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RIGHT,[00:37:46]
MADAM[00:37:46]
CLERK[00:37:47]
WAS[00:37:47]
CALLED[00:37:48]
TO[00:37:48]
ORDER THE MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL.WELL, UH, I HOPE Y'ALL HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING AND WELCOME TO, UH, THE MEETING OF LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, VICE MAYOR YANGA AND COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA UH, WILL NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, AND SO WE HAVE AN ALL WOMAN LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT.
UH, BEFORE WE, UH, PROCEED, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT.
UM, I'M GONNA LEAD OFF, UH, THIS MOMENT OF, OF SILENCE, UH, BY ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, THAT WE LOST THE TITAN IN LONG BEACH.
UH, MOST RECENTLY, UM, WITH, UH, MAYOR BOB FOSTER, WHO, UH, PASSED AWAY RECENTLY SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY THE AGE OF 78.
UH, HE SERVED OUR CITY WITH DISTINCTION FOR TWO TERMS, 2006 TO 2014, FOLLOWING AN AN ACCOMPLISHED CAREER AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, WHERE HE ROSE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT.
HE LED LONG BEACH, SOME OF, THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING YEARS THROUGH OUR CITY'S RECENT HISTORY, FINANCIALLY, UH, INCLUDING THE GREAT RECESSION.
AND EVEN WHEN THOSE ISSUES WERE DIFFICULT OR THE POSITIONS UNPOPULAR, MAYOR FOSTER ALWAYS CHO CHOSE TO DO WHAT WHAT HE FELT WAS RIGHT AND WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF LONG BEACH.
HIS LEADERSHIP ON FISCAL RESTRAINT HELPED RESTORE STABILITY TO THE CITY, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN LONG BEACH'S FIRST BUDGET SURPLUS IN A DECADE.
HE ALSO PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS THAT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH WORKED, THAT CONTINUES TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
HE ENGAGED WITH EVERYONE, WORLD LEADERS, LOCAL RESIDENTS, UH, WITH HIS OWN STYLE OF HUMOR, HUMILITY, AND DOWN TO EARTH CHARM.
EVEN AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, HE CONTINUED TO SERVE GREATER LONG BEACH THROUGH HIS EXTENSIVE BOARD SERVICE, AND TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE NANCY, UH, BY PROVIDING GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR LONG BEACH STATE ATHLETICS, INCLUDING THE JAMES FOSTER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP, CREATED IN MEMORY OF THEIR SON, MAYOR FOSTER WAS AN, WAS A REMARKABLE, UH,
[00:40:01]
PUBLIC SERVANT AND A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN AND A DEAR FRIEND TO MANY.ON BEHALF OF CITY OF LONG BEACH, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO NANCY AND TO THE FAMILY, AND TO ALL, UH, WHOSE LIVES MAYOR FOSTER TOUCH.
THAT SAID, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I'M NOW GONNA PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN TO LEAD US IN, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, WE LOST SOME GREATS.
WE LOST OUR GREAT FORMER MAYOR THIS YEAR.
WE LOST OUR GREAT, UH, FORMER, UH, CITY MANAGER.
UM, OUR COUNCILMAN URANGA LOST HIS BELOVED CHILD, AND, UH, I JUST LOST MY BELOVED MOTHER.
UM, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND UP, TURN AROUND AND WE'LL PLEDGE THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY.
LET'S START WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, CITY MANAGER.
[ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH]
ALL RIGHT.UH, FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR THIS, ONCE A QUARTER, WE GET A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE SOME AMAZING WORK OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REALLY OUT THERE, UH, SERVING THE PUBLIC, UH, HELPING OUR RESIDENTS, HELPING OUR BUSINESSES, AND DOING AMAZING WORK.
SO WE HAVE, UH, EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FROM FOUR DIFFERENT MONTHS, ACTUALLY, UM, FIVE MONTHS TODAY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER.
AND I'LL READ A SHORT BIO OF EACH ONE AND HAVE THEM COME UP AND A NUMBER OF 'EM ARE HERE WITH THEIR, UH, WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES TO CHEER THEM ON.
FIRST UP, UH, FROM ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DON KAMAI KAMAI, DON HAS BEEN A DEDICATED CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEE FOR NEARLY SEVEN YEARS, JOINING THE DEPARTMENT IN 2023 AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST IN THE ELECTION ELECTRIC GENERATION BUREAU, OVERSEEING, UH, THE SOUTHEAST RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY, COMMONLY KNOWN AS SURF.
UH, SHE STEPPED INTO THE ROLE DURING A CRITICAL PERIOD AS SURF TRANSITIONED FROM AN ACTIVE OPERATING FACILITY THROUGH CLOSURE AND DECOMMISSIONING TOWARD FULL DEMOLITION.
HER PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAVE MADE HER AN ESSENTIAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
DON HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, REPORTING, VENDOR COORDINATION, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, AND ENSURING UNINTERRUPTED SITE SERVICES.
DURING THE DECOMMISSIONING PHASE, DON SERVED AS A KEY POINT OF COORDINATION, UH, SUCCESSFULLY SECURED A CONSULTANT CONTRACT TO SUPPORT PLANNING, AND IS NOW LEADING THE RFP PROCESS TO PROCURE A DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR BEYOND OPERATIONS.
DON HAS STRENGTHENED TEAM MORALE THROUGH EVENT COORDINATION AND COMMITTEE SERVICE, AND WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HER AS THE ENERGY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
WELCOME UP, DON, JOIN US OVER HERE.
NEXT UP IS NICOLE TOMI, TOGA DIGITAL SERVICES LIBRARIAN, LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE IS PROUD TO NAME NICOLE AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AS DIGITAL SERVICES LIBRARIAN.
SHE MANAGES THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, ONLINE RESOURCES, AND DIGITAL TOOLS.
SINCE JOINING IN 2021, SHE HAS STRENGTHENED DIGITAL OFFERINGS WHILE WORKING HARD TO EXPAND OUTREACH, TRAINING AND PROMOTION.
NICOLE JOINED THE CITY'S, UH, UX COHORT TO IMPROVE THE USER EXPERIENCE OF OUR WEBSITE.
SHE'S ALSO PART OF THE AI STAFF WORKING GROUP TO REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLORE HOW AI MIGHT BE, UH, USED TO STREAMLINE AND IMPROVE LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC AND STAFF.
SHE'S ALSO INSTRUMENTAL TO MIGRATING OUR INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM TO THE NEW PLATFORM.
UH, NICOLE EMBODIES THE VALUES OF THE LIBRARY AND PROFESSION, AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM.
[00:45:06]
NEXT UP FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE, JOCELYN FLORES.JOCELYN IS A RECREATION ASSISTANT AND BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, REC AND MARINE IN 2018 AS A REC LEADER SPECIALIST FOR INITIALLY ASSIGNED TO STEARNS PARK IN OUR ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM, AND HAS ADVANCED THROUGH THE ROLES INCLUDING DAY CAMP AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. IN 2024, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO FULL-TIME RECREATION SPECIALIST AND SERVED AS ONE OF TWO PROGRAM COORDINATORS IN OUR WRAP SCHOOL-BASED RECREATION PROGRAMS. AS RECREATION ASSISTANT OVERSEEING MULTIPLE AFTERSCHOOL SITES, SHE DEMONSTRATES EXCEPTIONAL DILIGENCE AND STRONG WORK ETHIC MANAGING PROGRAMS THAT EACH SERVE 70 THOU OR 70 PLUS STUDENTS.
WHILE, UM, UH, STRIVING TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT, JOCELYN ENSURES THAT EACH SITE INCORPORATES ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND TRADITIONAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WHILE MAINTAINING PROPER STUDENT TO STAFF RATIOS, OFTEN TRAVELING BETWEEN SITES, AS WELL AS HANDLING EXTENSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.
JOCELYN, UH, REGULARLY, UM, STEPS IN OR RECENTLY STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF SITE DIRECTOR, MANAGING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, WHILE ENSURING HER OTHER SITES, UH, RUN SMOOTHLY.
DESPITE STAFFING SHORTAGES AND A FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT, SHE MAINTAINS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, WORKS LONG HOURS, INCLUDING EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS, AND APPROACHES CONFLICTS WITH GRACE AND EMPATHY TOWARDS PARTICIPANTS, PARENTS, STAFF, AND DISTRICT PERSONNEL.
HER ABILITY TO MANAGE THESE CHALLENGES WITH DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM MAKES HER A STANDOUT EMPLOYEE WHO TRULY EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES OF PARK RECREATION AND MARINE.
NEXT UP FOR OCTOBER IS ROXANNE LEON.
ROXANNE IS A ASSISTANT AD ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, TOO IN THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT.
SHE IS THE AIRPORT'S EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
BECAUSE OF HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN MANAGING THE AIRPORT'S GROUND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, OVERSEEING PERMITS, RENEWALS, INSURANCE TRIP REPORTS, AND FEES, WHILE ENSURING COMPLIANCE AND EFFICIENCY.
THE GT PROGRAM IS COMPLEX CONSISTING OF RESERVATION BASED SHUTTLES, COURTESY SHUTTLES, TAXIS, AND TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES.
TNCS, UH, ROXANNE CONTINUOUSLY BENCHMARKS BEST PRACTICES AT OTHER AIRPORTS AND IMPLEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCE THE PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE AND REPUTATION.
SHE'S HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO GT PROVIDERS AND DRIVERS, FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, BUILT ON TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HAS STREAMLINED PROCESSES TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS OPERATORS REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE.
THROUGH HER INITIATIVE, PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, ROXANNA STRENGTHENED THE AIRPORT'S GROUND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM REFLECTING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
HER WORK EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES OF THE AIRPORT, UH, DEPARTMENT AND CITY OF LONG BEACH, MAKING HER A TRULY DESERVING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
I THINK THOSE, THOSE TWO MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO YOUNG FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY.
ALSO, AN OCTOBER, UH, WE HAVE FROM OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL SAFETY SPECIALIST, CAITLYN SIS.
CAITLYN HAS QUICKLY BECOME AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE CITY TEAM.
SINCE STEPPING INTO HER ROLE AS CITY HALL SAFETY SPECIALIST IN A SHORT TIME, SHE HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BY PROACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS, ASSESSING SAFETY AND TRAINING NEEDS, AND IMPLEMENTING CRITICAL SAFETY MEASURES.
SHE DEVELOPED AND LED THE ROLLOUT OF THE LONG OVERDUE CITY HALL EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, COORDINATED ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAININGS AND TESTED EMERGENCY SERVICES LIKE PANIC BUTTONS TO ENSURE READINESS HER WORK ON REVITALIZING THE FLOOR WARDEN PROGRAM, BRINGING IT UP TO DATE, INCORPORATING UNION FEEDBACK, AND SUCCESSFULLY SECURING APPROVAL FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
CAITLYN ALSO SUPPORTS THE BROADER SAFETY BUREAU, CONTRIBUTES TO POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND SERVES AS A GO-TO RESOURCE FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS. HER PROFESSIONALISM, ENTHUSIASM, AND DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT HAVE MADE HER A STANDOUT EMPLOYEE AND A TRUSTED RESOURCE IN A BUILDING, UH, IN BUILDING A SAFER, MORE PREPARED CITY HALL.
[00:50:07]
THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, JUST A COUPLE MORE.
UM, SO, UH, FROM OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND ACCREDITATION COORDINATOR HA WIN HAW CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES PROFESSIONALISM, PATIENCE, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING HIS COLLEAGUES.
HE, HE APPROACHES HIS WORK WITH A CALM AND THOUGHTFUL DEMEANOR, CONTRIBUTING TO POSITIVE AND COLLABORATIVE TEAM ENVIRONMENT.
HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE MAKE HIM A TRUSTED RESOURCE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
HIS RELIABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHERS REFLECTS A HIGH LEVEL OF DEDICATION TO BOTH HIS ROLE AND THE ORGANIZATION'S.
MISS MISSION HA CURRENTLY SERVES AS A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND ACCREDITATION COORDINATOR FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IN THIS ROLE, HE ENSURES THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION WHILE ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES ACROSS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
HAVING JOINED THE DEPARTMENT NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO, HE EXPRESSES A DEEP GRATITUDE FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE A TEAM OF DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND SHAPE HIS PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY.
AH, ALSO IN NOVEMBER, UH, FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, AMANDA LOYA.
AMANDA JUST RECENTLY JOINED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN MARCH, 2024, BRINGING OVER A DECADE OF CITY EXPERIENCE SINCE, UH, 2011.
AS THE PRIMARY LIAISON WITH UKG KRONOS, SHE SUCCESSFULLY LED THE TRANSITION OF THE TELES STAFF APPLICATION TO A CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION.
AN EFFORT COMPLETED WITHOUT ANY DISRUPTION TO LBFD OPERATIONS.
UH, AMANDA SPEARHEADED THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MORE THAN 50 NEW INDEX CODES IN TELESTAFF, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO MANAGE OVER 120 MILLION IN PERSONNEL COSTS AND OVER TIME EXPENDITURES.
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TELESTAFF TEAM, AMANDA STREAMLINED SCHEDULING FOR ALL 734 EMPLOYEES MANAGED THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING TOOLS TO ENSURE THAT FIRE SWARM PERSONNEL, SUPERVISORS, AND CIVILIAN STAFF WERE ALIGNED WITH THE NEW CODING STRUCTURES.
HER LEADERSHIP AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAVE RESULTED IN DEPARTMENT WIDE MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCY ACROSS RESOURCE ALLOCATION, SCHEDULING, PAYROLL AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
HER FORWARD-THINKING APPROACH, ENTHUSIASM AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT HAVE LED TO A NEW STANDARD FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HER WORK NOT ONLY MODERNIZED THE CRITICAL SYSTEM, BUT ALSO CREATED LONG-TERM EFFICIENCIES THAT'LL BENEFIT THE DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS TO COME.
UM, PLACE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PD.
IS THIS YOUR SON? THIS IS MY SON.
ALSO, UH, FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN GARY SHAW.
CAPTAIN GARY SHAW IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEDICATED AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
SINCE JOINING THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 2001, HE HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE THROUGH HIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, TACTICAL EXPERTISE AND MENTORSHIP OF OTHERS, SERVING AS A FIREFIGHTER, FIREFIGHTER, PARAMEDIC, ENGINEER, AND FIRE CAPTAIN.
HE SERVED SEVEN YEARS IN THE FIREBOAT PROGRAM, ADVANCING THE DEPARTMENT'S MARITIME READINESS, AND IS ONE OF THE FEW STATE CERTIFIED URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS, BRINGING ELITE MEDICAL AND TACTICAL PROFICIENCY TO COMPLEX OPERATIONS.
CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO FIRE STATION SIX, HE LEADS THE TACTICAL PARAMEDIC PROGRAM, SERVES ON THE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE, AND IS TRAINED WITH L-B-P-D-H-S-I, AND THE FBI AND DEPLOYED WITH LBPD SWAT ON NUMEROUS HIGH RISK OPERATIONS.
SINCE JOINING THE TACTICAL PARAMEDIC PROGRAM IN 2019, HE HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL OPERATIONAL TRAINING RENDERED CARE DURING DYNAMIC INCIDENTS, AND HAS DEPLOYED MORE THAN ANY OTHER MEDIC IN THE PROGRAM.
HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A TRAINING OFFICER, VOLUNTEERING FOR THE PARAMEDIC RELIEF PERSONNEL PROGRAM, AND HAS KNOWN FOR HIS HUMILITY, DEDICATION, AND COMMITMENT TO HIS TEAM.
HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIM HIMSELF, AND EMBODY THE VALUES OF THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YEAH, I'M GLAD THEY'RE IN SERVICE.
[00:55:08]
OH, NO, I'M TALKING TO YOU.SO NEXT UP IS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ADMIN ANALYST THREE, NATALIE PADILLA.
NATALIE JOINED THE CITY AND FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IN 2019, AND IN THAT TIME HAS BEEN PROMOTED THREE TIMES AS AN ADMIN ANALYST.
THREE IN FM'S ADMINISTRATION BUREAU.
NATALIE'S WORK ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS GREATLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FM'S POSITION, VACANCY RATE, UH, BEING ONLY HALF OF THAT OF THE REST OF THE CITY.
NATALIE JUGGLES DOZENS OF TASKS FROM COORDINATING FM'S OWN BUDGET CREATION AND EXECUTION TO MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUMINOUS PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUESTS.
NATALIE HAS USED HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND HER PUBLIC SECTOR HR ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION.
CERTIFICATION TO BUILD A NUMBER OF TRACKING TOOLS TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION MAKING.
SHE HAS A SEEMINGLY INFINITE CAPACITY FOR WORK AND INNOVATION, AND IS A CENTRAL ORGANIZER OF DEPARTMENTAL CELEBRATIONS MORE, UM, UH, MORE THAN ONE COLLEAGUE.
CHEERFULLY REFERS TO NATALIE AS QUOTE, THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYEE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, OUR LAST, UH, HONOREE, UH, WHO UN UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT IS ACHILLE JONES, UH, BUSINESS SYSTEM SUPPORT SPECIALIST SIX IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.
ACHILLES CAREER BEGAN AT THE CITY IN 2019 AS A CONTRACTOR WHERE HE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE CIS UTILITIES TEAM AND HIS DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE WERE QUICKLY RECOGNIZED.
HE WAS APPOINTED INTO A BUSINESS SYSTEM SPECIALIST FOUR ROLE IN MARCH, 2021, PROMOTED IN JULY, 2022 TO A FIVE POSITION, AND IS NOW LEADING THE CIS UTILITIES TEAM AS A BUSINESS SYSTEM SPECIALIST.
SINCE JULY, 2025, ACHILL IS RECOGNIZED FOR EMBODYING THE TID VALUES OF EXCELLENCE AND AN EXPLORATORY MINDSET CON, UH, CON, CONSISTENTLY BRINGING EXCEPTIONAL PLANNING, ORGANIZATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS TO HIS WORK.
HIS LEADERSHIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF A CIS CUSTOMER WEB PORTAL, MY UTILITY PORTAL THAT JUST LAUNCHED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WHERE HE GUIDED THE TEAM THROUGH COMPLEX OBSTACLES AND ENSURED A SEAMLESS ROLLOUT.
ACHILL IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING, UH, CITY AND TID INITIATIVES, SERVING, SERVING AS T I'S RACIAL EQUITY CHAMPION AND A MEMBER OF LAST YEAR'S DIGITAL CITY'S SURVEY COMMITTEE.
AND HE IS WELL RESPECTED BY HIS COLLEAGUES IN PARTNER DEPARTMENTS.
ACHILL IS A EXCEPTIONAL COLLEAGUE WHOSE INTEGRITY, DEDICATION, AND COMMUNITY-MINDED APPROACH MADE HIM A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HIS ONGOING COMMITMENT, HARD WORK, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT TAKES SOME TIME, UH, AND WE TRY TO LIMIT PRESENTATIONS, UH, BUT, UH, REALLY WE APPRECIATE IT AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY EMPLOYEES COME.
UH, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU GIVE AND, AND THE HONOR THAT YOU GIVE THEM AS EMPLOYEES, UH, TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH AND, UH, WE'LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE MONTHS.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S HAVE ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH STAND.
FOR ALL OF OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, CONGRATULATIONS.
OUR CITY IS SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE OUR CITY SPECIAL.
SO, ONE MORE TIME, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
ALRIGHT, SO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
SO, LAST WEEK ON NOVEMBER 25TH WAS ACTUALLY INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
AND UH, WE'LL JUST GIVE IT A MOMENT FOR FOLKS TO CLEAR.
[ INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN]
IT'S ALL THE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR SOME ICE CREAM OR SOMETHING ON THE WAY HOME.
[01:00:01]
LAST WEEK WE WERE OUT FOR, UH, WE'RE DARK FOR THANKSGIVING.WE'RE RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
UH, AND SO I'M GONNA INVITE UP NAZANIN AMANI TO PROVIDE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
IT JUST WARNED MY HEART THAT MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WERE WOMEN.
AND I'M PROUD TO SEE ALL THE COUNCILWOMEN HERE PRESENT ARE WOMEN.
HONORABLE MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS NAZA AMANI.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
WE ARE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO BOYS, BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH AND GRADUATED FROM UC, BERKELEY.
PROFESSIONALLY, I AM AN ELECTRONIC PROJECT DIRECTOR AT INFINIAN TECHNOLOGIES.
NOVEMBER 25 MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT BEGINS THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CULMINATING ON DECEMBER 10.
THIS OBSERVANCE COMMEMORATE THE ASSASSINATION OF BEL SISTERS IN 1960S WHO WERE MURDERED UNDER THE ORDERS OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
RULER RAPHAEL TRIO, THE DAY SERVES TO RAISE AWARENESS, MOBILIZE ACTION, AND ADVOCATE FOR ENDING ALL FORMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE WORLDWIDE.
IT IS FORMALLY RECOGNIZED BY UNITED NATION IN 1999.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS SUCH AS VERBAL VIOLENCE AS WE HEAR THESE DAYS ON MEDIA, PUBLIC OFFICIALS CALLING FEMALE REPORTERS, STUPID PIGGY, WHICH IS REALLY HUMILIATING TO ALL THE WOMENS AS WE ARE HERE.
DIGITAL VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND IN SOME COUNTRIES, LIKE MY BIRTH COUNTRY, IRAN, IT CAN ALSO BE A SYSTEMATIC GOVERNMENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.
WHILE THERE ARE LIMITED DATA ON VERBAL VIOLENCE, DIGITAL VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE.
WITH THE GROWTH OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND LACK OF CLEAR LEGAL BOUNDARIES, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS INDEED TAKEN SERIOUS STEP TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE BROADLY SHIFTING TOWARDS A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH, INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVE SUCH AS LONG BEACH ADVANCING PEACE CERTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION STRONG, WHICH IS STANDING TOGETHER TO REACH OUR NEXT GENERATION DOWNTOWN AND CITYWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE PLANS.
WHILE THESE INITIATIVE AND REFORMS HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF VIOLENCE FOR ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING WOMEN, RECENT DATA SHOWS THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS TWO AND A HALF TIMES HIGHER THAN VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN NATIONALLY.
AND ONE AND A HALF TIMES LOCALLY.
PERHAPS IT IS NOT TIME TO MOVE TOWARDS A MORE FOCUSED AND PUBLICLY LAUNCHED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM SUCH AS DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION SUPPORT FOR SURVIVOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WOMEN CENTRIC PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES.
IT HAS BEEN OVER NINE YEARS SINCE I LAST STOOD BEFORE THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL REPRESENTING IC WIN IRANIAN CIRCLE OF WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING REQUESTING THE PASSAGE OF CAW RESOLUTION.
CAW, THE 1979 UNITED NATION CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN WAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY THIS CITY COUNCIL IN 2016.
[01:05:01]
IN ADDITION, LAST YEAR, ICV FUNDED FOUR C TRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE LA COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BOOKLET.REFER TO THE LINK ON THE SLIDE FOR FARSI SPEAKING COMMUNITY.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO ASK HOW IC WIN CAN HELP TAKE FURTHER STEPS TOWARD THE RATIFICATION OF CAW IN LONG BEACH AS A MEANINGFUL STEP AND ULTIMATELY A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TOWARDS ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU NAZANIN, AND WE'RE GONNA INVITE YOU DOWN.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WELCOME TO JOIN ME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS.
LET'S HAVE OUR REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED.
UH, WE HAVE ONE REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION.
WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF FUSTER VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000.
NEXT IS CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 20 MINUS ITEM SEVEN 11, I MEAN, UH, MINUS 11 7 11.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL HAVE A MOTION.
OKAY, WE NEED A SECOND ON CONSENT.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 20.)]
ALL RIGHT, MOVED.ANY, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE REPORT FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, APPROVING THE LONG BEACH FIRE
[11. 25-57061 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for Agreement No. C25706001, with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, approving the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) to provide instructor(s) and jointly conduct boating safety and boating law enforcement training with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) through August 31, 2027, for an agreement amount not to exceed $10,000; and Increase appropriations in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Fire Department by $10,000, offset by reimbursement funds from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation. (Citywide) Office or Department: Fire Department Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTORS AND JOINTLY CONDUCT BOATING SAFETY AND BOATING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS FOR AN AGREEMENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10,000 CITYWIDE.I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROGRAM.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE RECEIVED A GRANT TO COVER THIS SORT OF TRAINING.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS REACH OUT ABOUT THIS, AND I JUST WANNA ENSURE THAT OUR TRAINING OR FUTURE SESSIONS WITH THIS $10,000, UH, WILL COVER RESPONSES TO BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM BOAT STEREOS ON THE WATER.
