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ALLEN, PRESENT.[CALL TO ORDER]
MEMBER DUGGAN.[ROLL CALL]
OV HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER? URANGA PRESENTE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
START OFF WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.UH, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REFLECT ON WHATEVER IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO TODAY, UH, WE HAVE EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI IS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS, THEN WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON OUR LOCAL HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY.
THEN WE'LL HAVE HANDLE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE AGENDA STARTING WITH, UH, COASTAL COUNTRY JAM, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, AND THEN HOTEL, HOTEL WORKER ADJUSTMENT ORDINANCE.
SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE PRESENTATION ON THE VETERAN'S DAY FESTIVAL.
IS GINA OVERHOLT HERE? GINA, COME ON DOWN.
GINA IS THE COORDINATOR FOR OUR VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION HERE IN LONG BEACH, WHO IS HOSTING OUR VETS FEST, UH, THIS YEAR.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
I'M GINA OVERHOLT, THE COORDINATOR FOR THE LONG BEACH VETERANS COMMISSION AND THE OFFICE OF VETERANS SUPPORT.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THE STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THIS EVENT BEING INCREASED.
SO THANKS TO YOU, IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER, UH, IN RECENT YEARS.
SO THIS YEAR'S EVENTS EVENT TAKES PLACE ON VETERAN'S DAY ITSELF.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM IN HOUGHTON PARK, 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE.
SO THE LONG BEACH VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
SO IF, UH, THE SATIN DOLLS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE ONE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT, UH, IN THE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP, AND THEY'LL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE ERA OF WORLD WAR II, USO CAMP SHOWS WITH THEIR BLENDED HARMONIES, THEIR HIGH ENERGY SONG AND DANCE, THEY WILL REPORT FOR DUTY AT NOON AND 1:15 PM THE LOCAL FAVORITES.
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES TRIBUTE BAND NIGHT WRITER WILL BE ON HAND.
THEY START THEIR SET AT TWO, PUNCTUATED BY ONE OF FIVE, FLYOVERS AT 2 25.
ANOTHER LOCAL FAVORITE, UH, IS MR. QUICK.
HE'S BOTH MC AND DJ OF THE EVENT, CAPTIVATING CROWDS AND BRINGING HIS INFECTIOUS ENERGY TO THE MIKE AND THE DANCE FLOOR.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE PART, UH, THE RESOURCES FAIR FOOD AND OBSTACLE COURSE.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE UNPRECEDENTED ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP, DON'T FORGET THE VETERANS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES FAIR, THE GIANT BOOTCAMP STYLE OBSTACLE COURSE.
HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO CHALLENGE A VETERAN FROM ANOTHER BRANCH FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS.
[ VETERAN'S DAY FESTIVAL]
IF YOU'RE HUNGRY OR THIRSTY, WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED WITH FOOD TRUCKS AND A BEER GARDEN.IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR FLU SHOT, NOW'S THE TIME THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON HAND TO OFFER FLU VACCINATIONS FOR FREE.
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY, SO NO USES.
THE NEXT, UH, THE VETERANS RECOGNITION AND THE FLY, UH, CEREMONY AND THE FLYOVERS.
SO, UH, FIVE FLYOVERS WITH HISTORIC AIRCRAFT ARE PRESENTED BY OUR PARTNERS LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT 12 45 2 O'CLOCK 2 2 25 3:00 PM AND 3:55 PM SO YOU CAN DISCOVER LBCC WITH A SPECIAL PRESENTATION AND WELCOME AT 11:15 AM AND THEN AT 12:45 PM THE VETERANS' RECOGNITION CEREMONY BEGINS, AND THE FIRST SPECTACULAR FLYOVER FEATURING A TOW OF LIKE A, I THINK IT'S A 500 FOOT AMERICAN FLAG, WILL BE HAPPENING.
AND THEN LAKEWOOD HIGH NAVY JUNIOR, ROTC WILL PRESENT THE COLORS, FOLLOWED BY REMARKS BY LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, RECOGNIZING VETERANS WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO, THE, UH, VETERANS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES FAIR, UH, THERE'S A DI DIVERSE RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING
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RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO VETERANS SENIORS AND MORE, THEY, THEY WILL BE PART OF THE VETERANS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES FAIR.AND, UH, WE'VE LISTED A FEW OF THEM HERE.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE LEFT THE CITY ONES LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY, PACIFIC GATEWAY, UH, LONG BEACH UTILITIES, PARKS REC AND MARINE HEALTHY AGING CENTER, THE RESOURCE LINE, DISABILITY ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT, UH, VETERANS PEER ACCESS NETWORK.
AGAIN, THESE, THIS IS JUST A, AN ABBREVIATED LIST.
THE VALET, THE VA, LONG BEACH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, VETERANS STAND TOGETHER, MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA, AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AND MORE.
SO A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE LONG BEACH OFFICE OF VETERAN SUPPORT, THE LONG BEACH VETERANS COMMISSION.
LONG BEACH VETERANS DAY COMMITTEE, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND FINALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MAKING THIS VETERAN'S DAY VERY SPECIAL.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT.
UH, EACH OF YOU HAS A PACKET AT YOUR DESK OF THE POSTCARDS FOR THE EVENT, UH, WHICH THANK, THANK, UH, WE'RE THANKFUL TO THE LANGUAGE ACCESS, UH, PROGRAM.
'CAUSE THEY'RE ALSO IN KAMAI, SPANISH AND TAGALOG.
AND, UM, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, UH, KELLY OPPI, WHO IS LEAVING US, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, MOVING BACK TO UTAH FOR HER SUPPORT OF VETERANS AND, UM, WILL MISS HER.
AND I WANNA SAY, I WILL SEE YOU AT THE FREE FAMILY.
FUN-FILLED 2023 LONG BEACH VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 11TH TO FOUR IN HOUGHTON PARK.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GINA.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY WITH YOU AND OUR VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND CONTINUING THIS TRADITION, UH, AT HOUGHTON PARK ON NOVEMBER 11TH.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR GINA AND OUR VETERANS, UH, COMMISSION IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, DR.
ANGELA SIDE TO THE, I SEE YOU'RE AT THE, UH, STAGE.
UM, SHE'S A BOARD CERTIFIED RADIOLOGIST AT MEDICAL AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF BREAST IMAGING AT MEMORIAL CARE BREAST CENTER AT LONG BEACH MEMORIAL CENTER.
UM, SHE RECEIVED HER MEDICAL DEGREE FROM KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND HER RESIDENCY, RESIDENCY IN RADIOLOGY AT THE DAVID GEFFEN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES.
UM, SHE, UH, PURSUES HER FELLOWSHIP AND WOMAN'S IMAGING AT, UH, UCLA TRAINING IN BOTH BREAST IMAGING AND ULTRASOUND, INCLUDING TWO D AND THREE D, UM, BREAST SONOGRAPHY BREAST MRI, AND ALL IMAGE GUIDED BREAST PROCEDURES.
WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF YOU ARE, UH, DEFINITELY WELL, UH, QUALIFIED.
SAI IS RECOGNIZED AS A TOP LOS ANGELES DOCTOR BY THE LOS ANGELES BUS BUSINESS JOURNAL IN 2023.
[ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH]
AND WE ARE REALLY, UM, HONORED AND EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO DO A PRESENTATION ON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.UM, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, UH, OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
AND, UM, WE'RE BUSY ALL THE MONTHS, BUT THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY BUSY MONTH FOR US.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER, UM, SOME BASIC ISSUES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THAT SCREENING SAVES LIVES.
UM, SO I WANTED TO FIRST GO OVER A FEW FACTS ABOUT BREAST CANCER, UH, WORLDWIDE.
IT ACCOUNTS FOR 12.5% OF THE NEW CANCER CASES ANNUALLY, AND IT IS THE MOST COMMON CANCER IN THE WORLD IN THE US ABOUT 30% OF ALL NEWLY DIAGNOSED CANCERS IN WOMEN EACH YEAR ARE BREAST CANCER.
AND IT, IT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN WOMEN, ABOUT 13%, ONE IN EIGHT.
UM, US WOMEN WILL DEVELOP BREAST CANCER, INVASIVE BREAST CANCER IN THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES.
AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 4 MILLION WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVE HAD BREAST CANCER.
OTHER FACTS ARE, UM, A WOMAN'S RISK NEARLY DOUBLES IF SHE HAS A FIRST DEGREE RELATIVE, MEANING MOTHER, DAUGHTER, SISTER, UM, WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.
ONLY FIVE TO 10% OF BREAST CANCERS, THOUGH, ARE LINKED TO A KNOWN GENE MUTATION, MOST COMMONLY BRCA ONE AND TWO.
SO THE MAJORITY OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS THAT WE DIAGNOSE DO NOT HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER.
IT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER, DEATH, CANCER RELATED DEATH FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMAN.
JEWISH WOMEN HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF BREAST CANCER BECAUSE OF A HIGHER RATE OF
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B-R-C-A-G MUTATION.SO SOME RISK FACTORS YOU CAN CHANGE AND SOME RISK FACTORS YOU CANNOT CHANGE.
THE ONES THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE ARE GETTING OLDER.
INCREASED AGE INCREASES YOUR RISK OF BREAST CANCER, GENETIC MUTATIONS YOU CANNOT CHANGE AS OF YET.
UM, YOUR REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY, THE AGE OF FIRST MENSES, YOU CANNOT CHANGE PERSONAL HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RISK FACTORS OF BREAST CANCER IS HAVING HAD BREAST CANCER, FAMILY HISTORY, YOU CANNOT CHANGE, UM, PRIOR TREATMENT TO THE CHEST WITH RADIATION THERAPY, UM, AND EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN DRUGS LIKE DES.
BUT THERE ARE SOME RISK FACTORS THAT YOU CAN CHANGE.
THERE ARE SOME PROACTIVE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO DECREASE YOUR RISK OF BREAST CANCER, SUCH AS BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, BEING A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT, UM, NOT TAKING EXOGENOUS HORMONES.
UM, HAVING THE FIRST PREGNANCY AFTER AGE 30 AND NOT BREASTFEEDING INCREASES YOUR RISK AND NEVER HAVING HAD A FULL-TERM PREGNANCY ALSO INCREASES YOUR RISK.
UM, DRINKING ALCOHOL INCREASES YOUR RISK.
THAT'S, UM, IT'S UNCLEAR AS TO HOW MUCH, BUT IT DOES INCREASE YOUR RISK.
SO NEXT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER SOME STATISTICS REGARDING HOW DO WE KNOW THAT, UM, SCREENING SAVES LIVES? THERE HAVE BEEN TWO MAIN STUDIES SHOWING THAT SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY SAVES LIVES.
UM, THE HIP STUDY SHOWED THERE'S A 30% DECREASE IN MORTALITY FROM BREAST CANCER.
BUT THE LARGEST STUDY, WHICH WAS A RANDOMIZED, UM, PROSPECTIVE STUDY PERFORMED IN SWEDEN.
IT'S CALLED THE TWO COUNTY TRIAL THAT STARTED IN 1982, LONG TIME AGO, THAT SHOWED A 31% DECREASE IN MORTALITY FROM BREAST CANCER.
LASLOW TABAR, WHO HAS WORKED AT OUR BREAST CENTER, UM, DID A FOLLOW-UP STUDY IN 2011, A 29 YEAR UPDATE SHOWING THAT THE DECREASE IN BREAST CANCER IN THE SCREENING POPULATION WAS 63% DECREASED.
UM, IN 2021, 64% OF WOMEN IN THE US 45 AND OLDER REPORTED HAVING HAD A SCREENING MAMMOGRAM IN THE PAST YEAR.
SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT TWO WAYS, 64% IS, IS GOOD, BUT THERE'S STILL MANY PEOPLE WHO, UM, WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO, TO GET THEIR SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS. AND ABOUT 76% OF WOMEN, AGES 50 TO 74, HAD A SCREENING MAMMOGRAM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WE RECOMMEND ANNUAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY.
THAT'S HOW WE FIND SMALL CURABLE CANCERS.
THE CANCERS THAT WE FIND IN THE DIAGNOSTIC POPULATION, PATIENTS WHO COME IN WITH A PROBLEM, UM, IN GENERAL, ARE LARGER CANCERS THAN THE ONES THAT WE FIND DURING SCREENING.
SO SCREENING REALLY HELPS US FIND THE SMALL CURABLE CANCERS.
THE SCREENING GUIDELINES, UM, ARE BASELINE SCREENING MAMMOGRAM BETWEEN THE AGES OF 35 AND 40.
UH, WE RECOMMEND ANNUAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY, UM, STARTING AT AGE 40, AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN UPPER AGE LIMIT FOR SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY.
IF YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, WE RECOMMEND CONTINUING TO, UH, GET SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND REGULAR SELF-BREAST EXAMS, UM, LOOKING FOR LUMPS, BUT OTHER THINGS AS WELL, SUCH AS THICKENING, UM, CHANGE IN SIZE OR APPEARANCE OF THE BREAST, DIMPLING, REDNESS, PITTING, UM, OR OTHER SKIN CHANGES, CHANGES IN THE NIPPLE OR AREOLA NIPPLE RASH OR SPONTANEOUS NIPPLE DISCHARGE.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND ANNUAL CLINICAL BREAST EXAMS BY A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FOR WOMEN, ALL WOMEN.
UM, ONE THING THAT, THAT WE DO DIFFERENT AT LONG BEACH BREAST CENTER IS WE DO A TAILORED SCREENING PROTOCOL FOR PATIENTS.
WHEN PATIENTS COME IN, WE HAVE THEM ASK, WE HAVE THEM ANSWER CERTAIN QUESTIONS, AND WE CALCULATE THE TIRE CUSIC RISK SCORE, WHICH IS THE, UM, MOST ACCEPTED RISK MODEL IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF WOMEN ARE HAVE A GREATER THAN 20% LIFETIME RISK OF BREAST CANCER, WE'D RECOMMEND ADDITIONAL SCREENING WITH ANNUAL BREAST MRI TO BE, UM, ALTERNATING WITH MAMMOGRAPHY EVERY SIX MONTHS.
SO EVERY SIX MONTHS THEY'RE GETTING A SCREENING EXAM, EITHER MAMMOGRAPHY OR MRI.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, MANY WOMEN DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE HIGH RISK UNTIL THEY COME IN WHEN THEY'RE 40.
SO WE ALSO RECOMMEND, LIKE THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY RECOMMENDS THAT EVERY WOMAN BE, UM, SCREENED FOR THEIR BREAST CANCER
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RISK IN THEIR TWENTIES WITH FAMILY HISTORY AND MEDICAL HISTORY.AND, UM, AND SO IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THEIR BREAST CANCER RISK WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER THAN 40.
UM, AT OUR BREAST CENTER, WE HAVE, UM, TWO LOCATIONS IN, ONE IN LONG BEACH AT OUR MAIN BREAST CENTER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A SATELLITE CENTER AT LOS ALAMITOS WHERE WE DO SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING.
UM, ALL OF OUR MACHINES ARE THREE D MAMMOGRAPHY MACHINES.
STATE OF THE ART, WE'VE PERFORMED OVER TW WELL OVER 20,000 SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS EVERY YEAR.
UH, WE HAVE A TEAM OF FELLOWSHIP TRAINED SPECIALISTS, SUB-SPECIALIZED RADI, UM, RADIOLOGISTS.
IT'S ONE THING THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T, UM, RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY SCREENING EXAM READ BY A SUB-SPECIALIZED RADIOLOGIST.
UM, WHEN PATIENTS ARE DIAGNOSED, WE HAVE DEDICATED BREAST SURGEONS, ONCOLOGISTS, RADIATION ONCOLOGISTS, AND NURSE NAVIGATORS.
WE EVEN HAVE, HAVE SPECIALIZED PATHOLOGISTS TO HELP US MAKE THE DIAGNOSES OF BREAST CANCER.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, VERY DEVELOPED PEER MENTOR PROGRAMS, UM, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, UM, OFFERINGS.
SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, THIS PAST YEAR WE CELEBRATED OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT THE TODD CANCER PAVILION.
UM, RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL, WE HOSTED OUR 24TH ANNUAL TEAM, SPIRIT, LONG BEACH, UM, WALK, FIVE K WALK AT GRANADA BEACH JUST LAST WEEKEND, WHERE WE RAISED MONEY FOR THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE NOT REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE, UM, SERVICES TO CANCER PATIENTS.
UM, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE LONG BEACH CANCER LEAGUE, AS WELL AS THE KOMEN, UH, KOMEN FOUNDATION TO OFFER MAMMOGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR INAUGURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR EVENT NOVEMBER 4TH, WHERE WE'LL OFFER FREE CLINICAL BREAST EXAMS AND, UM, AND A LOT MORE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANGELA, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
IT'S HERE FOR ANGELA AND OUR LONG BEACH MEMORIAL MEMORIAL CARE TEAM, UH, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
ANYTHING ELSE? VICE MAYOR? YES.
I JUST ALSO JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, DR.
SAI, UM, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES.
AND OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
AND WHILE MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF BREAST CANCER, UM, THERE ARE SO MANY PRACTICAL STEPS THAT WE CAN MAKE AND TAKE, UM, TO, UH, TO JUST DETECT THIS DISEASE, UM, VERY EARLY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, UM, I AM A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, AND, UH, AND IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO ME TO RAISE THIS ISSUE ABOUT THIS DISEASE.
UM, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TELL THIS LITTLE STORY, AND I'M GONNA TELL IT AGAIN.
I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE, DONNA LUMEN IN MY FORTIES, UM, WHO SAID, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO GET A, A MAMMOGRAM IN MY EARLY FORTIES.
AND, UM, AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE A MAMMOGRAM.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE IN MY FAMILY THAT HAS EVER HAD, UH, BREAST CANCER.
SO, UM, IT WASN'T EVEN TOP OF MY MIND, BUT SHE WAS PERSISTENT, ALMOST LIKE, LIKE THE LORD WAS TALKING THROUGH HER.
AND, UM, I FINALLY GAVE IN AND WENT AND HAD A MAMMOGRAM.
AND FAST FORWARD, UM, I END UP HAVING A DOUBLE RADICAL MASTECTOMY.
AND SO I'M SO THANKFUL FOR A FRIEND NAMED DONNA.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A FRIEND LIKE THAT WHO REALLY CARES ENOUGH ABOUT YOU TO PRAY ABOUT YOU AND, AND, UH, BUT JUST TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
UM, THIS IS REALLY, IT'S SO, UM, I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID, JUST HOW THERE'S SO MUCH OUT THERE.
GET, UM, YOURSELF CHECKED OUT EVEN IN YOUR TWENTIES.
YOU MAY HAVE RISKS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
GO GET YOURSELF, UH, CHECKED OUT.
UM, THE STAT THAT SAID THAT 64% OF WOMEN OVER 45 STILL HAVEN'T HAD A MAMMOGRAM, PLEASE, YOU GUYS TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
GET THESE MAMMOGRAMS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, UM, THAT CAN ALSO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR RAISING, UM, AND BEING HERE AND RAISING AWARENESS.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST ITEM, OUR EMERGENCY HOMELESS
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to 5:00 p.m. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
UPDATE.LET'S HEAR ITEM 16, PLEASE REPORT
[16. 23-22739 Recommendation to continue the local emergency caused by conditions or threatened conditions of homelessness within the City of Long Beach, which if not corrected, constitute an imminent and proximate threat to the safety of persons and property within the City; and Receive and file an update on the emergency proclamation and associated activities and provide any additional direction to City staff regarding the emergency. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Manager Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FROM CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THE LOCAL EMERGENCY OF HOMELESSNESS AND RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDE AN ANY ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF REGARDING THE EMERGENCY CITYWIDE.[00:20:01]
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.SO, UH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAND IT TO STAFF AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPECIAL REPORT BECAUSE, UH, IS THIS OUR FINAL UPDATE FROM A HEALTH DIRECTOR? I THINK IT MIGHT BE.
SO, UH, SO I'LL PASS IT ON TO TOM.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL TURN TO THE TEAM.
UH, AND, UH, AND WE'RE ALSO ASKING YOU TO AUTHORIZE THE EXTENSION OF THE EMERGENCY.
I'LL TURN TO THE TEAM TO GO THROUGH THE UPDATE, AND THEN I'LL CONCLUDE AT THE END.
GOOD EVENING, HONOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, THIS IS MY LAST WEEK IN THE CITY AND MY LAST TIME IN THIS SEAT.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT HAD ME REFLECTING ON MY FIRST COUNCIL PRESENTATION 10 YEARS AGO, WHERE WE WERE IN THE OLD CITY HALL.
AND, UH, I, PAT WEST WAS SITTING RIGHT HERE, AND I WANDERED UP TO SIT DOWN AND I WAS GONNA SIT NEXT TO HIM WHERE LINDA'S CURRENTLY SITTING.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO GO SIT BEHIND HIM.
