#GoLongBeach City Newsletter

#GOLONGBEACH

Welcome to our City Newsletter!

Greetings!

May is Bike Month and as a bike-friendly City we have a list of events for you to participate in. We ended April with our most successful Beach Streets with approximately more than 60,000 attendees all thanks to your participation!

The City is also proud to announce Kevin J. Jackson as the new Deputy City Manager who will begin June 26. Other exciting news includes a visit from the International Olympics Committee, the City’s commitment to help preserve the VIP Records Sign a historic landmark for Long Beach, new Midtown development and housing projects, the launch of new near-zero refuse trucks that will help reduce greenhouse emissions, and much more!

Scroll down to see for yourself.

Meet Long Beach's New Deputy City Manager

City Manager Patrick H. West named Kevin J. Jackson, Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Champaign, Illinois as Deputy City Manager for the City of Long Beach. Mr. Jackson will begin June 26.

International Olympic Committee

Comes to Long Beach

Last week the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was in town in a three-day tour of Los Angeles, which included a visit to the potential Long Beach Sports Park as a contender for the LA2014 Olympics. Some renderings were revealed to show how the City would be transformed for the Olympics. Wish Long Beach luck!

The City Helps Preserve V.I.P. Records Sign

The City of Long Beach has committed $80,000 to help remove, restore and landmark the 20-foot-tall “World Famous V.I.P. Records” sign in a historic first step toward creating a cultural arts museum that honors the city’s African-American community. Funding for the project comes from one-time discretionary spending allocated to District 6, an area in central Long Beach that is represented by Councilman Dee Andrews. He, along with Mayor Robert Garcia, were instrumental in reaching an agreement that benefited all parties, supporters of the restoration reported to the Long Beach Press Telegram.

Thanks for Coming to Beach Streets University!

The City of Long Beach hosted its third open streets event in the East Side near the Cal State Long Beach campus and it was extremely successful. It was one the City's most successful Beach Streets with an estimated more than 60,000 people. Watch our recap video above to see if you might have been featured!

Long Beach Continues to be Bike-Friendly

Long Beach Celebrates Bike Month with Unveiling of Primal Alchemy Unicorn Bike

On Saturday, May 6, the City unveiled it's second "Unicorn Bike" in partnership with local catering business Primal Alchemy. One of the City's blue Bike Share bikes has been has temporarily transformed with neon green paint and wood paneling. Make sure to keep an eye out for it to win prizes! Read more

Long Beach Receives Silver Bicycle Friendly Community Award

On Friday, May 12, the League of American Bicyclists recognized 37 communities with Bicycle Friendly Community award and Long Beach was one of them receiving a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community award. Read more

Improvements to Broadway Corridor

are on the Horizon

On Saturday, May 6, nearly 100 residents and stakeholders gathered to learn about how the City, using Measure A funding, is moving forward on the community’s vision for an improved Broadway corridor.

Affordable Housing Remains

Part of City's Revitalization Plans

City Adopts Proposals Aimed at Increasing Affordable Housing

On Tuesday, May 2, City Council on adopted all but one of 29 affordable housing recommendations aimed at preserving and producing more units for low- and moderate-income families in Long Beach. A 88-page report with policy recommendations created by tenants, landlords, developers and housing advocated was discussed.
Read more

Transit-Oriented Development and Enhanced Urban Environment to Spark Midtown Transformation

Enhanced walkability, improved mobility options for bicycles and transit riders, and new development and housing opportunities along the Long Beach Boulevard corridor will create a thriving community in Midtown Long Beach. Read more

New Mixed-Use Development Approved for Downtown Long Beach

Downtown Long Beach continues to flourish with a new seven-story, 142-unit mixed-use development that will provide new housing and amenities in the urban core. The Broadway and Magnolia Apartments will promote greater livability and economic energy in the Downtown. Read more

First Near-Zero Emissions

Refuse Truck Unveiled!

Being a "green" City is also a priority for Long Beach which is why the City was excited to unveil its first municipal near-zero emissions refuse truck. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially for heavy trucks driven daily in the Long Beach area, is vital for improving air quality and public health.

Announcements

Congratulations to our Long Beach Public Library for being selected as 1 of 10 recipients of the National Medal by the Institute of Museum and Library Services! Click here to read more.

Over the last several weeks, Long Beach Fire Department Marine Safety has received numerous reports of shark sightings near the Peninsula oceanfront. The level of confirmed shark activity this spring is consistent with that which was observed by Marine Safety in the spring of 2016.

Marine Safety will continue to take reports from the public and actively work to confirm sightings. Rescue Boats will continue to conduct patrols of the area throughout the day. If sightings are confirmed, advisories will continue to be made to recreational beach users.

Click here to watch this CNN video with Philippe Cousteau giving some Shark 101.

Congratulations to District 9's Vice Mayor Rex Richardson for a successful #ColorBlockWalk in partnership with City Fabrick where the public was invited to provide feedback on the uptown open space plan.

Celebrate Bike Month with Long Beach! Here's a list of ways you can join the fun all month long.

Participate in #BiketoWorkWeek by joining us tomorrow for #BiketoLunchDay at the Downtown Promenade and meet us at Berlin Bistro Thursday morning for a ride in honor of #BiketoWorkDay.

Have an old bike lying around that you want to get rid of? If so, donate it to the City by dropping it off at any of the three locations listed below at our Bike Recycling Day!

Long Beach's Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications has partnered with Long Beach City College to host a FREE Earthquake preparedness workshop for businesses and organizations. Click here for more details.

Join us for the Grand Opening Celebration of the Colorado Lagoon Restoration happening Saturday, May 20 at 9:30 am!

You're invited to the dedication ceremony of the new El Dorado Nature Center happening Saturday, May 20 at 11:30 am.

Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine just released their summer catalog that offers over 400 classes and programs from June to August. Check out classes and register here today!

Long Beach Pride, one of Long Beach's most anticipated events is taking place May 20-21. Click here for more info.

#ListenUpLB the public is invited to collaborate with the City in updating the Noise Element by utilizing this interactive, easy-to-use, Noise Element Update Map Tool. The deadline is May 31 so hurry and click here to report your noise concerns!