Latest News

Bill to revive plan for L.A. County emergency system OKd

State lawmakers passed an emergency bill Friday that would resurrect a troubled plan to build an emergency communication system in Los Angeles County for police and fire agencies.

The project, which is estimated to cost around $600 million to $700 million, derailed last month after three years of planning, when county lawyers belatedly realized the nearly completed contract negotiations to build the complex system violated state rules on how contracts for publicly funded projects must be structured and awarded.

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Bill seeks to save emergency system

Government officials in Los Angeles and Sacramento are scrambling to save more than $270 million in jeopardized federal grant funding for a regional emergency communications network.

Estimated to cost at least $600 million, the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System, or LA-RICS, would allow the more than 34,000 first responders in the region to talk to one another during a major emergency.

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SuperMex Named Business of the Year

Bonnie Lowenthal bestows honor on philanthropic restaurateur.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal named the popular eatery SuperMex as the Small Business of the Year in her district.

As part of CA Small Business Day, members of the California State Legislature gathered at the Sacramento Convention Center earlier this week to honor outstanding leaders from throughout the state.

"It is my pleasure to honor SuperMex, a family restaurant that embodies everything good about our community," said Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal.

SuperMex, founded by Manuel Orozco of Villa Jiménez, Michoacán, opened its doors in downtown Long Beach in 1974. The family restaurant, specializing in authentic Villa Jiménez cuisine, thrived in a community of Long Beach college students, who flocked to the restaurant for its reasonable prices and generous portions. The community-centered restaurant has since expanded to locations throughout Southern California and Las Vegas.

Despite its widespread success, SuperMex continues to connect with the community, contributing to local sports teams and schools through its "Dining for Dollars" program.

Jerry Miller Earns Prestigious Award as California's 2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year

The California Chamber of Commerce honored Jerry Miller, Long Beach's former city manager, as California's "2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year" recognizing him for his advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses. The California Chamber presented the award at a luncheon in Sacramento yesterday (June 1, 2011) before more than 400 attendees at the annual California Chamber of Commerce Business Summit. Miller was nominated by the Long Beach Chamber.

"Jerry is one of the most active and passionate advocates for our business community….Jerry is most deserving of this award because of his strong desire to make Long Beach the best place to do business. He is a masterful consensus builder and is dedicated to working with others to improve the economic vitality of our city," stated Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Chamber.

In 2010, the Long Beach Area Chamber secured a $200,000 grant to fund a layoff aversion program with the regional business community. Miller led the effort to implement a "Red Team" of dedicated local business leaders and three other chambers of commerce: San Pedro, Wilmington and Lomita. As of December 2010, the Red Team had reached out to 539 businesses, offering and providing services to help prevent layoffs. In late 2010, Miller launched an effort with the Chamber to educate Long Beach businesses about the benefits of Enterprise Zones (EZ). He also led a successful effort to secure hundreds of letters of support urging Long Beach legislators to oppose cuts in EZ funding.

Miller also founded the Chamber's Green Business Council, which works to promote sustainable business practices and advocates business development opportunities for companies that produce green products or provide green services. The council also facilitates business-to-business relationships and assists in green technology incubation and accelerations. Finally, Miller was successful in serving as the chamber's lead negotiator between the iconic Worthington Ford car dealership and the city to secure a loan to upgrade its facilities.

Miller will be installed as Chairman-elect of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors later this month. He is currently managing partner with IMC Municipal Consulting and also served as Long Beach City Manager retiring from that position in 2007.

Bonnie Lowenthal co-hosts annual Holocaust Memorial

And Personally Honors Robyn Solovei and Dr Marion Solovei from Long Beach

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, co-hosted the Capitol's annual observance of Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, May 2nd, in the Assembly Chamber, an event that drew survivors, liberators and their children from all over the state. Survivors and liberators were seated among the lawmakers, as the full Assembly marked the memory of the Holocaust.

"We take the time to remember," said Lowenthal, "because to forget is to risk repeating the past."

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Bonnie Lowenthal names Maria Norvell Woman of the Year

Part of ceremony marking 100th year of women's suffrage in California.

SACRAMENTO – On Monday, March 21st, the State Assembly held its annual Women of the Year ceremony, which this year coincided with the 100th year of women's suffrage in California.

As is legislative custom, all 80 Assembly members selected a distinguished woman to honor. Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, honored Maria Norvell as the 54th Assembly District's Woman of the Year 2011, citing her outstanding volunteer work in the Wrigley/Long Beach area. Mrs. Norvell has been an active volunteer in the Long Beach community since 1986.

