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Happy Friday, District 5! If you didn’t already know, it’s not too late to celebrate Black Restaurant Week here in Long Beach! The week-long celebration’s mission is to spotlight Black-owned culinary businesses, talented Black chefs, and skilled bartenders as we discover the rich flavors of African, African American, and Caribbean cuisine in and around Long Beach. Find special deals and support Black-owned restaurants through this weekend! See below for participating restaurants in CD5.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council voted to approve Item 14, a subsidy for unleaded aviation fuel at Long Beach Airport, and Item 13, designating elements of former Fire Station 9 as landmark. See below for more detailed updates on each of these items.
Thursday started early, with my team and I joining 300 other local volunteers at 4:30am for the Annual Homelessness Point in Time Count. Thank you to everyone who was a part of making this year’s Count possible! See below for more details and some photos!
Moving into next week, there is still time to take part in the early conversations around the priorities for the Fiscal Year ’25 Budget. You can attend the in-person meeting on Tuesday, January 30th at Recreation Park (4900 E 7th St) or join the virtual meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, January 31st. Click here or the flyers below to RSVP.
Looking for local activities this weekend? You can stop by LBX for a “Kid-centric Maker Market” on Saturday, January 27th from 12pm – 5pm. Bring the little ones for a fun afternoon of kid-friendly shopping, music, activities, and a visit from Bluey the Dog! You can also enjoy the Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s production of the classic romantic comedy, “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” opening this weekend at the Helen Borger Theater (4250 Atlantic Ave). See the flyer below for more details.
Next weekend, kick off Black History Month by celebrating at First Fridays in Bixby Knolls on February 2nd from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. Experience art, music, education, and more with the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach (AACCLB) at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave), as well as with the shops, restaurants, and fellow neighbors up and down the street. Hope to see you there!
As you continue to plan for next weekend, keep in mind that Long Beach residents can recycle an old mattress for free on Saturday, February 3rd, from 8am – 2pm at 970 West Chester Place. If you can’t make it this month, don’t worry, there will be another event on March 2nd. See the flyers below for more details.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, February 6th at 5pm. Due to maintenance at the City Hall Chambers, the Council meeting will be held at Long Beach City College (4901 E Carson St.). A list of items of interest will be in a future newsletter. I encourage you to attend or watch online.
As always, I am grateful for your continued engagement with me and my office, and I look forward to seeing you out in the community.
The work continues,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Upcoming Events &
Community Meetings
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Black Restaurant Week
Find Great Deals and Support Long Beach Black Restaurant Week
Celebrate Black Restaurant Week! Check out deals from these Black-owned restaurants in CD5!
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Long Beach Airport
News & Updates
Unleaded Fuel Subsidy at Long Beach Airport
At the January 23, 2024, City Council meeting, my colleagues and I voted on Item 14, to take another step in incentivizing the transition to unleaded aviation fuel, at Long Beach Airport (LGB). With this vote, the city will implement a new subsidy program to offset unleaded fuel costs for general aviation users. LGB is one of a handful of airports across the nation to offer local subsidies and incentives as we continue to advocate for federal regulations. This action is a pivotal step in our commitment to limit the impact of leaded aviation fuel on our community. Taking these bold steps at the local level puts Long Beach at the forefront of forging a path toward a cleaner and brighter future.
The adoption of this subsidy program follows a series of actions taken by the City Council and Long Beach Airport to facilitate the move towards unleaded aviation fuel. Below is a brief timeline of our steps thus far:
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October 2022 – City Manager, Airport staff, and stakeholders began working to establish a plan to reduce and mitigate lead pollution, by exploring possible incentives programs.
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December 2022 – The City Council voted to waive fuel flowage fees for unleaded avgas.
- August 2023 – Unleaded fuel became available at LGB, from Signature Aviation @ Aeroplex.
