Long Beach : Kell, Hall Offer Proposals

Ernie Kell and Jan Hall kicked off the last round of their campaigns for mayor this week with proposals addressing preservation, education, crime and other issues.

Kell held a press conference Tuesday to announce that, if elected as full-time mayor, he would form an Office of Neighborhood and Historical Preservation. He also reiterated his desire to create an Office of Education in City Hall.

Whoever runs the suggested Office of Neighborhood and Historical Preservation would act as an ombudsman for the city’s Planning Department and be available to residents who need information on proposed projects. The office also would be charged with developing a plan to save the remaining historic structures and “put a stop to the wrecker’s ball that is destroying much of our heritage.”

Hall issued a press release the same day to announce her “People Platform.” If elected mayor, Hall said she would establish an Architectural Review Board “to ensure that we maintain and improve the character of our city and our neighborhoods.”

Among other things, Hall also said that the city needs to help create child care centers and provide such a facility for its own employees, hire more police officers and increase the number of canine units, and increase the number of traffic officers by threefold.

Kell, the city’s appointed mayor, and Hall, a councilwoman, are in a runoff June 7 for the elected mayoral job.