Weekly Updates & Happy Mothers Day | |
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Happy Friday, District 5! To all mothers and mother-figures, I wish you a happy Mother’s Day! This Sunday, we remember and thank all mothers and mother-figures for everything they have done and continue to do to provide for those they care about. With three grown children of my own, I know how challenging motherhood can be, but more importantly, how rewarding it is to build and care for your family. I wish all mothers, mother-figures, and all who can celebrate with you, a warm, joy-filled, and relaxing day of well-deserved appreciation!
If you’re still looking for that perfect gift to show mom your appreciation, stop by one, or all, of District 5’s popup markets this Saturday, May 11th. From 10am – 2pm, you can head over to the monthly Norse Village Market, where they’ll simultaneously be honoring AAPI Heritage Month; from 12pm – 5pm, LBX will be hosting a “Mother’s Day Mercado” on the Hangar Lawn; and, Parkview Village’s Second Saturday Block Party will be open from 11am – 3pm. Then, starting at 3, stick around the Parkview Village area for Fair Trade Long Beach’s 5th Anniversary Celebration! See the flyers below for more information.
On Tuesday this week, we gathered at City Hall to honor fallen Fire and Police Department employees at the annual Police and Fire Memorial Ceremony. In community with their family and loved ones, we stood together to pay tribute to the brave police employees and firefighters who lost their lives in service to the Long Beach community. See below for more details.
Earlier this week we also received the results and report of the 2024 Homeless Point In Time (PIT) Count. The PIT Count provides the city with helpful demographic information and data to inform best practices and future policies for continuing the fight to end homelessness. See below for more information.
Are you interested in becoming more involved and making a difference in the community in meaningful ways? Apply to serve on a City Commission! See below for more information on open seats and how to apply.
Looking ahead, be sure to purchase your tickets for the Cal Heights Home & Garden Tour on Sunday, May 19th. Connect with neighbors while learning about the 100 years of Cal Heights history as you explore Long Beach’s largest historic district. That morning, you can also explore Bixby Knolls on wheels with the monthly KIDical Mass bike ride, and join in celebrating their 12 year anniversary! Don’t forget, the weekend of May 18th and 19th will also hold this year’s celebration of Long Beach Pride! Join the festival or parade to show your support and celebration of our city’s continuous pursuit of a more diverse and inclusive city.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, May 14th 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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City of Long Beach
News & Updates
Long Beach Looking for "Best & Brightest" to Serve on City Commissions
Mayor Rex Richardson and City Council leaders are putting out the call for the “Best and Brightest” from across the city to apply to serve on a City Commission. The Mayor will be doing another round of appointments this summer and we are looking for residents with a passion to get involved and make a difference for their communities. The Mayor and Council offices are working to make sure that residents from all parts of Long Beach are considered in order that the Commissions best reflect the communities they serve.
Commission (# of Vacancies):
- Advisory Commission on Aging (2)
- Airport Advisory Commission (1)
- Board of Examiners, Appeals, and Condemnation (1)
- Board of Health & Human Services (2)
- Commission On Youth & Families (1)
- Cultural Heritage Commission (1)
- Equity & Human Relations Commission (1)
- Police Oversight Commission (1)
- Climate Resilient & Sustainable City Commission (1)
- Technology & Innovation Commission (1)
- Transaction & Use Tax Citizens' Advisory Commission (1)
Apply here! Note, some commissioner vacancies have a specific Council District requirement. There are currently no District 5-specific appointments, however those listed above are “at large” positions that can be filled by a resident from any part of the city. For more information on each commission, visit the Commissions, Boards, and Committees information page or contact the Mayor’s office at readytoserve@longbeach.gov.
Long Beach Officials Honor the Fallen at Annual Police and Fire Memorial Ceremony
City of Long Beach officials honored fallen Police and Fire Department employees at the annual Police and Fire Memorial Ceremony, which took place in Downtown Long Beach earlier this week.
A longstanding tradition for the Police and Fire Departments, the ceremony was held at the Police and Fire Memorial monument in the Civic Center Plaza and paid tribute to the 29 police employees and 14 firefighters who lost their lives in service to the Long Beach community.
In the photo below, City of Long Beach leaders stand for the posting of the colors, from members of the Long Beach Police and Fire Departments, and "Pledge of Allegiance" at the 2024 Police and Fire Memorial Ceremony.
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Health & Human Services
News & Updates
2024 Homeless Point In Time (PIT) Count
In January, more than 300 volunteers fanned out across the city on foot and by car to conduct surveys of people experiencing homelessness throughout Long Beach. Along with other helpful demographic information, the 2024 Homeless PIT Count results reveal that, for the first time since 2017, homelessness has decreased in Long Beach, with notable reductions in youth, senior, and Latinx homelessness. There is still much more work to be done, but these findings show we are heading in the right direction. Thank you again to all the volunteers who made the PIT Count possible; I’m looking forward to working together again next year!