AND THEN FROM THERE, I STARTED PLAYING WITH THE MICROPHONE.
AND AT THE TIME, RED MEANT ON, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER COLOR WAS, BUT IT WAS OPPOSITE OF ANYTHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
SO I WAS THE MOST, LIKE, WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE? THAT WAS THE TRAINING I GOT AS MY FIRST, UH, AT MY FIRST COUNCIL NIGHT MEETING
AND SO NOW AFTER, UH, SITTING HERE, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALMOST MY HOME.
I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME SITTING IN THIS SEAT RIGHT OVER THE LAST YEARS WITH BETWEEN C-O-V-I-D AND RACIAL RECONCILIATION AND, AND THE, AND THE HOMELESS EMERGENCY.
SO I HAVE GOTTEN, I HAD A GOOD GIGGLE ABOUT THAT, UM, A LITTLE BIT AGO.
IT'S JUST WHAT THE, WHAT THE, THE DIFFERENCE IS IN, IN 10 YEARS OF BEING HERE.
BUT, UM, I DO WANNA THANK YOU ALL.
IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HEAD INTO THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO AS A REMINDER, THE MISSION OF, UH, THE MISSION OF ALL OF THIS, RIGHT, IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY AND THE REGION BY INCREASING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCING CURRENT INITIATIVES, WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC CITY STAFF.
AND THOSE, UH, IMPROVING OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE 2.0 VERSION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOW UNDERWAY, BUT WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE FIRST VERSION TO BE ABLE TO SET THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS WORK TOGETHER.
UH, AGAIN, THE STATEMENT OF POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS IN LONG BEACH IS RARE AND BRIEF WHEN IT OCCURS.
AND THAT HAS BEEN OUR FOCUS ALL THE WAY THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION.
AS A REMINDER, WE ENTERED INTO THE EMERGENCY WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL TO BUILD CAPACITY TO IMPROVE OUR APPROACH FOR THE SYSTEMIC LEVEL WHILE FOCUSING ON PREVENTION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND HOUSING.
AND WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS, UH, ON THAT WORK TOGETHER.
SO I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PREVENTION FUNDS.
SO, UM, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CITY WAS AWARDED $1.25 MILLION FROM SENATOR GONZALEZ'S OFFICE TO FUND HOMELESS PREVENTION EFFORTS AND ANOTHER $750,000 FOR REENTRY SERVICES.
GIVEN THE INCREASING NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS, THAT WAS POINTED OUT IN THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, WE MADE A STRATEGIC DECISION TO FOCUS ON OLDER ADULTS ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS TO HELP THEM REMAIN HOUSED DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASING RENTS.
THE PREVENTION FUNDS WILL BE PROGRAMMED AS A TWO YEAR SHALLOW SUBSIDY, UH, PILOT FOR OLDER ADULTS.
THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE $500 A MONTH IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR TWO YEARS WHILE WORKING ON GETTING PEOPLE LINKED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THEIR LONG-TERM HOUSING STABILITY.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND IT WILL BE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOMELESS SERVICES AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UM, BECAUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF BACKGROUND IN PAYING RENTS, RIGHT, WITH OLDER ADULTS, AND THAT THE, UM, THE SHALLOW SUBSIDIES ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD.
THE REENTRY FUNDS WILL BE SUPPORT HOUSING, JOB PLACEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED IN THE CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM.
AND THEY'RE TRANSITIONING BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OTHER WORK AS WELL, AND PAYING ATTENTION AROUND PREVENTION.
SO ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE'LL BEEN FOCUSING ON IS THROUGH OUR INTER INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORK GROUP, IS REALLY UPDATING THE TENANT AND LANDLORD RESOURCES ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEBPAGE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IDENTIFYING JUST CAUSE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS, AND THEY'RE ALSO COLLABORATING WITH THE PASADENA DEPARTMENT ON AN ADVOCACY STRATEGY TO ALLOW FOR DIRECT RESOURCES TO LOCAL CITY HEALTH JURISDICTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATION AND SERVICES.
AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, UH, BERKELEY, PASADENA AND, AND LONG BEACH ARE THE ONLY THREE CITIES, UH, IN THE STATE THAT HAVE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
UM, BERKELEY DOES HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH.
THEY GOT, THEY GOT GRANDFATHERED IN A REALLY LONG TIME AGO, UH, BEFORE THEY CLOSED THE LOOPHOLE.
AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO MORE LOCALLY.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE, THE JOCK PROGRAM AND SORT OF HOW IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW UNDER THE EMERGENCY.
SO THE JOCK PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
[00:25:01]
ONGOING.THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT APPROVAL WAS JULY 19TH OF LAST YEAR.
SO PUBLIC WORKS USES THIS ON-CALL JOCK PROGRAM TO DELIVER, UM, TO DELIVER DIFFERENT PROJECTS, UH, THAT ARE UNDER $750,000 IN CONSTRUCTION VALUE.
THE PROJECTS OVER THAT VALUE, WE NORMALLY GO OUT THROUGH A PUBLIC BIDDING PROCESS THROUGH LONG BEACH BUYS.
HOWEVER, UNDER THIS EMERGENCY, WE ARE AWARDING CONTRACTS OVER THAT VALUE THROUGH THE JOCK PROGRAM, UH, THIS EXCEPTION, UH, TO THE JOCK.
A, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION IS LIMITED TO HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES, PROJECTS ONLY, AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE BEEN INITIATED WHILE WE'RE IN THE EMERGENCY.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ONGOING WHEN THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.
CURRENTLY, UM, THERE ARE 10 ON-CALL CONTRACTS OR CONTRACTORS.
THERE WERE 11, BUT ONE HAS DROPPED OUT.
AND OF THESE THREE THAT ARE LIFTED, YOU KNOW, LISTED ON THIS, UM, ON THIS TABLE THAT WERE AVAILABLE AND QUALIFIED TO TAKE ON THE PROJECTS OF THESE SIZE, THESE ARE PRETTY LARGE SCALE PROJECTS.
NORMALLY WE'D USE THESE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONTRACTORS FOR SMALLER PROJECTS.
BUT DUE TO THE EMERGENCY, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR THESE LARGER ONES.
ALL BUT THE BEST WESTERN ARE IN PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT, THE BEST WESTERN IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.
SO IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE CONTINUE TO DO, UH, WE CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK.
SO THE MOBILE, THE MOBILE ACCESS CENTER HAS BEEN OPERATING AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, THE MONTHLY SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO LOOK AT DATA AND, UH, PRIORITY REQUESTS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHERE WE'RE SEEING, UH, WHERE WE'RE SEEING FOLKS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING ASSESSED RIGHT NOW, UH, TO CREATE THE NOVEMBER SCHEDULE, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SHIFTS.
AND THEN YESTERDAY PARTICIPANTS WERE MOVED FROM THE SAFE PARKING SITE AT THE QUEEN'S WAY TO THE NEW SITE AT ANAHEIM AND SANTA FE.
THIS SITE IS A BIT LARGER, AND SO IT'S HOST, IT WILL BE ABLE TO HOST 50 CARS VERSUS THE 25 THAT WE HAD AT THE QUEENSWAY SITE.
SO WE'RE REALLY, WE'RE HAPPY TO, UM, THAT THAT MOVE HAS BEEN MADE.
UH, AND WE DID SEND OUT A MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY THROUGH OUR TEXT ALERT SYSTEM SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT SHIFT HAS BEEN MADE.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT INCREASING ACCESS TO SERVICES.
AND SO WE'RE CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UM, AND LASA JUST AROUND THE HAP FUNDING FOR ROUND FIVE.
SO ROUND THE HA AS THE STATE FUNDING.
UM, IN THE PAST, YOU WERE ABLE TO, LIKE, THERE WERE PROVISIONS FOR REGIONAL, REGIONAL COORDINATION AND JURISDICTIONS, UH, RECEIVE FUNDING BASED ON THE WORK THEY DO TOGETHER.
THIS ONE ACTUALLY REQUIRES A REGIONAL JOINT APPLICATION, WHICH MEANS REALLY GETTING PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE.
SO IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL PLANNING.
THE PROCESSES ANTICIPATED TO TAKE FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE IN THAT PLANNING PROCESS FOR THESE FUNDS.
IT WILL ALLOW, UM, FOR A REGULAR OR FOR A SINGULAR BUDGET OR FOR SEPARATE BUDGETS TO BE SUBMITTED, BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITHIN THE REGION.
UH, OUR REGION INCLUDES LOS ANGELES COUNTY, LOS ANGELES CITY, AND THE CONTINUUMS OF CARE FOR LASA, GLENDALE, AND PASADENA.
UH, WE ARE REPRESENTED AS BOTH THE CITY, UM, AND AS WELL AS THE LONG BEACH CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SO WE COME IN, UH, FROM BOTH OF THOSE PERSPECTIVES.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING IN OUR, UH, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE, UH, LIVED ADVISORY EXPERIENCE ADVISORY BOARD.
UH, THIS WAS LAUNCHED LAST WEEK, SO WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING SERVICES OR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEM IN THE PAST.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE ADVISORY BOARD MET FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND, UH, IT WILL BE ONGOING MONTHLY GOING FORWARD.
SO THEY'LL PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO HOMELESS SERVICES BUREAU AND THE COC BOARD REGARDING SERVICES AND PROGRAM DELIVERY.
THE HOMELESS SERVICES BUREAU IS ALSO WORKING ON A PARTICIPANT INPUT COORDINATOR TO REALLY TO MORE BROADLY OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE THE CITY IS SERVING, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, AND FOR THE NONPROFITS WHO ARE SERVING THEM, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN, UH, IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, UH, THE WORK IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THEN ON OCTOBER 10TH, THE MAYOR AND THE HOMELESS SERVICES TEAM MEMBER, STEPHANIE SOSA, DISCUSSED A COMMUNITY CHAMPION MEETING TOOK PLACE THE WEEK BEFORE.
SO THEY WERE ON THE, UH, LIVE STREAM.
AND THEN, UH, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THAT PARTNERING HAVE BEEN ENGAGED OR INTERESTED IN ENGAGING WITH US.
AND SO THE, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US AND, AND LOOK AT US AS PARTNERS FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE TEAM MET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE NEXT TO THE NEW SAFE PARKING SITE TO DISCUSS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
AND WE THINK WE GOT ALL THOSE, UH, ALL THOSE, UM, ADDRESSED.
AND THEN OUR FINAL GOAL OF INCREASING INTERIM AND LONG-TERM HOUSING.
NOW THAT WE OWN THE 7 0 2 ANAHEIM BUILDING, WE ARE STARTING TO PLAN FOR ITS REFURBISHMENT.
THE INITIAL UPGRADES WILL SUPPORT THE NEW WINTER SHELTER PROGRAM, UH, AS WE'RE GOING INTO OUR WET WEATHER.
THIS PROGRAM AS THE, AS YOU KNOW, THE WINTER SHELTER PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY LASA, BUT LONG BEACH HAS BEEN THE HOST FOR THE, UM, S SPA EIGHT SHELTER FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH LASA TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE PROGRAM.
AND JUST A REMINDER, THIS PROGRAM TYPICALLY RUNS FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH, AND THEN WE'VE STARTED PROVIDING STATUS UPDATES AND PROVIDING EDUCATION TO COMMUNITY ABOUT THE TINY HOMES TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT.
[00:30:01]
AND SO THERE WILL BE, UH, AN EDUCATIONAL, UH, MEETING, UH, NEXT MONDAY.AND, UH, THERESA WILL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
SO I THINK WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER, THERESA, TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.
SO, UNDER THE GOAL OF INCREASING ACCESS TO SERVICES, SO THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE OUTREACH TO RVS ACROSS THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY IN AREAS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED.
THE MOBILE THERAPY AND SUBSTANCE USE PROJECT IS FULLY STAFFED NOW, AND IT'S GONNA BE LAUNCHED OVER THE NEXT MONTH WHEN STAFF ARE FULLY TRAINED.
UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE MEETING WITH LASA TO NEGOTIATE ADDITIONAL WINTER SHELTER BEDS AT 7 0 2 ANAHEIM, AS WELL AS ELICITING THEIR SUPPORT FOR INCREMENTAL WEATHER BEDS TO ACCOMMODATE WINTER SHELTER OVERFLOW ON HARSH WINTER DAYS AND NIGHTS.
WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO GET CO-LOCATED STAFF BACK INTO THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
AND WE'RE ALSO ENHANCING PHONE ACCESS AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WITH A NEW PERSON FOCUSED ON ANSWERING INCOMING CALLS, THE GOAL OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE LINCOLN PARK WORK GROUP HAS INCREASED THE FREQUENCY OF ITS MEETINGS TO WEEKLY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND TO BOOST ACTIVATION AT THE PARK AND AROUND THE PARK AND AROUND THE LIBRARY.
THE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDING TINY HOMES TO OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PORTFOLIO.
AS KELLY MENTIONED, UH, THE NEXT VIRTUAL MEDIA EDUCATION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH AT 6:00 PM SCHEDULED FROM SIX TO SEVEN, UM, RE RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2024 HOMELESS COUNT HAS BECOME.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, UH, TO START IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A TOTAL OF 300 VOLUNTEERS.
UM, AND AS A REMINDER, UM, THE COUNT ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY IN JANUARY, WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE 25TH OF JANUARY, 2024.
UM, AND THIS IS NOW HAPPENING YEARLY WE USED TO BE AT EVERY TWO YEARS, BUT WE HAVE MOVED TO A YEARLY CADENCE FOR OUR GOAL OF BUILDING CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS CRISIS.
SO, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE ENGAGING OR WANT TO ENGAGE MORE IN THIS WORK WITH US.
UH, ONE OF OUR PRESSING TASKS THAT WE NEED SUPPORT FROM OUR CHAMPIONS, UH, RIGHT NOW IS TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER SHELTERING.
SO WHEN OUR WINTER SHELTER IS AT CAPACITY AND THE WEATHER GETS TOO COLD OR RAINY TO BE OUTSIDE, WE WILL OPEN SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHELTER IN PLACE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DO SO.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE SECOND ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION GRANT WITH THE FOCUS AREA OF DOWNTOWN, UH, AROUND THE LIBRARY AND LINCOLN PARK, THE TEAM IS WORKING TO GET EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO LAUNCH INTO THE WORK CONNECTED TO THESE FUNDS, AND FOR OUR GOAL OF INCREASING INTERIM AND LONG-TERM HOUSING.
SO NOW THAT ESCROW IS CLOSED FOR OUR PURCHASE OF 7 0 2 ANAHEIM, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLANNING TO REDESIGN THIS PROPERTY.
THERE WILL BE PERMANENT SLEEPING AREAS, INDOOR RESTROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE SHELTER PARTICIPANTS AND BUILDING OF THE OUTDOOR COMMON SPACES.
AND THERE ARE THREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, UH, HERITAGE GARDENS, WELL SPRINGS, AND 26.2 THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE TEAM IS IN THE PROCESS OF MATCHING PEOPLE TO THOSE UNITS.
SO LEASE UPS FOR THOSE MATCHED WILL BEGIN WITHIN THE MONTH.
AND FINALLY, UH, WE TOOK A MOMENT LAST WEEK TO OFFER OUR GRATITUDE AND COMPLETE APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE ON OUR TEAM, UM, FROM THE CITY STAFF WHO WERE CALLED TO ACTIVATE DURING THIS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION.
THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER LAST WEDNESDAY AT THE GRAND, AND WE CELEBRATED THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THIS TRULY CHALLENGING WORK.
WE'RE PLANNING A LARGER CELEBRATION FOR ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND, MAKING THIS WORK COME INTO FRUITION DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UM, THIS LARGER CELEBRATION IS GONNA TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
AND FINALLY, THIS SLIDE, WE ARE HONORING AND CELEBRATING OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR.
UM, SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TOM IN A MOMENT, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY, UM, I'M SUPER HAPPY FOR KELLY AND THE ADVENTURES TO COME FOR HER.
SHE GETS TO GO BACK TO THE TREES AND BACK TO HER HOME.
I'M, I'M VERY SAD TO BE LOSING MY PARTNER AND FRIEND.
WE'VE SAT IN THESE CHAIRS A LOT, UH, WITH EACH OTHER, AND YOU'VE HEARD OUR VOICES TOGETHER.
UH, KELLY HIRED ME INTO THE CITY EIGHT YEARS AGO IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND WE'VE BECOME, UH, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND PARTNERS IN CRIME.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TOM.
SO, UH, WE COULD BE HERE A LONG TIME TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE IMPACT THAT KELLY HAS HAD ON OUR LIVES AND ON THE WORK AND ON THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING 10 YEARS.
UH, WE GOT A CHANCE, UH, SOME OF THE CITY STAFF TODAY WITH HER DEPARTMENT TO, TO SAY A FEW THINGS, UH, AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AS WELL.
SO, UH, I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE, BUT I, I DO JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST HOW PASSIONATE KELLY IS ABOUT PUBLIC SURFACE, UH, ABOUT SERVING ALL OF YOU, UH, ABOUT SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SHE'S SEEN SOME TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES DURING HER TIME AS HEALTH DIRECTOR, PROBABLY THE MOST THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.
UM, UH, AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT A HEALTH DIRECTOR'S HAD TO GO THROUGH AND MANAGED
[00:35:01]
IT WITH GRACE AND WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND, UH, AND DATA, AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF LAUGHTER.UH, SO KELLY, UH, IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I CAN HEAR HER VOICE ANYWHERE IN A CROWD AND KNOW THAT THAT'S KELLY KOPPE.
'CAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE SPENT WORKING ON THESE ISSUES, UH, AND IN SERVICE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE GONNA MISS HER TREMENDOUSLY.
SHE'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, UH, IN, IN OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, TAKING THE HEALTH, UH, DEPARTMENT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, UH, AND, AND RAISING ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES.
SO WE'LL MISS HER, UM, UH, TREMENDOUSLY AND ARE VERY HAPPY FOR HER IN HER NEXT STAGE.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, KELLY.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK, UH, BEHIND THE RAIL TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'LL START OFF JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO, UM, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK KELLY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE KELLY COME ON THE LIVE STREAM TODAY, AND WE WENT TO LUNCH JUST TO, JUST TO CATCH UP.
AND I RE I DO REMEMBER YOUR FIRST, UH, COUNCIL MEETING, AND I DO REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED IN THE CITY.
AND THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LUCKY IF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GOT A BUDGET PRESENTATION DURING BUDGET TIME.
AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NOW PRIME TIME.
I MEAN, IT IS A POWERHOUSE ON SOCIAL ISSUES ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION.
WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STEP UP UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AT MANY, MANY DIFFERENT JUNCTURES, UH, OF CRISES FROM, UH, RACIAL EQUITY CHALLENGES.
WHEN WE, WHEN YOU, WE SAW YOU AND THERESA STEP UP AND, UH, AND YOU, YOU BRING IN THERESA ALONG TO DEMONSTRATE HER LEADERSHIP AND SEE HOW SHE'S GROWN IN THE CITY, UH, TO C OVID 19 WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELPED LEAD, UH, TRANSFORMATION INTO, UH, DISASTER RESPONSE AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, UH, TO COMMUNICATING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, UH, REMINDING US THAT WE'RE A PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION, AND THAT WE DO HAVE TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES LIKE STIS AND, AND THOSE IN THOSE THINGS.
UM, MAKING SURE THAT YOU MAKE THOSE ROUNDS TO THE COUNCIL SO THEY UNDERSTAND BUDGET PRIORITIES, WHICH I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MAYBE PAT MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT, UH, WE SURE APPRECIATE THAT ON CITY COUNCIL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, THAT YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE MADE A REAL IMPACT FROM COMING HERE FROM UTAH, UH, AND SHAKING IT UP IN LONG BEACH AND GOING BACK TO UTAH.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT EITHER IT'S GOT, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU, OR IT SAYS SOMETHING A LOT ABOUT UTAH, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEBODY FROM UTAH TO COME HERE, SHAKE IT UP, YOU KNOW, MAKE HISTORIC CHANGES AND THEN GO BACK.
SO, REALLY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED, UM, JUST EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW, UM, I'LL GET TO KNOW THAT MAYOR OUT THERE, UM, AND THEY'LL BE TALKING TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU'RE SHAKING IT UP IN, IN SALT LAKE.
UM, AND NOW I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE PRESENTATION AND HOMELESSNESS.
SO, UM, BEFORE I KIND OF GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING VERY DISTURBING.
I TOOK PLACE, UM, UH, IT WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
AND IT WAS HARD TO WATCH WHEN THE STREAMING CAME OUT.
AND, AND I WANNA EXPRESS FIRST MY SYMPATHY TO THE SURVIVOR OF ASSAULT AND MY APPRECIATION FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO STEPPED UP, UH, AND INTERVENED IN THAT MOMENT.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION FOLLOWING THOSE THAT EVENT TOOK ACTION.
