Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.