DISQUS

Shea LBPP · 1 year ago

Hey all, my name is Shea and I run The Long Beach Party Project, www.LBPP.net , a Long Beach based entertainment & promotions company. I have promoted and hosted events at EVERY venue in Long Beach, ranging from hip hop, house, jazz, punk, rock, indie, electro, and many more. I have seen every type of crowd you could imagine, and what I have learned from promoting events in the LB is that **** like this can happen anywhere, anytime, any venue, any type of people. I have seen it ALL... I personally know the owner of the Rhythm Lounge and have done several events at his club. Eye Candy was obviously a problem as it WAS drawing in a crowd that does not live here and seems to have no respect for our city, and although that is how MOST clubs work, ie. hollywood, LA, etc, the fact is they come to Long Beach because its cheaper and you can get away with alot more. All these issues are interconnected, the club owners cant charge $20 and require upscale attire, when the customers are just not there. The customers are not there because the businesses that attract an upscale patron, who goes to LA instead, are not here. Upscale businesses are NOT attracted to this location because although DT Long Beach has built a **** LOAD of brand new high-priced condos NO ONE IS IN THEM! With no high-paying customers around, business owners on pine are forced to do what they can to stay open. Every related element to this story has some blame to take, but what it comes down to is the people. There is an AWESOME and very respectful musical crowd in Long Beach that tries VERY hard to curtail these problems by doing positive events and things in our community, the problem is getting them to pine and getting all the people that DO have a passion for this city down to these great events for support, because without the people nothing works...

Labca · 1 year ago

How many more articles are going to be done about what the P-T has or has not written?! Don' t you think you should spend more time trying to generate new and interesting content for your own magazine??? Every issue is getting thinner and thinner, the content on your website is so old and rarely updated that its not worth visiting regularly anymore. Yet you continue to waste time taking pot shots at the P-T.

YES, we all know that paper is in the crapper too, I am very sorry for the bad experiences you all had working at the P-T at some point but jesus, get over it!! Move on, you are turning your magazine which has the potential to be relevant and interesting into a bitter divorcee that still seeths over an ex-husband from 1993.

When these publication, you promised you were going to "blow the lid" off all the scandal in this city but all you have is some poor fact checking at the PT or any other minor infraction. Go build some relevant relationships with people in the city that can get you the scoop or insider info you need to give us some good reporting! You can't blow the lid off of anything if you don't have the connections and the leads and it is becoming clear no one there is bothering to get them.

Get your crap together before the magazine folds, we want you to stay in business!

Theo Douglas · 1 year ago

Geez, Labca, you make me almost sorry for reading what other newspapers print and thinking I can do it better. Aren't reporters supposed to question what they read--even if some of what they read runs in the Press-Telegram?

Labca · 1 year ago

Yes, but why write about what you are reading in another paper that we can easily go read? Why spend so many articles about what the P-T got right or wrong? Right now you have 2 articles about what is being written in the P-T on the homepage of your site. Is the purpose of this magazine to be a media watchdog for a local paper that is barely local anymore? Or is the purpose of this magazine to explore actual events in the city and provide us with YOUR viewpoint?

If I cared about the P-T's take on something, I'll go read it first hand. How about looking at what is lacking in their coverage and filling the gap. We definitely need more local voices, don't waste yours on a dying newspaper.
Go walk the beat and drum up some juicy news! This city has corruption, crime, freaks and weridos on every street corner that are 100 times more interesting than anything the PT is doing.

Ellen Griley · 1 year ago

Labca—

We have a difference of opinion here. I don't think Theo isn't merely writing about reading the Press-Telegram. He's clarifying something the P-T reported in its initial coverage and expanding the story. Perhaps you're not interested in this particular story, but to not cover it could be a disservice for those involved in the situation or just following it—residents of Pine Avenue, perhaps.

Middlebrow · 1 year ago

Sorry Theo. I'm a fan of much of your work but it seems lately that you (and The District in general) just wait in front of the house for the PT paperboy in the morning.
Just this week we had "PT Weighs In On Memorial Medical Center Reorganization" but no substantial coverage of the incredible Prop 8 demonstration Friday night.
I don't know how you feel, but I am mighty worried about The District Weekly.

Ellen Griley · 1 year ago

Middlebrow: Forgive the lag in our Prop 8 demonstration coverage. You're absolutely right. Although we have a piece about it on in the paper this week and on the website now, we should have had one Friday or at the very least Saturday. Thanks for watching out—and believe me, this weekend, when it comes to cracking open another beer during the game or blogging about what I did Friday night or fantastic veggies I just picked up at the new Saturday farmers' market, you'll be on my mind. Not in a creepy way—you know, just, like, reminding me that we don't quite clock out at 5 p.m. Friday.

