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.
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HUD's funding notice has been released, withdrawn, and reopened under court order.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.
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.
Emergency Declaration
Hurricane Marie already stripped more than half a mile of Peninsula beach and boardwalk, and a stronger-than-90-percent-chance El Niño winter is coming. The emergency declaration lets the city fast-track contracts and personnel and coordinate with the state. Residents are urged to get sandbags, five days of supplies, and sign up for Alert Long Beach now.
Traffic safety crisis and Vision Zero failure
Long Beach's goal of zero traffic deaths by 2026 won't be met — 2025 saw an unprecedented spike in fatalities. The city is restructuring its Transportation Services Bureau, creating a Traffic Safety Division, hiring a traffic safety officer, launching speed safety cameras, and rewriting the plan for adoption in 2028.
Federal H.R. 1 cuts to Medi-Cal and CalFresh
Starting September, people aged 19 to 64 receiving CalFresh or Medi-Cal must document 80 hours a month of work, volunteering or school or lose benefits. Commissioners urged nonprofits and seniors to prepare volunteer and employment opportunities now.
Safe Streets Long Beach / Vision Zero update
Long Beach's goal of zero traffic deaths by 2026 won't be met — 2025 saw an unprecedented spike in fatalities. The city is restructuring its Transportation Services Bureau, creating a Traffic Safety Division, hiring a traffic safety officer, launching speed safety cameras, and rewriting the plan for adoption in 2028.
FY 27 budget cuts to Office of Veterans Support
The city budget cut the veterans support coordinator from full-time to about 13 hours a week, with $25,000 redirected to the banners program. The original city manager's budget had proposed sunsetting the commission entirely. Commissioners are weighing whether to formally appeal to the mayor, council, and city manager.
FY27 city budget adoption
The Council adopted the FY27 budget as an emergency ordinance, effective October 1, 2026, funding all city operations for the coming year. Councilwoman Duggan voted no on both budget-related ordinances.
Impending homeless services funding cuts
The county faces a $200 million homelessness budget deficit, the committee's Measure A allocation is dropping from $8.2 million to $3.9 million (about a 25% cut), and state HAP funding was halved. Staff warn of significant reductions two to three years out.
LBCIC FY 2026-2027 budget adoption
The housing fund budget of about $7.3 million in expenditures was adopted, boosted by state grants like PLHA, CalHome and the Pro Housing Incentive Program, plus an expanded backyard builders ADU loan program. Revenue estimates jumped from $3.9 million to over $10.8 million thanks to new grant awards.
Health Department budget cuts
The city budget passed with a reduction in force hitting the health department — though 99 of 104 at-risk classified staff found placements, unclassified staff lack bumping rights. The community health bureau is being split into two bureaus to cut costs, and Measure ER sales tax funds (collecting from October 1) will keep essential positions.
FY 27 budget-driven layoffs of classified city employees
The city's FY 27 budget eliminates 14 classifications, potentially affecting about 32 classified workers, though HR hopes to place most in vacant positions. The commission's approval lets HR send layoff notices and run the seniority/bumping process before the October 1 fiscal year start.
FY 27 Budget Structural Deficit and Position Eliminations
The city faces a $58.2 million structural deficit with 413 positions slated for elimination — 263 held by actual people. The Ethics Officer confirmed her position remains funded after a coding error briefly suggested otherwise.
FY 2027 Budget Adoption
The council adopted a tight-budget year package that restores about 70 positions and library hours while raising parking fines and cannabis taxes to pay for it. Two councilmembers voted no over process concerns and the fee increases.
Emergency Housing Voucher transition to Housing Choice Vouchers
About 480 households using emergency housing vouchers were at risk of losing rental help when federal EHV funding ends. The Housing Authority found enough Section 8 funding to move them over starting November 1, with ~80 LA-based households absorbed by LA's housing authority — plus $480,000 in federal conversion bonuses.
