Year Three Update

Year Three In Review

Dear Neighbors,

In my third year in office, our team gained additional insights from our residents, cultivated fresh connections with constituents, advanced their concerns, remained vigilant about major issues, and identified new opportunities to enhance the quality of life in District 2.

Similar to my first two years in office, we grounded our actions in providing quality service to residents. In our policy and research efforts, we emphasized Economic Development, Clean Energy, Infrastructure Upgrades, Public Safety and Homelessness, and ensuring fairness and equality in City policies and operations. We also supported a multitude of community events, which are detailed below.

I am so proud of what we accomplished in our first and second years in office, and here is a link to our Year 1 Update, and Year 2 Update, for those who may not have seen it.

Highlights from Year Three

Bixby Park Upgrades

In 2021, the State provided $850,000 to the City for renovations to Bixby Park. That money was earmarked for improved lighting and adult exercise equipment. With the help of Congressman Robert Garcia, I was able to secure additional funding from the Federal Government for improvements to Bixby Park.

There have been many renovations and improvements since last year, starting with improved accessibility all over the park with the addition of multiple ADA-accessible picnic tables, and new paving around the free-standing restrooms that both beautify the area and allow for people who use mobility aids to more easily get to the bathrooms, where they previously had to maneuver through grass and dirt.

In the last days of 2023, Dr. Mickey’s Dog Park also saw the addition of lighting and new benches to the park, with more to come!

Kid Zones

In 2021, I introduced a legislative item that would prohibit adults without children from entering or occupying our City’s playground spaces. By establishing “Kid Zones,” we can ensure the City’s playground equipment and play areas specifically designed for children remain safe and available spaces for use by children. As of this year, I am excited to share that all of the “Kid Zone” signs are up in our parks and parks throughout the City!

LGBTQ+ Cultural Corridor Project

In June 2022, then-Mayor and current Congressman Robert Garcia and I brought forth a recommendation to create a visioning process and feasibility plan for an LGBTQ+ Cultural District.

The Broadway corridor is a major cultural asset in District 2. This area of the city is home to many of Long Beach’s gay bars and LGBTQ+ businesses, as well as being a longstanding, important place for the LGBTQ+ community to gather and organize. By designating the area as a cultural district, we can come together to educate visitors about the cultural and historical significance of the neighborhood, support the businesses and institutions that are here, and invest in public improvements to ensure the LGBTQ+ community continues to thrive.

In June 2023, the City released the Preliminary LGBTQ+ Cultural District Report for public review. The draft report details the community history and outlines the next steps for the initiative, including suggestions received for neighborhood- and business-led activation opportunities. Staff also held a community workshop in September and released a survey in November that provided examples of placemaking components, including lighting, wayfinding and signage, street furnishing, public art installations and landscaping for residents to weigh in on.

To receive the most up-to-date information about the LGBTQ+ Cultural District project, please sign up to receive updates.

Beach Streets and LB Proud!

Beach Streets took over Broadway from Pine to Bixby Park in May of 2023. Beach Streets is an annual Open Streets event that encourages residents to get out of their cars and walk, roll, and skate to where they need to go as well as showcase their neighborhood or businesses! The event attracts residents & visitors from across the region to explore & discover the area at a slower "foot-traffic" pace.

LB Proud! was a free event that focused on local queer artists and vendors. It took over Bixby Park in conjunction with Beach Streets on May 20th, 2023. The event was wildly successful with three entertainment stages, and dozens of vendors, artists, and performers.

In advance of the event, our team gave back to the Park and neighborhood by planting over 25 new trees in the park and about a half dozen along the Broadway Corridor.

Dog Beach Item

In July, I introduced a legislative item asking the City to identify potential sites located in Council District 2 for a second dog beach in Long Beach. Since 2003, Rosie’s Dog Beach in Belmont Shore has been the City’s only dog beach and the only off-leash dog beach in Los Angeles County. Long Beach is a dog-friendly city and there is a need for an additional dog beach site that is more accessible for dog-owners who live west of Belmont Shore. Waterfront residents from Council Districts 1 and 2, residents from Central Long Beach, and all dog owners who live west of Council District 3, would benefit from an additional dog beach site located in District 2. The furry residents of my district deserve access to the Coast and I am enormously proud to represent their interests on the Council!

