Happy Easter: To The Neighborhood

There Was An Announced Clean Up: Walnut Anaheim to 15th Street

There was an announced clean up in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood of Walnut from Anaheim to 15th Street. South of 15th, Walnut is usually very bad, especially by the apartments south of 14th Street. It took two days. But here are some before and after pictures. Next week we'll be getting 15th Street starting at Orange and get as close to Junipero as time will allow.

We also helped support the AOC7 clean up on Saturday. It was impressive, because earlier, Mary said she was worried that everybody else seemed to have something to do that day. Despite that, look at the turn out below. Am incredible turn out left places that we intended to clean the next day so immaculate, we had to go somewhere else and clean our own neighborhood instead.

The Incredible Turn out for the Neighborhood Clean Up This Weekend

Sunday Safety Update: 03/06/16 - 03/13/16

Here are the crime trends for this week in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. The map is almost empty this week. There was property crime that trends towards some auto thefts, that trend North East towards 17th and Orange. Be careful at the south end of Orange and Anaheim, the property crime is in the same place as an encampment that was just removed. In Cambodia Town East, there were also some property crime along St Louis and 11th that trend up towards St Louis and Anaheim where some assaults took place. The car thefts around Rotary Centennial Park appear to be heading away from the neighborhood this week.

There is a ton of tagging and dumping in an alley that spans Gaviota to Rose. The alley is just behind Anaheim. As part of our Neighborhood Expansion program this week we clean half of that alley and reported all the tagging for clean up. We also did a Go Long Beach Run through our own neighborhood and the AOC7. The AOC7 has a clean up next week. 

The map now shows where the dumped items are, so if the city doesn't pick it up before the clean up, AOC7 can just hand that map to Public Works. 

There have not been shootings since the last round. However, the one that took place in North Long Beach at Artesia and Butler, now has identified the victim. Authorities Tuesday identified a man killed in a possible gang-related shooting in Long Beach that also left another man wounded. The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. Thursday near Butler Avenue and Artesia Boulevard, said Long Beach police Sgt. Brad Johnson. Tyrone Douglas, 19, of Long Beach died at a hospital, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter. We are trying to identify victims, to prevent any shootings in Central Long Beach from being statistics as opposed to names/ real people.

Drop of Points: The ACO7's Next Literacy Fair

Spread the GIFT of LITERACY! We're going strong in our #aoc7bookdrive and we'd love you to be part of this! #readtolead #bookstokids #eachoneteachone There's 4 book drop off locations for your convenience.

Lincoln Elementary
1175 E. 11th Street

Neighborhood Resource Center
100 Broadway, Ste. 550

The Center Long Beach
2701 E. 4th Street

Mark Twain Neighborhood Library
1401 E. Anaheim Street

Thank you in advance!

Wednesday Safety Watch: Neighborhood Expansion

What the map shows is a steep drop in crime this week within the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. There were some assaults just outside of the AOC7 to the west heading North East into the Poly/ Central neighborhood. Be real cautious in this area as there was a homicide there not long ago. The two for one were car thefts at 11th and Molino, this trends towards a robbery just outside our neighborhood towards vandalism at 14th and Dawson.

There is increased crime in the Franklin/ Altimois Beach area. Be aware of thefts begining at 7th and Almond that trend South West towards Altimois Blvd and the beach. Also the property damage in and around Franklin occured on Monday, which is incidentally the first day the students were on break.

There is increased crime in Central Wrigley, specifically along Cedar. These are mostly car thefts that begin at 9pm or later. If you're in the area pleas join Wrigley Community Neighborhood Group to stay in the loop on Wrigley crime trends.

Off the map there are also a high volume of assaults taking place west of Alamitos Blvd. Please be cautious around Myrtle Avenue and 7th Street, especially when you are on 7th between Long Beach Blvd and Atlantic Ave.

There Was AOC7 Clean Up This Weekend on 11th Street

This Saturday we didn't clean up MacArthur Park so we could help the AOC7 in their monthly neighborhood clean up. That clean up got 11th, Cerritos, Licoln Elementary, Norman Court and probably two additional tons of trash. Thanks to the AOC7 and all the neighbors who came out to support the clean up. It was a great event that probably took at least three dumpsters worth of trash off the street. 