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September 2023 – Councilwoman Kerr, co-sponsored by Councilman Supernaw, requested a comprehensive report on general aviation, including detail on how the use of unleaded fuel could be incentivized, which the City Council approved. Airport staff subsequently published the Oct. 31, 2023, memo.
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November 2023 – The City Council approved a Supplemental Type Certificate Fee (STC) reimbursement program, which took effect this month and provides up to $300 for aircraft owners to obtain required approval from the FAA before their plane can use unleaded fuel (www.lgb.org/stc).
LEARN MORE…
Airport History Talk
Thursday, I attended the Airport History Talk at Billie Jean King Library, the latest celebration of Long Beach Airport’s centennial. Coauthors Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson and Dr. Phillip Hart have put together an extensive report on the airport’s history, with a special focus on the untold, hidden, and forgotten stories throughout our City’s inherited legacy. The presentation they gave was a mere snapshot of the report and illuminated the role Long Beach has played in the aviation history of the region. It also highlighted the contributions of some lesser known but still vitally important figures from the airport’s early days, particularly those of women and people of color. Learn more by reading the full report or perusing the executive summary brochure!
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Long Beach Community Development News
Landmark Designation of Former Fire Station 9
At the Tuesday, January 23rd Council meeting, my colleagues and I voted on Item 13 to give certain elements of the Former Fire Station 9 building landmark designation. The fire station was funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the aftermath of the 1933 earthquake, the association to which qualifies the building for historical preservation. We have learned that the best way to truly preserve buildings and keep them alive is through adaptive reuse. The more we continue to use the space, the more life we continue to breathe into it, and the better cared for the building the remains.
With that in mind, my colleagues and I agreed to designate the exterior of the building as landmark, but allow for more leniency on the interior elements, so as not to limit the capabilities for functional adaptive reuse. With the interior elements we expect the new owners and users of the building to keep them intact wherever possible. If the elements are proven impossible to incorporate into the new space, they will be preserved in memory through high level photography. It will be a collaborative process, as we know the prospective new owners value maintaining connections to history, and will prioritize making a safe, comfortable, inviting space for the community to enjoy.
To learn more, watch the discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting here and find the item’s supporting documents here.
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Long Beach Homeless Services
2024 Homeless Point In Time Count
Thursday morning was the Annual Homelessness Point in Time Count. Run by the incredible, hard-working Health Department team, the Count ran smoothly as all 300+ volunteers were dispatched around the city to count and connect with our unhoused neighbors. We learned not only the best estimate of how many people were unhoused on Wednesday night, but also the stories of many of the individuals we encountered. Our Office was dispatched to the west side of CD5 where we were able to connect some of those in need with resources and hear from individuals themselves about how they ended up where they are. The information gathered will help guide the City as we move forward to improve upon our policies and services to assist those in need.
As a reminder, if you see someone you suspect is experiencing homelessness and want to help, please reach out to the Multi-Service Center at (562) 570 4MSC.
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Long Beach Transit
News & Updates
Service Changes in Effect February 4th
Long Beach Transit has three annual service changes, in February, June, and August, to improve the efficiency and on-time reliability of bus schedules. The February service change is planned to take effect on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, and will include service changes for routes including the 131 and 41, both of which pass through or stop in CD5. For a full summary of changes, visit ridelbt.com/servicechange.
For comments or questions regarding LBT’s service, please email comments@lbtransit.com or call the Customer Care team at 562.591.2301.
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Long Beach Health Department
News & Updates
Resolve to stay healthy this New Year!
With respiratory virus transmission increasing in Los Angeles County, consider taking simple safety measures, like staying home, testing and getting treatment if sick.
The safest and easiest way to limit your risks of becoming very sick from COVID-19 is by getting the updated vaccine. Testing and knowing if you are infected can reduce your chances of unintentionally spreading COVID-19 to others. At-home COVID-19 tests are easy to use and widely available in Los Angeles County at no cost to you. Learn how to get free test kits at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests. You can order four free At-Home tests here.
