) This is an example of how government entities (via their employees) give uneducated voters false interpretations of case law and statutes to excuse inaction (very common with police). Lakewood on the other hand does remove trespassing homeless from the west side of the Carson St. overpass over the SG river. Its amazing to see the difference in approaches to the problem. Same laws. Different interpretations.

So until voter pressure forces the city council to do its job the fires will continue. Lets hope the city wises up before the entire nature center is lost to a fire. It will take years to recover from that as nothing will be done to fix it once it burns down.

As an addendum to this story above this is an interesting note on the Azusa ranch fire This was initially reported to us by one of our loyal readers after hearing it on KFI radio... "It was reported about 2:45 p.m. near North San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road, according to the Azusa Police Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which called in a second-alarm response. At least two residents said the fire began after a fight between two people at a homeless encampment in the river bed area.

"They were arguing over a bike," said resident Jimmy Pockets. "Things got escalated to where the fire started. It took off so quick."...Fire officials have not determined a cause..." Given where the fire started this seems highly plausible.

Update: A witness who lives in a riverbed near Mountain Cove told NBC4 an argument between two homeless men sparked the fire."There were two gentlemen in the back (of a homeless encampment) fighting and they were arguing over a bike and one guy said he'd burn the other guy out, and things got escalated to where the fire started," evacuee Jimmy Pockets told the station. "Ran over to try to put it out but it just took off so quick."

Long Beach Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Long Beach, CA | A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™ | click here to receive LAAG posts by email

August 25, 2009

Community Workshop to discuss proposed improvements to the San Gabriel River Bikeway

Today we received a press release (below) from the city of Seal Beach regarding the section of the San Gabriel River bike path that is situated in their city and Orange County. We have complained about the deterioration of the path for years (since June 2006 to be exact). The County of LA claimed they could do nothing as the path was Seal Beach's responsibility by an agreement created in the early 1970's when the path was first built. We argued that that should never have been the case. We argued for OC transportation funds to be used. We argued for federal "Stimulus funds" to be used. All to no avail. Finally it appears that the money that was originally "promised" by the State on Sept. 2008 (then "withdrawn" on Dec. 2008) is now starting to ooze thru the mess that we all know is ongoing in Sacramento (don't get us started on that). Well don't hold your breath for the funds to ever make it into "real" improvements you can ride on. They may all get eaten up by consultants and other types of "pre-groundbreaking activities". But at least this is a good start.

So for those of you that use this section of the San Gabriel River Bikeway (405 south to the ocean) we hope to see you at the meeting on Sept. 10. It is important that bike riders that use the trail show up and provide input (and support) as we are actually the ones that know the problems and how to fix them. Its your trail and your tax dollars. So please pass this along.

Press Release text:

“The City of Seal Beach will be holding a Community Workshop to discuss proposed improvements to the San Gabriel River Bikeway and River's End Staging Area. This project will include repaving the bike trail from the First Street parking lot to I-405, improvements to the First Street parking lot, and remodeling the existing First Street restroom. The workshop will include a presentation of the draft plan for the area followed by an opportunity to ask questions and provide your feedback.

The project is being funded through a grant from the State of California, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. Funding restrictions through the State had caused the City to place this project on hold recently. However, with portions of funding back in place, the City is pleased to bring this project back online and would like to gather input and feedback from the community and those who utilize the San Gabriel River Bike Trail.

The workshop will be held at the City of Seal Beach Council Chambers on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm.

For further information regarding this project, please contact David Spitz, Associate Engineer at (562) 431-2527 ext. 1331.”

David Spitz, P.E.
Associate Civil Engineer
City of Seal Beach
211 8th Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
p - (562) 431-2527 ext 1331
f - (562) 430-8763
dspitz@ci.seal-beach.ca.us


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

December 11, 2008

Another bike path crime

There is no indication that this victim was riding a bike but as we have pointed out before be very careful on these bike paths. Quite frankly its just too dangerous to be on them after sunset. You are better off on public streets after dark but you need a good headlight and tail light along with lots of reflective or day-glo clothing on or you will end up getting hit by a car. So take your pick: hit by a car or stabbed. Quite frankly just being on a public street at night does not mean you are any safer than the bike path. The only difference is that there are at least people on the street that will see you. Not so much on the bike path after dark.

Body found on bike path
By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/10/2008
http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_11191073?source=rss_viewed

LONG BEACH - A 28-year-old Long Beach man was found stabbed to death on the bicycle path along the Los Angeles River flood control channel near the 1600 block of San Francisco Avenue on Tuesday night.

