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Garcia & DeLong Lobby For Long Beach In Washington D.C. by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 02.23.10 |
+ 4:45pm | As part of the Long Beach Federal Legislative Committee’s annual trip to Washington D.C. to meet with political leaders and federal agencies, First District Councilmember Robert Garcia and 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong spent their first full day in the nation’s capital today discussing the Boeing C-17 project, the Long Beach Breakwater and funding for stormwater drains with government leaders. The two committee members met with Congress representatives Linda Sánchez and Dana Rohrabacher – both of whom represent portions of Long Beach – as well as the staff of California Senator Barbara Boxer. They plan to hold similar meetings tomorrow and Thursday. Long Beach Government Affairs Advisor Tom Modica is also present on the trip. “Today was our first full day and it was very productive,” Garcia told the LBPOST.com in a phone conversation this afternoon. DeLong agreed. "You're sharing the best of Long Beach with your Congressional representatives," he said. "It's all good news." In particular, stormwater could be an important topic of discussion over the next few days. The city is asking for about $40 million over the next four years for stormdrain cleanup, with the goal of improving water quality in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers that eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. "I'm optimistic that funding will continue to retrofit our stormdrains," said DeLong, who also noted that Congressmember Rohrabacher reiterated his support for restoration of the Colorado Lagoon. Long Beach is seeking federal support to comply with designations made by the Army Corps of Engineers. “Today has been important,” Garcia said, “Because we’re securing federal dollars for Long Beach.” Garcia also said that he and DeLong have received support for the extension of the Boeing C-17 program and the approximately 5,000 local jobs that exist because of it. Funding for the program was eliminated in the latest round of cuts for the Department of Defense 2010 budget, threatening the local economy if the program were to shut down without government purchases. "The C-17 discussions are positive but the realities are that the government won't make additional purchases until Congress realizes the C-17 is a better plane than the C-5A," said DeLong. "It's one of those political sacred cows that no one wants to kill. The C-17 is a much better plane." One of the most important meetings will take place on Thursday, when Garcia and DeLong will sit down with the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss their ongoing feasibility study for configuring the Long Beach Breakwater. Meetings later in the week will also be held with Congresswoman Laura Richardson and California Senator Dianne Feinstein. For now, both Councilmembers sound optimistic and after making a few similar trips to Washington D.C. by himself in the past, DeLong seems enthusiastic to have a friendly face with him. "These trips are more effective when it's a team," he said. Click here to read our policy on covering the Long Beach City Council.
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16 Comments so far.
Boondoggle Once again our local politicians throw good money after bad. Can we join them on this boondoggle? KCinLB Not at all to say these topics are not extremely important to LB, but does it really take a junket to D.C. to meet with OUR representatives? lbresident May be a boondogle but if that's what it takes to get the money to clean up our waters and beach I'm all for it. I know Mr. Garcia has the right view on reconfiguring the breakwater. I hope Mr. Delong is voicing support as well. We certainly need all the support we can get as Rorbacher has been an opponent of the project. sally Aren't these two both up for reelection? What a coincidence...not. Delong needs to find a new job. 3rd district needs fresh point of views. Fred J I certainly wouldn't classify this trip as a boondoggle. The weather in Washington DC is hardly where two Long Beach Councilmen would choose to go if it were not for the good of our city. We're getting a heck of a lot out of these two representatives for the $15k/year we pay them! Keep up the great work, guys! Kennebreath I've been pretty impressed with Garcia during his tenure as council member. He's been very active fighting for his district and the city as a whole. I was a little hesitant at first due to the Suja connection, but he's been a pleasant surprise. I think he should win reelection, Delong on the other hand I'm not so sure about. Just my two cents. Duke Cullinan This is the post I left for (essentially) the same story on a P/T blog: I cannot believe it (Gary DeLong doing something deliberate and clear-cut regarding fixing the Breakwater)! Garcia, to his credit, has always been firmly on record in support of Breakwater reconfiguration. Of course, as The Wolf said in Pulp Fiction, "Well, let's not start quite yet." This article is just a notice that DeLong is supposedly doing this. We'll see if he did, and most important, if he was effective. Still, I find it heartening that the politicians of Long Beach have finally gotten the message that their constituents *really* want the Breakwater fixed. And that regardless what backroom fatcats are telling them to do, they can no longer resist the public will. Julie Whaley So glad we are out in DC fighting for Long Beach. Let's tear down that Breakwater! I get more impressed with Garcia the more I know. John Greet While I understand that local governments lobbying for federal funds is a long-standing and time-honored tradition and why, I really wish we would all practice much less of this. The Fed (and by extension the States, Counties and Cities) already spends far too much of our money. Because they spend so much of it, they must first collect it from us in the form of taxes. Our taxes are so high because we demand *too much* from our government. If we would lessen our demands upon our government, we could, in turn, rightly lessen the amount we *allow* government to collect from us. If we (individuals and corporations) would but choose to keep more of the money we earn, we could then accomplish far more in and for our respective communities, far less expensively and far more efficiently, than government usually can and does. In a free and civil society, the government cannot possibly be all things to all people and it was never intended to be so. Resident Good to hear news on the progress of reconfiguring the breakwater. Seems like every LB resident wants this done. Reconfiguring the breakwater, bringing back waves, and cleaning up the water is the most important issue to me personally. thomas jefferdaughter sally, kc - members of the federal legislation committee go to DC annually to meet not just with our reps - in DC, where their larger staff is, and where all their colleagues, the support of a majority of whom they need to accomplish anything, are - as well as the members of the appropriations committees, with whom they certainly couldn't meet anywhere else. Maybe you'd rather our elected officials sit on their hands during election years, so we don't think they might be trying to please voters. Hey isnt' there a name for tryiing to please voters? Oh, right - it's called democracy! Belmont Heights When I want to get a business project approved, I have to call directly on my clients. I'm glad we have committed representatives like DeLong and Garcia who understand that and make the effort to fight for us. Sheila Complain, complain, complain. If DeLong and Garcia weren't working to get money for Long Beach someone would complain. It's a perfect example of the critical gridlock this nation is in - nothing pleases everyone so nothing gets done. My opinion, too many people in our country today feel like they have the right to complain without offering alternatives. We need less complainers and more doers. thomasjefferdaughter Mr Greet - keep in mind california gives DC about 167% of what it gets back. Pam DeLong and Garcia are to be commended for going to Washington, DC to state the views of the people of Long Beach. These are the kinds of issues where you need to meet face to face. Apparently, the people opposed have never been in business and don't understand how important and productive meeting people in person can be. Take the breakwater DOWN! MoreInfoPlease Could you write a follow up article to this? I'm interested in what the result was. Thanks.
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LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.
Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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