Expiration of 582 Emergency Housing Vouchers
About 480 households using emergency housing vouchers were at risk of losing rental help when federal EHV funding ends. The Housing Authority found enough Section 8 funding to move them over starting November 1, with ~80 LA-based households absorbed by LA's housing authority — plus $480,000 in federal conversion bonuses.
Fire Station 14 Engine Elimination and Rotating Closures
Council District 3 is asking to restore Engine 14, warning response times in that area would grow by about a minute. With $3.8 million in structural funding hard to find this year, Duggan's office proposed a $1.6 million Measure B pilot of a fast-response vehicle as an interim step.
Proposed elimination/half-time reduction of Office of Veterans Support
The mayor's proposed FY 2027 budget would cut the Veterans Support coordinator position to half-time, which could effectively sunset the commission's staffed activities. Commissioners and veterans have testified at budget hearings; the council adopts the final budget September 15.
FY 27 Proposed Budget cuts and priorities
Long Beach faces a $58 million budget deficit, and the proposed budget cuts library staffing and hours, parks services, and homelessness programs. Residents overwhelmingly asked the city to protect services and reconsider a proposed $14 million police budget increase.
Community engagement on budget decisions
Councilmember Saro (via statement read by Ricks-Oddie) raised concerns that resident outreach happened before the deficit size was known, and asked for a clear accounting of who was heard from — especially low-income, immigrant, and non-English-speaking residents — and how that input shapes the budget.
Citywide layoffs and reduction in force
Federal funding cuts to the WIC program are forcing the Health Department to lay off two of its five public health nutritionists. Commissioners delayed the layoff order until the union meet-and-confer is finished, and floated creating a grant-funded sub-classification with different job protections going forward.
Federal grant losses to health department
Federal funding cuts to the WIC program forced the Health Department to seek layoffs of two of its five public health nutritionists. The commission delayed the layoff order, wanting the employee meet-and-confer finished and clarity on whether funding might be extended.
FY 2026 HUD CoC competition reallocation of ~$4.8M
HUD's new funding rules are tied up in court, and without action every local homelessness program's funding would expire around July 2026. The board chose to lock in renewals through 2027 to buy time and protect housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
Health department financial sustainability
A consultant study found Long Beach's health department is a model but financially volatile, swinging between multi-million-dollar deficits and surpluses as grants expire. Recommendations include multi-year forecasting, more Medi-Cal billing, and a long-term decision on the public health lab. Federal funding is expected to be flat at best.
FY 2026 CoC federal funding risk and reallocation strategy
HUD's new competition structure puts roughly $4.9 million of Long Beach's existing homeless projects at risk in Tier 2. The board approved a strategy to reallocate underperforming projects and transition rapid rehousing to transitional housing so renewals fit in Tier 1 — with a commitment to preventing displacement of residents.
Proposed federal WIOA funding cuts
A House appropriations subcommittee bill would eliminate the WIOA youth activities program — about $2 million a year for Long Beach — and cut adult program funding by roughly 70%, potentially leaving 75,000 Californians unserved. Staff urged board members to advocate with elected officials.
Community violence prevention funding
After losing a 15-year-old to gun violence, the council heard from youth and prevention workers urging sustained funding for programs like Safe Passages and Books and Buckets. The council ordered a 75-day feasibility study of the Community Safety Roadmap, timed to land before budget adoption.
End of Emergency Housing Voucher assistance for 482 households
Federal emergency housing vouchers that help 482 Long Beach households pay rent are expected to run out around October 2026 — earlier than the original 2030 timeline — because of rising rents and faster spending. Households have been added to other wait lists, and the city is waiting to learn if HUD tenant-protection funds will soften the blow.
FY 2026 HUD CoC funding competition risk
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.
FY 2026 CoC NOFO funding risks
HUD's new rules put about $4.86 million of Long Beach's renewal funding in the competitive Tier 2, with a national shift toward transitional housing and away from permanent supportive housing. Local providers worry the changes could leave out people with severe mental illness and chronically homeless individuals.