Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Alleged bias and retaliation in Communication Specialist VI recruitment
Employee Andrew Garcia says the interview panel for a promotion included people with documented conflicts with him, and that he has been passed over four times in retaliation for complaints. The commission agreed to bring HR in to discuss the recruitment process.
Procurement transparency and local business access
Commissioners want vendors who collect data on Long Beach residents to disclose what they collect, store it on city infrastructure, and delete it when contracts end — lessons drawn from a smart sensor pilot. Procurement due diligence emerged as a possible 2027 workplan item.
Digital Inclusion Week and Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October's "Become a Digital Detective" campaign reached residents and staff, with a lunch-and-learn drawing nearly 80 participants. The city will move to quarterly sessions and mandatory cybersecurity and data privacy training is due November 30.
Digital inclusion and skills training expansion
Long Beach's digital skills programs graduated 104 residents in October, giving participants certificates and free computers. The city plans to expand to roughly 400 participants over the next six months, adding youth programs and a YMCA partnership.
Declining passenger activity and airport revenue
August passenger numbers were down about 5% from last year, a regional trend tied to fuel costs and travel economics. Staff expect an uptick in fiscal year 2027.
Royal Hotel revitalization and CROWN Act advocacy
A speaker with family roots in Long Beach since the 1880s urged the commission to support repurposing the vacant 1929 Royal Hotel at Lime and Anaheim as a natural hair care facility, citing CROWN Act civil-rights concerns and city licensing codes.
Former employee's late termination appeal
Ondra Gene Lucas Jr., a former Public Works refuse employee, was fired in May 2026 after his license was suspended following a DUI arrest that was later thrown out. He missed the 10-day appeal window, so the commission voted to agendize his request for a future hearing rather than rule on it now.
Transition from Conservation Corps to private clean team
The Conservation Corps ends its years-long Belmont Shore cleaning service this month; a new Block by Block clean team takes over in February, adding pressure washing and steam cleaning.
Work experience and job placement outcomes
The business engagement team reported 77 active work-site agreements, a new cohort of 30 Public Service Corps fellows, and success stories including a 17-year-old hired by Long Beach Community Table.
College Corps utility internships
Long Beach Utilities will host paid Long Beach City College student interns for three years through the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, building a career pipeline into water quality, engineering and conservation jobs at no direct cost to the utility.
Local hiring preference program results
Since launching in October 2025, nearly one in four applicants qualifies for local hiring or veteran preference points, and 54% of those moved up at least one band on hiring lists — meaning Long Beach residents get a real leg up on city jobs.
Historically Black Cultural District feasibility study
The city awarded a $300,000 contract to study creating a Historically Black Cultural District in District 6, a community-driven effort aiming to launch by 2028 along the PCH, MLK, and Anaheim corridors.
Unpermitted ice cream vendor enforcement near Shoreline Village
A longtime permitted food vendor asked the Council again to enforce permit rules against unlicensed ice cream trucks operating near the aquarium and Shoreline Village, saying the competition is hurting his business.
Downtown parking rate increase
Neighbors told the commission parking is make-or-break downtown — one said he passed on five buildings without it — and pressed again for a grocery store after the local one closed. The developer will charge market rates for unbundled parking stalls.
Updated EDA Revolving Loan Program Administrative Plan
The city's small-business loan fund got its first full update since 2015. Borrowers now need 20% equity instead of 10%, nonprofits under city contract can qualify, and pandemic-era emergency loans return as 'resiliency loans.' Staff say the higher equity requirement keeps borrowers vested in repaying.
Opportunity Zones 2.0 census tract nominations
The state can only nominate 25% of eligible census tracts for the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 tax-incentive program, which drives private investment into distressed areas. Long Beach nominated 14 of its 44 eligible tracts, and four to five appear likely to make the cut — the commission is sending letters of support before the August 28 deadline.
Divergent 3D printing facility in North Long Beach
3D printing company Divergent moved into a 130,000-square-foot vacant facility in North Long Beach and has publicly committed to 1,000 jobs — a big win for an area that had an empty big-box space for years.
Commission 2027 work-plan topics
Commissioners brainstormed what to tackle next year, landing on AI governance, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, open data and GIS storytelling, vendor due diligence, and LA 28 technology legacy. An ad hoc committee will draft the plan by November 20.
Transparency of the classified hiring appeal process
When the city rejects a job applicant for not meeting minimum qualifications, the rejection letter doesn't say how long they have to appeal or how the appeal process works. This applicant waited nearly two months before formally appealing, and by then the eligibility list had already gone to the hiring department. The commission ordered HR to review the notification process and report back within 60 days.
New Alaska Airlines service to Seattle
Alaska Air — which acquired Hawaiian Airlines — announced two daily nonstop flights from Long Beach to Seattle, joining Southwest's new Seattle and Portland routes. Ticket sales are open with introductory fares.
Business accessibility training and CASP inspection program
The city will use SB 1186 fee funds to train staff, offer free accessibility workshops, and reimburse small businesses for CASP inspections — lowering their lawsuit liability while improving access.