UH, THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS ARRESTED WITHIN HOURS, UM, AND WAS ABLE TO PROCURE THE SECURITY FOOT FOOTAGE.
IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
UM, ALL THE THINGS THAT A, THAT A, A RESPONSE, UH, MOBILIZATION SHOULD HAVE.
BUT TO BE CLEAR, UH, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE, HAVE, HAVE HAD THE SITUATION HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND, AND, UH, EVERY RESIDENT SHOULD FEEL SAFE TO WALK THROUGH OUR DOWNTOWN OR ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY.
AND SO, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR EMERGENCY DECLARATION, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON CONTINUING THE SCOPE, EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE DO, SCOPE OF OUR OUTREACH SERVICES, HELP PEOPLE GET OUT OF, UH, HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, GET THEM OFF THE STREET, GET 'EM INTO SHELTER, GET 'EM INTO HOUSING.
UM, BUT THE REALITY IS, DESPITE THOSE EFFORTS, WE KNOW THAT THE PREVALENCE OF UNTREATED SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES AND CHRONIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WILL CONTINUE, HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON CITIES AND ON DOWNTOWNS ALL ACROSS OUR REGION, UH, ESPECIALLY IN, IN DOWNTOWN AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE THERE.
SO TODAY I'M ASKING OUR, I'M CALLING OUR CITY STAFF, UH, TO REFOCUS AND TO DEVELOP AN ENHANCED FOCUS ON THIS DOWNTOWN AREA, INCLUDING DATA AND INFORMATION ON THE GENERAL BUSINESS CLIMATE OF OUR ONGOING RECOVERY.
UM, IT'S DAMAGING WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN, UH, YOU SEE
[00:40:01]
ON THE NEWS, UH, RHETORIC ABOUT BUSINESSES CLOSING.WELL, WHAT DOES THE DATA, WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY ABOUT THAT? AND WHAT DOES THE CONDITION AND WHAT, HOW SHOULD THAT INFORM OUR STRATEGIES? UM, WE WANNA SEE STRATEGIES AND SERVICES TO BETTER SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN THROUGH THIS RECOVERY, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE STILL IN A RECOVERY FROM THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO WAY PEOPLE WORK AND IMPACTS OUR DOWNTOWN, UH, FOCUS ON ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND A STRATEGY TO BETTER ENGAGE OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO SECURE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED IN OUR DOWNTOWN TO ADDRESS UNMET, UH, NEEDS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT, UH, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SEE, UH, MORE, MORE URGENCY ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COUNTY.
AND SO, ALTHOUGH THESE ISSUES ARE NOT UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WE'RE COMMITTED TO TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS FEEL SECURE AND FEEL SAFE IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.
AND THAT THE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY DOES NOT, UH, HAPPEN AGAIN IN OUR CITY.
AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY, MY COMMENTS.
AND NOW WE'LL GO BACK, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
UM, I ECHO YOUR, YOUR WORTH BOTH, UM, FOR OUR DIRECTOR, COLBY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I MEAN, LEADING US THROUGH A PANDEMIC, UM, THAT WE ALL THOUGHT WAS JUST GOING TO BE TWO WEEKS, AND IT TURNED OUT A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT.
UM, I, I CREDIT YOU FOR A LOT OF LIVES SAVED, INCLUDING MINE.
UM, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING VERY DEEP THAT, UM, THAT I KNOW A, A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DID DURING THAT TIME.
UM, BUT YOU'VE SHUNNED THROUGH, UM, OTHER, OTHER THINGS ALSO AS WELL, LIKE OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY WORK THROUGH, UM, OTHER THINGS IN MY, IN MY DISTRICT IN PARTICULARLY, AND HELPED US UNDERSTAND SO MUCH.
AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU, AND I AM JUST VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL THE 10 YEARS THAT YOU SPENT WITH US.
BUT I AM ALSO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, UM, BEING ABLE TO, UM, GO BACK TO UTAH AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILY AND BE THERE AND JUST, UM, I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, BUT VERY SAD FOR US.
SO TODAY IS A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR US.
I ECHO YOUR, YOUR SENTIMENTS ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN LATELY.
UH, OUR RESIDENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAVE BEEN, UM, CONTINUOUSLY TRAUMATIZED WITH INCIDENTS THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA THANK, UM, ALL, ALL OF US, UM, BECAUSE WE USUALLY COME TOGETHER AND I MEAN, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO INCREASE OUR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO I REALLY, REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
SO I ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE, UM, YOUR SUGGESTION INTO A MOTION, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN ENHANCED AND RENEWED FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN, CREATING SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR BOTH, UM, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH STRATEGIES, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND AS WELL AS INFORMATION AND DATA REGARDING THE CURRENT BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS.
FURTHERMORE, REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OUR COUNTY PARTNERS TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO AREAS IDENTIFIED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH AND HUMAN, UH, RESOURCES AS THE MOST IN NEED FOR SERVICE FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
NONE OF US COULD HAVE EVER PREDICTED A PANDEMIC AND NONE OF US COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED WHAT LE WHAT LEADING THROUGH BOTH A PANDEMIC AND A HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY WOULD BE LIKE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, DIRECTOR KELLY FOR ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR LEADING LONG BEACH THROUGH, UM, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT THROUGH SOME VERY, VERY TOUGH YEARS.
YOUR TEAM, UH, HAS DONE HEROIC JOB AND FOR THAT, I'M WHOLEHEARTEDLY GRATEFUL TO YOU NOW FOR THE HOMELESS EMERGENCY UPDATE.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF
[00:45:01]
DETAIL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME I COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM, FROM MY RESIDENCE REGARDING THE 7 0 2 WEST ANAHEIM PROPERTY AND ASK THAT WE ADDRESS THEM WITH, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, RECENTLY MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY THE WILMORE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION STATING THAT THE FACILITY IS NOT BEING MANAGED PROPERLY AND HAVE, AND HAVE IMPACTED THE AREA.
THEY'VE, UM, STATED THAT OPEN DRUG USE IS BEING, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT, UM, THAT WE INVESTIGATE THIS AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE DIRECT, DIRECT INFORMATION OF THAT INVESTIGATION TO OUR, UH, NOT ONLY TO MY OFFICE DIRECTLY, BUT ALSO TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THESE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WELCOMING OF THE SHELTER WITH THE, UM, PROMISE OF IT NOT HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP BEING DONE ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.
SO I, UM, REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I JUST SHARE MY KELLY STORY, DIRECTOR KOPPE STORY.
THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST MET DIRECTOR KOPPE, I WASN'T A COUNCIL MEMBER YET, BUT WHEN I HEARD, OH, THERE'S THIS WOMAN FROM UTAH COMING TO LONG BEACH, SHE'S GONNA DIRECT OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE.
UM, AND I WAS LIKE, UM, OKAY, WELL LET'S SEE HOW LONG SHE'S GONNA LAST.
'CAUSE I'M LIKE, IT'S KIND OF A COMPLICATED CITY, RIGHT? UM, BUT REALLY OVER TIME, GETTING TO KNOW HER, UM, AND ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO HER ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUE THAT RANGE JUST BECAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, ENCOMPASSED SO MUCH AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, UM, EVERYTHING AROUND, UM, HOW WE LIVE.
AND SHE'S REALLY EXCEEDED AND TO REALLY SET HIGH EXPECTATION OF WHO I SEE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE ROLE THAT SHE'S CREATED.
UM, NOT JUST AS A HEALTH DIRECTOR, BUT AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
SHE HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL IN HER RESPONSE AND HER APPROACH.
ALWAYS VERY HUMANE, PATIENT AND COMPASSIONATE IN EVERY ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S BIG OR SMALL.
SO I REALLY, UM, LOOK TO YOUR JUST MODEL LEADERSHIP.
I, UH, LEARNED FROM YOU AND HOW DO WE ALWAYS WITH JUST BIG ISSUE AND CHALLENGE TO APPROACH IT STEP BY STEP, UM, AND COMPASSIONATELY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE DECISION TO COME TO UTAH, UM, AND THAT I, UH, UNDERESTIMATED YOU IN THE BEGINNING,
SO, UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU DON'T DO THIS WORK FOR ACCOLADES OR, UM, BUT I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE MADE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES IN LONG BEACH IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF MY RESIDENTS, UM, WHO I THINK REALLY HAVE BENEFITED FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA.
I WANNA ALIGN MYSELF WITH YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO
UH, LAST YEAR WE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR A WINTER SHELTER AND WE PICKED SILVERADO PARK.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW IT WAS GONNA BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THERE SHE WAS.
SHE HANDLED THE MEANING WITH GRACE, WITH CALMNESS, AND WITH THE STRENGTH THAT ALL THAT SHE, HAS IT BEEN 10 YEARS, I DIDN'T REALIZE 10 YEARS SHE CAME IN TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I WAS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AT THAT TIME.
AND ALL 'EM COULD SAY WAS GOOD LUCK.
BUT NOW I KNOW IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
AND WHAT SHE BROUGHT TO THE JOB HO WAS UNDER ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION, MR.
[00:50:02]
AND SO NOW YOU PUT YOUR STAMP UNDER OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT.SO I COULD SEE NOW THAT AT THAT TIME YOU UTAH'S LOST WITH OUR GAIN.
NOW OUR LOSS IS UTAH'S GAIN AGAIN.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I I REALLY ALL APPRECIATE ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS DEPARTMENT AND TO ESTABLISH THIS CITY AS A BENCHMARK FOR HOW TO HANDLE, HOW THE CRISES HERE IN THE STATE AND THE THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU NEXUS.
UH, THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE UPDATE AND YOUR CONTINUED GOOD WORK.
UM, WE KNOW THERE'S STILL LONG-TERM CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US, AND WE'RE KNEE DEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME OF THEM, AND AT THE BEGINNING PHASES OF OTHERS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, UH, TO DO, UH, THE WORK AHEAD EVEN AS WE TRANSITION FROM SOME OF THE MORE IMMEDIATE WORK.
UH, WE'VE GOT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, AS KELLY WOULD SAY, UH, THAT WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON.
UM, AND I'LL, I'LL BE THERE FOR THE HOMELESS COUNT.
I WILL SIGN UP, WE'LL BRING SOME OTHER FRIENDS ALONG, UH, TO HELP OUT.
SO I AM NEW TO THIS DAIS, BUT NOT NEW TO ANOTHER DAIS.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CARING SO DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, AND YOU WENT ALL IN WHEN YOU GOT HERE.
SORA SAID, IT CHANGED A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.
AND, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PASSION FOR THE WORK, ESPECIALLY THE UPSTREAM WORK, AND REMINDING US THAT WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS HERE, BUT WE'VE GOTTA STOP SOME OF THOSE THINGS FROM HAPPENING TO BEGIN WITH.
SO LESSONS LEARNED, YOU TAUGHT US WELL, UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN SOME OF THE HARDEST EDUCATIONAL YEARS IN HISTORY WERE DEEPLY, DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY THE TEAM OVER THERE.
SO WE ARE A BETTER AND MORE COMPASSIONATE AND MORE RESILIENT CITY BECAUSE OF THE TEAM THAT YOU BUILT, YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND THE DEEP LOVE THAT YOU SHOWED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SIR, I NEED, I DON'T HAVE, I I, I COULD TALK FOREVER, BUT I WON'T.
UM, WE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES IN OUR CITY WITHOUT YOU JUST GODSPEED AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU'RE GONNA BE MISSED.
SO TO, UH, DIRECTOR KOPPE, GREAT JOB.
BEST WISHES IN YOUR NEW CAREER.
UM, AND I HAVE REALLY JUST ONE REGRET, AND THAT IS, UH, I INHERITED MAINE HEALTH IN 2022, AND I'M JUST SORRY WE DIDN'T GET ALL THE UPGRADES DONE BEFORE YOU LEFT.
BUT I WILL MAKE YOU ONE PROMISE.
I'LL INVITE YOU TO THE RIBBON CUTTING WHEN WE DO GET IT DONE.
AND I WANT TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF, UH, ACCOLADES AND AND CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, KELLY FOR HER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE HERE TO THE CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS ONE OF THOSE, I I WAS HERE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HERE AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY AS A RESULT OF, UH, YOUR VERY STRONG AND STABLE LEADERSHIP.
UM, JUST TO, FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW KELLY, SHE, SHE REALLY EMBRACED HER ROLE, GOT INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I APPRECIATED, UH, SEEING HER AT COMMUNITY ON BOARDS, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE INTRICACIES OF SOME OF OUR MORE CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, AND, UH, SHE ROLLED HER SLEEVES UP AND, AND GOT IN THERE SO THAT THIS CITY AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD BE BETTER SERVING OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, KELLY KOPPE IS AN ADVOCATE AND SHE NEVER STOPS ADVOCATING FOR, FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND EXPANDING PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE DOZENS, I I DON'T EVEN WANT TO COUNT HOW MANY, BUT DOZENS OF NEW PROGRAMS IN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT ARE, THAT ARE BENEFITING, UH, LONG BEACH.
AND SO, UM, IN 10 YEARS, YOU HAVE CERTAINLY MADE A MARK, LEFT A LEGACY.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS, YES, SHE DEVELOPED NEW, A LOT OF NEW PROGRAMS, BUT SHE ALSO DEVELOPED A LOT OF GREAT STAFF, UH, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WILL CONTINUE
[00:55:01]
THE WORK, UH, IN HER ABSENCE, I'M SURE.UM, I WANNA JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOMELESS EMERGENCY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, MR. MAYOR AROUND, YOU KNOW, THE INCIDENT AND UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT IN DOWNTOWN.
UH, WE HAVE A, A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISIS, BUT WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND IT, IT REQUIRES, UH, A, A OFTENTIMES A PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTION.
AND SO, UM, TO, TO THE COUNCIL WOMAN'S MOTION, UH, MARY, I'M NOT SURE, IS THAT IN ORDER FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS EVENING RIGHT NOW? OR IS THAT A, SHOULD THAT COME AT A SEPARATE TIME? BECAUSE HONESTLY, I KNOW DOWNTOWN IS, IS IS WHERE WE HAD AN INCIDENT RECENTLY, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE WE'RE HAVING INCIDENTS
UH, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK, UM, AND WE WILL BE, I THINK THIS IS PARTLY ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUG IN HIS, UH, HIS AGENDA AS AN ITEM THAT I THINK IS, IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS WELL.
I WOULDN'T MIND, UM, HAVING THAT DISCUSSION THERE AND, AND ELEVATING THAT DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO TO RESPOND TO OUR RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT, ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AROUND THESE ISSUES.
UM, AND YEAH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR NOW.
I'LL JUST SAY, UM, THIS IS AN AGENDIZED, UH, MEETING.
SO THE, THE MOTIONS APPROPRIATE.
AND THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION WAS, UM, WHAT THE, THOSE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ARE.
UH, I THINK IT WAS CLEAR WE WERE SEPARATING, SO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY'S REFERENCE, BUT WE'RE SEPARATING HOMELESSNESS JUST BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS HOMELESS DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO ATTACK SOMEONE.
SO WE'RE SAYING WHAT ARE THOSE MEASURES THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENT OF HOMELESSNESS, BUT ALSO WHAT IS SOME DATA AROUND OUR RECOVERY IN OUR DOWNTOWN? I THINK THERE ARE SOME, WE CERTAINLY KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY EVERYWHERE.
HOMELESSNESS IS A PRIORITY EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE.
BUT OUR DOWNTOWN DOES HAVE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE WANNA SEE HOW WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE CHRONIC ENCAMPMENTS, WE KNOW WE HAVE, UH, UH, VACANCY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING DOWNTOWNS OF URBAN AREAS.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT AS WELL.
WELL, MR. MAYOR, I, I GET CALLS CONSTANTLY ABOUT THOSE SAME ISSUES ALONG THE, I DON'T DOUBT THE RAILROAD, RAILROAD RIGHT OF AWAY RIGHT? CONSTANT FIRES, UM, THAT ARE GOING ON THAT ARE THREATENING PEOPLE'S HOMES.
UM, THESE, THESE ISSUES, UM, VANDALISM, YOU KNOW, IMPACTING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT, I MEAN, THE LIST IS, IS, IS LONG AND BROAD.
IT, IT DESERVES A, UM, SOME FOCUS IN, IN THE CONVERSATION AND I SUPPORT THE CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR COMMITTEE.
NEXT IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
UM, ARE, CAN I HAVE THE MOTION REREAD THAT MARY MADE JUST SO I CAN HEAR IT AGAIN? UH, WE WERE TAKING SOME NOTES.
LET ME PULL THAT UP REAL QUICK.
AND WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, UM, NEXT WEEK AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COMMITTEE MEETING, I, I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THIS CONVERSATION.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT, UM, THE ITEM ENSURING USABLE AND SAFE SPACES.
AND WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YES, IT'S IN DOWNTOWN AND IT'S CONCENTRATED AND THAT'S WHY, UM, COUNCILWOMAN IN DEJAS BROUGHT THIS UP.
BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS TO OTHER AREAS AND, AND REALLY FOCUS ON IT.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTION? SO AS WE HEARD THE MOTION, IT'S TO REQUEST THE MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN ENHANCED AND RENEW FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN, CREATING SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR BOTH EXPERIENCE OR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACHES, REALIZING THAT THOSE ARE NOT, UH, NECESSARILY ALL THE SAME, THE SAME GROUPS, UH, STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AS WELL AS INFORMATION AND DATA ON THE CURRENT BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS.
UH, FURTHERMORE REQUESTING THE MANAGER TO, UH, CONTINUE TO ENGAGE COUNTY PARTNERS TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AREAS, TO IDENTIFY AREAS BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS THE MOST IN NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
AND SO WE WOULD TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND COME BACK, UM, WITH, UH, SOME STRATEGIES AND IDEAS, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO THIS BODY.
[01:00:01]
SAFETY AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UH, CITYWIDE.BUT I, AS I DO UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, IT IS ASKING US TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON, ON DOWNTOWN IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING CITYWIDE.
WELL, UM, I THINK TALKING ABOUT THIS AT PUBLIC SAFETY NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
IT'LL BE, UM, A GOOD DISCUSSION.
SO PEOPLE SHOULD COME OUT AND, AND BE THERE AND COME AND SPEAK THEIR POSITION ON THIS.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO FINISH THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING, MOVING IT TO, UH, KELLY.
UM, I DIDN'T GET TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THAT LONG, ALMOST A YEAR.
BUT I DID KNOW YOU BEFORE THEN BECAUSE YOU WERE HELPING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WHERE WE ALL LIVE.
SO I KNEW YOU IN THAT, UM, AREA AS HELPING US DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR 10 YEARS AND WISHING YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.
BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE RAIL, WE'RE GONNA, UH, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED TO SPEAK, UH, DONNA NUNLEY.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, HOMELESSNESS, THE COVID, THE, UH, THREATENED CONDITIONS OF HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THE STATE HOUSE LA IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING, UM, APPLICATIONS FOR ATTORNEY SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, UM, SERVED SUMMONS.
THEY'RE REFERRING PEOPLE TO THE SELF-HELP CENTER TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN AND EXPECTING THEM TO BECOME INSTANT LAWYERS ON ALL THE, UM, YOU KNOW, C OVID 19 PROTECTIONS THAT WERE FOR US IN THE LOCAL ORDINANCE ORDINANCES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP US.
SO, UM, IF THEY WERE BEING FUNDED, WHY ARE WE NO LONGER GETTING, UM, HELP THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE LA THEY'RE INSTANTLY REFERRING YOU TO SELF-HELP.
AND C OVID 19, YOU KNOW, AFFECTED US QUITE SEVERELY, SOME OF US LOSING OUR INCOME BUSINESSES, LOVED ONES.
AND SO YOU PUTTING UP A US UP AGAINST A, UH, CORPORATE ENTITY IN A COURTROOM, A LAY PERSON TRYING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES WHO DON'T KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUT OF THE LEGAL, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, FILL OUR, YOU KNOW, ANSWERS OUT AND THINGS.
SO I'M, I HOPE I'M NOT RAMBLING TOO MUCH, BUT, UH, THEY'RE NO LONGER, DID YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER ACCEPTING, UH, WHAT I CAN DO, PROVIDING ATTORNEYS FOR, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT OF, A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
LET'S MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT WITH STAFF AFTERWARD TO SEE IF, UH, ATTORNEYS FOR ANY, THEY MAKE A CONNECTION THAT COMING.
THEY'RE REFERRING, IT WAS ANOTHER MAN, UM, THAT WAS IN THE OFFICE TOO.
THEY'RE SENDING US TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE SELF-HELP CENTER TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST.
YOU'VE NEVER EVEN BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUT OF THE LAWS WHO PEOPLE, THAT'S THEIR ADVOCATION, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS TO, UH, DEFEND, YOU KNOW, THE LANDLORDS AND YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.
