Mayor Gives President Bush Wish List of Aid Requests
Mayor Ernie Kell has presented President Bush with a wish list of federal aid for riot-torn parts of Long Beach.
Kell was one of five mayors who met Thursday with Bush during the President’s tour to survey riot damage in Los Angeles.
Kell said he recounted for Bush the stories a group of merchants told him earlier in the week. Some were completely wiped out by the fires and looting. They had no insurance, no savings and weren’t eligible for unemployment benefits.
“We’re going to have to do something to help them,” Kell said.
The city’s requests include:
* More money for job training.
* $2.5 million to demolish damaged buildings and clear the debris.
* Economic development funds to rebuild and restock businesses, which suffered an estimated $20 million in damage.
* Commercial trailers to allow shopkeepers to do business during reconstruction.
* Money to help pay the law enforcement bill from the riots.
* Relaxation of federal loan restrictions to stimulate development.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
