Press-Telegram
WILL MOLINA HEALTHCARE CURE WHAT AILS NORTH PINE AVENUE?
After waiting some 16 months for Molina Healthcare and Millworks real estate development to marry and makeover the historic Press-Telegram block, we find out today that those darn kids went off and eloped. The place is supposed to be ready for Molina to move in this summer.
OUT IN 562: MOST AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS IGNORE ANTI-GAY BULLYING LAW
Phillip Zonkel of the Press-Telegram, whose "Out In The 562" blog alerted GreaterLongBeach.com to his two-part series examining the bullying of gay students in Greater Long Beach area schools and how school districts are addressing the issue ... or not. Here is Part I.
HERE’S LINK TO “OUT IN THE 562″ BLOGGER PHILLIP ZONKEL’S APPEARANCE ON GREATER LB RADIO
Phillip Zonkel’s hour of interrogation by GreaterLongBeach.com publisher Dave Wielenga on the August 2 episode of Greater Long Beach Radio has been posted on KBEACH.org, where it can be accessed from the station archives as well as downloaded as a podcast. [CLICK HERE TO LISTEN] Zonkel’s appearance generated a discussion that ranged from the specifics of terminology to [...]
THE LOCAL NORM: ON GETTING SERVED, GETTING SHOVED AND GETTIN’ SOME LOVE
Whatever song-and-dance enabled Congresswoman Laura Richardson to get her foreclosed-and-auctioned home back in 2008 probably isn't going to work with colleague Janice Hahn, who in November will likely evict Richardson from the House.
THE LOCAL NORM: THE ANTI-THEY AGENDA, UP FROM UNDER THE BUS, FASHION BLUES
Where did Councilmember Gerrie Schipske ever get the idea for a Don't Ask / Don't Tell ordinance against solicitors and the "they" lifestyle of promiscuous commercial, political and personal conversation they carry on at people's front doors?
THE LOCAL NORM: SURE-FIRE SOLUTIONS, SUFFRAGE & SOGGY FORGET-ME-NOTS
Despite a variety of imaginative efforts, from cutting holes in the breakwater to placing an enticing microphone on the shore, rescuers were ultimately unable to coax a politically exhausted city councilman to leave safe harbor.
LIFE MAY BE RETURNING TO THE PRESS-TELEGRAM / MEEKER-BAKER BLOCK
Meaningful purpose may be returning to the Press Telegram block, where Michelle Molina of 6th & Pine Development, LLC, says negotiations are in progress to do a build-to-suit development.
JOHN DIXON’S JOURNALISM: DOING YOUR BEST TO TELL THE TRUTH
The profile of John Dixon by Jim McCormack compies slices of true life that are mostly examples of Dixon's concern about the state of journalism---and Dixon's typical response: to reach into his own integrity for the right thing to do, then to reach into his own courage to put that thing into action.
JOHN DIXON’S DEATH SILENCES ANOTHER ECHO OF PRESS-TELEGRAM’S GLORY DAYS
John Dixon, whose 15 years as sports editor of the Independent, Press-Telegram (I,P-T) were arguably the greatest in that department’s history as well as the best of his four decades at the once-great Long Beach daily newspaper, died Tuesday afternoon at age 86. Dixon suffered a heart attack and stroke about a month ago. After [...]
PROMOTER SAYS CITY’S DEMANDS WEAKENED ZOMBIE WALK, LEFT HIM 40K IN DEBT
In an interview with Logan Crow that will be featured tonight on 'Greater Long Beach Radio with Dave Wielenga,' the promoter of last Saturday's (Oct. 29) Zombie Walk charges that incessant demands and fees by the City of Long Beach diminished the event and left him $40,000 in debt. Listen tonight at 7 p.m. on KBEACH.org
LARRY ALLISON’S DEATH AT 77 ENDS 54-YEAR-CAREER AT PRESS-TELEGRAM
Larry Allison, who at one point or another during a 54-year career with the Press-Telegram did just about every job in the newsroom, died Sunday evening. According to the Press-Telegram website, Allison died after a two-week battle with pneumonia. He was 77. Allison’s career at the Press-Telegram began in 1957 and included stints as a [...]
ONE QUESTION … FOR EX-REPORTER/FUNNYMAN THEO DOUGLAS
[Another in a trying-our-best-to-make-this-a-weekly series] The back story: In the good, old days when he was a member of The District Weekly staff—actually, even in the not-quite-as-good but even-older days, when he was a member of the OC Weekly staff … or way the hell back in the bad, as in going-Medieval on your ass, days [...]
DID RICHARDSON USE STAFF TO CAMPAIGN AND FETCH DRY CLEANING?
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach/Carson) is alleged to have forced her congressional staff to work on her campaign and perform personal errands by a not-for-profit legal watchdog group that is asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to begin a criminal investigation.
