Long Beach Councilmember Val Lerch Insensitive Towards North Long Beach Residents Living Without Gas

9th District North Long Beach Councilmember Val Lerch was featured on KTTV Channel 11’s Good Day L.A. on Friday morning telling a mother of 5 without gas for 3 days she will get a credit on her bill from the city and to use her homeowner insurance. When she replied that she rents and lives check to check, the Councilmember replies that hopefully she has renters insurance.

North Long Beach residents have been without gas service for three days after the gas was shut off at 1 p.m. on Wednesday after a water leak was verified at more than one location.

Steve Neal, a candidate to replace Lerch in the upcoming April13 election spent the day meeting hearing from the residents affected by the gas outage.

“I heard nothing but praise for the Gas Company’s efforts to get the gas turned back on,” commented Steve. “However, residents felt that because they live in North Long Beach and not further South concern for their safety and well being wasn’t a priority for their current councilmember Val Lerch. A lot of the residents were upset at how Councilmember Lerch spoke to them and from his appearance on the news. This is why it’s time for a change in Long Beach.”

Residents in North Long Beach can call (562) 570-2140 (24-hour gas emergency number) for more information or 562-570-2390 for water related questions.

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Join Steve for a 9th District Candidate Forum Sunday

Come out and support Steve at the Grant Neighborhood Association and the North Long Beach Community Action Group’s 9th District City Council candidates forum Sunday.

The forum will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church, 6380 Orange Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Street parking is available and a parking lot is 1/2 block north of the church on the east side of the street.

For more information on the forum, call (562) 423-1563.

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Long Beach Press-Telegram: 9th District: Steve Neal has record of service

By Paul Eakins, Long Beach Press-Telegram Staff Writer

LONG BEACH – After years of working in the North Long Beach community behind the scenes, 9th District City Council candidate Steve Neal says his time has come.

Neal cites his community involvement, his work with the United Way, his experience as a minister and his dedication to labor causes as the qualifications he needs to win the April 13 election.

“I’m one of these guys that have been in the back for years and years,” Neal said in a recent interview. “My entire career, even in labor, has really been devoted to community services.”

Born in San Pedro, the son of a Naval shipyard worker, Neal has lived or worked in Long Beach since 1982, most recently returning to North Long Beach in 2003.

He worked for Verizon for 25 years as a directory assistance operator, spending those last 12 years also working for the communications workers union. For 10 years, he has been director labor and community services for the United Way.

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