SO I'M JUST NEED TO BE REFERRED TO, AND IT'S OTHERS OTHER THAN ME, I'M SURE, WHO NEED LEGAL HELP, AND THEY'LL DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY.
AND I HAVE, WE HAVE STAFF, UH, OVER ADJACENT TO THE WALL, IF YOU WANNA CHECK IN WITH 'EM ABOUT, UM, UM, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
TAKING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, FOR THAT COMMENT.
I, I KNOW THAT IT SEEMS THAT IT'S REALLY A FOCUS IN DOWNTOWN.
THE REASON BEING IS THAT, UM, I FEEL MY RESIDENTS HA HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED OVER AND OVER BY SO MANY, UM, INSTANCES.
AND SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIND WAYS AND FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THIS.
AND I DO, UM, WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING.
I DO THINK THAT THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SPACE FOR, FOR MY RESIDENTS TO COME AND VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON, ON WHAT IS NEEDED HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
UM, I REALLY DO ENCOURAGE MY RESIDENTS TO COME AND VOICE, UM, THEIR, THEIR OPINIONS, UM, THERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
UH, YES, JUST REALLY, UH, UH, QUICKLY, I JUST
[01:05:01]
WANNA SAY I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT, UH, THIS MOTION TO HAVE A, A EXTRA FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN.UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS UNDENIABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DISTRICTS AND OUR CITY.
IT'S WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR, UM, CITY ASSETS.
IT'S WHERE TR UH, VISITORS COME IN HERE AND BUSINESSES.
AND, UM, AND I TELL YOU, IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF DOWNTOWN, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THIS SPREADING INTO ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
SO, UM, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS, UH, THIS EXTRA EFFORT, I THINK IS REALLY NEEDED.
AND I, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST ADD, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE, ARE SPECIAL AND HAVE AND UNIQUE AND VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT ARE, THAT ARE VERY, UH, DIFFERENT, THAT REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, OF ADDITIONAL, UH, STAFF TIME AND FOCUS, LIKE THE END OF THE LINE DISCUSSION WITH METRO.
IT TAKES A LOT OF FOCUS FROM, FROM MY OFFICE AND FROM OTHERS TO KIND OF NEGOTIATE AND DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
SO BY SAYING PLACE AN ENHANCED FOCUS, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION, LET'S SAY AT HOWTON PARK OR ALONG, UH, THE RAIL, THE RAIL YARD, RAIL LINES.
IT MEANS THAT THERE ARE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UH, VERY SENSITIVE, THAT I THINK REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUS FROM CITY STAFF.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR CLARIFYING THAT MR. MAYOR AND, UH, TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZAHA, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I JUST WANT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR CLARITY ON, ON WHAT THAT FOCUS IS AND, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIMITED RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT WE, WE DON'T WANT TO ROB FROM THIS DISTRICT TO, TO MAKE THIS DISTRICT WORK BETTER OR, OR WHATEVER.
UM, WE, WE HAVE UNIQUE ISSUES, LIKE I SAID, IN IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.
UH, AND OF COURSE, UM, OUR, OUR DOWNTOWN AREA DOES, UM, ALREADY HAVE A, A LOT OF, UH, RESOURCES AND FOCUS.
UM, WE, WE, WHEN WE STARTED OUR MOBILE, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, YOU KNOW, I, I BELIEVE IT WAS OR HAS BEEN FOCUSED HERE DOWNTOWN, A LOT OF RESOURCES UNDER THE, UM, EMERGENCY HOMELESS, UM, UM, ORDER THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE HAVE BEEN TAILOR MADE AND, AND REALLY, UM, FOCUSED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND YET WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES.
I, I UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF THE MOTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER AND I, I WILL SUPPORT THAT.
I JUST HAD TO RAISE, YOU KNOW, A QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
ALRIGHT, UH, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR OUR VOTE.
IS THIS OUR FIRST, FIRST VOTE IN THIS NEW SYSTEM? ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MEMBERS PLEASE CAST VOTE.
OKAY, WELL NOW GO TO CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13, PLEASE.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 13.)]
OKAY.WE NEED, WE NEED A, UM, A MOTION AND A SECOND ON CONSENT.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
UM, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, I JUST WANNA COME BACK AND JUST REITERATE WITH SOME THINGS THAT I WAS, HAD, UH, TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
I HAD CALLED COVID SO I COULDN'T COME AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NOBODY GOT IT.
SO I JUST TOOK A TWO WEEK HIATUS TO GET MYSELF BACK TOGETHER.
BUT I SAID, WHEN I BE STARTED SPEAKING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, EVERYONE WAS TAKEN ABACK WHEN I MENTIONED A 21 TO $22 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS THE STRATEGY THAT WAS USED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN COURT TO WIN A CASE AGAINST ME AND THE RESIDENCE IN ORANGEWOOD.
AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR THAT THE CITY WITH THIS STRATEGY MAKES IT APPEAR THAT THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE, THE WORK ON THE PUMPS THAT CAUSED THE FLOODING TO MY HOUSE.
UNDERESTIMATING THE BUDGET WOULD STRENGTHEN THE CASE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN UNDERESTIMATE THE BUDGET AT $22 MILLION A YEAR FOR A WHOLE DEPARTMENT, THAT MEANS THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO DO ANY, UH, ANY WORK.
[01:10:01]
AND THIS, THIS, THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN YOUR CASE.AND IT WOULD BE SUBSERVIENT TO ME TO BE IN COURT BECAUSE IT'D BE STACKED AGAINST ME KNOWING THAT THE BUDGET WAS UNDER VALUE.
UNDERESTIMATING THE BUDGET WOULD STRENGTHEN THE POSITION OF THE CITY, THAT IT DID HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PERFORM ANY WORKS ON THE PUMPS, THUS MAKING THE CITY NOT NEGLIGENCE FOR THEIR LACK OF MONEY TO ACTUALLY SERVICE AND PROVIDE BASIC SERVICE TO THE PUMPS UPGRADING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BUDGET WAS OVER 150 MILLION ANNUALLY, BECAUSE YOU CAN GET THAT ASSESSED WITH PUBLIC RECORDS IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE AND SEE THAT THE BUDGET WAS NOT 21 TO $22 MILLION.
I PROVIDED YOU A COPY AND THE EXCERPT FROM THE TRIAL.
AND IF YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND IT JUST SHOW, SHOWS YOU THAT THEY ASKED THE PERSON WHAT THE BUDGET WAS FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND LATER ON, I'LL GIVE YOU MORE EXCERPTS ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAD IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN AFTER I WENT ON THE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT, THE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY HAD A PAYROLL, YOU CANNOT HAVE, THIS IS WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
BUT THEY WAS FITTING THIS DEFENSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WON.
SO WE GONNA FILE, ACTUALLY, WE GOT A LAWYER THAT'S GONNA BE FILING APPEAL FOR THIS, BECAUSE THIS WAS PERFORATED, EXCUSE ME, PER PERPETUATED IN COURT.
IT WAS FRAUDULENTLY PUT TOGETHER TO SUB TO SUBVERT BEING A NEGLIGENCE CLAIM.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THERE, IT SHOWS YOU THAT THEIR WORDS, NOT MINES, BECAUSE I DO NOT STATE ANYTHING UNLESS I HAVE FACTUAL INFORMATION.
I DON'T MAKE UP ANYTHING ACCUSATIONS.
I DON'T ACCUSE ANYBODY OF DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY DID NOT DO.
AND IF I'M GONNA SPEAK SOMETHING, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT I DO MY HOMEWORK, THAT I CAN SUBSTANTIATE EVERYTHING THAT I SAY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST MY CHARACTER.
'CAUSE THE JOB THAT I HAVE, I HAVE TO BE ACCURATE AND MAKE SURE THAT I'M ON POINT.
SO IF YOU STATE A $22 MILLION BUDGET AND YOU ARE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD THAT KNOWS WHAT THE BUDGET IS, THE CITY COUNCIL KNOWS THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE BUDGET WAS WAY MORE THAN THAT.
THAT GOES TO TELL YOU THAT THEY FABRICATED SOMETHING TO MISLEAD THE COURT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S JUSTIFIED UNDER 8.3 AND EIGHT FOUR THE THANK YOU.
WELL THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM 14, COASTAL
[14. 23-24497 Recommendation to request the City Council to receive and file a presentation on the 2023 Coastal Country Jam. Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COUNTRY JAM PRESENTATION.YEAH, JUST NOT JUST HANG, HANG TIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 14, PLEASE.
YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA READ THE ITEM.
I WAS WAITING FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'LL READ ITEM 14, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.
RECOMMENDATION REQUESTS THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE 2023 COASTAL COUNTRY JAM.
MUSIC IS A SURE WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
AND IN LONG BEACH, WE HAVE BECOME A HUB FOR VERY SUCCESSFUL MUSIC EVENTS THAT ATTRACT LARGE CROWDS AND TOURISM TO OUR CITY.
I WAS PLEASED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS EXCITED FOR COASTAL COUNTRY JAM.
I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S OUTREACH TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH THEM PRIOR TO THE EVENT MY OFFICE WAS BRIEFED BY THEM.
AND I CAN SAY THEIR GRASSROOTS EFFORTS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I, I THANK, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECEIVE AND HIGHLIGHT THE, UM, SUCCESS OF CO COASTAL COUNTRY COASTAL JAMS, AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A GREAT CITY AND BRING GREAT EVENTS LIKE THESE AND FESTIVALS TO OUR CITY.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE ORGANIZERS OF ACTIVATE EVENTS TO THE PODIUM, UM, TO, FOR A QUICK PRESENTATION.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ACTIVATED EVENTS.
WE PRODUCED COASTAL COUNTRY JAM ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 17TH, UH, DOWN ON MARINA GREEN IN THE ELEPHANT PARKING LOT IN THE ARENA.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MADE IT AND WE WERE HAPPY TO HOST YOU OTHER ONES, UH, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO COME.
AND SO WE WANT TO COME DOWN TONIGHT, JUST DO A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION OF JUST KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IN YOUR WONDERFUL CITY.
BROUGHT SOME BIG A-LIST ARTISTS TO LONG BEACH.
WE HAD BLAKE SHELTON, TIM MCGRAW, BROOKS, AND DUNN MAREN MORRIS, UH, A LONG LIST OF OTHER ARTISTS OVER THE TWO DAYS.
THE EVENT WAS FROM 12 NOON TO 10:00 PM UH, HERE'S A PICTURE FROM THE BACK OF THE STAGE LOOKING OUT, UH, ACROSS MARINA GREEN, ACROSS THE PARKING LOT.
UH, ABOUT 3000 RESERVED SEATS SET UP, UH, AND ALL GENERAL MISSION BEHIND THAT.
[01:15:01]
HERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE, UH, TOWARDS THE STAGE, UM, THE ARENA IN THE BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.THIS WAS ONE SLIDE OF OUR DRONE SHOW RIGHT BEFORE BLAKE SHELTON CAME ON STAGE.
UH, SO JUST A LITTLE BREAKDOWN OF, OF WHO CAME TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME AUDIO ISSUES.
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE MICROPHONE? CAN LET, MAYBE YOU CAN RAISE UP THE PODIUM.
I'LL TRY AND SPEAK IN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S BETTER, THANK YOU.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING AT A BREAKDOWN OF WHO WE BROUGHT TO LONG BEACH FOR COASTAL COUNTRY JAM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE AGE WAS BETWEEN 25 TO 55.
ABOUT 65% OF THE AUDIENCE WAS THAT AGE, UH, WHICH IS A GREAT DEMOGRAPHIC, UH, TO COME TO THE CITY.
UH, ABOUT 66% FEMALE, UH, 25% MALE.
UM, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THESE STATS ARE THE, THE, UH, INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE OF THE ACTUAL TICKET BUYERS.
SO WE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY BOUGHT TWO OR THREE TICKETS, WHO THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE.
BUT, UM, THIS GIVES YOU A PRETTY GOOD SNAPSHOT.
WHAT I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING IS THE TOP CITIES OF WHERE PEOPLE BOUGHT TICKETS TO COME TO COASTAL COUNTRY JAM.
AND THE NUMBER ONE CITY WAS LONG BEACH.
SO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR RESIDENTS ARE COMING OUT AND ENJOYING THIS ENTERTAINMENT.
NUMBER TWO BEING LOS ANGELES, WHICH I THINK IS ALSO VERY IMPRESSIVE.
THAT LONG BEACH WAS NUMBER ONE WITH THE LARGE, YOU KNOW, AREA THAT LOS ANGELES COVERS.
NUMBER THREE BEING SAN DIEGO, AND NUMBER FOUR BEING SAN JOSE.
SO PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN, UH, MORE PEOPLE BOUGHT TICKETS IN SAN DIEGO AND SAN JOSE THAN ACTUALLY HUNTINGTON BEACH, ANAHEIM AND RIVERSIDE, WHICH WERE FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
AND ONE MORE, VERY INTERESTING FACT.
UH, WE SOLD TICKETS FROM 43 DIFFERENT STATES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, 55% OF OUR ATTENDEES BOUGHT TWO DAY TICKETS.
SO BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 34% BOUGHT JUST SATURDAY, AND 11% JUST BOUGHT SUNDAY.
UH, VERY CLOSE TO 20,000 PEOPLE CAME ON SATURDAY AND VERY CLOSE TO 15,000 PEOPLE ON SUNDAY.
AND WHY I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE BUYING TWO DAY TICKETS AND COMING FROM OUTTA TOWN, THEY'RE STAYING IN THE HOTELS OR EATING IN THE RESTAURANTS, THEY'RE SHOPPING AT YOUR SHOPS.
UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, WE DID A LOT OF THAT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR OWN ACCOUNTS OF FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, UH, TIKTOK, UH, OVER 200 SOCIAL POSTS WE CREATED, UM, SPECIFICALLY TO COASTAL COUNTRY JAM.
AND EVERY TIME TAGGED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, WE CREATED OVER THREE AND A HALF MILLION ORGANIC, UM, IMPRESSIONS ACROSS ALL THOSE CHANNELS.
UH, WE HAD A VERY STRONG OUTREACH, UH, TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE LB CV, UH, CVB, UH, THE DLBA, UH, THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, UH, IN LONG BEACH.
UH, NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, REALLY SUPPORTED OUR EVENT THROUGH THEIR EMAIL BLAST THROUGH, UH, MUSIC IN THE PARK.
UH, WE APPRECIATED THAT SUPPORT.
UH, WE WORKED, UH, AND DONATED TICKETS TO THE LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS, LONG BEACH POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
UH, WE WORKED CLOSELY IN DIS PROMOTIONS WITH CAL STATE LONG BEACH.
UH, ALSO TIED IN WITH THE, UH, ACURA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH.
AND, UM, WE HAD, WE HOSTED QUITE A FEW, UH, ACTIVE, UH, MILITARY AND VETERANS.
UH, WE DONATED CLOSE TO A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN VALUE OF TICKETS TO VETERANS, UH, ACTIVE AND, UM, AND, UH, AND VETERANS TO COME DOWN AND ENJOY THE SHOW.
UM, SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM OUT THERE.
UH, OUR MARKETING INITIATIVES, MORE OF OUR PAID CAMPAIGNS.
UM, WE SENT OUT OVER 40 EMAIL BLASTS TO OUR INTERNAL DATABASE OF 135,000, PRIMARILY LOCAL RESIDENTS.
UH, MADE ABOUT 5.4 MILLION IMPRESSIONS THROUGH OUR DIGITAL AD CAMPAIGNS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU GUYS SAW RUNNING VERY HEAVILY IN LONG BEACH.
AND THROUGHOUT, UM, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE CREATED OVER 20 MILLION IMPRESSIONS ACROSS FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, AND GOOGLE.
UH, WE RAN ON GO COUNTRY, WHICH IS AN LA STATION, CAPE ROG, WHICH IS AN INLAND EMPIRE STATION, KSON, WHICH IS A SAN DIEGO STATION, KDS, WHICH IS A LAS VEGAS STATION.
WE ALSO RAN RADIO IN ARIZONA AS WELL TO ATTRACT AGAIN, OUTTA TOWN.
GUESTS CREATED OVER 5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS.
AND IF YOU ARE ON ANY OF THE FREEWAYS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, YOU PROBABLY SAW ONE OF OUR BILLBOARDS, UH, OFF THE 4 0 5, THE 22 RIGHT HERE AT CHERRY AVENUE ON THE 91 FREEWAY, AND THE FINAL ONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF, UH, STAPLES CENTER AND THE LA CONVENTION CENTER IN DOWNTOWN LA.
A LOT OF PRE FESTIVAL COVERAGE THROUGH THE LOCAL PRESS.
UM, LOTS OF STORIES THROUGH KTLA, FOX 11, UH, NUMBER OF STORIES THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERED THE PRESS TELEGRAM, UM, UH, INDUSTRY PRESS, WE'VE RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF THAT THROUGH BOTH THE COUNTRY COMMUNITY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT.
UH, COMMUNITY CELEBRITY ACCESS, UH, ALL ACCESS, UH, MUSIC ROW, UH, AMERICAN SONGWRITER, QUITE A FEW.
UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS POST COVERAGE, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE PICKED IT UP, NBC, AGAIN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER PARADE, LONG BEACH POST HOLLY WIRE.
BUT ONE OF THE COOLEST ONES I THOUGHT, IS WE WERE APPROACHED BY CMT NETWORK, WHICH IS THE MTV OF COUNTRY MUSIC.
AND THEY REACHED OUT AND THEY WANTED TO, UH, BROADCAST OUR, UM, THEY WANTED TO BROADCAST THEIR SHOW, WHICH IS THE HOT 20 COUNTDOWN, WHICH IS THE TOP 20 VIDEOS OF THE
[01:20:01]
WEEK.AND THEY FILMED ONSITE HERE, UH, AT THE FESTIVAL AND THEN RAN IT THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, NATIONALLY, UM, SHOWING SHOTS OF THE QUEEN MARY AND, UH, CONVENTION CENTER AND, UH, OUR ENTIRE EVENT.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH LARGE SCALE EVENTS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY MULTI-DAY EVENTS, UH, IT'S GREAT FOR, UM, THE HOTELS.
THEY SEE AN UPTICK IN BOOKINGS AS WELL AS, UH, AN INCREASE IN THEIR RATES.
UM, ALL THE ATTENDEES THAT COME DOWN HERE, MANY OF 'EM FREQUENT THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS, BARS, RETAIL SHOPS, UH, THAT WAS EVIDENT BY ALL THE, UM, COWBOY HATS AND, UH, COWBOY BOOTS THAT WERE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS AND IN LINE AT STARBUCKS.
UH, AND WHEN GUESTS COME, YOU KNOW, THEY PARK IN THE LOCAL PARKING STRUCTURES, THEY UTILIZE GAS STATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
HERE'S JUST A COUPLE MORE FINAL SHOTS.
THAT WAS A QUEEN MARY THAT WE DID IN DRONES.
THAT WAS TIM MCGRAW CLOSING IT OUT ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
SO ALL OF THE WORK THAT, UH, WE DID LEADING UP TO THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, UM, LONG BEACH SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE'D LIKE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE TASHA DAY AND, AND HER DEPARTMENT FOR REALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH US AND HELPING US PRODUCE THIS EVENT.
UM, I WANTED TO SHOW A QUICK VIDEO, A LITTLE 92ND VIDEO.
IF YOU GUYS COULD PLAY THE VIDEO, THAT'D BE GREAT.
GOOD MORNING, LONG BEACH COASTAL COUNTRY JAM RETURN.
TERRIFIC ON OUR COMING TO YOU TODAY FROM COASTAL COUNTRY JAM.
COASTAL COUNTRY JAM TAKE PLACE IN LONG BEACH IN THIS IS GOD.
THAT WAS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN WE DID THOSE ONES.
SO ANYWAYS, WE WANNA COME DOWN HERE.
WE JUST WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR ALLOWING US TO HOST, UH, THIS EVENT IN YOUR WONDERFUL CITY.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP, BUILDING IT BIGGER AND BETTER, BETTER EACH YEAR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I WASN'T, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT, BUT THAT WAS AN IN INCREDIBLE VIDEO.
AND, UM, THE IMAGES, UH, THE IMAGES THAT YOU HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OF OUR CITY WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLE.
AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED ON CMT REALLY SAYS A SAYS A WHOLE LOT.
WE NEED MORE, MORE OF THIS IN LONG BEACH, SO THANK YOU.
WE, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE OF THIS VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
IT'S SO GREAT, UH, TO SEE YOU HERE AND, UH, YOU ARE SO GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO.
YOU KNOW, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SEE YOUR OPERATIONS YEARS AGO AND, AND, UH, WAS IT NORCO? NORCO, YEAH, NORCO.
