Weekly Updates | January 16, 2026 | | |
Happy Friday, District 5, and happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Every third Monday of January, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), as we remember and honor his life, legacy, and values. Tomorrow, Jan. 17, 2026, the City of Long Beach will host the 38th Annual MLK Parade and Celebration, a longstanding tradition meant to celebrate our diverse communities and keep alive the ideals of Dr. King. Find more details about tomorrow’s festivities below, as well as this week’s citywide updates from the Mayor, the Port, and LBPD, as well as updates regarding both the Carson St. and Studebaker Rd. reconstruction projects.
As a reminder, MLK Day is officially observed on Monday, Jan. 19th, meaning a number of city services and facilities may have impacted schedules. Residents can expect regularly scheduled refuse, organics, and recycling collections; however, street sweeping and associated parking enforcement will not occur.
Earlier this week, citywide updates and future priorities were shared during Mayor Richardson’s State of the City address, as well as during the annual State of the Port address delivered by new Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. In case you missed them, see our info blocks below to learn more. Next week, on Tuesday, Jan. 20th at 2:30pm, the Mobility, Ports, & Infrastructure (MPI) Committee will hear presentations from Public Works regarding their recent update to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and from the Economic Development & Opportunity Department regarding the potential implementation of Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs). Learn more and review the upcoming meeting’s materials in the info block below.
As the new year begins, it’s common to set resolutions and intentions to promote healthier habits and activities. To help kickstart and support some of those potential goals, you can visit the Hangar at LBX for the “Love Yourself” Wellness & Self-Care Market on Saturday, Jan. 17th from 12 – 5pm. This weekend you may also consider joining an active neighborhood group, such as the Bixby Strollers, who will be celebrating their 18-year anniversary of weekly morning walks this Saturday, Jan. 17th at 7:15am. Similarly, Sunday, Jan. 18th marks the first Kidical Mass Neighborhood Bike Ride of 2026, taking off at 11am from behind Pixie Toys on Atlantic Ave. Then on Monday, Jan. 19th, many residents choose to participate in MLK Day of Service, an opportunity to give back to the community in honor of Dr. King’s memory. Here in CD5, you can join restoration efforts at Willow Springs Park from 10am – 2pm. Learn more and find other volunteer projects at leadershiplb.org/mlk.
Looking ahead, keep in mind that the early FY27 Community Budget Meetings begin next week, with the first meeting taking place on Jan. 22nd; my office’s CD5 Community Meeting featuring LBPD Chief Hebeish will be held on Jan. 29th; and the Energy & Environmental Services Dept.’s Recycle Your Textiles event is on Jan. 31st. Learn more about these and other upcoming events below.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. The full agenda and a list of items of interest can be found at the bottom of this 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.
Continuing the work,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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District 5 Office
Save the Date! CD5 Community Meeting | Jan. 29
Join Councilwoman Kerr and the CD5 team for the first District 5 Community Meeting of 2026! The meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at 6pm at the Wardlow Park Community Center (3457 Stanbridge Ave.) featuring LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish.
While not required, we ask that you please RSVP to help us prepare adequate seating. We hope to see you there!
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Public Works Department
Carson St. Project | Jan. 19 - May 15, 2026
As those living, working, and/or driving in the area may have noticed, construction work on Carson St. as related to the Carson St. Complete Streets project is set to begin! Preconstruction activities have been ongoing this month, but as of Monday, Jan. 19th, residents and visitors should expect major traffic impacts to the Carson corridor from Orange Ave. eastward to the city limit at the railroad tracks past Cherry Ave. The major reconstruction will improve roadway conditions, safety, and accessibility with pavement resurfacing, new traffic and bike lane striping, pedestrian crossings and safety islands, and transit accessibility upgrades. Barring inclement weather or other unforeseen delays, work is anticipated to continue through May 15, 2026. Learn more about this project and its features at the project webpage.
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Studebaker Rd. Project | Construction Phases & Schedule
This week, Public Works provided us with the following updates regarding the Studebaker Rd. Complete Streets project:
With preliminary work complete, active construction on the Studebaker Road Transformation Project will begin in February 2026. This long-anticipated project will reimagine more than five miles of Studebaker Road—from 2nd Street to Carson Street—to create a safer corridor, better connections, and long-term benefits for the entire Long Beach community.
