Does Councilman Supernaw deserve another term?

Does Councilman Supernaw deserve reelection to another term?

YES!

The Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods enthusiastically endorse our popular and effective District 4 Councilman Daryl Supernaw for reelection.

Councilman Supernaw's thank you to LB Post readers for selecting him as the Top Civil Servant

Councilman Supernaw has proven himself to be an outstanding honest representative for our neighborhoods,  District 4, and Long Beach.

His commitments to foster economic growth, enhancing public safety, working on homeless issues, and his famous focus on constituent services alone would be worthy of a reelecting Supernaw to a final third term. 

 But there is so much more.

• Supernaw fought to hold airlines responsible for regularly violating the Long Beach Airport Noise Ordinance. His efforts also eventually led to the safe closing of  loopholes airlines used that financially hurt the airport. 

• Supernaw fought to bring back funding for restoring Engine 17 at Stearn Park's Firehouse 17 resulting in quicker 911 emergency response times. 

• Supernaw brought forward an ordinance that was passed to give the LBPD more tools to fight street takeovers.  

• Supernaw worked to help acquire “project vouchers” for the new 76 unit residential building at the corner of PCH and Loma. The $41 million project was built to provided single apartments for previously unhoused, low-income residents. Without the vouchers the  project would  not have been feasible.

• Supernaw’s office is the only council office that acts as a clearing house for homeless issues in its own district. Supernaw encourages residents to contact his office regarding the Fourth District homeless population to coordinate available services.

• After the Animal Service Center was added to District 4, Supernaw successfully proposed an amendment to the current 2024 Long Beach City Budget for funds to eliminate the backlog of current and former shelter animals needing spay or neutering. The backlog is expected to be eliminatedby this summer.  

• After the sacred Indigenous Peoples site of Puvungna at CSULB was added to  District 4, Supernaw has proposed and is working to have the city create a Native American Commission.  Once instituted, Long Beach will be one of the few municipalities with dedicated Native American representation within a city government.

• After the rest of El Dorado Park was added to  District 4, Supernaw worked with city staff to jump-start the long-stalled upgrades to the El Dorado Duck Pond.  The Pond is scheduled to be open this spring.

• Supernaw addresses local neighborhood concerns with  public and private projects ensuring residents questions are answered and residential input is considered. Examples include Supernaw hosting meetings about: the new CSULB dorms on Atherton; Sports Basement taking over the Los Altos Sears: and working with neighborhoods regarding city proposed street makeovers.

• Supernaw’s office is renowned for both its service to residents and its fiscal efficiency.  Unlike other council offices, Supernaw does not hire local political party insiders, but instead hires competent professionals. With a productive and lean professional staff, Supernaw’s average yearly office budget operation savings is 42%. Those funds are then invested back into District 4 sidewalks, street repairs and community events.

• Committed to full representation and communication, Supernaw’s staff is 100% bi-lingual. As an example, unlike his two political opponent’s ballot statements, Supernaw’s ballot statement appears in both English and Spanish, the two main languages spoken in the 4th District.

• In addition to his famous weekly newsletter and monthly community meetings, Supernaw is a regular featured guest at neighborhood, HOA, and other community meetings.

Councilman Supernaw’s honesty, approachable demeanor, willingness to listen to and respond to constituents, and his ability to collaborate with colleagues has made him an effective and respected leader.

Yes! Supernaw deserves re-election to a final third term. 

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Contributions to the Re-Elect Daryl Supernaw for City Council 2024 campaign can be made at this link:

https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/DarylSupernaw/

His website is here: 

https://supernaw2024.com/

For more information click on:

• Supernaw announces major endorsements in Long Beach City Council 2024 re-electioncampaign launch

• Long Beach Councilman two for two in readers' polls

• Supernaw's bid for re-election will be a rerun of  the 2015 election 

• Supernaw wins

 

Los Angeles DA candidate John McKinney hosts community meeting at District 4 Pizza

Los Angeles DA candidate John McKinney hosts community meeting at District 4 Pizza

Deputy District Attorney John McKinney will be hosting a neighborhood meet and great at District 4 Pizza on Saturday December 2, 2023 from Noon to 2 pm.

McKinney is running to replace his boss embattled Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. 

One of the DA offices most successful prosecutors who has tried and won every one of the almost 40 murder cases. On his website he states:

"In all, I have tried nearly 40 murder cases. I gave a small piece of myself to each one. Every killer I prosecuted was convicted. Every victim’s humanity was affirmed in the courtroom." 

