Latest news with #LongBeachPost
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teen arrested in fatal shooting of homeless man in Long Beach, police say
A 15-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on suspicion of fatally shooting a homeless man at an encampment in Long Beach, authorities said. The Long Beach Police Department responded to a call in the 2600 block of East Ocean Boulevard shortly before 2 a.m. on Nov. 24. Upon arriving, they found two men near an encampment at a beach playground suffering from upper body gunshot wounds. The first man was taken to a hospital and recovered, while the second was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as 51-year-old Frank Suggs, according to the L.A. County medical examiner's office. Read more: Seven injured in Long Beach shooting near nightclub Police said the teenager, whose identity has not been released, is responsible for both shootings. The motive behind and circumstances leading up to the shootings remain under investigation, police said. The teen was arrested in Long Beach and booked on suspicion of murder. He is being held without bail at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Detectives intend to present the case to the L.A. County district attorney's office for filing consideration next week. In California, a 15-year-old charged with murder must be tried in juvenile court. This is because of Senate Bill 1391, which took effect in 2019 and prohibits minors age 14 and 15 from being prosecuted in adult court, regardless of the severity of the offense. Read more: Judge orders more than 100 youths moved out of troubled L.A. County juvenile hall If convicted of murder, a juvenile can be held in prison until age 25. The victim's brother, Anthony Suggs, told the Long Beach Post that he was grateful an arrest has been made, but sad to learn how young the suspect is. 'Now you have another family going to go through some stuff,' he told the outlet. Frank Suggs was from Indiana, where he lived with his wife and children until about eight years ago when he became homeless while grappling with mental health and substance use issues, his brother told the Post. He lived on the streets of Las Vegas and later Los Angeles, Anthony Suggs said. Another 15-year-old boy was arrested earlier this month in connection with a fatal shooting in Long Beach, according to the Long Beach Police Department. That teen is suspected of killing 21-year-old Brandon Villarreal after the pair got into an argument outside the Long Beach Grand Prix around 5:50 p.m. on April 12. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
24-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Teen arrested in fatal shooting of homeless man in Long Beach, police say
A 15-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on suspicion of fatally shooting a homeless man at an encampment in Long Beach, authorities said. The Long Beach Police Department responded to a call in the 2600 block of East Ocean Boulevard shortly before 2 a.m. on Nov. 24. Upon arriving, they found two men near an encampment at a beach playground suffering from upper body gunshot wounds. The first man was taken to a hospital and recovered, while the second was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as 51-year-old Frank Suggs, according to the L.A. County medical examiner's office. Police said the teenager, whose identity has not been released, is responsible for both shootings. The motive behind and circumstances leading up to the shootings remain under investigation, police said. The teen was arrested in Long Beach and booked on suspicion of murder. He is being held without bail at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Detectives intend to present the case to the L.A. County district attorney's office for filing consideration next week. In California, a 15-year-old charged with murder must be tried in juvenile court. This is because of Senate Bill 1391, which took effect in 2019 and prohibits minors age 14 and 15 from being prosecuted in adult court, regardless of the severity of the offense. If convicted of murder, a juvenile can be held in prison until age 25. The victim's brother, Anthony Suggs, told the Long Beach Post that he was grateful an arrest has been made, but sad to learn how young the suspect is. 'Now you have another family going to go through some stuff,' he told the outlet. Frank Suggs was from Indiana, where he lived with his wife and children until about eight years ago when he became homeless while grappling with mental health and substance use issues, his brother told the Post. He lived on the streets of Las Vegas and later Los Angeles, Anthony Suggs said. Another 15-year-old boy was arrested earlier this month in connection with a fatal shooting in Long Beach, according to the Long Beach Police Department. That teen is suspected of killing 21-year-old Brandon Villarreal after the pair got into an argument outside the Long Beach Grand Prix around 5:50 p.m. on April 12.