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Lawmakers seek to rein in court contracts

Upset over the skyrocketing cost of a computer upgrade in California's courts, state lawmakers said Tuesday they are looking at stepping up controls over court contracts.

The courts, considered an independent branch of government, are exempt from many state contracting rules. As a result, the controversial upgrade was not subject to the same oversight that governs other state-agency projects. A state audit recently found its costs had soared from a proposed $260 million to $1.9 billion, which state Sen. Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale) called "appalling" during a legislative hearing Tuesday.

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UPDATE: Port of Long Beach, Caltrans Select Bidders for Bridge Project

The various contractors and engineering firms that have joined together to vie for the nearly $1 billion Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project contract hail from as nearby as Pasadena and as far away as Sweden.

After researching the backgrounds of each company, it appears that only one of the four teams elligible to submit proposals to the Port of Long Beach, California Department of Transportation and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is completely American-based...

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Recent Photos

On February 26 2011, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal participated in the Hispanic Students Business Association's (HSBA) 2011 Latino Leadership Conference at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Over 200 student leaders from Universities across California were present. For her commitment, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal was given a certificate of appreciation and a coffee mug from both the Hispanic Students Business Association and the United Latino Students. Picture from left to right: CSULB Assistance Dean of Students Dr. Jeane Caveness, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, HSBA President Jocelyn Rodriguez, and California Small Business Development Center Director James Alva.

Grand Opening of ILWU office in San Pedro 2010

Child Safety Seat Day sponsored by the California Highway Patrol and Asm Bonnie Lowenthal, San Pedro, 2010

CTA members with Asm Bonnie Lowenthal

Grand Opening of Seaside Park - Asm Lowenthal was honored with a bench for her work in securing and building the park

Kicking off Soccer season at Seaside Park with Supervisor Don Kanbe, Mayor Bob Foster, Councilmember Robert Garcia, and former Mayor Beverly O'Neill

Asm Lowenthal with Mill-I-Can Club from Milliken High School during Kaboom build day in Long Beach

San Pedro has lost a Harbor Area legend with the passing of John Olguin. He shall be missed dearly and leaves a lasting legacy for the community to honor.

John Olguin and Asm Bonnie Lowenthal at the First Presbyterian Church Turkey Basket Assembly and Delivery Project, November 24, 2009

Driving the Green Tech Economy

Bonnie Lowenthal joins actor and clean-air activist Ed Begley, Jr. at Universal Studios to announce support for a plan to ensure California is ready to charge the next generation of plug-in vehicles.

In the driver's seat. As chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, Bonnie Lowenthal is championing an increased use of plug-in vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. She told a crowd of business leaders and reporters at Universal City in December that this new vehicle technology should lead to new job training and employment opportunities.

VETERAN OF THE YEAR

I was recently fortunate to honor Blas Villalobos as the 54th Assembly District Veteran of the Year at a ceremony in Sacramento.

Blas Villalobos served in the United States Marine Corps from October 1999-October 2003.

He was deployed to Iraq during the invasion in March 2003, and was a Squad Leader. Honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps after four years of active duty service. Duties as a small unit squad leader included coordinating combat missions with other units in Iraq, providing training in small weapons tactics and maneuvers to over 40 Marines, basic standardized testing, and physical fitness tests.

Blas currently works as a Case Manager with U.S. VETS – Long Beach, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, case management, and employment assistance to homeless and "at-risk" veterans. Blas specifically works with OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD. He is a great role model for the guys, shares his own stories, and lets them know it is possible to achieve many of the goals they have for themselves. But addressing the wounds from war has to be the first priority.

Blas also does volunteer service at Vets4Vets as their Veterans Community Coordinator, and at Long Beach City College as a Volunteer Veterans Representative assisting veterans/dependents in obtaining government educational services such as Montgomery G.I Bill benefits, veteran's counseling, and financial aid.

Blas graduated from the CSULB in 2009 with a B.A. in psychology and is currently a graduate student at the School of Social Work at the University Of Southern California with a Mental Health concentration and a Military Social Work sub-concentration.

Buono's Chosen as 2010 Small Business of the Year

Presenting the 2010 Small Business of the Year Award for the 54th District is Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (center) with recipients Frank Buono (left) and Andrew Buono (right) of Buono's Authentic Pizzeria.

(June 2010) Buono's Authentic Pizzeria, a family owned business with restaurants in Long Beach and San Pedro, was recently recognized as the 2010 Small Business of the Year in the 54th District. The award was presented by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal during California Small Business Day in Sacramento amidst an audience of legislators, key community leaders, and other statewide honorees. During the festivities, brothers Frank and Andrew Buono met with government officials and participated in small business workshops and discussions.

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