Recent Council Item

Item 25: Ordinance Related to Public Comment at City Council

During Tuesday's meeting, we heard the second reading of last week's ordinance to consolidate public comment to the beginning of the meeting. I expressed my continued concerns with the proposed changes. I made a substitute motion to keep the previous order of public comment in place, and establish a separate opportunity for 10 members of the public to address the City Council on agendized items, across in-person and remote participation, immediately following the general public comment period at the beginning of the meeting. I hoped this substitute motion would help strike the balance of providing the benefits of an early, time-certain opportunity to speak for those who may need it, while maintaining the existing practice of allowing members of the public to speak on each agenda item as it comes forward.

My substitute motion failed by a vote of 3-6. The ordinance as proposed as the second reading passed 6-3. As I have done each time this vote has been before us, I voted NO. I am deeply disappointed this ordinance passed.

I respect the right of every person to share public testimony before the City Council. I must also say that I reject and condemn the often cruel and deeply personal attacks made by some members of the public against Councilmembers, City staff, and others participating in public comment.

As I shared last week, while verbal public comment practices will change, other ways to meaningfully engage with your elected representatives remain:

• Provide written public comment
• Submit your comments directly online, by clicking the “speech bubble” button that appears next to the posted agenda
• Email your comments to cityclerk@longbeach.gov
• Attend community meetings and events
• Share your thoughts through calls and emails to my office
• Call 562-570-5555 or email district5@longbeach.gov

The ordinance goes into effect "on the 31st day after it is approved," meaning the new public comment structure will begin at the Nov. 17, 2026 Council meeting. The next two meetings, Oct. 20 and Nov. 10, will continue with the existing Order of Business.

Item 17: Request for Report Back regarding Unattached Trailers, Oversized Vehicles

I partnered with Councilwoman Thrash-Ntuk on Item 17 to request city staff to evaluate ways we may be able to strengthen and clarify our Municipal Code relating to unattached trailers, oversized vehicles, mobile billboard advertising, and similar types of nuisance vehicles abusing the public right of way. My office has received numerous complaints regarding the impacts these vehicles may have including line-of-sight concerns, street sweeping interruptions, residential access, and inappropriate or unlicensed business activities and advertisements. While our Municipal Code has some tools to help address these problems, enforcement is often difficult or ineffective. I look forward to the report back that will help us identify ways to strengthen our code and enforcement mechanisms to provide a clearer path to resolution around these nuisance concerns. Learn more by reviewing the item and presentation at Council.

Item 18: Restrictions Against Nitrous Oxide to Prevent Use as Recreational Drug

My colleagues brought forward Item 18 to introduce local regulations against the sale and use of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. Volunteer clean-up groups in District 5 neighborhoods have increasingly reported finding discarded canisters on our neighborhood streets, highlighting the concerns around their increased misuse. While nitrous oxide does have legitimate uses across several business industries, it is becoming more prevalent as an easily accessible recreational drug with extremely dangerous health impacts. Action has been taken at the State level to limit sales and unlawful uses of nitrous oxide, and this item allows us the opportunity to bring those tools to the local level in a timely manner, as well as take the extended time needed to dive into what strengthened restrictions we may be able to implement locally, while not overburdening legitimate uses. Learn more by reviewing the item and presentation at Council.

Item 20: Presentation on Potential Buffer Zones for Smoking Lounges & Tobacco Retailers

Back in April, I brought forth an item requesting further research into potentially establishing buffer zones to prohibit tobacco retailers and smoking lounges from operating too close to schools, parks, or other youth-serving and sensitive use locations. Staff returned with a report in August, and Tuesday's Item 20 was an extremely informative and thorough presentation of that report and staff recommendations for moving forward. In addition to highlighting what other cities are doing to address overconcentration of tobacco-related businesses and proximity to sensitive locations, the report also shared ongoing compliance issues with existing laws against flavored tobacco and other illegal product sales occurring at these types of businesses.

To help understand what the potential buffer zones would look like, city staff created an interactive map to allow Councilmembers and the public to visualize existing conditions and what may change through proposed regulations. As we take time to further review potential regulations, Councilwoman Saro, whose district holds one of the highest concentrations of these types of businesses, requested that the first ordinance include a moratorium on new smoke shops and tobacco retailers, to keep new stores from popping up and further complicating future compliance. I will also note that the draft ordinance to come is intended to focus on standalone tobacco retailers, smoking lounges, and the like, not including grocery and convenience stores at which tobacco sales are not the primary business. Learn more by reviewing the item and presentation at Council.

As the map reveals, the high concentration of smoke shops and their proximity to sensitive and youth-serving locations is a citywide issue, not specific to CD5. However, I am appreciative of the CD5 residents who helped bring this concern to our attention and prompt further research in support of public health and safety.  I look forward to the draft ordinance to come that will help us in the efforts to protect youth-serving and sensitive locations from undue exposure to tobacco retailers and smoking lounges, as well as increased mechanisms to adequately enforce existing laws and deter bad actors.

Long Beach Police Dept.

New North Division Commander

LBPD’s North Division has recently been assigned a new commander, Commander Joshua Brearley! Commander Brearley has been with the LBPD since 2004, and prior to his promotion to Commander, he recently served as Lieutenant overseeing LBPD’s Real Time Crime Center. Learn more in his brief bio, and join us in warmly welcoming Commander Brearley to North Division!

We also thank former North Division Commander Isiah Hughes for his partnership and leadership in the North Division, and wish him well in his new assignment! Learn more about all of LBPD’s Command Staff on the department webpage. 

Long Beach Fire Dept.

Fire Station 9 Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting | Oct 20

The Long Beach Fire Department invites the community to the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the new Fire Station 9! The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 11am – 12pm at 4101 Long Beach Blvd., 90807.

