Regardless of fines, JetBlue noise violations continue

2016 LB Airport late flights fines up 51.6%

The fines for breaking the LB Noise Ordinance late flights restrictions at the  Long Beach Airport are up 51.6% over last year through September of 2016 according to the September Monthly Noise Report released with this month's agenda of the LB Airport Advisory Commission (AAC). 
For more information on this month's AAC meeting click on AAC November

Year-to-date totals for the fines for 2016 through September are $458,000 compared to $236,500 for the same period last year.  

The monthly Noise Ordinance fines in September 2016 amounted to $7,200. This year the September 2016 monthly fines totaled $31,600, a 22.8% jump over the monthly figure from last year. 

According to the September Monthly Noise Report, non-commercial aircraft (General Aviation and Charter flights) noise violations are down 4.4% over last year's year-to-date totals.

Despite flying less flights from Long Beach this year, JetBlue's September 2016 year-to-date Noise Violations amounted to 95 compared to 51 last year, an 86.3%  increase.  This number is more alarming due to the fact that for most of 2016, JetBlue did not fly all of its daily slots. The airline declared it was "rotating" its allotted flight slots causing a considerable negative economic impact to the LB Airport, and thus preventing other airlines taking its non-used spots. 

According to airline industry data complier OAG in its 2016 Monthly On Time Performance (OTP) report, JetBlue ranks 32nd  of  the 53 North American airlines.  According to OAG, JetBlue's on-time arrival rate is 77.2% (with-in 15 minutes is considered on-time by OAG). JetBlue also had the second highest flight cancellation percentage of any major American airline with 2.5%. Of the United States major airlines, only Spirit had a higher flight cancellation rate of 2.8%, but ranked 17th in on time performance in North America.  

Click on OAG REPORT  (see last page for North America)

All six of the Long Beach Airport September commercial aircraft Noise Ordinance violation fines were to JetBlue. The report indicates that the six JetBlue violations were out of 2,377 total monthly commercial flights or .3% of the total.  

The Monthly Report totals do not include those late night flights not fined under the noise ordinance. The report totals are for the late flights that are fined flights deemed violating the Noise Ordinance, not the total number of late flights. The Noise Ordinance does have fine exemptions ( not included in the fined report) for certain reasons that may cause a late flight. The late night flights, fined and not fined, are the most disruptive to neighborhoods living under the flight path.

Requests from neighborhood leaders at the  Community Input Meetings for the International Terminal Feasibility Study to include data on the percentage of international flights that are currently late to the surrounding Southern California airports, that data was not part of the study.

While the LB Airport's own reports show clear evidence of the continued and growing problem of late commercial flights especially by JetBlue at LB Airport, data on the occurrence of international flight delays to Southern California airports has never been brought forward into the proposed International Flights debate at Long Beach Airport.

Only Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw has regularly brought up the continued late night flight problem facing the neighborhoods in City Council meetings and as a regular feature of his weekly newsletters to residents. 

Click on NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 11

JetBlue violations, FIS meeting and Ecco's new patio

JetBlue Noise Ordinance violations up for August 2016

The Long Beach Airport Monthly Noise Report for August 2016  in the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission Agenda for October 20, 2016 shows the Noise Ordinance late flight defined activity for JetBlue flights again increased in August 2016 over last year.

The monthly report includes the year-to-date total Noise Ordinance defined activity at 325 flights - up 42% over last year.  Of the year-to-date flight violations,  270 (83%) of those are JetBlue late flights.

Nine of JetBlue's 22 late flights in August 2016 were fined (the only commercial airline fined in August 2016), down from 14 last August 2015 ( down 35.7%). JetBlue year-to-date late flights in this time period  are up 78%. Total fines for all commercial aircraft are up 75% (98 total fines) over last year. JetBlue flights make up 89 of the total 98 fined flights this year between (90.8%).

10:00 pm -11:00 pm category

The 10:00 pm- 11:00 pm August 2016 Late Night Noise Ordinance defined activity shows JetBlue had a 10% increase over  August 2015 with 22 late flights. 

The monthly report's chart also shows  that US Air/American Airlines Late Night Noise Ordinance defined activity in the  10:00 pm- 11:00 pm category for August 2016 dropped  almost 78% over last year making the total  August 2016 violations down 17.2% over last August.

