Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Long Beach Veterans Day Celebration
Planning for the November Veterans Day event is ahead of schedule, with 11 of 25 resource fair vendor slots filled and a new flyer awaiting approval. There will be no veterans recognition ceremony this year and the flyover was cut as too expensive; commissioners will help promote the event and invite council offices.
2026 Veterans Day event planning
The November 7 Veterans Day event is happening but without the traditional recognition ceremony, because staff hours were cut and council offices declined to help. A veteran in the audience criticized the city for not honoring veterans properly compared to Orange County cities.
Recruiting new Marine Advisory Commission members
Meetings have been canceled for lack of quorum. Commissioners want council offices and the mayor's office to publicize openings, and Joan Polanko is already rallying the boating community to apply.
Open Space and Recreation Element update
The city's long-range plan for parks and open space is being updated, with survey data showing safety, restrooms and maintenance as top resident concerns — and about 80% of residents not actively using parks. Work was paused over budget constraints and may continue in-house.
Parks budget cuts end Stearns Park afterschool program
The adopted city budget cut the afterschool program at Stearns Park, which ends October 1 — the only afterschool program cut citywide. The Chavez Park Teen Center and B-Safe programming were restored, but staffing and hours at Lincoln Park were scaled back.
Disability Data and Community Survey
The city's first-ever disability survey has gathered over 900 responses after pivoting from online collection to in-person, one-on-one outreach. An interim report goes to City Council, with a full report due in the spring to guide city departments on accessibility equity.
Potential Recreation Park 9 closure for 2028 Olympics parking
Early discussions suggest Recreation Park 9 could close for one to two weeks during the 2028 Olympics to serve as an emissions-free parking area, potentially generating about $1 million with a share directed back into the course.
2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games planning in Long Beach
Long Beach will host 11 Olympic sports and Paralympic swimming, expecting about 2 million ticketed fans. Big issues for residents: reserved freeway lanes, expanded transit, security perimeters, and whether seniors and immigrant communities will be able to participate safely.
New Senior Center at 125 Elm Avenue — design and funding
The city's six senior centers are running a month-long scavenger-hunt style event series through September, ending with a dance at Hamilton Park on September 25.
Library Hours Reduced to Five Days
The package restores $1.28 million and 11 positions to keep Monday hours at the Bay Shore, Burnett, El Dorado, Harte, and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Libraries, funded partly by higher parking fines.
Library Monday hours restoration
The package restores $1.28 million and 11 positions to keep Monday hours at the Bay Shore, Burnett, El Dorado, Harte, and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Libraries, funded partly by higher parking fines.
Golf course capital improvement projects
A batch of long-delayed projects is finally moving: El Dorado bunker bids, Skylinks driving-range lights in permitting, Hartwell lighting upgrades at about $180,000, and a wedding lawn redo at Recreation Park 18, with several expected to start by year's end.
Park safety, restrooms, and maintenance
Survey data shows feeling unsafe is the top reason residents avoid parks, outpacing the national average. The Parks Department has brought restroom cleaning in-house with morning and evening teams and is protecting maintenance funding in its budget.
Beach cleanup and ADA access improvements
Crews finally finished clearing all the debris from November and December storms, hauling 466 tons of trash off the beaches in January alone. Recent rain brought a smaller new round of debris.
Chittick Field electrical switchgear vandalism and repair
Someone wrecked the electrical cabinet that powers field lights, bathrooms, and the county's pump station at Chittick Field — about a $200,000 fix. The county initially said it wasn't their problem but will now cover half. Repairs need to finish before November when field lighting becomes essential.
Park equity and investment in underserved neighborhoods
Staff presented the first park equity update since before COVID, showing some neighborhoods have 47-59% less park space than the city median. Roughly $14 million of a $17 million county-funded appropriation is going to high-need areas, with MLK Park and the Drake/Travis master plan up next.
Colorado Lagoon restoration nearing completion
The hardest part — the sewer siphon installation — is nearly done, and roads and the open channel should reopen this summer. Surprise underground finds keep causing delays, and the final budget overage won't be known for a few months.
Davies boat launch ramp rebuild
The rebid of the Davies Launch Ramp project came back within budget, with construction expected later this year. One bidder was reportedly disqualified.
Colorado Lagoon project delays
The long-running Colorado Lagoon project has drawn public frustration on social media, but staff say crews hit unexpected conditions when digging. The park is now targeted to open in summer or fall, with Public Works presenting an update at the Tidelands subcommittee meeting.
Drake Chavez Park Connection and Master Plan
A resident asked the commission to ensure the Sowing Seeds of Change community farm — which serves young adults with disabilities — is included in the Drake Chavez park expansion, saying the city promised them space and the community survey doesn't list 'community farm' as an option.
$17.3M county park funding for 19 projects
Years of accumulated LA County Measure A park dollars will fund playgrounds, the MLK Park vision plan, El Dorado turf replacement, Whaley Park air conditioning, Ramona Park pool planning, and a new Chavez Park dog park — which drew pushback for being too small.
Latino Cultural Center at Jenny Oropeza Community Center
Long Beach is finally getting its first Latino Cultural Center, run by Centro C.H.A. at the Jenny Oropeza Community Center. Latinos make up about 44% of the city, and supporters said the center will offer arts, business workshops, and a safe gathering space. About $4.5 million in upgrades are planned ahead of a hoped-for 2028 opening.
Preservation and restoration of BIPOC artworks
The BIPOC Preservation Ad Hoc is working to identify who owns and is responsible for restoring community murals and artifacts after vandalism, since there's currently no clear escalation process beyond the Go Long Beach app.
Nearly $6 million in new park grants
The department won competitive grants for Willow Springs Park, the 10th Street Greenbelt in the 3rd District, and planning for the Washington Neighborhood Community Center.
Belmont Plaza Pool construction contract approved
A contractor (Bernards Brothers) is on board with Arcadis managing construction, targeting mobilization in early summer 2026 and completion by spring 2027 — before the 2028 Olympics. Funding questions remain, including a planned $25 million bond and parking-meter revenue tied to the project.
Olympic legacy documentation for 2028
The Historical Society presented its report on Long Beach's 1932 and 1984 Olympic history to inform the city's 2028 legacy, including possible permanent installations and a traveling exhibit.
Elevate '28 infrastructure investment in parks
The city's five-year capital plan has grown to $1 billion with 180+ projects, including major park investments like MacArthur Park's $10.4 million renovation and new signature playgrounds. The mayor signaled a possible extension to 2032.