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Hello Innovator!
Welcome to the June 2026 Smart City Initiative Newsletter, your central hub for the latest updates on emerging tech, digital learning workshops and opportunities, cybersecurity best practices, innovative solutions being implemented in Long Beach, and more!
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Orion SAIPH Sensor
Developed by Orion, the SAIPH Sensor captures and processes data, sends alerts, and automatically triggers lighting systems when pedestrians are detected. This innovative technology enhances safety for both road users and pedestrians. Importantly, it only generates non-identifiable video, ensuring that faces and license plates remain anonymous.
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Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Pilot Program
In addition to the SAIPH Sensor, the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Pilot Program addresses critical public safety issues by detecting and citing speeding vehicles in high-injury streets. This technology promotes safer driving behavior and could protect lives. It records only the license plates of speeding vehicles; facial information from drivers, passengers, and bystanders is not collected.
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Westside LB Welcomes Enhanced Community Garden
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Love Your Block team and Westside resident leader Jasmin Suayan Baykal hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly revitalized Stephens Middle School community garden. The transformation includes fresh corn and pea plantings, newly installed standing planters and benches, and cleared overgrowth, making the space more inviting for students and neighbors alike. Attendees enjoyed a hands-on compost workshop led by LB Community Compost and took home free seedlings to kick-start their own gardens.
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Love Your Block Community Workdays
Since March, the Love Your Block team has completed four out of five community revitalization projects in Westside Long Beach! Resident leaders Jasmin Suayan Baykal, Edith A. Hicks, Diana Rodriguez, and Sreymom “Linda” Suos brought the community together for neighborhood cleanups, school garden enhancements, and a vape buyback program. With more community projects on the horizon, we’re eager to continue partnering with residents to make Westside Long Beach a better place to live.
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A Breath of Fresh Air in Westside Long Beach
Learn about Westside Long Beach’s newest clean air project, Breath of Fresh Air! Love Your Block mini-grant recipient and resident leader Sreymom “Linda” Suos led the charge to improve air quality in Westside Long Beach. In collaboration with Centro CHA, Greenlight LB, and the Tobacco Education Prevention Program (TEPP), students at Cabrillo High School were given the opportunity to decorate vape disposal bins and participate in hands-on anti-vaping and safe vape disposal workshops.
To learn more about Breath of Fresh Air, check out the InsideLB News article here. This project is supported by the Love Your Block program, administered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.
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Digital Skills Classes
Congratulations, participants in the Billie Jean King Library Digital Skills Learn & Earn program! In partnership with the Long Beach Center of Economic Inclusion, this engaging 5-week program introduced students to computer and email basics to help navigate the ever-changing digital world. At the end of the course, eligible students received a free laptop!
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Alliance for Innovation Trailblazers Local Government Conference Highlights
The Transforming Local Government (TLG) Conference, hosted annually by the Alliance for Innovation, connects leaders to exchange ideas and share best practices for building innovative, sustainable communities. This year, the City’s Chief Innovation Officer, Jonathan Williams-Kinsel, was featured as a guest speaker, introducing the new Performance and Leadership Academy (PALA)—a pilot program designed to strengthen leadership skills among mid-level managers and foster teamwork in support of Long Beach’s strategic priorities.
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Who are Innovators-in-Residence (IIRs)?
Innovators-in-Residence (IIRs) act as vital connectors between Long Beach communities and city innovation. These dedicated residents infuse fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving abilities, and specialized expertise to address the city's most urgent challenges. Serving as both community advocates and drivers of innovation, they ensure that solutions are not only forward-thinking but also responsive to real neighborhood needs.
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Spotlighting our Committed Innovators-In-Residence
For over 30 years, Hector Lopez has called Long Beach home. As a PMP-certified Project Manager, educator, and community-focused consultant, he helps organizations and individuals build trust, collaborate, and achieve meaningful results. Hector joined Long Beach Co-Lab because its focus on resident-driven civic innovation aligns with his belief that real community impact is built through partnership, measurable outcomes, and solutions designed with the people they serve.
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Improving Access to City Services for Vulnerable Residents Pilot Launch
The charging station allows residents and people experiencing homelessness to charge their electronics [i.e. cellphones, battery, etc.] in a safe and secure place. The station is available for those using the Safe Parking Program lot while the Multi-Service Center is under construction over the next few weeks. This temporary location supports the community as the pilot team evaluates alternative sites; updates display screens and gathers usage data.
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The FBI warns of a new phishing scam, Kali365, targeting Microsoft 365 accounts. Stay alert to protect yourself!
What is Happening?
- Attackers send emails that mimic trusted services to trick users.
- These emails may ask you to visit a real Microsoft page and enter a code or other information.
- Never enter codes for your Microsoft 365 account, even with multi-factor authentication enabled.
To keep your account safe in response to this threat, keep this in mind:
- Only enter codes if you are sure the request is legitimate. Always be cautious.
- Avoid clicking suspicious links or opening unknown attachments.
For ongoing protection, also remember these additional tips:
- Never share authentication codes.
- Keep your devices updated and secure.
Report It
If affected by Kali365, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov with details such as:
- Any phishing emails (email header, body)
- Suspicious logins (time, IP address, location)
- Any unauthorized devices or active sessions added to the account.
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