Year-to-date through August 2016, Jetblue's Late Night Noise Ordinance defined activity for 10:00 pm- 11:00 pm total increased 34.9% over 2015 for a total of 174 of the total 204  year-to-date Late Night Noise Ordinance defined activity for 2016.  The report shows other carriers year-to-date late flights are: Delta had 16 late flights (up 300%); US Airways/American Airlines 13 late flights (down 55.2%); Southwest 1 late flight (it was not flying Long Beach last year).

11:00 pm -7:00 pm category

The total year-to-date 11:00 pm -7:00 am Late Night Noise Ordinance defined late flights activity for all commercial aircraft was 325 flights-up 42.5%.

JetBlue's Noise Ordinance defined activity for the 11:00 pm- 7:00 am in the monthly report on August 2016 show 19 late flights ( out of 21 total monthly violations) for a 26.7% over last year.  

The total year-to-date 11:00 pm -7:00 am late flights are 121 up 86.3% over last year. JetBlue's late flights year-to-date number 96 flights, up 77.8% over last year.

For more information Click on AUGUST NOISE REPORT

 Latest Noise Ordinance FINE Statistics

Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw provides regular up-to-date accounts of the Noise Ordinance levied fines. 

In the Councilman's October 7th Weekly Newsletter,  the following updated chart included all of September for Noise Ordinance fines:

Month	10:00 pm - 11:00 pm	11:00 pm - 7:00 am	Total	Fines
July	21	11	32	$48,000
August	21	21	42	$54,000
September	13	8	21	$30,300
2016 Total	186	104	290	$435,600
Monthly Avg.	20.7	11.6	31.2	$48,400

Click on SUPERNAW NEWSLETTER

Long Beach Airport International Terminal Study discussion on Thursday at Airport Advisory Commission

The  Airport Advisory Commission will review and discuss the newly released International Terminal study (FIS) this Thursday October 20th.

The meeting will be held at the Long Beach Gas and Oil Department, 2400 East Spring Street at 6:30 pm.  Public Comment on the International Terminal Study Agenda Item will be allowed.

Former Bank of America Home Loans

Bank America Mortgage closes at Los Altos Center South and Ecco's Restaurant  gets new patio seating

The free-standing Bank of America Mortgage Home Loan Center has closed at 2135 N. Bellflower Blvd in the Los Altos Center South (west side of Bellflower Blvd.).

A few doors south of that location, Ecco's Italian Restruant ( aka Ecco's Pizza) has opened a new outside patio on the wide-front facing area along Bellflower Blvd.

For more informaton click on Ecco's Pizza

Los Altos Shell station sold

Los Altos Shell sold, set for rebranding
Updated 9/29/16

The Los Altos Shell (aka Bellflower Shell) at 2103 N Bellflower Blvd. has been sold.  Neighbors that inquired about the closed gas lanes have been told that the station was sold for $3.2 million to a franchise owner who owns several stations.

The Shell identity was stripped off the station on Monday September 27th and then was re-branded on Thursday 9/29 to...SHELL!!!

Public records show that Jacques Hattouni bought the property from ConocoPhillips in 2008 for $1.1 million and was the owner/operator of the Bellflower Shell. 

In April, Del Taco corporation sought permission to open a drive-thru restaurant on the location in a lease arrangement with the owner. That plan, with numerous problems, was opposed by the neighborhood.

The neighborhood opposition was joined by Mayor Garcia and the Long Beach Planning Commission ended up voting the original Conditional Use Permit (CUP) down and directing the city staff to re-write the CUP report with a negative neighborhood impact. 

Recently, stories had been circulating that the Shell Station may have wanted to add a convenience store to replace the current service bays after their effort to lease the site to Del Taco failed.  Whether the new owner will close the service  to pursue a convenience store remains to be seen.

For more information click on:

DEL TACO

Garcia 

CSULB Parking UPDATE and Chronic Tacos evicted

CSULB will offer shuttles to off-site parking for 4 days as school starts

CSULB will begin its Fall Semester on August 22 and will offer off-site parking for only four days of the first week. (Click on OVERFLOW)

The off-site parking will be offered at the Greek Orthodox Church lot at Colorado and PCH. The site is not accessible from PCH, cars using the lot must travel down Bellflower and turn left on Colorado. Any cars using the lot must display a valid CSULB Parking Permit.