THE BUIS OR THE BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE REALLY IS PREVALENT, UH, MORE DURING THE SUMMER, BUT THE LOUD RADIOS, UM, ARE DEFINITELY A PROBLEM THAT WE GET A LOT OF OF, UM, COMPLAINTS ABOUT.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS CAN REALLY HELP OUT WITH THAT.
THANK YOU CHIEF FOR, FOR, UH, ADDRESSING THIS.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UH, YES, THIS, THIS GR THIS, UH, TRAINING THAT WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE WILL BE PROVIDED TO, UM, VARIOUS AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
AND THERE'LL BE COALESCENT HERE IN LONG BEACH.
SO IT'LL BE SHARED TRAINING BECAUSE OF OUR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION.
WE WE'RE A GREAT SITE FOR THIS.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, THE OPERATORS THAT ARE GONNA BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS TRAINING ARE GONNA BE, UH, LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER, UH, FROM BEST PRACTICES ACROSS THE STATE.
AND CERTAINLY THESE ARE SOME OF
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THE TOPICS THAT THEY WOULD BE ADDRESSING WITH RESPECT TO, UH, ADDRESSING, UH, ISSUES LIKE THIS.UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONMEMBER, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ALRIGHT, WELL NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WE HAVE EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
SONIA KHAL, UH, CAROLYN ESSEX, RENEE HERNANDEZ, LAURA ROBERT VAUGHN, PARIS KEVY, UH, JENNIFER AND CARRIE WEBSTER.
ALL RIGHT, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE SONIA.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SONYA KHALIL, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, UM, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT AN ETHICAL SCREEN POLICY FOR LONG BEACH CONTRACTS AND INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE ALL AWARE, BUT CITIES ARE ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION ON THIS.
[ 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 the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
OF THESE WERE NEW FOR ME, WHICH I THINK IS INTERESTING.UM, SO I THINK WE MIGHT KNOW HAYWARD AND RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA WE'RE AMONG THE FIRST TO, UM, DIVEST, UM, FROM COMPANIES COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
SORRY, I'M A LITTLE OUT OF BREATH.
I JUST GOT HERE AND I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE GOING UP RIGHT AWAY.
UM, MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS ALSO ADOPTED A VALUES ALIGNED INVESTMENT SCREENING, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL, UM, THAT REALLY DISENTANGLING ITS BUDGET FROM WEAPONS, UM, WEAPON MAKERS, FOSSIL FUELS, PRIVATE PRISONS, AND OTHER HARMFUL IN INDUSTRIES.
AND JUST LAST MONTH, SOMERFIELD SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS PASSED A BALLOT MEASURE.
IT GOT PUT ON THE BALLOT TO CUT TIES WITH CORPORATIONS.
AND I THINK THIS WAS INTERESTING.
LOUIS, NEAR MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS, UM, IS NOW THE LARGEST US CITY TO DO SO THEY JUST VOTED LAST MONTH, 10 TO ONE TO DIVEST FROM COMPANIES, UM, PROFITING FROM MORE OCCUPATIONAL APARTHEID AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
SO THIS IS A POWERFUL NATIONAL SHIFT AND I'M HERE JUST HOPEFULLY SAYING AS A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, THAT LONG BEACH SHOULD BE ADDED ONTO THIS LIST.
WE ARE A CITY DEFINED BY DIVERSITY AND GLOBAL AWARENESS, UM, AND OUR BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT THOSE VALUES.
UM, IN, IN THIS MOMENT WITH THE INCREASED, UH, ICE RAIDS AND FEAR RISING ACROSS IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH, THIS POLICY BECOMES EVEN MORE URGENT.
SO, UM, IT CAN REALLY ALSO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO SAY, ICE OUT OF LONG BEACH, MORE THAN THE SIM AND EVEN MORE, IT'S NOT JUST SYMBOLIC, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT JUST WORDS.
IT'S REALLY PUTTING OUR, YOU KNOW, WORDS DOWN TO MATCH OUR VALUES.
SO, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT'S PRETTY COOL IS OUR OTHER CITIES ARE ALREADY SHOWING THIS AND WHAT CAN DO, AND I THINK IT'S JUST ONLY GONNA BE MORE, THERE'S ALREADY OVER 10 CITIES THAT WE KNOW OF, PLUS ALSO IN EUROPE THERE'S SOME CITIES.
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ON OCTOBER 9TH OF THIS YEAR, THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDED ADAPTING A CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY.
UM, AND SO THE GROUNDWORK'S COM THE GROUNDWORK IS COMPLETE.
UM, AND I REALLY HOPE THIS IS A MOMENT THAT LONG BEACH CAN LEAD.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM WITH THE COALITION FOR ADJUST AND EQUITABLE CALIFORNIA, AND WE FOCUS ON REPARATIVE JUSTICE FOR THE AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF AMERICAN ENSLAVED PEOPLES, UM, OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE MANY OF YOU VISITING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO I TOO VISITED LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A SPECIAL NEW BUSINESS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CITY COUNCIL ONE, UH, MARY.
AND IT'S A FANTASTIC ART AND WELLNESS.
UM, UH, A GALLERY ON FIFTH AND PINE CALLED BLUE ARTS AND WELLNESS.
THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF ART, WELLNESS, WELLNESS EVENTS FOCUSED ON EXTRAORDINARY ART, 3D PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING.
UM, BLUE ARTS OWNER GREG JOHNSON, HE'S HERE TONIGHT AND I'M HOPING HE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK LATER.
UM, AND HE WILL BE HOSTING A CONVERSATION AND A RECEPTION WITH THE ICONIC JANE KENNEDY ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6TH.
IT WILL BE AT THREE P PM AT THE BLUE ARTS, UH, AND IN, UM, WELLNESS GATHERING AT 3:00 PM AND
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EVERYONE IS INVITED.UM, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON BACK IN 2018 AND CITY COUNCIL ALSO, I JOINED A GANG, NOT THE KIND YOU THINK IT WAS THE YANG GANG, A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN PEOPLE-CENTERED SOLUTIONS AND A GOVERNMENT THAT PUTS HUMANITY FIRST.
HIS MESSAGE RESONATED WITH ME DEEPLY.
THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
TAX REVENUES MATTERS, BUT SO DOES HOW WE RAISE IT.
AND TOO OFTEN I SEE OUR CITY OR OUR STATE AND EVEN OUR NATION FOCUSED ON REVENUE IN WAYS THAT PUT PRESSURE ON OUR ENVIRONMENT OR OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
AS A RESIDENT AND A VOTER, I ABSOLUTELY WANT US TO MEET OUR ECONOMIC GOALS, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO MEET THEM AT THE EXPENSE OF CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, OR BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY.
I'M ALSO HERE TODAY TO MAKE GENERAL REMARKS A PART OF MY PERSONAL CONCERNS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.
MANY OF THE UNHOUSED VISUALS I SEE ARE ON HIGH PROFILE PUBLIC SPACES LIKE BILLY JEAN KING LIBRARY.
AND I SAY THAT GENTLY BECAUSE I KNOW OUR OUTREACH TEAMS WORK HARD, BUT WHAT I'M WITNESSING LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE BEING PRESENT WITHOUT PRIORITIZED, WITHOUT BEING PRIORITIZED.
AND I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT US AS A CITY TO GET USED TO THAT.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BLEND INTO THE LANDSCAPE LIKE FIXTURES.
I WANT TO HELP, I WANT TO BE HERE TO COLLABORATE.
AND I WANNA REACH OUT TO MY, MY, UM, CITY COUNCIL PERSON, MARY, AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UM, HOUSING, THE UNSUPPORTED WRAPAROUND HEALTH SERVICES, FREE BREAST SCREENINGS FOR THE UNHOUSED WOMEN AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN.
MA'AM, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED I BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND I WILL WRAP UP, BUT I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
ALRIGHT, NEXT IS RENEE AND THEN LAURA.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU.
UM, AND EACH TIME I HOPE TO GET MORE SUCCINCT AND I'M NOT GONNA STOP COMING TILL THERE IS SOME ACTION TAKEN.
I AM ONE OF THE HOMELESS THAT SOMETIMES IS AT THE LIBRARY, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A VERY VIOLENT PLACE AND I CHOOSE NOT TO STAY THERE.
I'M A FORMER RN WHO IRONICALLY, I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT IRONY TONIGHT.
I IRONICALLY, YOU KNOW, I SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES AND I'M TRYING TO SAVE MY LIFE.
AND WHERE'S THAT GOING? RATHER DIFFICULT.
IRONICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IRONICALLY HAS NOT BEEN HELPING ME.
MOST RECENTLY, YESTERDAY I HAD A VERY DISTURBING INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS ASSAULTED BY YET ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER, YET ANOTHER FOR SIMPLY BEING ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND I HAVE MULTIPLE RECORDS AND INCIDENCES OF BEING ASSAULTED, CALLING THE POLICE FOR HELP, AND THEY DOING NOTHING.
AND I DO HAVE IT ON VIDEOTAPE.
I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED ON YOUR BUSES.
I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED BY YOUR BUS DRIVERS.
I CAME HERE IRONICALLY TO BEG MY MULTIMILLIONAIRE SEMI-FAMOUS SON-IN-LAW, DAVID QUACKENBUSH AND MY DAUGHTER JESSICA, TO SAVE MY LIFE, WHO CHOSE TO HIRE A MILLIONAIRE LAW FIRM TO OPPOSE ME.
THAT'S A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.
SORRY TO BRING IT UP, BUT I'M GONNA AIR MY DIRTY LAUNDRY.
LAUNDRY 'CAUSE I'M TIRED OF THIS.
I SPOKE WITH PAUL DUNCAN THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WHO ASSURED ME HE WAS GONNA GET BACK TO ME.
HAS HE? NO, I'VE LEFT MESSAGES FOR HIM.
I'VE CALLED YOUR OFFICE MR. RICHARDSON, MAYOR RICHARDSON, AND SPOKE WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO TOLD ME, ASSURED ME SHE WAS GIVING A MESSAGE TO JEFF WILLIAMS WHO NEVER CONTACTED ME, AND I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM.
I'M 71 OH AND IRONICALLY, BEING A RETIRED RN WHO SAVED MULTIPLE LIVES, I HAVE SERIOUS CARDIAC ISSUES.
I SUFFER ALSO FROM WHAT I TRY TO TELL LAY PEOPLE.
IF STEPHEN KING WROTE A HORROR BOOK ABOUT A CHRONIC DISEASE REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY WOULD BE IT.
THERE'S ONE CELEBRITY, PAULA ABDUL, WHO I'VE HEARD SUFFERS FROM THE SAME MALADY THAT I HAVE.
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OKAY, UH, BEFORE I START, I WANNA SAY F**K ICE LAMI, DHS KIDNAPPERS ICE HOLES.AND NOW I CALL THEM ICK HOLES AS THEY GIVE OFF THE ICK.
I STAND WITH VENEZUELA AND ALL, AND ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
OKAY, NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU GUYS, HOW WAS YOUR TURKEY DAY? GOOD
I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO BE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AS THOUSANDS OF BROWN PEOPLE, IMMIGRANTS, PROTESTORS, THE CENTERS, AND EVEN AMERICAN CITIZENS.
YES, AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES OVER THE HOLIDAYS.
THEY, UNLIKE ALL OF YOU UP HERE, WEREN'T ABLE TO EAT A BIG DINNER, KISS THEIR KIDS, BE WITH THEIR MOTHERS, THEIR FATHERS, NOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.
THEY HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ON FLOORS OF INTERNMENT CAMPS BEING TREATED WORSE THAN ANIMALS AND BARELY EAT OR SLEEP.
I'LL TELL YOU BECAUSE LEADERS LIKE YOU T UA, WHATEVER, EXCUSE ME, UA.
I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AS WELL.
AGAIN BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU KNOWING ALL THESE MASS TEAM WHO CO PLANE OFFICERS TO SLEEP AND BE AMONGST US EVEN HERE IN LONG BEACH WHERE THEY NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS AGO, TERRORIZED BROWN PEOPLE.
MY MY PEOPLE, YOUR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, LONG, LONG BEACH WAS HIT HARD BY THESE ICK HOLE KIDNAPPERS THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO STAY IN OUR CITY.
OTHERS AND MYSELF ARE SAYING HELL NO.
I HAVE ASKED YOU BEFORE, BUT NOW I AND OTHERS DEMAND THAT LONG BEACH BECOME AN ICE FREE CITY.
REX RICHARDSON, PLEASE LOOK, THANK YOU.
WE NO LONGER WANT THESE THUGS IN OUR HOTELS, PLACES OF BUSINESS, NOR IN OUR STREETS.
IT IS UP TO YOU TO DO THE BIDDING OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU IN THIS OFFICE AND COULD TAKE YOUR ASSES OUT.
WE ALSO DEMAND THAT LONG BEACH ENFORCEMENT DO NOT SIT OR WATCH IDLY BUY AS THESE TIMO COPS HUNT DOWN PEOPLE LIKE ANIMALS AND HAPHAZARDLY ATTEMPT TO CATCH AND RESTRAIN THEM IN PLACES OF BUSINESS SUCH AS POLLY PIES, WHERE THE LBPD JUST STAYED IDLY BY AS HORRIFIED CUSTOMERS, WATCHED A MAN GET TAKEN DOWN BY THESE ICK HOLES WHO DID NOT GIVE A WARRANT AND WERE MASKED JUST LIKE THIS.
AND YOU, REX RICHARDSON AND MEGAN HAD THE AUDACITY TO POST ON INSTAGRAM ABOUT IT.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU WERE SAYING, OH, OKAY, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? ENOUGH'S ENOUGH.
START WORKING ON CITY ORDINANCES TO HAVE LONG BEACH.
MAKE IT ILLEGAL IN OUR CITY TO HAVE THESE CAUSE PLAYING COPS WHO WEAR MASKS AND HAVE THEM SHOW WARRANTS OR BE ARRESTED BY THE LBPD.
LET THE LBPD TAKE ACTION AGAINST THESE THUGS.
YOU EITHER GET WITH THE PROGRAM OR YOU LOOK TO BE OFF THIS COUNCIL BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE MAKING THESE DEMANDS.
ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ROBERT VAUGHN.
UM, I'M HERE ACTUALLY ON BEHALF OF MR. CASH LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, UM, WHO OWNS BUSINESSES HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AND, UH, THE CONCERN IS ON BEHALF OF SMALL BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE BEING SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONCERNS IS THE RAPID INCREASE INCREASE IN RE UN UNREGULATED STREET VENDORS WHO OPERATE WITH PAYING RENT, CARRYING INSURANCE, OR MEETING ANY REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES EXPECTED FOR LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES.
THESE VENDORS ARE DIRECTLY COMPETING WITH RETAIL TENANTS WHO COMPLY FULLY WITH CITY REGULATIONS, PAY COMMERCIAL RENT, MAINTAIN INSURANCE, AND AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
THIS CREATES AN UNFAIR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND PLACES LAWFUL OPERATORS IN, IN CLEAR DISADVANTAGE.
ADDITIONALLY, COMMERCIAL LAND LANDLORDS CONTINUE TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY BY MAINTAINING THE SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, AND OVERALL APPEARANCE OF THEIR PROPERTIES.
THESE INCLUDE COMBATING STREET GANG ACTIVITY ADDRESSING PERSISTENT GRAFFITI AND NA, NAVIGATING THE GROWING HOMELESS CRISIS CHALLENGE THAT REQUIRE ONGOING RESOURCES AND VIGILANCE.
DESPITE THESE DIFFICULTIES, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH APPEARS TO ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY VENDOR OPERATIONS.
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INTENSIFIES OR THIS APPROACH FURTHER INTENSIFIES THE BURDEN OF COMPLIANT BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING HARD TO MAINTAIN SAFE AND THRIVING COMMERCIAL SPACES.WE SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THE CITY TAKE CONCERNS.
OUR OUR CONCERNS CAN SERIOUSLY AND CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING FAIR AND BALANCED MEASURES THAT PROTECT LAWFUL BUSINESSES, SUPPORT OP PROPERTY OWNERS, AND ENSURE ALL PARTIES CONTRIBUTE EQUALLY AND TO THE COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER.
NEXT IS PARIS KEVY, AND AFTER THAT IS JENNIFER, TELL US THROUGH.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH A FEW QUOTES.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ICE AGENTS VIOLATING OUR RESIDENTS CONSTITUENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, NOR WILL WE ALLOW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DISREGARD OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CHICAGO.
WE DO NOT CONTROL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE DO NOT CONTROL THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WE DO NOT CONTROL THE PRESIDENT AND WE, THEY DON'T NOTIFY US WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND THERE WILL BE ACTIVITIES IN OUR REGION.
ONE OF THESE MAYORS SOUNDS LIKE A FIGHTER FOR HIS COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER SOUNDS LIKE A DEFEATIST READY TO CAPITULATE TO THE SACRIFICE AND SACRIFICES COMMUNITY.
AS A NAVY VETERAN, I AM EMBARRASSED THAT I HAVE VOTED FOR A MAYOR WHO LACKS CREATIVITY AND FIGHTS ON NOVEMBER 24TH.
YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS AND YOU SAID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND ACTUALLY SHOWED EMOTION ON THE TOPIC FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS.
LONG BEACH HAS ACTED DECISIVELY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY BY FUNDING LEGAL DEFENSE.
WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYONE WHO HAS RECEIVED LEGAL DEFENSE OR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR FOOD OR THE BASIC NEEDS OTHER THAN THE ONES GIVEN BY MUTUAL AID IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING HUNTED.
I DON'T SEE ANY MESSAGES FROM YOU BEING IN A BILINGUAL ASPECT.
I DON'T SEE YOU GIVING ANY WARNINGS THAT ICE IS IN THE AREA.
ON NOVEMBER 20TH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPENT HOURS DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH OUR BULLHORNS OUT THE WINDOWS SCREAMING FOR PEOPLE TO GET INSIDE TO SAFETY.
EXACTLY WHERE WERE YOU? I KNOW WHERE YOU WERE.
YOU WERE DOING A PHOTO OP AT THE FIRST RESTAURANT THAT GOT HIT THAT DAY.
MORE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN FROM CHERRY DONUTS.
MORE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN FROM U-HAUL.
EVEN RANDOM PEOPLE ON CORNERS A CHURCH.
BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION THOSE IN YOUR PHOTO OP.
YOU AS A MAYOR HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.
IS THAT THE TRUTH? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KIDNAPPED TODAY IN LONG BEACH? NOPE.
THERE WERE NO ALERT ALERTS ALERT SYSTEM SENT OUT.
YOU DO NOT SHARE THE BOLOS THAT COME UP FROM TI.
HELL, YOU TOLD ME TO GO TALK TO THE MAYOR OF SIGNAL HILL WHEN I MENTIONED THE HOME DEPOT RAIDS BECAUSE THAT'S SIGNAL HILL.
BUT THOSE WERE YOUR RESIDENTS THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE SIGNAL HILL HOME DEPOTS.
THERE'S A PETITION GOING AROUND WITH SOME TENTATIVE IDEAS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE YOU AT LEAST CAN CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
AND IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE GROW, PAIR, AND LEARN HOW TO FIGHT FREE PALESTINE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JENNIFER AND THEN CARRIE.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER AND I'M A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER.
THAT MEANS I DON'T TAKE A DOLLAR FROM ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICE TO PATROL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OR TO KEEP WATCH WHILE ICE INVADES TERRORIZES AND KIDNAPS OUR NEIGHBORS.
I DON'T PROMISE FAMILIES MONEY THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
I DON'T OFFER RESOURCES THAT AREN'T REAL.
WE STAY LAST DOING THE AFTERCARE THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL.
I'VE PATROLLED THE HOME DEPOTS FOR SIX MONTHS, DAY AFTER DAY.
NOT BECAUSE I'M ON A PAYROLL, BUT BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER.
WE EXIST SOLELY ON COMMUNITY POWER, ON THE DONATIONS, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND LITERAL SCRAPS THAT WE HUSTLE FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BRING
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AND TO PROVIDE TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, NO OFFICES, NO FUNDING, NO GRANTS, NO CAMERAS.
MEANWHILE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE LITTLE TO NOTHING.
FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN TORN APART CAN'T EVEN GET A CALLBACK YET.
YOU SHOW UP AFTER THE RAIDS LONG AFTER THE WORK IS DONE WITH YOUR PRESS CONFERENCES, YOUR EMPTY GESTURES, AND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT.
DISTRICT EIGHT AND NINE, LISTEN TO HER.
YOU FILL YOUR POCKETS WITH MONEY AND YOU FILL YOUR MOUTHS WITH LIES.
WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT RESOURCES DID YOU PROVIDE? WHERE IS THE MONEY YOU CLAIM TO HAVE FOR THESE EMERGENCIES? DID YOU FIND THEIR FAMILIES? WILL THEY HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION? HAVE YOU STEPPED FOOT INTO THE INHUMANE HEARINGS OF ADELANTO? HAVE YOU WITNESSED THE PAIN OF LOVED ONES DENIED RELEASE, TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS FOR THE CRIME OF BEING BROWN KIDNAPPED IN YOUR CITY? YES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? BECAUSE FROM WHERE WE ALL STAND, AS THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE SHOW UP BEFORE YOU.
IS CARRIE? IS CARRIE HERE? OKAY, FINAL SPEAKER.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND LONG BEACH PD IS DOING TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FROM SUFFERING FROM THESE HORRIBLE ICE RAIDS IN AND AROUND LONG BEACH.
I LIVE IN THE WRIGLEY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE AN ICE RAID TOOK PLACE NEXT DOOR TO MY HOME.
I ACTUALLY HAD A MISSING PERSON'S POSTER AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY.
AND HISPANIC AND LATINO PEOPLE DO NOT JUST GO MISSING.
YESTERDAY I WAS IN MY GARAGE AND I HEARD THE SOUND OF DISTANT WHISTLES AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHISTLE MEANS, BUT I THOUGHT, OH MY GOD, THAT'S ICE.
ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, THERE WERE NUMEROUS ICE RAIDS ACROSS THE CITY AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY HAPPENED.
I WANNA KNOW, IS THE LONG BEACH PD VERIFYING THAT THESE AGENTS ARE ACTUALLY FEDERAL OFFICERS? ARE THEY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS? IS LONG BEACH PD ASSISTING IN THESE RAIDS? AND IF NOT, ARE THEY BEING NOTIFIED? WE SAW AT THE POLLS PI INCIDENT THAT THE PD JUST STOOD AND MONITORED.
LONG BEACH PD SHOULD BE IDENTIFYING ALL AGENTS PRESENT DURING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND CONFIRMING JUDICIAL WARRANTS.
WHY ARE WE SO BEHIND IN OUR ACTION WHEN OUR COMMUNITY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WAS THE FIRST EXAMPLE IN THIS COUNTRY OF WHAT WOULD BECOME OUR EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE NEXT 180 PLUS DAYS AND COUNTING, WE ARE TOLD MASKS ARE FOR THEIR SAFETY FOR THE ICE AGENTS TO PROTECT THEM FROM DOXING AND HARASSMENT.
BUT COULDN'T THE SAME ARGUMENT BE MADE FOR EVERY PROSECUTOR, EVERY JUDGE, EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT MAKES DIFFICULT DECISIONS? PUBLIC AUTHORITY REQUIRES PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT IS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE RESIDENTS? WHY ARE PRIVATE CITIZENS THE ONLY ONES RISKING THEIR OWN SAFETY TO VERIFY WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY AREN'T WE SEEING WEEKLY REPORTING IN NEWSLETTERS AND NEWSPAPERS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST ROLLED OUT THE IMMIGRATION DASHBOARD, BUT THE S****Y PART ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NEWS ARTICLE OR A WEBSITE LINK IN ORDER FOR YOUR INCIDENT TO COUNT.
