🌱 Bus Strike Ends + See Floating Trees + Mayfair HS Controversy

Hey, Long Beach! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

After leaving parents and their children high and dry, the strike has been resolved and buses are rolling again. Also, look for the floating trees! Finally, what happens to a principal who accepts a donation and uses it the way the donor intended?

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First, today's weather:

Some brightening. High: 66 Low: 53.

Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. Bus Strike Update: Remember when we talked about the LBUSD special education students who were caught up in the middle of a labor dispute on Monday? Eventually, the Teamsters Local 572 and Mission School Transportation did what, in the words of The Doctor, amounted to doing what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning; sit down and talk. Drivers went back to work on Wednesday. (LB Post)
2. The LB floating trees tradition will continue even though Charles Padilla retired Wednesday. He has inspired a crew to share his commitment to the Tree on the Bay placement, which dates back to 1949. You can see the trees on the waters of “the Colorado Lagoon, Alamitos Bay, Spinnaker Bay, Rainbow Harbor, Sheller Park, El Dorado Park West, Heartwell Park, and even on the edge of the Belmont Veteran's Memorial Wharf.” Lights go on at sunset on Thanksgiving Thursday and continue until January 1. (CA News Times)
3. Are you dialed into the Mayfair HS controversy that has been going on since Monday? The school is part of the BUSD, located in Lakewood, and home to plenty of Monsoons from LB. The principal was fired for taking a former NBA player’s donation and using it to upgrade the school’s weight room (as the donor intended). The principal ran afoul of the BUSD superintendent, who “demanded the money be sent to the district directly, and it would then decide where the money goes next.” The NBA player wasn’t on board with this idea and handed the donation directly to the Mayfair High School Sports Booster Club. The weight room got the upgrade and the principal got the boot. Parents are now protesting the BUSD. (ABC 7)
4. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Sontchi referred to Urban Commons principals as “fraudsters” who “could be arrested for allegedly absconding with $2.4 million in COVID-19 relief aid that was meant to help Queen Mary employees in the pandemic.” The Monday tirade was caused when the judge found the two “in contempt for failing to freeze assets and properly account for how they spent millions of dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.” They’re supposed to be in court today. (LB Post)
5. Mayor Robert Garcia, posting from his personal account, thanked Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday for touring the port of LB. The Mayor noted that the city is continuing to work with the Administration to bring an end to the congestion of ships waiting for berths. “We have already seen a 32% decrease of containers sitting on the docks.” (@RobertGarcia)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Minimum Day for Middle & High Schools (9:00 AM)
• Fall Fest/McBride Day - McBride Sr. High School (9:00 AM)
• SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE YOU TUBE EVENT - Polytechnic High School (4:00 PM)
• Girls JV Basketball @ La Quinta Westminster (5:00 PM)
• Boys JV Basketball @ Firebaugh - Jordan High School (5:30 PM)
• Girls Varsity Basketball @ La Quinta Westminster (6:30 PM)
• Circus Vargas (7:00 PM)
• Fall Musical - Renaissance High School for the Arts (7:00 PM)

Long Beach Patch Notebook

• Long Beach Police Department: Join the North Division officers for a casual conversation about your community, ask questions, voice your concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood! It's on Wednesday, 12/15 from 11 AM-1 PM at Starbucks Coffee, 695 East Artesia Boulevard. (Facebook)
• Long Beach City: The Youth Fishing Derby is back! It's happening Saturday! (Facebook)

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— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. Her SEO-optimized internet copy includes social media marketing projects and German to English business translations. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Fishdom (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? I'm all ears. You can email me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com.