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Hello Innovator!
Welcome to the March 2026 Smart City Initiative Newsletter, your central hub for the latest updates on emerging tech, digital learning workshops and opportunities, cybersecurity best practices, innovative solutions being implemented in Long Beach, and more!
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Technology Planning & Partnerships (TPP) Release 2025 Year in Review
The City's Technology Planning & Partnerships (TPP) team has published a 2025 Year in Review Annual Report to share their challenges, successes, projects, and plans and goals for the next year.
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City of Long Beach Launches New AI Strategy!
We have officially launched Long Beach's first AI Strategy. This roadmap outlines how we plan to use Artificial Intelligence responsibly and transparently, while building public trust, minimizing risks, and safeguarding City data. Read the InsideLB News article here!
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Exploring How City Tech Collects Resident Data
Smart lampposts and automatic license plate readers? How do those operate in Long Beach? Lucky for you, we break down how innovative civic technology collects our data in these fun, digestible “Edutainment” videos! Watch the second and third Edutainment video!
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Love Your Block Community Workdays
2025 Love Your Block mini-grant projects are now underway! This March and April, resident-led projects will come to life in different areas of Westside Long Beach. With projects varying from bee sanctuaries to community gardens. But, we need your help to make them happen! Community workdays give Long Beach residents an opportunity to participate in lasting and groundbreaking projects.
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Strengthening Trust in AI in the Public Sector
Artificial Intelligence in the public sector is becoming an increasingly popular topic, especially with AI apps that help cities answer their residents’ pressing concerns and questions. In Long Beach, we’re
finding ways to effectively and safely apply AI tools that will benefit residents and city staff and build public trust. But that doesn’t come without its challenges with state and federal funding and establishing guidelines for
safe AI use.
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Podcast Feature! How Long Beach, CA is Closing Its Digital Divide
In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, Susan Linder sits down with Lea Eriksen, Director of Technology and Innovation and CIO for the City of Long Beach, to unpack the human stories behind civic innovation. They explore how innovation in government differs from innovation in the private sector, why people and process often matter more than tools, and how programs like Smart City Challenge, Pitch Long Beach, and LB Co-Lab invited city staff, residents, and vendors into the same room to solve shared problems.
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Long Beach Opens Second Round Applications for Love Your Block
Westside Long Beach residents have another opportunity to apply for Love Your Block mini-grants to address neighborhood challenges. This program aligns with Long Beach’s Westside Promise initiative, aimed at securing grants and partnerships to further enhance the communities within the area.
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A Comprehensive Vision for Long Beach's Work on AI
Artificial Intelligence in government can sound like a daunting subject, but the City of Long Beach has created a strategic AI roadmap to help implement AI and achieve four core initiatives. Program Manager for AI and Data Governance, Malgosia Rejniak, shares what this plan entails and progress so far into 2026.
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Digital Skills Classes
The Digital Skills Learn & Earn Program is expanding! We are inviting new program participants to take part in future cohorts at local Long Beach public libraries. This is a 5-week program where participants learn foundational digital and computer skills, and those who complete the program may be eligible to receive a free computing device.
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National Digital Inclusion Alliance Trailblazer Award
Long Beach was recently named as a 2025 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, marking the eighth year in a row that Long Beach has received this honor! New grants from the California Public Utilities Commission will help expand digital skills for residents, support local entrepreneurs, and enhance AI and data privacy programs.
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Smart 20 Awards
We’re excited to announce that the City of Long Beach has been awarded a 2026 Smart 20 Award and recognized as a finalist in the IDC Smart Cities Awards! Long Beach was acknowledged for the launch of the Throne Labs Smart Public Restrooms pilot program in May 2025, with four restrooms stationed in different areas of the city. Given the positive feedback and high demand for the restrooms, the pilot program was extended until September 2026.
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Disability Data & Community Survey
People with disabilities who live, work, attend school, or spend time in Long Beach should complete this 15-minute survey. Take the survey online in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog.
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