WHY AREN'T WE GETTING COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTES? WHY ISN'T THE CITY GIVING OUT WHISTLES FOR FREE? WHY AREN'T THERE CLEAR RIGHTS AND RESOURCES ON OUR CITY WEBSITE? THE ICE ACTIONS AFFECT OUR ENTIRE CITY.
OUR KIDS ARE DRIVING ACROSS THE CITY FOR SPORTS, GOING IN AND OUT OF AREAS WHERE THE ICE RAIDS ARE HAPPENING.
WE KNOW IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN AFFLUENT AREAS AND WE HAVE TO STOP TURNING A BLIND EYE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THE VIOLENT ACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE STREETS.
ALRIGHT, THAT THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, AGAIN, PUBLIC COMMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU GET THREE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT
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ANYTHING THAT YOU CHOOSE TO TALK ABOUT.UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA ENGAGE YOU.
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY WAY TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR CITY COUNCIL.
EVERYONE MEM, EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL DOES OFFICE HOURS, HAS SCHEDULES TIMES WITH CONSULT WITH CONSTITUENTS TO TALK POLICY.
SO AS I'M SAYING, SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO COME IN AND TALK.
I HEARD SOME GOOD IDEAS TONIGHT.
WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING? YEAH.
SO, SO AGAIN, IF YOU EVER WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THESE IDEAS, MY POLICY DIRECTOR, MOST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID ARE HERE.
SO WE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE MEETING REQUEST.
ALL RIGHT, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
ORGANIZATION REQUIREMENT TO SCHEDULE TIME WITH YOU.
ALRIGHT, THANKS A LOT EVERYONE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA NOW MOVE ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
ITEM 27, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT
[27. 25-57076 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36693 with New Dynasty Construction Co., of Tustin, CA, for providing construction work on the Police Training Academy Modular Replacement, New Locker Building, Renovations and Site Improvements Project, to increase the contract amount by $7,895,112, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $35,097,149; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $10,938,928, offset by $3,500,000 from Police Impact Fees, $1,000,000 in Asset Forfeiture Funds and $6,438,928 from Bond proceeds; and Increase appropriations in the amount of $3,500,000, in the Capital Projects Fund Group and $1,000,000, in the General Fund Group, in the Police Department to transfer funds from the Police Impact Fees and Asset Forfeiture to the Public Works Department. (District 4) Office or Department: Public Works; Police Department Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND WITH NEW DYNASTY CONSTRUCTION CO FOR PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY MODULAR REPLACEMENT, NEW LOCKER BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 35,997,149 DISTRICT FOUR.WE'RE GONNA GO TO STAFF FOR A PRESENTATION.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE COUNCIL'S, UH, UH, PRIMARY INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
UH, WE HAVE HAD OUR OWN POLICE ACADEMY.
A LOT OF AGENCIES DON'T HAVE THE, UH, ADVANTAGE OF HAVING YOUR OWN POLICE ACADEMY AND OURS HAS BEEN A TEMPORARY FACILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DECADES NOW.
AND SO, UH, USING MEASURE A DOLLARS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, WE'VE BEEN LAUNCHING ON A, UH, UH, COMPLETE, UH, OVERHAUL OF OUR ACADEMY, UH, WHICH IS ALMOST READY TO OPEN.
UH, AND, UH, WE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN LOOKING TO REPLACE THE EXISTING FACILITY, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE EVEN MORE OFFICERS, UH, BE ABLE TO BE TRAINED, UH, AND BROUGHT IN TO ADDRESS OUR VACANCY RATES.
AND SO, UH, WE WANNA GIVE A TWO PART PRESENTATION.
WE WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AND THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO BE CERTIFIED BY POST TO, UM, TO, UH, HAVE THOSE LARGER ACADEMIES.
UH, BUT THEN ALSO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT THAT ACADEMY TO BE ABLE TO DO, UH, ONCE IT'S OPEN AND SOME OF OUR RECRUITMENT, UH, EFFORTS AS WELL.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, FIRST OUR ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, JOSH HICKMAN, AND ALSO OUR POLICE CHIEF.
HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE THIS UPDATE ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
UH, JOINED HERE BY CHIEF ISH AND THE PROJECT MANAGER, UH, DAIRY.
SO WE REALLY LIKE TO SHOWCASE ALL THE IMAGES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS.
SO I'LL BLOW THROUGH THESE SLIDES RELATIVELY QUICKLY, BUT JUST SPEAK TO A COUPLE KEY COMPONENTS ON, ON EACH SLIDE.
SO HERE YOU SEE THE NEW ACADEMY AND SPARKLING NEW SIGNAGE.
SO IN THIS IMAGE YOU SEE THE 13,000 SQUARE FOOT CLASSROOM AND ADMIN BUILDING.
WE HAVE A, AN INTERIOR SHOT OF THE NEW RECRUITMENT CLASSROOM THAT'S ABLE TO SEAT 100 NEW RECRUITS AND A NEW FACILITY WITH SHOWERS, LOCKERS, AND RESTROOMS. AND WE DIDN'T JUST LIMIT OURSELVES TO THE INTERIORS AND FACILITIES.
YOU SEE LIGHTING, DRAINAGE AND BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED ARTIFICIAL LAWN.
AND OF COURSE, UH, POLICE ACADEMY REQUIRES EXERCISE AREAS.
SO WE HAVE BOTH AN OUTDOOR SPACE THAT INCLUDES, UH, SHADE CANOPY AND AN INDOOR SPACE FOR ONGOING FITNESS.
IN ADDITION TO THE NEW FACILITIES, WE ALSO REMODELED AN EXISTING FACILITY.
UH, IT'S NAMED THE FIRESIDE CLASSROOM BECAUSE IT HAS THAT FIREPLACE THERE ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK OF THE IMAGE.
UH, THIS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM AND OFFICE SPACE.
A COUPLE EXTERIOR SHOTS AS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER HAD NOTED.
WE DID RECEIVE OUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN OCTOBER.
UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET INTO THE SPACE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME NEW REQUIREMENTS, UH, THAT WE'LL GET INTO ON THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES.
SO BACK IN 2023, WE, WE STARTED THE DESIGN FOR THE NEW ACADEMY AND, UH, STARTED CONSTRUCTION THAT SAME YEAR, UH, AT THE END OF 2023.
HOWEVER, THERE WERE SOME REGULATORY CHANGES IN 2025 THAT REQUIRED ADD ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES.
UH, THESE ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MEET THE POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING OR POST REQUIREMENTS.
LUCKILY, UH, WE DO HAVE SPACE ON SITE TO FIT THESE ADDITIONAL, UH,
[01:40:01]
ADDITIONAL SPACES AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING AREAS.UH, HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE WE CAN CONSTRUCT THE REALISTIC ACTIVE COMBAT OR THE RAC TRAINING STRUCTURE, THE GAS HOUSE TRAINING STRUCTURE AND THE OBSTACLE COURSE, WHICH, UM, INCLUDES THE WORK SAMPLE BATTERY TEST.
SO THE RAC, THE REAL REALISTIC ACTIVE COMBAT STRUCTURE, UM, INCLUDES AND PROVIDES REAL TIME ELEVATED OBSERVATION, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW ON THIS IMAGE.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS JUST SHY OF $11 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES 4 MILLION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, TWO AND A HALF FOR THE OBSTACLE COURSE, AND THEN APPROXIMATELY, UH, 4 MILLION FOR THE TRAINING STRUCTURES THAT'LL BE MANUFACTURED OFFSITE AND BROUGHT IN AND INSTALLED.
SO THAT'LL BE FUNDED THROUGH A COUPLE DIFFERENT SOURCES.
OUR POLICE IMPACT FEE OF THREE AND A HALF MILLION, UH, ASSET FOR FORFEITURE FUNDS FOR ANOTHER MILLION.
AND THEN, UH, THE BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY SIX AND A HALF MILLION MADE UP WITH BOND PROCEEDS.
SO THE, THE PROJECT, IF ALL, ALL GOES WELL HERE, WE'LL AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH OUR, OUR CURRENT CONTRACTOR, UH, HERE BY, BY THE END OF THE YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET STARTED ON CONSTRUCTION IN EARLY 2026 AND WRAP UP BY, BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND AS NOTED, I'M HERE WITH THE CHIEF AND OUR PROJECT MANAGER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO THESE ARE, UM, ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO THE ACADEMY, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THE ORIGINAL, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF WHY WE NEED A LARGER, UH, ACADEMY.
UH, MAYOR, THERE'S A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UH, ONE IS WE'RE A MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S TRYING TO GROW AND FILL, UH, CURRENT AND EXISTING VACANCIES.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE AND HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFIT OF WORKING IN THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
IT IS A RECRUITMENT TOOL AND WE'RE TRYING TO ENHANCE AND CONTINUE TO GROW OUR TRAINING CAPABILITIES FOR LARGER CLASS SIZES.
HISTORICALLY, OUR CLASS SIZES HAS BEEN AROUND 50, UM, AS YOU HEARD, WE'RE, WE'RE SHOOTING FOR A HUNDRED AND THIS ACADEMY IS A BIG PART OF OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN, AND KEEP POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THE WAY IT DESERVES TO BE SERVED.
AND, AND I KNOW THERE'S A BIG GENERATIONAL RETIREMENT, LIKE BOOMERS AND FOLKS ARE SHIFTING OUT.
UM, THIS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGER OFFICERS TO COME IN.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED BIGGER CLASSES TO REALLY ACCOMMODATE, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS TRANSITION IN GENERATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
AND, UH, IT'S NOT JUST A CLASSROOM TRAINING, BUT WHAT YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION INVOLVES, UH, THE PHYSICAL FITNESS THAT'S REQUIRED FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR ACADEMY, UH, INCLUDING THE RACK HOUSE, THE GAS HOUSE, THE FIELD REMEDIATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INCORPORATED INTO A, A FULL SERVICE POLICE ACADEMY.
SO THE ACADEMY'S FINISHED AND NOW YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE THESE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS BECAUSE THE POST STANDARDS CHANGE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT IS, UH, WE DO NEED TO MAKE THOSE, UH, ENHANCEMENTS AND WE HAVE SOME, UH, MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CLASS.
I KNOW THE, THE TEMPORARY SITE YOU HAD HAD SOME CONSTRAINTS IN TERMS OF THE SIZE, SO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO LARGER ACADEMIES IN THE NEXT AC ACADEMY? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
THE TEMPORARY 28 YEAR TEMPORARY ACADEMY
RIGHT? IT WAS, IT WAS LIMITED IN SPACE IN SIZE.
UM, UH, THE, THE CONSTRUCTION WAS, WAS FALLING APART.
AND THESE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS AREN'T GONNA PREVENT YOU FROM, UH, MOVING FORWARD OUR NEXT ACADEMY, THAT'S THE GOAL, MAYOR, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, HAVE A, HAVE SOME, UH, BACKUP PLANS IN PLACE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THIS AND, UH, ENSURING THAT WE CAN MEET THE POST GUIDELINES AND STILL, UH, MAINTAIN OUR INTERNAL LEVEL AND, AND STANDARDS FOR TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN LONG BEACH.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN? YES.
UM, WELL, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND CONGRATULATIONS CHIEF.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS FORTUNATE, UH, THAT I, UH, WENT THROUGH THE ACADEMY BACK IN THE OLD, OLD ACADEMY, UM, BEFORE IT WAS A MALL AND, UH, WE HAD THAT BIG SPACE AND WHEN THIS WAS BUILT, I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S TEMPORARY, A 28 YEAR TEMPORARY.
UM, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT, UH, REALLY COMMEND, UM, ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S WENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
UM, TO HAVE, UH, A ACADEMY NOW THAT IS COULD, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE A HUNDRED OFFICERS IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
NOW, UM, DO YOU, DO YOU SEE US ALSO BEING
[01:45:01]
ABLE TO TRAIN OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH? UM, IN, IN THIS FACILITY? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WE, SO EVEN BEFORE THIS, WE WERE TRAINING OTHER, UH, AGENCIES IN THE REGION.
UH, I HAVE OFF, UM, UH, PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHIEFS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR US TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THEIR OFFICERS FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE HOW BEST TO DO THAT.
UM, IT'S PRETTY TELLING THAT OTHER AGENCIES REACH OUT TO US AND ASK US TO TRAIN THEIR OFFICERS.
IT SPEAKS TO THE, THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OUR COMMAND OR, UH, TRAINING STAFF HAS.
UM, AND FOR THIS CLASS, UH, WE'RE FOCUSED ON LONG BEACH PD RECRUITS, BUT IN THE FUTURE, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER AND EXPLORE BECAUSE, SO THAT COULD, UH, BE KIND OF A REVENUE SOURCE FOR US AS WE'RE TRAINING, UH, OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
THAT IS THE CURRENT TREND WITH THE ACADEMIES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE TO, UM, TO DO WITH THIS ACADEMY AS WELL.
AND THEN, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT, UH, YOUR, THE, THE RESTROOMS ARE, ARE, ARE THOSE COMPARABLE FOR MEN AND WOMEN? ALL OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR, UM, MEN, WOMEN, NON-BINARY, UH, ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR AND IMPLEMENTED INTO THIS NEW ACADEMY.
IT IS, UH, REALLY AN AMAZING STRUCTURE.
WELL, UH, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
NO COMMENTS EXCEPT FOR, UH, MY COMMENTS ACTUALLY AND MY QUESTIONS.
WERE THE SAME AS, UH, COUNCILMAN UH, ALLEN AROUND OUR ABILITY TO, UM, EXPAND AND UTILIZE THIS, UH, FACILITY TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
UM, AND POTENTIALLY OFFER THAT TO, UH, OTHER AGENCIES.
BUT I'M EXCITED TO HAVE A WORLD CLASS FACILITY TO TRAIN OUR OFFICERS, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SERVING THE CITY WELL.
UH, I KNOW THAT TEMPORARY FACILITY, SMALLER FACILITY'S BEEN CHALLENGING.
I THINK IT'S BEEN WHAT, FOUR ACADEMIES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIVE FOUR OR FIVE FOUR.
I THINK I SPOKEN FOUR, FOUR CLASSES.
BUT EACH, NONE OF THEM I THINK HAVE PASSED 50 AND NOW YOU'LL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO, TO DO A HUNDRED.
SO, SO YEAH, THIS IS A 104 CLASS, 100 CAMPAIGN THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING AND UM, WE ANTICIPATE THIS TO BE THE LARGEST CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? ITEM IS MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN.
COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, COUNCILWOMAN KERR.
RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER POLICE DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC
[21. 25-57099 Recommendation to request City Manager, Police Department, Economic Development and Opportunity, Health and Human Services, and Financial Management to explore strategies to support businesses and residential areas adjacent to business/entertainment corridors affected by crime and quality of life issues, and return to Council with a report in 90 days. The report should include the following components: An update on Health Department and CARE Court coordination that provides an overview of mental health response efforts, service referrals, and how CARE Court petitions are integrated into enforcement efforts for chronically ill individuals refusing services; A plan to establish metrics and regularly published progress reports detailing enforcement activity and safety improvements in each identified corridor to improve public accountability; An update on City actions taken following the Grants Pass v. Johnson decision and the memorandum issued on May 15, 2025. This should include recommendations for future potential actions; and A feasibility study on allocating additional funds to support increased LBPD visibility and Quality-of-Life officers for a term determined by the City Manager. Office or Department: Cindy Allen, Councilwoman, Second District; Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS ADJACENT TO BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT CORRIDORS AFFECTED BY CRIME AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND RETURN TO THE COUNCIL WITH A REPORT IN 90 DAYS.ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.
UM, IS THERE A WAY WE COULD DO PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, BEFORE I DO MY COMMENTS? SURE.
BUT I THINK, UM, OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS YOU AND THE SECONDER WANTED, IF YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH GOING PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
UH, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 23 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGN TO SPEAK.
UH, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND, UH, YOU HAVE, UH, 90 SECONDS TO SPEAK.
CELESTE WILSON, MICHAEL BOND, HOLLY KREME OR SAMOA? NICK KRIMSKY SAMUEL PARKER, STACY S KATHY BOND, UH, LAURA KONA AND JAY AMES.
UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CELESTE WILSON AND I SERVE AS THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 MEMBERS ACROSS OUR CITY.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM AND IT'S FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR BUSINESS AND ENTERTAINMENT CORRIDORS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN ZENDEJAS AND KERR FOR BRINGING FORWARD A PROPOSAL THAT CLEARLY REFLECTS WHAT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING ACROSS THE CITY.
BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO FACE VANDALISM, BREAK-INS, DRUG ACTIVITY, ENCAMPMENTS, AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
WHILE PROGRAMS LIKE THE VIP GRANTS AND LEVEL UP LONG BEACH ARE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL FOR PREPARATION AND PREVENTION, THEY CAN ONLY GO SO FAR WHEN THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS A LACK OF CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT AND THE LIMITED ABILITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS TO INTERVENE.
WE RECOGNIZE THE PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE LBPD CRIME REDUCTION UPDATE, INCLUDING THE REPORTED 17% DECREASE IN OVERALL CRIME THIS YEAR.
BUT THOSE NUMBERS DON'T ALWAYS REFLECT WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING ON THE GROUND.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD DOGHOUSE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALLING FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE EXPERIENCES EVERY DAY.
[01:50:01]
CORRIDORS CONTINUE TO FACE THIS INHOSPITABLE CONDITIONS THAT REDUCE FOOT TRAFFIC, DETER INVESTMENT, AND CREATE A SENSE OF HOSTILITY.NO ONE SHOULD FEEL UNSAFE ENTERING A LOCAL SHOP OR WALKING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS ITEM TAKES MEANINGFUL STEPS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
WE APPRECIATE THE CITY'S ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONTINUED WORK TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC VITALITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A PARTNER WITH STUDIO ONE 11, A DESIGN FIRM LOCATE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH WITH 135 EMPLOYEES DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING COMMITTEE COMMUNITIES.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST GET TO THE POINT AND TALK ABOUT WE NEED TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE ISSUES OF CRIME AND THE UNHOUSED.
AND SOME SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE, WE NEED TO TRY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER CITIES.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE HOUSTON, THE FOURTH MOST POPULOUS CITY IN THE US AND FIFTH MOST POPULOUS METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE COUNTRY WHERE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 63% BETWEEN 2011 AND 2023.
THAT MEANS MOVING 25,000 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS INTO HOMES, LIVING ON THEIR OWN.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? THROUGH INTEGRATED EFFORTS WITH NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, GOVERNMENT, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR BANDING TOGETHER, BAKERSFIELD IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE HOMELESSNESS WAS REDUCED IN TERMS OF ITS POPULATION BY ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS ACCORDING TO FAST COMPANY MAGAZINE, THAT MEANS THERE ARE NO CHRONIC HOMELESS FOLKS ON THE STREET ON ANY NIGHT.
AND CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS REFERS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE STREETS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR OR HAVE BEEN HOMELESS REPEATEDLY AND WHO HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION.
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY MANAGER OF NEARBY BELLFLOWER, OUR FIRM WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE A 50 BED NAVIGATION CENTER WITHIN FIVE MONTHS.
THIS TIMELINE WAS ACHIEVED BY THE ARCHITECT AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR PURSUING SELF-CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
AVOID, SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.
THE CITY'S EARLY HOMELESS POPULATION AND IT WAS DROPPED BY 65.
NEXT IS HOLLY, SO I'LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.
THIS YEAR ALONE, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS RECEIVED $35 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM FEDERAL AND STATE FOR HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.
AND YET WE ARE HERE AGAIN TODAY BEGGING YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 50 YEARS, AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF DECLINE IN BUSINESS ACTIVITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, OR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
THIS ISN'T THE LONG BEACH WE INVEST OUR MONEY IN THAT WE LOVE THAT WE WORK IN, THAT WE LIVE IN.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO REGULAR POLICE PATROLS, ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI LOITERING, LOITERING LAWS, AND REMOVING RED TAPE THAT SHACKLES OUR PD FROM DOING THEIR JOB AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE WALKING DOWN THE STREET DOESN'T MEAN FACING AGGRESSIVE, THREATENING BEHAVIOR FROM PEOPLE, PUBLIC NUDITY AND AGGRAVATED CRIME.
ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED CLEAR POLICY THAT ENSURES HOMELESS SERVICES CANNOT BE REFUSED WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
SUPPORT WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT ABOUT COMPASSION.
WHEN THE CITY OFFERS HELP, ALLOWING THESE PEOPLE TO DENY IT AND REMAIN DECAYING ON OUR SIDEWALKS IS NOT EMPATHY, IT'S NEGLECT.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER AND SO DO THE PEOPLE SUFFERING ON THESE STREETS.
HI, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ORICA AND I'VE OWNED A RESTAURANT HERE IN LONG BEACH FOR 30 YEARS.
THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE MET, UH, WE HAVE FACED MULTIPLE BREAK-INS, WINDOWS, SMASHING EQUIPMENT, STOLEN STAFF AND CUSTOMERS THREATENED.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS.
ON MAY 12TH, 2025, GOVERNOR NEWSO ISSUED A STATE MODEL DIRECTING ALL GOVERNMENT, UH, GOVERNMENTS TO ACT.
WE'RE WITH URGENCY AND DIGNITY BACKED UP BY $3.3 BILLION FOR ENFORCEMENT.
UNHOUSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ENCAMPMENTS THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
LONG BEACH MUST ACT AND WE ARE ASKING FOR IMMEDIATE ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND A COORDINATED PLAN TO RESTORE SAFETY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO LEAD THE WAY.
WE ARE HERE TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
WE NEED ACTION, NOT PROMISE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY
[01:55:01]
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.I OWN THE PROPERTY AT THE CORNER OF PINE AND BROADWAY, WHERE THE SEVEN 11 IS AND THE CAFE SIA PROPERTY AS WELL.
RIDE OF STONES THROWAWAY FEDERAL BAR CLOSED FOR FIVE YEARS.
HARBOR BAR CLOSED THREE YEARS AGO.
PIER 76 CLOSED FOUR YEARS AGO.
ROCK BOTTOM CLOSED FIVE YEARS AGO.
VOLCANO SIX YEARS AGO, OCTOPUS FIVE YEARS AGO.
GEORGE'S GREEK CAFE CLOSED TWO A FEW MONTHS AGO.
CONGREGATION ALE HOUSE CLOSED ONE YEAR AGO.
BEACHWOOD BREWERY TWO YEARS AGO.
MICHAEL'S TWO YEARS AGO, STARBUCKS, FOUR YEARS AGO.
TACO BEACH CLOSED FOUR YEARS AGO.
AND THESE PLACES CONTINUE TO SIT, SIT VACANT, AND THE AMOUNT OF CLOSURES IS UNBELIEVABLE.
NOBODY WANTS TO GO DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S RIDDEN WITH HOMELESSNESS, CRIME, AND FRANKLY, IT'S JUST NOT A PLEASANT OR SAFE PLACE TO BE.
AND RIGHT NOW, NEARLY ALL OF MY TENANTS WANT OUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT OPERATE A PROFITABLE BUSINESS OR BE SAFE IN THESE CONDITIONS.
SAME WITH BROADWAY PIZZA AND GRILL.
PINKBERRY, THE LIST KEEPS GOING IN DOWNTOWN.
LONG BEACH IS GOING TO WIND UP AS AN ABANDONED BOARDED NEIGHBORHOOD.
PINE AVENUE USED TO BE THRIVING, LINES OUT THE DOORS TO RESTAURANTS.
IT WAS THE PLACE TO GO IN, IN, IN LONG BEACH.
WHEN THESE BUSINESSES LEAVE, IT'S NOT JUST ME AS A LANDLORD THAT SUFFERS.
THE BUSINESS OWNERS IS STRIPPED OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
EMPLOYEES LOSE THEIR JOB AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SUFFERS BECAUSE OF IT.
WE NEED LAWS TO BE ACTUALLY ENFORCED.
MARY, I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU, REX.
I WANT TO THANK CINDY, CINDY ALLEN FOR WORKING SO HARD WITH CHRIS SWEENEY OF WRIGHT MEALS TO GET THIS PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, THAT'S WHERE MY THINGS STOP.
WELL, AS WELL AS MEGAN KER, UH, GREAT JOB TRYING TO SAVE FACE MARY BY SECONDING IT.
UH, US AND COUNCIL ONE HERE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION FOR MONTHS TO WHERE WE'VE BEEN GASLIGHTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE.
