The Long Beach Single Use Bag Ordinance is scheduled to come before City Council next week Tuesday, May 17 5:00 pm and we need your help!

1. Can you help spread the word by calling our local members? If so contact Bill Hickman (bhickman@surfrider.org)

2. Attend the Meeting Tuesday, May 17 5:00 pm and show your support.

3. Contact your district Representative — More Details after the jump.

The City of Long Beach spends millions of dollars every year and countless staff and volunteer hours, cleaning up marine debris that includes a great deal of plastic bags. Not to mention the lost revenue associated with some people’s perception of the City’s beaches and shoreline, which affects our economic development, recreation and tourism. This is local funding and hard work that could be better used.

There is also an untold environmental cost. Plastic bags are a drain on our fossil fuels and threaten our marine environment in Long Beaches harbor and the Catalina Channel. Our reliance on plastics is changing our natural environment in profound ways, eliminating important creatures in our food chain and polluting a major life-sustaining source for generations to come.

Given the challenges facing statewide legislation, LA County’s EIR and model ordinance provide Long Beach with an opportunity to distinguish itself once again, as a leader in the effort to eliminate marine debris, divert trash from our landfills and be a responsible custodian of our own watershed. To view the proposed ordinance and for more information click here.

How You Can Help:

1. Email and/or call your local Long Beach City Council Member with the following message, or better yet, personalize your own:

“Hello Councilmember ___________
I support the single-use bag ordinance for Long Beach as proposed. The ordinance is well written and very similar to the one adopted by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors late last year. LA County has set the standard for the best single-use bag ordinance in California and I am confident that when you review all of the information you will agree this is good for Long Beach.

Plastic pollution and marine debris are global issues that we need to address locally and this ordinance is a great step in the right direction. Plastic bags are a drain on our fossil fuels and threaten our marine environment in Long Beach’s harbor and the Catalina Channel.

In addition to helping protect coastal and marine environments this ordinance can help save money for the City of Long Beach with decreased maintenance costs and capital projects that try to catch litter before it becomes marine debris. Business can save money or pass the savings on to customers since they won’t need to purchase plastic bags and paper bags will have a 10 cent fee. It’s an equal playing field for businesses and consumers win when we bring our reusable bags.

Thank you,

Name and address”

To find your Long Beach City Councilmember and their contact info please visit: www.longbeach.gov/council

2. Attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday May 17th , starts at 5pm. Council Chambers are located at 333 West Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.
It looks like this will be the first agenda item, you can check on the final status as it gets closer:
http://longbeach.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
There is typically a public comment period where you can take up to 3 minutes to speak about reasons you support this ordinance.

3. Spread the word to your family and friends about contacting their Councilmember and attending the City Council meeting on May 17th.

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Join Long Beach Surfrider in some fun this month with movies, paddling, and pizza. Check out the flyer below to get the dates and times. Hope to see you there!

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Is it possible to live completely waste free? Jen and Grant had a simple competition to see who could produce the least amount of garbage. Their goal was to reduce personal waste, and tackle some pretty serious issues, but also to show people that being “environmentally friendly” was easy and even fun. They didn’t make it to zero, but made it pretty darn close — just about 4 pounds each in 12 months — that’s about the size of your bathroom garbage can and a heck of a lot less than the national average of 750 pounds! The story is the subject of a comedic documentary called The Clean Bin Project. Check out the trailer below and join them at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The Clean Bin Project 3:00pm on Tues May 3rd: Tickets Here.

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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The Long Beach Single Use Bag Ordinance is scheduled to come before City Council on Tuesday, May 17 and we need your help!

The City of Long Beach spends millions of dollars every year and countless staff and volunteer hours, cleaning up marine debris that includes a great deal of plastic bags. Not to mention the lost revenue associated with some people’s perception of the City’s beaches and shoreline, which affects our economic development, recreation and tourism. This is local funding and hard work that could be better used.

