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Happy almost-Halloween, District 5! I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday. I hope you’ve enjoyed this spooky season’s fair share of events all over Long Beach—and if you haven’t, it’s not too late! More on that below, but first, some business.
At Council on Tuesday, we received the 17th update on the City's Homelessness Emergency Declaration, as we continue to be in a state of emergency. Efforts over the last few weeks included the beginning stages of the plans for more winter shelter beds and the relocation of the City's Safe Parking program to a site that can host 50 vehicles. Moving forward, the City is continuing to address this emergency with service outreach, community engagement, and efforts to increase interim and long-term housing.
I would like to take a moment to recognize Ms. Kelly Colopy, who worked her last day today as the City of Long Beach's Health and Human Services Director. She has held this role over the last 10 years, during which time she navigated us through some particularly trying times and oversaw a number of diverse and critical public health efforts. We thank her for all she has done to make Long Beach, as she puts it, a "more healthy and resilient City." Ms. Colopy will be missed, but we wish her every success in her future endeavors. We are also happy to welcome the appointment of Ms. Alison King as the Acting Director for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) following the City Manager's announcement.
I also want to take this moment to congratulate our newest Long Beach Police Officers! The LBPD Academy’s Class #97 graduated 29 recruits on Tuesday. We are so proud of all their hard work, and I thank them for choosing to serve our community! I wish them each nothing but the best as they move forward in their careers.
As for upcoming events, we still have plenty more in store. Tomorrow, October 28th from 10am – 3pm, join me at the Historical Society of Long Beach’s annual Historical Cemetery Tour. Actors in period-appropriate costumes will perform graveside to share stories of our city’s history, from the lives of important political figures as well as from ordinary citizens. There are plenty of wonderful performances to see, so we recommend arriving before noon for the full experience. Find more information and book your tickets here! Next weekend, on Saturday November 4th at 11am, you can celebrate the lives of loved ones lost with the whole city, at the Día de Los Muertos Parade. Find more information in the flyer below.
Another great event coming down the pike: District 5’s Aquarium Day! The Aquarium of the Pacific is allowing free entry for District 5 residents on Wednesday, November 29th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. We will have a limited number of entries available, and a limit of 6 entries per household, so keep an eye out in future newsletters for the registration link as the date approaches. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Finally, I'd like to remind everyone that our next Council Meeting will be Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 5pm. A list of the items of interest will be provided in a future newsletter; I encourage you to attend, or watch online.
Let's get to work,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Upcoming Events &
Community Meetings
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Long Beach Police Department
News & Events
Save the Date: Coffee with a Commander
Meet your District 5 Police Commanders! Save the following dates to meet and get to know your area Commanders over a cup of coffee. Not sure which Division you're in? A map of the LBPD Divisions can be found here.
East Division: Commander Michael Pennino
Wednesday November 8th, 9am
The Local Grind | 5933 E Spring St
North Division: Commander Paul Gallo
Monday November 13th, 5pm
SteelCraft Long Beach | 3768 Long Beach Blvd
North Division Commander's Forum
Commander Paul Gallo invites North Division community members to join him at the next informative meeting on:
Wednesday, November 8 at 6:00 pm
Jordan High School
6500 Atlantic Ave (Community Room)
If you have any specific questions and/or concerns that you would like him to address, please send them to us by email at lbpdnorth@longbeach.gov by Friday, November 3.
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Upcoming Job & Career Fairs!
Long Beach to Host Career Fair at Long Beach City College on November 2
In partnership with the Long Beach City College Office of Workforce Development, the City of Long Beach will host a career fair at the LB City College Pacific Coast Campus (1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway). The career fair, open to current LBCC students and the general public, will feature a variety of career paths from over 10 City departments and will take place on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in GG Building, Room 238. At the career fair, attendees can browse information booths hosted by City departments and learn about the various job opportunities available. Positions range from entry-level to professional or highly skilled.
Application assistance workshops will also be available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to registered participants. Free parking will be available in Parking Lot 2, located off Orange and Alamitos Avenues. GG Building is located just south of Alamitos Avenue.
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Parks, Recreation & Marine Job Fairs to Showcase Recreation Leader Employment Opportunities
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) has planned a series of job fairs to share information on current and upcoming job openings for part-time, non-career positions. Job seekers interested in learning more about these employment opportunities are encouraged to attend.
PRM Community Recreation Services Bureau staff will provide information on a wide range of recreation programs that are currently hiring or will start hiring in the near future. Folks are encouraged to come by and meet supervisors and current staff and learn what a day in the life of a Long Beach Recreation Leader is like. Participants are encouraged to view more information about the current open positions and are welcome to apply on the Job Opportunities webpage at LBParks.org. For additional information about the PRM Job Fair visit LBParks.org, or call 562.570.3150.
- Two Information Only Job Fairs will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.) and Tuesday, Dec. 5 at El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.) from 6 to 8 p.m., where participants can learn about current and upcoming employment opportunities.
- A third job fair will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at the Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) where, in addition to the informational component, attendees can apply to currently open positions and may have the opportunity to participate in interviews onsite. The job fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with interviews beginning at 10 a.m.