NOW THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE AND POINT OUT THAT THIS US SUPREME COURT HAS DECIDED, BOTH IN THE CASE OF COHEN VERSUS CALIFORNIA AND MILLER VERSUS CALIFORNIA IN 1971 AND 1973 RESPECTIVELY, THAT PROTECTED SPEECH CANNOT BE CENSORED IN ANY WAY.
SO IT BRINGS ME WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO SAY TOM MOCA REX RICHARDSON, MARY ZENDEJAS, EITHER YOU'RE IMPOTENT TO CHANGE THE SITUATION IN YOUR CITY OR YOU'RE IGNORANT.
SO IF YOU'RE IMPOTENT, RESIGN, AND IF YOU'RE IGNORANT, F**K YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START.
MAN, HE'S GREAT, HUH? ALL RIGHT.
CITY COUNCIL, UH, MARY ZENDEJAS.
ON BEHALF OF THE DISABLED RESIDENT IN YOUR DISTRICT FOR 30 YEARS, YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ENSURE MY SAFETY WHILE IN YOUR POSITION.
INSTEAD, YOUR OFFICE HAS GASLIT ME PROFUSELY.
IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIMITS MY BODY SET ON ME, I'D RUN FOR YOUR SEAT.
YOU REPEATEDLY FAIL DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH AND LIE TO YOUR CITY.
I'M ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT I VOTED FOR YOU.
CRIME ISN'T DOWN WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE STATISTICS.
M AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE STEADILY.
LONG BEACH PD TELLS ME NOT TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW OR HARASS ME BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE CARRY KNIVES.
I HAVE TO KEEP MY EYES AND EARS OPEN BECAUSE OF THE BREAK-INS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY BUSINESSES I'VE HAD TO NOTIFY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING NEARLY DAILY.
I BATTLED WHETHER TO NARCAN SOMEONE OR CALL IT IN BECAUSE I FEAR FOR MY OWN SAFETY.
YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM IS A JOKE WITH A 48 HOUR RESPONSE TIME WHILE PEOPLE CRY FOR ASSISTANCE OR OUT IN THE ELEMENTS SUFFERING.
ONE OF THE LAST CITY COUNCILS I ATTENDED UNHOUSED, PEOPLE WERE BEGGING FOR SAFETY AND SHELTERS AND PREFERRED THE STREETS BECAUSE YOU ARE FAILING THEM.
RESPONSE TIMES ARE DOWN FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT SEEMS. MIGHT I SUGGEST FOCUSING ON ISSUES LIKE THIS AGENDA ITEM THAT PLAGUE YOUR CONS.
CONSTITUENTS, INSTEAD OF PANDERING FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AND MONEY PIT ENTERTAINMENT IDEOLOGIES.
UM, DUE TO ITS POPULATION INSIDE AND WHY DEMOGRAPHICS, LONG BEACH HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A BEACON OF SUCCESS.
AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER NEARBY REGIONAL CITIES.
THIS IS TO INCITE YOUR COMMITMENT TO USE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS ALREADY ESTABLISHED EVEN HERE IN OUR STATE THAT ARE COMBATING SAFETY ISSUES JUST AS WE ARE.
SAN JOSE IS A CITY OF UNDER A MILLION
[02:00:01]
PEOPLE, AND IT HAS BEEN RANKED AS ONE OF THE SAFEST LARGE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT WE COULD BE DOING? WELL, THERE'S THREE THINGS.
ONE IS THEY ARE THEY EMPLOYING THEIR SENIOR CITIZENS, UH, RETIRED PEOPLE TO ENSURE SAFETY? ME MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS BEFORE OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO GET THERE.
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED HOME FIRST PROJECT.
IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THREE AGENCIES COMBINING THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS TO CREATE AN OUTCOME EACH COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH ON THEIR OWN.
WITH FUNDING FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS.
THIS PLACE OFFERS A QUIET RESITE FOR THE UNHOUSED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
IT'S CALLED LEBA LANDING IN SANTA, IN SAN JOSE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LAURA MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M LAURA TAVONA, AN 18 YEAR RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, AND I WORK IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
ON JULY 20TH, 2024, I WAS WITH ASHLEY, A MENTALLY ILL UNHOUSED PREGNANT YOUNG WOMAN.
WE WERE OUTSIDE GROUND HIDEOUT COFFEE SHOP, STEPS AWAY FROM RIGHT MEALS.
AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME, I WAS WITH ASHLEY WHO GAVE BIRTH ON THE STREET TO A STILLBORN BABY.
I TELL THIS STORY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WAS THERE MONTHS, WEEKS PRIOR, ASKING THE CITY TO HELP ASHLEY TO KEEP HER AWAY FROM ENCAMPMENTS AND GET HER AND HER UNBORN BABY, THE HELP THAT SHE NEEDED.
I TELL THIS STORY BECAUSE IF WE DID NOTHING FOR ASHLEY AND HER BABY, WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO THE COMMUNITY? IT SAYS, COMPASSION IS COMPLACENCY.
IT SAYS LAWLESSNESS IS ACCEPTABLE.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER STORIES LIKE THIS.
SEND A MESSAGE THAT IF OUR, THOSE LIVES DON'T MATTER, IT'S TO BREAK WINDOWS, SHOOT UP, UM, SHOOT UP IN FRONT OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES, SET FIRES, STEAL, HURT, PUSH AND BREAK.
I ASK YOU TODAY TO TAKE ACTION TODAY TO INVEST AND IMPROVE AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND INVEST IN IT HOW MANY TIMES AND YOU, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND GET PEOPLE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT, UH, BEFORE JAY, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE REMAINING SPEAKERS.
ADAM CARILLO, CHRIS SWEENEY, UH, KATIE QUATA, SHIVA.
FORGIVE ME, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
SHIVA, UM, GEORGE BUSTAMONTE, CHRISELLE DUMBROWSKI, GREG GILL, RICKY GUZMAN, JOHNNA, UH, JACQUELINE CRUZ AND LUIS NAVARRO.
UH, AND THAT CONCLUDES THE LIST.
ALRIGHT, JAY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH IN THE THIRD DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL THIS, THIS EVENING.
I WANNA SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT THE, THE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE THE SAFETY OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
UM, THE THIRD DISTRICT'S PRETTY NICE PLACE TO LIVE, BUT I GOTTA SAY ANYWHERE IN LONG BEACH NOW, I DON'T REALLY FEEL SAFE GOING ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, AND I'M SPEAKING ANECDOTALLY AS A RESIDENT.
IF I DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING HERE, I'M NOT GONNA PATRONIZE THE RESTAURANTS.
I'M NOT GONNA PATRONIZE THE BUSINESSES.
I'M GONNA ELECT TO GO TO OTHER PLACES WHERE I DO FEEL SAFE THAT ARE NEARBY.
IF I FIND MYSELF GOING TO ORANGE COUNTY, IF FIND MYSELF GOING TO CITIES ON THE MARGIN MARGINS OF LONG BEACH INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES, I'D LIKE TO BE SUPPORTING HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE, THE HASSLE OF GOING THROUGH THE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED TO SUPPORT MY OWN CITY.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTA MAKE THIS A PRIORITY.
I'M NOT THE GUY YOU WANT TO SEE UP HERE.
I'M JUST THE AVERAGE CITIZEN THAT LIVES IN LONG BEACH THAT WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE CITY.
BUT I'M FINDING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO DO THAT EVERY DAY IN THE LAST YEAR, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.
SO PLEASE MAKE THIS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AMONGST THE COUNCIL, AMONGST THE CITY OPERATIONS.
UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER TOM, UH, MOCA.
I'M A DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNER, BUSINESS OWNER AND RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.
SO EVERY DAY, FAMILIES, WORKERS, AND BUSINESSES ARE FACING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
[02:05:02]
OPEN DRUG USE, VANDALISM, FIRES ON SIDEWALKS, INDIVIDUALS WHO REPEATEDLY REFUSE SERVICES WHILE CONTINUING TO BREAK THE LAW.PARENTS ARE AVOIDING CERTAIN STREETS WITH THEIR KIDS.
CUSTOMERS NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WALKING DOWNTOWN.
RESIDENTS ARE WATCH WATCHING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE COLLAPSE.
THIS IS NOT A PERCEPTION PROBLEM, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY FAILURE.
ON MAY 12TH, GOVERNOR NEWSOM DIRECTED CITY STACKED WITH URGENCY AND DIG DIGNITY TO CLEAR UNSAFE ENCAMPMENT, ENCAMPMENTS AND RESTORE PUBLIC SPACES.
AND EVEN TONIGHT, OUR OWN STATE SENATOR AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWENTHAL HAVE SUBMITTED LETTERS OF SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND CALLING FOR STRONGER PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION.
THE STATE IS TELLING LONG BEACH IT'S TIME TO ACT.
WE SUPPORT OUTREACH, BUT OUTREACH WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES IS NOT COMPASSION.
IT LEAVES FAMILIES, SENIORS, WORKERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES UNPROTECTED.
AFTER GRANTS PASS FOR JOHNSON, THE CITY HAS FULL LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE NO CAMPING, TRESPASSING, AND PUBLIC BEHAVIOR LAWS.
WHEN SHELTER IS AVAILABLE, THE AUTHORITY IS THERE.
WHAT'S MISSING IS THE WILL TO USE IT.
TONIGHT WE ARE ASKING COUNSEL TO DEPLOY ENFORCEMENT.
NOW, QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS BIKE PATROLS, RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS IN KNOWN HOTSPOTS STOP ALLOWING REPEATED SERVICE REFUSAL TO SHIELD ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.
AND NUMBER THREE, PUBLIC SHA PUBLIC SAFETY DASHBOARDS.
SO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CAN TRACK REAL RESOURCE, REAL RESULTS, NOT NARRATIVES.
SO YOUR TIME CONCLUDED IS MEASURED IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS SHOW LONG BEACH THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LE SIR TIME'S CONCLUDED.
AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE IN LONG BEACH FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
AND I OWN THE RESTAURANT HERE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH NAMED WRIGHT MEALS.
UH, I STAND HERE NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THE CITY WHO WORK TIRELESSLY DAY AND NIGHT.
UH, 'CAUSE WE LOVE LONG BEACH.
UH, OUR PASSION IS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND BEING A MEANINGFUL PART OF THE CITY'S ECONOMY.
UH, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT JUST ME EXPERIENCING THIS OTHER BUSINESS ARE EXPERIENCED AS WELL, BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN, FOR THREE YEARS IN DOWNTOWN, I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES.
I HAVE A SCAR ON MY HAND TO PROVE IT.
I'VE HAD STAFF QUIT ON ME BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ASSAULTED.
UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S VERY HARD TO RUN A BUSINESS WHEN I'M DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I SPEND ROUGHLY ABOUT 16 HOURS IN MY SHOP.
I'M ON THIS STREET, AND I KNOW MY STREET PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OF YOU HERE DO.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 16 HOURS A DAY.
UM, AND WHAT MAKES THIS EVEN HARDER IS HEARING THAT DOWNTOWN IS THRIVING, THAT CRIME IS DOWN.
AND OF COURSE, CRIME IS DOWN BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE SHORT STAFFED.
200, NEARLY PROBABLY MORE 200 OFFICERS IN DOWNTOWN OR JUST IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
HOW CAN YOU COMMONLY, YOU KNOW, RIGHTFULLY SO, UH, YOU KNOW, REPORT CRIME IF YOU GUYS ARE SHORT STAFFED, THAT MANY OFFICERS, UH, I DON'T FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.
MY LEASE IS ALMOST UP AND I DON'T EVEN THINK I'M GONNA RENEW IT.
I'M TIRED OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.
I DON'T GET THE SUPPORT IN DOWNTOWN THAT I WISH I HAD FROM MARY, FROM REX.
I'VE TALKED TO YOU MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, WE'RE FED UP WITH IT.
PEOPLE SITTING IN THE CROWD ARE FED UP WITH IT.
CERTAIN TIMES INCLUDED THE OLYMPICS TODAY.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE, BUT AFTER LISTENING TO, UH, CHRIS SWEENEY, HE'S BEEN A TENANT OF MINE FOR YEARS AND A FRIEND FOR YEARS.
I WILL SAY THAT AT ONE POINT I WAS THE LARGEST LANDOWNER PROPERTY OWNER IN HIS DISTRICT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'VE DONE OVER 640 BUILDINGS, AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF TRANSACTIONS, MY SADNESS COMES WHEN I MEET WITH A COUNCILWOMAN LIKE MARY ZEN.
AND MY CONCERNS WERE SIDELINED.
I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU, CHRISTINA.
I'M NOT GONNA THROW MONKEY SHED AT YOU LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PRIOR TIME.
NOT THIS GROUP, BUT THE GROUP BEFORE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE AT THE CROSSROADS.
THE OLYMPICS ARE COMING AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED.
IF YOU DON'T PREPARE FOR THIS, WE WILL FALL FLAT ON OUR FACES.
BUT I KNOW IT'S GONNA GO WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO BY IF YOU DO, GOD HELP YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE A WORLDWIDE FORUM WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VENUE ON THE BEACH, AND IT'S DISGUSTING WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THAT POOR GUY THAT JUST SPOKE, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO HIM IS EMBARRASSING.
PEOPLE COME INTO THE SHOP WITH A KNIFE.
I'VE GOT VIDEO AFTER VIDEO OF PEOPLE ATTACKING HIM, PEOPLE RUNNING NAKED IN FRONT OF HIS PLACE THAT ARE JUST DAMN NEAR EATING THEIR OWN S**T.
THIS HAS TO STOP, SO PLEASE HELP.
[02:10:01]
THANKS KURT.HE DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATIE AND I OPERATE 24 7 BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN.
SERVING OVER A HUNDRED SMALL BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN SAFETY HAS DECLINED TO A CRISIS POINT.
LAST YEAR, LONG BEACH DOCUMENTED OVER 19,000 SERVICE CALLS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS.
AND OUR AREA CONTINUES TO BE A HOTSPOT.
YET, CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND HAVE ONLY WORSENED.
MY STAFF NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WALKING TO THEIR CARS, EVEN WHEN PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
WE'VE HAD INDIVIDUALS ENTER OUR LOBBY IN DISTRESS, YELL AT THE EMPLOYEES, TAKE ITEMS, AND ONE STAFF MEMBER HAD THEIR PURSE STOLEN, WHICH RELATED TO THEIR CAR BEING STOLEN.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS DESPITE EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES AND CAMERAS.
PEOPLE CAN'T WALK THEIR DOGS RIDE THEIR BIKES OR EAT LUNCH OUTSIDE WITHOUT HARASSMENT OR STEPPING THROUGH HUMAN WASTE.
EVEN AT BELMONT SHORE, THE PIER HAS BECOME OVERWHELMED BY ENCAMPMENTS AND TRASH ALONG THE COASTLINE.
WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION, COMPASSIONATE AND CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE.
WE MUST SUPPORT UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS WITH REAL SERVICES WHILE ALSO ENSURING VISIBLE PATROLS AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROTECT RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE CAN FOLLOW THE STATE MODEL, FOLLOW GRANTS, PASS, AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE BOTH SAFETY AND HUMANITY.
LAST NAME'S JOSES, JOSE REGS
I AM A BOTH A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER OF LONG BEACH.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY.
SO LONG BEACH IS MY HOME AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
WE OPERATE A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM IN DOWNTOWN.
ACTUALLY, OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL.
OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN IN DOWNTOWN FOR 35 YEARS.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST.
OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY LOCATED IN A SECURE BUILDING.
WE JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE DOWNTOWN ANYMORE.
OUR LEASE EXPIRES IN 2027 AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RELOCATING TO OTHER SAFER PARTS OF THE CITY.
AS A COMMERCIAL AGENT, WE'RE ALSO HIRED BY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO LEASE OR SALE THEIR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT MANY OF THOSE ARE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD TO ASK UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO MOVE PAST THE FRONT DOOR OF A VACANT BUILDING SO WE CAN SHOW IT.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE LOST SEVERAL STRONG OPERATORS WHO HAVE DECIDED AGAINST EXPANDING TO LONG BEACH AND MORE SO OUR DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS FOR MYSELF AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND I'M NOT ASKING, BUT I AM BEGGING THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO TAKE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OF OUR CITY AND OUR DOWNTOWN SERIOUSLY, AND TAKE SOME IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO CREATE A SAFE AND CLEAN THRIVING DOWNTOWN FOR ALL OF US.
HI, HONORABLE MAYOR RE RICHARDSON.
UH, I OPPOSE THE CARE COURTS FOR TWO MAIN REASONS.
THE FIRST IS THAT WHEN THE CARE COURTS WERE FIRST PROPOSED WORKERS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS, INCLUDING, UH, SOCIAL WORKERS, UH, CAME OUT PUBLICLY AGAINST IT, CARE COURTS CANCEL ALL THE PROGRESS THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE MADE, UH, TOWARDS HOUSING.
UH, THEN THEY, IF THEY END UP IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION, THEY CAN'T BE LOCATED, THEN THEY GO BACK OUT ON THE STREET.
UH, IT DOES NOTHING FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE ONCE YOU GO IN, YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHEN YOU GET OUT.
SO THEN YOU HAVE TO BE REEVALUATED, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, THE SECOND REASON IT IS THAT, UM, IT, UH, IT PUTS, OKAY, IF YOU HAVE, WHO CAN PARTITION THE CARE COURTS IS A RELATIVE.
IF THERE IS A WILL OR A TRUST, IT, LIKE IN MY CASE, THEY CAN GET THE LION'S SHARE OR GET EVERYTHING.
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTACT AN ATTORNEY, HAVE THEM COME TO THE MENTAL INSTITUTION.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IT'S USED FOR AS WELL.
AND YEAH, ALSO THE REASON PEOPLE DID NOT WON'T GO INTO SOME MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.
ALRIGHT, NEXT, NEXT IS GREG, AND THEN RICKY, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
[02:15:01]
A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.UH, I OWN AND OPERATE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, PRESIDENT OF LEE AND ASSOCIATES AND, UH, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
AND I, I WANTED NOT TO, UH, BE REDUNDANT WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, PARTICULARLY, UM, ONE AREA THAT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
SO, WEST LONG BEACH, WHICH USED TO BE A NUGGET, UH, HARDWORKING BLUE COLLAR AREA, AND THAT WHOLE SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LOST.
UM, RIGHT NOW, I I I CANVASSED OUR BROKERS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS THAT WORKED THE SOUTH BAY AND LONG BEACH IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS MEETING, I HAVE NEVER HEARD A MORE DISCOURAGED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS.
I ASKED THE DOWNTOWN BROKERS, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? WE DON'T EVEN GO DOWN ANYMORE.
WE ARE LOSING TENANTS FASTER THAN WE CAN BRING THEM IN.
AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
AND WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE GONE AND THESE ARE HIGH PAYING JOBS, THEY BRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SALARY AND SPENDABLE INCOME DOWNTOWN.
AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT THERE, IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET 'EM BACK.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? WELL, DOUGLAS PARK, GREAT PEOPLE LOVE TO GO THERE.
THEY'RE FLOCKING TO THE AIRPORT AREA, BUT IT DOESN'T CATER TO THE SMALL INDUSTRIAL TENANTS AND THE, AND THE, AND I'VE NEVER, I'M, I'M, WE ARE SO COMMITTED TO THE CITY AND TO MAKING IT RIGHT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WE, WE HAVE TO GET THE STREETS SAFE.
IT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST, SINCE THE NEW MAYOR, SO YOUR TIME CONCLUDED.
I'M CAPTAIN OF THE LONG BEACH BROWN BERET NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT, NOT FOR THOSE VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, NOT FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THOSE VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN SILENCED, THOSE WRONGFULLY INCARCERATED, DEPORTED AND TORN FROM THEIR FAMILIES BY ICE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN A CITY THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY MEXICAN AMERICAN, THE CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS.
MY AMERICA WAS THAT COMMUNITY FAMILIES CHASING THE SO-CALLED AMERICAN DREAM, NO MATTER THEIR LEGAL STATUS.
IN MY EARLY TWENTIES, I JOINED THE MILITARY AND SERVED OVERSEAS.
I LATER WORKED AT THE PENTAGON AND OTHER NATIONAL DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WHERE I SAW HOW DECISIONS MADE FAR AWAY RIPPLE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
TWO YEARS AGO, I RETURNED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND MADE LONG BEACH MY HOME.
A CITY WITH A PROUD IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CONTRIBUTE TO ITS STRENGTH AND CULTURE.
IT KILLS ME TO SEE THE AMERICA I DEFENDED ABROAD AND THE ONE I GREW UP IN, BEING TORN APART BY ICE.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE TARGETED ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
THEY ARE WORKERS, PARENTS, DREAMERS, THE BACKBONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS A VETERAN, I KNOW SERVICE MEANS PROTECTING PEOPLE, NOT PROSECUTING THEM AS A BROWN BERET.
I KNOW JUSTICE MEANS STANDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TONIGHT.
I ASK THE COUNCIL TO DO THE SAME.
LONG BEACH MUST BE A SANCTUARY.
AND LET'S KEEP ICE OUT OF LONG BEACH.
OKAY, LUIS, YOU'RE GONNA WRAP IT UP.
I THINK, UH, I KNOW EVERYBODY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL HERE.
UM, BUT, UH, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UH, I GUESS DISCUSSIONS IN, IN REGARDS TO, AND WE'VE HEARD EVERYBODY OF THEIR EXPERIENCES IN DOWNTOWN.
UH, MY FAMILY HAS INVESTMENTS ON FOURTH STREET.
WE HAVE A, UH, OUR WAREHOUSE AND OFFICE IN, UH, RIA.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, UH, OUR RESTAURANT UP ON IN BIXBY KNOWS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS MEETINGS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THIS STUFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO SIT HERE RIGHT NOW AND, YOU KNOW, THANK, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW, UH, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE DID THE BACK TO BUSINESS INITIATIVE, UH, WHERE THE MAYOR WENT AROUND AND, UH, MET WITH, UH, THE BIDS AND A LOT OF THE BUSINESS CORRIDORS.
UM, AND I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, I THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND FOR LISTENING TO EVERYBODY.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO JUST SEE ACTION.
[02:20:01]
WE NEED TO SEE RESULTS.YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DEAL WITH PD, UH, WE'VE HAD ISOLATED INCIDENTS ON FOURTH STREET.
WE'VE HAD ISOLATED INCIDENTS IN RIA.
UH, AND THE ANSWER'S ALWAYS THE SAME.
JUST THE ANSWER'S LIKE, WELL, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY, UM, BUT IT REALLY IS AFFECTING US.
AND I THINK NOW, MORE THAN EVER, AND THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE FEELING IT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE FEELING IT IN OUR SALES AND, UH, AND, AND WE NEED HELP.
SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.
AND, UM, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS AND COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN KER FOR US SIGNING ONTO THIS.
UM, AND, UH, I ALSO WANNA THANK SO MANY OF YOU.
I ALSO KNOW PERSONALLY, THE BUSINESSES AS SOMEONE WHO'S A, A PREVIOUS, UH, BUSINESS OWNER.
I, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND, UH, UM, THE CHALLENGES AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, SOME OF YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.
BUT, UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR EFFORTS ON COUNCIL IS LIKE, HOW, HOW DO WE PARTNERSHIP, HOW, HOW, WHAT DOES PARTNERSHIP LOOK LIKE? AND, UM, AND, UH, WHAT CAN WE DO, UH, TO MAKE THIS BETTER FOR EVERYONE? UM, BUT BEFORE I GO TO, UH, THE REST OF MY COMMENTS, I, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, UM, TO KEEP US SAFE.
I KNOW WE'VE SEEN, I KNOW WE'VE SEEN SOME PROGRESS, UM, THIS LAST YEAR WITH REGARDS TO SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES.
UM, AND I'M VERY, UH, THANKFUL, UH, FOR THAT AND, AND ALL OF YOUR, YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING ALL THE, UH, YOUR, YOUR WORKFORCE, THE DETECTIVES, AND ALL THE WORK THAT GOES IN.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, AND I KNOW THAT WE ASK A LOT FROM YOU.
BUT YOU CAN, UM, YOU CAN HEAR, UH, THE FRUSTRATION AND THE REAL CHALLENGES THAT, THAT PEOPLE, UM, HAVE.
