The District Weekly - Latest Comments in OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:05:55 -0000

Was that before or after you worked at Blockbuster?

If you listen carefully to the beginning of the video, you will hear people in the fight yell "gun." What is the family in the house whose yard you were fighting in supposed to think when they hear 12 - 16 people fighting in their yard all of a sudden start screaming about a gun? What was the lady supposed to tell her two small children?

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:14:25 -0000

Mike,

Let's be real here. I was on the street for this fight. There was no gun. Stop scaring people with bullshit.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Affected — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:18:14 -0000

Well, I have a solution. Have the police shoot someone on 2nd St. and you will see over 50 patrol cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and a helicopter within 10 minutes. PROBLEM SOLVED!
WARNING: This time it was an officer involved shooting, I have watched countless fights and will bet my house that the next one won't involve the police.
Should the residents who pay the most taxes recieve the least services? Apparently!
My second solution is that we, as residents, pull public records for bar owner residences and collectively vomit on their porches and the when we return to the Shore we pee inside their establishments. Occasionally when we see them during DAYLIGHT hours at their bars we yell at them as loud as we can and then just for fun we threaten them with physical violence.

Don't BS the BS residents. I love the comments from everyone not directly affected who have never been awakened by screaming/puking/pissing/fighting bar patrons.
Yes, we were aware that we bought homes near bars but in no way does that entitle patrons to disrespect our property and threaten our peace.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

What's_in_a _name? — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:27:49 -0000

It's easy to do, just hire someone to set it up. From there the system runs itself. You can download footage as needed if something happens and you want to check the recording for it. It works pretty much like your DVR or TIVO.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

HighHat — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:54:47 -0000

I think I've just fallen in love with sunshinelb!

Have you ever thought about running for City Council?

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Dave in Alamitos Beach — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:52:25 -0000

I live on an alley too and have thought about doing this. It might be more techinical than I can handle, and I had assumed I'd show any videos to the police, but maybe Youtube is a better forum in this day and age.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

sunshinelb — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:35:59 -0000

Greet = COP OUT, an idiom meaning to avoid taking responsibility for an action or to avoid fulfilling a duty.

Belmont Shore residents want the city to take action to prevent 2am pissing, fighting, loud obnoxious drunks vomiting up in our neighborhood. We are requesting that the Police Department proceed with a "nuisance abatement action" to correction the situation. "Hoping it can be so" from a cop is pathetic.

The Mayor, Councilman, City Manager, Police Department have REFUSED to help the Belmont Shore Residents Association resolve the problem.

The Belmont Shore Business Association (run by a bar owner) has refused to work with the residents and misuses the Belmont Shore Parking Commission for its own profit.

The Long Beach Police Department has recommended an unlimited number of alcohol permits and 2 am operating hours next to Belmont Shore residential homes then refuses to take responsibility or protect us from the nuisance created and reduction in our quality of life.

Home videos of fighting, peeing, guns, etc. are instead discounted by the police as false requests for service. Is your department going to claim next that concerned residents hired actors to fake the Belmont Shore drunken fights in the videos.

Greet your comment "I believe that the best answer will be one that is multi-facted, multi-disciplinary and highly cooperative. No one City Department can solve it just as no single residents or business organization can do so. The best answer will involve everyone in partnership." is a total COP OUT given the lack of support from either the business community or the city.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

What's_in_a _name? — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:51:11 -0000

Many police officers won't do a report unless you *insist* on it. Once I had my purse stolen on Pine Ave, the officer asked me if I really thought I needed a police report and when I said yes, you could see and hear the officer literally groan about it.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:16:55 -0000

Hail King Greet,

Thank you for looking into each of these. Now I need to request the reports to find out if the city pursued prosecution. I doubt it since I was the victim and was not contacted by the City Prosecutor or District Attorney to be a witness. That’s what happened with vandalism, terrorist threats and battery that occurred four years ago with DR# 05-39115 and DR#05-40468. I was initially contacted by the city prosecutor but then never heard another word from the city.

