* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:01:49] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETINGS ORDER FOR AUGUST 14TH, 2025. UM, CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? SORRY. OH, HERE WE GO. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. PRESENT VICE CHAIR, URANGA CHAIR RICK SODI. HERE [CALL TO ORDER] WE HAVE A QUORUM. LOVELY. UH, SO BEFORE WE BEGIN [ROLL CALL] TONIGHT'S MEETING, I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW WE'LL PROCEED. OUR GOAL IS TO HEAR FROM AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE WHILE KEEPING THE MEETING MOVING EFFICIENTLY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THE ALLOTTED TIME SET BY THE CHAIR TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS WITH THE EXACT TIME. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND UP FOR EACH PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY, WE WILL FIRST HAVE AGENDIZED PUBLIC COMMENT DESIGNATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26, BUDGET RELATED ITEMS, FOLLOWED BY GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR ALL OTHER TOPICS, FOR THOSE SPEAKING IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, TRANSLATORS WILL NOT BE TIMED. UH, THE SPEAKER WILL RECEIVE THE FULL ALLOTTED TIME AND THE TRANSLATOR WILL THEN PROVIDE THE COMPLETE TRANSLATION WITHOUT CUTTING INTO THAT TIME. THIS ENSURES EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD FULLY AND ACCURATELY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA, LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS AS PRODUCTIVE AND RESPECTFUL A CONVERSATION FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO, UM, THAT BEING SAID, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE FIRST ITEM, ITEM ONE, AND THE ONLY ITEM TONIGHT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET. SECOND, RECEIVE . ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A FIRST [1. 25-56125 Recommendation to receive and file public comments on FY 26 proposed Budget.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND A SECOND. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALLEN, ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. UM, IF THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND AND FORM A LINE SO WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY SPEAKERS WILL BE PARTICIPATING. ONCE THAT NUMBER IS ESTABLISHED, UM, NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS WILL BE ADDED, AND THEN WE, THAT WAY WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TIME, UM, THAT WE ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO ALLOT TO EACH SPEAKER. SO IF EVERYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT CAN STAND UP NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COUNT. ALL RIGHT. I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP. UH HMM. 1, 2, 3, 1 2, 3, 12 35, 15, 20. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOW, SINCE WE HAVE OVER 10 PEOPLE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ABOUT 20, EVERYONE WAS GONNA GET 90 SECONDS, UM, IN ORDER TO SPEAK. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY, UH, UNDERSTANDS THAT AND LIKE I SAID, SO WE'LL ALLOW THOSE 20 PEOPLE TO SPEAK. UM, AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO LINE UP RIGHT NOW, UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA START MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO COME FIRST, PLEASE PROCEED FORWARD. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I'M, I'M SORRY. ONE MOMENT. CAN WE GET THE FIRST 10 TO STAND IN LINE, PLEASE? THANK YOU, CLERK, PLEASE GO AHEAD. [00:05:02] GOOD EVENING. I AM FATHER WILLIAM CONNOR. I AM PASTOR EMERITUS OF ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IN EL DORADO PARK, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE IN LONG BEACH. I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF CLUE TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM, $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND STRUCTURAL 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS A CLEAR MORAL SOCIAL TEACHING THAT WE ARE CALLED AND OBLIGATED TO CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, VULNERABLE SUB MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE MOST VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW ARE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND TENANTS IN OUR CITY. NOW, IN MY OLDER AGE, 85 YOUNG, I HELP AT ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE DOWNTOWN PARISH HERE IN LONG BEACH. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE IMMIGRANTS, HARDWORKING PEOPLE. JESUS IN MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE TEACHES THAT WHAT WE DO TO ONE OF THESE, THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE DO TO HIM WHAT WE FAIL TO DO TO ONE OF THESE, THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE FAIL TO DO TO HIM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THAT IT? YEAH, THAT'S ALL. 90 SECONDS. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT GOES PRETTY FAST, BUT THANK YOU. THANK, HI, CHRIS. SPEED SPEAKING. UM, HI, MY NAME IS CHRIS. I'M THE CO-CHAIR FOR THE ADVANCING PEACE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I'M COMING TO ASK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 5 MILLION TOWARDS VIOLENCE PREVENTION. UH, THE CITY HAS ALREADY GIVEN THREE OR PROPOSED, UH, THREE POINT, UH, 6 MILLION TOWARDS VIOLENCE PREVENTION. UH, AND WE'RE ASKING TO CLOSE THE GAP BY ONE POINT, UH, 1.5, SO 1,000,005, UM, OF THE MILLION FIVE WE WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR, UM, SUMMER ACTIVATIONS AND YEAR ROUND ACTIVATIONS. CURRENTLY IN THE PROPOSAL, THERE'S NO FUNDS TOWARDS A, A, UM, ACTIVATIONS, AND WITH NO PROPOSED MONEY TOWARDS ACTIVATIONS, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY, UM, EVENTS FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION. UH, IN ADDITION, INCREASING FUNDS FOR SAFE PASSAGE. UH, RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY AT, UH, UH, 285 AND WE LIKE TO CAP IT AT 500. SO WE CAN HAVE TWO PROGRAMS VERSUS JUST INVESTING IN ONE, UH, AND THEN HEALING RESPONSE, UH, ADDRESSING THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY AFFECTED BY THE MURDERS IN OUR CITY. UH, ASIDE FROM THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT THE EQUITY HUMAN RELATIONS REQUEST, UH, FOR $22,000 FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS AND OTHER OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, MY NAME IS BARRY STE, AND I AM HERE WITH SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE LONG BEACH, AND I'M A PROUD, UH, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. I HOPE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON SOMETIME SOON. UM, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR DISTRICT. UM, I SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM SERVICES IN THE BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I'M PLEASED THE CITY'S EXPANDING THE PROGRAM ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS, AND I APPLAUD THE MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL AND AND CITY MANAGER FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING THIS PROGRAM OVER A COUPLE YEARS NOW, UM, I'M ASKING, AS PART OF SURGE, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE FOLLOWING. WE NOTICE A REDUNDANCY IN THE BUDGET. IT'S SEEMING REDUNDANCY. WE'D LIKE TO SEE FUNDS SHIFTED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM MENTAL HEALTH INCIDENT RESPONSE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS A HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM TRAIN AND TRAINED HEALTH, UM, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. LAST NOVEMBER'S POLICE SHOOTING A BRANDON BOYD AFTER RECALLED NINE 11 FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENT NEED TO SUPPORT NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE, UM, THE CITY ESTABLISH A DEDICATED TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES. CALLING 9 1 1 HEIGHTENS THE RISK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL RESPOND TO INCIDENTS WHICH WOULD MORE APPROPRIATELY BE HANDLED BY UNARMED MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS. LASTLY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CITY EXPAND THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE HOURS TO 24 7. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS REED. I'M A RENTER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. UM, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, [00:10:01] UM, TO PUT 2.2, UH, MILLION INTO THE JUST CAUSE FOR EVICTIONS FUND, AND THEN 400,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, AND THEN 2 MILLION FOR THE, UH, JUSTICE FUND. UM, I THINK THAT THESE POLICIES, UH, ARE SORT OF COMMON SENSE FOR THE CITY AS LIKE SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH IS CONCERNED FOR, UH, THE CITY HAS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS AND A HIGH PERCENT OF, UH, IMMIGRANT POPULATION. AND BOTH OF THESE, UH, TENANT AND IMMIGRATION CASES ARE, UH, CIVIL CASES. AND NO, UM, LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE. UM, AND SO IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND THEIR DEFENSE ON THEIR OWN. SO MORE FUNDING TOWARDS THESE SERVICES, I THINK ARE, UH, SORT OF GOOD FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, IT HELPS PEOPLE, UH, STOP THEM FROM BEING EVICTED. WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OF HOMELESSNESS HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, STARTS OF THAT IS TO BE EVICTED. SO IF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, TENANT'S COUNSEL HAS RESULTED IN MOST PEOPLE EITHER BEING ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES, NOT BEING EVICTED OR HAVING A, A SOFT LANDING IN WHICH THAT IT SMOOTHS THEIR, UM, LIVING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT, ENSURING THAT EVERYBODY STAYS HOUSED. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YEAH, HAVE A THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA TORRES AND I AM A MEMBER OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS EMPOWERED. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA TAKE THANK THE BOARD FOR BEING HERE AND HEARING US ALL OUT. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT IF WE WERE IN DANGER OF LOSING OUR HOMES, WE WOULD WANT AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT IS WHAT RIGHT TO COUNCIL DOES. IT ALLOWS US TO ADVOCATE FOR OURSELVES AS RENTERS HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. THEREFORE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO PRESERVE IT. DESPITE HOUSING BEING A HUMAN RIGHT, I KNOW WE CAN ALL AGREE IT ISN'T ALWAYS AN ATTAINABLE ONE. THAT IS WHY I ALSO WANT TO URGE THE BOARD TO ALLOCATE $400,000 FOR THE COM FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. IN ORDER TO FIX THE HOUSING CRISIS, WE MUST TRANSFORM IT THROUGH INNOVATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS LIKE THE CLT FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS HARD ENOUGH TO RENT, LET ALONE BY OURSELVES, A PLACE WE CAN CALL OUR VERY OWN. BECAUSE OF RISING HOUSING MARKET COST, A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CAN TRANSFORM THE STRUGGLES OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND TURN THEM INTO SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS. LASTLY, I URGE THE BOARD TO ALLOCATE 2.2 MILLION TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FOOT JUSTICE FUND. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR COMMUNITIES FEEL SUPPORTED IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE. AN ATTACK ON OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS AN ATTACK ON LONG BEACH. LET'S MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE UPROOTING OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS MANOLA MARTINEZ AND I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT TWO, AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH CLT. UM, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ALLOCATION FOR 200 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, 400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. FUNDING THESE IS CRITICAL TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE, AND CREATE LONG TERM, LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY'S INVESTMENT OF $200,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND ITS SHARED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND SOCIAL HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE SCALE OF THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT IN THE CREATION OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WITH THE FUNDS FOR MEASURE A, THE CLT WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY TO STABILIZE COMMUNITIES AND CREATE OWNERSHIP OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEASURE A TO FULFILL ITS PROMISES TO VOTERS AND DIRECT NEW FUNDS TO REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE EVICTION DEFENSE AND INNOVATIVE HOUSING MODELS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. UM, AND WE NEED TO PAIR STRONG TENANT PROTECTIONS WITH PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO KEEP LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HOUSED FOR. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, MY NAME IS LUANN. I'M A MEMBER OF GABRIELA SOUTH BAY, A FILIPINO WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION, AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION AND THE FILIPINO MIGRANT CENTER, UM, TO URGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE 2.2 MILLION TO IN NEW STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND ALONGSIDE THE FILIPINO MIGRANT CENTER AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE'VE SPENT THIS PAST YEAR OUTREACHING AND LEARNING ABOUT OUR WEST SIDE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND, UM, AND, AND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT SPECIAL, MOST OF THEM MIGRATING HERE FOR IN SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEMSELVES. NOW ICE IS RIPPING FAMILIES APART AND TERRORIZING COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO WITNESS. I'VE HEARD FIRSTHAND COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAYING THEY'RE SCARED TO TAKE THE BUS TO WORK AND SPEND THEIR HARDWORKING WAGES ON UBERS TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. BEING AN IMMIGRANT IS NOT A CRIME, AND THE CONSTITUTES OF LONG BEACH DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE. 2.2 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE FUND IS TRULY THE BARE MINIMUM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, ROMEO, HE BROWN, EXECUTIVE [00:15:01] DIRECTOR WITH THE FILIPINO MIGRANT CENTER AND ALSO A COMMUNITY CONNECTOR WITH THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO, UM, ECHO AND CONTINUE TO ECHO MAKE THE CALL FOR 2.2 MILLION IN NEW STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT, UM, ON THE LIVES, UM, THAT, THAT THIS HAS ON PEOPLE. RIGHT. AND I KNOW MY TIME DIDN'T GET TO RESET, BUT, UM, OKAY, THANKS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK JUST ESPECIALLY THINKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION, RIGHT? AND HOW TO HUMANIZE THIS ISSUE, THINKING ABOUT, UM, PARENTS WHO HAVE TO DROP OFF THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY EVEN, UM, SEE THEM AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MAYBE THEY MIGHT GET DETAINED AND OR EVEN THINKING FROM THE STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW THEY, HOW THE ANXIETY AND THE FEAR THAT THEY FEEL OF MAYBE NOT SEEING THEIR PARENTS AGAIN, OR THEIR RELATIVES OR THEIR LOVED ONES. AND SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, UM, AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND THIS BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO, UM, CONTINUE TO ECHO THOSE CALLS AND TO SUPPORT THE CALL FOR 2.2 MILLION. UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, JUST EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE FILIPINO CAREGIVERS WHO TAKE CARE OF MANY OF OUR, UM, RELATIVES, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY, BUT UM, THE BROADER LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AS WELL. UM, THOSE CAREGIVERS WHO WE WORK WITH, WHO ARE ALSO AFRAID, UM, TO GO TO WORK. AND SO HOW THAT IMPACTS THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANN BURDETT. I'M A, UH, RESIDENT OF RE UH, DISTRICT FIVE. I'M ALSO A LAY LEADER AT ST. LUKE'S, UH, EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OSCAR KNOWN AS ST. LUCAS. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR, UM, YOUR VOTES AND YOUR, UM, YOUR MORAL IMPERATIVE FOR THE $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL. $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. ALLOW ME AN APOCRYPHAL STORY IN MY FAITH TRADITION. JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION AT SOME POINT, A PURE AISLE MAN, BABY, WHO'S FULL OF GREED, ASKS, GOD, AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER? AND THE ANSWER IS, OF COURSE, WE ARE. AND I WORK AT A CHURCH THAT HAS A VERY SENSITIVE LATINO POPULATION. WE HAVE HAD TO, UH, ASSIGN AND VOLUNTEER GATEKEEPERS. OUR SHOWER PROGRAM IS VULNERABLE. WE USED TO HAVE SENSITIVE AREAS, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES. WE ARE NOW UNDER ATTACK, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES AS A CITY THROUGH DEFENDING OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THEN WE ARE FALLING INTO THE CHAOS THAT IS AROUND US. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND FOR YOUR, UM, YOUR VOTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS REVEREND MARY YUNG. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE LABOR PROGRAM AT CLU, CLERGY AND LAITY, UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE. I'M ALSO REPRESENTING HUNDREDS OF FAITH LEADERS CONNECTED WITH CLU TODAY TO SUP TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN A STRUCTURAL OF $2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. AS A PASTOR OF AN IMMIGRANT CHURCH, I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT IMMIGRATION STATUS MY CHURCH MEMBERS HAVE, ALL OF THEM ARE AFRAID OF LEAVING THE HOUSE, OF GOING TO WORK, OR GOING TO A GROCERY STORE BECAUSE OF THE RACIAL PROFILING AND NO DUE PROCESS IN OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. AND MANY CHILDREN HAD TO STAY INSIDE THE HOUSE THIS SUMMER INSTEAD OF GOING OUT TO PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY FELT UNSAFE EVEN BEING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THEIR HOUSE. AND MANY STUDENTS TODAY GO BACK TO WORK IN LA USD, BUT MANY DON'T WANNA GO BACK BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY REASON. AND SO I ASK FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP TO KEEP OUR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, KEEP OUR FAMILIES AND TENANT SAFE BY INVESTING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE FROM MEASURE A TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, THE, UH, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAM AND THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, CAN INCREASE THE IMPACT IN OUR CITY. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN OUR TENANTS AND OUR IMMIGRANTS ARE SAFE, OUR ECONOMY THRIVES. AND SO I ASK YOU TO LEAD THE CITY WITH CARE, UH, INSTEAD OF FEAR AND WITH EQUITY INSTEAD OF SCARCITY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU ALL. ARE THE NEXT 10 MIGRANT CENTER, DISTRICT ONE, AND HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH MY WHOLE LIFE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. I'M HERE TO URGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE $2.2 MILLION IN NEW STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. AS [00:20:01] PART OF THE DIRECT SERVICES AND ORGANIZING TEAM AT FILIPINO MIGRANT CENTER, I'M ABLE TO SEE HOW THE AMOUNT OF MIGRANTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT. WE GET WEEKLY CALLS TALKING ABOUT NEEDING SUPPORT AND NEEDING HELP. AND WE HAVE MANY CLIENTS AND A HUGE CHUNK OF THEM COME FROM LONG BEACH THAT ARE UNABLE TO GET ACCESS TO LEGAL SUPPORT. THE REASON OF THIS IS BECAUSE THE ORGANIZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE REACH OUT TO ARE VERY OFTEN AT CAPACITY AND CANNOT TAKE ON THEIR CASES. AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE REACH OUT TO FMC TO COME FROM, AND THEY COME FROM THE WORKING CLASS AND PREFER TO SPEAK IN FILIPINO TOO. SO THEY REALLY NEED SPECIAL PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM. AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LACK OF ACCESS TO A SALARY THAT CAN AFFORD A LAWYER. OTHERWISE. WE STILL HAVE CLIENTS NOW WHO ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT, WHO DON'T HAVE, HAVE ACCESS TO REASONABLY PRICED TRAVEL AND ARE SIMPLY UNABLE TO GET LEGAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE AT CAPACITY. AND THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY REAL CASE. LIKE THEY HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO HELP DEFEND THEIR CASES. AND LBJF HAS HELPED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT. AND THE DEMAND FOR THIS IS CLEARLY ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS MORE CALLS, UH, WE RECEIVE. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE LIKE THAT, SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED AS YOU CONTINUE THE VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DIANA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL FOR INVESTING $200,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH CLT. WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S SHARED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE SCALE OF, OF THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT IN THE CREATION OF NEW HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, LONG BEACH RENTS HAVE RISEN 20% CITYWIDE FAMILIES AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF CITY AND HOME OWNERSHIP IS OUT OF REACH FOR MOST RESIDENTS. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, HOWEVER, SUPPORT LOW INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR BY CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND PASS PATHWAYS TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP. AND SO WE URGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EVENTS INVEST A TOTAL OF $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH CLT. THIS INVESTMENT WILL CREATE ACCESS TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR FAMILIES WHO HISTORICALLY FOUND OWNING PROPERTY DIFFICULT. I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO CANCEL PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND LASTLY, I WANT TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR A VOICE SUPPORT OF $2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BIANCA CARILLO. I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO MOTIVATE THE COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE $2 MILLION TO THE TENANT, RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, AND $400,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. AND I ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UM, SO TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS LIKE EVICTION DEFENSE AND GROUND MAKING GROUNDBREAKING HOUSING MODELS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. DURING A TIME WHEN OUR RENT IS SKYROCKETING, AROUND 60% OF RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH ARE RENTERS. AND SO THIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR A LOT OF US. UM, A LOT OF US ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF HOME HOME OWNERSHIP, AND ON TOP OF THAT, GAS PRICES AND GROCERIES AND JUST EVERY DAY, LIKE BASIC NEEDS ARE BECOMING LIKE MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE. AND A LOT OF US ARE ONE MINOR EMERGENCY AWAY FROM MISSING RENT, ONE MEDICAL ISSUE FROM MISSING RENT. SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US ARE, YOU KNOW, IN A VULNERABLE POSITION HERE. UM, I MOVED EARLIER THIS MONTH FROM ONE AREA IN LONG BEACH TO A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET. UM, AND I CAN SAY THE RENTAL MARKET IS NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN I HAD FIRST MOVED TO LONG BEACH THREE YEARS AGO. UM, WHEN I INITIALLY MOVED HERE, I CAME HERE BECAUSE IT WAS A MORE AFFORDABLE AREA TO LIVE IN AND I WAS ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. BUT THAT REALITY IS QUICKLY BECOMING, UM, UNATTAINABLE FOR A LOT OF US. SO I BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO PLEASE, UM, SUPPORT THOSE BUDGET MEASURES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HEY Y'ALL. MY NAME'S, EXCUSE ME. I'M ERIC GARCIA WITH, UH, I'M THE ORGANIZATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH ALIA. UH, IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO FLAG THAT WE HAD A LOT MORE PEOPLE SCHEDULED TO BE HERE, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF REPORTS OF CBP CONVOYS ACROSS THE CITY OFF OF CHERRY IN WILLOW SPECIFICALLY, AND, UH, MI ALOMA AND DAISY. SO JUST WANNA FLAG PUT THAT ON Y'ALL'S RADAR THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO BE HERE, THEY JUST COULDN'T DO, DO SO. UM, AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR DEPORTATION DEFENSE, AS WELL AS A STRONGER LONG BEACH VALUES ACT. UH, SO PLEASE APPROVE 2.2 MILLION TOWARD THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND AND STRUCTURAL FUNDING. UH, I'M INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH BEING A VICTIM OF ATTORNEY FRAUD AND FIGHTING DEPORTATION AS A RESULT OF IT. UH, I WAS IN AND OUT OF COURTROOMS IMMIGRATION COURTROOM SINCE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD BECAUSE A [00:25:01] FRAUD DECIDED THEY NEEDED A COUPLE THOUSAND MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET AT MY EXPENSE. IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TRUSTED ATTORNEYS AND ORGANIZATIONS. UH, I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK FOR 2 MILLION FOR EVICTION DEFENSE AND 400 K UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THE CITY NEEDS TO, UH, TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED AND, UH, LOOK FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S KESHAWN RAINS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER OF THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD TENANT COUNCIL IN COLLABORATION WITH LIBRE AND BLM I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION TO THE TENANT RIGHT COUNCIL, AND $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, BOTH WHICH PLAY A ROLE IN PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I ALSO WANT TO VOICE SUPPORT OF $2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEASURE A TO FULFILL ITS PROMISES TO VOTERS AND DIRECT NEW FUNDS TO REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE EV, EVICTION, EVICTION DEFENSE, AND INNOVATIVE HOUSING MODELS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. WE NEED TO PAIR STRONG TENANT PROTECTION WITH PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO KEEP LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HOUSED FOR GOOD. I MYSELF FACED AN EVICTION IN 2018 AND DID NOT HAVE ANY SUPPORT LEGALLY. HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE ON MY OWN DUE TO MY OWN BACKGROUND. HOWEVER, EVICTIONS ARE STILL ONE OF THE TOP CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR CITY. INVESTING IN A STRONGER RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM WOULD MEET THE URGENCY OF THIS MOMENT AND CREATE HOUSING STABILITY. THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN ENSURING RENTERS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT KEEPS THEM HOUSED, NEGOTIATE SETTLEMENT SO THEY DON'T END UP DISPLACED AND PROVIDES THEM WITH LEGAL COUNSELS FOR RENTERS WHO HAVE HOUSING QUESTIONS. EV EVICTION DEFENSE IS ABOUT CREATING ACCESS TO EQUITY IN COURTS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMMENT THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, HOW ARE YOU? MY NAME IS ADRIANA AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIBERAL LONG BEACH RESIDENT EMPOWERED. I REALLY THANK THE CITY FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNAL AND TRUST, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE DURING THE LAST BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHERE IT'S STATED THAT THE CITY WILL NOT LIKE WE KNOW, SEEK TO RE, UM, TO, TO REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. WE CREATED THE BUSINESS PLAN AS PART OF OUR FUNDING, AND THAT THE BUSINESS PLAN STATED MEASURE A AS ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR ON, LIKE, AS THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THEREFORE, LIBRE WAS PART OF OUR FUTURE LA THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO FORM LA CASA. WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR SB 6 97 THAT STATED COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AS ONE OF THE FOUR PRIORITIES FOR LA CASA. WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE CITY IS TO UPHOLD THE PROMISE OF MEASURE A AND FUND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, NOT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT FROM MEASURE A FUNDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AT ANY TIME. UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, THE, THE ROLE OF LIBRE AND THE FORMATION OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. I'M BECKY DENISON WITH LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES. WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES OUT OF FOUR SITES IN LONG BEACH, REPRESENTING LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY. I'M HERE TONIGHT ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH HOUSING JUSTICE COALITION AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION, UM, FOR THE EVICTION DEFENSE PROGRAM, OR THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM TO $2 MILLION AND INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO $400,000. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND TO $2.2 MILLION TO SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS IS CRITICAL TO THE CLIENTS THAT LALA SERVES HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION NEEDS ARE THE TOP TWO REASONS THAT ANYONE WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS IN THIS CITY. I WANNA TALK TO ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS AROUND THE NEED FOR $2 MILLION IN NEW FUNDS FOR THE EVICTION DEFENSE PROGRAM. UM, THIS IS A PROVEN PROGRAM IN THIS CITY THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THE CURRENT BUDGET RELIES ON OVER $400,000 IN ROLLOVER FUNDS THAT SIMPLY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. WE'RE A FULLY OPERATED OPERATING COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM, AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. AND SO THAT'S WHY THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION IN NEW FUNDS WITH A SO A NEW SOURCE TO THE CITY THROUGH LA CASA INSTEAD OF YOUR GENERAL FUNDS, CAN ENSURE ACCESS TO EV EVICTION DEFENSE AND TENANT EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY. SO WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THOSE CHANGES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. UH, HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JILL. I AM A MEMBER OF LIBRE, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT LIKE A TESTIMONY BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH [00:30:01] THE EVICTION PROCESS AND WHEN I GOT TO COURT, I WAS TOTALLY INTIMIDATED. UM, EVEN BEFORE I WENT TO COURT, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. UM, SO NOW I WORK WITH LIBRE AND I GET TO ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE WHO WERE ONCE IN MY SITUATION. AND, UM, BEING AN, BEING AN ENCOURAGER FOR PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM, SO WITH THAT, I SUPPORT, UM, $2 MILLION TO THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. I ALSO SUPPORT 400 MILLION, UM, 400,000, SORRY, 400 MILLION WOULD BE NICE, BUT 400,000 TO THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 MILLION TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GIANNA. I'M A FELLOW OF CLUE CLERGY AND LADY UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND STRUCTURAL $2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. EVICTION DEFENSE IS NECESSARY FOR CREATING ACCESS TO EQUITY IN COURTS. UH, LANDLORDS ARE NEARLY ALWAYS REPRESENTED COMPARED TO TENANTS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION NEARLY AS OFTEN. UM, AS A CHILD OF VIETNAMESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS, I'VE SEEN THE WAY MY SINGLE WORKING MOTHER HAS STRUGGLED OVER THE LEGAL JARGON OF HOUSING LEASES AND EVICTION NOTICES IN HER SECOND LANGUAGE. AND AS HER ONLY CHILD, I'VE BEEN FOISTED INTO POSITIONS WHERE I MUST SUPPORT HER IN UNDERSTANDING THE PAPERWORK ONLY TO BE OF NO HELP BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE WAS TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND. STORIES LIKE THIS ARE HOW RENTERS ENTER DEFAULT JUDGEMENTS FOR NOT PROPERLY RESPONDING TO PAPERWORK OR APPEARING IN COURT, AND NOT EVEN NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR RENTAL AGREEMENTS. THIS IS WHY IT'S SO CRUCIAL FOR RENTERS TO HAVE LAWYERS WHO CAN HELP TENANTS AVOID BAD SETTLEMENTS AND GUIDE RENTERS THROUGH LEGAL COMPLEXITIES, WHICH MAKE IT SO THAT RENTERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR HAVE MORE TIME TO FIND NEW HOUSING. I URGE YOU TO INVEST THE AMOUNTS I SHARED EARLIER IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS AND BUILD A SAFE LONG BEACH FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. OH, AND JUST AS AN FYI FOR OUR LAST OH NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD. I'M SORRY. . UH, YOU'LL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THE AGENDA. THE, OH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM ONE. UM, AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE WE ONLY HAVE 30 MINUTES LEFT OF THE MEETING. SO JUST KNOW THAT AFTER YOU SPEAK, I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO STILL SPEAK IN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT HOW MANY THEY ARE, AND WE'LL START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN, PLEASE. HI, DR. SHAWNEE. HI MY DEAR. HI CINDY. I'M ZA NAB. I AM A RESIDENT OF RES OF, UH, DISTRICT SIX. I, UM, HAVE A BUSINESS IN DISTRICT TWO. I AM ALWAYS HANGING OUT IN DISTRICT NINE. I'M FROM LONG BEACH AND I DO A LOT ALL OVER THE CITY, SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE BOTH OF YOU HERE LISTENING TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY. I AM AFFILIATED WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A TENANT AND BOTH, BOTH A TENANT AND A LANDLORD. AND I, I STRONGLY SUPPORT BOTH THE LAND TRUST, THE TENANTS, UM, RIGHTS FUND. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THAT STUFF, THE NAMES, BUT THE TENANTS, RIGHT? UM, FUND TO HELP, UM, TENANTS, UH, DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST EVICTIONS THAT ARE UN UNJUST. AS A LANDLORD, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT UNJUST WHEN THEY EVICT PEOPLE, BUT I'VE HEARD MANY, MANY STORIES WHEN PEOPLE ARE SEEKING RENTAL RENTALS FROM ME. THEY'RE TELLING ME THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THEM IN THE CITY AND I THINK IT'S HORRIBLE. UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT AS A TENANT I WAS UNJUSTLY EVICTED AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TURN TO. SO I JUST WANTED TO STRESS THE FACT THAT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT FRIVOLOUS. AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK UP FOR THINGS, THE CONVERSATION AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, BUT THEY'RE THE MINORITY, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE REALLY NEED HELP AND SUPPORT FOR LAND TRUST. MY FAMILY OWNS MY OWNS PROPERTY, BUT IF THEY DIDN'T, I'D BE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW? AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. OWNERSHIP CHANGES THE FLAVOR OF HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, SO AT THIS TIME, IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDIZED ITEMS, SO IF YOU STILL WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE STAND AND FORM A LINE SO WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE GONNA PART PARTICIPATING IN THE GENERAL CHAIR. CHAIR. SORRY, WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE AS A RECEIVING PARTY. AH-HA. THAT'S RIGHT. . I WAS TRYING TO GIVE Y'ALL MORE TIME. COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN. AYE. CHAIR SODI. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE ARE MOVING TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE STAND AND FORM [00:35:01] A LINE SO WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY SPEAKERS WE PARTICIPATING. ONCE THIS NUMBER IS ESTABLISHED, AGAIN, NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE HEARD. SO PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, GO AHEAD AND FORM A LINE. 'CAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO COUNT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE. AND IF STAFF, Y'ALL CAN HELP ME COUNT, I'D APPRECIATE IT. SOME OF THE VERTICALLY CHALLENGED FOLKS GET HIDDEN. HI, CAN YOU COME ALL THE WAY DOWN SO WE CAN CONFIRM WHO WE HAVE? YEAH. AGAIN, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS WE GOT. THANK YOU. SEVEN. OKAY. UH, IT'S 10. OKAY. SO AGAIN, WE WILL GIVE EVERYONE 90 SECONDS TO SPEAK, UH, DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PLEASE. UH, HI. MY NAME IS RODRIGUEZ MURANO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. I'M MEMBER OF THE DELIVERY AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF 2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO CANCEL PROGRAM AND FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, UH, BOTH WHICH PLAY A ROLE IN PREVENTIVE DISPLACEMENT AND CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I ALSO WANT TO VOICE SUPPORT OF 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONGEST JUSTICE FUND. NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEASURE A TO BRING THE NEW FUNDS TO A REAL SOLUTION LIKE EVICTION DEFENSE AND NOBODY HOUSING MODEL, LIKE COMMUNITY AND TRASH. WE NEED TO PAIR, UH, STRONG TENANT PROTECTION WITH PENALTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO KEEP LONG BEACH RESIDENT HOUSED FOR, FOR, FOR GOOD. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENT AND ESPECIALLY SENIOR THAT SENIORS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS DENISE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M HERE TODAY WITH EIGHT FEWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR. UM, THE REASON, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WAS THE CBP CONVOYS, UH, DRIVING AROUND LONG BEACH TODAY. UM, AFTER ORGANIZING OUR MEMBERS ALL WEEK TO COME BY TODAY, I CALLED AN HOUR BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING TO LET THEM KNOW THE RISK THEY MAY BE FACING, UM, SHOULD THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND COME BY. UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. ONE MINUTE THEY HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED, LIKE COMING TO COUNCIL, ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES, UM, OR GOING TO SCHOOL, GOING TO WORK. UM, THE NEXT MINUTE THEY HAVE TO CANCEL, DECIDE TO STAY HOME. UM, THE JUSTICE FUND OF COURSE WON'T RID THE CITY OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT CAN PROVIDE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE PROACTIVE IN THEIR IMMIGRATION CASES AND GET RELIEF TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IF THEY ARE DETAINED. IT'S IMPORTANT TODAY MORE THAN EVER TO INVEST 2.2 MILLION TO THE JUSTICE FUND, 400,000 TO THE LONG BEACH CLT, AND 2 MILLION TO THE TENANT RIGHTS TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EDITH AND I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER. I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS STILL LIVING IN FEAR DUE TO THE POLITICAL AMBIANCE AND THAT THE REASON I, I ASK HERE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, THE MAYOR, UH, TO THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THOSE PARENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO SEND [00:40:01] THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. UH, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 2020, UH, 5 20 26, THAT IS ABOUT TO START. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND ABSENCE IN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE ACADEMIC ASPECT, BUT ALSO THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, THE INTERACTION AND CONNECTION WITH THEIR TEACHERS AS WELL AS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. MISSING CLASSES, UH, TOO MANY TIMES SIGNIFIES POOR GRADUATION RATINGS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE JUSTICE FUND IS APPROVED WITH 2.2 MILLION IN FUNDING, AND THAT IS ESTABLISHED PERMANENTLY AND STRUCTURALLY. IT'S TIME THAT WE ACT WITH OUR HEART AND NOT ONLY WITH POLITICAL INTEREST. UH, THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF SECURITY WITH ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IF NECESSARY. BUT THIS WILL ONLY BE POSSIBLE WITH THE JUSTICE FUND IS AWARDED $2.2 MILLION PERMANENTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, MY NAME IS ESTHER, UH, AND I'M A TENANT LIVING IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE. I'M ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE LONG BEACH CHAPTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA DSA. UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. 