AND, UH, AND SO I'M LIKE, YOU GOTTA DO THIS IN LONG BEACH.
AND I KNEW YOU COULD GET THE A-LISTERS.
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS I LIKE IT, I LOVE IT, AND I WANT MORE OF IT COME BACK.
UH, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CITY, AND THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WE LOVE THIS PLACE, 'CAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO SEE SHOWS IN A GREAT COMMUNITY.
UM, IT WAS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE SETUP.
I'VE BORN AND RAISED HERE AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS SET UP DOWNTOWN, AND I THOUGHT, UH, THE USE OF THIS SPACE WAS INNOVATIVE IN A WAY THAT I HADN'T SEEN.
AND IT HAD PLACES FOR FAMILIES TO BE SAFE.
IT HAD FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WHO BROUGHT THEIR OWN CHAIRS IF YOU WANTED TO SIT ON THE GRASS, THAT YOU REALLY GAVE A DIVERSE EXPERIENCE.
AND THERE WERE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THERE.
SO, UM, KUDOS TO YOU FOR THAT.
I WANNA THANK OUR SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM AS WELL, AND ESPECIALLY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WERE OUT THERE, POLICE AND FIRE, DID AN AMAZING JOB.
UM, WE SAW LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND, UH, REALLY GLAD, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.AND, UH, THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT, SO MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
COMMUNICATION FROM VICE MAYOR ALLEN COUNCILWOMAN SORROW COUNCIL MEMBER
[21. 23-24669 Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution recognizing every 21st of September as the International Day of Peace in the City of Long Beach. Office or Department: Cindy Allen, Vice Mayor, Second District; Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
YANGA RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EVERY 21ST OF SEPTEMBER AS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.WE'RE GONNA PASS IT ON TO, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
HEY, HOW YOU, OH, OH, WHAT ARE WE KNOW, VICE MAYOR? YOU GOT? OKAY.
JUST I WAS, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS NEW SYSTEM AND, UH, AND SO, UM, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, UM, I'M GONNA, UH, I'LL DO MY COMMENTS, UM, AT THE END, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP DR.
GUPTA, WHO IS, UH, GOING TO BE GIVING US A, UH, A PRESENTATION ON INTERNATIONAL, UH, PEACE DAYS.
GUPTA, WE LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO, UH, THE MIC.
WELL, MAYOR RE, RICHARDSON WEM MAYOR CINDY ALEN AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBER AND ATTENDEES.
MANOR GUPTA, PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION INC.
AND OF THE LONG BEACH CHAPTER OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF USA.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY, ALSO KNOWN AS BOLD PEACE DAY.
MY SPECIAL THANKS GO TO VICE MAYOR CINDY ALLEN, SECOND DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN SOLI, SIXTH DISTRICT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT ORANGO, SEVEN DISTRICT FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE AND SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF DECLARING SEPTEMBER 21ST AT INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY IN LONG BEACH.
THE UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE BEGAN ON 21ST OF SEPTEMBER IN 1981 AND WAS ORGANIZED BY UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A GLOBALLY SHARED DEBT FOR ALL HUMANITY.
TO COMMIT TO PEACE ABOUT ALL DIFFERENCES, AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE.
WHY DO WE OBSERVE THE WORLD PEACE? THERE? IT REMINDS US OF OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE FIRST, TO REACH OUR DREAMS AND VISION OF PEACE.
IT RECOGNIZES THAT WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY HUMANITY, WHICH HAS THE COMMON DREAMS OF PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY IN EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE.
IT URGES US TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY RATHER THAN FEARING THE DIFFERENCES AND TO CHOOSE COMPASSION OVER INDIFFERENCE.
SO HOW IS PEACE ACHIEVED? THE PEACE HAS DIFFERENT MEANING FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND IN THE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, PEACE MEANS A WORLD WITHOUT ANY WARFARE LIKE THOSE CURRENTLY GOING ON IN UKRAINE AND MIDDLE EAST.
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, PEACE REFERS TO HARMONY AND TOLERANCE AMONG GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES MAKING THE NATION.
AND AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, PEACE IMPLIES THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN THEIR HOMES, HAVE THE MEANS TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE FREE OF VIOLENCE.
CLEARLY THERE CAN BE NO SINGLE PATHWAY TO THIS BROAD RANGE OF GOALS.
SO WHAT SHOULD PEACE LOOK LIKE FOR US LOCALLY IN LONG BEACH? AT THE VERY MINIMUM, PEACE REQUIRES THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO MOVE FREELY FROM ONE PLACE TO OTHER WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF VIOLENCE.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING LOCAL NEWS, YOU ARE AWARE OF THE RECENT INCREASE INCIDENT OF LOOTING AND SHOOTING, HURTING INNOCENT PEOPLE WHEN COMMITTED BY THE YOUTH, WE MUST REVERSE THAT TREND AND MAKE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY VIOLENCE FREE.
I URGE ALL POLITICIANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATION, AND OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN TOGETHER IN PROMOTING PEACE BY GUIDING OUR YOUTH WHO ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING WITH ALL OF YOU IN PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL WORLD PEACE DAY IN THE NEXT, IN OUR CITY.
[01:30:01]
I ENVISION PEACE, EDUCATION, EVENTS, YOUTH INVOLVEMENTS, INTERCULTURAL AND INTER FAITH DIALOGUES, WORKSHOP, MEDITATION, PRAYER, CONCERTS AND MULTICULTURAL FESTIVALS.LATEST PLEDGE TO BE AM AMBASSADOR OF PEACE AND SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE, EMPATHY, AND RESPECT.
LET LATEST STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE.
AND EQUALLY, WHEREVER WE FIND IT, WE CAN BE THE CH CHANGE MAKERS, THE PEACEMAKER AND ARCHITECTS OF A WORLD WITH A, WITH A BRING BRIGHTER TOMORROW FOR ALL.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE WORK OF TO ACHIEVE THE PEACE IS NEVER DONE.
LET ME FINISH WITH A QUOTE FROM OUR US PRESIDENT LYNDON V JOHNSON.
PEACE IS NOT MERELY A DISTANT GOAL, BUT A JOURNEY WE MUST ALL TAKE TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS TIME THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO ME.
SO WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, SARAH ZADY, AND THEN TAR MOHAMMED, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SARA ZDI, AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A RESIDENT AND AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL YOUTH AND FAMILIES OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF WAR, A PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION FOR THE PAST ALMOST 20 YEARS, THE DAUGHTER OF TWO PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM A GLOBALLY PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, A PROUD MUSLIM WOMAN, AN ADVOCATE OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND FINALLY, A MOTHER WHO BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE A WORLD THAT WILL STAND UP FOR FOR THEM WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE.
OF COURSE, I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE IN OUR CITY.
WITH THE TIMING OF THIS RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE AN EGREGIOUS OVERSIGHT NOT TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE ONGOING TRAGEDY THAT THE UNITED NATIONS, ALONG WITH MANY BRAVE CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, HAVE DEEMED A HUMAN RIGHTS CATASTROPHE AND GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE.
I AM PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY CENTERED SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SMART ENOUGH AS A COMMUNITY TO NOT CONFLATE ANTISEMITISM WITH A CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
THIS RESOLUTION FOR A DAY OF PEACE IN OUR CITY MUST CERTAINLY CONDEMN HATRED AGAINST OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT RIGHT NOW OVER 1400 ISRAELI CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KILLED.
200 HAVE BEEN CAPTOR CAPTURED, AND OVER 5,000 PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS, HALF OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN, INNOCENT CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN KILLED.
AND OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO SUPPLY WEAPONS AND AID THAT HAVE LED TO MULTIPLE CRIMES OF WAR ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS, INCLUDING THE BOMBING OF SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND HOSPITALS IN GAZA.
THAT ALSO THAT 1.4 MILLION PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS.
AND THAT COUNTLESS MEMBERS OF OUR STATE AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP STAND WITH POLICIES THAT ARE DENYING THESE PEOPLE PALESTINIANS WITH FOOD, WATER, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ELECTRICITY.
I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE NO DISPUTE AMONGST THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CALLING FOR A DAY OF PEACE IN LONG BEACH.
SO THEN I ASK YOU, WHY IS THERE DISPUTE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO SPEAK UP FOR THE OVER 1.4 MILLION INNOCENT PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS WHO DESERVE THE SAME? I CALL ON LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, OUR LOCAL STATE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY LEADERS RESPECTFULLY TO USE THEIR POWER AND THEIR PLATFORMS TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
NOW IT IS A CHANCE TO HONOR THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, UNITY, AND COOPERATION THAT LONG BEACH HAS STOOD FOR, THAT EACH OF YOU HAS STOOD FOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN SENDING A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT OUR CITY STANDS AGAINST INJUSTICE AND FOR P SUFFERING AND LAWS.
YOUR TIME HAS ELAPSED INNOCENT LIVES IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN AID AND TO ENCOURAGE A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT.
YOU TO LEAD BY, BY DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING
[01:35:01]
FOR PEACE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.OUR IS NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR A DAY OF PEACE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT TO CALL FOR CEASEFIRE NOW AND PEACE GLOBALLY WITH RESPECT.
AND AFTER TAREK IS, UH, IS NIDA TNI.
UM, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU TOUCHED MY HEART, SISTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
ACTUALLY, SHE TOLD WHAT I WANNA SAY TONIGHT.
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTER, WE URGE YOU GUYS TO REALLY FOR CEASE FIRES.
EH, YOU CANNOT BUILD A COUNTRY IN OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE A 21 BILL FROM UNITED NATION.
THAT PALESTINIAN STATE IS EXISTS SIDE TO SIDE TO ISRAEL ESTATE.
WHY? AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M GONNA EXPRESS MY FEELING ABOUT MY COUNTRY IN THAT I, I FEEL VERY, VERY SHAME FOR OUR PRESIDENT TO TAKE A SIDE AND LISTEN TO SUCH A LIE AND TAKING IN, THIS WAS ACTUALLY NO INVESTIGATION.
AND AFTER THAT, APOLOGIZED AND THE WHITE HOUSE APOLOGIZE.
YES, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
A WE KNOW EXACTLY AS IN A MUSLIM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEWISH PEOPLE, NOBLE PEOPLE, PEOPLE, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN.
GENOCIDE IS AND ONE THE MEAN OPPRESSION IS, AND WE SEPARATE THEM COMPLETELY FROM THE ZIONIST IDEOLOGY AND THE DREAM WE WENT TO BUILD A COUNTRY IN THE BODY OF PALESTINIAN AND LADIES CHILD, IT NOT GONNA WORK.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA KEEP REPEATING THAT IT NOT GONNA WORK.
THE CHILDREN OF IS OF PALESTINE.
HE REFUSED TO TAKE THIS NO MORE.
HE SWEAR HIM NOT GONNA GROW UP.
HE SWEAR HE, UNTIL HE GET HIS RIGHT BACK, AS IN ANY HUMAN BEING, THE CHILDREN OF PALESTINE IS NOT DIFFERENT THAN A CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OR THE JEWISH CHILDREN.
BOTH OF 'EM EQUAL, BOTH OF THEM DE DESERVE RESPECT AND PEACE AND LIVE TOGETHER AS IN COUSIN, AS IN SON OF IBRAHIM.
IT IS A TIME FOR THE SON OF ABRAHAM SISTER TO GET TOGETHER AND BEHAVE AND APPROVE, TO BE TO A ALL THE WORLD.
THAT WE ARE THE SON OF ABRAHAM AND WE HAVE A VALUE AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE.
WE CAN HAVE A A, A A, UH, UH, WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER AND WE CAN PROTECT EACH OTHER AS IN HUMAN BEING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS ALL AND PLEASE, I'M ASKING ALSO WHATEVER THE SISTER ASK FOR THE PRAYER AND FOR THE CEASE FIRE.
UM, SO MY NAME'S NAIDA SNET AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE LONG BEACH AREA PEACE NETWORK, ALSO KNOWN AS LO BOIN, UH, WHICH IS FUN.
UM, I'M HERE TO FIRST TO THANK, UM, VICE, VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER SARAH AND ANG FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS MOTION.
I AM ALSO HERE AS A VERY PROUD JEWISH AMERICAN URGING FOR A CEASE FIRE.
THE DESTRUCTION IN GAZA IS BEYOND BELIEF.
THIS IS NOT TO EXCUSE ANY OTHER ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN POWERFUL AND PAINFUL, BUT IT IS TO SAY IT MUST STOP.
AND THE WAY IT STOPS AT THIS MOMENT IS ACTUALLY THROUGH A PEACE FIRE AS WE GO FORWARD EACH YEAR, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE ALWAYS SAY NEXT YEAR IN MY RELIGION, NEXT YEAR, NOT NECESSARILY IN JERUSALEM.
UM, BUT NEXT YEAR MAY BE A MORE PEACEFUL YEAR.
AND AS WE ANNUALLY CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, LABAN IS HERE TO HELP COMMEMORATE IT IN ANY WAY THAT WILL BE HELPFUL TO BRING ABOUT THE PEACE AND JUSTICE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
[01:40:08]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL.I'VE BEEN A LONG BEACH RESIDENT SINCE 1963.
I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT FIVE, DISTRICT THREE AND CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M ALSO A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, BORN OF TWO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.
MY FAMILY WAS MURDERED IN AUSCHWITZ AND BIENAL.
I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING JEWISH LONG BEACH AND THE ALBERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.
AS A BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE ADVOCACY SUBCOMMITTEE, I'M HONORED TO STATE THAT WE AT JEWISH LONG BEACH FULLY SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE TO DECLARE SEPTEMBER 21ST AS INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY IN LONG BEACH.
WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS RICH WITH ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY.
WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH REJECTS VIOLENCE AND IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE IDEALS OF PEACE, PROSPERITY, JUSTICE, AND HOPE FOR ALL CITIZENS.
THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS CITY ALREADY DEMONSTRATES THIS DAILY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY OFFICIALS DURING THIS TIME OF VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL.
I WANT TO GO ON RECORD AND THANK MAYOR RICHARDSON AND OTHERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING ATTENDANCE AT OUR PUBLIC VIGIL ON THE 10TH OF THIS MONTH, A PRIORITY.
AND BY THE WAY, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CITY HALL LIGHTS LOOK GREAT IN BLUE AND WHITE.
NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS CRITICAL THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE STAND TOGETHER AGAINST HATE AND VIOLENCE AND ADVOCATE FOR PEACE.
MANY THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, A SORROW AND ORANGA FOR SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR FRIENDS AT JEWISH LONG BEACH STAND READY TO SUPPORT THIS RELU RESOLUTION ANYWHERE WE CAN.
NEXT IS SAL KIN, OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
GOOD EVENING, HONOR BOARD MAYOR ROBERT CHEEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE STEWARD IN THE IMPORTANT OF PEACE IS REJECTING VIOLENT PEACE, A SOLUTION NOT HAD.
HAPPY TO SEE LONG BEACH FRENCH PEACE.
WHITE MAYOR, SANDY ISLAND, COUNCIL WOMAN SUICIDAL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT ORKA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.
SO RIGHT NOW, TODAY WE, TONIGHT WE PAY FOR THE WORK PIECE.
BUT UH, ON THANK YOU, WE'LL TAKE IT.
NOW BACK BEHIND THE, THE RAIL.
WE'LL GO TO VICE MAYOR ALLEN, THEN COUNCILMAN BURANGA.
ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, AND AS WE HEARD FROM SO MANY FOLKS, UM, MORE THAN EVER, THERE'S NEED FOR PEACE.
UM, WE HEAR IN THE NEWS ABOUT RECENT EVENTS AND IT'S DEEPLY CONCERNING.
AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR PEACE.
WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE WHAT RESOLVE CONFLICTS, YOU KNOW, NOT VIOLENCE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO I HAD AN AMAZING, UM, PRIVILEGE, UM, ATTENDING THE EVENT, UM, WITH YOU, DR.
GPA, CELEBRATING GLOBAL PEACE.
UM, AND IT ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS THERE, IT WAS REALLY, IT WAS REALLY AN AMAZING EVENT, BUT IT DID REMIND ME OF JUST THE POWER, UM, OF HEALING.
THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THE POWER OF PEACE IS, IS SO HEALING, UH, FOR PEOPLE.
SO NO MATTER WHAT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE OR HOW LONG WE'VE HAD THOSE DIFFERENCES, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL SHARE UNIVERSAL, UH, VALUES
[01:45:01]
LIKE FAIRNESS, FREEDOM, AND COMPASSION.UM, I KNOW FOR SURE WE ALL JUST WANNA LIVE IN PEACE.
WE WANNA RAISE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR LOVED ONES.
UM, I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE MORE EMPATHETIC.
UM, AND WHEN WE CAN, WE ALL SHOULD STRIVE TO BE LESS JUDGMENTAL EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD.
AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS A DIVERSE CITY.
UM, BUT MOST OF ALL, WE DISAVOW VIOLENCE AND OUR FRAMEWORK OF RECONCILIATION, WE STRIVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIFFERENCES AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, NOT CREATE, UH, DIVISIONS.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, THANK YOU.
AND I WANNA THANK, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN HER ON THIS RESOLUTION, WHETHER THAT, THAT TAKE ME PROUDLY.
BUT I GOTTA SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT, I THOUGHT OF MISS UNIVERSE, WHAT DOES SHE WANT? WORLD PEACE.
BUT SHE WAS VERY SELFISH BECAUSE WHAT DOES EVERYBODY WANT? EVERYBODY? I WANT WORLD PEACE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS, JUST SAYING IT IS GOOD THING, BUT ACTUALLY ACTING ON IT IS ANOTHER.
AND REAL PEACE STARTS AT HOME.
IT STARTS HERE, IT STARTS WITH US.
AND WHEN I SEE AND I LOOK OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE, I SEE THE DIVERSITY OF WHAT IS LONG BEACH.
WHENEVER THE SPEAKERS COME TO SPEAK, I SEE THE DIVERSITY OF LONG BEACH AND WE'RE ALL ABLE TO DO IT IN A PEACEFUL MANNER.
IT TAKES MORE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO HAVE AND FIGHT FOR WORLD PEACE THAN TO BE DISRUPTIVE.
SO LET'S STAY STRONG AND LET'S WORK FOR THAT IDEAL FOR THE IDEALNESS THAT IS WORLD PEACE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WILL SURVIVE AS A COMMUNITY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF LONG BEACH.
NOWHERE ELSE HAVE I HEARD IT'S TAKING PLACE BEFORE.
BEFORE IN TERMS OF A CITY TAKING SUCH AS TENTS FOR WORLD PEACE.
LET US BE THE FIRST MISSOURI, NOT THE LAST.
SO THANK YOU MS. MAYOR ALLEN FOR YOUR, FOR HAVING ME JOIN YOU IN THIS WONDERFUL, GREAT EFFORT.
PLEASE TO ALL THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.
I WANNA THANK VICE MAYOR ALLEN, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER SOR UM, ANG FOR BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD, OR I MEAN, UM, SPONSORING.
AND I'M ALSO PROUD TO SIGN ON BECAUSE AS A DAUGHTER OF REFUGEES WHO ALSO ESCAPED WAR, UH, AND GENOCIDE FROM CAMBODIA, UH, THIS IS VERY PERSON PERSONAL TO ME, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY I COME FROM AS A BUDDHIST WHO ALWAYS, WE, WE PRAY FOR PEACE ALL THE TIME.
INTERPERSONALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FOR OURSELVES.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO.
WHILE IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT WE ALL WANT PEACE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT IT FIRST AND FOREMOST, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR MODELING OF OUR NEXT GENERATION.
IT'S VERY HARD TO CHANGE JUST HISTORIES AND LEGACIES OF DIFFERENCES, BUT I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR CITY, IN OUR STATE, AND ACROSS OUR NATION, THAT CHANGE CAN HAPPEN.
PROMOTING PEACE AND ADVANCING IT, UM, IS THE WAY THAT WE PUT IT FIRST AND FOREMOST TO MAKE IT A REALITY.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO DOES TAKE, HAVE THE THOUGHT, THE THE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COLLECTIVELY TALKING AND ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT PUSHING PEACE FORWARD, ENSURING THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH KINDNESS AND HUMANITY, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT BEGINS.
AND I JUST WANNA END THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HOPE, UM, IN THE SENSE THAT WE HOPE OUR GENERATION WILL RESPOND PEACEFULLY TO DIFFERENCES AND ACTIONS VERSUS WITH VIOLENCE.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS EVERY DAY ON A DAILY BASIS DESPITE WHAT WE CANNOT CHANGE TODAY.
[01:50:01]
CONSEQUENCE OF JUST HATE AS WELL AS DIFFERENCES.UM, SO THAT, WITH THAT, I, I, I SAY PEACE TO YOU ALL.
ALRIGHT, THAT SATISFIES COUNCIL COMMENTS.