AND, AND I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, THAT YOU TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING THE LEADER.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE, UH, YOUR WORKFORCE, YOUR, THE OFFICERS, THE DETECTIVES TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE, UM, IN THEIR, IN, IN, IN THEIR WORK.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, TOGETHER, UM, WITH THE MAYOR AND, AND, UH, TOM MOOCH AND I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN, CAN, UM, ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES, UM, THAT PEOPLE HAVE, UH, TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT I HEARD WHEN I, WHEN I WAS MEETING WITH A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT STATS AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STATS WAS PROPERTY CRIMES, UH, COMMERCIAL BURGLARIES AND VANDALISM BEING DOWN.
BUT, UM, WE HEARD THIS TODAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST STOPPED REPORTING.
UM, UM, FOR, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF REASONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FRUSTRATED.
LONG RESPONSE TIMES JUST HAPPEN SO OFTEN.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT TOO, AS FAR AS JUST CONTINUING TO EDUCATE, UH, MY BUSINESSES AND EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REPORT THESE CRIMES SO THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE A TRUE REFLECTION OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR, UM, IN THEIR, UH, COMMUNITIES.
AND, AND I TELL YOU THESE, WE HEARD THE, THESE, UH, PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST ISOLATED, UM, TO, UM, TO, TO DOWNTOWN.
I MEAN, WE, WE SEE THESE ISSUES HAPPENING, UM, ALL OVER, UM, THE CITY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD, UM, FROM MY, MY BUS BUSINESS DISTRICTS FOURTH STREET, UM, I HEAR A LOT FROM THE, UM, UH, BUSINESSES AND THE ANAHEIM CORRIDOR.
AND, UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING THAT THESE BUSINESSES, UM, THEY WANNA KEEP THEIR PATRONS SAFE.
UM, THEY WANT TO, UM, RETAIN CUSTOMERS, AND THEN THEY ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, BRING NEW CUSTOMERS IN.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW, UM, THIS HAS CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.
UM, I DO COMMEND OUR, OUR COMMANDER ON THE EAST SIDE.
I KNOW WE MET WITH OUR BUSINESSES, JOE JOES, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR HISTORIC BUSINESSES, AND ACE AND YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT GUY'S BEEN HIT SO MANY TIMES, I CAN'T EVEN, I JUST SAW HIM AGAIN, UM, OVER THE WEEKEND AND I'M JUST, DON'T TELL ME.
AND, AND SO IT'S, UM, THE, THE, UH, THE FRUSTRATION IS REAL.
AND NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, IT'S JUST THEY, THIS IS THEIR REALITY.
UM, THEY'RE STRUGGLING, UM, WITH RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES AND STILL TRYING TO, UH, TO DO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.
AND IT ALSO, UM, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING IS AFFECTING,
[02:25:01]
UM, THE, UH, THE FOOT TRAFFIC.AND I KNOW THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE, THAT WE HEARD TODAY, UM, WERE, UH, WRAPPED AROUND HOMELESSNESS.
AND, UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS, THIS ITEM IS NOT ABOUT, UH, CRIMINALIZING, UM, HOMELESSNESS.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT FINDING WAYS THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR CARE COURT SYSTEM.
UM, THAT, UH, WE ENSURE THAT OUR OUTREACH TEAMS AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE OUT THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT IT'S JUST THAT THE, THE PROBLEM HASN'T GOTTEN, UM, ANY BETTER.
AND, AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN OFFER MORE, MORE, UH, PERMANENT AND, UM, LONG-TERM, UH, SUPPORT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS, UM, ALREADY, UH, FOLLOWING THE GRANTS PASS DECISION AND ACTING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE, UH, 'CAUSE IT WAS STATED IN THE, UM, MAY 15TH MEMORANDUM.
AND, UM, I JUST THINK FOR, FOR, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT THAT, UM, IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE, UM, MORE TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, WHAT THE ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE, UM, WHAT OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE, AND JUST ANY OTHER STRATEGIES.
UM, 'CAUSE SOMEONE SAID THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UM, WHICH I LIKE THAT IS, IS JUST, LET'S, LET'S SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF RED TAPE WHEN THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO.
BUT I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ANY IDEAS OR ANY WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP, UM, THESE BUSINESSES AND, UM, THESE RESIDENTS, UM, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE WANT, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OF YOU LEAVE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UM, THAT, UH, SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT JUST THE REAL ESTATE.
UM, AND TO HEAR THAT, LIKE, SO, SO MANY FOLKS ARE NOT LOOKING, INVESTING IN THE CITY, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.
AND SO, UM, AND SO JUST, JUST, UH, JUST KNOW, I KNOW THE MAYOR, I KNOW THE COUNCIL, AND I KNOW OUR CITY.
WE WANT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE HERE.
LONG BEACH IS AN AMAZING CITY AND A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
AND, UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO DO, UM, WE OWE IT TO ALL OF YOU TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER, UM, TO RESTORE YOUR CONFIDENCE, UM, IN THESE LOCAL, UH, CORRIDORS.
UM, I ALSO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UM, I RECEIVED A, A LETTER FROM THE LONG BEACH COUNCIL BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, UM, WHICH BIG BETWEEN KNOWLES, UPTOWN, MIDTOWN, RIA, AND, UM, UH, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE, FOURTH STREET, BELMONT SHORE.
AND, UM, AND THEY ALL SAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, A ACROSS, UM, TO EXPAND, UM, TO EXPAND SAFETY AND THE HOUSING RESOURCES.
UM, BUT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS JUST LET'S, LET'S LOOK SOME OTHER WAYS.
LET'S, LET'S ADDRESS SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN BEST, UM, UH, BEST ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW SOMEONE FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALSO TALKED TO ME.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, IMPROVE, UM, THE LIVES OF, OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I JUST, I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UM, TO LOOK AT ALL THESE LETTERS.
I KNOW THAT MY, I'M SURE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.
AND IT IS MY HOPE, UM, THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE, ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM, UM, TONIGHT.
AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, UH, A SMALL AMENDMENT, UM, IS THAT, UM, WHEN WE DO HAVE A REPORT BACK, UM, CITY MANAGER TOM MOCA, IF WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THIS LIKE IN A, IN A, A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BUSINESSES, UH, WOULD CRAVE.
AND, AND NOT JUST A, NOT JUST A TCC, UM, OR JUST A MEMO.
I LIKE TO HAVE A FULL PRESENTATION.
SO IF WE CAN ADD THAT INTO THIS.
AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR INVITING ME TO BE ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM TODAY.
UM, I WANNA ALSO THANK COUNCILWOMAN KERR.
AND, UM, ALSO I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT CAME TODAY, WHETHER YOU ARE FROM DISTRICT ONE OR, UH, CITYWIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY FOR ME IS DEFINITELY PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU CHIEF W ISH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS ABOUT THIS.
WE'VE SAT DOWN, WE'VE, UM, TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THINGS, UM, AS WELL AS WITH CITY STAFF.
I KNOW THAT, UM, UM, THE, THE, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING A VIP PROGRAM FOR CRIMES THAT WERE OCCURRING.
[02:30:01]
A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST OUR BUSINESSES.BUT WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M THANKFUL TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TODAY FROM DISTRICT ONE, FROM DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A CITYWIDE ISSUE, BUT NOBODY IS HIT MORE THAN DOWNTOWN JUST BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE OF BEING DOWNTOWN.
AND SO I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT OTHER DOWNTOWNS AND, AND SEEING WHAT HAS WORKED FOR THEM.
AND IF THAT, YOU KNOW, ALSO, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN SAID, LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
I, I'VE PRESENTED IDEAS THAT I'M WORKING ON, UM, AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO, UM, ALSO SAY IS THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN REMINDED US THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT A ITEM THAT CRIMINALIZES OUR, UM, NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ABOUT BEING COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE THAT REFUSE SERVICES, THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THAT CANNOT ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE REFUSING, EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MENTALLY STABLE EITHER, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE IN DRUGS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SO WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO HELP THEM BECAUSE IF NOT, THIS IS GONNA CONTINUE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, STRUGGLE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, WHEN YOU GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE BUS BUSINESSES, UM, HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND WE WANT TO RETAIN THEM.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO ELSEWHERE.
UM, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE AN OPTION.
AND I KNOW WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO DOING A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, AND I KNOW, UM, THERE'S BEEN STATISTICS THAT SAY THAT, UM, THAT CRIME IS, HAS GONE DOWN.
I MEAN, WE CAME OUT OF THE SAFEST SUMMER IN A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A BIG THING FOR US IN THE, IN THE, UM, CITY.
BUT IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT, CONTINUE DOING THAT, AND, UM, AND WE NEED TO COLLABORATE, COLLABORATE AND BRINGING FORWARD SOLUTIONS, UM, THAT WILL HELP.
SO, UM, I WAS ALSO THINKING, UM, IF YOU AS WOULD ACCEPT, ACCEPT THIS, UH, FRIENDLY, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK WITH A PRESENTATION, THAT THERE'S ALSO A, A, A TIMELINE, A PLAN OF A TIMELINE, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COME OR THE IDEAS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PRESENTING.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ACCEPTABLE? THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER CARR? YES.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN ALLEN, UH, FOR ASKING ME TO SIGN ON TO THIS ITEM.
UM, I AGREED TO SIGN ON BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AROUND SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR SMALL BUSINESS CORRIDORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND THEM.
UM, I KNOW A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CRIME IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, ARE CORRIDORS THAT EXPERIENCE VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEMS TO THEIR LOCATION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME SHARED CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD FROM, UH, THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT.
I WANNA THANK THE BUSINESS OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, RESIDENTS, ALL WHO HAVE COME OUT, UM, AND HAVE SHARED INFORMATION WITH US.
UM, WE KNOW WHAT THE STATISTICS SAY, THIS HAS BEEN SAID, BUT WE ALSO, I KNOW THAT THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR PATRONS CAN'T BE IGNORED.
UM, SO ON PAPER WE HAVE ONE THING.
COUNCILMAN ALLEN, I APPRECIATE YOU ALLUDING TO THE LACK OF REPORTING THAT'S HAPPENING FOR SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING ISSUES JUST OUT OF COMPLETE FRUSTRATION.
AND AGAIN, DOING THE EDUCATION PIECE OF WE NEED DATA POINTS.
IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A CITYWIDE STRATEGY, WE NEED THOSE DATA POINTS TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE BEST TO DIRECT FOLKS, UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR BUSINESSES ON THAT.
BUT I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY ALONE IN OUR OFFICE, I WAS WORKING WITH THREE DIFFERENT BUSINESS OWNERS.
ONE THAT WAS BROKEN INTO LAST NIGHT, ONE THAT WAS BROKEN INTO LAST WEEK, AND ONE THAT WAS BROKEN INTO THREE WEEKS AGO.
ONE OF THOSE WAS ONE THAT HAS BEEN HIT NOW THREE TIMES THIS YEAR.
UM, SO WE KNOW WHAT THE STATS SAY, BUT WE KNOW THE LIVED EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT.
UM, WE KNOW FOR, FOR PATRONS ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, THEY WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BRING THEIR FAMILY, WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPEDING THAT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, NOT JUST IN
[02:35:01]
DOWNTOWN.UM, AND I THINK THIS ITEM, THE INTENT OF THIS ITEM IS TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THOSE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES, UM, ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND THAT WORK TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS, WE HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE, WE HAVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES.
ALL THE ISSUES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE CONNECTED.
UM, AND I AND I, WE, I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COMPASSION OF WANTING PEOPLE TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, THAT MEANS INCLUDING THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED, WHETHER THAT'S IMMEDIATE HOUSING, TEMPORARY HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, PERMANENT HOUSING, WE HAVE TO WANT ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO HOW DO WE TAKE THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE AT, THAT ARE AT ATTEMPTING TO, UM, ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM ISSUES TO HELP WITH THE SHORT TERM REALITY.
SO IT, IT IS VERY MUCH A MARRIED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
AND I KNOW, UH, WE'LL HAVE A REPORT BACK ON CRIME IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR.
WE KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE UPDATE ON GRANT'S PASS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL REPORT BACK ON WHERE WE HAVE MOVED SINCE THEN.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY THOUGH, I WANNA, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE PD, WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UM, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND THE ISSUES THAT ARISE, UM, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT CRIME ISN'T ALWAYS THAT.
AND OFTENTIMES THAT THE VENN DIAGRAM OF THE HOMELESSNESS AND THE CRIME IS REALLY SMALL.
AND THAT WORK THAT YOUR DETECTIVES HAVE DONE ON MULTIPLE BREAK-INS IN DISTRICT FIVE HAVE RESULTED IN FINDING FOLKS WHO ARE OUT OF AREA, WHO IT IS A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.
I WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR, UM, THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF DETECTIVES TO REALLY WORK ON THAT CRIME INVESTIGATION PORTION, REFERRING THAT TO DA AND PRESSING CHARGES, UM, AS HAS HAPPENED IN SOME OF THE STRINGS OF BREAK-INS THAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE CITY, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT FOLKS WHO ARE WANDERING ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S DARK AND IT'S FOGGY AND REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING BREAK WINDOWS AND VANDALIZE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
IT IS A BOTH AND SITUATION THAT I THINK ON OUR BEST DAYS WE'RE TRYING REALLY HARD TO DO.
I KNOW YOUR DEPARTMENT IS, I KNOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS, UM, IN OUR BEST DAYS WE HAVE SEEN VERY GOOD RESULTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT LOSS OF FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND THE COUNTY LEVEL ARE GOING TO IMPACT THIS FURTHER.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REPORT BACK THAT CAN NOT JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT, BUT HOW WE PLAN TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS THIS AND ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS OWNERS IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE IN LINE WITH, UM, WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE LESS FUNDING FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO WE WANT TO BE REALISTIC.
I DON'T WANT US TO MAKE PROMISES THAT WE CAN'T KEEP.
I WANNA WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARTNERS WHO ARE OUT HERE TODAY TO SAY, HERE IS A STRATEGY, UM, THAT WORKS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR CITY AND HERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE WITH, UM, WITH NONPROFITS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, TO, TO FORWARD THAT.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, MR. CITY MANAGER AS WE REPORT BACK.
UM, I WILL BRING UP AGAIN FOR FOLKS WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THE COUNCIL JURISDICTIONS ARE DRAWN IN CD FIVE.
WE ARE AT THE EDGE OF THREE PATROL DIVISIONS.
WE ARE AT THE VERY SOUTH END OF NORTH, WE ARE AT THE VERY EAST END OF WEST, AND WE ARE AT THE VERY WEST END OF EAST.
UM, AND THE WAYS THAT AS WE LOOK TO STRATEGIZE, UM, TO MAKING SURE WE'RE ENSURING COVERAGES ON SOME OF THOSE EDGES WILL BE REALLY CRITICAL FOR MY RESIDENTS AND MY BUSINESS OWNERS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I WILL SAY THERE WAS SOME TALK AROUND THIS ISSUE ABOUT LOOKING, WHEN WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, I VERY SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT YOU NOT LOOK TO TAKE ANY MONEY THAT IS ALREADY ALLOCATED TO OUR BIDS, AWAY FROM OUR BIDS TO ADDRESS A CITYWIDE ISSUE THAT WE PROTECT THE BID FUNDING.
UM, THOSE BIDS HAVE COORDINATED PLANS OFTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PD, UM, TO WORK ON SAFETY IN THEIR SPECIFIC AREAS.
SO I THAT WE PROTECT THAT FUNDING AS WELL.
AND, UM, MY TIME IS UP, BUT, UH, THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, WELL THOSE ARE THE THREE MAKERS OF THE MOTION BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
UM, SO FIRST I UNDERSTOOD THIS TO BE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
UH, YOU WANNA COME BACK, HAVE STAFF COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION NEXT FEW MONTHS, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN, WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR STRATEGIES, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE RESULTS? WHAT ARE OTHER STRATEGIES? CONSIDER, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
'CAUSE I SUPPORT THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.
I A FEW THINGS THAT I, I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, I HEAR ONE THING I HEAR A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, I HEAR TOO, A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON DOWNTOWN.
I DIDN'T HEAR, I DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF, I MEAN MAYBE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BELMONT SHORE CAME OUT THE OTHER WEEK OR WHATEVER, BUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON DOWNTOWN.
AND SO I THINK THERE, WHILE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REPORT COMING BACK CITYWIDE, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH
[02:40:01]
SOME OF THESE FOLKS DOWNTOWN.AND I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, AND LUIS, THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING IT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAME OUT WALK, YOU KNOW, WALKED AROUND WITH YOU, CHRIS, AND SAT DOWN WITH DLBA AND SAID, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED AND WORKED THROUGH THE BUDGET.
AND AFTER YOU GOT THOSE THINGS IN, I THINK IT WAS LIKE AN $8 MILLION PLAN THAT WENT INTO EFFECT OCTOBER ONE.
AND I THINK A MISTAKE MAY HAVE BEEN THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH COBA AND THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, AND IF THAT'S NOT PERCOLATING THROUGH, MAYBE WE SHOULD RETHINK OUR STRATEGY AND WORK MORE DIRECTLY WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE IMPACTED.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE MAY HAVE TO EXPLORE.
THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS, UM, I WANT TO JUST BE CLEAR ON EXPECTATIONS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE WHO COMMENTED ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT AND GRANTS PASS, UM, AND ACTION TODAY.
DOES THIS MOTION CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ON ENFORCEMENT? OR ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK WITH SOME FACTS ON WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO AND WHAT WE DON'T DO? UM, SO WHAT, WHAT I ASK IS, UH, WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE, AND UM, AND THEN WHETHER THESE STRATEGIES ARE ACTUALLY HELPING CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND, RIGHT? SO I WANNA MAKE SURE STAFF UNDERSTANDS THAT BECAUSE I HEARD THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY WHAT THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS.
WE'VE ALWAYS LED WITH COMPASSION, BUT LAWLESSNESS CANNOT OCCUR IN OUR CITY.
IF YOU, UH, INITIALLY THE CHALLENGE WAS GRANTS PASS.
INITIALLY WE COULDN'T ENFORCE WITHOUT HAVING ADEQUATE SHELTER.
WE FOCUSED ON SHELTER, 86% INCREASE ON SHELTER OUTREACH.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU OFFER SHELTER, BECAUSE WE HAVE IT NOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAD WITH SERVICES AND COMPASSION? BUT YOU STILL HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC, UH, UM, LIST OF FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE CREATED SOME CHRONIC NUISANCES LAWS.
LAWS, NOT NECESSARILY HOMELESSNESS, BUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BREAKING LAWS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A PROTOCOL IN THAT CASE.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT CAN BE COVERED.
THE OTHER THING I HEARD, I HEARD THAT THE STATE IS GIVING ALL THIS MONEY TO THE CITY.
I JUST WANNA BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.
THE STATE ACTUALLY CUT HAP FUNDING IN THIS MOST RECENT YEAR.
IT WAS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND THE BIG CITY MAYORS.
WHAT IS HAP FUNDING? HAP IS, IS THE FUNDING THAT IS FLEXIBLE, THAT ALLOWS US TO, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE FUNDING HAS REAL SPECIFIC STRINGS ON WHAT IT HAS TO BE USED ON.
SO IF WE SEE THE NEED IS MORE OUTREACH OR IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, OR THE YOUTH SHELTER THAT WE BUILT WAS ALL HEALTH HAP FUNDING.
IT WAS ACTUALLY REDUCED IN THIS MOST RECENT BUDGET.
SO THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR NEXT YEAR.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS REFERENCES TO THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
I SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR DIRECTLY.
THE ORDER CAME WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF MORE THAN $3 BILLION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROPOSITION ONE FUNDING, WHICH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ADVOCATED FOR.
WE TOOK A POSITION IN SUPPORT OF, AND THE BIG CITY MAYORS ACTUALLY ADVOCATED TO CREATE IT.
MR. CITY MANAGER, DID CITY OF LONG BEACH RECEIVE A DOLLAR OF THE, THE, UH, PROP ONE FUNDING IN THAT ANNOUNCEMENT? NO, WE DID NOT.
HOW MUCH DID WE APPLY FOR IN THAT FUNDING? UH, ABOUT 40 MILLION FOR THE CITY AND PROBABLY ABOUT 80 MILLION TOTAL FOR OTHER PARTNERS IN THE CITY, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT FUNDING HAVE GONE TO? YEAH, SO PROP ONE REALLY IS THE FIRST TIME THAT CITIES CAN REALLY APPLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH TYPE, UM, FACILITIES.
UH, IT'S NOT TYPICALLY A, A CITY FUNCTION AND A LOT OF CITIES DON'T TRY TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK.
BUT LONG BEACH HAS BEEN ONE THAT'S LEANED INTO THAT.
SO, UM, WE HAD TWO SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.
SO WE'RE, THOSE ARE STILL ACTIVE PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW.
ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE INCORPORATED INTO MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, A DEDICATED TREATMENT FACILITY FOR, UH, DRUG OVERDOSE, UM, FOR, UH, THINGS, YOU KNOW, LIKE ACTUAL TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO, UH, ARE TRYING TO GET OFF OF DRUGS AND ARE HOMELESS AS WELL.
UH, AND THEN WE ALSO WE'RE LOOKING FOR VERY SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.
SO WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF SHELTER BEDS, UH, WE WANTED TO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH BEDS FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED EXTRA CARE, UH, AND UH, HAVE A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET.
AND THAT'S, SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CAPACITY BECAUSE SHELTER DOESN'T ADDRESS EVERY POPULATION.
SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING LESSNESS A LONG TIME, THAT MAY NOT BE THE SOLUTION.
UH, A COT IN A WAREHOUSE, EVEN SOME OF THE NON-IT SHELTER WE'RE BUILDING, THEY NEED MENTAL HEALTH BEDS IS WHAT IS NEEDED.
AND THAT IS TRADITIONALLY NOT SOMETHING CITIES HAVE DONE.
BUT SINCE PROP ONE, IT NOW ALLOWS CITIES TO DO THAT.
THE STATE HAS REQUIRED COUNTIES TO BE THE LEAD ON THAT.
[02:45:01]
WE DID OUR OWN ASSESSMENT TO SEE HOW MANY OF THESE BEDS, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO ADDRESS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.HOW MANY EXISTED IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH? AND THERE WERE NONE IN RECUPERATIVE CARE FACILITIES.
THAT'S SOMEONE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL, GOES INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
I HAVE A, I'M AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WELL, AFTER THEY GET BANDAGED UP, A LOT OF TIMES THEY RETURN RIGHT BACK TO THE STREET AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO HEAL OR RECUPERATE.
AND SO THEY END UP BACK IN THE HOSPITAL, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECUPERATIVE CARE.
THESE BEDS COULD PROVIDE RECUPERATIVE CARE.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE STREET, YOU GO FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM INTO RECUPERATIVE CARE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS, GET CONNECTED TO SERVICES, AND DON'T END UP RIGHT BACK ON THE STREET.
AND THAT IS, THAT IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE CAN FUND.
SO I'LL SAY ALL TO SAY THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS ZERO CAPACITY ON MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN, UH, IT'S BEEN IN EVERY CITY OUTSIDE OF CLAREMONT AND BERKELEY, WHICH WERE TWO OF THE CITIES THAT WERE CARVED OUT IN STATE LAW YEARS AGO, MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, NO CITY HAS DONE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH.
BUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS NOW BUILDING MORE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH CAPACITY, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS. IT WAS A PILOT WE PILOTED LAST FEW YEARS OUT OF NEED OUT OF RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS.
WE NOW FUND THAT IN OUR CITY WITH OUR LOCAL DOLLARS.
UH, THESE, THESE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT DIDN'T EXIST.
AND SO AS YOUR MAYOR, I GOTTA TELL YOU, WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO REALLY SEE THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT WE WANNA SEE.
WE HAVE TO BUILD MENTAL HEALTH CAPACITY.
WE HAVE TO BUILD SHELTER, WE HAVE TO BUILD MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, AND WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE TO OUR STATE TO WORK WITH US AND OUR COUNTY.
WE JUST GOT NEWS MOST RECENTLY.
THE COUNTY'S CONSIDER CONSIDERING CUTTING $8 MILLION OF FUNDING TO OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
MOST CITIES DON'T EVEN HAVE A CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SO NOW WE'RE FIGHTING FIGHTING CUTS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING IMPACTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THIS ADMINIS ADMINISTRATION WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND SO ALL OF THESE, WE JUST HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, PD CAN'T DO IT ALL.
AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KERR IS RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FULL PICTURE, BUT WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FOCUSED ON, UH, DELIVERING RESULTS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ASK THE CHIEF, JUST, YOU KNOW, I GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SAY A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE KEEP GOING.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE WORK THAT THE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DOING, UH, TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT I HEAR OUT HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE, IT'S, I I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, THAT STATISTICS ARE ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IN POLICING.
AND WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS AND WE USE THOSE TO EVALUATE, UH, WHERE WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES.
UM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SOLE MEASUREMENT FOR SUCCESS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT I HEAR FROM OUR, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS OWNERS HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO REDUCE, UH, PROPERTY CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME, UM, UH, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
THAT WAS, UH, INTENTIONAL WORK AND, AND PROGRAMS AND PLANS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH OFFICERS WORKING, UH, MANDATORY OVERTIME SHIFTS FOR NEAR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW TO MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS.
UH, TO WHICH, UM, WE'VE HAD FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 15 YEARS THE SAME STAFFING LEVELS.
BUT WE, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT HAVE GONE DOWN, OUR STAFFING LEVELS OUT IN THE FIELD IN PATROL HAVE NOT GONE DOWN.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THE OFFICERS ARE DOING, THE OVERTIME SHIFTS THAT THEY'RE WORKING.
UH, I APPRECIATE, UH, LOOKING AT WAYS TO EVOLVE AND PROVIDE, UH, SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THAT'S, I MEAN, WE'RE A LEARNING POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE'RE COMMITTED TO, TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY AND EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND, UH, UM, I APPRECIATE THE ITEM AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL BE A GOOD PARTNER IN THIS AND, AND WORK WITH THE OTHER CITY DEPARTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE, UH, HEARD HERE TONIGHT.
SO, SO MY HOPE IS WITH THIS PRESENTATION, WE CAN JUST OUTLINE WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE, WHAT IS, WHAT, WHAT WE NEED FROM THE STATE, FROM THE REGION, FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON ENFORCEMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF STATEMENTS ABOUT GRANT'S PAST THAT CAME OUT.
TOM, ARE YOU ENFORCING GRANT'S PAST? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES WHEN GRAD'S PASS CAME OUT, UM, TO COME UP WITH A PRETTY DETAILED STRATEGY OF HOW WE'RE GONNA ACHIEVE THIS BALANCE.
SOME CITIES SAID THEY WEREN'T GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING.
THEY WEREN'T GONNA DO ANY ENFORCEMENT, NOT NOTHING CHANGES.
THAT WAS A NUMBER OF THE LARGE CITIES.
SOME SAID, WELL, WE'RE JUST GONNA DO ONLY ENFORCEMENT.
AND ONLY THAT WE CAME OUT WITH OUR APPROACH, WHICH BASICALLY SAID, WE'RE GONNA LEAD WITH COMPASSION, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ABILITY FOR OUR OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH, UM, ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE, ARE REFUSING SERVICES, AND DON'T WANNA BE THERE AND DON'T WANNA TALK TO ANYBODY.
[02:50:01]
AND SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL REALLY GET INTO TO THE REPORT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE DATA, UH, THAT, UM, THAT WE'VE HAD.SO BEFORE THAT, WE STILL HAD THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE BEFORE GRANTS PASSED, BUT YOU HAD TO SHOW THAT YOU HAD A, A, A BED AVAILABLE RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
AND SO, UM, WE'LL GET THE NUMBERS, BUT WE PROBABLY JUST DID A HANDFUL A YEAR, MAYBE 10, 15, 20 A YEAR.
UH, BECAUSE THAT WAS A HARD STANDARD TO PROVE.
UH, ABOUT NINE MONTHS AFTER A GRANT PASS WAS DONE, UH, WE ENDED UP CREATING FOCUS AREAS, BUT ALSO ALLOWING OFFICERS TO DO THIS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, WE HAD 346 CITATIONS AND ARRESTS, UM, IN ABOUT NINE MONTHS.
UM, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE WERE IN THOSE FOCUSED AREAS THAT WE SAW SOME REAL IMPROVEMENT.
AND THE OTHERS WERE THROUGH THE CITY.
UH, AS OF ABOUT, UH, TWO MONTHS AGO, OR A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, WE'RE UP TO, UH, 696, UH, ARRESTS AND CITATIONS.
UH, NOW IT'S ABOUT A THIRD HAPPENING IN THE PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS.
'CAUSE THAT'S STILL A FOCUS, AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT IS HAPPENING CITYWIDE.
THAT'S OFFICER DISCRETION, THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO, LONG ANSWER, BUT ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE THE DATA.
WE, UM, WE ARE ENFORCING NO CAMPING.
UH, AND, UH, AND THOSE ARE ALSO ARRESTS THAT ARE THEN MADE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE WARRANTS AND, AND OTHER THINGS, UH, UH, THAT, UH, IS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
I WANNA WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I WANNA THANK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT.
AGAIN, I, I HEAR A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, SO THAT MEANS WE JUST GOTTA KEEP WORKING.
WE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB AT, AT COMMUNICATING AND TAKING FEEDBACK AND, AND THAT'S OKAY.
THE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT BUILDS, INSTITUTION COMMUNITY IS THERE TO TELL YOU WHERE YOU GET IT RIGHT AND WHERE YOU GET IT WRONG.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE DO THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN WE DEPLOY AND FUND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY.
UM, WE JUST DEPLOYED A, A NEW PROGRAM, EIGHT PLUS MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD BACK TO BUSINESS.
IF WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THAT'S NOT WHERE THESE DOLLARS SHOULD GO, AND THEY WANNA PULL IT AND PUT IT ALL INTO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN, THEN THAT WE WANT TO HEAR THAT.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
ARE THESE, LIKE, WE DON'T WANNA BE CHASING A MOVING TARGET HERE WE ARE.
WE'RE EITHER GONNA PARTNER AND INVEST IN THESE STRATEGIES AND PLACEMAKING AND PREPARE OUR CITY FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, OR WE'RE GONNA, OR, OR WE'RE GONNA GO TO TRADITIONAL PATHWAYS.
AND SO, UH, MY HOPE IS THAT PARTNERSHIP IS THE WAY TO GO, IS WE FIND PARTNERSHIP AND WE ADDRESS THE ACROSS CHRONIC NUS ACROSS OUR, OUR WHOLE CITY.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER THS AND TOOK.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ALAN ZENDEJAS AND KERR.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
UM, AS ITEM 21 NOTES, AND AS, AS HAS BEEN EXPRESSED BY ALL OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, UM, THEY ARE FACING QUITE A FEW CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNDERMINING THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND PATRON CONFIDENCE IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
WHEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL UNSAFE OR RESIDENTS AVOID CORRIDORS.
AS THE BUSINESS DESCRIBED TONIGHT DUE TO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, WE LOSE THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION TO RESUBMIT THE REPORT WITHIN 90 DAYS.
UM, BUT IN DOING SO, I'D LOVE, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES, UH, TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN DOING SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON WHAT SOME OF THE STATE LAWS HAVE RECENTLY COME OUT THAT I THINK WILL COMPLIMENT THE GOALS OF THIS REPORT BACK.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER, ALONG WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHEN THEY RETURN WITH THE STRATEGY, ARE LOOKING AT NOT JUST OUR TOOLKIT HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TOOLKITS ACROSS OTHER CITIES, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE, UH, TOOLS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN TO US.
UH, THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED THE VARIOUS, UH, PROGRAMS THAT, UH, EITHER ARE AT RISK OR WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FROM HAP TO PROP ONE, TO L TO THE LA COUNTY, UH, TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ALL OF WHICH CONTINUE AND MUST BE A PRIORITY IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOUSING RESOURCES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
BUT IN MY COMMENTS TODAY, I'LL BE REFERRING TO SEVERAL BILLS THAT I THINK, AGAIN, WILL COMPLIMENT OUR EFFORTS, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH OF THOSE.
SO FIRST, UH, ON THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CARE COURT, UH, THIS ITEM REQUESTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND CARE COURT TO MAKE THIS EFFECTIVE.
I THINK WE CAN INTEGRATE SB 27 BY BERG.
UM, THIS BILL EXPANDS CARE COURT FORCING JUDGES TO CONSIDER IT AS A FRONTLINE OPTION FOR THOSE WHO'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
THIS IS THE KIND OF OFF RAMP THAT WE NEED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT WILL HELP US BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO SERVICES JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
FURTHERMORE, REGARDING THE CHRONICALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS REFUSING SERVICE, SO MANY OF, UH, THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE TODAY AND IS ALSO MENTIONED IN THE RECOMMENDATION, WE SHOULD CONSIDER INCORPORATING AB 3 48, WHICH STREAMLINES FULL SERVICE PARTNERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
[02:55:01]
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEAVING INCARCERATION.AND AB 5 43, WHICH CUTS THE RED TAPE FOR FIELD MEDICINE.
THIS EXTENDS SERVICES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING, UH, HOMELESSNESS, SO THAT THAT SERVICE CAN BE PROVIDED, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
ON THE TOPIC OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAFETY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, UM, WE KNOW THAT SAFETY IS DICTATED BY THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE REPORT COULD EXAMINE AB 4 76, WHICH COMBATS THE THEFT OF COPPER WIRE.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN PUBLIC, UH, LIGHTING AND FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE KNOW THAT DARK STREETS DUE TO DISABLED STREETLIGHTS MIGHT INVITE CRIME.
WE MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT AB SIX 30, UH, TO SIMPLIFY THE REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS AND ABANDONED RVS AND SB 19, WHICH CREATES NEW PENALTIES FOR THREATS OF VIOLENCE AT WORKPLACES.
SEVERAL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HERE, UH, DESCRIBE THAT VIOLENCE.
UM, AND THAT REALLY EFFECTIVELY AND MOST, UM, ADDRESS DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE REPORTING AS THEY ARE IN THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS, AND THAT AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IS OCCURRING, UM, IN THOSE SPACES.
AND THEN, UH, ON THE ISSUE OF, UH, BUSINESS VITALITY, UH, WHILE WE PRIORITIZE SAFETY, WE MUST ALSO REMOVE THE RED TAPE THAT ENABLES BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.
I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT AB 6 71 AND AB 5 92.
UM, THESE MEASURES ALLOW FOR FASTER RESTAURANT PLAN CHECKS AND PERMANENTLY EASING RESTRICTIONS ON OUTDOOR DINING.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE AREAS THAT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND PRIORITIZE AROUND, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOUSING, UM, I HOPE THAT THESE NEW LEGISLATIVE TOOLS CAN BE OPERATIONALIZED AS PART AND CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE 90 DAY REPORT BACK, UM, THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY, UH, NOTED SOME OF THE, UM, AREAS THAT ARE REALLY CRITICAL, UH, FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITHIN OUR CITY.
UM, I TOO WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN CO COUNCILWOMAN ALAN, UM, SANDE HAS AND, UH, KER FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I THINK THIS IS A IMPORTANT DISCUSSION THAT WE CONTINUE FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE DID TALK ABOUT, UH, CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS RELATING TO VARIOUS, UH, ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY, UM, AND THAT WE CONTINUE AROUND THE IN-HOUSE, BUT ALSO I THINK, UH, A CONSTITUENT THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING, UM, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WITHIN MY DISTRICT, I WILL SAY, HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING ISSUE, RIGHT? I I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HEARING TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO SHARE YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR FRUSTRATION, WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IS VERY REAL.
UH, AND I THINK THAT IT'S A ISSUE AND A CONCERN THAT I ALSO HEAR FROM BUSINESS ON ANAHEIM QUARTER AS WELL, RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALSO, UM, FEELING THAT, UH, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHILE I THINK TODAY MANY OF YOU ARE VOICING BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A, YOU KNOW, LIVELY BUSINESS CORRIDOR.
BUT I, I WANTED TO ASK, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN CLARIFY BUSINESS CORRIDOR, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAME TODAY SPOKE ABOUT DOWNTOWN, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IN ALL OF OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR COLLECTIVELY IN OUR CITY.
SO I'M WONDERING, UM, IF YOU COULD CLARIFY COUNCILWOMAN BUSINESS CORRIDOR AND IF YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO EXPANDING IT BEYOND DOWNTOWN.
AND I THINK, UM, BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
ANY BUSINESS CORRIDOR WHERE YOU, WE HAVE BUSINESS COURT ON PCH IN, IN YOUR, YOUR AREA.
WE HAVE THEM DOWN ANAHEIM, UM, UH, ALL THE WAY UP NORTH TO TO, TO DOWNTOWN.
I THINK THAT, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM, UH, FROM THE DOWNTOWN, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS CITYWIDE AND I, WE ALL HAVE MET WITH OUR, WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES IN EVERY DISTRICT.
SO, SO HOW DO WE BEST SERVE, UM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THOSE CORRIDORS? THAT WAS THE INTENTION OF THIS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY BECAUSE, UM, ONE OF THE CONSTITUENT THAT I THINK WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE, UM, OUR IN-HOUSE AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE CREATING A VARIOUS CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IS AT THE FOREFRONT.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING RESIDENT WHO HAVE BEEN FACED IN MANY CHALLENGES ECONOMICALLY, HAS HAD DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? SO WE, UH, HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO DOING PREVENTATIVE WORK IN OUR CITY.
[03:00:01]
OF THE WORK THAT OUR LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE.AND I THINK WE ALSO, WOW, WE NEED IMMEDIATE SOLUTION RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND JUST A CITY RESOURCE, BUT TO THINK ABOUT EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP WHEN WE DO THIS REPORT IS WHO'S ALREADY NONPROFITS, UH, FAITH-BASED GROUPS THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THAT IS DOING THE WORK.
I KNOW THIS EXPANDS THE STUDY A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK THAT IF PEOPLE ARE FEELING THAT WHAT WE'RE NOT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING, WE NEED TO THINK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY ABOUT OTHER PARTNERS.
UM, JUST AS, UH, CHIEF, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SCREAMS L-B-P-P-D, BUT CAN YOU SHARE WHO YOU WORK WITH WITHIN THE CITY WHEN WE'RE ADDRESSING UNHOUSED ISSUE OR OTHER SAFETY ISSUE? UH, CLOSELY, YES.
SO WE WORK WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT AS IT RELATES TO, TO HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM THAT IS LED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT INVOLVES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THE, THE CITY ATTOR.
THE, UH, UH, CITY PROSECUTOR IS INVOLVED IN THAT.
UH, WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR WORKS WITH, UH, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON A, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, WE WORK WITH CENTRAL CHA RELATED TO IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
UH, ANY OF THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP, UM, THAT IS WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET AND COLLABORATE WITH US.
UH, WE ALWAYS EXTEND AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEM AS WELL.
SO, UM, OUR, OUR MISSION IS CENTERED AROUND PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION AND, AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE ONES WE HAVE IN CREATING NEW ONES.
AND, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT, IS I THINK THAT A LOT OF IT'S REST ON ONE GROUP OR ONE AREA.
AND I THINK OUR BUSINESS HERE SHARING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, DOING ENOUGH OR WE NEED OTHER SOLUTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EXPANDING OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND LOOKING AT, WELL, WHAT ABOUT OUR BUSINESS ORGANIZATION THAT CAN EXPAND THEIR SCOPE TO BE IN OUR DEPARTMENT? OR, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH OUR, UM, DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE PREVENTATIVE WORK THAT COULD BE DONE AS WE'RE ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE IMMEDIATE RAPID RESPONSE STUFF THAT WE DO HAVE FUNDING FOR FUNDING IS ALWAYS GONNA BE AN ISSUE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN OUR CITY.
AND, BUT IT'S NEVER STOPPED US FROM THINKING ABOUT BEING CREATIVE, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE REALLY MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT? RIGHT? AND WHO ARE THE EXPERTS DOING THAT? SO I, I WANTED TO EXPAND THIS BECAUSE I, I FEEL, I HEAR FROM MY RESIDENTS REGULARLY HOW FRUSTRATED THEY ARE ABOUT NOT ENOUGH ACTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS, WHAT COULD WE DO TOGETHER? WHETHER IT IS, IS IT A LIGHTING ISSUE OR IS IT WALKING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER? HOW DO WE BETTER COORDINATE WITHIN RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, FAITH-BASED ENTITY, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, VERSUS IS IT A ONE BULLET SOLUTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH? IS IT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER, UM, I DON'T MEAN TO SAY ONE BULLET, THAT'S NOT A GOOD ANALOGY, UM, BUT LET ME TAKE THAT BACK.
BUT IS IT A ONE, YOU KNOW, SOLUTION APPROACH? UH, I RECOGNIZE THAT'S NOT A GOOD TERM, SO RETRACT THAT PLEASE.
UH, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERCONNECTED, BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE BY OURSELF.
WE DON'T DO BUSINESS BY OURSELF.
SO I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT TOGETHER.
SO I'M OVER TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, UM, HOW IMPORTANT THAT WE, ONE AREA OF OUR CITY IMPACTS ALL OF THE OTHER PARTS.
SO WE'RE HERE COLLECTIVELY, TOGETHER, FRUSTRATED, BUT WE CAN ALSO BE HERE COLLECTIVELY, TOGETHER, SOLUTION ORIENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER, UH, WITH MULTIPLE STRATEGIES IS WHAT WE WANT FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE, SPEND TIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THESE ARE ALL GREAT, IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND, UM, IT'S A GREAT ITEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND SEE THE WORK DONE.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA, SORRY, I'M LOSING MY VOICE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER, UH, BRINGING THIS, UH, ITEM FORWARD AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, RIGHT? UM, I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUE, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS LIKE, WE HEAR YOUR FRUSTRATION, RIGHT? IT FEELS LIKE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER KERR SAID, IT FEELS LIKE THE DATA DOES NOT REFLECT PEOPLE'S LIVED EXPERIENCES.
AND I KNOW, AND I GET IT, RIGHT, WHEN THE CITY POINTS, WHEN THE CITY PUTS OUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MUCH MORE POSITIVE PICTURE, IT FEELS LIKE IT INVALIDATES YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES DAY TO DAY, RIGHT? UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE ALL HEAR IT FROM OUR,
[03:05:01]
OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY.SO I KNOW WHILE WE DISCUSSED MOSTLY DOWNTOWN TONIGHT, UM, THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT IS CONCENTRATED JUST TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I HEAR IT UP IN UPTOWN AS WELL, UM, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN NORTH LONG BEACH, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, K SORROW FOR BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE CITYWIDE VIEW, UH, OF HOW WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL BROUGHT UP AND WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE ITEM.
UM, I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE WORK THAT THE, AND THE EFFORTS OUR CITY, UM, HAS DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THAT WORK IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERABLE.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT BE IN THE REPORT, THE WORK OF OUR INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAMS, UM, TO REALLY ADDRESS MANY OF THE NUISANCE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL ARE BRINGING UP.
UM, AND THE, AND THE SAFETY ASPECTS, RIGHT? LIKE, IT IS NOT LOST ON ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, HEARING YOU ALL TALK ABOUT NOT FEELING SAFE, WALKING DOWN YOUR STREETS, NOT FEELING SAFE, GOING INTO BUSINESSES, RIGHT? THAT AFFECTS ME, THAT AFFECTS OUR, OUR FAMILIES, THAT AFFECTS OUR BUSINESSES, THAT AFFECTS ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE, UM, THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH.
UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR DISCUSSED LIKE, IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT SERVING US, HOW DO WE REDEPLOY THOSE DOLLARS TO MAKE THEM THINGS THAT, UH, ADDRESS THE NEED, RIGHT? WE ARE NOT AN INFLEXIBLE CITY, SO WE ARE GONNA TRY OUT DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU BE, YOU CONTINUE TO BE PATIENT WITH US, AND I KNOW YOU MIGHT LOOK AT ME AND SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'VE BEEN PATIENT ENOUGH.
UM, BUT THIS IS NOT A, IT'S NOT A SINGLE SOLUTION ISSUE.
AND SO EVEN AS WE LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES, SOMETIMES WE'RE GONNA TRY THINGS HERE, UM, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK, RIGHT? OR THEY MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED OR MODIFIED IN ORDER TO FIT INTO WHAT IS, UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE NEED YOUR VOICES, RIGHT? SO WE NEED YOU TO COME TO, COME TO US, YOU KNOW, EVERY MONTH OF IT IS, AND SAY LIKE, HEY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW THAT YOU TRIED X INITIATIVE.
THIS IS WHAT I'M SEEING ON THE GROUND.
WE NEED THAT FEEDBACK FROM YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT GONNA ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S WORKING.
YOU ALL ARE LIVING THIS DAY TO DAY.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO PARTNER WITH US, UM, AS WE PROCEED FORWARD, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY VOICE IS HEARD.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU.
UM, JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN AGAIN AND, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK THAT, UM, TOGETHER WE COULD SEE THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A CITYWIDE, UM, NEED FOR OUR CITY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO REAC ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR A LOT FROM MY, UM, MY BUSINESS OWNERS AND MY RESIDENTS, UM, INCLUDING MY RESIDENTS, LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS AN ISSUE, A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT MY BUSINESS OWNERS SEE AND DAY IN AND DAY OUT, BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS, UM, THAT ARE, THAT ARE HE SEE THIS AS WELL.
UM, GETTING, UM, EMAILS FROM ALL OVER.
YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT, I'M SURE EVERYBODY ON, ON COUNCIL GOT EMAILS AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OF SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM, UM, FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR A LOT IS THE NEED FOR MORE ENFORCEMENT.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, UM, WE SUPPORT OUR, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, WE WANT TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE LOW ON RESOURCES, BUT, UM, CHIEF WALLY, IF MAYBE YOU COULD TELL US, UM, HOW WE CAN BE MORE SUPPORTIVE AND MORE COLLABORATIVE WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW YOU AND I ALWAYS ARE IN TOUCH, UM, ALL THE TIME, AND I'M, AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ANSWERING MY CALL.
UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS IN COMMUNICATION, WHICH I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS A VERY LARGE CITY.
UM, BUT YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS REALLY, UH, MADE IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU CONNECT WITH ALL OF US AND, AND TRY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS IN EACH DISTRICT.
AND EACH DISTRICT, I KNOW, HAS VERY UNIQUE NEEDS, BUT AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, EVERYBODY, UM, HAS THEIR, THEIR INTEREST IN THEIR, UM, THEIR CORNERS OR THEIR DISTRICTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SO ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF US.
UM, BUT WHAT CAN WE AS A COUNCIL DO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTED, THAT YOUR, YOUR OFFICERS FEEL THAT THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND DO THEIR JOB? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS AND
[03:10:01]
OUR BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASKING FOR IS, UH, FOR MORE ENFORCEMENT, FOR MORE, UH, POLICE PRESENCE.I KNOW MY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ASKED ME FOR MORE ON FOOT PATROLLING, AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU HAD THE RESOURCES, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MY RESIDENTS REALLY VALUE THAT I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES VALUE AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BIKE, UM, THE BIKE OFFICERS AS WELL, THAT DO AMAZING INTERACTING WITH OUR, UH, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
BUT HOW CAN WE HAVE MORE AND HOW CAN WE, AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FEELS SUPPORTED, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO? THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I, I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHAT YOU CAN DO IS, IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT, WHICH IS RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK OF THE, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE DEPARTMENT, AND, UM, AND CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH THE DIVISION COMMANDERS.
UH, I WAS SPEAKING WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER EARLIER TONIGHT ABOUT THE, THE, THE INTERACTION WITH THE DIVISION COMMANDERS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CONTINUING TO CONNECT WITH ME WHEN ISSUES, UM, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT MAYBE AREN'T HAPPENING AT THE DIVISIONAL LEVEL.
UM, AND, AND, UH, MAINTAIN THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A, THIS IS A LEARNING AND GROWING POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, WHAT WHAT I'M SO PROUD OF, UM, IS THE WAY OUR EMPLOYEES GO ABOUT DOING THEIR JOB.
AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A NATIONWIDE CRISIS, IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE FOR US TO NOT DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE.
AND THAT'S DEMONSTRATED EVERY DAY IN THE WORK THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT MAKE UP YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DO.
