LB Mayor Bob Foster, whose City Charter duties include presiding at Long Beach Council meetings, left the
Mayor Foster was present for the start of the Council meeting, remained through about ninety minutes of items and then invited Vice Mayor Val Lerch to take his seat. Vice Mayor Lerch declined [off-mike sounded as if he needed to go home and rest, presumably not feeling well] and the Mayor invited Councilwoman Tonia
Mayor Foster didn't disclose the reason for his absence...which was to speak at the University Park Estates Neighborhood Association on "Measure I Long Beach Infrastructure" at 7:00 p.m., the first item listed on the group's website agenda as part of its general meeting held at Kettering School.
Over the past several weeks, Mayor Foster has spoken at meetings of various neighborhood and business groups, urging passage of Measure I...usually in the evening hours, or in breakfast or luncheon events...not during regular business hours or Council meetings.
[If you are aware of any events at which the Mayor campaigned for Measure I during regular business hours or during a Tuesday Council meeting, please email us. Let us know the date, time and particulars and how to contact you.]
The Mayor was absent from the Council Chamber for roughly 2 hours, 20 minutes, returning shortly before the end of the meeting which ran roughly 4 hours, 12 minutes in total.
Among the Council items missed by the Mayor was public testimony -- with a line of speakers extending up the Council staircase -- plus Council and staff discussion, regarding a proposed mentally ill homeless facility currently part of City Hall's paperwork submitted to HUD to acquire Schroeder Hall (surplus U.S. Army property on Willow St. at Grand Ave.).
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske apologized to the audience, saying she regretted that the Mayor wasn't present to hear what they'd come to say.
Developing.