Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
El Niño Emergency Preparedness
Long Beach is bracing for what could be a historically strong El Niño winter, with risks of flooding, downed trees and power lines citywide. The emergency declaration lets the city line up state resources, speed up contracts, and move staff quickly — and officials are asking residents to prepare their own homes now.
FY 2027 Budget cut to Veterans Support coordinator position
The City Council's final budget action moved $25,000 from the veterans coordinator's position to the banners program, cutting the coordinator from half-time to about 13 hours a week. The commission is forming an ad hoc committee to draft a letter asking the council to reverse the cut, with plans to privately fund the banners program instead.
New Budget and Finance Committee for CoC funding oversight
HUD's new funding rules guarantee only 60% of Long Beach's renewal demand, putting roughly $4.9 million of existing homeless services funding at risk in a competitive Tier 2 pool that favors new transitional housing projects. The board approved policies designed to protect permanent supportive housing and position the region to win replacement funding.
Homeless services budget reductions
The bureau is freezing hiring and cutting overtime amid city, state, county, and federal funding pressures. County CoC funding could drop from $8.2 million to a one-time $4.1 million, and state HHAP Round 7 may be halved to $500 million.
FY 2026 federal NOFO litigation
HUD's funding notice has been released, withdrawn, and reopened under court order. Long Beach is choosing the safest path — renewing existing grants as-is — to avoid future federal penalties over housing-first language.