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Community Development
News & Updates
Proposed Affordable Housing Community Feedback Form
Thank you to everyone who has continued to engage with our office regarding the proposed affordable housing community at 1131 E Wardlow Rd. We appreciate the time taken by those who have chosen to submit feedback regarding the proposed community via our online form.
We created this form to ensure that anyone who wishes to express feedback directly to our office, the Community Development team, and the proposed developer has an organized avenue for doing so. This online form has been shared with members of the community via email communications to those who have reached out to our office specifically regarding this proposed community, and on a broader scale in past newsletters. We’ve encouraged further distribution of the form to any interested stakeholders, however, we must acknowledge that the responses submitted represent a small sample of the larger community.
As of May 10, 2024, we received 95 community interactions on this form. As shown in the graph below, the most frequently selected topics of feedback had to do with concerns about density, parking, and appearance. While it is helpful to see the most noted areas of concern, please note that these topics are presented as a multiple-choice response in which all or none of the topics could be selected. The choices included were based off common topics noted on the comment cards collected at the community meeting and were intended to help us organize the responses into categories. We found that most respondents indeed checked multiple topics to describe their feedback.
We have shared the responses we've received to date with the Community Development team, and they will continue to work with the developers on formalizing designs and a proposal, taking the given feedback into consideration. We appreciate your patience as we await further updates regarding this proposed affordable housing community. In the meantime, the form will remain active for any who wish to continue to submit their feedback.
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CD5 Constituent Services
Important Reminder
How to Best Contact Our Office for Constituent Services
Our office values your feedback and concerns as the residents of Council District 5. While we appreciate your engagement on social media and platforms like Nextdoor, please be aware that our office does not monitor platforms like these for constituent services. Our office primarily handles constituent services through more direct means such as email or phone. For the most efficient assistance, we encourage you to connect with us directly via:
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Email: district5@longbeach.gov
- Phone: (562) 570 5555
- In-Person By Appointment (use phone or email to schedule)
- In-Person Drop-Ins to Field Office
Wardlow Park | 3457 Stanbridge Ave | Mon/Wed/Fri 1pm - 5pm
These channels allow us to better serve you and will ensure that your issues are addressed promptly and effectively. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to assisting you.
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Long Beach Public Library
News & Updates
2024 Youth Poet Laureate Announced at Ceremony on May 9
The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach and supported by Urban Word NYC, held the 2024 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) Ceremony last night, Thursday, May 9, at 6pm at the historic Edison Theater in Downtown. The inspiring celebration of youthful creativity and poetic brilliance took the form of a 90-minute ceremony, led by local poet Nancy Lynée Woo, included 9 finalists’ captivating performances, where each finalist presented two poems from their portfolio for the live final judging. The esteemed judging panel included poets F. Douglas Brown, Michelle Brittan Rosado, and 2023’s Youth Poet Laureate Claire Beeli, who announced the 2024 YPL Cohort.
Congratulations to our new 2024 Youth Poet Laureate! A special mention as well to two CD5 students who were finalists, Ezequiel Correa, a sophomore at McBride High, and Kieran Lundy, an eighth grader at Hughes Middle School. Congratulations, and I look forward to your continued growth as poets and leaders, using your talents and your voice to inspire others!
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Parks, Recreation & Marine
News & Updates
May Is Older Americans Month!
This May, Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine will celebrate Older Americans Month, recognized nationally each May, by offering a wide variety of free activities throughout the city for adults ages 50 and above. The activities include arts and crafts, basketball, swimming, field trips, enrichment activities, a dinner and dance, job fairs, and a talent show. Call 562-570-3150 for more information.
In addition, Heart of Ida has released a special "Mental Health" edition of the AgeWell Senior Resource Guide for Long Beach older adults and their caregivers. Copies will be distributed during May at Older Americans Month events and outreach events, and delivered to community centers, senior centers, libraries, and senior buildings throughout Long Beach. For a digital version, visit www.heartofida.org/agewell-long-beach.
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Go Active LB
News & Updates
Celebrate Bike Month 2024!
Join us this May for Bike Month 2024 and explore various events planned to promote biking in Long Beach. Every year, communities across the United States celebrate Bike Month as an opportunity to showcase the benefits of bicycling and to encourage more people to incorporate bicycling into their daily lives. Both the City and communities in Long Beach are hosting biking related events throughout the month of May. Attend any event below or show us how you ride your way by taking the Bike Month Challenge this year for a chance to get a commemorative Bike Month May 2024 embroidered patch or vinyl sticker! If you don’t have your own bike, the Long Beach Bike Share program has bicycles to rent out throughout the City.