Official Establishment of a Long Beach Women’s Commission

In my first year, I brought forth legislation that sought to establish a Commission on Women and Girls in the City of Long Beach. This July, we received the official City ordinance officially establishing the Long Beach Commission on Women and Girls. We also received a report that would inform the mission and priorities of our new Commission. This was a process that began in 1975 when former Councilwoman Renee Simon introduced the original item that would create a Commission on Women and Girls. While it failed to receive a second and advance at that time, when I reintroduced the idea again in September 2021, we not only received a second but the proposal was unanimously approved by the City Council. This commission is long overdue, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done. We need to improve the lives of women and children in this city, and this commission will help us accomplish that goal.

To celebrate the establishment of the Women and Girls Commission my office partnered with Zoe Nicholson, The Feminist Uprising, and other local organizations to host a resource fair for the women and girls of Long Beach and to celebrate 100 years of advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment. The event was attended by hundreds of people. I am so proud of this work and excited to share that all of the commissioners have been appointed!

AIDS Memorial Site

In October of 2023 I introduced an item to direct City Staff to create a Long Beach AIDS Memorial to remember those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. The LGBTQ+ community has been an integral part of Long Beach, especially in the 2nd District. They have impacted the culture of the city through small businesses, restaurants, and neighborhood activities, overall positively contributing to Long Beach.

Long Beach has led in providing HIV medical services, but it is important to memorialize those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. Establishing this memorial creates a permanent space for friends and family to remember their loved ones, as well as celebrate the resiliency of the LGBTQ+ community. I am proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community and honor those who have passed from HIV/AIDS.

Pride Tower Activation Hub

On September 27th, 2023 the City held a community input session in Bixby Park to discuss potential ways to activate the site of the LGBTQ+ Pride Lifeguard Tower. During this meeting residents offered their opinions on various amenities that would enhance the Lifeguard Tower and surrounding area. One of the proposed changes was an accessible “boardwalk” path that would allow visitors of all abilities access to front views of the Lifeguard Tower. This was very important to me because when my office hosted Big Gay Beach Takeover in the Spring, the lack of accessibility on the sand prevented some residents from being able to participate fully!

Christmas Caroling across the District

On December 15th, 2023 my office partnered with two of the 2nd District’s historic neighborhood associations to bring Christmas Carols to the neighborhood. There were two stops in Bluff Park, one in Bluff Heights, and a final performance that happened at the Art Theatre on 4th street. I am so grateful to all of the residents that opened up their homes and porches for all of us to enjoy the Camerata Singers Christmas Carolers.

Winter Wonderland

My office worked in partnership with Discover LBCC to transform Orizaba into the most Wonderful Winter Wonderland! It was wonderful to see our beloved park covered in a blanket of snow being enjoyed by children and their families Trustee Sunny Zia greeted us and let us know all about the Wonderful programs taking place at Long Beach City College.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors from the Port of Long Beach, the Long Beach Airport, and California Families in Focus we were able to provide meals and toys for families for the holidays. It was an extreme pleasure to learn about all the available resources in Long Beach from visiting the Health and Human Service Booth to visiting the Women’s Center of Long Beach Booth.

LBCC Hall of Fame

On September 7, 2023, I was inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Fame. I want to thank LBCC for this huge honor. LBCC is an important part of Long Beach because of the amazing opportunities it gives to people, especially students regardless of background. Furthermore, LBCC prides itself on affordability and accessibility, as well as preparing students for their careers.

My time at LBCC was integral to my future career, including my service in the City Council. LBCC prepared me not just for my future career, but for various challenges in life. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for this distinction.

Housing

I also want to recognize the developers and the workers who are building wonderful new elements of our community, including:

Silversands Hotel and Condominium project, which broke ground in early 2023.
7th and Dawson Townhomes project, which is now complete and on the market!

