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4:30pm | Candidates in the upcoming election for the open 7th District City Council seat met last night at the Puka Bar on Willow Street to discuss local issues in a debate moderated by members of the Long Beach Press Club.

The debate was the first of many held by the Press Club, a local organization of Long Beach journalists and writers. Monday evening’s event was moderated by Press-Telegram reporter Paul Eakins. The club will host a debate between opponents each week (click here for the full schedule) until the elections in April.

Termed-out incumbent Tonia Reyes Uranga met challengers Jill Hill, James Johnson and Jack Smith to tackle issues such as pollution, lobbyists and affordable housing.

Having already served two terms, Reyes Uranga is mounting a write-in campaign and took time to explain the proper process to those in attendance.

Both Hill and Smith painted themselves as independent voices that won’t be influenced by special interests but rely on years of experience in the community and local government – Hill as president of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Association and as a consultant with Long Beach Environmental Services Bureay, and Smith as a co-founder of Better Balance For Long Beach and a former member of the Long Beach Housing Development Company.

A current Assistant City Auditor, Johnson stressed financial expertise and long-term sustainability in difficult economic times.

The first question from local journalists was about the perceived Gang Of Five (or Six, including the Mayor) that unites on certain issues and whether the candidates would join. This gave each candidate an opportunity to stress their independence.

“I haven’t caved in yet, and I won’t cave in ever,” said Smith. “I never follow the sheep,” said Hill.

The candidates were mostly in agreement again on the next issue, to a certain degree. The topic was whether the City Manager was right recently not to bring a grant application before the City Council that would have provided funding for police because the city would have been on the hook to continue paying once the grant ran out. All candidates except Hill said the issue should have come before the Council, while Hill said that the City Manager was looking long term and made a decision that was within his right. All candidates said that they would have voted to apply for the grant, with Smith, Johnson and Hill stressing that their approval hinged on long-term financial feasibility.

An important local issue in the 7th District centers around stalled efforts to develop a much-needed sports park. Councilwoman Uranga stressed frustration that she was not consulted when the land was recently included in a swap for the City to acquire wetlands-property and said the issue should have been brought to the community. Hill disagreed and said the land should have been part of the swap (it never materialized). “It’s not going to be developed anytime soon,” Hill said. “We don’t have the money. It’s just not going to happen.”

Johnson wondered whether the park couldn’t be built incrementally as funds come available. “We cant let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” he said. A longtime proponent of the park, Smith echoed Uranga’s statement that the issue should have been brought back to the community.

On the issue of pollution caused by nearby goods movement at the Port of Long Beach and other local railyards, all candidates agreed that they are not in favor of further loading facility expansions, although Councilwoman Uranga pointed out that the City does not control such decisions. The BNSF Railyard is operated by the Port of Los Angeles and the Union Pacific facility is under control of the Join Powers Authority (which includes two Long Beach representatives but does not answer to the Council). All stressed more environmentally-friendly practices.


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