To minimize impacts and maintain access, one travel lane open in each direction at all times. This project will be completed in multiple nonconsecutive segments, some at the same time. Please see the planned schedule below for more information.
Construction Phasing and Schedule (All timelines are approximate and subject to change due to weather or unforeseen conditions)
- I-405 to Wardlow Road | February 2026 – Fall 2026
- 2nd Street to South of SR-22 | Spring 2026 – Early 2027
- Wardlow Road to South of Los Coyotes Diagonal intersection | Fall 2026 – Spring 2027
- South of SR-22 to I-405 | Spring 2027 – Fall 2027
- Los Coyotes Diagonal Intersection | Summer 2027 – Fall 2027 | This final phase will deliver major intersection reconfigurations focused on pedestrian safety, school access, and improved traffic operations.
We appreciate the community’s patience and partnership as this transformative project moves forward. For construction updates and to sign up for project updates, visit the project webpage at longbeach.gov/studebakerproject.
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Mobility, Ports, & Infrastructure Committee
Neighborhood Management Traffic Program & Economic Empowerment Zone Presentations at Upcoming Meeting | Jan. 20
Just before the year end, the City Manager published a memo to the Mayor & Council to provide a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Update. The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) uses data, community feedback, and proven quick-build treatments to direct limited resources towards streets with the greatest demonstrated need, while coordinating more intensive efforts into the planning process of the five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The report provides a comprehensive update of the program’s progress over the last two years, and outlines the intended use of the available $1.25 million in funding to procure materials and implement traffic safety measures at 17 priority calming locations, reduce speed limits at 77 locations, install 14 new crosswalks, and install rectangular rapid flashing beacons at 25 locations in Spring 2026.
Earlier in December, the Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO) Dept. posted a memo providing an Update to the Economic Empowerment Zones (EEZs) Program,
which includes discussion of the potential creation of Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs), to be used as a tool to fund public infrastructure, economic development, and community revitalization projects. The report provides an overview on how EIFDs aid other cities and counties, potential proposed boundaries for EIFDs in Long Beach, the types of projects they can fund, and more.
The details and findings outlined in both of these recent memos will be presented to the Mobility, Ports, & Infrastructure (MPI) Committee at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at 2:30pm in the City Hall Chambers. Learn more by reviewing the reports linked above or the MPI Agenda (supporting documents will be shared closer to the meeting date). Interested parties are encouraged to attend or watch online to learn directly from the Public Works team, and to utilize the opportunity to provide feedback via in-person or virtual public comment.
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Long Beach Police Department
Class 100 Begins with 98 Recruits at New Training Facility
Last weekend, the City of Long Beach celebrated the grand opening of the new Long Beach Police Dept. Police Academy, following a comprehensive buildout effort to enhance the facility and overall experience for police recruits, staff, and visitors. Enhancements include the replacement of dated modular buildings, the construction of a new locker room, renovations to existing structure, and sitewide improvements, including a recruit classroom that can accommodate larger class sizes.
As of Jan. 12, 2026, THE LBPD Academy’s Class 100—comprised of 98 new recruits—began their training at the new modern facility, marking the largest police academy class in department history. Upon successful completion of the academy and field training requirements, recruits will be deployed throughout the City of Long Beach to serve the community as sworn officers. Learn more in the recent press release.
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The Office of Mayor Rex Richardson
2026 State of the City
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, Mayor Rex Richardson delivered the annual State of the City Address at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre. This year’s theme, “A Future Built By All of Us,” was grounded in the current and future investments we are making into our city, as we create opportunities, pathways, and sustainable growth for Long Beach’s future. Mayor Richardson provided an update on year-end public safety progress, including this week’s start to the LBPD Academy’s Class 100, the largest recruitment class in LBPD’s history and the first to train at our new state of the art facility. He discusses the city’s future revenue opportunities as we move away from oil, including the Long Beach Amphitheater (which broke ground earlier this week, with plans for the first shows to run this summer) and a new strategy to attract Port-related global investment downtown. Mayor Richardson also mentioned our growing Space Beach businesses, like CD5’s own Vast Space, which has major expansion plans to bring even more jobs to our communities. Sports-related announcements included the official naming of the new professional Long Beach Baseball team, the Long Beach Coast, who will start playing at Blair Field this summer; the official announcement of Long Beach as a designated fan zone for the upcoming World Cup; as well as the announcement of Long Beach to host the Ireland Olympic House during the 2028 Games, joining previously announced Greece and Denmark. And as we continue to plan for a future beyond 2028, Mayor Richardson discussed the development of the city’s next 5-year Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP), as we map our way to “Renew ’32.” Learn more about these and other announcements by watching the recorded address.