Community Sponsorships

My office was proud to support a variety of community events and projects, with many more in the works for 2024! These sponsorships came out of Divide By Nine funds, which is annual funding set aside equally to each district for community projects, events, and services.

In Year 3 my office support totaled $143,895 in community development and event support for the following:

Economic Development

Hotel Workers Wage Increase

In September, my Council colleagues and I unanimously approved the Long Beach Hotel Worker Wage Ordinance to be a ballot measure in the March 2024 election. The approved wage increase structure includes the phase-in timeline starting with $23.00 per hour in 2024 and ending with $29.50 per hour in 2028, language that clarifies and strengthens the "service charge provision," and language that allows City Council to revisit this issue and enact future wage changes after 5 years.

Before the Council vote, I chaired the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee meeting that received the initial report on increasing the minimum wage for hotel workers. During that meeting, we also had the opportunity to hear from all our partners, advocates, labor organizations, and interest groups on the best way to address this issue. I want to thank all our labor organizations, industry partners, advocates, and interest groups for their input and participation on both September 12th and September 19th. This is an important issue, and I’m pleased with Council’s decision as the current framework we have in place does not reflect the actual cost of living.

Local Preference

I also introduced in March 2022 an amendment to our municipal code to increase local preference for businesses applying for City contracts. This policy had not been updated in over a decade, and as a former small business owner, this is something that I have been very passionate about. Local businesses are the heart of our city and we need to make sure that we give them preference. They have invested in our city, they hire in our city, and they support other local businesses and restaurants. Local businesses who operate in this city should know that if they decide to open up shop here in our city, we will support them as a city by providing better opportunities for their success. On February 7, 2023, we approved a significant item that increases the local hire preference cap to $50,000 from $10,000 and broadens the preference program to include RFPs for the first time. I am so proud of our City Council for passing this program to keep more of our dollars local and support local businesses.

The Queen Mary

This year, we saw huge investments from the city to the Queen Mary, including an agreement that provided $12 million to continue repairing the ship.

Furthermore, the Queen Mary saw a huge increase in visitors, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Restaurants and events that have been reintroduced have helped boost tourism on the ship. We hope to see even more improvements and more visitors in the coming year!

The Ship is also focused on bringing back popular venues and activities such as Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge. Sunday Brunch returned on December 3rd and included a live band with the intent of creating a musical series that represents the diverse demographic of Long Beach, with acts rotating throughout the month. The return of live music, special events and music

festivals to the Queen Mary and Harry Bridges Special Events Park has further highlighted the importance of live music and entertainment to the future success of the Ship, with over approximately 60,000 guests coming aboard since the start of the fiscal year. The Queen Mary hosted highly successful Independence Day, Shaqtoberfest, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. In 2024, the Ship will see even more music and events as the City and operator look to expand music and entertainment opportunities.

Clean Energy

The Port of Long Beach

Our Port of Long Beach had a great year with multiple projects successfully getting off the ground. These zero-emissions projects will proceed more rapidly thanks to nearly $225 million in grant funding awarded to the Port by the state of California back in July 2023. The state is also investing more than $158 million to advance the Port’s rail support facility at Pier B, which will shift more cargo from trucks to on-dock rail.

The total, more than $383 million, is the largest grant ever awarded to the Port by the state of California. The funding will support the creation of more than 22,000 jobs and advance projects expected to eliminate more than 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5% of nitrogen oxide emissions associated with Port-related operations annually by 2028.

Port and Freight Infrastructure Program Press Conference Interviews Vice Mayor

ARCHES

In October, the Biden administration announced up to $600m in funding to create a hydrogen fuel hub right here in Long Beach. Hydrogen is a powerful tool we can use to decarbonize our heavy industries, like shipping, aviation, and heavy-duty trucks.

Making this investment will also create thousands of good-paying jobs for Long Beach residents and help improve our local air quality. We’re a big City, with one of the largest ports in America, an airport, a complex medical industry, and an evolving aerospace industry.

