Health & Human Services

Tips to Stay Safe Through Excessive Heat!

With this week’s excessive heat, keep in mind the following tips and resources for how to protect against heat-related illnesses!

Stay Cool

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Limit activities to morning and evening hours when possible.
• Stay in air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours (noon to 6 p.m.) or take cool showers or baths.
• Swimming pools are a popular way to cool off, but it is important to provide entry-proof barriers around pools and spas and always provide adult supervision while children are near water.

Hydrate

• Drink plenty of fluids; don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
• Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and very sugary drinks; they can be dehydrating.
• Replace salt and minerals lost during sweating with sports drinks or salty snacks.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• If you have a chronic health condition, are on water pills or have been recommended to limit water by your doctor, check in with your health care provider for guidance.

Protect Against Heat-Related Illness

• Apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Make sure pets have access to shade and water. Be aware that asphalt can burn pets’ paws.
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.

Signs of Heat-Related Illness

• Get medical help right away if
• a person’s temperature rises to 103 or above;
• a person loses consciousness;
• they experience fast, strong pulse;
• symptoms last longer than one hour or worsen.
• In addition to those listed above, signs of heat-related illness include:
• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Confusion

To learn more, read the recent press release or visit longbeach.gov/extremeheat.

District 5 Office

CD5 Community Meeting | March 26

Join us at the next CD5 Community Meeting! On Thursday, March 26th, we will be back at the Wardlow Park Community Center (3457 Stanbridge Ave), where we will be joined by Public Works Director Josh Hickman and his team to discuss infrastructure and traffic safety.

While not required, we ask that you please RSVP to help us prepare adequate seating. We hope to see you there! 

Public Works

Ongoing Construction Throughout District 5

While the recent heat makes this year’s rainy winter feel like the distant past, the impacts of heavy storms throughout the early part of the year have resulted in delays for the ongoing Public Works project happening across our district. We know these projects can be disruptive as they go on, but we appreciate your continued patience through the traffic delays and route alterations, as Public Works crews continue to work towards completion of construction work on Clark, Carson, and several residential streets of Lakewood Village. We look forward to the results that will improve safety and quality of life for all users of these roads! 

Parks, Recreation, & Marine Department

Operating Hours at City Gyms

This week, the Parks, Recreation, & Marine (PRM) Department announced that they are modifying the open gym hours of operation for their four public gymnasiums.

Effective Monday, March 23rd, the open gym hours will change from the current schedule of Monday – Thursday, 5 – 8pm, to the new schedule of Monday – Thursday, 4 – 6pm and Friday, 4 – 8pm. The new schedule preserves the weekly 12 hours of open gym time for community members to utilize for self-led recreation activities, free of charge, and includes one additional day of open gym access.

Coinciding with this update, PRM’s Adults Sports Leagues for Basketball and Volleyball will transition programming to City gyms instead of gyms owned and operated by external partners. Effective March 23rd, Adult Basketball and Volleyball Leagues will have scheduled access to City gyms at 6pm, Monday – Thursday, to conduct programming. Select practices for some of PRM’s Youth Sports Leagues that are currently scheduled inside gyms during these hours will transition outside, as is standard practice for most Youth Sports Leagues conducted at other park locations. Participants of PRM’s Adults Sports Leagues and Youth Sports Leagues who have questions about this transition may contact YouthSports@longbeach.gov.

City gyms include (CD5 location noted in bold):

• Pan American Park Gymnasium (5157 Centralia St.)
• McBride Park Gymnasium (1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.)
• Cesar Chavez Elementary School Gymnasium (730 W. 3rd St.)
• Silverado Park Gymnasium (1545 W. 31st St.)

Long Beach Police Department

Earlier this week, LBPD announced that the two Open House events originally scheduled for next week are being postponed. We will share any updates on the rescheduled dates as information becomes available to our office.

In the meantime, if you are interested in either the LBPD Cadet or Senior Police Partner (SPP) programs, fill out the interest forms linked below to stay in the loop and receive direct updates from LBPD regarding the rescheduling of these events.