DR#07-67718 was a burglary I witnessed. I again contacted the police on this matter a week afterwards and was told there was no record of that DR#. You have your inside contacts to check into things unavailable to us schlubs who only do what they are told by the police. It wasn’t only until afterwards when I complained to a friend who contacted a FBI buddy, did I get a call from a Long Beach Detective wanting to hear about the burglary I witnessed. If you don’t believe me, I suggest you talk to the Detective assigned the case. Its been almost two years since the police caught the burglars and released them without filling out a report. According to the Detective, the driver of the get-away van admitted to the crime. Yet, the city chose to not prosecute the burglars because of their huge backlog. That is what I was told a year ago.

The best part about it is that City Prosecutor Reeves had been a guest speaker at the resident’s association meeting that month where he urged residents to get involved with helping the cops keep the community free of crime. So what do I do? I interrupt a burglary in process, chase down the license of the van, and participate in a line up where four tatted-out gang members know who I am and where I live. Retaliation is a distinct possibility. What do I get out of being an involved citizen assisting the police? Nothing. No prosecution of the bad guys. All I did was put myself in harms way for no reason. Thanks for the wonderful advice Mr. Reeves.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:37:49 -0000

Hello FYI,

Police reports do not necessarily occur when crimes occur. In many cases, the police do not fill out a report unless they witness the crime their self.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

FYI — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:08:25 -0000

This datamap is only a snapshot of crimes that occur in the area. It is not the same system that is used by the crime analysts.

It should also be noted that this system does not show "calls for service" where a DR or Police Report was not taken. Police Reports are taken when crimes occur.

Chief Batts discussed the information about this website back in January at his annual meeting.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:49:18 -0000

Greet, quit whining about being insulted. Your condescending tone and repeated, repeated, repeated, civics lessons are more insulting than anything tossed your way. It appears to me you frequently talk down your nose to me. Based upon what I’ve read, others frequently feel the same.

You hold yourself out as being this all wise, all-knowing objective person. Yet in many cases, your opinions are self serving and hypocritical. As an example, I remind you of your recent argument that police union members should have the right to ratify a pay rate contract negotiated by your duly elected negotiating committee. However, the public should not have the same right to vote its approval on the same contract negotiated by our corrupt elected officials. Your argument is not objective. It is clearly self serving.

When you earn my respect, I will gladly accept your advice. Until then, I suggest you waste your energy granting advice on someone else. You’ve got the first four DR#s. I’ll dig up the other three.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

sunshinelb — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:15:49 -0000

FYI No there is a section is provided for alcohol, drugs and disorder on http://www.crimereports.com... Type in Belmont Shore then sort by "Crime Types" Quality of Life: Disorder, Drugs, and Liquor. Either the crimes are not frequent or are such low priority no report is filled out. My point is how does the City know if it has a problem unless they track the extent of the problem. Seems to me that the people living next to the bars have a good idea what is going. The drunk problems must be bad if they are out in the streets at 2:00 am photographing the problems.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

FYI — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:03:45 -0000

There are several types of crimes that are not included on this website. Some of the crimes that are not listed are drunk in public, traffic violations and accidents, narcotics, sexual assualts, child abuse, domestic violence and other family related crimes.

If you notice, the crimes that are listed are auto burglaries, residential burglaries, physical assaults and homicides.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

sunshinelb — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:27:38 -0000

To see which crimes have been reported in Belmont Shore go to http://www.crimereports.com...
Drunks & quality of life appear to have a very low priority. In 30 days I could not find one drunk, drugs, or disorder crime report for the entire City of Long Beach amazing!

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

What's_in_a _name? — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:32:46 -0000

Mike, because I live on an alley, though not in the shore, I looked into security camera systems today. There are really neat systems that are triggered by motion sensor that record to DVD--they can save up to 14 days worth of footage this way. The footage can then be downloaded and sent to youtube. I think the residents should start making more and more videos and posting them. A 24 hour camera system ensures the residents can tape without jeopardizing their own safety--and catch EVERYTHING. I'm sure from there they cleverly and anonymously email the BSresident2009 youtube account with videos to post. It's what I would do next if I were any alley neighboir in the Shore especially if I had a property that neighbored a bar on Second.) It's not very expensive to do.

Videotaping will also have the awesome side effect of documenting what LBPD does in response when citizens report a crime!