400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UH, THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH DESERVE BETTER THAN THE DISPLACEMENT AND EVICTIONS THAT PLAGUED THIS CITY AND AMERICA AT LARGE. AFTER MEASURE A PASSED, THE CITY HAD COMMITTED TO A REAL EFFORT AGAINST THESE ISSUES. YET ANYONE IN LONG BEACH KNOWS THAT THESE ISSUES STILL PERSIST. NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEASURE A TO FULFILL ITS PROMISES TO VOTERS AND DIRECT NEW FUNDS TO REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE EVICTION DEFENSE AND INNOVATIVE HOUSING MODELS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. I MYSELF HAVE MORE RENTER. UM, I MAKE A LITTLE MORE OVER, UH, MINIMUM WAGE. I I'M CONSTANTLY AT RISK OF HOUSING DUE TO THE INSECURITY THAT COMES WITH THE CITY POLICY THAT LEAVES RENTERS DEFEND FOR THEMSELVES AGAINST THE HOUSING MARKET. UM, THE MAJORITY OF LONG BEACH'S PEOPLES ARE RENTERS AND THUS SO MANY OF THE HOMELESS ARE FORMER RENTERS. THAT'S WHY THE CITY NEEDS TO SERVE US AND APPROVE $2 MILLION, UH, FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. 400,000 FOR THE LCT. UM, WHEN WE DON'T ALLOW STABLE LIVING FOR THOSE IN LONG BEACH, WE AID UNLAWFUL DEPORTATIONS TO CREATE GROUPS OF PEOPLE FORCED TO TAKE THE WORST JOBS DUE TO FEAR OF DEPORTATION. THIS IS WHY THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS IN LONG BEACH AND THROUGHOUT AMERICA STAND BEHIND THE RENTERS IN THIS CRUCIAL BUDGET ALLOCATION. THANK YOUR TIME IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOLANDA MARINE AND I'M HERE WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF, OR LONG BEACH IS HOME TO APPROXIMATELY 30,000 RESIDENTS OF, UH, UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SOME TO SOME SORT OF, UH, UH, MIGRATORY STATUS THAT THEY'RE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS. AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, WE ARE SEEING AND BEING WITNESSES OF THE TERROR THAT ICE IS CAUSING AND HARVESTING AMONG THE COMMUNITIES, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN, IN OUR STREETS. THE PROCEEDINGS OF DEPORTATION ARE CIVIL, NOT A PANEL. AND THE, UH, LEAGUE OF REPRESENTATION SUPPORT IS FUNDAMENTAL. AND THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, COUNT WITH THIS TYPE OF, UH, SUPPORT, LEGAL SUPPORT HAVE BETTER PROBABILITIES OF WINNING THEIR CASES SINCE THE BEGINNINGS OF 2025. THE, UH, JUSTICE FUND OF LONG BEACH IS, UH, SIGNIFIES A FUNDAMENTAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OF LONG BEACH. AND WE ARE ASKING THAT THE FUNDING IS, ARE ACTUALLY STRUCTURAL AND, UH, DO NOT, UH, SEIZE AT ALL. [00:45:04] AND WE'RE ASKING ALSO FOR $2 MILLION FOR THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS FOR, UH, ALL TENANTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHRIS. UM, IN REGARDS TO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCACY, WE WANNA APPRECIATE SCHEDULING MEETINGS WITH US. UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF 'CAUSE CURRENTLY THE MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED WITH YOUR STAFF, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU AS WELL. UM, SO IF YOU CAN PRIORITIZE MEETING WITH US, UM, WE WILL SHIFT OUR SCHEDULE AROUND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH YOU AS WELL. UM, FOR TODAY'S MEETING, THERE IS NO PARKING VALIDATIONS, UH, AVAILABLE, SO EVERYONE'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY TO PARK, UH, TO EXIT NEXT THURSDAY, NOT TUESDAY, SORRY. UM, SO IF THAT CAN BE A PRIORITY, UH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR TODAY. OR AT LEAST ASK THEM TO RAISE THE, THE BAR SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY. UH, ADDITIONALLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT TODAY'S MEETING WAS SCHEDULED. THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, MEETING FOR THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT I HAVE SEEN. UH, THAT IS AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. IN THE FUTURE, CAN YOU PLEASE ALSO, UM, ENABLE THE ZOOM FUNCTION SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ZOOM INTO THE MEETINGS AS WELL. UH, I'M A CHAIR OF A COMMISSION AND WE UTILIZE ZOOM FOR ALL OF OUR MEETINGS HERE IN THE CHAMBER, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE THAT BE AN OPTION FOR COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MEETINGS AS WELL. UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, CONTINUE TO LOOK AT REVENUE SOURCES, UH, AND MAYBE THEY CAN BE REC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNHEALTHY FOOD AND SODA TAX ATTACKS ON CANNABIS, AND ALSO ASKING OUR BIG BUSINESSES TO CHIP IN A LITTLE BIT MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE OLYMPICS FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JESSE ALCALA. AS A MEMBER OF LIBRE AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, UM, AS A SINGLE FATHER OF FIVE GIRLS, RAISING THEM IN LONG BEACH HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT WITH MONEY BUDGETING AND RENTING LAWS AND ALL THAT, NOT BEING PROTECTING US AS MUCH, BUT ALSO WANNA SAY THAT ALL THE MONEY THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR WILL GO TO THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO HELP THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR LIBRE, I'D PROBABLY BE LIVING IN THE STREETS OF MY DAUGHTERS. IF IT WASN'T FOR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW THINGS WORK AROUND LONG BEACH AND HOW THE LAND GOES FROM THE LAND TO THE PROPERTY, TO THE BUILDING, AND HOW THINGS GET FUNCTIONED AND, AND PRICED. AND JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE REALLY DO NEED THE COUNSELING AND THE HELP, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LILI RA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, UM, BUT ALSO THE SENIOR MANAGER OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT LIBRE. I WANNA ECHO ALL THE SUPPORT WE'VE HEARD FOR THE JUSTICE FUND AND THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. AND I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT MY TEAM AND I ARE AT THE FRONT LINES OF THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM. UM, WE SHARE KNOWLEDGE WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE SO THEY CAN STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES. WE HELP THEM CONNECT WITH LEGAL RESOURCES AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE. AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART THAT GETS OVERLOOKED IS WE TRIAGE CASES A LOT OF TIMES INTERVENING BEFORE THEY EVEN GO TO COURT EVERY DAY. WE SPEAK WITH TENANTS LIKE JESSE. WE'VE SPOKEN, UM, ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW THAT FIGHTING EVICTION IS FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS, AND THIS PROGRAM HELPS THE CITY DO JUST THAT. I WANNA ASK THE CITY TO ADJUST THE BUDGET AND ALLOCATE $2 MILLION OF NEW FUNDING FOR RIGHT TO COUNSEL. THE CURRENT BUDGET RELIES HEAVILY ON A ROLLOVER THAT DOESN'T EXIST. IT'LL BE SPENT DOWN BY SEPTEMBER. THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED COUNTLESS FAMILIES, AT LEAST 500 IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE TO AVOID EVICTION AND EVEN AVOID COURT. SO WE ASK TO PLEASE ALLOCATE THE ADEQUATE FUNDING WE NEED TO HELP US CONTINUE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON AND MANY BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU. I AM A MEMBER OF, UH, ORLE, AND I'M BRENDA MUNSON AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE, UH, JUSTICE FUND FOR $2.2 MILLION, UH, OF FUNDING [00:50:01] FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION. AND I'M HERE ALSO TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, WE'RE LIVING IN CHAOS AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF TURMOIL AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, TERROR, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, TAM PARA. AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT THE, UH, A RIGHT TO, UH, COUNSEL, I'M SORRY, THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST FOR 400, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS. UH, SINCE MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR OWN HOME AND WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THEM AS WELL. I, I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE 200, UH, MILLION DOLLARS FOR, UH, FOR LIBRE, UH, WHICH IS THE TENANT RIGHTS, UH, COMMITTEE. AND THEN SINCE IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, JUSTICE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. YOU ARE WELL. WELCOME NEXT SPEAKER. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EDGAR ALVARADO. UM, I AM MEMBER OF, UH, ORLE AND I ALSO, I AM FATHER AND, UH, WORK, UH, IN THE PRIVATE, UH, SECTOR. UM, AND I LIVE IN A, IN DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, I THINK. UM, I AM IMMIGRANT AND I KNOW THE FEAR, UH, AN ANXIETY OF FACING, UH, IMMIGRATION PROCEEDING, UH, WITHOUT LEGAL SUPPORT. I CANNOT IMAGINE, UH, THE PAIN A FAMILY FEEL WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE, THE DEPORTATION. UH, TO TODAY, I AM ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION, UH, OF 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE TRUST, UH, FUND. UH, THIS FUND PROVIDE, UH, LEGAL DEFENSE FOR IMMIGRANT, UH, PROTECT WORKING FAMILY AND HELP, UH, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. UM, AND I ALSO, UH, ASKING YOU FOR BOTH, UH, FOR 400,000, UH, DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2 MILLION FOR TENANT. RIGHT. COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR, FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKS LIKE THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER. UM, BEFORE I ADJOURN, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS EVENING, UM, AND WORKING WITH US. THIS IS, UH, NEW TO US AS WELL, DOING THE, THIS, THIS FULL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING, BUT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HEAR YOUR VOICES. AND SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO, TO SHARE WITH US, UH, YOUR PRIORITIES. WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THOSE INTO ACCOUNT AND HAVE AS WONDERFUL AND SAFE AS AN EVENING AS YOU CAN. AND WITH THAT, UM, UM, MADAM CHAIR, I DO, UM, CAN I, UM, OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. SO, UM, WITH YOUR, UM, UM, THE PRESIDENT OF PRIDE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, AND SHE DID SEND A STATEMENT, UM, WOULD YOU CONSIDER ALLOWING ME TO READ HER STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD? YES. OKAY. UM, IT SAYS, UM, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE, ON BEHALF OF LONG BEACH PRIDE, I'M WRITING TO REQUEST YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP SUSTAIN AND PRESERVE ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST OUTSTANDING AND IMPACTFUL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. AS YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH PRIDE HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF OUR CITY FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS. IT'S MORE THAN A FESTIVAL. IT'S A MOVEMENT, A CELEBRATION, A SAFE HAVEN, AND A SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND ITS ALLIES. OUR EVENTS CREATE A SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO COEXIST, EXPRESS THEMSELVES FREELY, AND FIND COMMUNITY. FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH IN PARTICULAR, PRIDE IS A BEACON OF HOPE AND ACCEPTANCE IN A WORLD THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS EMBRACE THEM. HOWEVER, THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BROUGHT UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES. IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19, OUR FESTIVAL AND PARADE ATTENDANCE TOOK A SIGNIFICANT HIT FROM WHICH HA IT HAS NOT FULLY RECOVERED. IN ADDITION, THE LOSS OF KEY DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, DEI PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH CHALLENGES TO GRANT FUNDING, HAS LED TO A SHARP DECLINE IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THESE COMBINED SETBACKS [00:55:01] HAVE PLACED LONG BEACH PRIDE IN A POSITION OF SERIOUS FINANCIAL STRAIN. WE ARE REACHING OUT NOW, NOT JUST FOR THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, BUT TO REQUEST FOR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO CONSIDER MAKING AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO LONG BEACH PRIDE, ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE, GROW, AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT WE HAVE FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. LONG BEACH PRIDE IS NOT SIMPLY AN EVENT. IT IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, A CULTURAL CA, A CORNERSTONE, AND A CRITICAL PART OF OUR SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY. YOUR SUPPORT WOULD HELP US CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND JOYFUL SPACES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WE HOPE THAT WE WILL, THAT YOU WILL STAND WITH US AS WE HELP ENSURE THE FUTURE OF LONG BEACH PRIDE. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR SHARING THAT. UM, AND WITH THAT, WE STAND ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. THANK YOU. OH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.