1:35am | Candidates for the City Council seat in the 3rd District traded sharp barbs during a public debate held at The Gaslamp restaurant and moderated by members of the local media on Monday night, as incumbent Gary DeLong and challengers Terry Jensen and Tom Marchese – each with his own cheering section in the audience – lived up to their reputation as the most heated of the local races for the April 13th election.

The debate was hosted by the Long Beach Press Club, which is holding public debates for each race leading up to Election Day.

Jensen and Marchese took turns attacking the decisions DeLong has made over the past four years, particularly when it came to the City budget, public safety and nightlife in Belmont Shore, staffing of Police and Fire and a controversial wetlands deal that DeLong did – and still does – support. DeLong mostly stuck up for his past decisions, saying he believed they were in the best interest of the city.

Jensen, a former member of the RDA and currently a private investor, hit the budget issue hard and declared that Long Beach has seen four consecutive “trainwreck” budgets that must be brought back under control with help from every City department. Marchese touted his record as an environmental activist and criticized DeLong for moves that will slow Police Academy recruitment and nearly closed two Fire stations.

DeLong disagreed that the City has seen “trainwreck” budgets, instead suggesting that City Manager Pat West and the City Council have done a favorable job in the face of annual deficits and that cuts were made to make government more efficient without affecting the lives of residents.

Marchese agreed with the “trainwreck” budget claim but said that Police had been cut enough, although he still sees waste in the budget such as misdirected use of Council staff time.

To Marchese’s points, DeLong touted dropping crime levels and said that residents in the 3rd District would prefer less crime over more officers. In regard to the Fire stations, he said that it was his work with other officials that allowed the two stations to remain open (rather than half-staffed, according to DeLong).

Another major point of contention was the proposed land swap between the City of Long Beach and local developer Tom Dean. The deal would have allowed the City to acquire and potentially restore several acres of wetlands while giving up a cross-town Public Service Yard that many worried was worth far more than the wetlands property and amounted to a gift to Dean – with whom DeLong has a close relationship. Many more objected to the fact that Dean would have obtained all oil rights on the property. The deal went sour when public outcry reached high levels and contaminants were found on Dean’s land, but DeLong said Monday night that he is still in favor of the deal until a better one comes along.

“Does that sound like a fair deal to you?” said Marchese, citing his endorsement from environmental group Sierra Club and his experience as a boardmember of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. “What’s the hurry? The hurry is making a big score. We’re not restoring anything; we’re maintaining an oil field. I see no need to firesale City municipal assets.”

Jensen said that the deal was a victim of poor information in staff reports and that the City should not be involved in the deal at all. “The City of Long Beach is the only entity dumb enough to pay [Tom Dean] what he wants,” he said.

But DeLong remained committed to the plan.

“I’m not going to say that it’s a perfect deal, but I do support acquiring and restoring the wetlands,” he said. “What I’m telling you is that with their approach, you will not get the wetlands. I’ll support it until a better deal comes along.”

DeLong did relent on one issue – if only slightly – however; the handling of perceived troubles caused by late nightlife in posh Belmont Shore. Jensen described a scene that went unchecked despite drunken bar patrons that urinated and engaged in sexual acts in the streets. Residents don’t feel safe, Marchese said.

DeLong said his vote to allow the restaurant Belmont Station to change into the nightclub EVO was “a mistake,” because he was told it would become a high-class seafood restaurant. DeLong said that steps are being taken to improve the situation in Belmont Shore. Marchese said there was “disrespect” towards concerned residents and an unwillingness to sit down and settle issues.

After the 90-minute slugfest, however, emerged a little light.

“If we can have nine districts all working together, we can get this city back on track,” said Jensen. The debate ended on that note.

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Below are the responses given by each candidate when asked how long they had lived in the 3rd District and what three issues they deemed most important to the residents.

Marchese – 41 years. Anti-incumbent sentiment, City Council meeting attendance and quality of life issues.

DeLong – “Approximately” 20 years. Customer service at City Hall, infrastructure and common sense of their Councilmember.

Jensen – A few months (although Jensen purchased the home two years ago and has lived in Long Beach nearly his entire life). Residents vs. commercial interests, public safety and a lack of government transparency.


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