The Word with Jackie Rae

Behind the scenes on the Long Beach Post's latest investigative story on homeless

On this week's "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Long Beach Post reporter Alicia Robinson explains how she discovered 14 people enrolled at a transitional housing facility in Long Beach had died in the span of two years [https://lbpost.com/news/transitional-housing-14-deaths-homeless-long-beach/] — and what that means for the city's response to homelessness.

Why this girls basketball coach says she quit in the face of harassment from parents

Passion is often a powerful force, driving individuals to give selflessly of their time and expertise. For Erin Carey, coaching the Wilson High School's girls' basketball team was a labor of love. But after leading the Wilson Bruins to the CIF Southern Section Division 3A championship in 2020 — the school's first title in the sport in 20 years — the financial sacrifices began to take a toll. Earning a stipend of just $4,533.03 for the entire season and having to maintain her job in aerospace — Carey made the difficult decision to step down from her coaching role for financial reasons in 2021. Carey's passion for coaching and inspiring young women couldn't keep her away for long. In 2022, she returned to the head coaching position, driven by her love for the game and her desire to push her players to greatness. Unfortunately, Carey's return was short-lived. Facing consistent personal attacks from parents, Carey made the difficult decision to step down mid-season earlier this year [https://www.the562.org/2024/01/05/wilson-basketball-coach-erin-carey-resigns-midseason-citing-parent-mistreatment/], citing the need to prioritize her mental health. On this episode of The Word with Jackie Rae podcast, Carey opens up about her decision, highlighting the importance of mental health and the challenges of balancing passion with personal well-being.

Meet District 4 City Council candidate Gerrie Schipske

Most candidates challenging incumbents in the current race for a seat on the City Council have little, if any, political experience. Gerrie Schipske, a candidate for the 4th District seat, stands out as an exception. With over 20 years of political experience, Schipske has served as the Long Beach City College trustee from 1992 to 1996, ran for Congress in 2000 and served two terms on the City Council after being elected in 2006. After redistricting absorbed portions of what was once District 5, Schipske is now running again. On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, Schipske discusses the need for transparency in local government, police reform and promoting a unified Long Beach. To learn more about Gerrie Schipske visit her website [https://votegerrie.com/], and for more about all the candidates, visit lbpost.com/elections [http://lbpost.com/elections].

421: Meet District 8 City Council candidate Tunua Thrash-Ntuk

In 2020, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk ran against Councilman Al Austin for the 8th District seat. Austin prevailed, but now that he's termed out, Thrash-Ntuk is running again with endorsements from most of the current City Council and mayor. Thrash-Ntuk, who's previously been tapped by Mayor Rex Richardson to co-chair his transition committee and a policy task force on economic inclusion [https://lbpost.com/news/business/vice-mayor-richardson-launches-everyone-in-initiative-addressing-economic-inclusion/], says she's got a head start knowing how to get things done. She says she wants to revitalize underserved business corridors in the 8th District, bring in quality jobs and create safe neighborhoods. On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, Thrash-Ntuk explains why she believes her background and relationships with city leaders will earn her a seat in the City Council. You can learn more about her on her website [https://www.tunua2024.org/]. Read all the Long Beach Post's campaign coverage at lbpost.com/elections [http://lbpost.com/elections].

420: Meet District 2 City Council candidate Ketty Citterio

If diversity is the spice of life, Ketty Citterio has led a flavorful one. Citterio, the daughter of an Olympian, followed in her father's athletic footsteps and played professional basketball in her home country of Italy. After studying foreign languages, Citterio traveled the world in the tourism industry before making her way to California. When she arrived in the United States 29 years ago, she worked as a linguist, translating English movies into Italian. Eventually, Citterio longed for a community like the one her parents and five siblings helped her grow to love. She and her wife made their way to Long Beach, where Citterio joined Friends of Bixby Park and began working to help the unhoused in the park and make it safer for neighbors. On this episode of "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Citterio explains how the city's lacking response to the community's needs prompted her to run for Long Beach City Council District 2. To learn more about Citterio, you can visit her website. [https://voteketty.com/]