Coming Up On City Council

Dear Neighbors,


I hope your weekend is off to a good start and that everyone is staying warm during this period of cold weather. From next week’s City Council agenda, there are a few important items I’d like to highlight.


I’d like to first bring your attention to an item I introduced that deals with parking issues in Alamitos Beach. Parking has long been a challenging issue in Long Beach and has recently become increasingly difficult for residents, businesses, and visitors as our community continues to evolve and grow. The pandemic further exacerbated many of our challenges as more people are working from home, and this appears to be a permanent commuting and lifestyle change.


The City has many parking impacted areas, but one of the most notoriously impacted areas is the Alamitos Beach neighborhood. The neighborhood has become a parking impacted area because the existing housing stock was developed at a time when the provision of parking was not required and when the neighborhood was still primarily served by public transit. On-street parking is the primary public parking supply, and because there has been limited new development or redevelopment of properties within Alamitos Beach, there has been little new off-street parking supply. Additionally, vehicle ownership rates have increased over time, further limiting opportunities to park on the street.


The Council item I am introducing asks the City to identify vacant and/or underused properties that could be used to provide off-street parking in Alamitos Beach, and potentially in other parking impacted areas as well. The letter also asks the City to develop a streamlined process for private property owners to make their properties available to provide additional off-street parking, and explore funding sources to pay for the improved provision of parking.


Creating a process for private property owners to use existing parking at underutilized properties during off-hours or unused parking at vacant properties will create more off-street parking sites and help alleviate parking demand in parking impacted areas such as Alamitos Beach. Additionally, off-street parking can often be more secure than on-street parking, may create employment opportunities, and can provide revenue to property owners who opt to provide making parking on their properties available.


I understand parking related challenges is a major issue in District 2, and that is why I asked for this process to begin in Alamitos Beach. Since it is one of our most parking impacted areas, it will serve as a testing ground for addressing parking challenges in other parts of the City as well. I look forward to the report back and receiving the list of potential properties we may use for more off-street parking and the framework for allowing private property owners to use their properties to provide more parking. In the coming months, I will be introducing additional items to address parking issues in District 2 and throughout the City.


Item 17 was introduced by Councilwoman Suely Saro and asks the City for a presentation on our current rent assistance programs and resources that are available for both tenants and landlords. I was proud to cosponsor this item alongside Councilwoman Megan Kerr. It’s important to receive this presentation as many of LA County COVID-19 related tenant protections will expire at the end of the month, and residents need to know what resources and assistance programs are available.


Item 28 was introduced by Mayor Richardson and asks our Economic Development Department to identify our key growth sectors and develop strategies, benchmarks, and other metrics that ensure companies from these sectors are growing. It also asks our Financial Management Department to identify alternative sources of revenue to offset the projected reductions in oil revenues. As Chair of the Economic Development & Opportunity Committee, I was proud to cosponsor this item. Councilwoman Ricks-Oddie, Chair of the Budget Oversight Committee, also signed onto the item.


According to current staff projections, Long Beach’s oil revenues will see declines of 9-10% each year until 2035. Oil revenues currently in-part fund essential city services such as the Police Department and the Fire Department, in addition to the Office of Youth Development and implementation of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. To avoid cuts to our essential services, new structural revenue streams will need to be identified. In order to ensure that Long Beach has a secure financial future and the means not only to continue delivering quality city services, but improve and expand those services, the City will have to focus on growing Long Beach’s economy in new and more sustainable directions.


Finally, I was very proud to introduce Item 29. This item recognizes Women’s History Month and will provide a presentation on the many contributions women have made to our society. City Council will also receive an update from staff on the status of our Commission on Women and Girls, which was established in September 2021. Women’s History Month has been a month-long period of celebration of women since 1987, and it is important our City is also officially recognizing March as Women’s History Month. I’d also like to invite everyone to City Hall plaza this Tuesday at 4:30PM for an event honoring women and Women’s History Month. Hope to see you there!


You may view the entire agenda for Tuesday’s meeting here. If you are planning on attending and would like to make a comment, City staff will be available to help you get signed up. If you are not able to attend in-person, please click here to virtually comment on any of the items on Tuesday’s agenda. Council meetings can also be viewed online via LBTV. The City Council meeting Tuesday evening will begin at 5PM.

If you have any questions about this information please call my team at (562)570-2222 or email District2@longbeach.gov.


Sincerely,

Take a Second for the Second

On March 1st, my team and I took to the street with brooms and rakes in our hands and cleared the bike lane on broadway from Cherry to Junipero.


We want to keep the momentum going. Please reach out and tell us which parts of the Second District you would like to see us at next.


Join us in our efforts to beautify our neighborhood, and please bring your friends!

Save the Date: Beach Streets is Coming in May!

Marine Bureau Auction in Alamitos Bay

For more information about the Boat Auction, call 562-570-3215. To receive a notification for the next auction, sign up for LinkLB. 

Rescheduled 4th Fridays on March 11th

POLB Internship Deadline Extended to March 15th

The online application deadline for the Port of Long Beach's high school scholarship program has been extended by two weeks, to Wednesday, March 15. Program details, eligibility information and the application can be found on the Port’s website at polb.com/scholarships.

The scholarships are open to high school seniors attending Long Beach Unified School District service area high schools and pursuing careers in international trade and business, logistics, engineering, environmental planning and other port-related fields.

The 2023 scholarship program was expanded to include trade and vocational program students, including those attending part-time. The Port will award a total of $200,000 for scholarships, in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000. High school students can apply via the Port website.