Long Beach police officers responded to an unidentified 911 caller who reported a wounded man on the east side of the flood channel, some 250 yards south of Pacific Coast Highway, about 8:40 p.m., according to an Long Beach Police Department statement.

When police arrived, they found a man's body, police officials said. He had apparently died from being stabbed in the upper body.

LBPD Sgt. David Marander said no additional details were available Wednesday. He directed queries to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, which did not release the victim's name, pending notification of his next of kin.

Anyone with information on the crime was asked to call LBPD homicide detectives Dennis Robbins and Daniel Mendoza at 562-570-7244.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

June 8, 2008

Bike jacking trend continues on the San Gabriel River

Well it has happened again. Another attempted bike jacking. From LBreport.com: "At about 7:15 p.m. (while the sun was still up) on Friday June 6, a rider headed northbound on the eastside of the San Gabriel River bikepath says he was allegedly jumped, physically attacked, punched and robbed in the underpass at Carson St. near El Dorado Park and the LB Town Center. Read more on LB Report here. The last one was in November 2007. Read our report on that incident here. We feel this threat is going to continue during the summer as more people ride due to the summertime hours and the gas prices. The San Gabriel river is a good car free link to Orange County from the mid cities area. We know a number of people that use it to commute by bike. The problem of course is that when you are on the path you are virtually invisible to motorists and police, unless they happen to be flying over, which is rare.

We are now advising rider to carry pepper spray and a cell phone (turned on) at all times while on the river path. They should also have all the local law enforcement agencies non 9-1-1 numbers programmed into their phone as all cell phone 9-1-1 calls go to CHP and are then are routed to the local agency.

We have also been asking for bike patrols for months but this falls on deaf ears outside of a few elected officials.

We have complained that the Carson street overpass (for some reason) is especially a target for vandals and graffiti and other hoodlums that like to just "hang around" and see what they can snare in their net (like unsuspecting bike riders).

We have proposed bike path video cameras like the intersection and freeway cameras.

We also proposed trying to clear up the jurisdictional "alphabet soup" that exists on the river. This is not as much of a problem in responding to events as it is a way to shrug off responsibility for day to day patrolling to "other law enforcement agencies". Government people love ambiguity in patrol jurisdictions as this makes it easy to deny responsibility when something really bad ends up happening, which eventually it will. We would also like to see signs posted on the path telling riders which law enforcement jurisdiction they are in when they change from one to another, sort of in line with the chart below.

We also proposed a chart like the one below [click on image below for full size image] to the entire "bike path task force" back on Feb. 20, 2008 shortly after attending the first and only meeting of the "task force". We never received one response one way or the other from any agency or government entity. So in the meantime we wait for the next attack like unsuspecting sheep traveling down the path.



Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

December 22, 2007

San Gabriel river bike path safety group

Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:11:44 -0800
To: "5th Dist. Gerrie Schipske" "Josh Butler, 5th dist."
From: Lakewood Accountability Action Group | LAAG
Subject: SG river issues “bike path safety group”
Cc: "Phil Hester, Dir Parks, Rec, and Marine", "LBPD" , (LA County Dept of Pub Works) "Diego Cadena, Dep. Dir." "Afshari, Shari, Div Head" , "Paul Maselbas, Principal Eng", "El-Rabaa, Maged, Program Dev.", "Yusuf, Abu, Cnty Bikeway Coord" (LA County 4th Dist) "Connie Sziebl, LB rep" , "Erin Stibal, Lkwd rep", "Carol Oberman, lkwd office" "Julie Moore, DPW coord" , "Capt. Dave L. Fender LA County Sheriff Dept", "Lt. Terry W. Benjestorf", "Andy Berg, LASD Lkwd Spokesman" "David N. Carmany, Seal Beach City Manager", "Lee Whittenberg, Seal beach", "Todd Rogers, Lkwd City Council"


Ms Schipske:

In regards to this article on your blog (below) please see attached agreements. If there are others that are not attached here (and that involve responsibility for law enforcement patrolling the SG river from South St. to the Ocean) consider this a public records request by LAAG to the City of Long Beach, LA County Dept of Public Works and LA County Sheriff's dept for copies of these additional agreements not attached herein.

If there is going to be a public meeting in Feb 2008 we would like to know the time and place so we can have someone attend to represent trail users (who quite frankly know where and what the problems are). I like to call these rivers "crime channels" or "vagrant rivers". We have already passed along some ideas we had on crime suppression in the river.