In his 25-year career as a prosecutor in the Los Angeles County DA’s Office includes

• ·      Victim Impact Program
• ·       Juvenile Court
• ·       Hardcore Gang Division
• ·       Major Crimes Division

 For more information on his positions and campaign CLICK on

Victims’ Rights

Public Safety

Campaign website

Sports Basement coming to Los Altos Center vacant Sears building

 

LACAN UPDATE   
 Sports Basement coming to Los Altos Center vacant Sears building

Friday 10/27/23 9:45 pm

The Bay Area regional sporting goods retailer Sports Basement will be moving into the Los Altos Marketcenter's   (aka Los Altos Center South)  vacant Sears building. The huge retail building includes three stories and a basement.

Los Altos Village neighborhood has been abuzz about workers working inside the long vacant Sears space for the last several weeks.  In his popular weekly newsletter,  Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw wrote in the Friday October 27, 2023 edition   that he "will be meeting with the building owner and the new tenant next Tuesday to get all the details." 

 

LB4D News spoke with the onsite workers and confirmed that the new tenant will be Sports Basement. The Long Beach location will be Sports Basement’s thirteenth location, the second in Southern California.

The new Los Altos Marketplace Sports Basement is expected to open in the Spring of 2024.

Founded in 1998 with its first store in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco, the company has grown to twelve stores. Eleven Sports Basement’s stores are in the Bay Area. Last year it opened its first Southern California store in Fountain Valley.

Sports Basement is unique in the sporting goods industry because it embraces numerous retail strategies for a one stop shopping experience.  Building on a corporate culture of “community” and “fun,” stores are in repurposed buildings and are unique to that local community.   

Its massive stores in repurposed buildings sell in-line major brands, close-outs, and discontinued items as well as used goods (marketed as “pre-loved). The stores have a discount warehouse feel that reflect its “best brands at basement prices” company moto. 

photo courtesy of Sports Basement 

Like Trader Joe’s, Sports Basement custom builds most of its display shelves, racks, and signage.  It has its own metal and wood shop.

Sports Basement also rents sports and event equipment. Unlike REI and the long defunct Sports Authority and Sports Chalet’s rental focus on mainly skiing and camping equipment rentals, Sports Basement has numerous categories of “outdoor” equipment rentals. Rentals include a wide variety of sports equipment (from skies to pickleball) and sports clothing, plus travel (think car accessories and luggage) and a selection of outdoor event items as single rentals or whole everything-you-need packages.

The store also offers state-of the-art bike and snow shops offering tuning services.

The retailer also takes tradeins of customers “pre-loved” sports equipment for resale in its stores. Customer “pre-loved” items that do not meet the company’s reselling standards are accepted then donated. 

Online shopping for all store merchandise and rentals with in-store pickup available.

Shoppers will find lounge areas throughout the store and a  free-of-charge Community Space to hold group meetings or birthday parties. Using that space, stores offer speaker events, fitness classes, movie nights, fundraisers. Each store’s community space has a different name and theme like “The Dairy” in the retailers San Francisco’s Presidio store. Depending on the location, the Community Spaces range in occupancy from 50- 300 people. The Sports Basement website explains:

 Sports Basement is a hub for local clubs, non-profits, and corporate partners. Our stores, in all their reclaimed glory, transform into whatever our community needs them to be. We serve as meeting halls, call centers, movie theaters, art galleries, yoga studios...we could even be a wedding venue if you want. And you can reserve any of our community spaces at select stores, for free, by clicking the buttons below - it's as simple as that because being a part of our communities should be the easiest thing in the world.

The Dairy Community Space photo courtesy of Sports Basement 

Fostering a sense of community, Sports Basement supports sports participants group meet-ups for in-person and virtual events:

Join us at your local store for a run group, ride group, or a fitness class. Looking for more? Check out our full list of in-person and virtual events below.

Sports Basement’s loyalty program has a one-time $25 lifetime membership buy-in cost.  Called the “Basementeer’s” program, it offers 10% discounts on all purchases and 10% of the purchase price to the customer’s choice of school or charity.  When the Fountain Valley store opened, memberships in the Basementeer’s program was offered for free.

 

The Los Altos Center was part of the original Lloyd Whaley built Los Altos Village planned community.

Buildings within the Los Altos Marketplace have different property owners  with the Sears building being one of them.  Originally a Walkers Department Store when the center opened in 1955, it was rebranded a Broadway Department store after Walkers was bought by Broadway Department stores a year later. A third story was added to the building in 1964. In the 1990’s, the then Los Altos Center was redeveloped as a Redevelopment Agency project. At that time Sears bought the Los Altos Broadway property and again remodeled it.

Redevloped store mix from the 1990's    photo from LB4D News

After rival Kmart Corporation bought Sears in 2005, a slow decline began with the ultimate demise of both retailers after declaring bankruptcy in 2018. The ensuing bankruptcy left only 11 Sears open today.