Port of Long Beach workforce partnership
The Port runs three high school career pathways with nearly 1,000 students, gives $400,000 in annual scholarships, and runs a 30-student paid summer internship with LBWIN support — building a pipeline into port and logistics careers.
Charity regatta and swap meet benefiting TCC children's clinics
The Seal Beach Yacht Club's charity regatta and swap meet raises money for the TCC children's clinics, which have expanded to serve seniors and low-income residents amid federal funding cuts. The committee wants more outreach materials in the June 11 packet.
Small business loan program performance and modernization
The city's two loan programs (microenterprise and Grow America) have made 106 loans supporting hundreds of jobs, and the fund is moving to in-house loan servicing and electronic payments. A local business owner testified the process is thorough but slow — about four months.
Cannabis Equity Program funding and milestones
The state-funded program helps people harmed by the war on drugs open cannabis businesses, with $1.2 million awarded for 2026 and five new equity dispensaries expected to open this year. The program restructured its grant milestones so applicants don't burn cash before securing a viable location.
Downtown Long Beach Design District
A coalition of creative businesses is building a design district downtown, activating empty storefronts and drawing visitors through art walks and festivals. Commissioners discussed expanding the model to the East Side and tracking economic impact metrics.
Third-party food delivery fees
A first reading advanced on an ordinance capping delivery app fees to restaurants at 15% of the purchase price, protecting local eateries from steep platform commissions.
Entertainment Strategic Plan
The city hired Sound Diplomacy to map its music and entertainment economy — venues, policies, placemaking — as Long Beach positions itself as an entertainment hub before the 2028 Olympics.
Grand Prix and event preparations
Marine Bureau crews are painting, cleaning, and repairing docks, signage, and landscaping ahead of the Grand Prix (April 17-19) and a busy event season. One commissioner questioned whether the Grand Prix should contribute money for the beautification work.
Economic Blueprint 2.0
The city's ten-year economic development guide covers eight focus areas, from growing industry clusters like aerospace and the creative economy to small business support, digital equity, and preparing for the 2028 Olympics.
Douglas Park final buildout and Conant Street vacation
The last vacant land in Douglas Park gets its final buildout: expanded industrial buildings, a 2,800-space parking structure, and a privatized Conant Street for a secure single-tenant campus expected to create more than 5,000 jobs.
AI and the future of local jobs
Board members and staff discussed how AI is reshaping work — companies laying off thousands while posting record profits, and youth needing AI skills. The board is weaving AI literacy into training and will host a Business and AI Summit on April 29.
Westside business association and potential business improvement district
The city's BIDs keep commercial corridors clean, safe, and active, generating about 24% of citywide retail sales on just 6% of the land. They're asking the city for sustainable funding beyond one-time grants, faster permitting, and support as a new BID forms in Wrigley.
Revolving loan fund expansion and $750,000 grant award
The city won a $750,000 grant it applied for in 2023, expanding the revolving loan fund that helps small businesses borrow. Commissioners also want a full review of the fund's lending history, including defaults, by industry and district.
Generative AI strategy and Copilot rollout
The city approved its AI strategy with four pillars — governance, training, community education, and implementation — and will roll out Microsoft Copilot Chat to city staff in the coming months, with required training first.
Uptown Business Improvement District accountability
The council renewed the Uptown BID but added requirements for performance benchmarks, a progress update, and stronger engagement with property and business owners.
Community Foundation mini grant program
The board picked four nonprofits — Birthworkers of Color Collective, Family Enrichment Housing & Development, The Heart of Ida, and Trauma Intervention Program — from seven finalists to receive mini grants supporting staff wellness, training, and capacity building.
Challenges facing immigrant-owned small businesses
The business walk program found minority and immigrant-owned businesses seeing slower foot traffic and employees afraid to come to work amid immigration enforcement activity. The city is funding groups like the Central Trust to educate businesses on their rights.
Economic development momentum: amphitheater, business relocations, LBCC housing
Big wins reported: the amphitheater broke ground with a summer concert lineup, Speedo is moving its HQ to Long Beach, Anduril plans a $1 billion campus with up to 500 jobs, and a $55 million student housing project with LBCC is in the works — plus a new baseball team.
Small-business revolving loan approvals
The subcommittee recommended $149,000 in revolving loans for two local small businesses — a dental studio downtown and a vegan kitchen on East Broadway — to help them grow. A third application was pulled for more work.
Digital inclusion and equity recognition
Long Beach earned a national Digital Inclusion Trailblazer award for the eighth year running with a perfect score, and there are open seats on the digital inclusion stakeholder group.
Parks and Rec hiring fair and summer jobs
Parks and Rec is hiring citywide, with a hiring fair Saturday, January 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Houghton Park featuring on-site interviews for ages 16 and up. Summer staff rosters are typically solidified by mid-March.
Digital kiosk network citywide
Up to 50 digital wayfinding and advertising kiosks are coming, starting downtown, expected to generate about $1.4 million a year for the city with free public-service messaging and discounted ads for small businesses.
VIP Records Sign restoration and VIP Records Park
The city struck a deal to bring the world-famous VIP Records sign back to PCH and MLK Jr. Avenue, paying the Anderson family up to $170,000 in licensing fees over up to ten years. A park naming request goes to committee.