I also thought this letter below was rather timely. It was reported about a week after the bike jacking LAAG reported

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7618801
Monday's Letters
Article Launched: 12/02/2007 08:43:24 PM PST

Safety problem
How sad to report that Lakewood's sheriff's deputies do not care about our safety. For one month I have been trying to get them to clean out the riverbed located at Centralia and Bloomfield. The transients/felons have set up housekeeping in the holes in plain view of the street. They are drinking in public daily and more of them show up on a daily basis to start their own personal town.

Whenever I call the Lakewood Sheriff's Station I am either placed on hold until I go away, or after the tenth complaint was told that it was not their jurisdiction, but Cypress's. After contacting Cypress, they told me that without a doubt, it belongs to Lakewood.

Last night was the saddest night, as I had to tell them to please not dismiss my complaints, and disperse the dangerous element in the riverbed, because my brother was murdered in the riverbed 20 years ago. I can't wait to move out of Lakewood.

Lorene Diaz
Lakewood

Cleaning up the neighborhood and making it safe
Coyote Creek and other Bike Paths

21. December 2007 Uncategorized, Coyote Creek

Along the Coyote Creek, San Gabriel River and Los Angeles River are bike paths that go quite a distance up into Los Angeles County and down through Orange County to the ocean.

Because these bike paths go through several jurisdictions and also include the Flood Control Districts of both counties, there are many questions as to who is responsible for policing those areas ­ especially in light of bicyclists being mugged along the path.

I called a meeting of the local jurisdictions together that included: County of Los Angeles, Flood Control District, Cities of La Palma, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Seal Beach, Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens (which did not attend). We also had representatives from Long Beach ­ Government Relations, Councilmember O’Donnell’s office and Police Department.

The focus of this “bike path safety group” is to determine how we can work together to keep the areas of the bike path and the neighborhoods adjacent free from crime and graffitti.

We will reconvene in February after all jurisdictions receive copies of the agreements for use of the bike paths which apparently were executed many years ago between the cities and the flood control district. Many cities were surprised to learn that the County did not have responsibility for policing the bike path and flood control areas.

This is a great chance to work together on a regional basis on a problem that is impacting many cities.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




December 14, 2007

San Gabriel River Safety Problem

This Lakewood resident agrees with LAAG. Read our related post here.

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7618801
Monday's Letters
Article Launched: 12/02/2007 08:43:24 PM PST

Safety problem

How sad to report that Lakewood's sheriff's deputies do not care about our safety. For one month I have been trying to get them to clean out the riverbed located at Centralia and Bloomfield. The transients/felons have set up housekeeping in the holes in plain view of the street. They are drinking in public daily and more of them show up on a daily basis to start their own personal town.

Whenever I call the Lakewood Sheriff's Station I am either placed on hold until I go away, or after the tenth complaint was told that it was not their jurisdiction, but Cypress's. After contacting Cypress, they told me that without a doubt, it belongs to Lakewood.

Last night was the saddest night, as I had to tell them to please not dismiss my complaints, and disperse the dangerous element in the riverbed, because my brother was murdered in the riverbed 20 years ago. I can't wait to move out of Lakewood.

Lorene Diaz
Lakewood

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




November 17, 2007

email re San Gabriel River Bikeway Safety/Crime Concerns

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:24:17 -0800

To: "Capt. Dave L. Fender" , "Lt. Terry W. Benjestorf" , "Diego Cadena, Dep. Dir." , "Afshari, Shari, Div Head" , "Paul Maselbas, Principal Eng" , "El-Rabaa, Maged, Program Dev." , "Alma Fuentes, Bicycle Coord." , "Connie Sziebl, LB rep" , "Erin Stibal, Lkwd rep" , "Carol Oberman, lkwd office" , "Julie Moore, DPW coord" , mayor@longbeach.gov, "3d Dist Gary DeLong" , "Julie Maleki, Ofc of Councilman DeLong" , "4th Dist. Patrick O'Donnell", "5th Dist. Gerrie Schipske" , "Joy Janes, chief of staff 5th dist" , "Todd Rogers, Lkwd City Council" , "David N. Carmany, City Manager" , "Lee Whittenberg" , Dina_Zapalski@longbeach.gov, "City Mgr" ,
From: Lakewood Accountability Action Group | LAAG

Subject: San Gabriel River Bikeway Safety/Crime Concerns
Cc: (media)