As an early advocate for ARCHES, I am thrilled to see this project advancing. Investing in clean, renewable hydrogen is an incredible opportunity for the City of Long Beach. We will see cleaner air, benefits to our disadvantaged communities, and thousands of good-paying jobs created for Long Beach residents. This project also marks a new era for our Port. Renewable hydrogen will significantly cut our emissions, reduce our dependency on fuel, and help meet our local clean energy goals.

Solar Permitting

In November 2022, I asked the City to report back on our solar installation, permitting, and inspection process and timelines, and to identify ways we can streamline the process. In response, last October, the City announced a new streamlined process for issuing permits for residential renewable energy projects. Permits can now be obtained online for three types of projects: solar photovoltaic systems (PV), energy storage systems (ESS) and electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS).

The new process, including technical information such as system size and capacity limitations, is detailed on the Department’s website where users can learn about the new one-step process that includes submitting an application, paying permit fees and receiving a job inspection card all online. Once payment is made, permits are then immediately emailed to applicants. In-person submittals at the City Hall Permit Center are also available. Applicants are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting longbeach.gov/permits.

Infrastructure Upgrades

This past year we saw progress on infrastructure in neighborhoods such as Zaferia, Alamitos Beach, and Bluff Heights. We were happy to facilitate and see significant improvements take place. Some of the work we were able to complete includes:

Sidewalk improvements down 4th street: resurfacing the roadway, completing sidewalk replacement, improving traffic striping
Street improvements along 4th street
Mark Bixby Bike Trail Grand opening
Alleyway Improvements
Updated Signage
Lowered Speed limits
Replaced the Slide at Miracle on 4th Street
New Bike Racks at Bixby Park Annex
Kid Zone Signs
Bike Lane Cleanups

Bixby Park

Bixby Park Improvements (State awarded $850,000 + FY 23 Bond Funded $200,000)
CIP improvements focused on lighting and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), site beatification and accessibility, and renovation of the bandshell will require design and will be delivered last.
Contractor has completed construction on CPTED improvements and site amenities
Continuing design on Bandshell with anticipated construction start in 2024
Repaved tiling by the bathroom
Created cement tables
Added additional hydration station by the skate park
Planted more than 25 trees
Repaired Horseshoe Pit

4th Street Sidewalk and Road Improvements

Removed existing pavement, and resurfaced the roadway
Sidewalk replacement
New curb and gutters
ADA-compliant curb ramps
Alley intersection replacement,
Bike sharrow markings
Traffic striping

Alleyway Improvements

Alley south of 1st St - Bonito Ave to Cerritos Ave
Alley south of 1st St - Cerritos Ave to Orange Ave
Alley south of 1st St - Orange Ave to Esperanza Ave
Alley south of 1st St - Esperanca Ave to Falcon Ave
Alley south of 1st St - Falcon Ave to Gaviota Ave and more alleyways
Alley south of 2nd St- Falcon Ave to Gaviota Ave
Alley south of 2nd St- Esperanza Ave to Falcon Ave

Curb Ramps Sidewalk

Concrete removal, curb ramp installation, and sidewalk improvements
Stanley Ave & 6th St - SW corner
Stanley Ave & 15th St - SW corner
Orizaba Ave & 14th St - SE corner
Coronado Ave & 15 St - NE corner
Temple Ave & 16th St - SW corner
Stanley Ave & Esther St- NW corner
5th St & Bonito Ave - NE corner

E 5th St (Temple Ave to Obispo Ave) and Obispo Ave (E 4th St to E 7th St) Improvements

40+ Tree trimmings and tree removals
Removal of damaged concrete curbs, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, and construction of new access ramps
Cold milling the existing asphalt/concrete roadway pavements and installation of new asphalt pavement, restriping, and tree replacement planting

First New Groundwater Well in over 20 years

I’m happy to represent Mayor Rex Richardson at the city’s first new groundwater well in over 20 years. Thank you to our water department and all our city staff for making investments for future Long Beach residents.

Having our own groundwater well is much more cost-effective than importing it, and the good news is there are more projects like this coming!

Broadway Bike Lane Cleanups

Heavy storms this year left a little extra debris trapped in the bike lanes! My team and I grabbed our hi-vis gear, rakes, and gloves, and went to work tidying up our District’s longest continuous Bike Lane.

The Broadway Corridor is an important asset in our community and as we move to solidify it as a culturally significant area it’s important to come together and maintain it to the best of our ability.

Lowered Speed Limits

7th Street, from Alamitos to Junipero, was reduced to 30 miles per hour
10th Street, from Alamitos to Temple, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
Alamitos, from Ocean to 7th Street, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
Obispo, from PCH to 10th Street, and from 10th to Broadway, was reduced to 20 miles per hour
Temple, from PCH to 7th Street, and from 7th Street to Ocean, was reduced to 20 miles per hour
Walnut, from 7th Street to 3rd Street, was reduced to 20 miles per hour
1st Street, from Alamitos to Cherry, and from Cherry to Redondo, was reduced to 20 miles per hour
3rd Street, from Alamitos to Junipero, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
4th Street, from Alamitos to Rose Place, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
4th Street, from Rose Place to Junipero, was reduced to 20 miles per hour
4th Street, from Junipero to Temple, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
Broadway, from Alamitos to Redondo, was reduced to 25 miles per hour
Florida Street, from Orange to Hermosa, was reduced to 15 miles per hour

Public Safety & Homelessness

SipSafe Long Beach

In September 2022, the City Health Department launched SipSafe Long Beach, a new initiative that promotes public safety by distributing drink safety test kits that detect illegal substances in beverages. I was proud to introduce the original legislation last year that led to the creation of this initiative.

Our Health Department has acquired the drink safety testing kits and will implement a comprehensive approach to equitably distribute them to requesting businesses and organizations throughout the city.

As the City continues to grow, we must take additional steps to ensure the safety of patrons at alcohol-licensed establishments. Especially for our women patrons, this program makes our City so much safer and more inviting.

To ensure equitable distribution of the kits among businesses and organizations throughout the city, the Health Department has developed a Drink Safety Test Kit Request Form. The form is available online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.

Sip Safe Interview with KFIs Wake Up Call Amy King

Homelessness Emergency

As the COVID-19 state of emergency concluded, new challenges emerged for Long Beach’s homeless population. Services previously available under emergency measures faced changes, which led to new strategies to continue helping those experiencing homelessness. This included declaring a state of emergency on homelessness. The Mayor declared an emergency on Homelessness on January 10, 2023. This emergency declaration allowed the city to take quick action to address the ongoing crisis surrounding homelessness.

From Jan. 10, 2023, to present:

230 affordable housing units have been completed and made available
408 people experiencing homelessness found housing through a number of programs including Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) and Veterans Affairs Supporting Housing (VASH)
725 people moved into permanent housing, including the numbers above
In terms of shelter, the City added:
125 beds at 702 W. Anaheim St.
60 inclement weather warming beds
Before the emergency ends, the City will have broken ground on:
The site at 5950 Long Beach Blvd., which will provide 78 rooms
The site at California Avenue and Spring Street, on which 33 Tiny Homes will be built

National Night Out

Thank you to everyone who hosted a National Night Out Event this year! It is always a privilege to meet with my residents who open up their homes for the community.

This year I visited Immanuel Senior Housing in Bluff Heights, Rose Park, in Bluff Park I visited Riley’s Red Wagon, and so many more! Thank you to the Long Beach Police Department for leading the way on this National Effort to build community relationships amongst each other! Seeing officers in the community is so important and this night highlights that!

Public Safety Town Hall for Businesses

In August, I partnered with the Long Beach Police Department for a town hall meeting to address concerns from local businesses along Broadway over public safety issues. Businesses have been concerned by the number of burglaries and also sought advice on how to manage incidents during events or when there are large numbers of patrons present. This town hall allowed for an important conversation between businesses, police, and city officials on how to improve public safety within Long Beach.

Equity & Equality

City Ramadan Celebration

On March 24th, 2023 my team put together what may have been the first Ramadan Celebration at City Hall ever. It was certainly the first time that people came together for Iftar, the meal that is eaten when breaking the fast during Ramadan, at the new City Hall! My office provided the iftar plates, local business Flaming Curry on Broadway catered them, as well as mats for Maghrib prayer, and Imam Tarek Mohammed of the Islamic Center of Long Beach joined us.

Thank you to the members of my team who brought their faith to the office with them and organized this celebration for everyone in the city to enjoy and experience something new!

Watch the LBTV Now episode about the event:

The City of Long Beach Celebrates Ramadan at City Hall

International Peace Day

In October, I introduced an item asking the City to recognize International Peace Day. What we hear in the news about recent events is deeply concerning, and as elected officials, we must emphasize the need for peace.

Before the item, I had the privilege of attending an event celebrating global peace and it reminded me of the healing power of peace. No matter what our differences are, or how long we’ve had these differences, we must recognize we all have shared universal values like fairness, freedom, and compassion.

Long Beach is a diverse City, a tolerant City, and most of all, a City that disavows violence. In our Framework for Reconciliation, we strive to acknowledge our differences and bring people together, not create divisions. I want to thank Councilwoman Saro and Councilmember Uranga for signing on to this item, and I'm very grateful this item was unanimously approved by all my Council colleagues.

LA Vs Hate Mural Project

In the Summer, my office partnered with the LGBTQ Center and LA County to produce a new mural in Bixby Park.

The mural titled “The Embrace” by local queer artist Myisha Arellano was commissioned by LA VS Hate, a community center system under the LA County Commission on Human Relations that is focused on recording instances of hate, addressing them, and offering support services to people afterward.

To find out more about LA Vs Hate and their projects please visit their website.

Long Beach 40th Pride Celebration

2023 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Pride Celebration that happens annually here in Long Beach. This year Long Beach Pride saw the election of the new President Tonya Martin. This year’s pride parade was amongst the largest yet.

Also this year the last living founder of the Pride Parade Robert “Bob” Crowe passed away. We celebrated his life and legacy with a mini parade and service in November.

Dyke March

In August I joined local women for a celebration of Lesbianism and Sapphic love. Dyke March brought together hundreds of women and people for a resource fair and rally in Bixby Park for a women-led pride event where Lesbians were at the center of the program.

I had the privilege of speaking directly to the crowd and discussing how my daughter Erin and my queer staff inspire me to advocate for Women who love women in my District and across the city!

10th Annual Harvey Milk Equality Plaza Induction Ceremony

Congratulations to the 2023 Harvey Milk Equality Plaza inductees. The 2023 honorees, according to the announcement, include:

Cory Allen, a past emperor of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach, who has spent years in local government as a voice for the LGBTQ community, the announcement said, and supporting the creation of policies to support LGBTQ business owners.
Karel Bouley and Andrew Howard, hosted the first openly gay drive-time radio talk show on KFI and have been vocal proponents for the gay community.
Charlotte “Charlie” Cornett, who co-founded the Gay & Lesbian Havurah at the Jewish Community Center, the first in the nation of its kind, and spearheaded one of the first women’s shelters specifically for lesbians.
Tom Crowe, who created the LGBTQ+ Ugandan Refugee Program after the Anglican Church of Uganda voiced support for the 2014 Ugandan Parliament’s “Kill the Gays” bill.
Carol Hass, who has been a Long Beach Pride board member for more than a decade, and has hosted numerous workshops for the community.
Debra Kahookele, a longtime community advocate, volunteer, and sponsor of Long Beach’s LGBTQ community who serves on the board for various organizations including the Long Beach Day Nursery, the Promenade Area Residents Association, the Rotary Club of Long Beach, and more.

Trans Day of Remembrance

This is the 2nd year that I sponsored Trans Day of Remembrance in partnership with APLA Health and the LGBTQ Center. This Annual Celebration of Life seeks to remember all members of the Trans community who may have lost their lives in the year.

Trans people have a lower life expectancy than their Cis counterparts. This is unacceptable to me and we must do everything in our power to stop it. Celebrating the lives and legacies of trans people demonstrates our support for each other.

