The Long Beach Police Department held their Annual Awards Ceremony this week, celebrating the dedication and bravery of the officers and staff who serve our community every day. Their commitment to keeping Long Beach safe is truly commendable.

Yesterday’s groundbreaking marked an exciting milestone in bringing the vision for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands to life. This 100-acre restoration project in Seal Beach will revitalize tidal wetlands, create critical habitat for migratory birds, and expand public access to one of our region’s most important natural spaces. As Chair of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority, I am proud to see this project moving forward and look forward to seeing it completed.

Now, along with the Synergy property located in Long Beach, we have 254-acres of wetlands going through restoration through decommissioning and construction. Please watch for updates on these projects over the next few months.

Last weekend, I attended the Darren Rockett Youth Academy graduation, a program named in memory of Engineer Darren “Rock” Rockett, a 14-year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department. His legacy of service continues through this program, where students learn firefighting skills and teamwork. It was inspiring to see high-school students show their skills that including use of a fire hose, use of a skill saw, and building general teamwork to follow a pathway of service.

I was honored to sit with Jeanne Rockett, Darren’s wife, and his daughter to support and celebrate this fantastic program..

Last Saturday, I attended the 2025 MPSF Open Water Swim Championship at Marine Stadium. It was inspiring to see nearly 200 collegiate swimmers competing right here in District 3. The energy on the water offered a glimpse of the excitement building toward the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games and the Open Water event.

Construction at the Colorado Lagoon Open Channel continues to make great progress, with the vertical walls of the bridge structure now complete. This past week, the contractor continued to install temporary shoring to enable the construction and placement of forms for the bridge deck. They will continue formwork and rebar installation in preparation of concrete pours to complete the bridge structure.

To the east of the bridge, the sewer siphon segments were covered with Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) for additional stability. Meanwhile, excavation and trenching for the sewer siphon located west of the bridge, along Colorado Street, began this week.

In other areas of the site, utility work is ongoing. Southern California Edison (SCE) began energizing power pedestals, which support select irrigation booster pumps and controllers on the site. The contractor is also preparing to install new water lines next week, and additional storm drain lines are pending installation.

At Marina Vista Park, soil conditioning, leaching, and amendments are on-going to help reach ideal sod planting conditions.

For the fifth year in a row, the Latino Employees Organization (LEO) hosted its Churro 5K to raise funds for its Scholarship Program. Upon completing the 5K, participants received a churro and a gold-plated commemorative 2025 Churro 5K pin in recognition of their support. It was the highest attendance ever with 140 participants and they reached their fundraising goal of $15,000 for Long Beach students. Great event!

I want to thank the Stoneybrook HOA community for inviting me to their neighborhood meeting. We had some great discussions about local priorities and updates on projects. It was great to partner with Commander Benson and Officer Murphy to answer questions and meet the community.

Don't miss the “Howls and Meows” adoption special. Adopt a dog for just $31 or a cat for only $13. Visit the shelter in person and enter through the middle “Admissions” doors to meet the adoptable animals.

Bryant Elementary School held its Fall Festival yesterday, and I was happy to sponsor the event. My Field Deputy, Maria Delgado, and I enjoyed engaging with the students, families, and school staff.

The City of Long Beach Community Development Department invites you to learn more about the current efforts to increase housing supply, access, and affordability in Long Beach! Provide feedback on the Housing Element and hear directly from Planning Bureau, Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau, and Office of Homeless Strategy and Partnerships staff.

Join their Open House on Wednesday, November 12, at Billie Jean King Main Library from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Long Beach Transit (LBT) has launched the next phase of its Systemwide Transit Analysis and Reassessment (STAR) Initiative. This effort will evaluate current routes and services, including bus lines, Dial-A-Lift, AquaBus, and AquaLink, to ensure they align with the community’s evolving mobility needs. STAR II aims to design a more customer-focused, efficient, and connected transit system for the next decade.

LBT is seeking community input to help shape the future of local transit. You can share your feedback by taking their short survey and letting them know what improvements matter most to you, or by attending one of their in-person meetings. Learn more using the links below.

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will host job fairs this fall and winter to fill part-time Recreation Program Leader positions. The first fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orizaba Park Community Center.