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Port of Long Beach
2026 State of the Port
On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, new Port CEO Noel Hacegaba delivered the 2026 State of Port Address. He discussed his plans for the Port, as 2026 is the perfect time to “clarify our vision, simplify our mission, and amplify our impact” as a vital piece of the global supply chain. Even through challenges and global trade tensions, the Port set an all-time record in 2025, handling 9.9 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs, a standard cargo container measurement), marking the busiest year for the Port to date. In addition to the Mayor’s initiative to help revitalize downtown with Port-related growth, the Port is launching a new campaign to help support small business opportunities at the Port; is maintaining continued plans to become the first zero-emissions Port in the world and expand Green Port capabilities to improve efficiencies while reducing emission; and a new vision to double cargo container capacity by 2050. Learn more about the facts, figures, and visions for the Port by watching the recorded video.
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Office of Equity
Disability Data & Community Survey | Open Jan. 15 - May 1
People with disabilities possess unique skills in adaptation, innovation, and advocacy, all of which contribute to our city’s progress. The Office of Equity and the Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities invite you to share your insights through this important survey. Your voice matters!
People with disabilities who live, work, attend school, or spend time in Long Beach are encouraged to complete this 15-minute survey, available online in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog at bit.ly/4sIbRVc.
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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; check the attached flyer for details on dates, times, and locations. While none of these meetings are physically in CD5, the city aims to hold the meetings at varying throughout the city during each Fiscal Year development process, and we encourage everyone interested to attend the virtual meeting or an in-person meeting at one of the provided locations if able.
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.
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Long Beach Recycles
Missed Holiday Tree Collection
Although the Long Beach Recycles Refuse team has been working to collect as many holiday trees as possible, some may have been missed. If your tree was not collected and you receive your trash, recycling, and organics service form the City, please complete this Special Collection Request form.
Park drop off locations also remain available if your prefer to drop off your tree, and the City will continue to monitor those sites. Find locations at LBCity.info/treecycling-locations.
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Long Beach Unified School District
Superintendent Jill Baker Announces Retirement
This week, Long Beach Unified School District’s Superintendent Dr. Jill Baker announced her plans to retire at the close of the 2025-2026 school year. For more than 30 years, Dr. Baker has served Long Beach with heart and purpose, with unmatched leadership, a steadfast commitment to students, to equity, and to excellence, and the firm belief that schools are stronger with students at the center. Learn more in the recent press release, which includes a video message from Dr. Baker.
I had the privilege of working with Dr. Baker as a school parent and during my tenure as a school board member. I am deeply grateful for her expertise, professionalism, and her unwavering dedication to our students, families, and the greater Long Beach community. I wish her all the best in retirement.
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Memos to the Mayor & Council
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. January 20, 2026, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
CLICK FOR FULL AGENDA
Item 20 Recommendation to execute a grant agreement with Long Beach Economic Partnership, of Long Beach, CA, for the development and implementation of economic development programs that prioritize business attraction, retention, and marketing to attract new domestic and international investment, create jobs, and generate local economic growth. (Item Details)
Item 21 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation regarding the City of Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection Best Practices. (Item Details)
Item 23 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. ITB PW-25-624 and award a contract to NexTechnology Systems, LLC, of Irvine, CA, to procure Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. (Item Details)
Item 24 Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance amending Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 10.12 to repeal or revise certain speed limits and add a new section authorizing a 25 mile per hour speed limit on streets adjacent to public parks with children’s playgrounds when children are expected to use the facilities, in accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 22357.1, and direct City Manager, or designee, to install and maintain new speed limit signs to provide public notice of the change. (Item Details)
Item 27 Recommendation to adopt ordinance amending Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Titles 5, 8, 9, and 18, modifying code enforcement definitions, procedures, and fees to strengthen enforcement tools, improve compliance, and enhance public safety, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Item Details)
Tuesday, January 20, 2025 – Mobility, Ports and Infrastructure Committee at 2:30 P.M., Civic Chambers
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