Long Beach debuts monthly public forum

Complaints about debauchery, drunken driving and speeding topped concerns aired Monday night by residents of Long Beach's West End at a public forum with city council members.

Around 70 residents packed the West End Community Center for the debut of Long Beach Listens. The monthly forum, held in different parts of the city, is the brainchild of council President Fran Adelson and a nod to her campaign promise of transparency.

Resident Richard Papetti told the council the celebration of Irish Day at local bars has become a quality-of-life issue resulting in all-day public drunkenness.

"We can't let hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars go to a festival that has no benefit to the city," Papetti said, adding he's "not looking to end it," but wants to see changes.

Residents wanted to know what Moody's December downgrade of the city's debt would mean for future interest rates.

City Manager Jack Schnirman said borrowing would be more expensive, and "that costs us all more."

Acting Police Commissioner Michael Tangney took questions about red light cameras and "no thru street" violations.

Councilmen John McLaughlin and Michael Fagen did not attend. Adelson said McLaughlin was on vacation, but said she had no new information about Fagen, who recently was asked by Democratic council members to step aside after being indicted by a Nassau grand jury on charges of illegally collecting unemployment benefits.

Fagen has denied the charges and said he won't step aside. He said Tuesday he was disappointed he couldn't attend the forum, but had a previous commitment because of the holiday weekend.