I WANNA THANK, UH, THE VICE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING OH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
OH, MARY, SORRY, I'M GETTING USED TO THE NEW SYSTEM.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN, UM, DR.
SORROW AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANG FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UH, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ANG, WE ALL STRIVE FOR WORLD PEACE.
UM, AND WE ARE ALL PRAYING RIGHT NOW FOR PEACE EVERYWHERE AND, UM, ARE VERY, VERY AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN, UH, IN THE WORLD TODAY.
UM, AND NOT ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO IN THE CITY BEING, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING IN A CITY, WHAT WE STILL SEE, UH, VIOLENCE AND WHERE WE CONTINUOUSLY TRY TO, UM, PREVENT VIOLENCE, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE SHOOTINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PEACE IS WHAT WE'RE ALL AIMING FOR AND WHAT WE'RE ALL WORKING FOR VERY HARD.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY WORLDWIDE, BUT ALSO HERE LOCALLY.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS, AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHO BROUGHT THIS IMPORTANT AND TIMELY ITEM FORWARD.
UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS LONG BEACH IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY.
A CITY OF REFUGEES, A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS, A CITY OF ALL FAITHS.
UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, WE, WE DO EXPRESS THOSE, MAKE THOSE EXPRESSIONS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, AROUND, AROUND THE WORLD.
AND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO THAT WE EMPATHIZE WITH THE FAMILIES AND CIVILIANS THAT ARE IMPACTED ON ALL SIDES OF THESE CONFLICTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL PEOPLE AND WE'RE ALL HUMANS AND WE, AND, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANNA SEE, UH, OBVIOUSLY MORE PEACE AND MORE UNITY AND SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE IN AND WE STAND FOR.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR BEING, UM, HAVING THE COURAGE TO COME UP TO CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, AND MAKE YOUR STATEMENT.
AND THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 15, REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE REGISTRAR RECORDER, COUNTY
[15. 23-24533 Recommendation to adopt resolution requesting the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to call, provide, and give notice of a Primary Municipal Election to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held in the City of Long Beach (City) on March 5, 2024, and include the proposed Ordinance to a vote of the qualified electors of the City relating to an increase of the minimum wage of hotel workers in the City of Long Beach, clarifying the payment of “wages” and “service charges” to qualifying hotel workers in the City, authorizing the City future amendments to said Ordinance, authorizing the City Council to make future amendments to the City’s hotel worker minimum compensation standards; requesting the County of Los Angeles to consolidate said election with the Statewide Primary Election of even date; and setting rules and deadlines for arguments for and against the Ordinance. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
CLERK TO CALL, PROVIDE, AND GIVE NOTICE OF A PRIMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ON MARCH 5TH, 2024.AND INCLUDE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO A VOTE OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY RELATING TO AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE OF HOTEL WORKERS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CITYWIDE.
THIS IS, UH, THE RESULT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO BROUGHT FORWARD, UM, THE ORDINANCE ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.
THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED OR DIRECTED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A MEASURE FOR THE MARCH 22ND, 2024 BALLOT THAT WOULD ADJUST MARKET WAGE, MARKET WAGES TO ENSURE FAIR AND COMPETITIVE WAGES FOR HOTEL WORKERS.
WHAT BEFORE IT US, WHAT IS BEFORE US NOW, IS THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR THAT MEASURE.
SO THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A FEW OPTIONS.
YOU CAN APPROVE THIS AS IS OR YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES IF YOU MAKE CHANGES.
WE WOULD NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO, UH, A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE TIMETABLE OF THE MARCH BALLOT.
AND SO THAT SAID, I'LL, THERE ARE 14 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE'RE GONNA GO DO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
SO THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK IS ADA SENIO.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ADA ENO AND I'M CO-PRESIDENT OF UNITE HERE, LOCAL 11.
OUR UNION REPRESENTS HOUSEKEEPERS, SERVERS, BARTENDERS, AND THOSE THAT POWER THE HOTELS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILWOMAN SOLELY SORROW FOR INTRODUCING THIS VERY SPECIAL ITEM AND ENSURING A PATHWAY TO RAISE, UH, THE WAGE FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS TO $23 AN HOUR IN JULY, 2024 WITH AN ESCALATOR, UH, TO REACH 20, UH, 29 50 BY 2028 OLYMPICS.
THIS HAS BEEN A HISTORIC MOMENT AND WE COULD NOT HAVE, UH, FELT IT WITHOUT
[01:55:01]
THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THIS COUNCIL AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ON THE POLICY LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE'D LIKE TO NUMBER ONE, URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE LANGUAGE TO REINSTATE THE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2029.
WE ALSO WANNA URGE THE ELIMINATION OF THE TWO THIRDS VOTE REQUIREMENT AND INSTEAD KEEPING THE THRESHOLD OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY JUST AS, UH, AS MOST OF THE LAWS PASSED HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS FINALIZED SO WE CAN GET TO THE DEADLINE, UH, AND ADD THIS ORDINANCE, UH, TO THE MARCH BALLOT.
THIS IS VITAL AND WORKERS CAN'T WAIT AND WE WANNA THANK YOU AHEAD OF TIME.
UM, GOOD EVENING AFTER GRIS, JUST AFTER, I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST FEW SO WE CAN LINE UP NEW SYSTEM AFTER GRECIA IS NI NAIDA, AFTER NATA IS LEANNA, THEN IMAN AND THEN RICARDO.
UM, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS SORROW FOR CHAMPIONING THIS ITEM.
AND, UM, AGAIN, THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE COLLECTIVE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
UM, SO YOUR SUPPORT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN CRITICAL.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR OF HARD WORK, UH, HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE FOR WORKERS AND ALSO FOR OUR AMAZING ORGANIZERS ON THE GROUND WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING TO COUNTLESS OF LONG BEACH, UM, RESIDENTS AND VOTERS TO ENSURE THAT WE MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD, THAT WE BUILD A STRONG COALITION OF SUPPORT FOR TOURISM WORKERS RISING.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, THROUGH THE TOURISM WORKERS RISING CAMPAIGN.
WE HAVE WIN AS THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN JOINING WORKERS IN THEIR FIND TO, IN THEIR FIGHT TO WIN POWER AND FAMILIES SINCE FOR SUSTAINING WAGES.
TO RECAP REALLY QUICKLY, 52 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ENDORSED OVER 400 LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND VOTERS HAVE SENT LETTERS OF SUPPORT 160 LONG BEACH SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE ENDORSED AND PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT TO RAISE THE WAGE, UM, FOR WORKERS.
WE ARE ALMOST TO THE FINISH LINE, BUT WE NEED, AND WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE LANGUAGE ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UM, WITH THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS, UM, AND ENSURE THAT IT GETS APPROVED IN TIME TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR MARCH OF 2024.
WORKERS CANNOT WAIT 10 YEARS AGO WITH THE SUPPORT FROM VOTERS, WE WON MEASURE N, WE ARE READY TO DO IT AGAIN.
SO FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU FOR MOVING AS FAST AND AS WELL AS YOU HAVE.
I'M ALSO HERE TO URGE YOU TO STRENGTHEN THE MOTION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD BY ADOPTING DR.
SOLI SEROS LANGUAGE AND TO MOVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO IT CAN BE ON THE MARCH 24TH BALLOT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE SO FAR, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE GET IT PASSED ON THE BALLOT.
NEXT IS LEANNA, THEN IMAN, AFTER IMAN IS RICARDO, THEN CAMILA.
MY NAME IS LEANNA NOBLE AND I'M HERE TONIGHT IS A NORTH PINE DOWNTOWN RESIDENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, AS YOU'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY NORTH PINE, WILMORE, WASHINGTON, THE NORTH ARTS DISTRICT, WE'RE A HOT MESS.
WE'VE BEEN A HOT MESS AND WE ARE NOT RECOVERED FROM YEARS AND YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT AND SYSTEMIC POLICIES THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE AS A CITY HAVE BEEN PART OF.
BUT TONIGHT, I'M HERE AS A NEIGHBOR WITH, I'M READY FOR THE GOOD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS THAT YOU ARE GONNA STICK WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU ORIGINALLY DEVISED AND WE'RE NOT GONNA DEAL WITH THE UNFORTUNATE CHANGES THAT THE, THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY MADE AND THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THIS PASSED AND GET IT PASSED QUICK.
BECAUSE JUST AS THESE OUTRAGEOUS RENT INCREASES AND ALL THESE OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, THE BIG SOLUTION IS ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND IT'S GETTING THESE RAISES IN THE HANDS OF MY NEIGHBORS SO THAT THEY CAN SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY HERE IN LONG BEACH AND LIVE QUALITY LIVES IN
[02:00:01]
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.SO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORT THESE WORKERS.
LET'S GET THIS ON THE BALLOT, YOUR CASE CONCLUDED, AND THEN WE ARE GONNA DO OUR WORK AND GET THIS SPER PASSED.
NEXT IS IMAN ABDUL, THEN, THEN RICARDO, THEN CAMILA, THEN ALITA.
DEPUTY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE RESIDENT IMAM OF MAAL SHARIF, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE CLERGY LAITY, UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
THE PROPOSED POLICY PUTS THE CITY ON PATHWAY TO RAISE THE WAGE OF HOSPITALITY WORKERS TO $23 AN HOUR IN JULY OF 2024, AND WITH THE ESCALATOR TO REACH 29 50 BY THE 2028 OLYMPICS.
WE'RE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THUS FAR.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROPOSAL OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ENSURE THAT IT GETS APPROVED IN TIME TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH 24TH ELECTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BY MY BROKEN ENGLISH, BUT I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST.
SO, UM, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RICARDO VICTORIA AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE MAYA HOTEL AS A SERVER FOR 11 YEARS ALREADY.
UH, MY COWORKERS AND I MAKE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LONG BEACH DRIVE.
MANY OF US ARE IMMIGRANTS WORKERS AND WE FACE HOUSING INSECURITY.
RENT HAS INCREASED BY 20% OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IN LONG BEACH.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
MANY, UM, OF MY COWORKERS, MY FRIENDS, UM, INCLUDING MYSELF, WE HAD ENDED MOVING OUT OF THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING HERE.
UM, WE NEED A STRONG LIVING WAGE, UH, LAW THAT WOULD EMPOWER THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE, UH, FAVORABLE, UH, AMENDMENTS WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE AND A COMMON SENSE PROVISION.
A LOW END, THE WAGE TO DECREASE WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
I URGE THE CITY OF COUNCIL TO REJECT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PROPOSED CHANGES.
PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UH, ORIGINAL UNANIMOUS EFFORT TO RAISE THE WAGES OF WORKING PEOPLE AND ENSURE THAT A STRONG PROPOSED ORDINANCE GUESS APPROVE IN THE TIME FOR THE MARCH, 2024 ELECTION.
NEXT IS CAMILA, THEN ALITA, THEN YADIRA AL.
UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CAMILA DELGADO AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE HOTEL MAYA IN THE ROOM SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST YEAR.
I'M HERE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR IN WORKING TOWARDS THE RIGHT PATH TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF HOTEL WORKERS TO 29 50 BY THE OLYMPICS GAMES OF 2028.
MANY OF US HAVE IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY AND MANY OF MY COWORKERS ARE PARENTS AND BREADWINNERS.
I HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, UH, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT, UH, TASK TO KEEP UP WITH HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES.
HENCE, UH, THE SALARY THAT I EARN IS NOT ENOUGH, WHICH IS WHY I'M OBLIGED TO SHARE MY RENT WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE.
[02:05:25]
AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE ARE IN NEED OF A SOLID LAW AND A FAIR, UH, SALARY THAT ALLOWS THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE FAVORABLE AMENDMENTS WITH A MAJORITY OF VOTES AND COMMON SENSE, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE INCREASE OF SALARY ALONG WITH THE COST OF LIVING.I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH THE ORIGINAL AND UNANIMOUS EFFORT, UH, TO INCREASE, UH, WORKERS' SALARIES, UH, AND GUARANTEE, UH, THAT A SOLID ORDINANCE PROPOSED ON TIME FOR THE MARCH, 2024 ELECTIONS.
NO, NEXT IS ALIDA ALIDA, THEN YADIRA, AND THEN JUANA.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ALI AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE HOTEL MAYA, UH, WITHIN THE HOUSEKEEPING, UH, DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS LONG BEACH.
AS WORKERS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, WE ARE AMBASSADOR LOCAL AMBASSADORS OF LONG BEACH.
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR TOURISTS THAT, UH, SUPPORT, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WE DO DESERVE A SALARY AND, UH, PROTECTIONS THAT ARE STRONGER AND THAT ARE ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES.
LAST MONTH, UH, THE MAYOR AND THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF A STRONG ELECTORAL MEASURE THAT WOULD, UH, INCREASE THE SALARY OF OF HOTEL WORKERS LIKE MYSELF.
THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS PRESENTED AN OFFER OF POLITICS THAT, UH, DEVIATES FROM THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION THAT THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, PROPOSED, UH, IN REQUIRING A MAJORITY OF TWO-THIRDS OF A VOTE SO THAT THE COUNCIL AMENDS THE LAW AND ELIMINATES THE CAPACITY OF, UH, COMMON SENSE OF THE LAW, UH, EXISTENT COMMON SENSE OF THE LAW THAT ALLOWS THE INCREASE OF SALARY, UH, ALONG WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH YOUR ORIGINAL AND UNANIMOUS EFFORT TO INCREASE, UH, WORKERS' SALARY AND GUARANTEE THAT A SOLID ORDINANCE IS PROPOSED ON TIME FOR THE MARCH 24TH, 2024 ELECTIONS.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS, THAT IS TIME.
PLEASE HELP US IN SUPPORT OF, IN THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT IT'S APPROVED AND SO THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS A HOME.
AFTER YADIRA, WE HAVE JUANA, AND THEN SIFI AND NANCY, AND THEN JUAN
[02:10:01]
IS THE LAST SPEAKER.GOOD EVENING, HONOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GUI AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE HYATT FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
MS. MY COWORKERS AND I HELP THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LONG BEACH.
MANY OF US ARE IMMIGRANT WORKERS AND FACING INSECURITIES.
AS FAR AS OUR HOUSING SITUATION IN LONG BEACH, THE COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASED BY 20% WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS IN LONG BEACH.
WORK IS QUITE TIRING AND I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TAKE MY KIDS TO THE PARK.
AS A MOTHER, I WANT TO DEDICATE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE QUALITY, UH, TIME AS POSSIBLE TO THEM.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS A RISK OF, UH, IF THEY GO OUT, UH, WHEN THEY GO OUT AND I WANT TO BE THEIR PRESENT FOR THEM AND, UH, KEEP THEM COMPANY IN ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES.
WE ARE IN NEED OF A SOLID LAW AND A FAIR SALARY THAT ALLOWS THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL TO MAKE FAVORABLE AMENDMENTS WITH THE MAJORITY OF, UH, SIMPLE BOATS AND COMMON SENSE WHICH ALLOW THE INCREASE OF SALARY ALONG WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH THE ORIGINAL UNANIMOUS EFFORT, UH, TO INCREASE THE WORK, UH, WORKERS' SALARIES TO GUARANTEED A SOLID ORDINANCE, UH, THAT IS PROPOSED ON TIME FOR THE MARCH 24TH, 2024 ELECTIONS.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JUANA MALARA AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE WESTING HOTEL AS A ROOM ATTEND FOR 10 YEARS.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ALL LOST OUR LIVELIHOODS OVERNIGHT WHILE THE HOTEL INDUSTRY REVENUES AND DEMANDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
HOTEL CAME BACK AND CONTINUE TO FORCE US TO DO THE WORK OF TWO OR THREE PEOPLE.
THE HOTEL HAD RECOVERED, BUT WE HAD NOT LAST MONTH.
THE MAYOR IN COUNCIL BOUGHT IT UNANIMOUSLY FOR A HISTORIC BALLOT.
MAKE SURE THAT IF SUCCESSFUL WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO STAY HOUSE AND SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES.
THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS PRESENTED A POLICY PROPOSAL THAT IS STRAIGHT FROM THE COUNCIL ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT REQUIRE A TWO THIRD MAJORITY BOARD BOARD TO CONSULT TO AMEND THE LAW AND REMOVE A COMMON SENSE PROVISION THAT EXISTING LAW, WHICH ALLOW THE WAGE INCREASE BY THE COST OF LIVING.
I URGE YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE CITY ATTORNEY PROPOSED CHANGE.
[02:15:01]
THE ORIGINAL UNANIMOUSLY EFFORT TO RAISE THE WAGES OF WORKING PEOPLE, WORKING PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY COWORKERS.SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TOO MANY TIMES THAT A STRONG PROPOSAL ORDINANCE GETS APPROVED IN TIME FOR THE MARCH, 2024 ELECTION.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
MY NAME IS CITY BEN, AND I AM HERE TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A MEMBER OF CLUE JUSTICE CLERGY AND LA UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND HERE REPRESENTING ON CLUE'S BEHALF.
SO I'M HERE BECAUSE THE PROPOSED POLICY PUT THE CITY ON A PATHWAY TO RAISE THE WAGE FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS TO $23 AN HOUR IN JULY OF 2024 WITH AN ESCALATED TO REACH $29 50 CENTS BY THE OLYMPIC 2028.
THIS HAS BEEN A HISTORIC MOMENT AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOU MAYOR.
AND WE'RE HERE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE LONG BEACH TOURISM WORKERS IN THE FIGHT TO RAISE THE WAGE AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING LAWS THAT ENSURE STRONGER PROTECTION FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
THE CURRENT BALLOT MEASURE, POLICY PROPOSAL PRESENTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO BE REVISED AND STRENGTHEN.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEP TO STRENGTHEN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION AND ENSURE THAT IT WILL GET APPROVED IN TIME TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH, 2024 ELECTION.
LONG BEACH TOURISM WORKER ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE OF LONG BEACH, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR CITY WITH THE SKYROCKETING COST OF LIVING LONG BEACH HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
OUR LOCAL AMBASSADORS TAKE CARE OF OUR TOURISTS WHO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DESERVE A WAGE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JUAN MOZ GUEVARA, AND I'M A POLITICAL COORDINATOR WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 11, REPRESENTING THE THOUSANDS OF HOSPITALITY WORKERS WHO FORMED THE BACKBONE OF LONG BEACH'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.
WE APPRECIATE AND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S COMMENDABLE LEADERSHIP FOR UNANIM UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTING, ADVANCING A BALLOT MEASURE, WHICH IF SUCCESSFUL WILL ESTABLISH A HISTORIC LIVING WAGE FOR LONG BEACH HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT LONG BEACH VOTERS WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THE WAGE TO ALLOW WORKERS TO BETTER AFFORD HOUSING HERE IN LONG BEACH TONIGHT.
AS MANY HAVE STATED, WE ARE INCREDIBLY CONCERNED THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BROUGHT BACK BY THE CITY ATTORNEY WEAKENS THE COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS ACTION LAST MONTH.
I WANT TO REAFFIRM OUR UNION'S SUPPORT FOR AN ORDINANCE, WHICH ONE INCLUDES A COMMON SENSE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2029.
THIS PRESENTLY EXISTS IN MEASURE NA LAW THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY ADOPTED BY LONG BEACH VOTERS BY NEARLY 30 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
AND WE ALSO ASK THAT, UM, YOU ELIMINATE THE TWO THIRDS VOTE REQUIRING, UH, REQUIREMENT EMPOWERING THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO, TO AMEND THE LAW FAVORABLY INSTEAD WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
JUST AS MOST LAWS ARE CURRENTLY PASSED IN THE CITY, I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PROPOSED CHANGES AND ENSURE THAT A STRONG PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS FINALIZED IN TIME FOR THE MARCH, 2024 ELECTION.
SIR, YOUR TIME CONCLUDING WORKERS CANNOT WAIT.
WE ARE ALL THANK YOU AT THE FINISH LINE.
WE NEED THE COUNCIL TO STAND FOR IN YOUR PROPOSAL.
THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR THE WORKERS.
AND, ALRIGHT, THAT SATISFIES, UH, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
JUST GONNA GIVE A COUPLE COMMENTS, UH, AND SOME CLARIFICATION.
SO, SO FIRST, THIS IS THE PROCESS.
THIS IS WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES A DIRECTION.
SOMETIMES THAT DIRECTION IS VERY, VERY SPECIFIC.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE AREAS WE COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC, AND THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND IN THIS CASE, THE CITY CLERK, WORK HARD TO MEET WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL PUT FORWARD.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY CLERK ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MEET THE MARCH DEADLINE.
AND WE HAVE A PATH TO MEET, MAKE THAT DEADLINE BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THOSE OFFICES.
SO THE CIRCUMSTANCE ISN'T THAT, UH, OUR DIRECTION WAS CHANGED.
OUR DIRECTION DIDN'T INCLUDE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS.
AND SO WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT.