There is also an untold environmental cost. Plastic bags are a drain on our fossil fuels and threaten our marine environment in Long Beaches harbor and the Catalina Channel. Our reliance on plastics is changing our natural environment in profound ways, eliminating important creatures in our food chain and polluting a major life-sustaining source for generations to come.

Given the challenges facing statewide legislation, LA County’s EIR and model ordinance provide Long Beach with an opportunity to distinguish itself once again, as a leader in the effort to eliminate marine debris, divert trash from our landfills and be a responsible custodian of our own watershed. To view the proposed ordinance and for more information click here.

How You Can Help:

1. Email and/or call your local Long Beach City Council Member with the following message, or better yet, personalize your own:

“Hello Councilmember ___________
I support the single-use bag ordinance for Long Beach as proposed. The ordinance is well written and very similar to the one adopted by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors late last year. LA County has set the standard for the best single-use bag ordinance in California and I am confident that when you review all of the information you will agree this is good for Long Beach.

Plastic pollution and marine debris are global issues that we need to address locally and this ordinance is a great step in the right direction. Plastic bags are a drain on our fossil fuels and threaten our marine environment in Long Beach’s harbor and the Catalina Channel.

In addition to helping protect coastal and marine environments this ordinance can help save money for the City of Long Beach with decreased maintenance costs and capital projects that try to catch litter before it becomes marine debris. Business can save money or pass the savings on to customers since they won’t need to purchase plastic bags and paper bags will have a 10 cent fee. It’s an equal playing field for businesses and consumers win when we bring our reusable bags.

Thank you,

Name and address”

To find your Long Beach City Councilmember and their contact info please visit: www.longbeach.gov/council

2. Attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday May 17th , starts at 5pm. Council Chambers are located at 333 West Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.
Simply show up to express your support. There will likely be a short time to address the City council as a whole if you would like to speak.

3. Spread the word to your family and friends about contacting their Councilmember and attending the City Council meeting on May 17th.

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
Subscirbe to chapter feed…

This year’s chapter general election will be held on Monday June 6, at 7pm at Ecco’s Pizza (2123 N Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA, 90815).  There are 5 open positions in the executive committee (EC).  We really need your help and want new blood in the group.  Joining the EC is a great way to get actively involved in Surfrider and your community.  Here are the qualifications to be a nominee for an EC member for the 2011-2013 term:

• Must be a current Surfrider member.
• Must have participated in at least 3 Surfrider events in the past year, one of which was a Long Beach Chapter EC meeting.  This requirement is so that you know what you’re getting into.
• Must be available to participate in the EC meetings, held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM in Long Beach.

If you want to join the Long Beach Chapter Executive Committee, send your name to Emiko by June 3.  To simplify the paperwork on our end, there will be no last minute write-ins on the ballot.  For Surfrider members, we will have food and drinks so come by to vote, and mingle with the fellow Surfrider members!

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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We need your help in securing federal funding for the breakwater feasibility study.  The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, is making recommendations for funding in the fiscal year 2011 work plan.  It is critical for us to get the breakwater project on the work plan so that the feasibility study can move forward. 

Please write her a support letter that this is an important project for you.  (see sample letter below).  Also, we are using this opportunity to write to Colonel Mark Toy who is the LA District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers to show our local support for the breakwater project. (see Sample letter further below).  Time is limited, so act now! Click the link to open your email client, copy and paste our message below or use your own. Thanks!

Copy this letter and Email to Assistant Secretary Darcy (ASACWPOC@conus.arm.mil):

Date:

The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works

108 Army Pentagon

Washington DC 20310-0108

Assistant Secretary Darcy:

It is an honor to write you regarding the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project, also known as the Long Beach Breakwater Study.

The study will examine the potential reconfiguration of the Federal Breakwater in the City of Long Beach.  I am writing to respectfully request that this study be included in your recommendations for funding in the FY11 Workplan.  This study is vitally important to the environmental health and economy of our region, and has the support of the full Long Beach City Council, regional leaders and the community.