Annual parking permits for CSULB are $342 a year or $123 each for the Fall and Spring Semesters.  ( Click on PERMIT )

Students and staff are provided free Long Beach Transit Bus Passes under the U-Pass Program. The free passes are provided in hopes of promoting students not driving to campus.  This plan with the steep cost of parking has pushed student parking onto local residential streets as the CSULB parking situation has worsened.  

(Click on U- PASS)

With the steep price of parking, many students who drive to CSULB have learned to park in surrounding residential and commercial areas that do not require city issued parking permits. The students then use the free bus passes to take a short ride to CSULB-leaving their cars for hours.  This circumvents the CSULB initiative for a "green" policy using the bus and has shifted the CSULB student parking to the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Last year the CSULB Parking Committee announced a plan to promote more "green" sustainability by announcing a plan for "demand pricing".  This would raise parking rates on campus according to the "demand" and "supply" of parking spaces.  Neighborhood leaders immediately took notice and the plan has not moved forward. ( Click on PARKING PLAN)

There are problems with the CSULB  "green" solutions. The neighborhoods and retail surrounding CSULB offer "free" parking.  That free parking coupled with the free bus rides has just shifted the CSULB parking problems to the residential neighborhoods and business parking lots. 

While like the LB Airport, CSULB is not in the 4th District, it too impacts the 4th District negatively.  Fourth District  Councilman Daryl Supernaw has attended the CSULB Parking Committee meetings to try and address the issues facing those impacted by the CSULB parking problems. 

Earlier this year Councilman Supernaw had a guest speaker from CSULB at his Los Altos  monthly meeting. Residents brought up the continued parking problems related to CSULB.  At that time they were told that CSULB is working on satellite parking to alleviate the parking situation.  This year's four day Greek Orthodox Church parking appears to be a step in that direction.

Recently, Councilman Supernaw's office arranged to have CSULB representatives at the EASBA meeting to discuss this semesters new CSULB Shuttle route down Anaheim Street. 

For more information on the CSULB Anaheim St Area route click on Supernaw's newsletter here: SUPERNAW  .

Los Altos Chronic Taco being evicted

It began in early July with the Los Altos Chronic Taco workers being  let go and a note on the door that the space would was temporarily closed for renovations.

That note soon disappeared as the space was cleared out of all the fixtures.  

Then a court document dated July 27th was taped to the front door stating that the franchise owners have been given notice of being sued by the shopping center for eviction.

Two other Chronic Tacos owned by a different franchisee are in Long Beach.

For background information click on CHRONIC TACO

Los Altos National Night Out Tuesday

The 33rd National Night Out means more to Los Altos this year

For 32 years, National Night Out has been the chance for communities to get to know their local police department, learn about local crime, and get information on drug and violence prevention in a fun family atmosphere.  

This year, Los Altos residents are being given the chance to take the annual community event one step further, by  getting involved in a new neighborhood association. Local residents led by community leader Michele K (Michele Kreinheder), will be asking residents who show up to the Los Altos National Night Out meet-up at Whaley Park if they want to get involved in planning neighborhood activities.

Even if you have no time for a new local neighborhood association, residents are invited to show up to Whaley Park North at 6:30 pm on Tuesday August 2nd. Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs, Michele K will be bringing cupcakes to share- as a recent post from Michele states "it doesn't take much to make a party" so everyone is free to come with or without something to share.

Los Altos builder Llyod Whaley

Los Altos was a planned community that once had  strong business and civic associations.  The annual Los Altos Easter Parade and Christmas display around Whaley Park North were both big community draws.

The Los Altos Charitable Giving Fund is working to bring back an updated Whaley Park Christmas display, and Councilman Supernaw has announced his office  has begun working toward creating new local business associations.

National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the nonprofit crime prevention National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984. The first National Night Out was introduced early in 1984 - with 400 communities in 23 states participating in National Night Out

The new program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin who decided  that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally.

At that time,  a typical ‘crime watch community’ had only 5 to 7% of the residents participating actively. The goal for the National Night Out program was to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. Peskin wanted a program that would involve entire communities at one time.  

Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in the first National Night Out in1984. From that start, the program has grown steadily over the last 33 years.  Today, an estimated 37 million people in 15,449 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide take place in the annual event. 

New Target prices average 15% higher and Where is Chronic Taco?

A 15% price difference...

East Long Beach Tale of Two Target Stores:

Student Convenience  or Student Gouging?

Depending on which way the CSULB dorm students turn from Beach Drive onto Bellflower Blvd. to get to a nearby Target store determines if they are spending more or less money by an average of 15% .

Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods (LACAN) did  a random survey of 37 items from the 4th District Los Altos Target at 2270 N Bellflower Blvd., and the new 3rd District Iron Triangle Target (aka the "Bixby Village Target")  at 5760 E 7th Street in the former Ralph's Market (Bellflower/7th ). The stores are 2 miles apart, 1.5 miles from the CSULB dorms to Los Altos store and 7/10ths of a mile to the Iron Triangle store. The Iron Triangle Target is directly across 7th Street from the VA Hospital.

The "Iron Triangle" is the nickname for the area where the intersections of Bellflower Blvd., PCH. and  7th Street all converge.  The official name of the shopping center located on the southwest corner is Bixby Village Plaza.

Out of the 37 random items surveyed by LACAN at the two East Long Beach Targets, 28 (76%) had higher prices at the Iron Triangle Target ( see price comparisons below).  Our list started with 50 items, but the much smaller Iron Triangle Target did not have all the items on our original list.

The difference in the regular prices of the 28 items that were more expensive at the smaller Iron Triangle Target ranged from 2% higher (hot dog buns) to 49% higher (Target brand plastic forks).  The combined price average for the 28 items was 15% higher overall at the Iron Triangle Target.

LACAN spoke with Target Iron Triangle Store Manager Jeremiah Santos on Wednesday  July 13th. Mr. Santos acknowledged that the pricing difference exists. Santos stated that there are only about 15 Targets with similar pricing formats nationwide. He stated that most of the similar Targets were in isolated areas where the different pricing would make sense. Santos stated he has had conversations with the corporation that the area's shoppers were aware of the pricing differences because of the other Long Beach and Seal Beach Target stores being so close.

Santos stated that the convenience for CSULB students being able to walk to the store was an original factor in the pricing strategy.

The management company for the Bixby Village Plaza where the Target is located is Westar Management. The Westar website for the Bixby Village Plaza center gives this information about the "Bixby Target":

This new Target is still your favorite neighborhood store – but the “Bixby Target” features Target’s new, flexible format branding. About a fifth of the size of the traditional big-box Target store, this store features a convenient layout – complete with grab-n-go food items, products catered to the specific Long Beach neighborhood around it, and more. 

Click on: BIXBY VILLAGE

The "specific Long Beach neighborhood around it"  that the products are "catered" for includes: CSULB; the Veterans Hospital; two Bixby Village apartment complexes; Bixby Rivera condos; Alamitos Heights; and the neighborhood affectionately known as "The Hole". 

In addition to the pricing, the selection at the smaller Iron Triangle Target "flexible format"  was just that-smaller.  As an example, the Los Altos Target had different types (national and brand name) and  sizes of laundry bleach. The Iron Triangle Target carried just the Target brand in one size-2 quarts. The exact same bleach at the Los Altos Target was 5% less expensive ($1.82 vs  $1.92).  

At the Iron Triangle Target the only single paper towel roll available is the Target brand at $1.12.  The Los Altos Target carries single Brawny paper towel rolls for $1.02 and the Target brand roll for .99. That means the national brand  at Los Altos is  less 9% less than the Target brand at the Iron Triangle. The same Target Brand single roll paper towels at Los Altos is 12% less than at the Iron Triangle Target.

Eight items (22%) on our survey were priced the same at both stores-five of those were food staples-milk, eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, and Doritos chips. The other items with the same price were national brands of toothpaste, trash bags and printer paper.

Only one of the randomly selected items was less expensive at the Iron Triangle Target than the Los Altos Target, Folgers Regular 1 lb Coffee. Los Altos priced it at $9.59, or 10% higher than the Iron Triangle Target price at $8.59.

The smaller Iron Triangle Target is less busy, especially in the summer with CSULB students mostly gone and features a big self-checkout space.  The other major differences  are the Iron Triangle Target does not sell alcohol or have a pharmacy, while the Los Altos Target has both. 

Originally. Target's smaller version convenience store models, or " flexible format branding" were called TargetExpress and CityTarget.  The new Long Beach Iron Triangle was being planned as a "TargetExpress" just as the Target Corporation decided to do away with the multiple Target monikers ( including the large Super Target and Greatland Target brands)  citing consumer confusion in the various branding.  The change for all stores nation-wide to be branded just "Target" began in October 2015.