In addition I think as many obvious personal identifying features of the individuals involved should be posted online to some kind of blog.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:03:14 -0000

At today's Belmont Shore Business Association meeting, Officer Covarubias was asked about these recent videos posted in the District Weekly. Officer Covarubias claimed to be unaware of any calls made to the police, implying that none had been made. Furthermore, Officer Covarubias claimed residents making "fake" gun calls was becoming a problem. I wonder if Officer Covarubias, like Officer Hunt admitted at the BSRA meeting, is also ASSUMING residents are faking calls for service or whether she indeed knows that for a fact. Either way, I find it astonishing the police are now telling the Business Association that residents are a problem because they make fake calls for service? Nothing like the police pitting the residents and the businesses against one another.

Oh and by the way, Officer Covarubias did report that four 2nd street businesses had been burglarized in the past couple weeks. Gene Rotono's Legends bar was one of the burglaries. This could be a positive. Maybe Belmont Shore can get more police at night now that Councilman DeLong's 2nd street business buddies are feeling the impact of having no police at night.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:33:33 -0000

I just dug up three of the six DR#s I gave to Commander Quach. The fourth occurred since then but also has no report on file according to the police person I spoke with. In each case, cops gave me a form when they arrived at the scene. The form has the DR# written on it and is called "Application for release of traffic collision and/or/incident information"

DR# 010081169, Officer M. Gjersvold
DR# 04-40586, Officer S. Miller
DR# 050040468, Officer T. Cummings
DR# 07-88314, Oficer E. Fernandez

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:03:19 -0000

Mr. Greet,

You are full of it. I have several DR#s where I was the victim and there was no police report filed. In fact, I have the report forms the cops gave me with their names on it. Three were by the same cop. I gave copies of those 6 DR#s to Commander Quach and never heard back from him.

In each case, I called in weeks after the DR# was given to me to find out the progress on the investigation. In EACH case, I was told the police had no record of the DR# I provided which was given to me by the police. You can talk all you want about how it should be. However, that is not what really happens in Long Beach.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

sunshine — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:52:10 -0000

I stand by my use of "complicity". Alcohol licenses are controlled for good reason and the Long Beach Police Department recommended permits and conditions of approval that were clearly inadequate to prevent the nuisances and drunkenness that is Belmont Shore 2nd street.

The City, Mayor, Councilman and Police Department ignored the concerns of residents approved the permits and continue to refuse to acknowledge the problem or provide increase policing.

Your comment that "When such establishments themselves become nuisances or consistently operate in violation of these laws, then LBPD is right there with everyone else in supporting efforts to have abused licenses pulled and offending businesses closed.", are you suggesting that Legends, Belmont Station, AI, and Shannon's be closed? I am sure that residents can draft a petition which will help Long Beach Police will shut these drunken dives down.

Why don't you do something to improve the problem ? Greet step up and help us residents instead of writing long windy posts on how government should operate. You seem to think you have a lot of expertise in police matters, or are you too busy writing PR for Bates or the Chamber of Commerce.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Guest — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:45:30 -0000

i encourage everyone to call chief batts office and let him know youre not happy with his surrogate, officer greet. ask the chief if he stands behind greet's words regarding the situation in belmont shores.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

wrongbeachJohn — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:20:05 -0000

The internet spokesman for LBPD Chief Batt's states that Belmont Shore residents don't need, require or deserve police patrols on the "drinking district". Let's all thank Mr. greet for clarifying the issue and passing on the Chief's position.

What now Mr. greet, aside from videotaping and citizen patrols? Should those who walk 2nd St after 9pm apply for CCW permits? Should we buy pitbulls to take with us on our walks? How about the LBPD handing out free pepper spray to BS residents?

Say what you will about the Sheriffs, but they would never allow this activity to take place; if nothing else but as a matter of pride they'd be down there swiftly and forcefully taking care of business. Bewilderingly, you seem to think it's no big deal that lawbreakers take over an upscale neighborhood.

Was the LBPD your second try after the Sheriff's blew you out?

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Guest — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:11:59 -0000

endless EXCUSES.

