City’s daily paper looks askance at councilwoman’s idea

In this morning’s Press-Telegram, staff writer Paul Eakins reports on Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske’s proposal which she’ll make to tomorrow night’s council meeting–the revolutionary idea that the city ask the Port of Long Beach for a bigger percentage of its yearly profits.

You can also read about it here in last week’s LBReport.com and on The District’s website.

The Press-Telegram’s editorial board weighs in on Schipske’s idea this morning, too–and keep in mind that officially, no one on the City Council has heard a word of this yet. It’s on tomorrow night’s City Council agenda. Here’s a sample of the P-T editorial:

“Here’s a plan that deserves a quick demise: Long Beach Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske has proposed putting several million dollars a year of Port of Long Beach income into the city’s general fund, whether or not it’s legal.”

And another: “… anything that looks like local politicians are trying to dip into port revenues for self-serving purposes would be sure to create antagonism or far worse.”

Um, wow! Tell us how you really feel, P-T. Schipske’s idea may not work. It’s complex, will probably require many hours from city staffers–and if it is workable, it will require changes to the city charter which would mandate putting the idea to a city election (most likely adding it to one of our upcoming ballots).

But come on! The reason I’m paying Schipske nearly $30,000 a year–and the reason you’re paying her too, if you’re a taxpayer living in Long Beach–is to think, and to come up with ideas on how to make this city run better.

Because most of us already have jobs that don’t leave us enough time to run the city on nights and weekends.

(It goes without saying that Long Beach is in tough monetary times, and could sure use the cash.)

We’re paying Schipske to think, and to take courageous stances against huge monoliths like the Port of Long Beach and Sacramento. Why not let her do her job? Why not let her speak on Tuesday night–at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.–and hear what she has to say?

As for the P-T’s notion that we’ll be antagonizing the Port or Sacramento
politicians if we pursue Schipske’s idea–that’s bordering on ridiculous. Public officials and politicians have much thicker skins than I think the P-T gives them credit for here.

A thick skin is mandatory for work in public policy, and it’s absurd to think that our elected officials shouldn’t be out there questioning the way things are done.

That’s exactly what they should be doing–and if it takes stepping on a few toes, so be it. After all, one of the marks of a truly wise elected official–whether here or in Sacramento–is how they handle sensitive issues like asking for more money.

Thus far, Schipske is doing what we pay her to do–so let’s get our money’s worth.

Tags: California, Gerrie Schipske, Long Beach, Port of Long Beach, press telegram, Southern California, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas