Join the District 3 team as we kick off the holiday season with our annual Poinsettia Planting! We’re inviting residents to volunteer on Tuesday, November 25, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm as we brighten our roundabouts with festive poinsettias. All plants will be provided, and tools are available upon request. Register using the link below and help bring some holiday cheer to our community!

I joined Mayor Rex Richardson and the Ocean Conservancy on Tuesday for a beach cleanup at Alamitos Beach, where several events for the 2028 Games will take place. Protect Where We Play is the first organized community event in partnership with LA28 in Long Beach.

We were joined by members of the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association. It was exciting to meet three-time Olympian and Silver Medalist Anita Alvarez, and two-time Paralympian and two-time Gold Medalist Ezra Frech.

Look for more exciting events starting in 2026 where you can meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes while helping to clean up the community.

An Update from Public Works:

Construction on the Colorado Street Bridge has progressed significantly. Crews completed the bridge’s vertical walls in October, and began to install the formwork and rebar for the bridge deck (top of bridge) and adjacent sidewalks. The concrete pour for the bridge deck was completed in early November and additional pours remaining. On-going bridge work, which remains, includes installation of the vehicular safety barriers at the edges of the bridges.

The second phase of the sewer siphon installation (west of bridge) is also on-going. To accomplish this work, the contractor continues installing shoring systems and excavating soils, as needed, to reach sub-grade elevations to install additional sewer line segments. The east sewer siphon run was covered with CSLM, backfilled, and connects to a new 84-inch inlet structure and manhole.

Marina Vista Park soils have not achieved the soil salinity conditions required by the project plans for sod installation. The City’s priority is to ensure the best conditions for sod installation to maintain a high-quality field. As such, the contractor is required to continue soil leaching to remove excess salinity and the contractor is anticipated to perform additional treatments and soil amendments. A multi-month sod establishment period is planned to help the turf thrive before project turnover.

Various utilities including storm drains and electrical installations are progressing towards completion. The contractor is working on storm drain lines and manholes around the bridge at Colorado Street and Orlena Avenue. New electrical pedestals have been installed, some of which will support maintenance systems like booster pumps to irrigate the fields.

Please visit the project website below for additional information.

The City of Long Beach will be observing the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. There will be no street sweeping or parking enforcement related to street sweeping, but refuse collection will continue as scheduled on both days. To see the full schedule for facilities and services, please visit the link below.

With our current weather, the Ximeno project has experienced some delays. In order to keep moving forward on this project, our contractor All American is scheduled to level out two manholes today.

Median work and striping are still to come. Since the median work will take some time, Councilmember Duggan has asked if the striping work can be finished so the lanes are identifiable in this high traffic area.

Public Works immediately focused on stabilizing the Bay Shore sinkhole area ahead of the recent rains. This critical action was taken to prevent further collapse in nearby areas caused by water intrusion. The conditions of the existing storm drains have now been evaluated to direct the repair plan. Public Works is currently working with a contractor to finalize the repair approach and timeline, which will become clearer once the scope of work is officially defined. For safety reasons, vehicle access to the area remains restricted. Please visit the project website below for the latest updates.

I attended the re-opening of Barnes & Noble at Marina Pacifica earlier this week. It was great to see them back in their newly renovated space, and children’s author Salina Yoon was there to help celebrate their return. Thank you to Luisa, the store manager, for an incredible re-opening. Congratulations to the entire team - Happy reading!

Join us at our Townhall on Wednesday, December 10, at the Recreation Park Community Center. We will have a toy donation box on-site to support the annual Police and Fire Toy Drive. Please drop off an unwrapped toy as you join us for our year-end meeting.

I am proud to share that four longstanding District 3 businesses were recently recognized as Legacy Businesses by the City’s Economic Development and Opportunity Department. This program honors businesses that have served the community for more than a decade and made a lasting impact on Long Beach’s history, culture, and neighborhood identity.

Congratulations to Taco Shore, Domenico’s, Legends, and Z Fabrique on receiving this well-deserved recognition.

This week, I welcomed a group of Scouts to City Hall, where they learned about my role as a councilmember. They even had a surprise visit from Mayor Richardson and participated in a mock council meeting in Council Chambers. It was a wonderful opportunity to see our future leaders in action!

The Long Beach Turkey Trot is looking for volunteers to help with activities such as setup, registration, and staffing water stations. Volunteer spots are open for Wednesday, November 26, and Thursday, November 27. If you’d like to volunteer, sign up using the link below.

I was proud to attend and support collegiate athletes from all over Southern California at this year's Pancake Regatta. Despite the rain, everyone delivered an incredible performance and brought home the Queen Mary Trophy for the first time in nine years. Our CSULB Varsity and Novice crews had an excellent showing, demonstrating the dedication and hard work that led to these outstanding wins. Go Beach!

The Long Beach Rowing Association will host Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints on Saturday, December 6, followed by the 58th annual Christmas Regatta on Sunday, December 7, at Marine Stadium. The community is welcome to come and watch this festive, volunteer-run event, which often features holiday-themed costumes.

Marine Stadium is home to LA28 Olympic and Paralympic rowing. For the first time, Coastal Rowing is part of the Olympic events and it will be taking place off of our Long Beach coast.

The PCH Long Beach Bike Project is in its final outreach phase, and the public is encouraged to share feedback on safety, mobility, and biking improvements along the corridor. The survey closes on November 26, and community input is an important part of the process. Click below to participate.

The Port of Long Beach will host a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, December 3, at 10:00 a.m. to provide an update on the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project. This major rail improvement effort will increase on-dock rail capacity, reduce truck traffic, and support cleaner, more efficient cargo movement through our port. Residents can register online to join from any device, and a recording will be available afterward at polb.com/PierB.

Requests for translation must be received by Tuesday, Nov. 25. Contact Veronica Morales at (562) 283-7722 or veronica.morales@polb.com for translation or assistance registering for the event.

The Surfrider Foundation invites the community to join them this Sunday, November 23, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to help with planting and care for their Ocean Friendly Gardens. These gardens serve as living infrastructure, with deep-rooted plants that absorb rainwater, reduce polluted runoff, store carbon, and support local biodiversity and wildlife. All experience levels are welcome.

Volunteers will meet to the right of the San Pedro Fish Market Restaurant near the planter that is not filled with grass, and extra time for parking is recommended.

The City’s Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (PAADU) helps property owners streamline their ADU projects with beautiful, pre-approved designs that simplify planning, reduce costs and speed up construction.

Please note: The City's current roster of PAADU designs expires Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Submit your application before the end of the year to take advantage of this program! 

Get started by contacting PlanCheck.Counter@longbeach.gov or visiting longbeach.gov/paadu.