Ten Things You May Not Know About Long Beach
It Was The Starting Point For Social Security In The U.S.
In 1933, an American physician (and Long Beach resident) named
Francis Townsend penned a lengthy "Letter to the Editor" to address
poverty among the elderly. That article was published in the Long Beach
Press-Telegram. It struck a chord with readers and led directly to a
formalized plan (developed by Townsend himself) to enact a sales tax to
give everyone over 60 a pension of $200 a month.
As noted in the L.A. Times, the plan "drew millions of adherents, a nationwide flood of publicity and the nervous concern of politicians in Washington."
Ultimately, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would flout Townsend's
idea and develop his own social security system, which was decidedly
less generous (it maxed out at $41.20 a month). But it's undoubtable
that Townsend had forced the issue for the U.S. government, and had
popularized the idea of social security (and thus easing its passage).
As cited at the Social Security Administration's
website
(which offers a bizarrely thorough takedown of Townsend's 80 year-old
plan), Roosevelt was quoted as saying that "Congress can't stand the
pressure of the Townsend Plan" unless it had "a solid plan which will
give some assurance to old people of systematic assistance upon
retirement."
It's Got A Japanese Garden That You Probably Don't Know About
Certainly, the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library has long
been hailed as one of the most picturesque gardens in the L.A. area.
Fewer Angelenos are aware that, at another corner of the county, there's
another Japanese garden that's similarly lush and heart-achingly
beautiful.
The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden,
nestled inside the campus of Cal State Long Beach, is 1.3 acres of
meticulous landscaping. Introduced in 1981 after more than three years
of planning (which saw its principal architect—Edward Lovell—taking
repeated trips to Japan for research) the garden contains such botanical
wonders as laceleaf Japanese maples and pink cloud cherries. The spread
is anchored by a sprawling pond filled with koi fish.
The garden is also spun as an educational tool; there's a volunteer
docent program, and organizers host events such as classes on tree
pruning. The space has long been popular with CSULB students and (ugh)
wedding photographers—it's certainly worth your while if you're looking for a tranquil space to reflect on all your life decisions.
Complete list (LAist.com)