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City of Long Beach
News & Updates
Upcoming Memorial Day Celebrations
Memorial Day is coming up! Mark your calendars for two free events to honor the countless men and women who have given their lives in service of our country. At 5:30pm on Sunday, May 26th, join the Office of Veterans Support in “Honoring Our Heroes: A Sunset Ceremony” at Shoreline Aquatic Park. Then on Monday, May 27th at 10am, join neighbors at CD5’s own Forest Lawn for their annual Memorial Day Celebration.
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Rancho Los Cerritos
News & Updates
Summer Day Camp Registration Open
Rancho Los Cerritos is excited to offer educational and immersive day camps for elementary- and middle-school-aged students this summer! The goal for each camp session is to create an engaging, safe, and fun environment for local children to learn about the history of RLC and Long Beach. We offer four week-long sessions, each with a different theme. The hours for all camps are 10am-3pm and the cost is $275/week. Membership discounts and need-based scholarships are available.
Time-Travelers Camp (ages 6-10): July 8-12
Nature Camp (ages 6-10): July 15-19
Vaquero Camp (ages 6-10): July 22-26
Unplugged Camp (ages 11-13): July 29-August 2
The Rancho’s summer camps are also a wonderful volunteer opportunity for local high school students. Teen counselors provide an engaging and fun camp experience for campers, while honing their own leadership and teamwork skills. We will be hosting two info sessions for teens on Tuesday, June 18 that cover all summer volunteer opportunities for high schoolers, including summer camp.
Learn more about summer camps on RLC’s website: www.RanchoLosCerritos.org/Camp
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41st Annual Long Beach Pride Parade to Livestream on NBC4 and Telemundo 52
The City of Long Beach is proud to announce that NBC4 and Telemundo 52 will return as media partners for the 41st Annual Long Beach Pride Parade, taking place Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. Audiences can tune-in to special coverage on parade day on nbcla.com, telemundo52.com, on the free NBCLA and Telemundo 52 mobile apps and on the stations’ free 24/7 local news streaming channels NBC Los Angeles News, Telemundo Noticias California.
Led by an esteemed lineup of grand marshals, the 2024 Long Beach Pride Parade will feature over 130 participating organizations, businesses and stakeholder groups showcasing a variety of vibrant and engaging floats and displays. The parade will commence at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue then travel along iconic stretches of Ocean Boulevard to Alamitos Avenue in Downtown.
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City Officials Celebrate Grand Opening of New North Long Beach Higher Education Center
The City of Long Beach, in partnership with Long Beach City College (LBCC), celebrated the grand opening of the North Long Beach Higher Education Center (Center) with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, open house and mural dedication. The Center will serve to increase access to higher education, job training, and technology and business resources for the North Long Beach community.
The Center, located at 635 E. South St., is another collaborative effort between the City and LBCC. The shared community space serves as a physical location in North Long Beach where all residents can access education and career resources, tuition-free non-credit courses, small business support services, and workforce training opportunities that cater to diverse needs and aspirations.
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. May 14, 2024, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Item 1 Recommendation to receive and file a report for Mayor Richardson and the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee’s travel to Washington, DC, for meetings with federal members and agencies on April 29-30, 2024. (Item Details)
Item 4 Recommendation to provide a contribution to Long Beach City College Foundation to support the Discover LBCC Summer Concert; to Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association to support their two annual Community Concerts; to Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association to support their annual Community Concert; to McBride High School Criminal Justice & Investigation Pathway Booster Club to support their annual Casino Night; to Long Beach Century Club to support their annual Golf Tournament; to Long Beach NonProfit Partnership to support their annual Nonprofit Community Breakfast; to Long Beach Forward to support their “In Full Bloom” Event. (Item Details)
Item 8 Recommendation to amend Contract No. 36164 with Family Promise of the South Bay, of Torrance, CA; Contract No. 36166 Illumination Foundation, of Orange, CA; Contract No. 36176 Mental Health America of Los Angeles, of Long Beach, CA; and Contract No. 36167 People Assisting the Homeless, of Los Angeles, CA, to provide intensive case management services for individuals and families who are matched with Emergency Housing Vouchers through the Long Beach Coordinated Entry System. (Item Details)
Item 11 Recommendation to accept annual payments for the years 2024 and 2025 from AES Alamitos, LCC, to support the Skylinks Regional Stormwater Capture Project as mandated by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Los Angeles Region Time Schedule Order (TSO) R4-2023-0371 requiring AES Alamitos, LCC (Alamitos Generating Station) to comply with requirements prescribed in order R4- 2020-0134. (Item Details)
Item 15 Recommendation to request City Manager and Department of Health and Human Services to work with Los Angeles County, local educational institutions, and state and federal agencies to develop a plan to achieve “functional zero” on youth homelessness in Long Beach by 2030. (Item Details)
Item 24 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 8.99, relating to just cause for termination of tenancies and declaring the urgency thereof, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Item Details)
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