Theo Douglas · 1 year ago

Middlebrow, Labca, I just wanted to say thanks for your comments. I think we do have a difference of opinion here, but I'd love to hear more about what you'd like to see in The District Weekly--and, of course, I'd be happy to clarify why I wrote what I wrote. If you're interested--or if anyone else is, for that matter--feel free to email me at theo@thedistrictweekly.com.
Thanks,
Theo

Theo Douglas · 1 year ago

Middlebrow, Labca, just wanted to say thanks for your comments. It's clear we do have a difference of opinion here, but I'd like to hear more about what you'd like to see in The District Weekly. If you're interested--or if anyone else is--drop me a line at theo@thedistrictweekly.com.
Thanks,
Theo

Mike Ruehle · 1 year ago

Commander Johnson, what are you talking about when you say perception is your biggest issue? In case you haven’t looked at your latest police statistics (on your web site), Pine Avenue crime SHOULD be your biggest issue. According to city code, a police reporting district is considered a HIGH CRIME AREA if it has more than 198 reported crimes (not police calls) in one year. According to your police statistics, almost all of the Pine Avenue reporting districts are over 198 crimes per year. Some of the reporting districts, like RD 164 on 4th and Pine, have that many crimes in 3 months.

According to Commander Johnson, “if I have a community that doesn’t feel safe out there at night, I have a crime problem.” Unfortunately, by the time the community “doesn’t feel safe,” it is already too late. They have already been impacted.

It sounds to me like Commander Johnson is more interested in marketing Pine Avenue for the entertainment district businesses than he is concerned about actual crime that impacts the local residents. Shouldn't he be working at the CVB?

Gloria · 1 year ago

Mike, i don't think the commander was saying there is no crime in the DT or that there is just the perception. I understand his point quite well, you're just spinning it.

Heck, fights happen everywhere. There are fights happening all the time in Belmont Shore, that place is just as scary at night sometimes if not worse.

Mike Ruehle · 1 year ago

Hi Gloria,

I attended the November meeting in City Council chambers regarding the update on the Pine Avenue Entertainment District pilot plan. I listened to several residents talk about crime and how they had personally made calls to the police for assistance. I heard the police officer respond that they had no record of any police calls in that person's area. The discussion then centered on how the frustrated residents could substantiate in the future how they had actually made the calls for police service. Soon afterwards, one of the residents asked the police about crime in the entertainment district and how it compared. Commander Johnson responded, "how about we talk about retail?" He then explained that "violent crime has been coming down over the past 2 years." While he may be correct about that portion of the overall crime picture, he did not answer the question. The real answer is crime surrounding the entertainment district is one of the biggest problems in Long Beach. That is not perception. That is bore out by the police statistics.

So why leave the residents with the impression that everything is OK and that there are no worries? The city doesn't want to talk about it because it may cause businessees to go away and property values to diminish, all resulting in less City tax revenue. Why should residents have to learn first hand by getting mugged before they are made aware of the truth, that Pine Avenue is a dangerous place with multiple crimes reported nightly. That's just the reported crimes. How many go unreported? Personally, I'd rather not sit in a circle holding hands wishing for all the bad people to go away. I'd rather the cold facts be out in the open so that we can talk about dealing with the problem. However, that will never occur if you only want to talk about "perceptions."

Yeah, I live in Belmont Shore. And, the city is also trying to turn my neightborhood into an entertainment district like Pine Avenue. Though nowhere near the crime of Pine Avenue, Belmont Shore is seeing an increase in the same kind of late night violence common to Pine Avenue. Moreover, we still have retail in Belmont Shore. I'd prefer to not wait until the City has driven off all of our retail like Pine Avenue before acting on the real problems.

Shea LBPP · 1 year ago

Im kinda sad that I put this nice commentary on this story and situation, yet almost all the rest of the feedback has nothing to do with this article, but just the publication in general. Then again I have never gotten much respect from the District, so I dont expect much either...

Ellen Griley · 1 year ago

Shea—

Why don't you e-mail me personally?

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.

deathbyrambis · 1 year ago

Media and the power it holds over the general public can cause the false to become true. (Keep in mind this common set of words) "Perception is in the eyes of the beholder” When the media writes a story without properly researching these called facts it gives a false perception of the truth.
Ethics, education, a non bias approach to journalism and research is 100% necessary so the general public is not lead to believe false or skewed information.
With this story the difference between 86 and 6 can cause a perception of a business on Pine Avenue to be a negative rather than a positive. This same perception could help to the demise of this business and add to the growing number of vacant business on Pine Avenue.
Media outlets have a responsibility to report the truth even if they don’t agree with an issue they are reporting it MUST NOT mislead the public regardless if it’s a mistake or intentional.