National Library Month & Other Updates | |
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Happy Friday, District 5! Did you know that April is National Library Month? I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize these special places made for learning and discovery, as well as recognizing all of the hardworking folks who run them every day! Celebrate our Long Beach Public Libraries by checking out some of our local leaders’ book recommendations, attending one of this month’s author talks, or joining community activities at your local branch.
I also want to take a moment to recognize and congratulate two of our CD5 business owners who have been contributing to our communities for decades. Earlier this week, my team and I visited A Barbershop, to congratulate the owner Jack Smith for 55 years in business! His shop was recognized as a Long Beach Legacy Business for its contribution to our city’s culture and identity throughout the years. Congratulations, and we wish you continued success! I also want to congratulate Phil Trani, owner of Phil Trani’s Restaurant, for receiving the Don Temple Storage 2024 Philanthropic Pioneer Award earlier this week. I want to thank him for his dedication to giving back to the local community throughout his more than 30 years in business!
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 13th, I hope to see you at Long Beach's inaugural Adaptive Sports Fair! At LBCC from 10am – 2pm, you can join Playmakers Long Beach and SoCal Adaptive Sports in a diverse array of sports and activities, designed for inclusion of all ages and abilities. Come together with neighbors and share the love of sport, the art of performance, and the joy of sharing this passion with others. The event is free, and will happen rain or shine, but please RSVP to ensure entry! See the flyer below for more details.
Other ways to engage with the community this weekend include volunteering with the local Clean Streets Team that meets every second Saturday of the month at 8:30am to help keep our neighborhoods litter-free. This month, on April 13th, you can choose to join them at one of three starting points; see the flyer below for more information. Then, you can keep the clean streak going by disposing of your household e-waste or unused tires at one of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach’s recycling events on April 13th. See below for more details, including the waste drop-off locations and types of materials accepted.
This Saturday, April 13th, also holds a few opportunities to support local small business owners and creative vendors. You can celebrate spring with neighbors at Parkview Villages’ Second Saturdays Block Party from 11am – 3pm, or stop by LBX from 11am – 7pm to partake in “National Farm Animal Day.” See the flyers below to learn more about the great activities and entertainment each event has to offer, and to find even more things to do in the coming weeks!
As Earth Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of spring throughout our city and within CD5. This time of year, the wisteria blooms at Rancho Los Cerritos—I encourage all who are able to visit, to see and smell the fragrant purple flowers, and to learn the history of why they’re planted there. Weather depending, they only stay in bloom for 4-6 weeks, so be sure to head over soon!
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, April 16th at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. A list of items of interest can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. I encourage you to attend or watch online.
As always, I am grateful for your continued engagement with me and my office, and I look forward to seeing you out in the community.
The work continues,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Upcoming Events &
Community Meetings
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Parks, Recreation & Marine
News & Updates
Youth Summer Day Camps - Registration Opens April 13
Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine (PRM) will offer Summer Aquatics and Park Day Camps from June 17 - August 23, 2024. Registration begins Saturday, April 13!
Summer Park Camps
Youth ages 5 to 12 will enjoy games, crafts, physical fitness, enrichment activities and more. Summer Park Camps will operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., for those enrolled in extended care.
Aquatics Day Camps
PRM will offer two aquatics day camps for youth this summer. The Belmont Junior Beach Camp, for ages 5 to 7, located at Belmont Plaza Pool (4320 E. Olympic Plaza), features games, crafts, beach play, songs, excursions, kayaking, canoeing and American Red Cross swimming lessons. Campers at Bayshore Beach Camp, for ages 8 to 12, located at Bayshore Park (5415 E. Ocean Blvd.), will enjoy the same activities as the Belmont Junior Beach Camp in addition to marine biology lessons.
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Long Beach Airport
News & Updates
Road Improvements Require Temporary Lane Closures
As progress on the Long Beach Airport (LGB) Terminal Roadway Improvements Project continues, travelers are advised to expect a reduced number of lanes at the pick-up and drop-off area in front of the Historic Terminal from Monday, April 15 through the end of June. Note, the most significant impacts will occur April 15 - 21.
The pick-up and drop-off area is for active loading and unloading only and will be limited to the two lanes closest to the Historic Terminal. The center median and two adjacent lanes to the east will be closed. See the map below.
Travelers can sign up for notifications about the LGB roadwork at LinkLB or can visit LGBRoadImprovements.com for updates. Those with questions can contact a construction hotline at 562.445.6439 or email info@lgbroadimprovements.com.
