United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (D – CA) spoke to over 500 people at the Downtown Long Beach Hilton yesterday. The Senator spoke to her fourth Long Beach Chamber luncheon since being elected in 1992.
Senator Feinstein, regarded as one of the most influential people in the United States Senate, spoke about a wide variety of issues ranging from national (the war in Iraq, the sagging economy, the housing crisis) to local (the Port of Long Beach and gang prevention).
Long Beach’s Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D – CA) delivered the Senator’s keynote introduction.
Feinstein noted the city’s rapid growth, and spoke on several local issues. Opening with remarks concerning the environment, Feinstein commended the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for their efforts to “go green” and reduce emissions. She urged them to “bring the two ports together” to solve the issue, and had a bit of advice for the differing sides.
“You can’t have 17,000 trucks and not have some kind of regulation,” she said. The Senator also stressed the need for a new energy plan that will discourage fossil fuel dependence, and asked the crowd to consider what Long Beach would be like if water levels rose twenty feet—a scenario she says is plausible if global warming and polluting continues at current rates.
The Senator also elaborated on a new bill—the Feinstein-Martinez Bill—she is working on concerning the housing and mortgage crisis, which aims to establish a database of sub-prime mortgage brokers that will allow potential buyers to look up their broker and examine his or her business record and license—which all brokers would be required to have under the bill. Its main goal is to prevent criminal activity among brokers looking to take advantage of would-be buyers.
Wrapping up her speech, Feinstein commented on the dire need for the Los Angeles community to discourage and prevent gang activity and violence, introducing her Gang Abatement and Prevention Act.
“This will be the largest federal helping hand to deal with gang violence in the history of the United States,” she said, and called up Congresswoman Laura Richardson to assist with the Act. After Feinstein’s speech, Richardson spoke with lbpost.com about the Senator’s efforts.
“Everything that [Senator Feinstein] said was right on point. When we get to a point when gangs are getting beyond killing each other but innocent bystanders who just happen to be in their backyards celebrating, it is beyond acceptable limits,” Richardson said.
“I do like the piece on the intervention and prevention also. That’s one of the reasons that I think we’ve had a tough time in the past is if we were positive with our young people I think they can do positive things. So I like the 2-prong approach that she’s doing and I’m going to go back on Monday and figure out how we can get this moving.”
On her way out, Senator Feinstein stopped to explain how Long Beach can best contribute to helping California progress.
“I think the city’s greatest contribution is going to be in the education of its young people to be able to take their place in what is the workplace of the future,” she said.
“I think the second great contribution will be good city planning. Good renewal practices. Developing a city that’s culturally rich and that’s what keeps people in cities. The Aquarium. Ballet. Opera. You know, all these things, they can be developed and are really important.”