Pride Town Hall

I hosted a town hall and community forum with Long Beach Pride and newly elected Long Beach Pride Board President Tonya Martin on the 2024 Pride Celebration, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Historically the second-largest annual event in the City of Long Beach, people of all ages and from across the world attend the annual Long Beach Pride Parade and Festival. Last year's event marked 40 years of the Pride Celebration in Long Beach. This town hall was an opportunity for residents to get involved with the Pride

organization and to share thoughts or ideas on the 2024 Pride Celebration.

Political Icon Award

I was thrilled and honored to receive the Political Icon Award at this year's dazzling Black and White Masquerade Ball hosted by The Center. This night will forever be etched in glittering memories!

Cindy Allen Political Icon Award Video

Congratulations to the other honorees: Cory Allen, recipient of the Community Icon Award, Emily Grijalva, recipient of the Ellen Ward Leadership Icon Award, and St. Mary’s Medical Center, recipient of the President's Award. The performances were outstanding, the fundraising games were excellent, and the decor was amazing!

Rick Ford Humanitarian Award from Long Beach Imperial Court

On March 4th, 2023, the International Imperial Court of Long Beach Awarded me with the Rick Ford Humanitarian Award for the work I have done while on Council.

This recognition is a huge honor, and I will strive to continue my advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community daily. This award serves as a reminder that there is more work to be done.

2024 Budget

Last Fall, my colleagues and I passed the fiscal year 2024 budget. This is a strong budget that addresses our challenges, maintains quality public services, and prepares us for the future. I want to thank all of our department heads, City Manager Tom Modica and his team, and our Financial Management team. I also want to recognize the hard work of our Budget Oversight Committee -- I appreciate all the time and hard work Chair Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie, Vice Chair Uranga, and Councilwoman Duggan put into this effort.

For District 2 residents, this budget provides significant funding for our LGBTQ+ Cultural District, and significant funding for refurbishing Bixby Park, one of the City's most popular destinations. We are also upgrading our lifeguard stations and beach stairways, which is something I've heard from many residents about. Our budget also includes funding for 7th St. corridor improvements, which has long been an issue in our District.

I also want to recognize our Elevate 28 plan. This is a fantastic plan that builds upon the 5-year infrastructure plan we passed last year. Whether it’s facility upgrades, refreshing our parks, transportation and mobility improvements, or improving our water quality, this plan will help us move into the future, and I look forward to what lies ahead for our City.

I'm also grateful we were able to allocate significant funding for our Tenant Right to Counsel Program, our Justice Fund, and our Language Access Program. I want to thank all the residents and advocates for their input and participation in this process --- it truly makes a difference!

Neighborhood Associations

The hardworking and dedicated neighborhood associations of the 2nd District have also been great to engage with over the past year.

Rose Park

In Rose Park we have new housing along the 7th Street corridor. Rose Park brought art to their neighborhood through their projects including delivering handmade Christmas ornaments to the Seniors living in the Edgewater Assisted Living Facility. Rose Park Neighborhood Association worked diligently with my team on multiple projects, including renovations coming to the Gazebo in early 2024. Residents if you would like to participate in upcoming Gazebo Upgrade meetings please email Aliah.Khan@LongBeach.gov so that we can keep you updated!

Bluff Park

Bluff Park Neighborhood Association saw the election of a new President, Marco Pizzo! Congratulations to Marco. He was elected early last year, and will serve in this position for the next year. Bluff Park Neighborhood Association meets quarterly at Bixby Park, all are welcome to join the association and volunteer for their quarterly neighborhood clean-ups. If you live in Bluff Park and want to join you can find out more information by visiting www.Bluffpark.org

In 2023, we partnered with the Bluff Park Neighborhood Association to bring the Camerata Singers to their historic Neighborhood for a few Christmas carols to celebrate the holiday season and display the historic homes in their neighborhood! Keep an eye on your neighborhood because in 2024 the next phase of the Lamppost Project is getting under way with installations coming to Molino Ave.