The City of Long Beach has entered into a partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake the feasibility study.  This project has the potential for ecosystem restoration, improved water quality and increased recreation

Your consideration of this feasibility study into your recommendations for funding is greatly appreciated by all stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Mailing address

Copy this letter and Email to Colonel Mark Toy (jeanne.h.imamura@usace.army.mil):

Date:

Colonel Mark Toy
Los Angeles District Commander
United States Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 532711
Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325

Colonel Toy:

Thank you for your past support of the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project, also known as the Long Beach Breakwater Study.

I am writing to respectfully request that the feasibility portion of the study be included in the Army Corps of Engineers’ fiscal year 2011 Workplan. This study is vitally important to the environmental health and economy of our region, and has the support of the full Long Beach City Council, regional leaders and the community.

As you are aware, the City of Long Beach has entered into a partnership with the Army Corps to undertake the feasibility study. This effort has the potential to improve water quality, increase recreation, and provide an economic boost to the region.

Your consideration of inclusion of the Breakwater Feasibility Study into the Army Corps of Engineers workplan is greatly appreciated by all stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your Mailing address

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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A good report on a couple of Long Beaches Councilmen helping Long Beach get funds for cleaning up our water and a quick recap of the Feasibility Study.

“Councilmen Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong are back in Washington this week lobbying for funds to help clean up the Colorado Lagoon and continue breakwater restoration efforts.

DeLong and Garcia made a similar trip in February 2010, gaining an agreement with the feds to help fund an $8 million study on the impact of altering the 2.5-mile rock seawall.”

Read the full article at presstelegram.com

My personal favorite excerpt:

“The Corps noted in a preliminary report that the harbor remains a cesspool of stagnant, polluted water unsuitable for many types of marine life — and possibly humans.”

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Long Beach City Council member Suja Lowenthal’s speaks on the costs of plastic pollution. After watching this can you still use plastic bags?

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Long Beach Chapter General Meeting

7PM, Monday, February 7th, Ecco’s Pizza on 2123 N Bellflower Blvd. in Long Beach, CA, 90815

This meeting is free to the public.  We will give a short introduction about what Surfrider is and what we do followed by our guest speaker, Long Beach City Councilman Patrick O’Donnell.  He will be speaking about the City and Army Corps efforts in the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study (otherwise known as the “Waves in Long Beach Study”).  Enjoy the pizza and get your update on the breakwater study.  For more information call 562-252-6173.

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Long Beach Councilwoman Schipske will be having a town hall meeting to discuss the City of Long Beach Plastic Bag Ban on Saturday, January 29th @10am- Water Treatment Plant~ 2950 Redondo Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806. All are welcome.

Rumor has it that the Save the Plastic Bag click here coalition (our plastic producers) will have their lobbyists and teams here in Long Beach as we try to pass this ban. Let’s be there to let them hear Long Beach’s real voice!
Read the research and information of Long Beach’s Algalita Marine Research Foundation click here and the Surfrider Foundation click here and make up your own mind!
Hope you can come out Saturday and let your voice be heard and help us Rise Above Plastics!

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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It was another beautiful day in Long Beach for the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem signing ceremony (aka — Waves in Long Beach Breakwater Study).   This signing is the official agreement between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Long Beach to conduct a feasibility study of the East San Pedro Bay. Pictures are of Mayor Bob Foster, Colonel Mark Toy of the Army Corps, Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell and some familiar Long Beach Surfrider Chapter members.  Thanks to all who made it to the event!

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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Now is the perfect time to get your holiday cards, and when you buy them with us the Long Beach Chapter will receive 30% of the proceeds from each sale.  This is an easy way to support the chapter by simply doing what you do every year.  There are plenty of stock cards to choose from or create your own in a few simple steps with your own holiday messages and pictures.  Get creative and head over to www.surfriderholidaycards.com.

I’ve included some images in a gallery below if you’d like to create a Surfrider Holiday card with photos taken by our members.  Simply click on the one you like to get the full size photo for upload.  If you have any questions leave a comment below.

Thank you for your continued support and have for a wonderful holiday season!

Thanks to the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider!
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