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

sunshinelb — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:46:58 -0000

shoremeup:When you opened your dive bar or became a drunk apologist you should have know that there were Belmont Shore families, homeowners, children, elderly, and other respectable citizens living, sleeping and doing something else other than peeing/vomitting/fighting/passed/DUIing on
residential streets. Your comment "You had to have known that there were bars in the area when you moved in." is false logic....Gee see how you whine that we will not accept this behavior on our front yard? Bar owners will not accept peeing,vomitting, fighting in their establishments,but its OK on our public streets and private lawns?

#1 Shoremeup it you who have got the facts wrong, again.
What I said was that the cty council votes to issue alcohol and entertainment permits based on recommendations by the police department. The police department heavily influences the decisions of both the city council and the ABC. Despite the fact that there were already at least 50
alcohol permits(much more than recommended by guidelines), high crime, no parking and close proximity to homes, the Long Beach police recommended the issuance of 6 more alcoholpermits plus entertainment, extended hours
uses in Belmont Shore in 3 years.

If alcohol is such a none issue, why is the substance regulated by the Feds, State, City?

For an example of the police departments influence:

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FINDINGS 3229 E. Anaheim St. Case No. 0804-25 June 5, 2008 Pursuant to Section 21.25.206 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, a Conditional Use Permit can be granted only when positive findings are made consistent with the following criteria set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. ...consistent with all zoning regulations of the CCA district, as the on-site sale of alcoholic beverages is allowed through the Conditional Use Permit process in this district. 2. THE PROPOSED USE WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, GENERAL WELFARE, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OR QUALITY OF LIFE; AND The proposed use will not be detrimental to the surrounding community. The restaurant on the site has an existing Type 47 license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). ABC has reported to City Staff that the site has no current disciplinary action, no history of disciplinary action, and no holds. The Long Beach Police Department also has reported no history of specific alcohol-related nuisances at this location. The restaurant is located on a major commercial corridor and is nearly 300 feet from the nearest residential zone, which is south of the lots on the opposite side of Anaheim Street. Furthermore, due to the small size of the proposed bar (plans indicate only 6 bar stools), Staff does not foresee the potential for this bar to become a nuisance to the surrounding area.

