By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
At least one councilman has taken a stand on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Shore Protection Project, but a majority of the council still hasn't come to a final conclusion. And with a meeting between city and project officials nearing in order to find an answer to their plaguing questions, a final decision may be near.
While most of the council members still have questions looming over the beach erosion project, council member Denis Kelly has finally put his foot down on the project.
"After much research and a few nights of lost sleep, I have decided that I'm not supporting the project," Kelly said. "Anyone who has done their homework and researched what has been proposed would decide that this project is not in the best interest of the people in the City of Long Beach."
While something needs to be done to protect the homeowners, Kelly said, this certainly isn't the answer. And, he added, people moved to Long Beach and have continued to live here because of the beach, but living in a beach community also means living with the knowledge of risks.
"You've assumed the risk that the ocean and the beach may turn around at some point, some time, and do damage but that should generally be in your calculation for living here," Kelly said.
But while Kelly has confidently taken his position, the majority of the council has not. Concerns of the open-ended costs and project details have plagued the city and its officials for nearly 15 years. And with a change in the city's administration and two new council members elected just last fall, reaching a final decision hasn't gotten any easier for city officials.
"My two greatest concerns that remain are: the Army Corps of Engineer's definition of what a