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Health & Human Services
News & Updates
Mobile Access Center - Updated April Schedule
The Mobile Access Center (MAC) vehicle is a form of street outreach that allows staff to begin the intake process on the street with people experiencing homelessness beyond the City's Multi-Service Center (MSC). See below for their current schedule.
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City of Long Beach
News & Updates
E-Bike Lending Library Pilot Program
Long Beach is pleased to introduce the E-Bike Lending Library Program. With funding from the Long Beach Recovery Act (LBRA), this program will provide 35 electric bicycles (E-bikes) for a rental period of up to 3 months, at no cost for selected applicants. At least 24 of the E-bikes will be reserved for residents who can show proof of enrollment in any of the qualifying federal or state assistance programs. Through this program, community members will have the opportunity to experience the advantages of active transportation to the community while promoting E-bikes as a reliable option.
Selected participants will receive the required program information, such as a participant guidebook, an E-bike training manual, GPS information, storage instructions, and safety guidelines. Visit the website for more information including program requirements and answers to FAQs.
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Fair Housing Foundation News & Events
2024 Youth Poster Contest: "A Place to Call Home"
The Fair Housing Foundation is now accepting submissions for their annual Fair Housing Poster Contest, open to students in 4th to 8th grade. Students must create a poster on any size paper with this year’s theme, “Fair Housing: A Place to Call Home,” and submit the entry via email for a chance to win up to $125! See the flyer below or visit fhfca.org for more details.
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Sister Cities of Long Beach
News & Events
2024 Young Artists and Authors Showcase
Sister Cities International’s annual global competition, the Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS), has set this year’s theme — “ClimateScape: Resilient Cities for Tomorrow’s Climate” — with Sister Cities of Long Beach offering first-round cash prizes up to $250 and Sister Cities International up to $1,000 for the final grand prize winners. The competition invites young artists to express the values of international friendship and cultural exchange through classic art, digital art, literature, poetry, music and photography.
The 2024 YAAS competition theme centers on the pressing challenges of climate change and its impact on cities. It encourages students to unleash their creativity and showcase the transformative power of resilient cities to adapt and flourish in the face of a changing climate.
The deadline to apply for the local competition is April 17, 2024. Eligible ages: 13 to 18. Click here to learn more.
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City Announces Inaugural Youth Day in the LBC for People Ages 13 to 26
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Youth Development announces Youth Day in the LBC, an exciting new event that will bring together youth ages 13 to 26 and empower them to connect around youth advocacy and youth resources.
This inaugural event will combine two of the City’s existing youth-centered events, Youth Advocacy Day and the Youth Festival, into a one-day co-hosted event in order to integrate a collective impact approach towards youth development. Youth Day in the LBC will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at Cabrillo High School (2001 Santa Fe Ave.).
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LB Public Library Presents A Bouquet of Cultures Event Series for AAPI Heritage Month
The Long Beach Public Library is pleased to unveil its dynamic array of events and programs in observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 2024, nationally recognized from May 1-31. This year’s local theme, A Bouquet of Cultures, celebrates the diversity and allure of AAPI cultures through a plethora of engaging experiences that mirror the vibrancy of the community.
Residents can stay updated by following LBPL on Facebook, X and Instagram or by visiting the events calendar for a comprehensive list of events at lbpl.org. All events are free and open to the public. For further information, please contact the Long Beach Public Library at 562.570.7500 or visit the Library homepage.
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City to Host Annual Celebration of the Young Child in Downtown Long Beach
Long Beach will host the fifth annual Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Downtown Long Beach. This free event provides hands-on activities and showcases vendors who provide services and resources for children up to 8 years old.
The event will be co-located at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) and at the adjacent Lincoln Park. Free parking will be available in the Civic Center parking garage located at the corner of Broadway and Chestnut Avenue.
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. April 16, 2024, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
FULL AGENDA
Item 18 Recommendation to adopt resolution declaring The Long Beach Community Investment Company owned property located at 1131 East Wardlow Road (APNs 7146-024-025, 028) as “exempt surplus land” as defined in Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(A); and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to take any actions and execute any documents necessary to ensure compliance with the Surplus Land Act and State regulations relating thereto. (Item Details)
Item 20 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the COVID-19 After Action Report. (Item Details)
Item 22 Recommendation to approve ordinance amendment to Section 3.80.261 of the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to reduce the cannabis cultivation tax rate and adult-use retail tax rate and add provisions for the Pilot Tax Credit Program, read and adopted as read. (Item Details)
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