THE APPROVAL IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE USE ENUMERATED IN CHAPTER 21.52. Section 21.52.210 states that the following conditions shall apply to all alcoholic beverage sales uses requiring a conditional use permit: A. The operator of the use shall provide parking for the use equivalent to the parking required for new construction regardless of the status of the previous use as to legal nonconforming rights; The site has 33 parking spaces. A restaurant requires 10 spaces per 1,000 square feet of dining area, and a bar requires 20 spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area. Staff calculated parking requirements using the most conservative measurement of floor area possible: approximately 1,847 square feet of dining area and 285 square feet of bar area. This gives a parking requirement of 25 spaces. Since the site provides 33 spaces, the existing onsite parking is more than sufficient for this project. B. The operator of the use shall provide night lighting and other security measures to the satisfaction of the chief of police; The application has been reviewed by the Long Beach Police Department, and the Police Department has made no specific recommendations for this site. Conditions of Approval #25 and 29 will require the operator to provide any necessary security measures to the satisfaction of the Chief of Police and the Director of Development Services. C. The operator of the use shall prevent loitering or other activity in the parking lot that would be a nuisance to adjacent uses and/or residential neighborhoods; Condition of Approval #25 will require the operator to prevent loitering and other related nuisances. D. The use shall not be in a reporting district with more than the recommended maximum concentration of the applicable on or off premises sales use, as recommended by the state of California alcoholic beverage control board, nor with a high crime rate as reported by the Long Beach police department, except (1) locations in the greater downtown area; or (2) stores of more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet 'floor area, and also providing fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, in addition to canned goods; and Staff consulted with the Vice Investigations Section of the Long Beach Police Department to obtain this information. The site is not in a reporting district
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Page 4
Conditional Use Permit Findings Exhibit C Case No. 0804-25 June 5,2008 Page 3 of 3 with more than the recommended concentration for on-site alcohol sales. In this district, 5 licenses are allowed, and 3 (including the license the restaurant currently possesses) are active. However, this site is in a district with a high crime rate. The site is located in reporting district 512, which has a crime average of 202, which is over the citywide high crime average of 198. The high crime average is calculated by dividing the total number of crimes and arrests citywide by the number of crime reporting districts, and multiplying by 120 percent. Staff asks the Planning Commission to waive the section of this finding pertaining to the high crime rate because Staff does not believe that approval of this CUP has the potential to be detrimental to the surrounding area or the City as a whole. The restaurant already has a Type 47 license for on-site sales of beer, wine, and distilled spirits obtained through a Conditional Use Permit Exemption (CUPEx 05-70). The Type 47 license would remain valid at the restaurant regardless of the approval or denial of this subject permit. The applicant has operated the restaurant without generating a nuisance to the surrounding area, and has no history of alcohol-related problems at this site. E. The use shall not be located within 'five hundred feet (500 ') of a public school, or public park, except (1) locations in the greater downtown area; or (2) stores of more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of floor area, and also providing fresh fruit, vegetables and meat in addition to canned goods. The restaurant on the subject site is not located within 500 feet of a public school or public park.
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Exhibit 0 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 3229 E. Anaheim St. Case No. 0804-25 June 5, 2008 1. The use permitted on the subject site, in addition to the other uses permitted in the CCA zoning district, shall be a full bar with on-site sales of beer, wine, and distilled spirits at an existing restaurant. 2. This permit and all development rights hereunder shall terminate one year from the effective date of this permit unless construction is commenced or a time extension is granted, based on a written and approved request submitted prior to the expiration of the one year period as provided in Section 21.21.406 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. 3. This permit shall be invalid if the owner(s) and/or applicant(s) have failed to return written acknowledgment of their acceptance of the conditions of approval on the Conditions of Approval Acknowledgment Form supplied by the Planning Bureau. This acknowledgment must be submitted within 30 days from the effective date of approval (final action date or, if in the appealable area of the Coastal Zone, 21 days after the local final action date). Special Conditions: 4. A minimum of 25 parking spaces shall be maintained on the site solely for restaurant parking. 5. The garbage and refuse area behind the restaurant building shall be kept closed at all times except as needed for trash disposal. The trash receptacle shall be kept within this enclosure at all times. The enclosure shall be locked if necessary to prevent dumping or vandalism. 6. The applicant shall install illuminated address numbers on the Anaheim Street frontage of the building. The numbers shall be a minimum of 1 foot tall, and shall be internally illuminated or halo-lit. Floodlight or spotlight illumination of address numbers shall be prohibited. 7. The applicant shall paint the building address number in 4' strokes on the building rooftop for police air support identification. 8. The exterior windows into the restaurant shall be maintained in a clear and transparent state, with notint, no signage in excess of 10% of each window area, or posters, boxes or other materials.

#2 "Paid throught the DLBA and other funding source" is that the $1.3 million dollars gotten from the parking meter money (which used to go to public works to repair roadways), or advertising, endorsements, or special event business fees. Noticed that the DLBA voted again not to increase their contribution(right after all the parking meter money was taken out of the general fund for their use). How about all the low interest business loans given to DLBA members which are never paid back (forgiven by the City).

I never mentioned any City of DUI checkpoints just drunks broadsiding our cars. (the cops refuse to come out or file police reports unless someone is injured)

Re: OOOOF: BELMONT SHORE FIGHT CAPTURED ON YOUTUBE

Mike Ruehle — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:40:24 -0000

All three videos of overserved Belmont Shore bar patrons are posted at the below link.

http://www.youtube.com/user...

Why must residents and their families be subjected to fights, vandalism, public urination, etc. in front of their homes and in their front yards? Councilman DeLong allows his 2nd street commercial property owner and Business Association buddies that don't live in our neighborhood do anything they want. Councilman DeLong has met with residents in the area and gives nothing but lip service. Meanwhile Councilman DeLong has sponsored and approved loans of public money, alcohol licenses, variances without public hearings and entertainment licenses for the biggest problem bars in Belmont Shore. Councilman DeLong is the problem. At any time he could ask the police to clamp down on his friends who are a scourge to our community. Yet, he chooses not to.