The Star
10-05-2025
- The Star
Time-restricted 'smart' toilets arrive as US city looks to plug restroom gaps
QR codes are an omnipresent aspect of smartphone-era life, controlling access of everything from airline tickets to restaurant menus. But in Long Beach, there are new, and perhaps unexpected, places that can be opened via a smartphone scan: public restrooms. As part of a pilot program, Washington DC-based Throne Labs has set up "smart" bathrooms at four locations across the city. Each of the units, known as Thrones, includes a toilet, an urinal and a sink with an ADA-accessible ramp. "Cities across the country want to provide bathrooms, but costs and operational challenges stop them from doing so," said Jessica Heinzelman, co-founder and chief operational officer of Throne Labs. To access the Thrones, Heinzelman said, most users scan a QR code outside the restroom that generates a text message to open a specific restroom. There is also a code that can be typed in for those without a smartphone, and physical access cards are available. A digital sign alerts users on whether the bathroom is available, in use, being cleaned or closed. But those with a penchant for leisurely loo visits should take note: The Thrones come with a time limit. After 10 minutes, ready or not, the doors are opening. Long Beach opted to place the units at Belmont Pier, Shoreline Marina, Harvey Milk Promenade Park and DeForest Park on April 15 and 16. Each of those locations sees a lot of foot traffic but doesn't have many bathrooms, officials said. News of the Throne restrooms was first reported by the Long Beach Post . Jane Grobaty, superintendent of community information for the city's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, said the department operates 51 traditional restroom facilities, though she could not provide the exact number of toilets. Ryan Kurtzman, a technology partnerships officer for the city's Technology and Innovation Department, said his office collaborated with the parks department, public works and the city manager's office to select locations for the restrooms. Belmont Pier and Shoreline Marina were chosen because of immediate demand, he said. "There's a lot of people going by those areas, but there really aren't any restroom facilities nearby," he said. DeForest Park was selected after its restroom was destroyed in a fire, and officials landed on Harvey Milk Promenade Park as a way to augment limited offerings in the city's downtown. The 7-by-8-foot restrooms cost US$6,200 (RM 26,784) apiece per month, which amounts to a total price tag of just under US$100,000 (RM432,000) for the four-month trial, Kurtzman said. The partnership got rolling when Kurtzman encouraged Throne Labs to offer a proposal under the Pitch Long Beach! program, which aims to identify potential partnerships with private companies to tackle civic challenges. "One of the great things about Throne is there is a lot of data that they can provide on usage that is easier than with a standard park restroom," Kurtzman said. "We're looking at the number of uses, length of duration, user experience, cleanliness and other factors." Kurtzman said the city will weigh those factors, along with a cost analysis, in determining whether to keep the restrooms. Heinzelman, the Throne Labs co-founder, said more than 2,900 individuals have visited the four restrooms since their installation. Users rated the facilities 4.3 stars out of 5, she said. Another Long Beach Throne was installed last May in partnership with L.A. County Metro at the A Line Willow Street station. That unit has seen 13,000 visits by 2,900 users since its installation, according to the company. There are 18 other public Thrones at Metro stations across the transit system, with plans to expand to 64 within two years, Heinzelman said. There are also two Thrones at Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills. On average, most people who use the restrooms are done in 3 minutes, 20 seconds. The primary reason for the 10-minute time limit is to discourage loitering, Heinzelman said. But there's also a safety purpose, she said. Individuals have twice suffered medical emergencies in Thrones outside Long Beach. The 10-minute limit opened the door and allowed onlookers to call for help. "In a traditional restroom, if you have a medical issue inside, you might stay in there for hours until a janitor gets there," Heinzelman said. Once 10 minutes pass, lights will flash inside the unit and a recorded message will ask the user to leave. The doors open shortly after, she said. She said that in other Los Angeles units, 85% of people who hit the time limit left within two minutes, while 95% departed within five minutes. "In some ways, those numbers are much better than we expected," Heinzelman said. – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Time-restricted 'smart' toilets arrive in Long Beach as city looks to plug restroom gaps