GREATER LONG BEACH PUBLISHER DAVE WIELENGA HONORED BY HOPE AND FREEDOM FILM FESTIVAL
GreaterLongBeach.com publisher Dave Wielenga, whose career as a journalist spans nearly four decades and a variety of specialties but has never strayed far from Long Beach, will being honored Saturday during the Hope and Freedom Film Festival at the Art Theatre. “I would like to take the opportunity to recognize you for your work in [...]
DOES THE RISE OF THE LB POST MEAN THE FALL OF JOURNALISM IN LONG BEACH?
The Long Beach Post, the fastest-growing information outlet in town, was co-founded and is co-owned by City Councilman Robert Garcia and Chamber of Commerce government affairs consultant Shaun Lumachi. As other news organizations struggle, what does that mean for for the city?
LONG BEACH POST PUBLISHER SHAUN LUMACHI A GUEST ON GREATER LONG BEACH RADIO THURSDAY AT 8 P.M.
The second printed edition of the Long Beach Post has hit the streets—for now, very specific streets—as publisher Shaun Lumachi continues a march toward what he predicts will be media dominance of Long Beach. What does that mean? “The Long Beach Post will be Long Beach’s most-read media publication by Jan. 1, 2015,” Lumachi asserts. OK, [...]
POLITICIANS, PRESS IGNORE WORKERS FIRED AFTER HELPING STATE PROBE HILTON
The Long Beach Hilton is in Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal's district and across the street from the Press-Telegram, but Lowenthal and the P-T were no-shows at Wednesday's press conference for five housekeepers fired after cooperating with a state probe into the hotel's tax and employment practices.
PRESS-TELEGRAM, GAZETTE READERS ARE IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT GABELICH DID
Councilwoman Rae Gabelich did it during a public hearing into Panama Joe’s controversial request for City Council approval of an expanded entertainment permit, and it only took her a minute, which was pretty impressive. But the Press-Telegram and Gazette (and, in fact, GreaterLongBeach.com) never mentioned it.
LB HERITAGE NAMES SEAPORT MARINA HOTEL TO ITS ENDANGERED LIST
The Seaport Marina Hotel, a midcentury expression of Southern California’s informal elegance that has become an eyesore under its latest owners, is among 10 Long Beach buildings on an Endangered Properties Watch List.
TALK-SHOW HOST LARRY MANTLE AT ‘LONG BEACH READS ONE BOOK’
The centerpiece of this year’s edition of the Long Beach Reads One Book program—the 10th anniversary of the nationwide project by StoryCorps—is tonight at the Centre Theatre: a program that will include the Dave Isay, the editor of this year’s book selection, “Listening is an Act of Love.” The event runs from 7 p.m. to [...]
ALL WRONGY!! PRESS-TELEGRAM’S FILLER ON INDONESIAN CHILD-RAPING TOY SALESMAN
THE HEADLINE: “Toy salesman admits to raping 96 children” THE STORY: Actually, there isn’t one—not one that’s legitimately relevant to readers in Greater Long Beach … unless they share the same jones for salaciousness (or web site hits) as whatever Press-Telegram editor decided to publish it. The prolific child-raping and score-keeping toy salesman did his [...]
ALL WRONGY!!! P-T COMMENTERS WORK OVER KRIKORIAN’S WORK ETHIC
THE HEADLINE: Goydos is far from your typical pro golfer THE STORY: From the lounge of the Virginia Country Club, sports columnist Doug Krikorian profiles professional golfer Paul Goydos as an unassuming Everyman. PRESS-TELEGRAM COMMENTERS RESPOND: Another column written from a bar. And golf isn’t a sport, it’s a timewasting hobby for old men. / [...]
GREATER LONG BEACH PUBLISHER INTERVIEWED ON IMAGINE THIS RADIO
Greater Long Beach publisher Dave Wielenga is among the featured guests on the current episode of Imagine This Radio, a weekly online interview program hosted by Antonio Ruiz of The Creativity Network. Wielenga, 55, who has been covering local news, arts, sports and culture since 1972 for the Press-Telegram, OC Weekly and the late District [...]
ALL WRONGY!! THESE P-T COMMENTERS HAVE SHIP FOR BRAINS
THE HEADLINE: ‘Nightmare’ cruise passengers arriving in Long Beach THE STORY: Weary but unharmed after three days stranded at sea on a crippled Carnival cruise ship, thousands of passengers streamed back to Long Beach, where their ill-fated voyage began. PRESS-TELEGRAM READERS RESPOND: at lease everyone is safe and sound and it didn’t hit an iceberge [...]
VECTOR: GEORGE LAINE WAS A NEWSPAPERMAN WHEN IT MEANT SOMETHING MORE
George Laine---newspaperman, WWII vet, boxer, jazz critic, union man and recovered alcoholic---dies at 84. We met at the Press-Telegram and he was just about sweetest tough old bird I’d ever met, a grizzled/gracious cross between Burgess Meredith and the Hobbit. No one could tell you to fuck off with more genuine love and affection.
