TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution that would show our support for Long Beach, Mississippi, in recovery efforts, and to encourage residents to give to the devastated City;
Request City Manager to work with the American Red Cross to facilitate a fund that our residents and businesses could send to Long Beach, Mississippi; and
Request City Manager to survey any potential surplus City equipment and/or vehicles that could be donated to Long Beach, Mississippi, to assist in their recovery efforts.
DISCUSSION
Hurricane Katrina has devastated our Gulf Coast, and along with it the small city
of Long Beach, Mississippi.
Long Beach, a coastal town on the eastern edge of the state on the Gulf Coast,
17 miles west of Biloxi, Miss., was situated close enough to Katrina's landfall to
take a massive hit from the storm.
The city of 17,000 residents was left in shambles and 30 feet underwater. Some
reports state that as much as 90 percent of the city's buildings were destroyed in
the hurricane. Long Beach, Mississippi, which describes itself as the "Radish
Capital of the World," needs as much help in the recovery effort as possible.
Press Telegram reporter Jason Gewirtz notes that the city has also lost 75
percent of its tax base. In his own words, Long Beach, Miss., Mayor Billy Skellie
has said, "We are devastated."
It would seem appropriate that we, Long Beach, CA would come to the aid of our
Southern Long Beach sister city.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]