• Cadet Open House Interest Form
• SPP Open House Interest Form

Centro CHA

Know Your Rights Workshop | March 23

Next Monday, March 23rd, at 9am, Centro CHA is hosting a Know Your Rights Workshop for business owners, managers and supervisors, and HR personnel to learn what to do if ICE shows up at your business. The free workshop is designed to help you understand your rights and responsibilities so you can respond with confidence. Take the opportunity to get informed, ask questions, and ensure your workplace is prepared! Light breakfast will be provided, and the location of the workshop will be shared upon registration. Register today to secure your spot. 

Monday, March 23 | 9am | Location provided after registration | RSVP

Confluence Rising

Interfaith Literacy Dinner & Panel Discussion | March 24

Confluence Rising (formerly CCEJ) invites you to a free Interfaith Literacy Dinner & Panel Discussion on Tuesday, March 24th, from 5:30 - 7:30pm. At this free event, Confluence Rising’s Executive Director Reena Hajat Carroll, Board member Rabbi Scott Fox from Temple Isreal, Pastor Wayne Chaney from Antioch Church, Dr. Rohit Passi (Hindu community) and Saima Husain (Muslim community) will engage ina deep and highly relevant conversation about the role faith plays in harm and conflict from an interpersonal and global perspective. At the event, Confluence Rising will share their new Interfaith Literacy Guide as a resource for cultivating relationships across faiths. Light dinner will be served. Space is limited; RSVP by 3/22 to reserve your spot. 

Tuesday, March 24 | 5:30 - 7:30pm | Confluence Rising Office, 3605 Long Beach Blvd. | RSVP

Interrupting Implicit Bias & Microaggressions Workshop | March 25

Confluence Rising invites all to a virtual Interrupting Implicit Bias & Microaggressions training on Wednesday, March 25th from 10am – 12pm. Everyone has biases and assumptions that we may not be aware of, and guide our thoughts, feelings, and actions. In this virtual training session, participants will explore how these biases form and sustain, and how in the form of microaggressions, create isolation, disrespect, and inequities. Participants will also identify real ways to begin to interrupt biases in their own work relationships with peers, partners, and communities. Learn more at confluencerising.org.

Wednesday, March 25 | 10am | Zoom | RSVP

• Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (2)
• Business representative
• Vocational training
• Marine Advisory Commission (4)
• At large
• At large
• At large
• At large
• Planning Commission (2)
• At large
• At large
• Technology and Innovation Commission (1)
• Commissioner with experience in technology and education
• Transit Board of Directors (1)
• Directorship 2
• Veterans Affairs Commission (3)
• Council District 2 representative
• Council District 4 representative
• Council District 5 representative

Long Beach Board Connection

The Mayor’s office has also partnered with The Nonprofit Partnership to host a free Long Beach Board Connection event on Monday, March 23rd, from 4 – 6pm at the Sports Basement (2100 N Bellflower Blvd). This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to get more involved in service to the community. Learn about serving on a nonprofit board and connect with others who work together to make a meaningful impacts across our communities. 

Community Shout Out

Honoring Women Who Lead in Our Communities

In honor of Women’s History Month, my colleagues and I took the time to recognize a number of impactful, hardworking women who lead nonprofits in our communities. Often unsung heroines, these women uplift, support, and serve people all across Long Beach across a wide range of fields. We are particularly proud of and grateful for our District 5 nonprofit leaders, listed below. Join me in congratulating each of them on this recognition, and thanking for them all they do for our communities! Be sure to visit the nonprofits’ websites to learn more about the work happening right here in our district.

• Julie Bartolotto, Executive Director, Historical Society of Long Beach
• Dina Berg, Founder and Executive Director, Heart of Ida
• Alison Bruesehoff, Executive Director, Rancho Los Cerritos
• Michelle Byerly, Executive Director, The Nonprofit Partnership
• Reena Hajat Carroll, Executive Director, Confluence Rising
• Crystal Rogers, President, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association
• Jamie Montenegro, Executive Director, Camp Fire Long Beach

Earlier this week, Assemblymember Lowenthal also highlighted local “Women of Distinction,” including two additional CD5 nonprofit and community leaders! Join in me thanking and congratulating these women as well!

• Claudia Otis, Founder, Little Lion Foundation
• SaRice Freeman, Founder & CD5 Resident, Social Sparkle Club