ALL WRITEY!! A SAMPLING OF YOUR COMMENTS / CRITICISMS / LOVE NOTES / WITTICISMS
APPRECIATING RICH ARCHBOLD WHERE IT COUNTS MOST—AS A HUMAN BEING [ By Louise Cunningham ] Love the article on Rich; he is a very special person and so happy that you did this. I, too, many times use the “Once when I was at the PT … ” / KATHY BERRY At least Archbold was [...]
ALL WRONGY!! LATEST DEFAULT NOTICES FROM P-T COMMENTERS
THE HEADLINE: Long Beach Councilman Steve Neal’s home in default THE STORY: Ninth District City Councilman Steve Neal has defaulted on his home and it is scheduled to be sold at auction Oct. 12. P-T COMMENTERS RESPOND: And yet he opposes gay marriage. / TOM what do you expect a black man to do when [...]
APPRECIATING RICH ARCHBOLD WHERE IT COUNTS MOST—AS A HUMAN BEING
I was his Girl Friday. I zipped him into a Sam the Eagle costume for the 1984 Olympic party, scooped ice cream at his side for a staff treat, helped with his Halloween costumes, made dozens of paper antlers for the traditional newsroom Christmas party. I answered to his nickname, “Wheezie.” Still do.
DON JERGLER: LABOR DAY, FROM ONE BUSINESS REPORTER’S EXPERIENCE
At the Press-Telegram, I was a member of the bargaining team, which fought for two years to secure a successful union contract. It was a long and bitter fight that led me to seek employment elsewhere as soon as the contract was at a point of being achieved.
ALL WRONGY!! P-T READER MISSES THE CUT
THE HEADLINE: Free haircuts get LB students ready for school THE STORY: Mr. Baker’s Style Center gives free back-to-school haircuts for children ages 5 to 13. P-T COMMENTER RESPONDS: Shave your kids head to let all know his parents are from the bario and he has no future. / THE REAL LEROY
VECTOR CONTROL: SUJA LOWENTHAL—BUDGET CUTS AND … MONKEY BUTLERS?
Oh, there is just something so deliciously twisted, so utterly Marie Antoinettish about Long Beach councilmember Suja Lowenthal discussing cuts in basic city services while in a luxurious palace being served exotic fruits by ... please let it be ... a monkey butler.
ANTHONY CLARK HATED STREET-SWEEPING TICKETS SO MUCH HE WENT PRO
The Press-Telegram’s so-called special report Sunday on street sweeping in Long Beach—which contrasted the miles of roadways the machines clean against the millions in revenue the parking tickets glean, just like the many not-special reports that have preceded it over the years—made me marvel again at the enduring attraction of this topic. I wrote pretty much [...]
ALL WRONGY!! P-T COMMENTERS CRASH AND BURN AGAIN
THE HEADLINE: Witnesses describe scene of triple fatal crash in Long Beach THE STORY: Three people were killed Sunday when two cars that may have been racing each other collided on the Long Beach Peninsula just after midnight. P-T COMMENTERS RESPOND: Were ALL the partied involved legal??!! / ILLEGALS GO HOME Flames which burn but [...]
ALL WRONGY!! P-T COMMENTERS RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF ANOTHER STORY
THE HEADLINE: Long Beach police ‘can’t wait’ to catch fugitive who allegedly stole from elderly woman THE STORY: Long Beach Police Department Forgery and Fraud Detective Stacey Holdredge expresses her determination to apprehend Li Ching Liu, a 54-year-old woman suspected of stealing millions from a 74-year-old Long Beach woman. P-T COMMENTERS RESPOND: What do you [...]
ALL WRITEY!! THIS WEEK’S SAMPLE OF YOUR COMMENTS / CRITICISMS / LOVE NOTES / WITTICISMS
‘MARK TWAIN’S OTHER WOMAN’: A CREEPY TWO-TIMER, BUT STILL A GREAT READ [Jeanine Birong, Aug. 12] In this 21st-century age of child molestation paranoia, would Mark Twain be given such a get-out-of jail-free card if he wasn’t an iconic American author but rather a sad-sack photograph on the state’s Megan’s Law website? / WTF Pretty [...]
ALL WRONGY!! A SAMPLING OF ACK-BASSWARD TAKES ON THE NEWS FROM PRESS-TELEGRAM COMMENTERS
THE HEADLINE: COUNTY OKs $2.2 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR MAN SHOT BY DEPUTY IN COMPTON THE STORY: The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a $2.2 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by a man shot May 24, 2009, by a sheriff’s deputy in Compton and left a paraplegic. The deputy said he thought Daniel Martinez [...]
F-BOMBS: SUCH A KINDLY WAY TO SAY THE ONCE-VERY-WORST CURSE
The years pass. I'm working at a children's agency. From across the hall, the director sometimes reminds me, “We don’t say damn, Louise.” I’ve adopted an alternative set of curses, though “shazbot” doesn’t really feel as satisfying.
