Weekly Updates | July 11, 2025 | | |
Happy Friday, District 5! I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and cool holiday last week. There is still plenty to do this summer—more details below, as well as updates from city departments including Community Development, Technology & Innovation, the Port, and more.
Looking for ways to get involved with the community this weekend? You can start tomorrow morning, July 12th at 8am, by volunteering with a local Clean Streets Team to help keep our streets and gutters free of trash and debris. Later on, you can support local businesses at the Parkview Village Second Saturdays Block Party as they celebrate “Christmas in July” from 11am – 3pm, or on Atlantic Ave at the Better Half Boutique's Mid Summer Second Saturday event from 11am - 5pm, both on Saturday, June 12th. Additionally, you can visit the Dana Branch Library on Saturday the 12th from 1pm – 2pm to unleash your creative expression at the Instrument Petting Zoo hosted by the Long Beach Symphony.
Next week is set to be busy with events as well, starting with the next Concert in the Park(ing Lot) hosted by the BKBIA at 6:30pm on Monday, July 14th. Then on Tuesday, June 15th, I hope to see you at the next CD5 Community Meeting at the Expo Arts Center at 6pm, where we will be joined by City Attorney Dawn McIntosh and City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. And on Wednesday, July 16th, in addition to the Long Beach Municipal Band’s Concert in the Park at Los Cerritos Park at 6:30pm, the Community Development Department will be hosting the second and final Open House to discuss the Zone In: Bixby project, at Longfellow Elementary School from 7 - 8:30pm. See below for more details on these and other upcoming events!
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. The full agenda and list of items of interest will be included in a future newsletter.
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.
Working together,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Technology & Innovation Department
Planned Internet Outage for City Network Maintenance; City Website, Online Services, and City-provided Wi-Fi May Be Temporarily Unavailable
The City of Long Beach's Technology & Innovation Department's Network Services Division will perform a migration of core internet services to new routers, as part of the City's ongoing efforts to improve network reliability, resiliency, and performance. The temporary, planned outage will take place from 11pm on Friday, July 11 through 8am on Saturday, July 12.
During this time, access to city-based sites and webpages linked in this newsletter, including longbeach.gov and its public-facing online customer service and payment portals, as well as city-provided internet access and Wi-Fi, may be intermittently unavailable. The Long Beach Utilities Department website at LBUtilities.org will remain operational, however links connected to the city's main webpages will be temporarily unavailable during the planned outage. If customers have a water, sewer or natural gas related emergency, customers are advised to contact 24/7 emergency dispatch at 562-570-2390.
The temporary outage will not interrupt operations for the City’s Emergency Communications Center and there are no anticipated impacts for call for service response times from Police and Fire personnel. The public should continue to dial 9-1-1 for emergencies or 562.435.6711 for non-emergency City services.
The migration to new routers is part of the City’s efforts to enhance its network reliability. In the event of an outage with the City’s main internet provider, the new setup will allow a switch over to an alternate provider, helping to prevent internet service disruptions.
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District 5 Office
CD5 Community Meeting | July 15
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On Tuesday, July 15th at 6pm, my team and I are hosting the next of our community meeting series, this time at the Expo Arts Center, featuring City Attorney Dawn McIntosh & City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. City Prosecutor Haubert can speak to topics of interest such as trespassing and the 602 Program, or illegal fireworks enforcement, and City Attorney McIntosh will discuss her work and can answer questions relating to clarifications on city ordinances, claims processes, or providing legal guidance to the city.
Learn more on our webpage, and if you plan to attend, please consider RSVPing to help us prepare seating!
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Port of Long Beach
Citywide Community Harbor Tours | July 12
The Port of Long Beach will host free ”Green Port Celebration Tours” on Saturday, July 12, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Green Port Policy by showing the public waterfront views of the nation’s largest seaport complex.
This special day of harbor tours will offer the community a chance to experience the sights and sounds of a working port while highlighting the Port of Long Beach’s environmental achievements over the last two decades.
The 90-minute tours will leave every two hours--10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.--from Dock #3, adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach 90802). No advance registration – first-come, first-served! Learn more at polb.com/porttours.
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Green Port Progress Report 2025
This week, the Port of Long Beach released their Green Port Progress Report, a detailed account of the commitment made by the Port of Long Beach in 2005 to significantly improve air and water quality while safeguarding the health of the communities surrounding the San Pedro Bay ports complex. Celebrating 20 years of leading green, the report outlines the Port's role as environmental stewards and the achievements gained through successful, industry-leading programs to decrease port-related sources of pollution. Review this letter or the full report to learn more.
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Zone In: Bixby Open House | July 16
The Long Beach Community Development Department invites you to participate in an in-person Open House hosted at Longfellow Elementary School for the Zone In: Bixby project on Wednesday, July 16, from 7 – 8:30 pm.
The event will provide an overview of the project and feedback heard so far as well as explain the principles, approach and options available for the rezoning initiative. Participants will have the opportunity to share additional feedback and ask questions during the event. RSVP here!
This will be the second open house held for Zone In: Bixby, and the final event planned for the project before moving on to the adoption process; however community members will have the opportunity to share their input online for 30 days following the event. For more information about Zone In: Bixby, please visit the Zone In website or contact Alejandro Sánchez-López at alejandro.sanchez-lopez@longbeach.gov.
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Open Space & Recreation Element Update
The Community Development Dept. is updating the Open Space & Recreation Element, and they want to hear from you! Long Beach has changed a lot since our last Open Space and Recreation Element Update, over 20 years ago, and our parks and open spaces need to reflect the needs of our communities today. This is your chance to help shape a healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable Long Beach for the future.
Take the survey and share what matters most to you – such as your experiences with parks and green space, city trails and recreation areas, park amenities and events, and park programs enjoyed by you and your community.
Want to hear more? Join in on Thursday, July 17th:
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Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting @ 9:00 AM at Dr. Thomas J. Clark Community Center at El Dorado Park West (2800 Studebaker Rd.) - Agenda
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Planning Commission Study Session @ 5:00 PM at Long Beach City Hall Civic Chambers (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) - Agenda
Want to Get More Involved? Join the Resident Leadership Team! Community Development is looking for passionate residents to help guide this work— especially from neighborhoods that need better park access. 10 residents total will be accepted who will be expected to attend 6 meetings between Aug 2025 and Feb 2026. Applications (in English or Spanish) close on August 1, 2025.
For more info, sign up for updates or email CD-OpenSpace@longbeach.gov with questions.
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Long Beach Public Library
Level Up at the Library - Summer Reading Programs & Events
Take your summer to the next level at the Long Beach Public Libraries! Take on the Summer Reading Challenge to track what you read all summer long, and unlock rewards along the way. Readers aged 12 and under can earn incentives for every 5 books read, and those aged 13+ can earn a reward for each finished book! Children who read at least 10 books and teens or adults who read 2 books will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize. The more books you read, the more chances you’ll have to earn incentives!
You can also participate in the Summer Maker Challenge with events, workshops, and prizes designed to inspire creativity and creation. Additionally, now through July 15th, library card holders entering grades 7 – 12 can apply to receive July’s LitLoot, a curated goody bag for teens. In case you miss it, applications for August will open August 5 – 19th. Learn more and find upcoming summer events at lbpl.org!
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Friends of the Long Beach Public Library
Summer Essay Contest (English & Spanish) Open thru Aug 8
The Friends of the Long Beach Public Library want to know, “How Has the Library Helped You Grow?”
Through August 8th, youth aged 6–18 are invited to submit their essays that answer the question, “How has the library helped you grow?” for a chance to win up to $100 in Barnes & Noble gift cards. Essays can be submitted in either English or Spanish, in person to a neighborhood librarian at any LBPL location or via email to lbplfriendsessaycontest@gmail.com.