Bluff Heights

Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association remained fierce advocates for walkability this year, and continued working with our office to improve Walkability and pedestrian safety around Horace Mann Elementary School. This year we celebrated the Nation's Birthday together at their annual Block Party!

One of my field deputies, Aliah Reza Khan, has worked closely with this neighborhood organization over the last year to put together several events including the upcoming MLK Day of Service on January 13th, 2024 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Horace Mann Elementary.

In 2024 Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association is going to go through board elections and leadership changes, it is the perfect time to get involved if you live in that neighborhood! Thank you to President Donna Sievers for her time and dedicated service to the people of Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association.

Zaferia

My team attends Zaferia Heights Neighborhood Association’s, formerly known as “WESCA/Zaferia” monthly cleanups (on the 4th Saturday every month except for December) hosted in Orizaba Park.

October saw the first-ever Halloween event at Orizaba Park. Games and candy were provided for over 200 kids and teens.

It’s also been wonderful to work with the Zaferia Business Association this year. They are a great partner and I am proud to support their events and activations. In 2023 I supported the Seventh Annual Happy Sundays and sponsored the Big Red Bus for the event!

Alamitos Beach

Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association President Candyce Bear-Thomspon and Vice President Beth Buchak are devoted Neighborhood leaders. This year the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association has seen increased member numbers as well as an increase in events and the activities they put on. My office is proud to work with them from their Neighborhood meetings to Halloween celebrations in Bixby Park ABNA is an active integral part of the Second District.

In March of 2023, I asked the City Manager’s office to evaluate off-street parking. This report should give us some suggestions on how to address these issues going forward.

Friends of Miracle on Fourth Street Park

This year our district's smallest park with a playground received a lot of love from the brand new neighborhood group, Friends of Miracle on Fourth Street Park! This group was founded by the President of Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association Candyce Bear-Thompson! Candy is an amazing leader in District 2, and her efforts in Miracle on Fourth Street have helped breathe life back into this little corner of the district.

I was so proud to sponsor Friends of Miracle on 4th Street this year in their efforts to create a butterfly waystation in the park with native plant species, fortifying homes for migrating Monarch Butterflies. This new organization also served the park by informing Parks and my office about the broken slide and we worked together to get it replaced as soon as possible. The new slide is in and the butterfly garden continues to flourish!

The Fourth Street Retro Row

In 2023, the Fourth Street BID went through a leadership change, and their new executive Director is Sierra Sky. Congratulations to Sierra! Fourth Street is a major attraction in the Second District. The small business corridor features inventive restaurants and bars and eclectic businesses. My team and I regularly work with the 4th St. BID on their priorities and contribute to infrastructural and public safety needs and events such as 4th Fridays and the annual Holiday Market.

Carroll Park

Carroll Park is one of the most unique and special neighborhoods in the City. My office supports the Carroll Park Neighborhood Association and Carroll Park residents by hosting in-person and virtual meetings to discuss neighborhood priorities. We are working with the Neighborhood Association to ensure that any planned infrastructure improvements support the character of the neighborhood and are aligned with feedback from residents. Our Office also sponsored holiday events, their summer concert series, and saw to the replacement of some old signage in Carroll Park this year!

Friends of Bixby Park

I am grateful for the dedication shown by the Friends of Bixby Park to care about the park, share their thoughts through our Bixby Park Improvements survey, and to show up in numbers to our community meetings there.

My team regularly attends their monthly cleanups and sponsors park events hosted by the group. They are a strong voice for Bixby Park and I appreciate their input and feedback on how we can improve the park and its surrounding areas.

Invitation to Join Friends of Bixby Park Monthly Clean-Up

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read through this comprehensive update. I wanted to keep you informed about our efforts in the district and highlight ongoing initiatives that are still in the process. In my past updates, I mentioned that while a year may feel lengthy in some aspects, it is insufficient to achieve the progress this district truly deserves. The same sentiment holds true for the third year—we've achieved significant milestones, yet there is still a considerable amount of work ahead of us!

Welcome to Year 4 everyone, please keep reaching out to me and my team with your ideas and vision, and we’ll keep working hard on your behalf.

In Service,