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