If you do test positive, paxlovid, the antiviral medication to treat COVID-19, is widely available throughout Los Angeles County at retail pharmacies:
- At pharmacies, ask if the product is free when placing your prescription.
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If it is not free, ask about the co-pay savings program.
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If you are uninsured or under-insured, find information about a patient savings program at Paxlovid.com.
- COVID-19 treatment remains free through Public Health Telehealth services.
If you need a telehealth appointment or help getting a prescription for COVID-19 medication, call the LA County Public Health InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
Additionally, you may notice Licensed Healthcare Facilities that provide Inpatient Care requiring patients and providers to mask again as the Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reached Medium Level.
Masking in these facilities will remain in effect until the COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level in Los Angeles County is below the CDC’s Medium Level for at least 14 consecutive days.
Mobile Outreach Vehicle
Mobile vaccination and mobile testing is being offered as a service for individuals who are not able to travel to Long Beach COVID-19 Vaccination/Testing Clinics, such as those in skilled nursing, elder care, sober living and other facilities, and older adults who cannot leave their homes. Mobile vaccination and testing will be available weekdays for Long Beach residents in an eligible tier with mobility issues and Long Beach facilities.
To request mobile vaccine for residents with mobility issues (in an eligible tier), complete this form or call the Public Health Info Line at (562)-570-4636 (open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To request mobile testing, complete this form or call the Long Beach Public Health Info Line at (562) 570-4636 (open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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Homelessness Emergency Declaration
As we experience cold and wet weather, people who are sleeping out in the open are more likely to seek shelter. Building overhangs and stoops provide protection from the elements for those who have chosen not to come into our city’s winter and inclement weather shelters. People become homeless for a wide variety of different reasons and situations, and it often takes several outreach attempts before services are accepted. If you would like to request outreach to be dispatched to a specific area, please call the Multi-Service Center at (562) 570 4672.
Long Beach Inclement Weather Shelter Program
The City of Long Beach will utilize its Multi-Service Center (MSC) to serve as an overnight Inclement Weather Shelter for people experiencing homelessness during the winter months. The City will activate the emergency shelter site during extreme weather conditions to provide temporary, low-barrier, safe, and supportive emergency shelter to protect individuals experiencing homelessness from severe cold and wet weather conditions.
Community members interested in supporting the Inclement Weather Shelter can donate items for hygiene kits and/or cold-weather items like blankets, coats, socks, sweaters, beanies, gloves, and handwarmers.
The facility will be activated as needed now through March 2024. Read these FAQs or visit longbeach.gov/homelessness for more information.
Long Beach Winter Shelter Program
The Long Beach Winter Shelter is open! Beds were made available as of Tuesday, November 14th. Open now through March 31st, we are able to support over 120 beds this winter at our permanent location, 702 E Anaheim. Inclement weather dictating, the shelter may remain open later into spring as well.
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 as of January 3, 2024, inclusive of both MAC vehicles.
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South Coast Air Quality
Management District (AQMD)
Check Before You Burn: A Message from South Coast AQMD
November marked the start of the South Coast AQMD’s annual Check Before You Burn season. From November through the end of February, residents are asked to check whether a No-Burn Day has been declared before burning wood fireplaces to limit emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
A No-Burn Day is a 24-hour ban on wood-burning in residential fireplaces, stoves, or outdoor fire pits in the South Coast Air Basin. South Coast AQMD forecasters call for residential No-Burn Days when PM2.5 is expected to reach Unhealthy levels due to air emissions and stagnant weather conditions.
Click here to learn more and to access public resources for daily forecast information.
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Health Department Launches New Dashboard Featuring Local HIV Data
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has launched a new data dashboard displaying local HIV data regarding people who are newly diagnosed with HIV or currently living with HIV, as well as data regarding people with HIV who died in Long Beach.
The HIV Data Dashboard offers a comprehensive look at HIV in Long Beach since 2019, including key demographic data such as race, ethnicity, gender, zip code and age. The dashboard is comprised of data collected by the City’s HIV/STI Surveillance Program and the California Department of Public Health’s Office of AIDS Program.
