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Re: NICE GUY FINISHES, AT LAST | The District Weekly

current journo — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:54:16 -0000

The PT is not suffering because of it's union or internal politics, it's mostly because of the continual staff cuts and resource redirection. The company that bought this paper (and now owns the Breeze) doesn't invest in it's "local voice," just the opposite.
The paper doesn't benefit from any profit it ever generates (including the sale of its landmark building), it all ends up in Denver and Media News executives' pockets.
The few peons (aka reporters, photogs and production staff) that are hanging on are there because they care about the city and serving the readers. They're still there attempting to resuscitate what's left a formerly great paper.

Re: HERE UNTIL THE CRANE COMES | The District Weekly

current journo — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:15:12 -0000

What the city is doing to Shades of Afrika is offensive!
Unfortunately it's happening to a lot of small businesses in the downtown area. The battle to save Acres of Books has waged on for some time now, what happens next is anyone's guess.
The worst thing about it is that, in the name of economic health, they're removing and destroying the culture and character of this city.
Once it's all homogenized why would a bunch of tourists come here, they can certainly find McCities closer to home.
As for the benefit to the residents...
"Victoria Ballesteros, a Long Beach Redevelopment Agency communications officer, says residents need to look at the big picture when dealing with Long Beach’s changing scenery. Things such as new sidewalks and parks and tearing down blighted property to make way for affordable housing..."
I'd like to Ms, Ballesteros exactly where this affordable housing is, because most of the college-educated hard-working people I know can't afford the million dollar condos they've been building downtown.

Re: LONG BEACH LOSES ITS DAILY NEWSPAPER AS TORRANCE PUBLISHER TAKES OVER PRESS-TELEGRAM | The District Weekly

current journo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:32:18 -0000

Just to clarify: The mass exodus has been going on for a little while now. The consolidation and threats of layoffs hanging over our heads is what's motivating all the "voluntary resignations." Counting back about a year at least eleven other employees (who liked working at the PT and would not have otherwise left so soon) also left the newsroom for other "employment opportunities"-including a couple of editors. Two others (who also loved working at the paper) were laid off last summer when the library was dismantled. (though the official word was that one of them retired).
It's a sad day when the company looks at all these hard-working dedicated employees only as a liability.

Re: WAR ON BOOKS

current journo — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:31:18 -0000

This city needs more resources invested in libraries and literacy, not less.
The building is what's wrong with the Main Library, it's a mess; it was badly designed and poorly maintained. But we do need a library downtown. Most of the branches are small, understaffed and under stocked and the idea is now to further strain this already overburdened system? This makes no sense.
What amazes me the most is that this city still wants to pretend to care about literacy and education, i.e. the annual 'Long Beach Reads One Book' and Smithsonian Week.
First they’re running Acres of Books out of town and now they don't see the value of a downtown library?
What will they recommend next, burning books to keep warm this winter?

Re: WAR ON BOOKS

current journo — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:51:49 -0000

If ignorance is bliss there must be some really happy people posting here...

Re: MAYOR ON LOOKOUT FOR CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST IN BELMONT SHORE BOND | The District Weekly

current journo — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:02:12 -0000

No wonder the city has no money for libraries and to build a new courthouse, they're too busy loaning it to or spending it on a few well-heeled and well-connected residents.

Re: PAIN IN THE ASPHALT | The District Weekly

current journo — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:55:58 -0000

Oh I see, the city of LB doesn't have enough money to keep libraries open (WAR ON BOOKS, Chris Ziegler, Fri. July 25, "FIRST ACRES, NOW MAIN LIBRARY READY FOR CLOSURE...") and properly stocked, but there's money to subsidize some of our wealthiest residents' pet projects? That makes so much sense...

Re: SOMETIMES, BEING A BITCH IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET LONG BEACH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO BUDGE

current journo — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:36:35 -0000

Way to go Traci Wilson-Kleekamp (and Diana Bosetti). We need to shine all the light we can on local government and their all too often self-serving actions.

"God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board."
- Mark Twain

Re: AFTER TWO YEARS WITHOUT CONTRACT, PRESS-TELEGRAM NEWS TEAM HAS REACHED A DEAL

current journo — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:49:26 -0000

just an FYI reminder: There are no designers left at the Press-Telegram, the production department was dismantled last year (early March). There were several laid off and some transferred to the Daily Breeze in Torrance. The design of the paper has been done from the Torrance office since March 6, 2008.

Re: POORISM

current journo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:07:11 -0000

The problems in this city reach a lot further than some of the residents not speaking English (as an earlier comment suggested).
The city doesn't invest in youth development programs; they're always cutting funding for schools and after-school programs. Libraries and community centers are underfunded and constantly "on the block" for cuts as well.
Someone mentioned learning new skills ... well let's see, the state is again cutting millions from the community college and university systems which are then forced to cancel classes and turn students (potentially thousands) away. So then where then do people go to acquire these skills?
If we don't invest in our future, what kind of jobs should we expect to be available here for our residents?

Re: POORISM

current journo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:15:08 -0000

Here, here...what's wrong with a decent wage? All of the people commenting here seem to think THEY deserve it, why not everyone that gives an honest day's work? Besides, why should hotel owners be allowed to exploit desperate people at the taxpayers expense?

Re: POORISM

current journo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:36:37 -0000

"Long Beach is set up to attract those people. Other cities are not."
Really? So I guess that means Long Beach should be the only one in California with poverty, guess what? It's not.
We're in a terrible economy and there are even people with college degrees taking
$10 hr jobs, so let's rethink the generalizations and stereotypes here. We need to stop playing the NIMBY game, we're all affected by the declining quality of life in a large portion of our city.

"Pay is based on how unique the skill set is and how hard that skill set is to find/hire"
Let's try to use this yardstick to measure most high-profile entertainment, sports and politico jobs and see how accurate it is.

Re: PRESS-TELEGRAM PUBLISHER GIVES NOTICE

current journo — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:43:52 -0000

There aren't any new hires. In fact the newest "hire" was laid off last fall after about 6 months at the paper. There are stories from other "sister" papers, including the Breeze, being run in the PT. For some time, company policy has been to label all Medianews-employed writers as "staff writers" regardless of their "home" newspaper.
The PT has some summer interns again this year so you'll be seeing a few more names, most definitely not new hires. The paper is still cutting costs, in that vein they're giving up their 14th floor newsroom and relocating all the remaining reporters (and other staff) to the much smaller first floor space.

Re: PRESS-TELEGRAM PUBLISHER GIVES NOTICE

current journo — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:31:30 -0000

More updates on the PT and its future...
The word is they're looking for cheaper digs. They apparently haven't ruled out leaving Long Beach all together. They've announced the goal to be out of the ARCO Towers by the end of 2009. In the meantime they're also kicking out the credit union and taking over their office to house personnel from the 14th floor.
For details: http://lbguild9400.blogspot.com/

Re: BETWEEN GOODWILL AND THE TRASH

current journo — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:48:23 -0000

Glad you guys did this article; I have never heard of this place before but as an artist and crafter I can't wait to go check them out.
I'm also telling friends, who often create with (and re-purpose) recycled items, about this wonderful resource.