Stand Against Violence Tonight at Rosa Park's Park

STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE IN LONG BEACH TONIGHT 4.21.16

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The community surrounding 17th street and Alamitos Avenue are prepared to demonstrated a rapid response to the latest occurrence of violence in that area.

On Monday night, four young men were the victims of violence. Three of the victims are still in serious conditions and one young nineteen year old died. Young Delhan Jackson should be planning his next birthday or his future. Instead, his young son will have to adjust to life without his father and another mother is left to collect the fragments of her unfulfilled expectations of who her son could have grown up to become.

Enough Is Enough!

How many young men and women nationwide will have to be eulogize as a result of the senseless violence cities around the United States are experiencing. In Long Beach, California, communities are galvanizing themselves to launch a sustainable strategy to interrupt end the violence.

Sherrell Weatherton, mother of Delhaun stated; “We want black lives to matter to black lives. Anyone can pick up a gun but it takes heart to do the right thing.

On Thursday evening, April 21st 2016, Sherrell, her family, community stakeholders, Clergy and City official will meet at Rosa Parks Park to challenge the neighbor and community to help turn the tides of violence against each other.

As a result of this latest incident, The Long Beach Ministers Alliance and Los Angeles Civil Rights Association, are launching a Violence Interruption Project called: “#awakenlb.”

#awakenlb” is a movement to activate, articulate and mediate.

The goal is three-fold.

To activate the community to engage existing violence prevention processes and mechanisms currently being provided through he city and private sectors.

Become more articulate regarding the authentic needs of their particular community for policing, support, employment and housing.

To champion and mediate proactive conversations between potential violence perpetrators.

When: Thursday April 21, 2016

Where: Rosa Parks Park, 15th and Alamitos, Long Beach, California

Time 7:00 PM

The entire community is invited as well as encouraged to attend.

#awakenlb is the beginning of a movement that will eventually cover and benefit every impacted corridor in the city of Long Beach.

Josie and I have Neighborhood Leadership tonight or we'd absolutely be there.

Thanks to Paulette, AOC7, and the Kids Who Voluntered at Yesterday's Clean Up

There was a very successful clean up at the east end of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood yesterday that got Stanton Pl, 15th, Juniper and 17th. Thanks to Paulette who organized the clean up and provided the prizes. Also thanks to everyone, including the AOC7 members and the neighborhood kids who came out and volunteered. A few residents were so appreciative, one signed up to host the dumpster on the 24th. By the way, there will be another clean up in about the same area on the 24th. We'll probably go west and try to get Sherman that week.

We also got the remainder of 17th Street this morning from

Walnut to Orange. In places, 17th is a lot cleaner than it has been in the past. In places, we still have a lot of work left to do. In all, between the two weeks we tackled 17th Street it took four 32 gallon bags.

It gets progressively worse as you approach Orange. A lot like Walnut south of 14th, this is where several large apartment complexes begin to collect. We're going to be working on a more effective way of keeping these areas clean. Next week, on Sunday, we will get Ester Street and the remainder of Orange that we did not get the last time around. 

Next Saturday we will be assisting the AOC7 on their neighborhood clean up; I welcome all of MacArthur Park to join in.
 

17th Street Clean Up: Gardenia to Walnut

There was an announced clean up of 17th Street. This clean up was supposed to run from Gardenia to Orange. Unfortunately, it was a little hot out, so we pack up at Walnut. We will get the rest of 17th Street before the week is out. 

Thanks to Carmen for the water and Bryan for the extra trash bags.

Next Saturday, we will be tackling 15th Street from Cherry to Junipero. Also, we are going to try to get more of Junipero based on what is showing up on the Crime Report's Map. Our 50th clean up in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood is approaching soon.

Business Review: El Paisa Restaraunt

The El Paisa Colombian Food restaurant is located at the intersection of 17th Street and Alamitos. It does have a private parking lot that I believe it shares with a small laundry mat; that's important because street parking in the area is limited. Overall, this is one of the best restaurants I've visited in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood though I did find it a little over priced.

I think I ordered the Bandeja Paisa, upon the recommendation of the waiter. First for the good news: The food is rather good and tastes very authentic. The steak, chicharrón, which I can only describe as deep fried fat from a pork chop and side dishes were all excellent. The beans and biscuit were a little bland. But clearly they have an serious eye on the quality of the food as even the hot sauce and water stood out. Additionally the variety of food you get on one plate is rather impressive.

The venue itself is very clean and tastefully decorated with Colombian memorabilia. There is more than enough seating and the seating itself is spread out. Even at maximum capacity which is 48, it wouldn't feel crowded. The service was very good. The food arrived quickly, and was still thoroughly cooked. The only place I wasn't happy was the price. Credit cards require a minimum of a $10 purchase, which is a little expensive for lunch. My lunch came to about $16.

So overall, the El Paisa is a little overpriced, costing it about a half a star. Regardless, it's one of the better restaurants I've eaten at in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood, and I would definitely recommend it as a dinner destination.
  
El Paisa
1640 Orange Ave
(562) 333-811

Sunday Safety Report: 07/20/2015 to 07/26/2015

This map shows a cluster of activity. I have added a new category vehicular loitering because a large number of trailers have begun parking on Orange and around MacArthur Park. In many cases, they are simply dumping their trash onto the street I would suggest that Long Beach City Council place the "No Parking: Vehicles Over Six Feet," around the park and on Orange.

There is also pedestrian loitering still at Anaheim and Walnut as well as to a slightly lesser degree on 17th street. I have followed through with a request to trim the trees around the street lights.  In case you're wondering why, I am including a pic of what is common place on 17th Street. The light you see here is at Gundry and 17th. Clearly it's not serving its purpose if it's so badly surrounded by tree branches.

Now, all the street lights between Gundry and Alamitos that have been obscured have been photographed and reported. Also, notice on the map above a trend of thefts from vehicles that had multiple incidents over multiple days. If you live by Stanley and 15th, please read about keeping your car safe.

The orange triangle just above 14th is a residence being operated as a casino. Like the loitering on 17th, this is common knowledge in the area, so just be aware of the extra traffic and safety issues that it creates.

Also notice that all activity clusters to the east and then trends in that direction. So most of the loitering is near the park, And then the thefts, thefts from cars, breaking and entering and assaults all seem to move east over the next few days. 

The above map is the worst the MacArthur Park Neighborhood has seen. And I think with the money, community organizations coming together and great people cleaning up central Long Beach it's a very good time to meet your neighbor, connect and start looking out for each other. 

We'll do an midweek update on Wednesday.

Brief Experiment: 

I wanted to try creating an animated Gif that might show a little better how crime is trending in the area. The one you see below shows it trending from Monday 07-12 to Sunday 07-18.

 

17th Street Clean Up Orange to Gardenia

Today there was an announced clean up on 17th street. The clean up began on 17th and Orange. It ended where 17th Street ends at Gardenia almost exactly two hours later. Because there were volunteers, the clean up went much quicker.

Next week's clean up will take place on Rose Street on 04/04/2015 at 10am. I will be starting at the south end of the neighborhood where Rose meets Anaheim. The clean up will finish at PCH. Any person who wants to see a cleaner MacArthur Park Neighborhood is encourage to attend.

Below is how much more you can get off the street if you have help.