Winners will be announced on social media and the Friends’ website on Friday August 18, and celebrated at an awards ceremony at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library on Saturday, August 23rd at 10:30am. Learn more at lbplfriends.org
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Health & Human Services Department
Youth Advisory Council Applications Open Now through July 31
The City of Long Beach’s Health & Human Services Department is now accepting applications for the Office of Youth Development’s Youth Advisory Council. The council, now in its 4th year, is a body of 11 young people who help ensure authentic youth-led engagement in the design, oversight, and implementation of the Youth & Emerging Adults Strategic Plan, the Measure US Youth Fund, annual Youth Summit, and other systems of positive youth development.
To be eligible, applicants must
- Be between the ages of 16 – 26 by Sept. 1
- Live in Long Beach
- Be available to meet for two hours, two afternoons per month, in locations across the city
- Have a passion for issues affecting youth in Long Beach
The Youth Advisory Council is composed of representatives from all council districts, including at-large members dedicated to promoting health equity in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by violence, poverty, and adverse health outcomes. Youth council members will be compensated with a $50 stipend per meeting, up to $1100 for a one-year term. Those selected will also receive coaching and development opportunities by city staff. Application details are available on the Youth Advisory Council application webpage; review the recent press release to learn more.
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Long Beach Transit
Museum Express Returns!
Hop aboard the Museum Express this summer for a cultural adventure! From July through August, ride in comfort as you explore Southern California’s top destinations, including the Huntington Library, Museum Row, and Mission San Juan Capistrano – all without the hassle of driving. Round-trip tickets are available for $15 from July 11 - August 24. Please note this does not include entrance fees at destinations. The full schedule, as well as information on how to purchase tickets, is available at ridelbt.com/museumexpress.
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Long Beach Police Department
Summer 2025 Park Activations
This summer, LBPD is organizing a calendar of Park Activations throughout the city! Park Activations are family friendly events hosted at Long Beach Parks designed to strengthen relationships between members of the community and the Long Beach Police Department.
Join LBPD in the Park at one of these upcoming events, where you can meet your local Commander and officers in your neighborhood while enjoying a fun, family-friendly day at the park! Visit longbeach.gov/police/events to find upcoming events with North & East Divisions in and near CD5. Not sure what Division you’re in? Check this map to find out!
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North Division
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Saturday, July 19 @ Ramona Park, 11am - 2pm
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Saturday, Aug. 16 @ Houghton Park, 11am - 2pm
East Division
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Monday, July 28 - Friday, Aug. 1 @ Pan American Park, 10am - 2pm
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Saturday, Aug. 9 @ El Dorado Park, 8am - 4pm
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Monday, Aug. 11 - Friday, Aug. 15 @ Orizaba Park, 10am - 2pm
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Saturday, Aug. 16 @ Recreation Park, 10am - 2pm
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Saturday, Aug. 23 @ Rose Park, 10am - 2pm
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Technology & Innovation Department
New Digital Inclusion Internet Service Enrollment Line!
Long Beach’s Technology & Innovation Department (TID) is excited to announce a vital new resource aimed at enhancing digital inclusion in our community: the Internet Service Enrollment line! This hotline connects you to low-cost internet services and a variety of digital inclusion resources that can empower your daily life. Digital inclusion navigators are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Eligibility for assistance includes programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other similar programs. To learn more, call (844) 321-4472 or visit us at longbeach.gov/digitalinclusion. Let's work together to ensure everyone in Long Beach stays connected!
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Immigration Resources - Know Your Rights | |
With the US Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity occurring throughout our region, it’s increasingly important for everyone, including our immigrant communities, to know their rights and have access to resources. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, we understand that the current actions are continuing to escalate tensions and can undermine trust within our neighborhoods. All residents of Southern California and Long Beach deserve to live in peace and with a sense of security, regardless of their background.
