Identity of Long Beach; Development Issues; What To Do About The I-710; The Gay And Lesbian Community In Long Beach; Cambodians In Long Beach; History Of Long Beach
Identity of Long Beach
Tom Hennessey, columnist at the Long Beach Press Telegram, and Dr. Tom Clark, a veteran 30-year Long Beach city councilman and trustee at Long Beach City College, join Host Larry Mantle to do a "Long Beach 101." They discuss the demographics of Long Beach--how many people live there, and from what ethnicities, including the sizeable Cambodian community. How has Long Beach changed over the years? Topics of discussion include an overview of development and change in Long Beach, a snapshot of the community.
Development Issues
Why, with all that Long Beach has to offer, is the downtown not thriving? Host Larry Mantle speaks with Melanie Fallon, Director of Community Development for the City of Long Beach, and Bry Myown, Columnist for View From the Hill about the development of Long Beach. They discuss the controversial new shoreline development called Pike @ Rainbow Harbor. Larry and his guests also discuss the fragile business district along Pine Street, the future of the Queen Mary and tourism in Long Beach, Shoreline Village and diversity in the Long Beach economy.
What To Do About The I-710
The 710 freeway is a critical artery for truck traffic coming out of the Port of Long Beach, but it's often grid locked, and congestion is expected to double by 2025. Expanding the 710 will destroy hundreds of homes, but the freeway desperately needs upgrading. What are the alternatives being considered, and which one is best for the residents of Long Beach? Larry Mantle talks with Richard Powers, Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and Tonia Reyes Uranga, a Long Beach City Councilwoman representing District 7. She's also Chair of the Council's I-710 Freeway Oversight Committee, and is a board member on the Southern California Association of Governments.
The Gay And Lesbian Community In Long Beach
Larry Mantle talks with Dan Baker, Long Beach City Councilman, District 2 and Jeffrey Wilcox, Chairman of the Board of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Long Beach about the Gay and Lesbian community in Long Beach.
Cambodians In Long Beach
The City of Long Beach has the largest Cambodian population in America. Cambodians came to Long Beach as refugees from the Killing Fields, the holocaust perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. Their small businesses line Anaheim Street, an area that the Cambodians of Long Beach would like to designate "Cambodia Town." Joining Host Larry Mantle is James Dok, Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in both Long Beach and Redondo Beach. Mr. Dok is also the Executive Director of the United Cambodian Community, a multi-cultural, non-profit organization serving the Cambodian community living in Long Beach, and Prach Ly, a 24-year old Cambodian musician and music producer. They discuss the Cambodian refugee experience, as well as assimilation and growing up Cambodian in Long Beach.
History Of Long Beach
Historians Ruthann Lehrer and Julie Bartolotto join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the history of Long Beach--from its early nickname "Iowa by the Sea," to the discovery of oil in 1921, the great earthquake of 1933 and the Naval presence in Long Beach. The face of the Long Beach has changed over the years, for better or for worse, with redevelopment, the addition of the Queen Mary and subsidence. What kinds of preservation efforts are ongoing? What have been the roles of oil, the Navy and the port in the City's development?