I still intend to get Ester, Werner and the remainder of Orange this week. Next Saturday, there will also be a clean up on Sherman and 16th street at 8am..

Rennovation Begins at MacArthur Park

The following post was from Jim Ruggirello at the Cultural Center of MacArthur Park on Next Door: "The long-awaited and much-needed renovation of the main building at MacArthur Park, the home of Homeland Cultural Center, will begin Monday, September 28. The entire building will be shut down for a week for asbestos abatement. During that time some classes will be held in the Manazar Gamboa Theater, others will be cancelled. After that, work will begin on the room that used to house the Mark Twain Library and most of our regular schedule will resume. The entire project, including work on the rest of the building, the playground, and the restrooms, should be complete by the end of the year."

At the 6th and 7th District Budget meeting earlier this year Andrews stated that there should be enough money left over to renovate the restrooms. Bare in mind, the entire budget for this project was provided by the state of California. The City of Long Beach is not contributing to the restoration of MacArthur Park. I would encourage all neighborhood residents to visit all nearby parks. It is very eye-opening to see how much money the city will invest in the neighborhoods where Central Long Beach residents do not live. Compare the civic center at Drake Park to the one at MacArthur Park. Compare the condition of the streets in Bellmont Heights to the conditions anywhere in Central Long Beach. What you will quickly learn, is for Central Long Beach it's a battle to get a pothole filled, a tree trimmed or a mattress picked up. In Bellmont Heights, the city will build what is nearly a billion dollar pool.

Hellman District Named One of Long Beach's Top Five Neighborhoods

The Hellman Street Craftsman Historic District was recently named by Moveto as one of Long Beach's Top Five Neighborhoods. The Hellman neighborhood is just south of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood within the south west end of the AOC7. The Hellman Neighborhood has always been known for it's Craftsman Style Bungalows. But this is one of the first times it has been named an excellent place to move to while citing low crime and great schools. The same list also includes Naples, Bellmont Heights and Bixby Knolls as three of great neighborhoods side-by-side with the Hellman District and East Village.

11th Street Clean Up: Walnut to Mahanna

There was an unannounced clean up of 11th Street from Walnut to Mahanna to support our partners in the AOC7. While this clean up was originally intended to go to Alamitos, we ran out of room in the trash bag, and it was getting a little hot. The rest of 11th, from Mahanna to Alamitos will be tackled tomorrow.

The clean up also touched some areas of Hoffman relatively close to 11th Street.

This is part of this week's Neighborhood Expansion which so far has resulted in 19 additional Go Long Beach Requests and several Community Walks through the areas that have seen an increase in reported crime  The MacArthur Park Neighborhood will be doing this often when something serious happens in a neighborhood outside its boundaries.

Update 08/27/2015: So our goal was to get to Alamitos today. Unfortunately, by the time we got to Cerritos we had another 32 gallons of trash, so we didn't quite make it there today. However, being the stubborn people that we are we will try again tomorrow at 9am to get that last little stretch of the neighborhood bordering AOC7 a little cleaner by noon. This was our 41st clean up this year.

By the way,whoever issued the heat warning for today, understated how hot it would be. At least Arizona was a dry heat.

Sunday Safety Update: 08/08/2015 to 08/16/2015

Disclaimer: Please note these maps are meant to show which direction crime is trending, areas to keep an extra eye on and places to remain vigilant in order for Central Long Beach residents to remain safe. That said, previous trends don't guarantee future trends in the same direction.  

Okay there's some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the MacArthur Park Neighborhood was nearly crime free this week.

Th bad news, on Monday I had a text from friends in the AOC7, that there had been a shooting. While this shooting wasn't fatal, it left three people injured and a juvenile in critical condition. It also happened outside a residence well known for criminal activity.

Now if you follow the map Crime Reports gives for the current week you will notice the assaults trend North five days later. There are three assaults at virtually the same street, except further north, just past Anaheim.

---

Attend Next Tuesday's [08/18/2015] Start A Community Watch Meeting

---

Also, look at the vehicle recoveries just outside our neighborhood. Notice that they follow Old Zaferia Way which connects Rotary Centenial Park and Orizaba Park. If past trends repeat, the car thefts will trend up that old street north west towards PCH and around Rotary Centenial Park Again.