AND SO TONIGHT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
[02:20:01]
TO CLARIFY THOSE THINGS AND STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE MARCH BALLOT.SO, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, THERE WAS, THERE WAS NO CHANGE.
IT'S JUST SOME OF OUR MOTIONS WERE SILENT ON CERTAIN REALLY IMPORTANT DETAILS.
AND IN THE EFFORT TO MEET THE MARCH BALLOT, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NECESSARY.
BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE HOPE OF BEING ABLE TO, UH, WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR CLERK AND OUR ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MANAGE THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
NOW THAT SAID, WE'RE NOW GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
UH, WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN SULI SORO.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I DO WANNA ASK, UM, OUR MAD AND CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AROUND THE LANGUAGE, UM, PRESENT IT.
UM, BUT I, I DO WANNA MAKE A MOTION BEFORE YOUR COMMENT.
I, I DO WANNA A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE ORDINANCE.
UM, WELL ACTUALLY FIRST THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND PROVIDING COMMENT AND PATIENTLY WAITING TO SHARE, UM, AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT A MOTION TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THAT THE CPI ADJUSTMENTS ARE PAUSED DURING THE OPTION C WAGE INCREASES BETWEEN JULY 1ST TO 2024 TO JULY 1ST, 2029.
THE CPI INCREASES WILL RESUME ANNUALLY AS OUTLINED IN MEASURE N AND TO ADD THAT IT IS THE INTENT OF THE VOTERS TO ENSURE THAT AFTER JULY 1ST, 2029, THAT HOTEL WORKERS RECEIVE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENT ANNUALLY.
HOWEVER, IF THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDS THE ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE WAGES OF HOTEL WORKERS, A CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENT CANNOT BE APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ANOTHER WAGE INCREASE IF CPI AND ANOTHER WAGE INCREASE, UM, LIKE THE INCREASE IN OPTION C EXISTS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE ORDINANCE, ONLY THE GREATER WAGE INCREASE OF THE TWO APPLIES AT ONE TIME.
THE SECOND IS, I ALSO MOTIONED THAT WE MODIFY THE PROPOSED THRESHOLD, ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE FUTURE AMENDMENTS TO THIS WAGE ORDINANCE FROM A TWO THIRD VOTE, UM, AS IS CURRENTLY A PROPOSED TO A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
DID YOU WANNA GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY NOW? UM, YES, PLEASE.
SO FIRST OF ALL, ON YOUR FIRST ITEM ON THE CPI, UH, JUST THANKS FOR MAKING THAT, THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, SO THAT'S WHY IT WASN'T IN THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO YOU.
UM, ON THE TWO THIRDS VOTE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN THE CITY HAS TAKEN ITEMS TO THE VOTERS, UM, WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO RESPECT THE INTEGRITY OF THAT PROCESS AND THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
IT'S RARE WHEN WE, UM, PUT IN ONE OF THOSE INITIATIVES THAT IT CAN COME BACK AND THE COUNCIL CAN CHANGE IT.
SO IN THE FEW INSTANCES WHEN WE HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THAT, WE'VE ALWAYS REQUIRED A TWO THIRD VOTE OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT SAID, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO CHANGE THAT TONIGHT TO A SIMPLE MAJORITY, THAT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE TO DO.
COUNCIL SORROW FOR YOUR, UH, AMENDMENT.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, I ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE THEM AS WELL, AND I MAKING THOSE CORRECTIONS VERY STRONGLY TO SUPPORT.
SO I THINK, UH, I'M REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS ITEM.
UH, I WANNA SUPPORT OUR HOTEL WORKERS.
THEY WORK VERY HARD AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORTH MORE THAN $17 MINIMUM WAGE.
UM, AND I THINK HOTELS UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE OFFERING MORE THAN $17 AN HOUR TO GET GOOD WORKERS THERE.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND THE ADVOCACY THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THIS ITEM.
I VOTED TO SUPPORT THE WAGE STUDY BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN GETTING THE DATA WE NEEDED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THIS.
UM, I HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE A VOTE, AND WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON OUR CITY.
I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE, I I, I DON'T KNOW THIS, UH, I BELIEVE THERE COULD BE A DIP IN REVENUE FROM THIS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE REVENUE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GONNA HIT AND HOW MUCH THIS WOULD BE.
UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM A FEW HOTELS, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY OR OUR ABILITY TO
[02:25:01]
RECRUIT NEW HOTELS TO OUR CITY.WE ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW THIS ITEM IS GOING TO AFFECT OTHER INDUSTRIES OR EVEN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO RECRUIT TALENT.
WE HAD A MAJOR SHORTAGE OF REFUSE WORKERS AND WE STILL HAVE A SHORTAGE OF MAINTENANCE WORKERS.
AND THESE JOBS START AT $17 AN HOUR AFTER THE LAST MEETING.
I VOTED TO MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD TO STAY ON THE TIMELINE SET BY MY COLLEAGUES.
BUT THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT THIS ITEM, THE MORE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE A VOTE ON SOMETHING WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY.
AND WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY RESEARCH ON HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR CITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET SOME DATA TO BACK UP THIS DECISION.
UM, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE LAST MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROPOSAL, UH, WITH THE NEW MOTION, UM, SO IT CAN GET ON THE MARCH BALLOT.
THIS IS A, WE'RE RUSHING THROUGH THIS.
I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST OF THIS ITEM.
ALSO, WHEN THE HEALTHCARE WORKER WAGE ITEM WAS ON THE BALLOT, WE WERE SPENDING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS AS THE FIRST ITEM.
THE HOTEL WORKER'S WAGE ITEM WAS AN ADDITIONAL $150,000.
NOW, THE HEALTHCARE WORKER ITEM OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE OF SSB 5 25.
SO THIS ITEM NOW COMES AT A COST OF OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND YES, WE DID BUDGET 1.3 MILLION TO PUT THE HEALTHCARE BALLOT ITEM FORWARD, UM, BUT THAT WAS GOING TO BE FORCED TO GO TO A VOTE.
SO PAIRING THE BALLOT MEASURES CAN SAVE MONEY.
UM, AND THIS IS WHY WE PUSHED THIS ITEM TO MARCH, BUT JUST BECAUSE THE MONEY ISN'T BUDGETED IS BUDGETED, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IT OR THAT WE CAN'T FIND POTENTIAL SAVINGS AND REALLOCATE THE MILLION DOLLARS TO A DIFFERENT PRIORITY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF YOU, BUT MONEY, UH, OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WOULD REALLY HELP EACH OF OURS, OUR, UH, DISTRICTS, WHAT'S THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT, MONIQUE, THAT WE WOULD BE SPENDING ON THIS BALLOT ITEM? SORRY, CITY CLERK
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
FOR THIS PARTICULAR BALLOT ITEM, IT WOULD FORCE OUR MARCH ELECTION TO A CITYWIDE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE OUR COST, UH, TO, UH, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 MILLION FOR, FOR A CITYWIDE BALLOT MEASURE.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS WE COULD LOOK TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A BUDGETED, UM, AMOUNT, BUT IF WE, WE COULD, UM, SPEND THIS MONEY DIFFERENTLY IF WE PUSH THIS ITEM TO NOVEMBER, THIS IS MORE MONEY THAN WE ALLOCATED IN THE LAST BUDGET FOR THE POLICE RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE PILOT PROGRAM, OR ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ALLOCATED TO EXPAND LIBRARY HOURS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPELLING ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THIS CAN'T BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT SIX MONTHS, WHICH IT'S GONNA GIVE US SOME TIME TO DO, DO OUR HOMEWORK AND SAVE US A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE COULD USE ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SPENDING 1.3 MILLION ON A BALLOT MEASURE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR CITY OPERATIONS AND IS ASKING RESIDENTS TO TAKE A VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY.
WHEN WE HAVEN'T DONE RESEARCH ON ITS IMPACTS, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US TAKE A PAUSE ON THIS, GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED, AND PUSH IT TO NOVEMBER, SAVING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CITY.
UH, A MOTION'S BEEN MADE, I'D LIKE TO OFFER A FRIENDLY TO MOVE THIS TO NOVEMBER.
THAT'S A FRIENDLY, YOU CAN RESPOND.
FRIENDLY, BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT IT.
COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? YEAH, I, I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF WITH MY COMMENTS HERE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED MEASURE IN AND THE INTENT BEHIND MEASURE IN, AND THIS, UH, BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING HERE TODAY, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, EXPANDS ON MEASURE IN, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE AND LIVING WAGE HAS, HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, I, I DO HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH, UH, MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, MS. DUGGAN, UM, IN TERMS OF THE NEED TO RESEARCH THE IMPACT, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT RAISING A MINIMUM WAGE FOR THESE HOTEL WORKERS WILL HAVE A STRONG IMPACT ON THESE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I DON'T NEED ANY RESEARCH TO, TO TELL ME THAT.
[02:30:04]
I, I DO THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A WORTHWHILE TO, FOR THIS COUNCIL TO, TO, TO CONSIDER THE, THE FISCAL IMPACTS.UH, I AM NOT MARRIED TO A MARCH BALLOT OR NOVEMBER BALLOT.
UM, EITHER WAY, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES NOVEMBER COST AND WHAT WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE? AND THEN FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF WE, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST EXPLAIN THE, THE, UM, THE MAJORITY OR TWO-THIRDS THRESHOLD VOTE THAT YOU, I THINK TRIED TO EXPLAIN? I, I, I WANT TO HAVE SOME MORE CLARITY ON THAT.
SO IF WE MOVE THIS BALLOT MEASURE TO NOVEMBER, WE ARE ANTICIPATING OTHER MEASURES THAT WILL BE ON OUR NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE WOULD BE 150 TO 180,000.
THAT IS IF WE HAVE OTHER CITYWIDE MEASURES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER MEASURES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
CURRENTLY WE ARE ANTICIPATING OTHER MEASURES THAT WOULD MAKE NOVEMBER A CITYWIDE AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE, AGAIN WOULD BE 150 TO 180.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER MEASURES, AND THIS IS THE ONLY MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, THEN IT WOULD BE AGAIN 1.2, $1.3 MILLION.
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS WHEN THE CITY ACTUALLY PUTS AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT, UM, FOR THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON.
AND IN THE VERY FEW OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAVE ALLOWED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT ACTION TAKEN BY THE VOTERS, UH, NORMALLY WHEN THE VOTERS TAKE AN ACTION, CITY COUNCIL CANNOT CHANGE IT.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE IT'S TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS, MUCH LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE, IF THIS DOES GO TO THE VOTERS, BECAUSE MEASURE N WENT TO THE VOTERS AND IT CAN'T BE CHANGED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE MOMENT, HAS TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS TO CHANGE IT.
SO THAT'S THE WAY IT'S NORMALLY DONE.
SO IN THE PAST, IN THE VERY FEW INSTANCES WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GOTTEN THAT AUTHORITY TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO CHANGE WHAT THE VOTERS AGREED ON, THE CITY HAS ALWAYS REQUIRED A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE COUNCIL JUST AS A LITTLE STRONGER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTER INTEGRITY IS, UH, WITHHELD.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN A CITY POLICY AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S POLICY IN THE PAST.
UH, BUT IF THE CITY COUNCIL WANTED TO INSTEAD REQUIRE SIMPLE MAJORITY, UH, TO CHANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEY COULD DO SO.
SO I'M JUST CLEAR NEED CLEAR WHERE, WHERE, WHERE DO WE GET THE POLICY? WHERE'S THE POLICY? UM, IS IT, IS IT A SPECIFIC CODE OR IS IT JUST A PRACTICE? WHEN I SAY A POLICY, IT'S NOT A REGULATION, IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE.
IT'S BEEN THE WAY THE CITY HAS PROCEEDED IN THESE EVENTS IN THE PAST TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTING PROCESS.
AND SO TO PASS, TO PASS A BALLOT INITIATIVE, THAT IS NOT A TAX, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE.
CORRECT? I'M NOT CLEARING YOUR QUESTION.
SO, SO IN, IF IT'S, IF THIS WAS JUST A, A REGULAR BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT HAD NOT BEEN VOTED ON IN 2012 RIGHT.
BY THE VOTERS, AND WE ARE, THIS IS A FRESH INITIATIVE, THIS WOULD ONLY REQUIRE A MAJORITY VOTE.
IF, IF MEASURE N HAD NEVER BEEN PASSED AND THIS WAS COMING FOR THE COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL WANTED TO TAKE AN ACTION, IT WOULD REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE BECAUSE IT WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IT'S ONLY BEEN THE PRACTICE WHEN THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN ON A TOPIC AND THEN THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE TO WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE DECIDED.
WELL, IN MY OPINION, I DON'T SEE THAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM GOES NECESSARILY AGAINST WHAT THE VOTERS NECESSARILY APPROVED IN 2012.
IT'S JUST AMENDING AND UPDATING.
UM, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED IN 2012 MM-HMM.
SO THE, WHEN THIS GOES TO THE BALLOT AND THE VOTERS DECIDE, UH, YES, WE WANNA SUPPORT THESE WAGE INCREASES, WE WANT THEM TO PROCEED AS IT'S SET FORTH IN THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE.
UM, AND THEN WE WANT CPI TO KICK IN IN 2029.
UM, THEN IF A CITY COUNCIL AFTER THAT POINT IN TIME WANTS TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE SITUATION.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO WHAT IT STANDS NOW, WHAT WE ARE OPPOSED TO PASS NOW WOULD REQUIRE ONLY A MAJORITY VOTE OR TWO THIRDS.
THE ACTION YOU'RE TAKING TONIGHT IS A MAJORITY VOTE.
MAJORITY VOTE FROM THE VOTERS IN MARCH OR NOVEMBER.
YOU AS A COUNCIL, YOU NEED A MAJORITY UNDERSTAND TO PUT
[02:35:01]
THIS ON THE BALLOT.SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TWO THIRDS, IS IT THE COUNCIL OR VOTERS? IT WOULD BE TWO THIRDS OF THE COUNCIL AFTER 2029 TO MAKE CHANGES.
CAN I, CAN I JUMP IN AND, AND AND HELP THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE'RE JUST ESTABLISHING THE RULES FOR THE FUTURE COUNSEL.
IS IT TWO THIRDS OR THE SIMPLE MAJORITY? THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US SAYS I'M CLEAR NOW.
SIMPLE MAJORITY LIKE EVERY OTHER ORDINANCE.
I I WAS COMPLETELY THANKS FOR ASKING.
UM, THAT, THAT SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AGAIN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, I, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME, UM, JUST TO, TO, IN TERMS OF THE MARCH, NOVEMBER DEBATE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DECLINED THE, THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR A NOVEMBER.
JUST IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN WHY, UH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT HERE.
UM, WE ARE ASKING THE VOTERS TO GO TO THE BALLOT AND SPEND, YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN ITEM THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE.
I, I DON'T THINK WE KNOW WHAT'S EVEN GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER EITHER.
SO I FEEL THAT IF WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD AND WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE IT FORWARD.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PREDICT.
I MEAN, WE'RE PLANNING FOR MARCH.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR IN NOVEMBER.
UH, CITY CLERK SHARED COSTS US THE SAME, BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
SO LET, LET ME JUST HELP WITH SOME RATIONALE.
HERE'S THE WAY THAT, THAT I SEE IT GOING INTO THIS.
WE KNEW THAT THE, THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT GATHERED SIGNATURES AND HAD A BALLOT, BALLOT MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.
SO WE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THIS AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH AN EXPECTATION OF MARCH.
NOW STATE LEGISLATION HAS IMPACTED HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
I THINK ONE RATIONALE IS, SHOULD THAT NECESSARILY MAKE, SINCE WE'VE MADE SORT OF A COMMITMENT TO LIKE, HAVE VOTED TO PURSUE THE MARCH BALLOT, SHOULD WE TAKE THAT AWAY IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY BUDGETED? SO IT'S NOT THAT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE, THE PUB, I MEAN WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THIS RACE.
SO IN ORDER TO SAVE THAT MILLION DOLLARS, YOU'LL ESSENTIALLY BE, TAKE, BE DEFERRING THIS DECISION AND SORT OF TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WE OUTLINED.
SO A RATIONALE WOULD BE WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU VALUE? IS IT, UH, SAVING THAT MILLION BUCKS THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OUTLINED, MAINTAIN THAT INTEGRITY IN IT.
AND IN NOVEMBER THERE'S A WHOLE SEPARATE SET OF ISSUES.
NOTHING'S BEEN PLACED ON THE BALLOT TODAY.
IF YOU WERE TO VOTE TODAY TO DE FURTHEST TO NOVEMBER AND BEGIN THAT PROCESS, IT WOULD STILL BE $1.3 MILLION BECAUSE AS OF TODAY, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL BALLOT MEASURE.
IF THERE ARE FUTURE BALLOT MEASURES IN NOVEMBER, THEN IT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL COST TO ADD THOSE.
BUT AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE NO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A BUDGETED, UH, EXPENSE.
SO YOU'RE EITHER GONNA TAKE THAT BUDGET AWAY AND DEFER THAT ELECTION OR NOT.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN, UH, SORT OF THE INTENT OF WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO WITH THE MARCH ELECTION.
MAY I JUST DO A FOLLOW UP AS WELL, MAYOR? UM, UM, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
JUST TO MAKE SURE I ANSWER YES THAT AROUND THE, THE TIMING, UM, NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GONNA BE IN NOVEMBER, BUT I ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO ENSURE THAT WAGE, UM, THAT THERE ISN'T ANY LOSS OF WAGE SIX.
THERE'S POTENTIAL SIX MONTHS OF WAGE LOSS WHEN, UM, WHEN WE CAN DO THAT NOW.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER SENSE OF URGENCY ON THAT END.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA SHARE.
ALRIGHT, UH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA IS UP NEXT POINT OF INFORMATION REALLY QUICKLY.
SO JUST TO THAT POINT, MADAM CLERK, WHEN WHEN WOULD THIS, SHOULD IT GO TO THE BAR, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY? SHOULD THIS GO TO THE MARCH BALLOT? UM, AND IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, WHEN WOULD THE UM, THE MINIMUM WAGE ACTUALLY GO INTO EFFECT? SO CURRENTLY THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1ST, 2024.
IF WE HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION OF NEXT YEAR, IT WOULD LIKELY NEED TO START IN 2025.
SO THE INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR WOULD BE THE CPI INCREASE AND THEN WE WOULD PLAN FOR 2025 FOR THE OTHER INCREASES THAT YOU'VE SELECTED AND POTENTIALLY SET THE SCHEDULE BACK AS WELL.
THAT'S HOW I WANTED TO, IT WOULD SET YOUR CURRENT SCHEDULE BACK.
UM, NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER RHONDA.
A LOT OF THOSE LINES THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING,
[02:40:01]
IT'S A QUICK POINT OF WATER QUESTION.THEY WERE THERE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR SAVINGS AND WE WENT TO DEFER IT TO NOVEMBER.
CAN'T WE SAVE THAT MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE? 'CAUSE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY OR STREETS OR SIDEWALKS.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY'S ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR A VALE CAN BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
YEAH, SO I THINK THE MAYOR OUTLINED IT ACTUALLY PRETTY WELL.
UM, IT IS PART OF YOUR BUDGETED ITEM.
WE DO HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET, SO IF YOU WERE TO NOT MOVE FORWARD, THEN WE WOULD THEORETICALLY END UP WITH $1.3 MILLION, UM, OF EXTRA ONE-TIME DOLLARS.
IT WOULD NOT BE STRUCTURAL, IT'S NOT FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS, BUT WE WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 MILLION.
UH, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE NOT BUDGETED YET FOR A NOVEMBER BALLOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVEN IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE'D HAVE TO, UH, PROBABLY ROLL THAT MONEY FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR OR IF THERE WERE ANOTHER BALLOT MEASURE THAT WE'RE GONNA COVER THAT THEN THAT WOULD COVER IT IN IN NOVEMBER OF, UH, 24.
SO IT'S, IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHAT THOSE SAVINGS WOULD BE.
YOU WOULDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T BE MATERIAL TODAY.
SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THIS 1.3 MILLION THAT WE COULD SAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE VOTE IN NOVEMBER NO MATTER WHAT.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND, AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER, BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, WE COULD SAVE $1.3 MILLION THAT IT, IT JUST, IT, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I I THINK IT'S JUST, IT REALLY JUST COMES DOWN, DOWN TO A COUNCIL DECISION AND A VALUES DECISION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THE ARGUMENT FOR SAVING $1.3 MILLION REALLY, UM, IF WE PUSH THIS TO NOVEMBER, WE COULD SAVE THE, THAT KIND OF MONEY AND PUT IT INTO OTHER THINGS STRUCTURALLY.
WE COULD REALLOCATE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THE CITY COUNCIL CAN RELOCATE ANYTHING IN OUR BUDGET AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BUT ONCE YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT IN A BUDGET, YOU SHOULD TRY TO MEET IT.
