We made it through the “Slow” season to another Summer! After four years on the job here in the Marine Bureau I’m not certain we ever have a “Slow” season in the Long Beach Marinas. I started my Parks, Recreation & Marine career in Community Recreation Services where you ramp up for Summer during the first five months of the year, Speed at 100 miles an hour for the three months of the summer season, then throttle back to close out the year as all the kids head back to school.
Our Long Beach Marinas system is a whole different animal. We are go, go, go year-round….. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. Whether it was watching our Beach Maintenance crew respond to, AND HANDLE, an unprecedented Southern California storm season that kicked off with Hurricane Kay in September 2022 and closed out with 989 tons of storm-related debris being removed from our beachfront in March 2023; supporting our Marine Maintenance team as they maintained and upgraded our facilities, especially our boatowner and public restrooms, through a Citywide Emergency Declaration to address homelessness in January 2023; or leading our Marine Operations staff as they provide slip opportunities to current and new customers; your Marine Bureau has and will continue to maintain, monitor and improve this world-class municipal marina system.
With that being said - Of all the special events, weather, maintenance & repair throughout each season of the year nothing quite compares to the expected exhilaration of summer. More sunshine, more warmth, more boaters, more kids, more events, just more everything.
If you are looking forward to this summer as much as I am make sure to add some May/June events to your calendar. Take the kids or grandkids to the Touch-a-Truck event on May 7 at Granada Beach. You might see me and my sons there. If you want to enjoy an adult beverage or two check out LA Beer Week at Shoreline Park on June 10. The Juneteenth Celebration at Rainbow Lagoon on June 17 is a tremendously fun event and is growing each year. Just three fun events coming your way to get your summer started.
Ending on a safety topic note I need to ask those of you that may keep a firearm aboard your vessel for some assistance. Further down in this Marina Reader issue is an article on California Safe Storage Laws. If you do have a firearm aboard make sure to stow it unloaded, using a state-approved firearm safety device (FSD), in a locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere on the vessel. While you may keep the firearm there for your safety make certain you are abiding by all applicable Federal and State laws to ensure the safety of everyone that may board your vessel.
Stay Well and Safe Boating,
Todd Leland
Interim Marine Bureau Manager
|