I assume this task force (noted below) started due to LAAG's emails months ago re the crime problems all along the river. We feel LAAG should be part of this task force as far as making or reviewing some recommendations as we dont need more tax dollars wasted on ineffectual approaches. We know where the problems are. One thing would be to suggest a crime hotline (posted on all the overpasses visible to users) and email address for users to report suspicious people. LAAG has been doing that for months now. Most of these criminal types hang around for a while down there before striking. Police cannot get them as they cant sneak up on them in cars as cars stand out like a sore thumb down there unlike on the street. Very hard to get cars in down there secretly. (thus the cops on bikes approach)

Another idea is the "cage off" some of those water inlets right at the opening to the channel which would close off hiding areas. Those are where the criminals hide from the police cars that roll above (as police dont go into the channel bottom with cars). This could be done in a way to allow water flow. Also caging off some of the underpass "caves" like at willow as we suggested (and was done) years ago at south st. undercrossing. Path lighting would not hurt either (as we suggested) and was done at del amo underpass. Cameras on poles like at intersections and on freeways? Plenty of ideas if you know what the problems are.

LBReport.com
News

Councilwoman Schipske Says Multiple Agencies To Tackle San Gabriel River Bikeway Safety/Crime Concerns

(Nov. 14, 2007) -- Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske tells LBReport.com that multiple agencies -- including LBPD, Seal Beach PD, Cypress PD, the L.A. County Sheriffs Dept, the office of L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe and Schipske's Council office -- are preparing to tackle safety/crime-related issues regarding the San Gabriel River bikeway.

Councilwoman Schipske says that for the past four months, her staff has been working with Supervisor Knabe's office to launch the bike path safety task force...and its formal launch is expected to be announced shortly.

"We've been concerned about safety issues along that bike path for some time...and it's very unfortunate that we had another incident on Monday" Councilwoman Schipske said...referring to a story reported by LBReport.com.

On Nov. 13, LBReport.com reported that a man riding his bicycle on the San Gabriel River bike path near El Dorado Park on Nov. 12 was ambushed, hit and robbed of his bicycle and cell phone, and sustained injuries to his face

LBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Zapalski said that the bicyclist was riding on the east side of the San Gabriel River bike path near Spring St. when he was confronted by a male subject who hit the victim and caused him to fall off of his bicycle. The assailant took the victim's bicycle and cell phone...and left with a second male subject.

The bicyclist sustained injuries to his face and was transported to a doctor by a familymember.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




November 13, 2007

Bike Jacking on San Gabriel River

Like we have said before, the San Gabriel River is just an invitation to criminals. We need bike mounted patrols there and more helicopter patrols. We see loitering all the time by very suspicious looking people. Now we have to assume they are not "harmless homeless". I spoke to another rider there who passed the area just before this happened and did see 2 or more Hispanic males loitering in the area where this occurred. This is a Nature Preserve area and there are lots of hiding places just east of the river trial. Big police presence after it happened (5 cars mostly blocking other riders from getting through)

Local crime briefs
Article Launched: 11/12/2007 10:02:17 PM PST
Cyclist robbed near S.G. River

A cyclist riding on a bike path along the San Gabriel River was robbed by two suspects on Monday morning, authorities said.

The victim was riding southbound on the east side of the San Gabriel River near Spring Street at 10:09 a.m. when he was punched in the face by a suspect, said Sgt. Dina Zapalski of the Long Beach Police Department.

The blow knocked the man off his bike, Zapalski said. While he was struggling on the ground, the suspect took his cell phone and rode off on his bike. The robber was followed on foot by a second accomplice, she said.

The victim suffered injuries to his face and was taken by a family member to a nearby hospital. The suspects are described as two Hispanic males in their late teens to early 20s, Zapalski said.

One suspect was described as very tall, wearing a baseball cap and a blue jacket. The other was described as short, with a buzzed haircut and dark jacket.

Anyone with more information is urged to contact LBPD's Robbery Detail at 562-570-7464.

