Democratic Team Inducted into City Council

It was a standard induction ceremony, with calls for bipartisanship among the community at large, but it was also the first Long Beach ceremony of the 89-year-old City Council that was live streamed over the Internet.

A peak of some 66 online viewers joined a standing room only crowd to watch Democrats Len Torres, Scott Mandel and Fran Adelson get sworn into the City Council Sunday afternoon at City Hall, after which Adelson was elected president.

Adelson was sworn in by Judge Joel Asarch of the New York Supreme Court, and during her induction address she talked about someone who had congratulated her on her victory in the November election: “The person said to me, ‘I know we’re on opposite sides during the election; I hope we can work together now.’ My response was: ‘There are no sides.’ It’s all citizens working together for the same purpose. It’s about people. It’s about community. This is our objective.”

What is that common purpose? From seniors to surfers to students, Adelson said, everyone wants “an opportunity to make a decent living, to live in a healthy and safe environment, to have a good daily quality of life, and to be treated with respect. We will try to make this a reality.”

The new president noted that the city faces many challenges, including a downgraded bond rating, a deteriorating boardwalk, and traffic and parking issues, and she vowed that the new administration would bring “creative approaches” to improve the city.

Noting a campaign promise about transparency, Adelson said the city will podcast all City Council meetings, hopefully to inspire more people to “get involved"; and council members will hold monthly neighborhood meetings to listen to residents “thoughts and issues” and to inform them on “what’s happening in the city.”

Following Sunday's ceremony, council members voted for Adelson to be president after having voted for Torres as temporary president. But Torres in turn nominated Adelson instead, citing his time and commitment working with disabled children.

“Although I appreciate it very much and very honored to be nominated and elected as temporary president, but I have to nominate someone who I believe who will be able serve as president, will have the time, and certainly will have my backing all the way,” said Torres, who will serve as vice president.

Torres was sworn in by City Court Judge Roy Tepper, and Torres’s induction address struck a tone of disenchantment with the politics involved in government.

“I don’t like some of the stuff that happens in politics,” he said. “But for me, what I’ve learned is this is another opportunity for me to serve.”

Torres mentioned some programs that he would like the administration to put on its agenda, including the issue of vacant brown fields in the city. “And we need to be able to work together to clean these places up,” he said.

Torres, Adelson and Mandel will join fellow Democrat Michael Fagen and Republican John McLaughlin on the five-seat council. At a meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the council will appoint Jack Schnirman as city manager.

Mandel, who was sworn in by Asarch, told the crowd that the new administration would be different from all prior councils. 

“Parties aside, we’re here to do what’s right for Long Beach,” Mandel said. “I spoke with John, I spoke with Mike Fagen. We’re all on the same page, and that’s what Long Beach needs now.”

While Mandel didn’t specify the changes he expects the new council would make, he suggested he and they will “heal” Long Beach.

“We have the resources; we have the mindset,” he said. “And now we have the council.”