Running In Flip Flops » Long Beach

New Project: Fix the Fifth

Russ Turley — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:31:46 +0000

One of the new projects that I’m going to be working on in my spare time is Fix the Fifth. We live in Long Beach’s Fifth district, domain of Council Woman Gerrie Schipske. While I don’t have any particular beef with the Ms. Schipske, I have noticed that some things are going un-fixed in our district while other projects around the city get done. Streets are fixed when no real problem exists with them. Sidewalks that are perfectly serviceable in the shore are replaced, meanwhile the sidewalk in front of the neighbor’s house is so badly uprooted that my children are afraid to ride over it for fear they will fall. I’ll spare you the rest of the list, mostly because it’s not complete yet. So, Fix the Fifth will be a place to catalog and store all that is wrong with the fifth district.

If you live in the Fifth District, and you have a problem, here are the steps you can take to help:

Take a photo, with embedded GPS location if available (ie iPhone, Android phone, Palm Pre, etc.)
Send it along with the address or location you took the photo to problem@fixthefifth.com

That’s it.

I’m working on getting the site that will include an interface that you will be able to upload your photo and it will show up on a Google Map of the Fifth District (a sample is below). You’ll be able to find that at http://www.fixthefifth.com.

View Fifth District in a larger map

Chicken No. 2 – Riding a Scooter

Russ Turley — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:06:05 +0000

Last weekend I bought an electric scooter from a guy in Long Beach for $35. I couldn’t get the money out of my wallet fast enough. The kids love it and even better, Laurie likes it.

Water Rates Increasing

Russ Turley — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:39:44 +0000

I really had no other place to post this little tidbit of news and that’s really what this blog is for.

I live in the city of Long Beach, CA. I received a letter from the Water Department of Long Beach today that they are increasing the water and sewer rates. Bullshit, yes, but even worse was the reason for the rate increases.

Here is exactly what the letter says:

Why are Water and Sewer Rates Increasing?

The core costs of providing water and sewer service are rising in our region at a rate greatly in excess of general inflation. Additionally, the immediate and unavoidable need to reduce consumption of water due to an imminent, prolonged water supply shortage in southern California, has resulted in losses in water sales revenue used to fund core services.

WTF? I have curbed my water usage. My lawn is brown in spots only watering a couple days a week! I get a huge notice in my water bill every month that says “DON’T WASTE WATER” and the byproduct is less money in my pocket.

Thanks City of Long Beach! I’m going to go wash down my driveway.