This month in Burbank, the local Sears re-opened in its former Burbank Town Center space as the 12<sup>th</sup> retail space.  Unfortunately, according to the reviews, the “new” Sears looks like a close-out bankrupt clearance store.  The other three California Sears are located in Whitter, Stockton, and Concord. 

District 4 Pizza opens at Los Altos Center

 

District 4 Pizza opens at Los Altos Center

Monday October 2, 2023 9:30 pm 

District 4 Pizza at the Los Altos Center officially opened on Monday October 2, 2023 after a trial Family and Friends night the week before.  A Grand Opening is in the works. 

District 4 Pizza is the latest concept from Long Beach restauranters Ian Molson, Nevi Maddy and Ryan Mcintyre. Located at the long-time Ecco’s Pizza location at 2123 N Bellflower Blvd., District 4 Pizza is across the street from Moston’s very successful Kennedys Restaurant and Bar in the Los Altos Center South.

D4 Pizza partner Ian Moston with District 4 Councilman Daryl  Supernaw in D4 meeting room

The menu features traditional and upscale pizza and Italian fare along with unique menu items.

Appetizers include traditional mozzarella sticks, calamari, hot wings, onion rings and fries, but also some unexpected offerings like truffle fries and crispy brussels sprouts. 

Then they have some surprises like Mac’d up Pepperoni and Cheese  and Whipp it Good  which is whipped ricotta, hot honey, crostini and pecorino cheese).

“Cheesus Crust”

 Along with traditional pizzas (a cheese called “Cheesus Crust” ; a meat called “I Heart Meat”; a sausage called “Sausage King of Chicago; and a vegetarian called “Haight-Ashbury”), the District 4 menu includes several house specialty pizzas.

Those house specialties including: “Elote” (roasted corn, chicken asada, cilantro crème, parmesan, chili powder and fresh limes); “Sleepy Time” (homemade beef Bolognese, mozzarella, bechamel sauce, ricotta, parmesan and basil); Fung-Guy (bun shimeji and shitake mushrooms; cremini, mozzarella, gorgonzola and truffle oil); and the Pistachio (parmesan,  rosemary, red onion , pistachios).

The pizzas come in come in four sizes and there is a gluten friendly 12” cauliflower crust available with topping choices.

There is also a small selection of salads, sandwiches and six main traditional Italian meals.  The alcohol selection of includes numerous beers, a choice of wines and lots of soft drinks.

The inside has been totally revamped from its Ecco’s Pizza days.  The dining area has been unified and upgraded with the large dividing wall in the middle with the elevated booths removed. Outside seating along Bellflower Blvd. is available. 

A number of large televisions surround the dining area. 

The old arcade area has been expanded with modern games. The private party room has been updated and features a “Greetings from Long Beach” graphic with local landmarks.  

Expanded Arcade 

Refreshed Private Party Room

Greatings from Long Beach graphic in Private Room

 District 4 is currently open 4 pm- 10 pm, but will eventually open from 11 am- 10 pm.

CSULB tropical storm announcement

 

 

CSULB tropical storm announcement:

 “While the storm's impacts will diminish by tomorrow morning, out of an abundance of caution we will implement primarily virtual operations for Monday, August 21.”

LINK: https://www.csulb.edu/alert

Los Altos Center buildings up for sale for $20 million

 Los Altos Center buildings up for sale for $20 million

Los Altos Center buildings on Britton Drive       photo courtesy of Centennial Advisors

July 14, 2023 8:30 am

UPDATE 10:00 am July 14, 2023: The orginal list price of $22.495 million was dropped to $20 million.

The three Britton Drive office and retail buildings integrated into the Los Altos Market Center have been listed for sale by investment firm Centennial Advisors for $20 million.   The price was dropped from the orginal price of $22.495 million.

The buildings include business, dental and medical suites and numerous other retail services storefronts including IHOP, Kennedy’s Craft Kitchen and The Bagelry.  The Centennial Advisors’ Long Beach office is also located there. 

Over the years, the three buildings have housed numerous iconic Long Beach  establishments including the Fish Tale Restruant. 

The buildings have been owned by the prominent East Long Beach Bloeser family under a few different family business entities.  Currently, Gerald “Jerry” Bloeser owns the properties through DGJ Properties. 

The original Los Altos Market Center (aka South) first stores opened in 1953 and was redeveloped in the early 1990’s.  

While the Market Center, Los Altos North and the Los Altos West strip are considered by many one retail center, each of the separate centers has numerous owners with-in each section. 

Along with retail and other services, the Los Altos Center area is a major Long Beach banking center with five major banking options.  It also has three major grocery options: Lazy Acres, Trader Joe’s, and Target. 