QR codes are an omnipresent aspect of smartphone-era life, controlling access of everything from airline tickets to restaurant menus. But in Long Beach, there are new, and perhaps unexpected, places that can be opened via a smartphone scan: public restrooms. As part of a pilot program, Washington D.C.-based Throne Labs has set up "smart" bathrooms at four locations across the city. Each of the units, known as Thrones, includes a toilet, an urinal and a sink with an ADA-accessible ramp. 'Cities across the country want to provide bathrooms, but costs and operational challenges stop them from doing so,' said Jessica Heinzelman, co-founder and chief operational officer of Throne Labs. Read more: $339,000 for a restroom? L.A. politicians balk at the cost of toilets for homeless people To access the Thrones, Heinzelman said, most users scan a QR code outside the restroom that generates a text message to open a specific restroom. There is also a code that can be typed in for those without a smartphone, and physical access cards are available. A digital sign alerts users on whether the bathroom is available, in use, being cleaned or closed. But those with a penchant for leisurely loo visits should take note: The Thrones come with a time limit. After 10 minutes, ready or not, the doors are opening. Long Beach opted to place the units at Belmont Pier, Shoreline Marina, Harvey Milk Promenade Park and DeForest Park on April 15 and 16. Each of those locations sees a lot of foot traffic but doesn't have many bathrooms, officials said. News of the Throne restrooms was first reported by the Long Beach Post. Jane Grobaty, superintendent of community information for the city's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, said the department operates 51 traditional restroom facilities, though she could not provide the exact number of toilets. Ryan Kurtzman, a technology partnerships officer for the city's Technology and Innovation Department, said his office collaborated with the parks department, public works and the city manager's office to select locations for the restrooms. Belmont Pier and Shoreline Marina were chosen because of immediate demand, he said. 'There's a lot of people going by those areas, but there really aren't any restroom facilities nearby,' he said. DeForest Park was selected after its restroom was destroyed in a fire, and officials landed on Harvey Milk Promenade Park as a way to augment limited offerings in the city's downtown. The 7-by-8-foot restrooms cost $6,200 apiece per month, which amounts to a total price tag of just under $100,000 for the four-month trial, Kurtzman said. Read more: Six beautiful bathrooms around L.A., six versions of luxury The partnership got rolling when Kurtzman encouraged Throne Labs to offer a proposal under the Pitch Long Beach! program, which aims to identify potential partnerships with private companies to tackle civic challenges. 'One of the great things about Throne is there is a lot of data that they can provide on usage that is easier than with a standard park restroom,' Kurtzman said. 'We're looking at the number of uses, length of duration, user experience, cleanliness and other factors.' Kurtzman said the city will weigh those factors, along with a cost analysis, in determining whether to keep the restrooms. Heinzelman, the Throne Labs co-founder, said more than 2,900 individuals have visited the four restrooms since their installation. Users rated the facilities 4.3 stars out of 5, she said. Read more: Costa Mesa drops plan for mobile restrooms for homeless people based on business survey Another Long Beach Throne was installed last May in partnership with L.A. County Metro at the A Line Willow Street station. That unit has seen 13,000 visits by 2,900 users since its installation , according to the company. There are 18 other public Thrones at Metro stations across the transit system, with plans to expand to 64 within two years, Heinzelman said. There are also two Thrones at Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills. On average, most people who use the restrooms are done in 3 minutes, 20 seconds. The primary reason for the 10-minute time limit is to discourage loitering, Heinzelman said. But there's also a safety purpose, she said. Read more: Contributor: Public bathrooms are a basic human right, but many cities aren't even trying to meet the need Individuals have twice suffered medical emergencies in Thrones outside Long Beach. The 10-minute limit opened the door and allowed onlookers to call for help. 'In a traditional restroom, if you have a medical issue inside, you might stay in there for hours until a janitor gets there,' Heinzelman said. Once 10 minutes pass, lights will flash inside the unit and a recorded message will ask the user to leave. The doors open shortly after, she said. She said that in other Los Angeles units, 85% of people who hit the time limit left within two minutes, while 95% departed within five minutes. "In some ways, those numbers are much better than we expected," Heinzelman said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Time-restricted 'smart' toilets arrive in Long Beach as city looks to plug restroom gaps