- Kelly Puente

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




October 13, 2007

sand buildup problems on the SGR trail


Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:38:51 -0700
To: "Diego Cadena, Dep. Dir." <DCadena@dpw.lacounty.gov>, "Afshari, Shari, Div Head" <SAfshari@dpw.lacounty.gov>, "Paul Maselbas, Principal Eng" <PMaselbas@dpw.lacounty.gov>, "El-Rabaa, Maged, Program Dev." <MElrabaa@dpw.lacounty.gov>, "Alma Fuentes, Bicycle Coord." <AFuentes@dpw.lacounty.gov>, "Connie Sziebl, Field Rep for Knabe" <CSziebl@lacbos.org>
From: Lakewood Accountability Action Group | LAAG <updates@LAAG.us>
Subject: sand buildup problems on the SGR trail


I have been pointing out (to the county) sand buildup problems on the trail for years. Usually the place where it collects is under bridges and 300 feet either side of the bridges or tunnel in approaches. (Where the path dips down close to the sand) This is just due to poor design for runoff and lack of simple maintenance. Better design however would result in lower maintenance costs. As a result right after each rain, no matter how slight all these section have to be swept. 1/4 inch of fine sand is treacherous for especially road bikes (or any bike really) and can easily lead to a loss of control at almost any speed, even going straight let alone turning. Also the pavement near these bridge sections is poor. That is also a problem. Sand is white and blends in with the concrete color. Also it may be hiding other dangers or road surface problems underneath.

We had rain last on 9/21/07-9/22/07. No sand was swept as of 10/11/07. And now this weekend more rain. So sweeping has to be redone at the problem areas

I think the problem on the trail maint. has a number of causes: (1) the people that do the work are not very conscientious and/or (2) there is either no inspection of their finished work or contractors are county employees are saying the work is done and its not (If thats the case taxpayer dollars are being wasted) (3) the people that think the work was done don't ride road bikes over it so they really don't understand the safety problem to begin with as they just ride in cars or trucks with huge tires; (4) there may be poor direction given (poor communication) or workers just dont understand what the issue is and why it needs to be cleaned up properly or what is "proper". Likely it is all of the foregoing.

I was also puzzled numerous times on the carson/wardlow section where some holes and cracks would get patched but not ones nearly identical right nearby. Made no sense at all. I would love to ask the workers what they were thinking but never get to see them at the site

There are section of the trial that are quite clean but then they never really get dirty. You need to focus on the problems sections.

July 29, 2007

No money for the San Gabriel River?

It seems every time money gets doled out its for the LA River and not the San Gabriel River. Why is that? Also the money seems to be focused on plants an animals but not much on what bike riders need. Not even safety. The LA River has had millions spent on it after the walls were heightened by the Corps of Engineers a few years back due to FEMA's flooding concerns. Lets spend the money on the lower San Gabriel now.


L.B. gets $5M for new parks
City plans to restore, expand parkland near L.A. River
By Jennifer Hall, Staff writer
Article Launched: 07/12/2007 09:34:53 PM PDT

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster presents Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe with what the mayor jokingly called a $5 million T-shirt at Cesar Chavez Park after the supervisor gave Foster a check for the same amount to be used to improve Long Beach parks. (Steven Georges / Press-Telegram)

LONG BEACH - Visions for more parks and open spaces in Long Beach moved closer to reality Thursday when the county of Los Angeles gave the city $5 million for projects along the Los Angeles River.

"Today we're going to launch a program that is going to preserve and restore wetlands and park lands for generations to come," Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said. "It will be something that you and your grandchildren can enjoy."

The money will go toward four separate sections that are part of the Long Beach RiverLink project. Of the money announced Thursday, $1 million will be for a greenbelt connecting Drake and Chavez parks, $2.5 million will go to the development of the DeForest Wetlands, $1 million will be put toward the Wrigley Greenbelt between Willow and 34th Streets and $500,000 will be used for the Baker Mini-Park in the Wrigley Heights area.

"This allows us additional parks, more green spaces and I think it goes with all of our visions working together," Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe said. "They have a great vision down here of not only rebuilding and revitalizing but also to improve the quality of life."

The Drake/Chavez Greenbelt will consist of 16 acres of recently acquired land and an additional 0.78 acres that the county money will help purchase. The new land will form a 46-acre greenway and parkland area on the east bank of the Los Angeles River including 23-acre Chavez Park and 6-acre Drake Park. It will include wetlands, trails, open space and a wildlife habitat.

"The areas along the rivers in general are not restored, they wind up being areas where people start dumping stuff," Foster said.

The Drake/Chavez greenbelt will link downtown Long Beach with the Los Angeles River bike trail. Purchase of the land was funded by the city of Long Beach and Los Angeles County using funds from Proposition 13 and Proposition A, as well as city redevelopment money.

A master plan for the greenbelt will be completed by the end of the year at which point the city will attempt to obtain money from Proposition 84 to complete the project.

