Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/11545
The workers who build the massive $200 million C-17 military cargo planes in the Boeing manufacturing plant went on strike on May 11. The airplanes provide service in the US Air Force, to the militaries of the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, as well as to NATO forces with soon to be service in the United Arab Emirates military. Additionally, the C-17 is used to transport huge quantities of charitable aid. Judging by the plant's backlog of orders, they will be producing C-17s until 2013 or 2014. However, the local United Aerospace Workers Union contested the new wages contract, citing the company needs to up salaries, pensions and medical benefits. The city became party headquarters on the weekend of May 15-16, for the 27th Annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade and Festival. Hundreds of humanitarian organizations and vendors set up booths for the thousands of visitors attending the festival. Additionally, the Gay Pride Parade took place along Ocean Boulevard. The Community Grand Marshall was Michael Barber with council members Robert Garcia and Geri Schipske acting as Political Grand Marshalls, and Senator Alan Lowenthal was the recipient of the Whitey Littlefield Bridge Builder trophy. Festival goers at Marina Green Park and Rainbow Lagoon were entertained by rock, country and Latin bands, dancers, DJs and special acts that were set up on seven different stages. This summer there will be more children going to camp on scholarships, whose families couldn't otherwise afford it. The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported that the Send A Kid To Camp campaign raised over $27,000 from contributions given by only a couple hundred donors. The Send A Kid To Camp program benefits children who are income eligible. The process of getting a Long Beach child a scholarship falls to the parents, who apply for one to cover the costs of a camp when a specific camp has been chosen. Organized by the Long Beach Community Foundation 11 years ago, it annually brings in donations and requests for camp financial aid. To donate, or request a scholarship: www.longbeachcf.org. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill continued to spew over 200,000 gallons of oil daily from a damaged well, a mile under the sea. The well was blasted apart when a (British Petroleum) BP-leased oil rig, the Deepwater Horizon, exploded and killed eleven workers off the coast of Louisiana on April 20. Thousands of gallons of chemicals were poured into the spill to break it apart, and BP constructed a 100-ton box that failed to contain the gushing. BP then set the oil on fire to scoop up the tar residue and began blasting mud and concrete at the leak's source on May 26. Louisiana beaches are closed and commercial fishermen are unable to work. Arizona's State Legislature voted for a new immigration law, SB 1070, which was signed by Governor Brewer and set to be enforced in August. The Arizona law was vehemently opposed by many state senators, President Obama, Latino communities nationwide, including the members of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Mexican government. The governor's office was inundated with Arizona residents calling in to voice their opposition to the new law. The law states that Arizona police officers can detain individuals they suspect are in the U.S. illegally. As well, immigrants, who do not have federal identity papers on them at all times, would be committing a misdemeanor crime The Tennessean Newspaper reported that the massive flooding Tennessee and Mississippi experienced in the first week of May caused 19 deaths. There were over 1,000 emergency rescues of stranded residents whose homes were filled with water when Nashville's Cumberland River rose over its flood line. Firefighters airlifted people from off their roofs, the flooded Interstate 24, from trees and from cars. Evacuated residents had to sleep in shelters set up at high schools and hospitals. Authorities in Nashville said the Cumberland River levee had sprung a leak, and that they had to shut down the water treatment plant for safety. LOCAL IN REVIEW THEMONTH NATIONAL The Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival Boeing Workers Strike Send A Kid To Camp Fundraiser Oil Spill Disaster Arizona Immigration Law Flooding In Nashville Writer>>Tova Morrison 6 LIVEMAGS.NET JUNE>>10