QR codes are an omnipresent aspect of smartphone-era life, controlling access of everything from airline tickets to restaurant menus. But in Long Beach, there are new, and perhaps unexpected, places that can be opened via a smartphone scan: public restrooms. As part of a pilot program, Washington D.C.-based Throne Labs has set up 'smart' bathrooms at four locations across the city. Each of the units, known as Thrones, includes a toilet, an urinal and a sink with an ADA-accessible ramp. 'Cities across the country want to provide bathrooms, but costs and operational challenges stop them from doing so,' said Jessica Heinzelman, co-founder and chief operational officer of Throne Labs. To access the Thrones, Heinzelman said, most users scan a QR code outside the restroom that generates a text message to open a specific restroom. There is also a code that can be typed in for those without a smartphone, and physical access cards are available. A digital sign alerts users on whether the bathroom is available, in use, being cleaned or closed. But those with a penchant for leisurely loo visits should take note: The Thrones come with a time limit. After 10 minutes, ready or not, the doors are opening. Long Beach opted to place the units at Belmont Pier, Shoreline Marina, Harvey Milk Promenade Park and DeForest Park on April 15 and 16. Each of those locations sees a lot of foot traffic but doesn't have many bathrooms, officials said. News of the Throne restrooms was first reported by the Long Beach Post. Jane Grobaty, superintendent of community information for the city's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, said the department operates 51 traditional restroom facilities, though she could not provide the exact number of toilets. A portable Throne Labs restroom was placed at Harvey Milk Promenade Park in mid-April. Ryan Kurtzman, a technology partnerships officer for the city's Technology and Innovation Department, said his office collaborated with the parks department, public works and the city manager's office to select locations for the restrooms. Belmont Pier and Shoreline Marina were chosen because of immediate demand, he said. 'There's a lot of people going by those areas, but there really aren't any restroom facilities nearby,' he said. DeForest Park was selected after its restroom was destroyed in a fire, and officials landed on Harvey Milk Promenade Park as a way to augment limited offerings in the city's downtown. The 7-by-8-foot restrooms cost $6,200 apiece per month, which amounts to a total price tag of just under $100,000 for the four-month trial, Kurtzman said. The partnership got rolling when Kurtzman encouraged Throne Labs to offer a proposal under the Pitch Long Beach! program, which aims to identify potential partnerships with private companies to tackle civic challenges. 'One of the great things about Throne is there is a lot of data that they can provide on usage that is easier than with a standard park restroom,' Kurtzman said. 'We're looking at the number of uses, length of duration, user experience, cleanliness and other factors.' Kurtzman said the city will weigh those factors, along with a cost analysis, in determining whether to keep the restrooms. Heinzelman, the Throne Labs co-founder, said more than 2,900 individuals have visited the four restrooms since their installation. Users rated the facilities 4.3 stars out of 5, she said. Another Long Beach Throne was installed last May in partnership with L.A. County Metro at the A Line Willow Street station. That unit has seen 13,000 visits by 2,900 users since its installation , according to the company. There are 18 other public Thrones at Metro stations across the transit system, with plans to expand to 64 within two years, Heinzelman said. There are also two Thrones at Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills. On average, most people who use the restrooms are done in 3 minutes, 20 seconds. The primary reason for the 10-minute time limit is to discourage loitering, Heinzelman said. But there's also a safety purpose, she said. Individuals have twice suffered medical emergencies in Thrones outside Long Beach. The 10-minute limit opened the door and allowed onlookers to call for help. 'In a traditional restroom, if you have a medical issue inside, you might stay in there for hours until a janitor gets there,' Heinzelman said. Once 10 minutes pass, lights will flash inside the unit and a recorded message will ask the user to leave. The doors open shortly after, she said. She said that in other Los Angeles units, 85% of people who hit the time limit left within two minutes, while 95% departed within five minutes. 'In some ways, those numbers are much better than we expected,' Heinzelman said.