You will notice a very similar pattern on the outskirts of our neighborhood three other places. Be aware there are a series of car thefts trending towards the loitering on 17th and Orange. Because there have been two shootings in that area, both fatal, on each side of Orange, be very careful on 17th street. There is also an assault/ property crime that is trending up towards MacArthur Park. Several of the last maps showed multiple assaults in exactly that area, so be very cautious around MacArthur Park, especially the south end.

Also be cautious around Dawson and Anaheim, as a combination of thefts from cars and assaults seems to trend that way. 

Now Onto Some Better News:

Police arrested 26-year-old Long Beach resident Jorge Luis Cruz Saturday. It’s the first arrest of five June murders. On Saturday, officers investigating a vehicle in the 1300 block of Ohio Avenue around 5:50 p.m. recognized the passenger, Cruz, because there was a warrant out for his arrest, according to information the department provided. Cruz fled the scene and police set up a containment zone to try to capture him with the help of helicopters and service dogs.

June’s four other shootings — involving victims Anthony Holston, Ruben Barrera, Alicia Todd and Iran Maese — are still open cases. 

A stabbing which took place on July 4th, has also been solved. A 24-year-old Long Beach man was behind bars on suspicion of fatally stabbing his former roommate during an argument. Norman Mathew Perdon was jailed Friday on suspicion of stabbing 38-year- old Allen Estes of Long Beach on July 4, according to Long Beach police. Estes was found around 5:30 a.m. by police near the intersection of East Anaheim Street and Dawson Avenue. He died at the scene.

North Side Longos Go To Jail

The Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) North Patrol Division has arrested 17 members of the North Side Longos gang since this past May, they announced Friday. According to a release, North Patrol Division Directed Enforcement Team (North DET) gathered information linking the gang to a “violent crime spree” earlier this year, and spent the past few months identifying individuals associated with the gang who were responsible for the crimes. 

And The Search For Justice Continues

The Remaining Unsolved Homicide Cases June/ July

17th and Alamitos Area 

The area of 17th street and Orange is an area of persistent loitering. It is the home of Ritchie's Liquor Store, which has in the past defended and encouraged the loitering. Some of those, often more than twenty people a night, hanging out at the intersection do not reside in Central Long Beach. This intersection has been described as "a mess," by almost everyone except the current city council representative for District Six. There have been two shootings on either side of this intersection, one in June and one in July. 

Remember the names Anthony Holston and Tomas Palmas.

Also be aware 17th Street is the darkest street at night of any street in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. While the city was told about this a month ago, not one tree along 17th has been trimmed. Some like this one, are now falling, blocking the street and in danger of hurting someone.

Virtually Every Light on 17th Street is Obscured

The names and information are shared because these are real people. In the past 90813 has been a zip code famous for unsolved homicides. The more their names are repeated, the less likely their killer is to walk away free. We've gotten two of them, Anthony, Thomas, Alicia and Iran and their families still need justice.

Anthony Holston III, a 20-year-old black man, was shot and killed Friday, June 5, near the intersection of East 17th Street and Alamitos Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records. I have looked for other information to make Anthony more of a person and less of a statistic, but so far haven't found any yet. East side of the Alamitos and 17th intersection.

Tomas Palmas, a 42-year-old Latino, was shot and killed July 10 in the 1700 block of Cerritos Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. There is a Facebook Page related to this shooting that will tell you more about Tomas. dedicated to his memory. West side of the Alamitos and 17th intersection.

North of MacArthur Park/ Just South of Signal Hill

Alicia Faith Todd, a 21-year-old black woman, Alicia Faith Todd, was shot and killed Wednesday, June 24, in the 1100 block of East 21st Street in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. Todd was a former Milikan High School Student. From Todd's memorial fund page, "Alicia was an intelligent, strong, vibrant young woman whose life was stolen from her by a random act of gun violence. Our hearts break for a family devastated, for a beautiful girl's life taken way too early, for a mother who has to do the unthinkable and bury her child, and for a broken society that doesn't value human life."

Close To Downtown

Iran Francisco Maese, a 35-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, June 28, in the 700 block of Linden Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Douglas Jerome Wilson, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed Monday, June 22, in the 800 block of Chestnut Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Two down; four to go.... 

