League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA April 11, 2006 Election
	Gerrie Schipske Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; City of Long Beach; District 5

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Questions & Answers

1. Do you think the proposed LNG facility should be built in Long Beach Harbor? If elected, what actions would you take to support your position?

No. We need to listen to our local public safety personnel who indicate grave concern about the potential hazards such a facility would cause. Additionally, in 1992, the State of California rejected the building of an LNG facility in the Port of Los Angeles -- just yards away from the Port of Long Beach -- because of concerns regarding the earthquake fault underneath. California municipal law does not allow a legislative body such as a City Council to delegate its authority to a non-legislative body (i.e. Harbor Commission) in matters of health and safety. I would invoke that position as an elected member of the Council and direct the City Attorney to determine that the Council has the authority to approve or disapprove participation by the City of Long Beach.

2. Should Long Beach airport be expanded? If so, to what degree, and what improvements and enhancements would be essential? Under what circumstances, if any, should the number of available flight slots be increased?

The facilities need to be updated. However, the recent draft EIR indicates that the expansion will have significant impacts on adjacent homes due to increased traffic and relocation of parking facilities. This needs to be mitigated. The EIR also indicates that full "optimization" of the "flight slots" indicates an increase from 41 to 52 commercial plus an additional 25 commuter flights. I have already called for the City Council to provide sound proofing and insulation for those homes in the 60 + CNEL contour because of the impact these increases will bring.

3. What should Long Beach be doing to improve air quality?

As a health care professional, I am deeply concerned about the data that indicates the high incidence of asthma and cancers in Long Beach due to pollution from the port and the freeways. I support the recent call by the ILWU to decrease pollution at the port by 20%. I support the proposed legislation to require "electrical docking" for ships that are coming into our ports. We need to support efforts to make our ports "green" and to encourage port tenants and users to develop more efficient energy useage. We need to encourage consumers to utilize the hybrid automobiles that reduce emissions. The City Council needs to work closely with our state and federal government to encourage strong legislation to maintain air quality controls and incentives to increase energy efficiencies by the users of the ports.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 3, 2006 16:41
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