This new station represents an important investment in our community and will help the entire Fire Department continue to provide the highest level of emergency services across Long Beach. This project has been a long time in the works, and we are excited to finally see it come to fruition, and to have our Station 9 crews returned to a permanent home. Please RSVP if you plan to attend, as space is limited.

5th District Office

Next CD5 Community Meeting | Oct. 29

Save the date! Our next District 5 Community Meeting is being held on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 6pm at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.). This time, we will be joined by State representatives Senator Lena Gonzalez and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal! We hope you will join us to engage in conversation about any news from Sacramento and their offices’ respective goals for the coming year. 

While not required, we ask that those planning to attend to please RSVP to help us prepare the meeting space. We hope to see you there!

Blood Drive at Expo Arts Center | Oct. 30

On Friday, Oct. 30th, from 9am – 3pm, you can give back by donating blood at a Blood Drive at the Expo, hosted in partnership with my office, Councilwoman Thrash-Ntuk's Office, and Jack & Jill of Greater Long Beach.

Click the flyer or scan the QR Code to sign up, and do your part to help save lives!

Historical Society of Long Beach

30th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour | Oct 31

This Halloween, the Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) invites residents and visitors to spend the day at the 30th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour, on Saturday Oct. 31 from 8:30am – 3pm, at the Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries. Join to celebrate 30 years of living history and the remarkable stories that shape our city, as community theater actors in period-appropriate costumes give graveside performances portraying the person lying at rest. It’s a great way to learn about the people who shaped our city’s past, and a great reminder that everyone has a story to tell. The event is an self-guided tour, with performances lasting 10 minutes and repeating every 20 minutes from 9am – 2:40pm. It’s recommended to arrive before noon for the full experience. Visit hslb.org to learn more and get tickets!

My office has a total of ten (10) free tickets to distribute to community members who would like to attend! Please send my office an email at district5@longbeach.gov or respond to this newsletter to request. Tickets will be gifted in order of requests received while supplies last. 

Community Development Dept.

Accessibility Made Easy: Business Owner Virtual Workshop | Oct. 22

The Community Development Department is hosting a free virtual workshop to help Long Beach businesses and property owners learn fast, low-cost ways to improve building accessibility and reduce the risk of ADA-related lawsuits. The session will explain how accessibility rules apply to existing and older buildings, what “readily achievable barrier removal” means, and which simple improvements can make your business more welcoming to customers. Business owners who attend the workshop will fulfill one of the requirements for the upcoming Access Inspection Grant program. See workshop details below, or visit the program website for more information.

Business Owners Workshop: Accessibility Made Easy

Thursday, Oct. 22 | 9:30 – 11:30am | Zoom

RSVP: lbcd.info/ada-bizworkshop

City of Long Beach

Local Emergency: Prepare for El Niño Season

The City has entered a Local State of Emergency in preparation for the potential impacts of the upcoming El Niño storm season. Weather patterns for the 2026 – 2027 El Nino season are projected to bring heavy rains, and the emergency proclamation allows the city to begin preparing personnel, equipment, and protocols to help keep residents throughout the city safe.

This morning, I had the opportunity to visit the Peninsula area most directly affected by the recent hurricanes. Along with LA County Assessor Jeff Prang, I went to support Councilmember Duggan and the community there and understand the reality of the storm impacts. Seeing the affected areas firsthand is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with those directly impacted by the devastating damage. Although this is not my district, I am willing to support Councilmember Duggan and the city in its efforts to restore and fortify the affected area.

Earlier today, the city released information regarding upcoming sand bag distribution events to help residents stock up to prepare for future storm-related flooding. As part of the State of Emergency, staff will report on ongoing conditions and efforts as Item 15 of next Tuesday’s Council meeting. 

Health & Human Services Department

West Nile Virus Update

The City has been experiencing an increase of human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) this year. As of Oct.15, 2026, 55 cases of WNV have been reported in Long Beach, including 69% with neuroinvasive illness, and three cases resulting in death. Learn more about the virus, see a breakdown of reported cases in Long Beach, and find latest updates from the Health Dept. at longbeach.gov/wnv.

All are encouraged to take the following precautions to protect yourselves from mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent. Apply an insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients, including DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, before going outdoors.
• Cover up outdoors. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when spending time outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes that can spread WNV are most active.
• Keep mosquitoes outside. Install or repair door and window screens.
• Dump and drain standing water. Empty items that can hold water inside and outside the home at least once a week, including flowerpots and saucers, birdbaths, buckets, children’s toys, and other outdoor containers.
• Cover water storage containers. Cover buckets and rain barrels. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Maintain swimming pools and spas. Clean and maintain swimming pools and spas, and drain water that collects on pool covers.
• Remove items that collect water. Remove unused items from yards and patios that can collect water, such as old tires and containers.
• Report increased mosquito activity to the Health Dept through its mosquito surveillance form. Community reports help inform mosquito surveillance efforts throughout Long Beach.

Cherry Park Tree Planting

Partners Collaborate to Plant Trees in Our Community!

This morning, I had the pleasure of joining TreePeople, Delta Airlines, LA28, and the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) for a tree planting event at Cherry Park! These organizations are working together to help improve environmental health and quality of life in the Fifth District, across the city, and throughout the region by donating, planting, and caring for trees at local parks. We are honored to have Cherry Park as the first location to receive new trees through this initiative, and we look forward to the benefits of increased shade and improved air quality as these trees take root and thrive for generations to come. Thank you TreePeople and Delta Airlines for making this planting possible, and to local CCLB Corpsmembers and LA28 volunteers for all your hard work and care!