AND SO I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ON THE DAIS HERE TONIGHT IS, IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
IT'S SOMETHING I, I CONTINUE TO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE AND KNOW THAT, UM, I WILL ALWAYS BE A PARTNER IF YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO ME, UM, OR WORK WITH OUR COMMANDERS ON ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
AND I WANT, DO YOU WANNA SAY, WE HAVE A FANTASTIC COMMANDER AS WELL, SO THANK YOU.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA, UM, WELL THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY IN THIS CITY, UM, DEPENDS ON OUR BUSINESSES BEING SUCCESSFUL.
AND, UM, AND I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO, PART OF THIS IS JUST WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ALL THE, EVERYONE HERE HAS A LETTER FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHICH REPRESENTS OVER 900 MEMBERS.
AND, UM, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FOR VANDALISM, UM, PROBLEMS WITH VANDALISM, ENCAMPMENTS, BREAK AGAINST DRUG ACTIVITY, AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY.
SO, UM, MY QUESTION, UH, TO YOU, I THINK WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ANY NEW SOLUTIONS.
IT JUST, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING OUT THERE THAT THEY, THAT THEY'RE FEELING LIKE ARE NOT BEING A FORCE.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? YES, COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'LL, I'LL SAY WHAT I'VE SAID FOR YEARS, SINCE I'VE BECOME THE CHIEF, YOUR HOUSING STATUS DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO VICTIMIZE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE DIRECTION GIVEN TO THE POLICE OFFICERS IS TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS THAT YOU CAN ENFORCE TO PROBLEM SOLVE.
AND SO, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, COMPASSION, UH, IT ALSO INVOLVES DISCRETION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM ISN'T ALWAYS TO ARREST SOMEONE.
UH, WE DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM EITHER.
AND SO THERE IS, IS IF THERE IS A LAW AVAILABLE TO ENFORCE AND IT WILL ASSIST IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM THAT THE OFFICERS DISPATCH TO HANDLE, THEY'LL ENFORCE THAT LAW.
AND SO I THINK THAT A BIG PART OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS, IS THAT PERCEPTION, NOT NECESSARILY THE DATA THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ARRESTS AND OUR CITATIONS, THAT MAYBE DOESN'T MATCH WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE LETTER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ZENDEJAS ASKS ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UH, BE SUPPORTED.
AND I THINK THAT COMES BETWEEN, UH, COMES THROUGH FROM COMMUNICATION AND HEARING THINGS LIKE THIS AND BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, UH, MAYBE NOT REPORTING THE CRIMES.
SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE CAN SHARE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT, THE CITATIONS, UH, THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT USES.
UM, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURING THAT REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR, FOR COMMITTING CRIMES.
AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN, IN, UH, VIOLENT OFFENDERS OUT IN, IN THE REGION.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME INTO
[03:15:01]
PLAY WHEN, WHEN OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE AND TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND, AND, AND ENHANCE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.AND SO, UM, THEY, THEY USE EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO THEM TO ADDRESS CRIME.
NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO VICTIMIZE OUR COMMUNITY OR AN INDIVIDUAL IN OUR CITY.
AND IF I CAN ADD TO THAT TOO, AS WELL, I THINK THAT WAS A, A GREAT RESPONSE.
UM, SO WE DO NEED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO CALL.
UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL GO OUT ON, THEY MAY RESULT IN A CITATION RATHER THAN ARREST.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY UP TO THE OFFICER THAT IS WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
UH, BUT THAT ALLOWS US TO ALSO BUILD A CASE.
AND SO, UH, SOME OF THESE, IN ORDER TO GO TO CARE COURT, IN ORDER TO GET IN FRONT OF JUDGES, IN ORDER TO GET SOME OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETIMES MULTIPLE, UH, ARRESTS AND MULTIPLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT ALLOWS THEM, THE PROSECUTORS AND THE JUDGES TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO, UH, UH, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT, UH, BECAUSE OF STAFFING LEVELS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TAKING CALLS THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT ACCURATE.
UH, WE TAKE EVERY SINGLE CALL, EVERY SINGLE CALL COMES INTO DISPATCH, EVERYTHING IS RECORDED.
SO WHEN YOU CALL THAT IS, THAT IS, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RECORDED.
AND THEN WE DISPATCH BASED ON THAT.
UH, AND SO WE NEED TO PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO CALL SO WE CAN DO THAT WORK.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, CITY MANAGER.
'CAUSE THAT WAS GONNA BE MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
DO WE, DO WE NEED ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CALLS FOR SERVICE? AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT.
UM, UNLESS YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING, I DO WANNA ADD ONE THING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE COUNCIL DID ADD IN THIS BUDGET, UM, IS, UH, WHILE IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO TRAIN A POLICE OFFICER, UH, TO BOTH RECRUIT AND RETAIN, AND THEN TRAIN TAKES ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE THEY'RE ON, ON THE STREET, UH, WE CAN DO CIVILIANS A LOT FASTER THAN THAT.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY ADDED EIGHT NEW POSITIONS, UH, THAT ARE GONNA HELP WITH THOSE LOWER LEVEL CALLS THAT DON'T NEED A POLICE OFFICER, BUT ARE GONNA, YOU CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY GET DISPATCHED, THEY CAN COME OUT TO THOSE CALLS.
UH, AND SO THAT HELPS OUR OFFICERS FOCUS ON THE ONES WHERE YOU NEED AN ACTUAL OFFICER THERE.
SO THAT'S A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED LAST COUPLE YEARS.
IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AND, BUT WE NEED TO GROW THAT FORCE AND THE COUNCIL ADDED, UH, EIGHT ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THIS YEAR TO, TO HELP DO THAT.
AND THEN ONE LAST THING, 'CAUSE UM, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UM, A LONG TIME, BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST AS FAR AS THE FUNDING PIECE, I THINK THAT WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AND, AND, AND WHAT, UH, HOW, HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEST USED AND, UM, LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, I LOVE WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN JONI, RICK SODI SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FLEXIBLE IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I THINK THAT WE ARE, UM, AS A COUNCIL, UM, ARE ALL, UH, INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUSINESS IS STRIPE.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW, FOLLOW UP TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ALAN, YOU SHARED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ASKING FOR ENFORCEMENT TO DO WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE LAW TO DO, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT THIS ITEM IS TO ASK TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES.
SO IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT NEW IDEAS TOO, RIGHT? UM, TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL AREAS, RIGHT? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS ITEM IS ASKING.
AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT, COUNCILWOMAN.
NO, UM, OF COURSE, UM, WE WANNA LOOK AT THERE'S ANY STRATEGIES AND LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, KER TALKED ABOUT, UH, AND THE MAYOR ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, SO WE WANT EVERYONE TO LOOK AT WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT I, I, I DON'T THINK, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING, UH, ANY MORE, ANY NEW ORDINANCES OR ANY NEW LAWS.
I THINK WE HAVE PLENTY OF, UH, OF RESOURCES.
AND, AND, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME, CHIEF, PLEASE DO IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY MORE RULES OR LAWS ON, ON THE BOOKS.
IT'S JUST ABOUT, UM, HOW WE'RE GONNA BEST USE STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO CLARIFY.
UH, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR, OUR COMMENTS.
THANKS, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, UH, YOU GOTTA REPORT BACK.
SO COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION.
UH, LET'S USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY, GET THE FACTS OUT THERE, BUT ALSO WE WANNA KNOW IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO GET OUR REDUCTIONS.
WE WANNA CONTINUE OUR TREND, WE WANNA GET IT TO ZERO.
WE WANNA GET ALL OF OUR CRIME DOWN TO ZERO.
SO WHAT ARE THE BEST STRATEGIES TO DO? SO, THANKS A LOT, UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA JUMP AHEAD TO ITEM 24.
PLEASE REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION REGARDING INITIAL FINDINGS FOR THE PULSE OF LONG BEACH, BLACK HEALTH, CITY OF LONG BEACH, BLACK
[24. 25-57074 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation regarding initial findings for the Pulse of Long Beach Black Health: City of Long Beach Black Community Health Strengths and Needs Assessment. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COMMUNITY HEALTH, STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT CITYWIDE.ALRIGHT, I KNOW FOLKS HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR, FOR THIS, UM, NOT ONLY THE LAST FEW MONTHS, BUT WAITING A LONG TIME TONIGHT.
UH, SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY, BUT WE'RE GONNA NOW MOVE ON TO THIS, THIS PRESENTATION.
[03:20:02]
GOOD EVENING.THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY.
JOINED BY, OH, I'M NOT, THERE YOU GO.
UM, I WAS STILL MOVING, SORRY.
UM, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, WITH OUR BLACK HEALTH EQUITY COORDINATOR, KEVIN HATCHER AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY WORK GROUP.
TOGETHER WE'LL BE SHARING SOMETHING VERY HISTORIC WITH THE CITY'S FIRST REPORT.
THIS PROJECT WAS BUILT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MORE THAN 600 BLACK RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, STORIES, AND EXPERTISE.
WE THANK THEM AND YOU, THE COUNCIL FOR MAKING RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY A PRIORITY IN OUR CITY.
OUR B-C-H-S-N-A TURNS THESE GOALS AND STRATEGIES INTO ACTION THROUGH DISAGGREGATING DATA, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MR. HATCHER.
THE COMMUNITY WORK GROUP AND INTERNS, OH, SORRY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? THE COMMUNITY WORK GROUP AND INTERNS ARE DIVERSE GROUP OF RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS AGE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SEC, SOCIAL STATUS, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES.
MEMBERS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR STRONG CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL BLACK COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS TRULY COMMUNITY DRIVEN, NOT JUST ABOUT DATA, BUT SHARED LEADERSHIP.
DESIGNED WITH THE APPROACH THAT IS TRAUMA INFORMED AND USES COMMUNITY-BASED, UH, PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH.
PHASE ONE WAS ALL ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
WE BEGAN BY ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY WORK GROUP WHO LED A STRUCTURED COMMUNITY ORIENTATION AND HELP MEMBERS REVIEW LOCAL HEALTH DATA, UM, FACILITATED LIVE EXPERIENCE DISCUSSIONS, AND HELP IDENTIFY AND SET HELP, HELP PRIORITIES THAT GUIDED THE ENTIRE PROCESS, THE EARLY INVESTMENT AND COLLABORATION AND TRUST, UH, COLLABORATION BUILT TRUST, AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EACH PHASE THAT FOLLOWED ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS REFLECTED VOICES, STRENGTHS AND THE REALITIES OF BLACK WALK, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.
PHASE TWO IS ALL ABOUT TRAINING AND DEVELOPING, UH, THE WORK GROUP AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT TOOLS, HOSTING, LISTING AND LEARN SESSIONS, AND ADMINISTERING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.
FINALLY, IN PHASE THREE, WE HELD COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS AND NOW INTRODUCE YOU TO YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, CHRISTOPHER MCLUCAS, WHO WAS OUR ASSESSMENT FACILITATOR.
UM, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER MCLUCAS.
AS MENTIONED, I LIVE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
I SERVED AS A RESEARCH FACILITATOR FOR THIS PROJECT.
I'M ALSO A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UH, THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ENGAGED BLACK LONG BEACH RESIDENTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
WE ALSO SIX LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS THAT INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 60 PARTICIPANTS.
UH, WE HAD A COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WAS ADMINISTERED TO 336 PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY POINT IN TIME, CHECK-IN EVENTS LIKE OUR JUNETEENTH EVENT, OUR KWANZA CELEBRATION, AND OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.
WE ALSO REVIEWED LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
31 HEALTH PROVIDERS WERE EVALUATED BY THE PROJECT'S MAPPING FACILITATOR, THE BLACK HEALTH EQUITY EQUITY COLLABORATIVE, AND RECEIVED THE BHC DESIGNATION FOR QUALITY, ACCESSIBILITY CAPACITY, AND CULTURAL RELEVANCE.
FINALLY, WE FOCUS ON GROUPS, OFTEN UNDERSERVED YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 TO 17 ON HOUSED RESIDENTS, LGBTQ IS PLUS INDIVIDUALS, TRANSITIONAL AGE, YOUTH, ADULTS, AND OLDER ADULTS.
NOW I'M GONNA PASS IT TO, UH, MY FELLOW WORK GROUP MEMBER DIANE BEHOLDER.
UH, MY NAME IS DIANE BERKHOLDER.
I'M A SECOND DISTRICT RESIDENT.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES SPEAKING ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT, UM, TOPICS.
I'M A LOCAL CONSULTANT WITH THE DB APPROACH.
I'M THE LEAD CONSULTANT, AND I'M ALSO A, UM, GRADUATE AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
UM, THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS WHERE OUR WORK BEGAN.
UH, WE STARTED WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, AT OUR LAST, LAST YEAR'S JUNETEENTH.
UH, WE HAD A HARMONY MEETING ON MEETING AT JUNE 18TH, UM, AT THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, WHICH WE KICKED OFF OUR ASSESSMENT.
UM, WE HAD 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME AND DEFINE WHAT MATTERS MOST TO BLACK LONG BEACH.
THREE HEALTH DOMAINS QUICKLY CAME TO THE TOP OF THEIR PRIORITIES.
FIRST ONE BEING ECONOMIC WELLBEING.
THE PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD, THEY'RE WORKING, HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS, BUT
[03:25:01]
THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.THE SECOND IS HOUSING AND HOUSELESSNESS, UM, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACE RISING COSTS AND BARRIERS TO SAFE HA HOUSING, WHICH WE HAVE HEARD HERE TONIGHT.
AND THIRDLY, MENTAL HEALTH AND EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE.
INDIVIDUALS EXPRESS THAT, UM, FACING THESE, UM, CHALLENGES THAT WERE DESCRIBED AS RESIDENTS AS THE STRESS, TRAUMA, AND THE LASTING IMPACT OF INCARCERATION OF FAMILIES.
THESE THREE AREAS ARE INTERCONNECTED AND CRUCIAL FOR THE WELLBEING OF BLACK RESIDENTS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO CHRIS, WHO WILL TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT OUR SURVEY AND OUR LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS.
SO, OVER THE PAST YEAR, UH, PRESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEYS AND LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS ACROSS LONG BEACH FROM LIBRARIES, FAITH-BASED SPACES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT CONTAINS A MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS AND SELECTIONS FROM THE LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS.
NOTE, THESE ARE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS.
UH, THE FINAL REPORT WILL BE REPLACED, UH, LATER ON THIS YEAR.
SO JUST, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY PROCESS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, WE ARE FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS LONG BEACH AT NEARLY EVERY, EVERY ZIP CODE, WITH THE LARGEST PARTICIPATION FROM 9 0 8 0 5 9 0 8 1 3 AND 9 0 8 0 2, THE VERY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST RATES OF HEALTH INEQUITIES.
THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 TO 54, AND ABOUT 31% WERE NEARLY, WERE OVER 55 YEARS OF AGE, TWO THIRDS IDENTIFIED AS CISGENDER WOMEN.
EDUCATION LEVELS WERE ALSO DIVERSE, ABOUT 29% COMPLETED COLLEGE AND ROUGHLY ONE IN FIVE HAD A VOCATIONAL OR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
THIS REALLY HELPS US TO SEE BOTH THE EDUCATIONAL STRENGTHS AND THE ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO SHAPE OVERALL WELLBEING.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PASS IT OVER TO MY FELLOW WORK GROUP MEMBER, DR.
BYRON JOHNS, WHO'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STRENGTHS IDENTIFIED IN THE ASSESSMENT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A PLACE TO BE A NONPROFIT BASED IN LONG BEACH.
WITH REGARDS TO COMMUNITY STRENGTHS, DESPITE HISTORICAL BARRIERS, THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTH AND NEEDS TELLS A STORY OF REMARKABLE RESILIENCE.
THE FIRST STRENGTH IS SOCIAL COHESION AND CONNECTEDNESS, WHICH MEANS BLACK, THAT BLACK RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH HAVE FOSTERED BELONGING AND TRUST.
NEARLY HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS REPORTED VOLUNTEERING IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
IN THE 55 PLUS LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS, WE HEARD QUOTE, WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER.
IF SOMEONE'S ORGANIZING SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS OR THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE THERE.
AND A LOT OF US VOLUNTEER BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN RESOURCES ARE TIGHT.
ANOTHER STRENGTH HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ASSESSMENT IS CIVIC POWER.
RESPONDENT SHARED COMFORT IN CONTACTING ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE YOURSELVES.
FINALLY, THE REPORT ON COMMUNITY HEALTH.
COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ROBUST, AS YOU WILL SEE LATER DESCRIBED IN THE PRESENTATION.
AND NOW I'LL PASS IT BACK TO CHRIS, WHO WILL DISCUSS COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT REFLECTS INPUT FOR MORE THAN OVER 600 REC, UH, RESIDENTS AND CONNECTS DATA TO RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER ECONOMIC WELLBEING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, 54% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS ARE EMPLOYED, BUT OVER ONE THIRD WORK MULTIPLE JOBS AND NEARLY ONE IN FOUR STILL STRUGGLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
HOUSING INSTABILITY ALSO EMERGED AS A MAJOR BARRIER.
ABOUT 25% INDICATED THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD RENT THIS MONTH.
AND NEARLY A THIRD FACED RECENT HOUSING STRUGGLES OFTEN PRICED OUT TO, DESPITE A STEADY INCOME, MENTAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE ALSO SURFACE AS NEEDS.
APPROXIMATELY 61% OF SURVEY RE RESPONDENTS REPORT EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND ONE IN FOUR HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION.
ONE OF THE RESPONDENTS FROM OUR TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH LISTEN AND LEARN SESSION INDICATED, UH, OR DISCUSSED THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH GUN VIOLENCE.
UH, THEY STATED THAT VIOLENCE KIND OF COMES, UH, FROM WHERE I'M FROM.
YOU GET THE OCCASIONAL SHOOTING PROBABLY ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS, THEN FIGHTING EVERY MONTH.
YOU KIND OF LEARN JUST HOW TO NAVIGATE IT THROUGH IT ALL.
FINALLY, OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE MAP SURVEY AND LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS RESULTS REINFORCE A COMMUNITY'S CALL FOR HEALTH RESOURCES SUCH
[03:30:01]
AS LIVE NAVIGATORS ADDRESSING HOUSING DISPLACEMENT, DIGITAL INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS.NOW, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO KEVIN TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT COMES BEYOND THE ASSESSMENT AND WHAT'S NEEDED TO HELP CLOSE THE HEALTH GAPS AND TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
WHEN WE SAY BEYOND THE, UH, THE ASSESSMENT, WE MEAN TURNING DATA INTO ACTUAL, UH, SOLUTIONS.
THE B-C-H-H-S-N-A PROVIDES EVIDENCE VALIDATING THAT OUR LOCAL DATA TRENDS MIRROR NATIONAL TRENDS, BUT THE REAL WORK IS USING THAT INFORMATION TO CHANGE HOW WE FUND DESIGN AND DELIVER PROGRAMS. DURING OUR STATE OF BLACK HEALTH PANEL ON JUNETEENTH AT CITY HALL COMMUNITY AND CITY LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TO ASK ONE KEY QUESTION, HOW DO WE MOVE FROM IDENTIFYING DISPARITIES TO BUILDING SOLUTIONS? THIS MOMENT REMINDS US THAT ASSESSMENT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE GOAL IS TO IMPACT LASTING AND MEASURABLE CHANGE IN BLACK HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACROSS LONG BEACH.
ONE WAY OUR COMMUNITY WORK GROUP MOVE TOWARDS CREATING SOLUTIONS WAS BUILDING THIS C UH, COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCE MAP.
THIS MAP, UH, SHOWS OVER 60 TRUSTED CULTURALLY AFFIRMING ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS FOR HEALTH HEALING AND SUPPORT.
THE MAPPING FACILITATOR, THE BLACK HEALTH EQUITY COLLABORATIVE, EFFECTIONATELY, KNOWN AS BHC, DEVELOPED AND ADMINISTERED THE SURVEY TO EV EVALUATE QUALITY, ACCESSIBILITY, CAPACITY, AND CULTURAL RELEVANCE OF LOCAL HEALTH PRO UH, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
OUT OF THE 60 TRUSTED RESOURCES MAP, 31 MET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THESE AREAS AND RECEIVED WHAT WE CALL THE BHC DESIGNATION.
THIS MAP CONNECTS RESIDENTS TO TRUSTED SERVICES IN REAL TIME AND GUIDES INVESTMENTS TO EXPAND HEALTH ACCESS.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A DIRECTORY, IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT.
AND SO NOW I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, KEY TAKEAWAYS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE HOPE IS THAT THIS ASSESSMENT IS USED, UH, AS A BLUEPRINT TO FOR ACTION.
RESIDENTS TOLD US MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ARE IDENTIFIED AS TOP PRIORITIES.
ALL THESE ISSUES ARE CONNECTED.
IN THIS REPORT, YOU'LL FIND A GRAPH THAT SHOWS A 10 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE MEN IN LONG BEACH.
THIS IS NOT JUST A NUMBER, IT'S A CALL FOR SUSTAINED SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
AND ACROSS THIS ASSESSMENT DISCUSSIONS, WERE AT THE CENTER OF DISCUSSIONS, WERE ANTI-BLACK RACISM.
AND SO PEOPLE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DIS DISCRIMINATION THAT AFFECTS THEIR DAILY HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITIES.
FINALLY, IN THE REPORT, YOU'LL FIND COMMUNITY BEST PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH HEALTH DOMAIN.
TOGETHER, TAKING STEPS CAN MAKE HEALTHY EQUITY, HEALTH EQUITY A REALITY.
NOW I'LL HAND IT OVER TO, UH, ALLISON, WHO WILL CONCLUDE WITH NEXT STEPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THE PRIORITY FOR THIS GROUP IS TO ESTABLISH A STEERING COMMITTEE TO GUIDE A COMMUNITY LED HEALTH ACTION PLAN.
TO ADDRESS THE FINDINGS IN THE B-C-H-S-N-A, WE WILL HOST REPORT PRESENTATIONS SO RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS CAN LEARN ABOUT THE FINDINGS AND GET INVOLVED IN SHAPING NEXT STEPS TOGETHER.
THIS APPROACH WILL CREATE A TRUSTED SPACE WHERE THE VOICES OF RESIDENTS DRIVE SOLUTIONS FOR BLACK HEALTH EQUITY IN LONG BEACH.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY WORK GROUP, STAKEHOLDERS, INTERNS, AND RESIDENTS WHO LED AND PARTICIPATED IN BCH IN A A.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY TEAM.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FULL REPORT BEING RELEASED AND PRESENTING THESE FINDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, I WANNA THANK, UH, YOU AND THE ENTIRE, UH, COLLABORATIVE FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE RESEARCH THAT TOOK PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, THIS IS ONE REASON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT LONG BEACH IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CITY.
WE ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION.
VERY FEW EXIST IN THE, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ONE OF ONLY THREE CITIES.
IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT PROBLEMS FROM A HEALTH LENS, WHICH IS THE WAY WE USED TO LOOK AT MANY OF THE THINGS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP TONIGHT, AND WHAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BRING UP.
OPPORTUNITY HOUSING, ACCESS TO RESOURCES, ALL OF THESE VIOLENCE, ALL OF THESE, UH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT BOTH FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS AND A RACIAL EQUITY LENS.
AND I KNOW THE HEADWINDS IN DC ARE DISCOURAGING PUBLIC HEALTH LENSES AND LOOKING AT THINGS FROM A RACIAL HEALTH EQUITY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL CITIES CONTINUE TO, TO DO THIS WORK AND TO CHARGE AHEAD, UH, DESPITE WHATEVER THE HEADWINDS ARE, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE DEPENDING ON US TO DO SO.
SO, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, FOR CONTINUING THIS WORK.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE, UM, STANDING ON OUR VALUES AND MAKING SURE WE LOOK, UM, WE WE'RE STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL AND LOOK COMPREHENSIVELY AT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT RACE IS A FACTOR IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CONDITIONS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
[03:35:01]
GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.WE HAVE, UH, ANGELICA FRANCO AND YARDENA AARON.
WELL, I WASN'T EXPECTING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TONIGHT.
YOU GUYS KNOW ME AS MAMA CALLIE.
UM, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS WORK OR REPORT THAT HAS COME OUT TONIGHT.