Grants for Roof Repairs

Long Beach Launches Donation Drive to Support People Experiencing Homelessness

Now until further notice, items can be donated at the locations listed below:


  • All Long Beach Public Library locations during regular operating hours (all Library locations are regularly closed Sundays and Mondays).
  • Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Scherer Park Community Center, (4654 Pasadena Ave.), Monday through Friday 3 to 6 p.m.


Ideas for donated items that are needed, not typically funded by other sources and appropriate for donation are listed below.


  • Create a hygiene kit or house-warming gift kit from this Multi-Service Center Amazon Wish List.
  • Fill a backpack with needed items such as hand warmers, flashlights, battery packs, batteries (usually D batteries), emergency blankets and charging cables which can all be packaged in a backpack.
  • Donate pet care kits with things like pet treats, collars, leashes, pet toys or collapsible pet bowls. 
  • Donate gift cards to places like Target, Walmart, McDonalds, Taco Bell, In 'N' Out, Dunkin Donuts and grocery stores (only accepted at the Multi-Service Center).
  • Drop off S, M, L, XL or XXL sweatpants, shirts, socks and men’s and women’s underwear, beanies, scarves, caps, hoodies, towels or blankets. Gently used items are appreciated, too.
  • Young people can make a welcome home kit with some of the suggested items above and include a special hand-written motivating message to go in the kit. It’s a meaningful way to get youth involved in helping the community.
  • Donate food items like canned food, bottled drinks like juices or water, snacks such as granola bars or power bars, instant oatmeal and instant soup. Perishable, unwrapped and homemade food items will not be accepted.

 

Items can also be dropped-off at the Multi-Service Center upon request. Call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4586 to set up a time to drop off. To learn about more ways to get involved, click here.

 

The City does not represent or warrant that any donations made to the City are tax deductible. Donors are encouraged to work with their tax professional. Receipts of donations are available at all drop off locations.

 

For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness

March 10th is Women and

 Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Though HIV diagnoses among women have declined in recent years, nearly 7,000 women received an HIV diagnosis in the United States and dependent areas in 2019. 


Check out what our Health Department is doing to further education and prevention here.

Community Health Fair at Houghton Park

California Black Health Network in collaboration with Black Health Equity Collaborative Long Beach is hosting a community health and wellness event and health fair to engage residents in North, Central, and West Long Beach to become more proactive about their health and well-being. This area of Long Beach has the most significant health disparities among Black residents, especially diabetes.


This event aims to improve the health literacy of residents, education on diabetes prevention, and enhance access to resources to help manage their health and well-being. The event will serve as a platform to kick off CBHN’s diabetes awareness and education program, in recognition of American Diabetes Alert Day.


The event will include, but not limited to, the following activities to address residents’ needs for diabetes management and prevention:


  • Cooking demonstrations by community partners such as Black Women for Wellness’ Kitchen Divas program
  • Physical activity with fitness and movement experts
  • Dancing to music by a local artist or DJ
  • Diabetes screening
  • Covered California Healthcare Plan enrollment
  • CalFresh enrollment
  • Mobile COVID-19 and flu Vaccination Unit


Event attendees will receive, diabetes prevention tips, healthy lifestyle information, and a list of community resources. They will also receive a “health passport” that can be redeemed for gifts and prizes, once stamps are accumulated from the various health vendors.


**Attendance is free! To attend, please RSVP HERE**

LBPL Virtual Author Talks

The virtual talks for the month of March will take place on the days listed below. All talks include a live Q&A with each author. Registration is required and participants are encouraged to register and submit their questions even if they cannot attend the live sessions because each one is recorded and posted on LBPL’s author talk website.


  • Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. with David Epstein – Join us for a conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein as he chats about his most recent book, "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World." 


  • Tuesday, March 21, at 1 p.m. with Celebrity Chef Jernard Wells – Join us for delicious conversation with Celebrity Chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook "Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes From My American Table to Yours."



  • Tuesday, March 28, at 4 p.m. with Pam Jenoff – Join us for an exciting trip through time as we chat with New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Pam Jenoff about her newest book "Code Name Sapphire.  

The Inclusive Business Navigators Program provides free technical assistance, workshops, and business coaching/advising services to Long Beach small businesses. Assistance is available in multiple languages through our partners listed below.


Assistance is available for:



  • Grant and loan application assistance
  • Business planning
  • Financial accounting
  • Marketing and communications
  • Operations and Human Resources
  • Digital resources
  • Government procurement
  • And more!


If you're not sure who to call for the assistance you need for your business, please call the BizCare Hotline for guidance at 562-570-4BIZ (4249).


This program is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

Carl Moyer Workshop in Riverside

On behalf of South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), I want to share the following workshop information for the Carl Moyer Program, a funding opportunity for zero-emission and low-emission heavy-duty vehicles, engines and equipment.

Bi-Monthly Waste Collection at EDCO

The City hosts FREE Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Collection Events every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month* from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at EDCO Recycling & Transfer Center in Signal Hill. Drop off your hazardous household items, old electronics, and used tires safely and responsibly.


All materials must be placed in an unlocked trunk. Participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and remain in their vehicles. Please stay home if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been asked to quarantine.

Stay Connected
District 2 Website
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City Hall Office
411 W Ocean Blvd.
11th Floor, Long Beach 90802
(562) 570-2222
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Field Office
Bixby Park
130 Cherry Ave., Long Beach 90802
(562) 570-2221
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