THEN WE SAVE IT FOR TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE'RE STILL SAVING A MILLION DOLLARS.
WELL, I, I GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR, YOUR CON YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
SO SEEING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UH, THE IMPACT, ULTIMATELY THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW THAT COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON AND, UH, STAFF ARTICULATED IT PRETTY, PRETTY CLEARLY THAT IT WILL IMPACT THE TIMETABLE THAT'S OUTLINED.
SO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY MEET THAT SCHEDULE OF $23 AND THEN $25 IN 2025, WHICH I THINK THE EXPECTATION OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS BEGIN TO GIVE A RAISE TO THE WORKERS.
AND I'M, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DEFERRING THAT RAISE FOR A YEAR, BUT, UM, SEEING NO FURTHER COUNSEL COMMENT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING 2023 THROUGH 2026.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LONG BEACH CITY
[17. 23-22737 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving 2023-2026 Memorandum of Understanding with the Long Beach City Attorneys Association. (Citywide) Office or Department: Human Resources Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION CITYWIDE.ALRIGHT, UM, IS THERE, THERE'S NO STAFF REPORT HERE, TOM, IS THERE A STAFF REPORT ON THIS ITEM? UH, CITY ATTORNEY CONTRACT.
OH, SORRY, I'M PULLING IT UP RIGHT NOW.
I'M GETTING USED TO THE SYSTEM MYSELF.
YEAH, WE CAN DO A VERY BRIEF OR REPORT.
HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE CITY, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFULLY WORKED TOGETHER TO REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING CHANGES IN WAGES, HOURS, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE 24 EMPLOYEES.
UM, IN THE CITY ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION BARGAINING UNIT, A PRIMARY FOCUS OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS FOR BOTH PARTIES WAS TO CREATE A SEVEN STEP SALARY SCHEDULE AND NEW GRADE LEVELS FOR THE DEPUTY CITY
[02:45:01]
ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE GENERAL WAGE INCREASES FOR DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF WITHIN THE BARGAINING UNIT.WE BELIEVE THIS AGREEMENT ENSURES THAT CITY ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION EMPLOYEES ARE FAIRLY COMPENSATED THROUGHOUT FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY.
AND THIS AGREEMENT WILL ASSIST IN THE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT FOR THESE POSITIONS.
WE WANT TO THANK BOTH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATING TEAM FOR THEIR WORK AND SUPPORT IN THIS AGREEMENT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR STAFF REPORT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA SECOND BY BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM 18, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY 195,500 OFFSET BY METRO GRANT
[18. 23-22733 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $195,500, offset by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) grant funds for the Atlantic Avenue Corridor Study; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $195,500, offset by a transfer of Metro grant funds from the Capital Grant Fund. (Districts 1, 6, 8, 9) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FUNDS FOR ATLANTIC AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY DISTRICTS 1, 6, 8, AND NINE.DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM 1 6, 8 OR NINE? YOU HAVE TO TELL HIM I THOUGHT WE DID.
UM, IT'S HARD TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION.
COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, WE NEED A SECOND.
UM, I'M MOTIONING ON THE WRONG SCREEN.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON THE WRONG SCREEN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT FOR I THREE MILESTONE FOR
[19. 23-24504 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP TI-23-202 and award a contract to i3 Milestone, LLC, of Nashville, TN, for software licenses and professional services for implementation of a Customer Self Service Web Platform (CSWP) solution, in a total contract amount not to exceed $1,749,963, inclusive of a one-time installation cost of $592,900 with a five (5) percent contingency of $29,645, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments; Increase appropriation in the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department by $822,545, offset by a transfer of funds from Long Beach Utilities and the Public Works Department; and Increase appropriation in the Refuse Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $224,802 offset by funds available to transfer to the General Services Fund Group. (Citywide) Office or Department: Technology and Innovation; Public Works; Utilities Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
SOFTWARE LICENSES AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A CUSTOMER SELF SERVICE WEB PLATFORM SOLUTION, AND A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,749,963 CITYWIDE.MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 20 PLEASE.
ITEM 20, REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY.
LOCATED AT 8 2 2 WILLOW STREET AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER THE LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING.
[20. 23-24500 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Sections 16.52.2400, relating to the designation of the property located at 822 Willow Street, as a historic landmark, read for the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading; ]
IS THIS IN? VOTE DO WE KNOW? ALL RIGHT.WE HAVE A MOTION BY KERR AND A SECOND BY ALAN AND NO PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'RE DOING THE WHOLE MOTION MISCARRIAGE, ALL GETTING USED TO THE SYSTEM UP HERE.
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN
[22. 23-24666 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $1,000, offset by the Sixth Council District One-time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide contributions to the following: $250 to Long Beach BLAST to support their Hallo’WINE BLAST; $250 to Peer Education Community Center to support their 3rd Annual Fall Harvest Festival; $500 to Cambodian Health Professionals Association of America to support their 13th Annual Fundraising Gala; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Departmentby $1,000 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department. Office or Department: Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
SORROW RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY 1000 TO PROVIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING, TO HUNDRED 50 TO LONG BEACH BLAST.250 TO PEER EDUCATION COMMUNITY AND 500 TO CAMBODIAN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM 23, PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A WITHDRAWAL OF THE REFERENDUM AND INITIATIVE PETITIONS FOR THE LONG BEACH MINIMUM WAGE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND DECLARE ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 5.96 HEALTHCARE MINIMUM WAGE.
READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING CITYWIDE.
[23. 23-24662 Recommendation to receive and file a withdrawal of the referendum and initiative petitions for the “Long Beach Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers”; and Declare ordinance repealing Ordinance No. ORD-22-0022, also known as Chapter 5.96 (“Healthcare Minimum Wage”), read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.UM, UH, I THINK WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT TONIGHT.
UH, SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 24, REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY.
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION AND FIND THE AMENDMENTS TO AMEND, AMEND AND RESTATED LEASE AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON THE PROPERTY.
LOCATED AT 1 7 2 0 TERMINAL AVENUE, 1 7 6 0
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TERMINAL AVENUE AND 4 1 1 1[24. 23-24673 Recommendation to adopt categorical exemption CE-23-134 and find the amendments to Amended and Restated Lease No. 35432 and restrictive covenants on the Property located at 1720 Termino Avenue, 1760 Termino Avenue, and 4111 East Wilton Street and the transfer of the property to MWN Community Hospital, LLC are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (District 3) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
EAST WILTON STREET.AND THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY TO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ARE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT DISTRICT THREE.
ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND JIM KOCH, ARE YOU HERE? COME FORWARD.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ]
YES.I'M KENNEDY COLLINS, UM, SENIOR, UM, FIRST BEFORE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR, UM, UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY DISGRACEFUL ON THE CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH.
I'VE BEEN A LONG BEACH RESIDENT FOR, UM, SINCE 2000.
THE REASON I'M HERE IS THAT BASICALLY MY BROTHER REGGIE WAS KILLED IN A, UM, A SADLY WAS KILLED IN A, UM, ACCIDENT.
HE WAS A MO HE WAS A MOTOR CY, HE A MOTORCYCLIST AND HE WAS HIT BY SOME, I MEAN, HE, HE WAS HIT BY SOMEONE AND THE FAMILY IS VERY DISTURBED BY THIS.
UM, THEY SAID THE POLICE REPORT SAID THE UM, PERSON IS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT.
LONG BEACH POLICE WILL NOT DISCLOSE ANY NAME OF THE PERSON WHO HAD KILLED MY BROTHER NOR THE LICENSE PLATE.
I FEEL THAT IT'S THE ISSUE OF FIRST AMENDMENT.
THE PRESS HASN'T BEEN, UH, INFORMED OF THIS.
I'VE TALKED WITH THE, UM, DETECTIVE AND THEY WON'T RELEASE ANY INFORMATION SAYING THAT IT'S A PENDING INVESTIGATION.
HOWEVER, MIND YOU, I AM LOOKING AT THIS BECAUSE I'M CONSIDERING SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES AND BEGS THE QUESTION, SHOULD LONG BEACH POLICE BE FEDERALLY WATCHED? I THINK IT IS ON THAT LEVEL AT THIS POINT.
UM, I'VE, UM, GIVEN INFORMATION WHAT THE LONG BEACH POLICE HAS LISTED AND, UM, THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US ANYTHING.
AND ALSO TOO, LIKE, UM, AS FAR AS THE PEACE, I'M DEFINITELY FOR THAT.
I'M THE, AS YOU SEE ME, I'M ONE OF THE LAST AMERICANS WHO MET THE S SHAH IRAN WHEN HE WAS SHAW.
I WAS IN THE COUNTRY OF IRAN AT THE TIME.
AND SO BASICALLY I DO KNOW IN MY EXPERIENCE IN LIFE, OTHER PEOPLE LIKE, AND THAT WAS, UM, RECORDED THAT PERIODICAL IN THE COUNTRY OF IRAN.
AND SO BASICALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT PEACE, IT BROUGHT BACK THE HOME WITH ME AND THAT, UM, WHEN I WAS IN IRAN IN 70 7TH OF DECEMBER, CAME BACK IN 78 WHERE I MET WITH THE HAW AND HIS FAMILY WHERE I WAS PHOTOGRAPHED.
AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW THAT AT ANY TIME.
BUT BASICALLY I'M HERE FOR MY BROTHER REGGIE.
UM, I THINK THAT LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AT HOW POLICING IS DONE HERE, AND I THINK IT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
MY SON WILL SPEAK NEXT REGARDING THAT.
'CAUSE BASICALLY LIKE THIS, THEY'RE NOT GIVING US ANY INFORMATION.
AND I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY CASE WHERE YOU HAVE, UM, WHEN A PERSON HAS BROKEN THE, UM, BROKE, YOU KNOW, BROKEN THE TRAFFIC VIOLATION AND KILLED SOMEONE.
NO SOBRIETY, NO TESTS WERE DONE.
OTHER PEOPLE ACCOUNT THAT THE PERSON WAS INTOXICATED.
LONG BEACH POLICE SAYS THAT THE WITNESS WAS COOPERATIVE.
UM, I THINK IT'S UNACCEPTABLE HOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS.
I'M LOOKING AT, UM, REFERRING IT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ALSO THIS, UM, CALIFORNIA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE BASICALLY THIS IS, UM, UNPRECEDENTED BY THE CITY.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN IN LONG BEACH FOR A WHILE.
I'VE WATCHED AROUND FOR CITY COUNCIL IN A DISTRICT, NOT AGAINST AL AUSTIN.
OF COURSE THAT WAS WHEN RAY GLI, MAN, I WAS JUST KIND OF TESTING IT OUT.
BUT BASICALLY I'M MORE A COMMUNITY PERSON WHO CARESS ABOUT LONG BEACH AND LOVES THE CITY.
WE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE HAVING A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LONG BEACH.
MY NAME IS KENNEDY COLLINS JR.
UH, THIS TO KIND OF, UH, ADD MORE TO WHAT MY FATHER WAS SPEAKING ON.
I'M A FORMER PEACE OFFICER FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
UM, THE VICTIM, UH, WAS MY UNCLE AND THE VICTIM'S DAUGHTER IS ALSO, UH, EMPLOYEE WITH THE, UH, CITY, I'M SORRY, EMPLOYEE WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CIVIL LITIGATION AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
UM, IT'S VERY DISGRACEFUL FROM LIKE THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS I HAVE, UH, RECEIVED FROM ANONYMOUS RESOURCES, UM, THAT NO SOBRIETY TEST WAS GIVEN.
UM, ESPECIALLY AS A PEACE, FORMER PEACE OFFICER.
UM, THE INTEGRITY OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS PROBABLY COMPROMISED AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO I'LL ADVISE THAT INTERNAL AFFAIRS LOOKS INTO THIS, UH, EXPEDITIOUSLY.
THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE OCTOBER 14TH, 2023, TR UH, TRAFFIC COLLISION ON WILLOW STREET IN PALO VERDE.
UM, I LOST AN UNCLE, A SECOND FATHER FIGURE.
[02:55:01]
ALSO INFORMED ME WHEN I GOT MY MOTORCYCLE LICENSE TO PRACTICE SAFETY WITH THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, WHICH I DID.A LONG BEACH RESIDENT IN A FOURTH DISTRICT, UM, TOOK A LIFE, WHICH IS ALSO THE SAME DISTRICT WHERE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HOSTS THEIR WATCH.
UM, SO AS MY FATHER SAID, UH, WE'LL BE CONTACTING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BODIES TO GO AND ASSIST LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL.
AND, UM, COUNSEL AND MR. MAYOR.
UM, PROBABLY NOT REALLY WONDERING WHAT I'M GONNA SAY.
UH, I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS, UM, ATTACKED HERE IN THE CHAMBER BY PEOPLE WELL KNOWN TO YOU.
UM, DAVE CHLA AND TIFFANY DAVY THAT HAVE CALLED ME A LIAR, A RACIST, VIOLENT, AND, UM, DAVE SAID I WAS HER CRAZY LANDLORD.
WELL, OKAY, DAVE, WHO CLAIMED TO LIVE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT TIME AND TIME AGAIN HERE WHEN HE LIVED IN MY HOUSE IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT FOR YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE WOULD FABRICATE ANYTHING, BUT THEY SEEM TO FABRICATE A LOT ABOUT ME.
AND SO I HAVE TO BE HERE UNTIL THIS IS OVER.
AND WHEN IS THIS OVER? THEY DECIDED, SHE DECIDED TO TAKE ME TO, UH, JURY TRIAL WHEN I AM JUST TRYING TO GET POSSESSION OF MY HOUSE BACK AND LIVE IN IT.
NOT EVEN GET ANY OF THE $30,000.
UH, I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY HOUSE BACK.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN LIVING THERE.
SHE COMES AND TAKES A SHOWER, GETS HER MAIL.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I I MEAN I'M SURE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS YOU TRY TO.
BUT, UH, IT'S NOT YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
BUT SOMEBODY APPOINTED HER TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS OR THE UH, RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.
THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME INFLUENCE.
UH, I WOULD SAY ASK THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THIS WORLD AND MINE COME DOWN TO THIS.
UH, I AM GLAD I STAYED THE WHOLE MEETING AND SAW EVERYBODY ELSE'S PROBLEMS. NO ONE'S HERE TO LISTEN TO MINE.
THE NEWS HAS A LOT OF STORIES NOW ABOUT SQUATTERS AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BEING IGNORED AT, UH, IN MY OWN CITY AND NOT HAVING SOMEBODY ON MY SIDE WHEN I GET CALLED.
THERE'S NO VOICE OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
THE SCREEN IN THE LOBBY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND.
THE NOTORIOUS SOUND EFFECTS IN THIS ROOM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND, AND THERE SHOULD BE SPEAKERS OUT IN THE HALLWAY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT HERE IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.
MAYBE YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOUND LIKE A
BUT, UM, I HAVE A REASON TO BE AND I CAN'T CHANGE BEING WHITE.
SO, UH, I HAD A SHOW CALLED NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE WITH KNOW FOR A YEAR AT DOMINGUEZ HILLS UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES IN THE LIBRARY FOR A YEAR, A PHOTOGRAPHIC SHOW.
I TOOK COUNTERCULTURE SHOTS IN THE SIXTIES THAT, UH, I'M NOW SAYING I'M NOT AGAINST TENANTS.
I AM FOR THE SMALL TIME LANDLORD, HOMEOWNER BUSINESS PERSON TRYING TO GET THE RENT PAID.
ALRIGHT, SIR, YOU'RE THE MICROPHONE IS OFF, SIR.
I HAVE TO
ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, WE'LL NOW GO TO, UM, OUR FINDING FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
OKAY.SEEING NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR, OH THERE WE ARE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KERR AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, YOU'RE UP.
THIS WEEK I INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO ATTEND MCBRIDE HIGH SCHOOL'S SECOND ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT.
UH, TOMORROW OCTOBER 25TH IN THE MCBRIDE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT.
FROM SIX TO EIGHT, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN JOIN IN SAFE TRICK-OR-TREATING, UH, SOME COOL CAR DISPLAYS.
THERE'S PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUME AND BEST CAR CONTACT MCBRIDE HIGH SCHOOL IF YOU WANNA ENTER YOUR CAR INTO THAT OR MORE INFORMATION.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY, IT IS TIME FOR THE LONG BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ANNUAL HISTORICAL CEMETERY TOUR ON THE 28TH.
PLEASE VISIT THE SUNNYSIDE AND MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES FROM 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM TO HEAR STORIES FROM LONG BEACH'S
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PAST TOLD ENG GRAVESIDE PERFORMANCES BY ACTORS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS.UH, MY COLLEAGUE HERE IN PERIOD APPROPRIATE COSTUMES.
UH, HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THIS WEEK.
I, HERE'S TONIGHT FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TWO FIRST RESPONDERS WE LOST RECENTLY WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR FOURTH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
FIRST I ASKED THAT WE ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF MANHATTAN BEACH MOTORCYCLE OFFICER CHAD SWANSON THREE WEEKS AGO, OFFICER SWANSON WAS TRAGICALLY LOST AT THE AGE OF 36 IN A MULTIPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON THE 4 0 5 FREEWAY END OF WATCH OCTOBER 3RD, 2023.
CHAD WAS A DEDICATED POLICE OFFICER AND MEDAL OF VALOR AWARDEE.
HE WAS ALSO A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND FA FATHER TO HIS WIFE HALEY AND THREE YOUNG BOYS TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CHAD, CHAD SWANSON.
WE OFFER OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES.
OUR CO COUNCIL OFFICE ALSO OFFERS OUR FUTURE SUPPORT TO OFFICER CHAD SWANSON.
WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT WE ADJOURN TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING A MEMBER, UH, MEMORY OF RETIRED LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT BATTALION CHIEF JUSTIN BARLOW.
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE MARINE CORPS, JUSTIN BARLOW JOINED THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE SERVED FOR ONE YEAR.
HE THEN TRANSITIONED TO THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE SERVED FOR THE NEXT 48 YEARS.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF 49 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AS A FIRST RESPONDER, WE EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF JUSTIN BARLOW, INCLUDING HIS DAUGHTER BEVERLY, WHO'S A LONGTIME CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEE WITH 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CHIEF BARLOW.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A MARINE AND A LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTER.
YOU OWN THE DUAL SEMPER HONOR OF SEMPER PHI AND SEMPER PRADAS.
NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SUI SORO.
YES, I WANTED TO SHARE, THERE'S A GRAND OPENING OF LONG BEACH, MY KICKBOXING CENTER WHO HAD TO RELOCATE.
UM, IT'S, THE LOCATION IS 10 38 EAST ANAHEIM STREET.
IT'S THIS SATURDAY, UM, AT 10:00 AM AND YOU KNOW, THE MASTER OMBRE IS THE VERY FEW SURVIVOR OF THE GENOCIDE THAT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE PRACTICE AND TAUGHT A LOT OF KIDS IN THE CENTRAL LONG BEACH AREA TEACHING THEM SELF-DEFENSE AND GIVING THEM A PLACE TO STAY, UM, OR HANG OUT SO THAT THEY WOULD, UM, ENGAGE IN ACTIVITY THAT WAS GONNA LEAD 'EM INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A BIG DEAL.
UM, I HOPE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME, ACTUALLY IT'S 11:00 AM.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE AGAIN TO DEL LOS MUTOS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT 11:00 AM STARTING AT THIRD AND PINE AVENUE.
UM, SO COME JOIN US AS WE PROCEED DOWN PINE AVENUE, UH, ALL THE WAY TO THE RAINBOW LAGOON, WHERE A FESTIVAL OF ART WILL BE WAITING FOR US TILL 10:00 PM SO, UM, HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY THERE.
ALSO, UM, HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE LOTS OF FUN AND THAT YOU ARE VERY SAFE OUT THERE.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR DISTRICT EIGHT AQUARIUM NIGHT, UH, WHICH IS ON OCTOBER 30TH FROM 6:30 PM TO 8:30 PM AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC.
ADMISSION IS FREE FOR UP TO SIX PEOPLE PER FAMILY.
WE'RE REQUESTING THAT FOLKS REGISTER ONLINE AND FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO WEAR THEIR COSTUMES.
WE ALSO HAVE A BLOOD DRIVE NEXT MONDAY, UM, AT THE NORTH LONG BEACH IN NORTH LONG BEACH ON OCTOBER 30TH AS WELL.
FROM 11:38 AM TO 6:00 PM AT THE LA CARE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, FOLKS WILL RECEIVE A $20 AMAZON GIFT CARD AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR DONATING BLOOD.
PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND ENTER THE COLD DISTRICT EIGHT.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THANKS SO MUCH, UH, FOR JOINING US.
THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH OR DURING THE SPECIAL MEETING ACTUALLY.