Public Works Department

Holiday Treecycling | Dec. 26 - Jan 9

Starting today, the City of Long Beach is once again offering free Holiday Treecycling, providing an accessible and responsible way to recycle live trees for residents. Now through Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, residents can drop off their used trees at 13 locations throughout Long Beach, at no charge.

Christmas trees are NOT accepted in organics carts as they are too heavy and bulky. To ensure the trees are diverted from landfills, residents are encouraged to drop off their trees at any of the 13 locations listed on the flyer. Locations in and near CD5 include:

• Wardlow Park – Monlaco Rd. at Rutgers Ave., 90808
• Scherer Park – 49th St. at Del Amo Blvd., 90807
• El Dorado Park – 2760 N Studebaker Rd. (at South parking lot, behind admin building), 90815

Residents are asked to remove all decorations and stands, and cut any trees over 12’ tall in half. For those who aren’t able to drop trees off, a one-time special collection will occur on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Residents with refuse, recycling, and organics collection service must place trees at their regular collection location by 7am on Jan 10 to have their live tree collected. Learn more in recent press release.

LA28 Olympic Games

Denmark Chooses LB as LA28 Homebase

As the new year approaches, the 2028 Olympic Games are closer than ever! Long Beach has made history as the first city in the region to secure two National Hospitality Houses for the 2028 Olympic Games, further cementing its role on the global stage. The National Olympic Committee of Denmark recently named the City as its official Olympic home base, with the House of Denmark set to open at The Westin Long Beach. The celebration will extend to the waterfront, where Denmark’s iconic training ship, the DANMARK, will dock in Rainbow Harbor.

Earlier this year, Long Beach was selected as home to Greece’s first-ever Team House. Together, these partnerships highlight Long Beach’s growing international appeal and reputation as a welcoming hub for visitors from around the world.

City of Long Beach

Upcoming Budget Meetings | Share Your FY27 Priorities

The City of Long Beach is inviting members of the public to participate in the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget development process by sharing their service priorities at one of the upcoming community budget meetings or by completing the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey.

The community budget meetings will be held in person at multiple locations throughout the city, and one in a virtual format, on the following days:

• Thursday, Jan. 22 | 6 – 7pm
  Cal Rec Community Center at Ernest McBride Park 
  (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave)
• Saturday, Jan. 24 | 10 – 11:30am
  Silverado Park Community Center 
  (1545 W. 31st St.)
• Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 6 – 7:30pm
  Recreation Park Community Center 
  (4900 E 7th St.)
• Thursday, Jan. 29 | 6 – 7:30pm 
  Virtual Zoom Webinar 
  (Advanced registration is required in order to receive the link to the Zoom meeting)
• Monday, Feb. 2 | 6 – 7:30pm
  Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park 
  (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
• Thursday, Feb. 5 | 6 – 7:30pm
  Billie Jean King Main Library 
  (200 W. Broadway)


In addition to the meetings, community members may also submit their budget service priorities by completing the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey, available online at longbeach.gov/FY27 now through Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. 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. Learn more at about the FY27 budget development process at longbeach.gov/FY27.

Port of Long Beach

Scholarships & Internships at the Port | Applications Open Jan. 5

Applications will open Jan. 5, 2026, for the Port of Long Beach’s Summer High School Internships Program and Scholarship Program for Long Beach-area high school students.

These scholarships are open to high school seniors attending LBUSD-area high schools and pursuing higher education or training careers in international trade, logistics, engineering, and other port-related industries. The 2026 scholarship program includes students who will be attending college full-time, in addition to students in trade programs and those enrolling part-time.

High school internships are available to current high school juniors and seniors who reside in the LBUSD service area. Participants will gain hands-on experience as they work alongside Harbor Dept. staff during the 6-week program, running from Monday, June 22 – Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Applications for both programs are due Friday, Feb. 20; no late applications will be accepted. Details for both programs, eligibility information, and online applications can be found on the Port’s website at polb.com/education.

Community Sponsorships | Applications Open Jan. 1

Nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for the Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program, which funds community events and activities that inform residents about the Port.

Community groups may submit sponsorship application online from Thursday, Jan. 1 until 5pm on Friday, Jan. 30. Due to the application review process, applicants are advised to plan well in advance for events centering on the arts, environment, education, social justice, and historic preservation. Events in this sponsorship call must take place on or after April 1, 2026; additional sponsorship funding requests will be offered in May and September.

For repeat applicants, note the eligibility requirements have changed. Learn more about the changes, the program, and how to apply at polb.com/sponsorships. 

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Winter Class Schedule | Classes Begin Jan. 5

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSULB is excited to share their Winter 2026 Schedule, offering more than 90 classes designed for adults 50 and over—with no tests, grades, or homework! There’s something for everyone classes both in person and online, covering topics from computer and tech skills, art and crafting, music, fitness and wellness, and much more. Visit csulb.edu/olli to learn more and review the class schedule. Registration is open and classes begin on Monday, Jan. 5.

The Office of Mayor Rex Richardson

2026 State of the City | Jan. 13

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson will deliver the 2026 State of the City Address at 5:30pm in the Terrace Theater. This year’s theme, “A Future built By All of Us,” will celebrate and honor the people, culture, and creativity that define Long Beach. During the address, Mayor Richardson will highlight progress on ongoing and upcoming priorities, accomplishments, and projects throughout the city. Learn more in the recent press release.

The State of the City is free and open to the public. Community members are invited to attend in person (RSVP required) or watch the livestream on the following City social pages:

• City of Long Beach Facebook and X pages @LongBeachCity
• City of Long Beach Youtube @LongBeachCityCA
• The Office of Mayor Richardson Facebook page @LongBeachMayor
• Long Beach Television at LBTV3.com

Long Beach Public Library

Yeti, Set, Read! Youth Winter Reading Challenge

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is hosting Yeti, Set, Read!: A Winter Reading Challenge! Participants in grades PreK through 8th can sign up for free using the Beanstack website or mobile app.

The challenge runs from Saturday, December 13, 2025, through Saturday, January 31, 2026. Participants will earn a prize for reading 5 books and another for completing 10. Readers who complete 10 books will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a special grand prize!

Technology & Innovation Department

Discover Your Long Beach Digital RIghts!

Are you interested in understanding how Long Beach’s tech works and the data it collects? The Technology & Innovation Department (TID) is excited to announce a new series of short edutainment videos in partnership with 7Sun Media! These videos are designed to provide clear information, explain civic tech, and spark important discussions on technology. Watch the first video at lbcity.info/civictech and visit longbeach.gov/digitalrights to learn more.