D5 Newsletter: LBFD Community Day & Weekly Update

(562) 570 5555 | district5@longbeach.gov

LBFD Community Day & Weekly Update

Happy Friday, District 5! I want to thank everyone who was able to donate to a local nonprofit during Long Beach Gives, the annual citywide giving event. Over $1.9 million dollars were raised to support the nonprofits that funnel their efforts directly back to our communities! I heard there is still time; donations are still being accepted at longbeachgives.org until 10pm tonight.

Speaking of building strong communities, I hope to see you tomorrow, Sept. 21st, at our Fire & Rescue Community Day at Station 19 off Clark Ave! Join us from 10am – 1pm, to enjoy some free frozen treats while getting to know your local firefighters and first responders. See the flyer below for more info.

As you’re planning for the weekend, there’s plenty more to do in and around CD5! Tomorrow morning, Sept. 21st, you can choose to give back to the community in another way, by joining the 405-Fwy Clean Up from 8am – 11am, hosted in partnership with Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Lowenthal, and CalTrans. This weekend you can also support local female entrepreneurs at the back-to-back “Women in Business” Markets on the Hangar Lawn at LBX, on Saturday Sept. 21st from 12pm – 5pm, and on Sunday Sept. 22nd from 11am – 3pm. Additionally, you can visit the recently dedicated Willow Springs Park for this Sunday’s “Healing in the Park” experience, where you can learn to tune in to the healing power of nature. See the flyers below for more info on these and other local events!

Looking to next week, remember that Sept. 22nd through Sept. 28th is National Banned Books Week! This week draws attention to and spreads awareness about the dangers of censorship as attempts to ban books from schools, libraries, and bookstores continue to arise all over the country. Keep an eye out for the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, a huge advocate for the recognition of Banned Books Week in Long Beach, as they post up throughout the city to share information, including at the Expo Arts Center during BKBIA’s First Fridays on October 4th! See below for more information.

As October approaches, it’s that time of year where holiday decorations begin to emerge, and you may find your home storage spaces need a good declutter. If that sounds like you, keep in mind the following dates! On Saturday, Sept. 28th, stop by Vets Stadium to dispose of old documents, envelopes, and folders at a free shred event from 8am – 10am. Then, you can bring your large, bulky items to one of three dumpster locations at our free District 5 Dump Day! Find us at the Wardlow Park, Pan Am Park, or outside the Expo Arts Center on Saturday, October 5th from 8am – 12pm, to help keep difficult to dispose of items out of streets and alleyways! See the flyers below for more details.

Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1st at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. A list of items of interest can be found 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,

Megan Kerr, Councilwoman

Long Beach, District 5

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Community News & Updates

Banned Books Week

"Freed Between the Lines" | Sept 22 - Sept 28

On Tuesday, I brought forward Item 23, to adopt a resolution to recognize the week of Sept. 22nd to 28th as National Banned Books Week in the City of Long Beach, and continue to recognize all future Banned Books Weeks in alignment with the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library's yearly designation. I thank my colleagues for their support.

This resolution stands as a symbol of our commitment to the exchange of ideas, the right to access information, and the nurturing of an informed population, and shows our support for the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library and one of their core missions of guarding against censorship. See the flyer above to keep an eye out for the Friends as they post up around the city to spread awareness!

Thank you to the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library for your continued advocacy of the freedom to read. Let's continue fostering a well-read and well-informed community here in Long Beach!

Cal Heights Neighborhood Association

Centennial Block Party

Last weekend, the Cal Heights Neighborhood Association celebrated the neighborhood’s 100th anniversary with a Centennial Block Party! My office and I were proud to attend and sponsor this event that brought neighbors together to gather, connect, and share in the pride for Cal Heights. Thank you to all who were in attendance and thank you especially to the CHNA board members who made the day’s festivities possible! We look forward to having you at Council later this fall for a commemoration of this momentous milestone, 100 years of Cal Heights!

Arts Council for Long Beach

Mural Selected for Heartwell Park & other locations throughout City

The results are in for the city’s Public Mural Program! Nine local artists and their mural concepts have been selected for installation in public spaces across the city, one per council district.

For CD5, the Heartwell Park Community Center will be enhanced with Peak Murals’ concept, “Unleash Nature.”

Thank you to all the community members who weighed in during the voting period in June and July, and thank you to the artists for sharing your passion, creativity, and skill to brighten our city’s parks and public spaces! We can look forward to the final murals beginning installation before the end of the year. Learn more in the recent press release or at artslb.org.

CD5 Dump Day

Free Dump Day | October 5th

Have large, bulky items taking up space in your home? Don’t leave them in the alley or on the curb, bring them to our District 5 Dump Day!

Find us as we partner with the Public Works Clean Team on Saturday, October 5th from 8am – 12pm, to bring dumpsters to three locations throughout District 5: Wardlow Park, Pan Am Park, and the Expo Arts Center!

Long Beach Organics Collection Program

First Phase Rollout Beginning October 14th

Public Works is launching a phased rollout of the Residential Organics Collection Program beginning this October. This program will bring Long Beach in compliance with Senate Bill 1383 which sets a statewide target to reduce organic materials from landfills. Residents located in Phase One service areas will receive a brand-new green cart during the week of October 14th, specifically for collecting yard trimmings and food scraps. Additionally, new blue carts will be issued for recycling, to replace the existing purple carts, which will be collected and recycled. Public Works aims for citywide implementation of these State mandates by the end of 2025.

To prepare, visit longbeach.gov/lbrecycles to learn more about the program, find answers to FAQs, and check the interactive map to see if your address is included in this first phase of the program.

Health & Human Services Department

Open House for Homeless Strategic Plan Update

The new Office of Homeless Strategy & Partnerships and the Dept of Health & Human Services are working together to develop the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan Update, a five-year plan that will continue the City’s efforts to address homelessness and housing insecurity in Long Beach.

Want to be part of the conversation? Attend the upcoming Open House to learn more about the Update progress, process, and the realities of homelessness in Long Beach, and for the opportunity to voice ideas, concerns, and solutions you may wish to share. Advanced registration is encouraged, but not required.

Homeless Strategic Plan Open House

Thursday, Sept 26, 2024 | 4 – 6pm

Ronald R. Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.)

Updated MAC Schedule September 2024

Another way you can support the City’s homelessness efforts is by sharing or dispersing the most up to date MAC schedule.

The Mobile Access Center (MAC) is a form of street outreach that increases access to services and resources for people experiencing homelessness, including case management, homelessness prevention, connection to mental health services, mail services, connection to housing and more.

Increased awareness of MAC outreach vehicles posted at regular locations could greatly assist a person experiencing homelessness connect with City services and facilities.