CLICK ON: New Long Beach Target

Price comparison week of July 11, 2016

ITEM                                                 Los Altos        Triangle               % Difference

Pure Protein Value Pack                    12.19               13.49                          10%

Yoplait Yogurt                                      .59                   .64                             8%

Thomas English Muffins                     2.49                 2.79                           11%

Welches Jelly                                       1.99                 2.12                             6%

Corn Flakes Cereal                             3.07                  3.57                           14%

4 pack Red Bull                                  6.39                 10.49                          32%

Sara Lee Bread loaf                            2.29                   2.49                            8%

Jiffy Peanut Butter                             5.49                   5.79                             5%

Bag of Apples                                     3.49                   3.99                          12%

Ball Park Franks                                 3.19                   3.42                            7%

Ball Park Buns                                    2.49                   2.54                            2%

Heinz Ketchup                                    2.94                   3.12                            6%

Barilla  Spaghetti                               1.12                   1.49                            25%

Ragu Sauce                                        1.99                  2.12                              6%

Nature Valley Granola                      3.89                   4.49                            13%                   

Target Package cheese                       2.84                   2.99                             5%                  

Bumble Bee Tuna Fish                      2.52                   2.57                            2%

Red Barron Pizza                               3.12                   3.79                            11%

_______________________________________________________________                 

Charmin "8=36 rolls"                           9.99                13.99                            29%

Target Plastic Forks (48)                     1.72                   3.39                            49%

HP #60 Printer Ink                             16.99                18.99                            15%

Hanes 6pk Socks                                13.99               16.99                             18%

Irish Spring 2 pack soap                       2.22                  3.99                            43%

Right Guard Deodorant                        3.52                  4.19                            16%

Arm and Hammer Laundry Soap         5.99                  6.99                            14% 

Target Bleach 2 qt                                1.82                  1.92                              5%

Target Single roll paper towel                .99                  1.12                            12%

Target Paper Plates                               4.39                  6.99                             31%

                                                            (for 200 pk)    (for 105 pk)*

*Target 200 package not carried

                                                           

SAME PRICED FOOD ITEMS

Alta Dena Milk  1 gal             4.19

1 dz Target eggs                     3.19

1 head of lettuce                     1.49

1 tomato                                   .99

Doritos                                    3.99

SAME PRICE OTHER ITEMS

Crest Tarter Control               2.79

HP Printer paper                     7.17

Glad 60 ct trash bags              11.99

One Item was less expensive at Target Iron Triangle

Folgers 1 lb  coffee

Los Altos= 9.59         

Iron Triangle=8.59

10% less

Los Altos Target  Protien bars $12.19

Iron Triangle Target Protien Bars $13.49

Hasta Luego for Los Altos Chronic Tacos?

Two weeks ago the Los Altos Chronic Taco was closed with a sign stating that the site was "TEMORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION". 

Now that sign is gone and the space has been cleared out of all the inside fixtures except the counter.

Unconfirmed reports from neighbors who have spoken with former workers at the Los Altos site state that the manager told the workers they were closing because of lease issues.

The site does have a beer and wine license which in itself is a valuable asset. Whether it is permanently closed or will be remodeled is something that the neighborhood will be monitoring.

Los Altos Bike Parade is ON!!!

Los Altos Neighborhood 4th of July Bike Parade is ON!!!

The many years tradition of  the Los Altos Neighborhood 4th of July Bike Parade will continue this year.

After some confusion if the tradition would continue when long-time parade organizer Simon Stone posted to social media that due to an injury he was unable to organize this year's parade, others in the neighborhood stepped up.

On July 3rd, this posting was issued on Nextdoor to it's Abbeyfield neighborhood:

Stephanie Pretty, Los Altos-Abbeyfield

Hello neighbors! Simon and his family are taking a well-deserved break from planning this year's event, but we will still carry on the tradition! Please join us at 9am at Abbeyfield & Atherton tomorrow and spread the word! See you on the 4th!

The folksy bike/scooter/skateboard/baby carriage  parade has traditionally been lead by the Stone's vintage Ford Mustang blaring out patriotic music with neighborhood children and adults riding, pushing and scooting along behind with patriotic decorated modes of transportation.

So spread the news Paul Revere style... "The Bikes are Coming, the Bikes are Coming!!"

Meet at 9am at Abbeyfield and Atherton.

 Click here for map PARADE START

The Great Los Altos Bike, Scooter and Unicycle Parade
Posted by Daryl Supernaw on Saturday, July 4, 2015