🌱 LBPD Slow To Bench Officer? + Belmont Shore Adds Parking Spots

Morning, Long Beach! Let's get this day started. These are the most important things happening in Long Beach today.

A passenger went overboard on a weekend cruise to Ensenada. Also, why was an officer suspended one day after a scandal broke in the media (which the Chief knew about since August)? Finally, are hog farmers threatening bacon shortages?

First, today's weather:

Cloudy and cool. High: 61 Low: 55.

Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. A young woman sailing on the Carnival Miracle went overboard from deck five Saturday morning. It happened on a three-night cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada, with the ship being 35 miles off Mexico’s coast. Multiple agencies participated in the search for the missing passenger, and the Carnival Miracle was permitted to continue its route. (Cruise Radio)
2. Was the LBPD too slow in benching an officer known to make anti-Semitic and racist statements? On Saturday, the public learned that Chief Luna was made aware on August 19 of the allegations. On Wednesday, the L.A. Times broke the story. On Thursday, the officer in question was suspended. When asked about the four-month delay, the PD’s media relations unit noted that “we are not releasing any additional information or details . . . outside of the confines of the news release.” (Beachcomber)
3. Do you remember when you voted on Proposition 12 in 2018? Passed two to one, it enacted a law requiring “breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves be given enough space to stand and turn around.” As a result, pigs may no longer be kept in “gestation crates.” On Sunday, we learned that “restaurants and grocery stores” filed suit to block implementation on January 1, joining hog farmers who claim the change is too expensive to carry out. Already, the National Pork Producers Council is warning about “finite supplies to sell.” (ABC)
4. The LB Public Works Department announced Thursday that it had a busy November. In that month, the Department sent out teams to follow up on more than 1,700 requests for illegally dumped items to be removed. These calls resulted in the removal of more than 200 tons of debris. (@LBPublicWorks)
5. Belmont Shore parklet removal should return about 56 parking spaces to the car-congested area, a report said Wednesday. The 2nd Street parklets allowed 30 businesses to offer temporary outdoor dining spaces during pandemic indoor restrictions. This step led to the loss of 56 parking spaces, which is a lot for the area. However, so far only 10 businesses are considering if they can make the parklets permanent. Keeping these parklets in place would remove 20 parking spaces but cost the companies “tens of thousands of dollars to build a more permanent parklet.” (LB Post)

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Today in Long Beach:

• 2021 LIVE Federal Tax Update and Review Course at the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport (8 AM)
• The Aquarium Of The Pacific presents “Baby Animals” and “No Bones? No Problem” virtually (9 AM, 10 AM)
• MOLAA Presents Gabriella Sanchez Solo Exhibition: "Partial Pictures" (10 AM)
• Notes Of Advent (online) by the Covenant Presbyterian Church (12 PM)
• Carolers Roam The Center at 2nd & PCH (6 PM to 8 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you catch the reimagined Annual Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade this year? This Long Beach tradition dating back to 1953 has returned! Congratulations to all who were involved in bringing this holiday celebration back! (Facebook)
• Our Hellman neighbor lost a cat in East LB by Anaheim between Orange and Cherry. It went missing Dec. 6. (Nextdoor)
• Our Wrigley Heights Proper neighbor has the same problem. They lost Sammy Cat last night, and today they have been searching for him. He has a collar with his name and a phone numbers on it. He is a beautiful dark orange and extremely friendly. (Nextdoor)
• If you have a hankering for homemade cheesecake, hit up our Coolidge Triangle neighbor. They are currently taking orders. (Nextdoor)
• A Greenbelt Heights neighbor found a husky on Dec. 11 at 10:45 pm near Woodrow Wilson High School, with an open sore on the back near its tail. Send a pic or let them know details to confirm this is your pet. No chip or tags. (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.