I and the City of Long Beach remain committed to upholding the dignity and rights of every person. As evidenced by our Council-supported Long Beach Values Act, we remain committed to work alongside community organizations to ensure that all who call Long Beach home feel safe, supported, and valued.
For more information on the Long Beach Values act, visit: longbeach.gov/valuesact. For information and resources on a local community organization who is doing supportive work in Long Beach, visit orale.org. Additionally, The LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs regularly holds “Know Your Rights” Workshops that you can join; review their full calendar and learn more at oia.lacounty.gov.
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Request for Proposals - Long Beach Justice Fund Legal Services
The City of Long Beach's Office of Equity has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for contract opportunities for legal service providers through the Long Beach Justice Fund. They are seeking proposals from qualified legal service providers to assist low-income immigrant community members with representative and advocacy in navigating removal defense, affirmative applications, and appellate processes, as part of the Long Beach Justice Fund. Interested parties are encouraged to apply by Tuesday, August 12 at 11am. For more information on the bid solicitation process, please contact RFPPurchasing@longbeach.gov.
| | | | Summer 2025 - Free Events in & near CD5 | | |
Parks, Recreation, & Marine Dept - Long Beach Municipal Band Concerts in the Parks
This summer, The Long Beach Municipal Band will celebrate their 116th season of free outdoor summer concerts in Long Beach parks. See the dates below for concerts in and near CD5! All concerts are free and begin at 6:30pm. Learn more in the recent press release.
- Every Wednesday @ Los Cerritos Park from July 16 - July 30
- Every Friday @ El Dorado Park West from July 11 - August 1
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Parks, Recreation, & Marine Dept - Movies in the Parks
Sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks, Movies in the Park will offer free, family-friendly movies at various parks throughout Long Beach and Signal Hill from June 16 through August 22. Movies begin at dusk, Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnic-style dinners, and their family and friends! Check out the full lineup or see below for locations in and near CD5!
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Friday, July 25 @ EL Dorado Park West – Sonic 3
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Wednesday, July 30 @ Scherer Park – Snow White (2025)
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Thursday, August 1 @ Cherry Park – Snow White (2025)
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Friday, August 8 @ El Dorado Park Archery Range – Minecraft
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Friday, August 15 @ Wardlow Park – Wicked
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BKBIA - Concerts in the Park(ing Lot)
The BKBIA’s Concert in the Park(ing Lot) series is back! Grab takeout from a local restaurant and gather and groove with neighbors at the free, family-friendly community concerts all throughout the summer. Learn more at bixbyknollsinfo.com/concerts.
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Monday, July 14 – AbSOULute @ Bixby Joe Lot (4245 Atlantic Ave) – 6:30pm
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Monday, July 21 – Mic Dangerously & the Royal We @ Bixby Joe Lot (4245 Atlantic Ave) – 6:30pm
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Friday, August 1 – Beatles ’65 Tribute by MOVE @ Bixby Joe Lot (4245 Atlantic Ave) – 7:30pm
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Monday, August 11 – Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra @ Howard CDM Lot (3737 Long Beach Blvd) – 6:30pm
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Discover LBCC Summer Concert
For the 3rd year in a row, my office has partnered with Long Beach City College to bring you the Discover LBCC Summer Concert this August! Spend the evening enjoying the beautiful LBCC campus with neighbors, featuring food trucks, a beer garden, and the musical stylings of Knight Ryder!
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Friday, August 15 @ LBCC Front Lawn (4901 E Carson St) from 5 – 8pm
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Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association Summer Concert
The Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA) will once again be holding their annual Summer Concert at Pan American Park! Enjoy the summer evening and music with neighbors in this community-led event!
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Saturday, August 23 @ Pan American Park from 4 – 7pm
| | Upcoming Meetings & Events | | |
Memos to the Mayor & Council
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. July 22, 2025, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
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