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Long Beach Airport News
Long Beach Airport Comprehensive Report
We know many of you are awaiting the comprehensive report my colleagues and I requested from the City Manager regarding the policies and practices of general aviation at the Long Beach Airport. The City Manger's team and relevant departments have been working diligently on this report to ensure appropriate quality and accuracy. We anticipate the report will be delivered early next week. For those of you who have reached out to my office on this matter, I will ensure the report reaches you as soon as it is made public. We anticipate the presentation from the City Manager's office, and the subsequent opportunity for public comment, will be brought before Council in the coming weeks.
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Homelessness Emergency Declaration
Long Beach to Host ‘Tiny Homes’ Virtual Community Meeting on October 30
The Health Department invites community members to participate in an upcoming virtual community meeting where they can learn about the Tiny Modular Shelter project, or “Tiny Homes,” the City’s next variation of interim housing options for people experiencing homelessness.
The virtual community meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, via Zoom. Advanced registration is required to receive the link to the meeting. Interpretation services will be available in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog with additional languages available upon advanced request.
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City Extends Operations for Safe Parking Program, Relocates Site to Close to Multi-Service Center
Long Beach has extended its Safe Parking Program and relocated the operating site to a larger, medium-term location near the City’s Multi-Service Center (MSC).
The Safe Parking Program provides a safe, dignified environment for people living in their vehicles to park overnight while also being connected to supportive services and temporary or permanent housing.
The Safe Parking Program now operates at a parking lot located at 1664 W. Anaheim St., near the southeast corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Anaheim Street. The relocated operating site expands nightly occupancy to 50 parking spots, includes basic needs like privacy, restrooms, handwashing stations, and a pet relief area, and offers participants easier access to the MSC for additional services during the day. The program operates seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.
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Long Beach Seeks Volunteers for 2024 Homeless Point in Time Count
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is seeking 300 community volunteers to help conduct the 2024 Point in Time Count, its street count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, which will take place on Jan. 25, 2024.
We invite you to join us for a hands-on opportunity to hear directly from people experiencing homelessness and partner in improving the services and solutions we offer. Volunteer registration is now available and will remain open until the available volunteer slots are filled. Click here to register!
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City Increases Homeless Service Outreach with Mobile Access Centers
The MAC significantly lowers barriers to providing case management services and other resources for people experiencing homelessness. The schedule below reflects the current schedule, inclusive of both MAC vehicles.
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Community Invited to Provide Feedback on LGBTQ+ Cultural District Visioning Process
The Long Beach Community Development Department has created concepts for a vision and feasibility plan for the new LGBTQ+ Cultural District and the community is invited to identify and prioritize which improvements are most important by completing an online survey.
The survey will be available in various languages including English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog through Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may visit a public computer lab available at any open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey.
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Health Department to Host Food Safety Workshop
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Environmental Health Bureau is hosting a food safety workshop inviting business owners, entrepreneurs and all interested in operating a food business at community events or certified farmers’ markets. The workshop will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Long Beach Energy Resources (2400 E. Spring St.).
Sidewalk food vendors are strongly encouraged to attend so they may learn how to obtain a temporary health permit and operate legally at community events. These requirements are different from those needed to obtain an annual sidewalk food vendor health permit. A workshop focused on annual sidewalk food vendor health permits is expected to take place following the establishment of a local sidewalk vending ordinance. Registration, while not required, is appreciated. People may register online.
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Health Department Offering Free Flu Vaccines at Mobile Access Centers and Multi-Service Center
The Long Beach Health Department is offering free flu vaccinations for people experiencing homelessness, available at Mobile Access Center (MAC) locations and the Multi-Service Center (MSC) on select dates over the coming weeks. This is part of the City's ongoing effort to offer more accessible public health services for people experiencing homelessness, who are inherently at higher risk of developing more severe complications from the flu.
Flu vaccinations will be available at the City’s MAC while supplies last - read the full press release for dates and locations. People experiencing homelessness may also receive a free flu vaccination at any of the City-run vaccination sites and community clinics.
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City of Long Beach Encourages Treats, not Tricks, for a Safe Halloween
Halloween is a highly anticipated holiday. The City of Long Beach reminds trick-or-treaters and all Halloween revelers to celebrate safely on Tuesday, Oct. 31, and all season long, with the safety tips in this press release to avoid potential unwelcome hazards.
By following the Celebrate Safely tips, everyone is sure to have a frightfully fun and safe Halloween.
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Long Beach Seeks Volunteers for 2023 Día de los Muertos Parade
To help support the City of Long Beach’s 2023 Día de los Muertos Parade, taking place Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Downtown Long Beach, the Office of First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas is seeking volunteers from local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community groups.
Volunteer opportunities are available from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Those interested in volunteering can sign up via the online form and, following registration submission, will receive additional details on currently available volunteer assignments.
For more information, people can contact the First District Council Office at 562.570.6919 or district1@longbeach.gov.
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Health Department Hosts Filipino Community Health Needs Assessment Presentation and Roundtable
The Long Beach Health Department will host a presentation of the Filipino Community Needs Health Assessment from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.), followed by a roundtable discussion. The Filipino Community Needs Assessment assesses community strengths and service gaps in relation to the health and wellbeing of the Filipino community in Long Beach.
People are encouraged to RSVP in advance using the Filipino Community Health Needs Assessment Presentation and Roundtable Registration Form. Interpretation services will be available in Tagalog. People may request interpretation in other languages using the RSVP link at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. November 14, 2023, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
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