This Makes Six Months of Cleaning up MacArthur Park

Today makes six months that we have been working to make the MacArthur Park Neighborhood a better place; the very first clean up was six months ago from this Saturday om 15th Street. We intend to spend it where this began, helping our neighbors in the AOC7.

Tomorrow: Join Our Neighborhood Partners In The AOC7

Joint AOC7/ MacArthur Park Clean Up Done

There was an announced joint cleaning that covered the area immediately around MacArthur Park this morning. Thanks to the AOC7/ The OC Credit Union, Edgar Rangel Real Estate Consultant, Brian Ben from the City of Long Beach for the dumpster and to the volunteers from both neighborhoods.

While we wanted to get more trash out of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood but the dumpster was completely filled within two hours with waste from the alleyway between Warren and Orange alone.

Next Saturday there will be a smaller clean up of Orange Street just south of Rosa Park's Park. I am going to try to schedule another larger clean up for the fourth Saturday in August. Please keep in touch for future clean ups by joining the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Facebook Group. And continue to support the AOC7 for the great things they are bringing to all of our neighborhoods.

Joint AOC7/ MacArthur Park Clean Up Tomorrow 07/18/2015 8:30am

Joint AOC7/ MacArthur Park Clean Up 07/18/15 8:30am - Noon

Cambodia Town Night Market & Community Garden

A lot of people are pushing for some improvements along the Anaheim Corridor. It looks like the community garden and a version of a farmers market to increase pedestrian activity in the area are probably going to happen. The night market, which runs from 4pm to 9pm, looks like it needs volunteers and venders. Here's the Facebook Page to keep up on these two things: 

You are also highly encouraged to attend a community meeting to be hosted by Councilman Dee Andrews on Thursday July 9, 2015 6:00-7:00 pm, at Mark Twain Library. The Councilman will make a public announcement about a new community garden and a night market in the heart of Cambodia Town. Please see the enclosed flyer for details.

Congratulations To The AOC7's 10th Street Beautification Project

Our neighbors south of Anaheim did an amazing thing bringing their neighbors together with the recent literacy fair. Today they built on that accomplishment with the 10th Street Beautification Project. This project involved cleaning the trash of 10th, placing new litter containers along 10th and planting trees.

This was the AOC7's second grant project. Funds were donated by the 1st, 2nd and 4th council districts. Neighborhood services provided the gardening tools. If you reside in that area, between Anaheim, Orange, Cherry and 7th, I would strongly recommend liking both the AOC7's Facebook Page and the Craftsman Historic Village Page. They are both keeping an eye out for your neighborhood.

State of the City: Stephens Middle School 05/27/2015

The AOC7's Annual Literacy Fair

Parents lined up with kids to get their book bags.

Today at MacArthur Park, the AOC7, which represents the neighborhood from Orange to Cherry and 7th to Anaheim, held its annual literacy fair. Neighborhood kids walked away with free books, food and some with prizes. 

Set up for the fair actually began at 7am. The fair itself began at 10am and ended at 1pm.

This year, the AOC7 secured donations of more than 8,000 new and used books. Those donations went to students of Lincoln Elementary, Whittier Elementary as well as a few neighboring school children who happened to be passing by during the fair.

Prize give raffles during the AOC7's annual Literacy Fair.

Parents and kids getting their free books and reading them.

The MacArthur Park Neighborhood would like to thank the AOC7 and all the volunteers who brought such a great event to our all the adjoining neighborhoods. Assuming the literacy fair grows, next year they will need more volunteers, more schools and kid's organizations to participate.

The food and prizes were provided courtesy of various organizations like the Long Beach Rescue Mission and the Port of Long Beach, just to name a few.

Anybody who would like to see a full album of pictures of the event, can look on the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Group.

This Saturday's cleanup will be on Sunday, not interfere with the Literacy Fair at MacArthur Park

MacArthur Park clean ups are normally Saturday at 10am. This week, it;s being moved one day to allow everyone to support the AOC7's Literacy Fair at MacArthur Park.

 Sunday's clean up will be: Walnut and PCH heading south, starting promptly at 10am. Check out the AOC7's flyer for details on the literacy fair this Saturday.