In 2019 the main anchor store then a shuttered Sears was sold and remains closed. That large department store retail space originally opened as a Walkers in 1954. 

The Los Altos Mall was inducted into the Mall of Fame in 2009.

All three sections of the "center" have had  regular closures and openings of dozens of retailers and services reflecting the retail and service trends of the seventy years the center has been open.  

Circa 1990's Los Altos Market Center marquee

Located a mile from CSULB, the original center was part of developer Lloyd Whaley’s East Long Beach planned communities of Los Altos Village and University Park Estates.

Target and LBUSD complicit in allowing Stanford Middle School students to freely shoplift

UPDATE 9/26/2023

Target said on Tuesday 9/26/23 that it would close three Bay Area stores, along with six others across the country, citing violence and rampant theft. "We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all," the company said in a statement. One of the stores targeted for closure in San Francisco was the subject of a viral video in April that showed the store's inventory behind locked glass. LINKS: East Bay Times | SFist

 

UPDATE 8/30/2023

RE: Target (Bellflower/Long Beach) and Stanford Middle School 

On behalf of the Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods thank you to both Target and the administrators at Stanford Middle School for setting the tone at the Los Altos Shopping Center North this first school day of the 2023-2024 school year.

Target’s high-profile security at the entrances did an excellent job in setting the tone for the school year that students after school must be accompanied by an adult.    

We applaud both the school administrators and Target working together to solve the afterschool problems from last year.  We trust that this great start will continue throughout the school year.  Our neighborhood leaders will be quick to let you know if afterschool student activity again spins out-of-control.

 Thank you again for addressing this issue.

UPDATE 6/16/2023

The Los Altos Village Target has instituted a policy that the students immediately after school must be accompanied by an adult. 

In addition, the Stanford Middle School principal personally met with the Target manager and other retail managers in the Los Altos North Center.

The Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods are encouraged that this is the first step in ensuring that students understand that shoplifting will not be tolerated and bad behavior has consequences. 

LACAN thanks both the Target Executive Sotre Manager and the Administration Team at Stanford Middle School. 

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LACAN Statement regarding the Target and Long Beach Unified  allowing Stanford Middle School students to freely shoplift  

Students file into Target heding toward the snack areas- student faces are puposely not photograghed 

“The Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods blames the Los Altos Target’s current policy of “allowing” students to steal  for teaching our neighborhood students that theft is OK.  

There is amble evidence that proactive measures of businesses in the same center have prevented theft and sent the students a message.  Stanford Middle School students are currently learning that crime pays thanks to Target.

In addition, the Long Beach Unified School District is complicit in not providing the resources to prevent students under its legal control from causing economic harm and disruptive behavior to business corridors near its middle and high schools across Long Beach.  

 Long Beach Unified knowns about the problems a small percentage of students under their legal control routinely cause businesses and have not provided the local schools with the resources to address students preying on local businesses. Long Beach voters and businesses have for years supported Long Beach Unified. It is time for Long Beach Unified to return the favor.”

After   contacting Target's corporate offices, and emailing LBUSD Superintendent Dr. Jill Baker and the LBUSD Trustees, as well as the LBPD East District Commander and LBPD Police Chief  Hebeish, so far only Target has replied.

Target Los Angeles Group Vice PresidentLeanne Pithey did email this to LACAN  June 14, 2023:

"Thank you so much for sharing your concerns regarding your experience at my Long Beach store with both our team and our guests. I apologize that you were unable to get a hold of my Store Director, Maria, in-store last week, and I wanted to reach out to you personally to address your concerns.

First, our Assets Protection teams are taking the appropriate partners and steps with both the Long Beach Unified School District, as well as the Police Department to ensure that we are mitigating theft activity in our stores and taking a tougher stance. Additionally, we are continuing to address situations as they arise in stores. Following your conversation with our security team, the team did take action to address the concerns you shared in-store. We will continue to be active partners within the community, while following the guidelines provided to us by the State of California. We are taking a proactive approach and stance across our stores to mitigate theft and other behaviors that impact our neighborhoods and communities.

Secondly, I have followed up with our Store Team in regards to how they handled escalating your concerns. While not an excuse, our Store Director is out of office. We have reviewed and addressed how we could have made your experience in speaking to leadership easier and more seamless, and getting you in contact with my District Senior Director or myself. I am happy to continue the conversation, and will also have Maria reach out when she returns, to ensure that we are continuing to be active members of our community, and supporting the greater good of the neighborhood in which we serve.

 Sincerely,

Leanne "

Unfortunately, on June 14, 2023 the day the Target VP replied, the store is "mitigating theft activity in our stores and taking a tougher stance” students again showed up to the Target store in mass and again thefts were rampant.