Featured Columnists
Beachcombing
by Jay Beeler
We are pleased once again to provide you with the results of your 6,200 votes for the “Best of Long Beach” for the ninth straight year.
This time we’ve decided to award the top slot to those businesses garnering the most votes, meaning that a clustering of several businesses getting the largest number of votes will all be recognized. This often happens in certain food categories, like Mexican restaurants, and this year in the “live theater” category.
Similarly, those businesses showing a clustering of votes on the secondary level will all receive “honorable mention.” This revised approach is our way of recognizing that there are numerous businesses that do great work and deserve recognition.
Thanks again to our many sponsors who have donated prizes to make the “Best of Long Beach” rewarding and fun as well as you, the reader, for sending in your votes.
You almost did not get the July 16 issue of the Beachcomber. Two recycling “experts” were caught with nearly half of our papers in their truck before I arrived on scene at our transfer location. Although the value of the papers was clearly in the category of “grand theft,” one unnamed sergeant was reluctant to make that charge and I had to sign papers for a citizen’s arrest just to teach the thieves their lesson. That’s piss poor police work … in my book.
We’ve had three prior incidents like this with the paper and by making sure that the thieves get charged, the problem has not existed for over five years. But the latest incident saw a disturbing trend among police: “If we don’t have to cite people then our crime statistics will look better.” This was confirmed when I picked up the July 16 issue of the Press-Telegram that touted crime being down.
Funny, I don’t recall getting that press release from the LBPD at the Beachcomber. It must be secret stuff. Wink, wink.
Then I recalled having to call the police on Tuesday night, July 13, as two female recycling bin divers were working our neighborhood and stealing my/your property. Another neighbor apparently called in before me and as I followed the crooks from a distance, a police car was there within minutes. But the cop stayed in his car and “escorted” the divers out of the neighborhood. No citations = no crime.
Two months ago my computer repairman had his golf bag and some tools removed from his (apparently and accidentally) unlocked car while parked at the Beachcomber Tower. The police threw up numerous challenges for him just to make a report and no official bothered to stop by our building to witness the digital recording of the 30-year-old male, dark kinky-haired thief and his car. See no evil = no crime.
My suggestion to residents who have similar experiences is to send a complaint letter or e-mail to your council representative. Exposing the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” mentality will certainly go a long way during the current police budget discussions.
I recently went to the Long Beach Bar Association’s website and noted that they hold the following core values:
* Honesty and Truthfulness – We will always operate with complete honesty and truthfulness in our dealings with others.
* Integrity – This is the hallmark of our profession and must be upheld at all times.
* Justice – This is the foundation of our system of laws.
Then I noted that their president was listed as Thomas Reeves, our former city prosecutor, and nearly lost the contents of my stomach from laughing so hard. The only people with integrity in that group are the ones who resigned when that criminal became president.
Our latest web poll asked how you feel about smoking in parks and about 55% said "yes" and 38% said "no" to banning the smokers.
The new poll asks what you think about the WikiLeaks of classified miliatry information on Afganistan. Was the leak of this information good or bad? Go to www.longbeachcomber.com to vote and send comments to editor@longbeachcomber.com. Thanks.
|