LEARN MORE...
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Community Crisis Response Team Expands to Downtown Long Beach
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is expanding the service area for its Community Crisis Response (CCR) team, a three-person team that responds to a subset of calls-for-service where mental health support, health education and resource navigation could support the safety and health outcomes for community members at the center of calls.
The team, which launched its pilot program in July 2023, currently serves West Long Beach. By expanding its service area to include Downtown, CCR will be able to support more of the community while improving safety and quality of life in the Downtown area.
LEARN MORE...
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Unleaded Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program to Launch at Long Beach Airport
In its latest move to accelerate the transition of aviation fuel, also known as avgas, at Long Beach Airport (LGB) from leaded to unleaded, the City Council last night approved with a 9 to 0 vote to implement a new subsidy program to offset unleaded fuel costs for general aviation users. The program will not apply to commercial and business jets, which already use unleaded fuel.
LGB is one of only a handful of airports in the nation to offer a financial subsidy to encourage the purchase of unleaded aviation fuel.
LEARN MORE...
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LB Public Library Presents “Our History, Our Future,” a Celebration of Black History and Culture
The Long Beach Public Library is proud to announce the launch of "Our History, Our Future," a month-long celebration dedicated to honoring and showcasing the richness of Black history and culture. These vibrant events will feature a series of thought-provoking and inspiring activities that highlight Black love, self-identity, self-care, art and joy within the Black community.
The festivities will commence on Saturday, Feb. 3, with a dynamic “Black Excellence Professional Development Day” taking place at Billie Jean King Main Library (9200 W. Broadway) from 1 to 4 p.m.
LEARN MORE...
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Office of Youth Development Announces Second Year of Youth Power PB (Participatory Budgeting)
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Youth Development, in partnership with The Nonprofit Partnership and Invest in Youth Coalition, anchored by Khmer Girls in Action, has announced the second year of Youth Power PB Long Beach, a participatory budgeting process where youth vote on how to spend public dollars on youth projects.
An information session will take place at the Office of Youth Development (6335 Myrtle Ave.) on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. to kick-off the idea collection phase of the process.
LEARN MORE...
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City Announces Launch of a New Parent Information Workshop Series for Families and Caregivers
The City's Department of Health and Human Services and the Long Beach Public Library are partnering on a new series of parent education workshops. The workshops, focused on parents of children from 0 to 5 years old, will cover a variety of topics, including special education, early start intervention and mental health and will be taught by local experts who specialize in various fields of early childhood.
This initiative aims to ensure Long Beach families experiencing developmental concerns about their child are connected to services in a timely manner. The parent information workshops, which will also serve to connect families to resources, will kick off in January 2024.
LEARN MORE...
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LB Public Library Presents Early Learning Fairs: A Dive into Early Childhood Education
The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) invites parents and caregivers and their children to a series of Early Learning Fairs, a program for families who are looking to enroll their children in an early learning preschool program. Fairs are divided into four sessions and will begin on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Registration is not required to attend an Early Learning Fair. Parents with children ages 0 to 5 are also encouraged to learn and explore with them throughout the year by joining Dive Into Learning, LBPL’s early learning program. To sign up, visit longbeach.beanstack.org, download the Beanstack tracker app, or visit your local LBPL location. Please call 562.570.5455 for more information.
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City Seeks Community Input for Creative Economy Grants’ Public Mural Program
The City of Long Beach launched a community survey for its Public Mural Program, an entity of the City's Creative Grants Program that is funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act and administered by the Arts Council of Long Beach (ArtsLB).
Now through Feb. 2, 2024, members of the community are invited to submit a community survey, available in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog, to provide their input on the Public Mural Program
LEARN MORE...
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. February 6, 2023, 5:00pm
4901 E. CARSON STREET LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE
LIBERAL ARTS CAMPUS, BUILDING T, ROOM 1100
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