"You take land that's in pretty bad shape and you convert it back to its natural state," Foster said. "You'll be able to walk through and enjoy things as they were decades and centuries ago."

The area where the greenbelt will be built had the least amount of parks in Long Beach.

"I'm very excited about what this park land will mean to the community in the future in terms of recreation and picnicking and family events," City Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal said.

Lowenthal, who represents the 1st District that includes both Chavez and Drake parks, wants to see an education center and more soccer fields built at the site.

"The most important thing is you take the blighted areas and you rejuvenate and regenerate and rebuild and you really improve the quality of life," Knabe said.

The DeForest Wetlands, part of the Los Angeles County lower Los Angeles River parkway plan, will run along the river next to the 710 Freeway. It will include the re-creation of 34 acres of historic wetlands, scrub and woodland habitat, recreational areas and improvements in water quality and flood control.

An additional $3 million is required to complete the $5.5 million project. The city has applied for a grant to reach that amount, said Phil Hester, director for Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

The Wrigley Greenbelt will cover 8 acres between Willow and 34th Streets that will include native plants, a multipurpose trail and a rest area along the Los Angeles River bike trail.

The Baker Mini-Park will be a 1.34-acre neighborhood park in the Wrigley Heights area near the Los Angeles River and San Diego (405) Freeway that will include additional irrigation, playground equipment and picnic tables.

Construction on the projects won't start for two years after design and departmental reviews are completed and the correct permits have been obtained, said Dennis Eschen, manager of planning and development for the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

However, the purchase of the remaining land needed for the Drake/Chavez Greenbelt project will begin immediately.

Potential realignment of the 710 Freeway may change the design plans for the greenbelt and the elimination of Shoreline Drive North could connect Chavez Park with the piece of land between the north and south parts of Shoreline Drive.

The Long Beach Open Space and Recreation Element, approved in October 2002, aims to provide 8 acres of recreational open space per 1,000 residents in Long Beach. To reach that goal, 1,100 acres need to be added to the city's existing 2,855 acres. Currently, there are 5.4 acres per 1,000 residents.

The RiverLink plans will add 217 acres of open space to the Long Beach River area bringing the total to 263 acres.

City officials are seeking new grant funding from Proposition 84, the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and other state and federal agencies, as well as private sector support to complete the projects.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




July 27, 2007

Long Beach Web Of Bike Trails Moves Ahead

http://www.gazettes.com/biketrail07262007.html

New City Web Of Bike Trails Moves Ahead
7/26/07
By Kelly Garrison
Features Editor

Plans for new bicycle trails that would connect paths from the San Gabriel River to the Los Angeles River will soon enter the design phase.

The Long Beach City Council approved unanimously on Tuesday a proposal to begin the “East-West Bikeway Connections and Signage Program” project, which would create new trail connections and new signs identifying them. Traffic and Transportation Manager Abdollah Ansari said that bicyclists will find “comprehensive coverage throughout the city” once the project is in place.

The design will consist of three parts. First, a bikeway will link the downtown area to the southeastern portion of the city — with additional connections to Orange County, the San Gabriel River, the Alamitos Bay area and the Seal Beach bike route system.

Another bikeway will link California State University, Long Beach, with the San Gabriel River Bike Path. Some paths will line busy roadways, while others will be situated in residential areas, Ansari said.

“It will provide local and regional circulation,” he said. “For a beach city, it’s good to have a continuous bike path system. People will be able to get to other areas by taking these river paths.”

The third phase adds signage throughout the system.

The city currently has bike paths that link different areas of the city, including the Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath, but has no connector between the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers. Other trails include the Los Angeles River Bikeway, the San Gabriel River Bike Trail and the El Dorado and Heartwell park bike paths.

They range from two to about 30 miles in length.

“Right now, these are just scattered connections,” Ansari said. “This will provide alternative movements for recreational and commuting purposes.”

In addition, new signs and stenciling will be placed within the area of the project to warn vehicles of bikers on roadways. Designs also will include a new city bikeway logo to promote the paths for current and potential bicyclists, he said.

The project design should be completed by early next year, he said, with construction beginning by Dec. 31, 2008.

The paths likely would open within a year of their completion.

City officials chose KOA Corporation, based in Tustin, to design and develop the plans after reviewing proposals from two other firms.

The design phase will cost about $98,000 and will be paid for by federal and city money.

For more information about city bike paths, visit the city’s Web site at www.longbeach.gov/park.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™