IT'S TELLING US THE THING THAT WE ALREADY KNEW, RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ALL THESE THINGS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME, RIGHT? AND I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT THE CALL TO ACTION THAT I JUST ASKED YOU ABOUT MR. HATCHER, RIGHT, IS MAKE CREATING THIS COMMITTEE, RIGHT? SO WHEN I'M ADVOCATING FOR TINNITUS TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE MOST IMPACTED, RIGHT? WE HAVE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NONPROFITS AND ALL KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK, RIGHT? THEY'RE CONNECTED TO EXACTLY WHERE YOU GUYS NEED TO BE, MEET OUR PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
COMPASSION IS ON THE TOP OF THE LIST.
EVERYONE WHO SPOKE HERE TONIGHT TALKED ABOUT NOT FEELING SAFE, RIGHT? NONE OF US DO, BUT MORE SO ARE BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT CAN'T EVEN GO TO WOMEN, CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GIVE BIRTH IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT? RIGHT.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF BIRTH WORKERS.
DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT? DOULAS, MIDWIVES, ADVOCATES, RIGHT? RIGHT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
HEALERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
I DON'T WEAR THESE CRYSTALS AND BRACES FOR NOTHING.
THIS IS, WE NEED THESE THINGS TOO.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF US, RIGHT? I'M JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO BE A BRIDGE FOR THAT CONVERSATION, RIGHT? AS AN INDIGENOUS QUEER, MIXED RACE WOMAN OF BLACK CHILDREN, RIGHT? MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 36 FROM A HEART ATTACK, 36 YEARS OLD, NEVER DRANK, NEVER SMOKED, DIDN'T LIVE A HARD LIFE, WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, RIGHT? HE WASN'T HEAVY IN HIS HEART, BUT HE DIED OUT OF A HEART ATTACK, RIGHT? AND I THINK IT'S FROM THE STRESS THAT HE CARRIED, I REALLY DO.
I THINK IT'S FROM THE STRESS THAT HE CARRIED OF BEING THIS PILLAR OF EVERYTHING, NOT ONLY FOR HIMSELF, BUT FOR HIS COMMUN, RIGHT? WE NEED TO HAVE A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR MEN TO UNPACK THAT.
THAT'S A LOT, RIGHT? BUT, UM, MY TIME IS GONNA RUN UP, UM, AGAIN, SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO YOU.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MAYOR.
UH, SO FIRST, UM, I WANNA THANK OUR DIRECTOR, ALLISON KING, UM, STAFF KEVIN HATCHER AND THE ENTIRE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN IT UP AND CONTINUED TO DO SO.
I ALSO WANNA THANK AND RECOGNIZE THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LED THIS WORK.
UH, CHRISTOPHER MCLUCAS AND DIANE, UH, BURKE HOLDER AND OTHER PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS THE BLACK HEALTH EQUITY COLLECTIVE.
ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE COLLABORATED AS PART OF THAT, UM, AS OUR SPEAKER HAS NOTED, YOU KNOW, THIS REPORT IS SOBERING.
THESE ARE DATA POINTS, UM, THAT SHOW US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FROM A FEELING STANDPOINT, BUT STATISTICS AS WELL.
AND THE STATISTIC THAT CERTAINLY STANDS OUT, UH, IN, IN MY NOTES, AND ONE THAT WAS REPORTED HERE, IS THAT BLACK MALES IN LONG BEACH LIVE 10 YEARS LESS THAN WHITE MALES.
UM, THIS IS NOT JUST A STATISTICS FOR TOO MANY FAMILIES.
THIS IS A LIFE STOLEN BY SYSTEMATIC INEQUITIES.
I'M ALSO STRUCK BY THE PARADOX OF, UH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT IS REVEALED IN THIS, UH, DATA.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 54% OF THE RESPONDENTS ARE EMPLOYED, AND YET 35% OF THEM WORK MULTIPLE JOBS, UM, JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND STILL NOTE THAT THEY CANNOT, UH, BE ABLE TO COVER ALL OF THEIR EXPENSES, THIS SUGGESTS THAT EMPLOYMENT ALONE IS NOT A SUFFICIENT CURE FOR POVERTY AND HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR CITY.
IT IS CLEAR THAT HEALTH EQUITY
[03:40:01]
IS ALSO TIED TO ECONOMIC EQUITY AND THE QUALITY OF THE JOB MATTERS.SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANNA SPEND SOME MORE TIME ON AS WE GO FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
SO RECEIVING THIS REPORT IS JUST ONE STEP.
IT GIVES US, UM, A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THE BLACK HEALTH EQUITY STEERING COMMITTEE AND LOOK FORWARD TO ITS DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WAS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THAT DOES COME BACK, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RESOURCE THIS WORK PROPERLY.
SO, DIRECTOR KING, UM, AS, UH, THE, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THE REPORT MENTIONS ESTABLISHING THIS BLACK, UH, HEALTH EQUITY STEERING COMMITTEE TO CO-CREATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN TERMS OF A TIMELINE TO SEAT THIS GROUP? UM, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN BACK TO THE COUNCIL? THE REPORT IS COMPLETE, AND WE WILL BE PUTTING IT THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND THE TEAM IS PLANNING TO SOON DO A PRESENTATION WITHIN, I THINK, RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
UM, SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WITHIN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE IN PLACE.
UM, THE SECOND QUESTION IS RELATED TO HOUSING STABILITY.
UM, THE REPORT TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE HOUSING FIRST MODELS AND REALLY SUPPORT RELEVANT CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR BLACK PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR DIFFICULTY WITH SUSTAINING HOUSING.
WHAT RESOURCES, DIRECTOR KING CAN WE PROVIDE, UM, TO YOU TO SUPPORT THE IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN RESPOND TO THIS NEED? I THINK THAT THE ABSOLUTE, UH, GREATEST RESPONSE WOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS EFFORTS TO WORK WITH VENDORS TO HELP US, UM, BE ABLE TO WORK WITH SMALLER VENDORS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN EQUITABLY SOURCE, UH, SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
AND, UM, TO CONTINUE THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE IN A VERY CHALLENGING FISCAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE MANY OF OUR FUNDS ARE AT RISK.
UH, SO TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY LEVELS FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT HERE EARLIER AROUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, HAP DOLLARS THAT CAN BE USED MORE FLEXIBLY.
AND I'D ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE SEATING OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE AND ITS STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, I'D LOVE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CONNECTED TO OUR BLACK INFANT HEALTH WORK, UM, THAT WE'RE DOING AS WELL, SO THAT THAT'S INTEGRATED AS PART OF THE STRATEGY.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF, UM, FOR LEADING THE COMMUNITY IN THIS REALLY CRITICAL WORK, UM, OVER THIS TIME, THIS OVERDUE WORK.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT AND AS WAS SO ELOQUENTLY SAID, FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR GENERATIONS, FOR TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER WHEN INSTITUTIONS FAILED AND AT WORST HARMED THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, AND ALL OF GENERATIONS WHO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF EACH OTHER IN LONG BEACH, UH, WHEN WE NEEDED TO DO BETTER AND DIDN'T, UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR KING FOR WHAT WE GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OF, UH, THE NEW YEAR IN WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, UM, STRENGTHEN AND UPLIFT THE WORK.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OF SUPPORT IN ANY WAY YOU CAN USE MY SUPPORT.
UM, I WILL REITERATE WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, WHICH IS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND THIS WORK.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO IT GAVE OF THEIR TIME, THEIR TALENT, THEIR EFFORT, UH, TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
UM, I'LL JUST SAY THE, ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING TAKEAWAYS IS THAT THE, MANY OF THE CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ASSESSMENT, HOUSING INSTABILITY, JOB INSECURITY, UM, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE ALL SYSTEMIC ISSUES, AS WE KNOW, RIGHT? UM, AND THEY'RE ALL THINGS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT, UM, BLACK PEOPLE AND BLACK RESIDENTS.
UM, AND THAT DISPARITY ALONE UNDERSCORES HOW URGENT AND STRUCTURAL THE WORK REALLY IS.
UM, BUT I WAS ENCOURAGED THAT THE RESPONDENTS FELT CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULD REACH OUT TO THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, AND THEIR CITY LEADERSHIP.
UM, AND THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SERVING OUR BLACK COMMUNITY WELL AND IN PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AND THAT I CERTAINLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M COMMITTED TO.
UM, AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT STEERING COMMITTEE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER.
YEAH, I TOO WANNA ADD MY GRATITUDE TO DIRECTOR KING AND MR. HATCHER HERE, ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WORK GROUP REPRESENTATIVE, PARTICULARLY,
[03:45:01]
UH, PROUD TO HAVE A SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT, CHRISTOPHER MCLUCAS LEAD, UM, AS WELL WITH, UH, DIANE, UH, BERKHOLDER, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND WORK IN WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE, UH, WE DO EX OUTREACH TO C THE WHOLE CITY TO GET FEEDBACK.AND I DO AGREE IS THAT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, HAVE, UH, THOSE IMPACTED BE THE VOICE OF CENTRAL TO FINDING THE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE, THEY HAVE THAT LIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE DISPARITIES THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED HERE.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO JUST SHARE THAT, UM, AS WE DO SEE THAT HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE SYMPTOMS OF ROOT ISSUES THAT, UM, HAS BECOME LONGSTANDING ISSUE THAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND ACCESS TO HOUSING, ACCESS TO, UH, WELL PAID EMPLOYMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAY AT ONE JOB.
UM, THE ABILITY TO JUST BE AT PEACE SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE LONGER, RIGHT? THESE ARE ALL, UM, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS WHILE LONG OVERDUE BEGINNING PROCESS FOR US TO IDENTIFY, AND I HEAR YOU, UM, ANGELICA, THAT WE, WE KNEW THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT'S REALLY POWERFUL IS TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE RESIDENTS TO THINK THROUGH WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN CAN BE AND PUT RESOURCES BEHIND IT TO BE ABLE TO WORK COLLECTIVELY.
BUT I DO, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FROM THE REPORT, IF YOU CAN HELP, HELP ME, UM, UH, BY ANSWERING THEM IS, SO THE ASSESSMENT SHOW HIGH HOUSING INSTABILITY, BUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN? OR IT COULD BE ANSWERED BY, I, I THINK THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS AS WELL, ANYBODY HERE, UM, WHO WORKED ON THE REPORT IS WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT WHY BLACK RESIDENTS ARE FALLING TO HOMELESSNESS AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHERS? AND WHICH SYSTEM FAILURES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT
SO I CAN GIVE YOU A BRIEF ANSWER THAT'LL BE OUTLINED MORE DEEPLY.
UM, SO ACTUALLY JUST A STARTING POINT.
OUR FIRST LISTEN AND LEARN SESSION, WE TOOK PLACE, WE PRIORITIZE, UH, UNHOUSED RESIDENTS TO REALLY LEARN FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THEM.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY EXPERIENCED WERE VERY SIMILAR, UH, AROUND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT, UM, ALSO JUST THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING.
THEY OFTEN FELT LIKE THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THEY SAID, WELL, IT FEELS LIKE SO MANY OTHER GROUPS ARE HAVING ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES, BUT WHAT ABOUT US? AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KIND OF HIGH LEVEL THEMES THAT CAME OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, UH, MORE DETAILED IN OUR REPORT.
APPRECIATE THIS SUCCINCT REPORT.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A, A COMPLICATED QUESTION THAT HAS MULTIPLE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, LAYERS OF CHALLENGES WITH IT, BUT THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING IT SUCCINCTLY.
THE OTHER JUST LAST QUESTION I HAVE, BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED BACK TO SOME OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER ABOUT PEOPLE REFUSING SERVICES, IS I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT IF THE COMMUNITY SHARED BARRIERS RELATED TO EXISTING HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAMS, UM, NAVIGATION CENTERS, SHELTER PROGRAMS, AND HOW THOSE INSIGHT MAY CHANGE THE CITY'S APPROACH, UM, OR WELL CAN HELP CHANGE THE CITY'S APPROACH WHEN PROVIDING SERVICES I COULD HAVE JUST STAYED.
UM, SO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AGAIN, UH, GOING BACK TO OUR FIRST LISTEN AND LEARN SESSION, A FEW THINGS WERE OUTLINED.
UH, ONE OF 'EM SPECIFICALLY WAS THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CLARITY ON WHAT THE PROCESS WAS FOR OBTAINING HOUSING.
SO THEY SAID, WE'RE ON A LIST, BUT WHAT DOES THAT LIST MEAN? WHERE ARE WE ON THAT LIST? AND SO THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY IN THAT PROCESS.
THE OTHER THING, UH, THAT WAS OUTLINED IN MANY PLACES IN THE REPORT IS THE, THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF CULTURALLY AFFIRMING CARE.
UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HAVING SOMEONE WHO IS SAY BLACK SERVING YOU, BUT IT'S SOMEONE WHO IS ALLY BLACK AND REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
AND SO WE HAVE SO MANY SUBGROUPS.
UH, THERE'S NOT JUST ONE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS IN LONG BEACH.
AND SO ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVING, UH, PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED, UM, IN THIS CASE A UNHOUSED POPULATION, THAT THEY HAVE AN ABILITY TO CONNECT ON MULTIPLE LEVELS AND RESPECTING OF THEIR MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVE AND IDENTITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTOPHER.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE BECAUSE I HOPE THAT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE HIGH PERCENTAGE, THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THOSE UNHOUSED OR BLACK RESIDENTS OR BLACK UNHOUSED IS, I LOVE TO SEE HOW, UM, THE, THE STEERING COMMITTEE CAN ALSO HELP OUR HOMELESS OR OUR EVERYONE IN STRATEGIC PLAN, RIGHT? AS FAR AS SOLUTION ORIENTED APPROACH THAT REALLY ARE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY I THINK, SPEAK TO WHAT, UH, THOSE IMPACTED
[03:50:01]
ARE LOOKING FOR.I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS, CHRISTOPHER, AND LOOK FORWARD IN WAYS THAT I ALSO CAN HELP, UM, IN ANY WAY DURING THE PROCESS TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DO WANNA THANK DOCTORS KING AND HATCHER FOR THEIR WORK AND, UM, THE LEADS ON THE PROJECT.
UM, YES, SOME OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT CAME OUT IN THIS REPORT, WE KIND OF ACTUALLY, LIKE IT WAS SAID NEW, BUT NOW IT'S ON PAPER.
AND NOW, UM, WE HAVE IT HERE AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE AND CREATE, UM, CREATE A PLAN.
SO, UM, I REALLY LIKE, LIKE THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE IT ON PAPER.
UM, AND ALSO I REALLY ADMIRE, UM, YOUR TECHNIQUE OF INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT TO GET, UM, THE, THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU SHARED RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THOSE WHO ALREADY ARE IN HOMELESSNESS, UM, ARE BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE, UM, THIS AND HOW DO WE HELP THEM? HOW DID THEY GET THERE? SO ALL THIS, UM, IS GREAT IN THE REPORT.
UM, THE, THE DA DATA HERE TELLS A STORY THAT CENTERS ON THE VOICES OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH AND THEIR NEEDS AND, AND, UM, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
AND NOW WE SEE THE NEEDS AND WE, UM, WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND BE ABLE TO HELP, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WANNA THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CARRYING THIS THROUGH.
UM, FROM THE DATA, I AM PROUD TO SEE REPRESENTATION ACROSS ALL ZIP CODES.
HOUSING EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC NECESSITIES ARE MAJOR TAKEAWAYS THAT WE MUST TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS, AND MAY THE WORK CONTINUE.
UM, JUST, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
THANK YOU DR. KING, HATCHER, PATRICK, UM, MY SECOND DISTRICT, UH, RESIDENT AND PROFESSOR AND JUST ALL OF YOU, UM, FOR BEING HERE.
AND, UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK.
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND, UM, AND I, UH, WE'RE COMMITTED, UM, AS, UH, I KNOW I AM AS AN ELECTED JUST TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN, UM, TO, UH, JUST TO LIFT UP JUST THE, THE PAIN I TELL YOU, UH, UM, MAMA CALLIE, UH, YOUR PAIN CAME THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL AND POWERFUL, UH, WHAT YOU SAID.
AND, UH, AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC, TO THE PUBLIC FOR SPEAKING.
UH, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
22 REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH PLACE WORKS
[22. 25-57073 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36500 with Placeworks, Inc., of Santa Ana, CA, for providing the Downtown Shoreline Vision and Plan Update to update the scope to include Queensway Bay Planned Development District (PD-21) to increase the contract amount by $1,800,000, and authorize a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $180,000, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $4,285,556. (District 1) Office or Department: Community Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FOR PROVIDING THE DOWNTOWN SHORELINE VISION AND PLAN UPDATE TO UPDATE THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE QUEEN WAY QUEENSWAY BAY PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 4,285,556 DISTRICT ONE.ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S HAVE A BRIEF STAFF REPORT HERE.
UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CAN GIVE A BRIEF REPORT.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, UM, WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING, UH, LOOKING FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION, UH, TO EXTEND AN EXISTING CONTRACT FOR WORK ON OUR, UM, DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT VISIONING.
WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK ON THE DOWNTOWN SHORELINE VISION, AND WE GOT FEEDBACK BOTH FROM OUR TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SO LIMITED TO JUST LOOKING AT THE SHORELINE, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO INCORPORATE, UH, THE QUEEN MARY ISLAND SIDE OF THE BAY INTO THE VISION SO THAT IT'S SORT OF ONE COHESIVE AND, UM, COLLECTIVE VISION THAT BUILDS UPON EACH OTHER.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO EXTEND THE PROJECT AREA TO COVER BOTH SIDES.
AND THEN TO, UM, AUTHORIZE, UH, THE, THE FUNDING FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF WORK.
WHEN WE CAME BACK FOR THE FIRST, WHEN WE CAME FOR THE FIRST PHASE BACK IN 2022, WE ONLY AUTHORIZED SPENDING ON ONE PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
SO THIS WOULD BOTH FUND THE NEXT PORTION AND EXTEND, UH, THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
[03:55:01]
SO, UH, WE'RE DELIGHTED WITH THE PROGRESS MADE SO FAR.IT'S BEEN A GREAT, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, COLLABORATION AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UH, WE GAVE DIRECTION, I THINK, TWO YEARS AGO IN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT COMPREHENSIVELY PLAN IN THE QUEEN MARY SPACE.
I THINK THE TIME IS NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MOST RECENTLY IT, IT HIT US THAT WITH THE OPENING OF THE AMPHITHEATER, THIS IS THE FIRST NEW THING TO TAKE PLACE THERE IN ALMOST HALF A CENTURY SINCE THE BUILDING OF THE OLD ENGLISH VILLAGE.
AND THERE'S A LOT, IT'S TRUE AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT IN THE FUTURE OF THAT SPACE, UM, AS IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB, EVEN THE AREAS NEAR THE, THE WATERFRONT, THE REEF, ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
UH, BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS, IS, UH, HOLD UP PROGRESS AND INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
AND SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE, UM, URGENCY AND PLACE WORKS IS A GREAT FIRM.
THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK IN THE CITY.
UH, WE WANNA SEE THEM PRIORITIZE THIS SPACE, UH, WHILE WE, WHILE WE HAVE MOMENTUM.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S, I'M GONNA NOTE WE NEED TO DO MORE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT SPACE FOR ECONOMIC REASONS.
UH, THE TIGHTS THAT IS SQUARELY IN THE TIGHTS AND THE TIGHTS FUTURE IS, IS NOT GONNA BE OIL, RIGHT? IT'S, IT, IT, WE HAVE TO, UH, TAKE MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL SHOTS.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR US IS THE LAND SURROUNDING THE QUEEN MARY.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS, ANYTHING? YES.
THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A POLICY THAT IS BEING MADE WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR RESIDENTS AND IMPLEMENTING THIS INTO, INTO, UH, EXPANDING.
EVERYONE KNOWS, UM, THE QUEEN MARY OFFERS A BEAUTIFUL BACKGROUND SCENERY, UH, TO OUR SHORELINE VILLAGE EXPERIENCE.
THE QUEEN MARY IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT AND INTERCONNECTED WITH OUR DOWNTOWN SHORELINE.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE ARE BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THIS CONTRACT TO INCLUDE OUR QUEENS WAY, QUEENSWAY BAY, UM, PD 21 WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN VISION PLAN.
THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR A GREAT VISIONING PLAN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT COMPLETED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROWN SUPPORT.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
23, A REPORT FROM HARBOR AND HARBOR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING HARBOR DEPARTMENT SALARY RESOLUTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
[23. 25-57081 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving Harbor Department Salary Resolution No. HD-25-3323 for Fiscal Year 2026. Office or Department: Harbor; Harbor Commission Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THANK YOU.IS THERE, UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
BEFORE I DO SO, I'M GONNA ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBER THRASHING TO, TO RECUSE HERSELF.
UH, MAYOR, I'LL BE RECUSING MYSELF FOR ITEM NUMBER 25 OUT.
AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION THAT I MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST DUE TO SPOUSAL, UH, EMPLOYMENT.
ITEM 25, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY 4,509,998
[25. 25-57085 Recommendation to increase appropriations by $4,509,998, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department, offset by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Metro Active Transport (MAT) Program Cycle 1 Funds; and Increase appropriations by $4,509,998, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department, offset by transfer LACMTA MAT Program Cycle 1 grant funds from the Capital Projects Grant Fund. (District 1) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND GROUP IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OFFSET BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, METRO ACTIVE TRANSPORT PROGRAM CYCLE ONE FUNDS DISTRICT ONE.IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE.
AND PLEASE LET COUNCIL MEMBER THINE TOOK NOTE, SHE CAN RETURN.
PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO BI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND EBS GENERAL ENGINEERING FOR AS NEEDED
[26. 25-57075 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. R-7220 and award a contract to Bitech Construction Co., of Buena Park, CA, and EBS General Engineering, Inc., of Corona, CA, for as-needed construction of curb ramps and concrete-related improvements in Community Development Block Grant program areas, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000, 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 City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary amendments; and Accept Categorical Exemption CE-25-113. (Citywide) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
CONSTRUCTION OF CURB RAMPS AND CONCRETE RELATED IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RAMP PROGRAM AREAS IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 5 MILLION AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS AND[04:00:01]
EX ACCEPT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION CITYWIDE.ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
28 REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A, A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH
[28. 25-57077 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Carahsoft Technology Corporation, of Reston, VA, for provision of Cloud Solutions, for annual licensing and maintenance of the City of Long Beach’s service management application, ServiceNow, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the Region 4 Education Service Center (Contract No. R240303), in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $1,262,600, until the Region 4 Education Service Center contract expires on December 31, 2027, with the option to renew for as long as the Region 4 Education Service Center contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide) Office or Department: Technology and Innovation Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
CARA'S SOFT TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION FOR PROVISIONS OF CLOUD SOLUTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S SERVICE MANAGEMENT APPLICATION SERVICENOW, ON THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AFFORDED TO THE REGION FOUR EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 1,262,600 CITYWIDE.UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE ANY CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH FRONTIER, CALIFORNIA FOR PROVIDING LOCAL
[29. 25-57078 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Frontier California, Inc., of Norwalk, CT, for providing local and long distance telephone, data communications, and internet services, in a total annual amount not to exceed $1,900,000, for a period of five years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide) Office or Department: Technology and Innovation Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE DATA, COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET SERVICES IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT.NOT TO EXCEED 1,900,000 CITYWIDE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, NO PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE COUNCILWOMAN MOTION IS CARRIED.
REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE APPROVING A ZONING MAP, CHANGE REQUEST, AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED FINDINGS RELATED THERETO TO AMEND THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE
[30. 25-57093 Recommendation to adopt ordinance approving a Zoning Map Change (ZCHG23-001) request, and adopt the proposed findings related thereto, to amend the zoning designation for the property at 5150 East Pacific Coast Highway from Community Commercial Automobile-Oriented (Height Overlay) (CCA-HL) to Mixed Use 3 (MU-3) Zoning District, read and adopted as read. (District 3) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Community Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
PROPERTY AT 51 50 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AUTOMOBILE ORIENTED TO MIXED USE THREE ZONING.
DISTRICT RED AND ADOPTED AS RED DISTRICT THREE.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
31 REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS IN THEIR CONTRACT FIGHT.
[31. 25-57127 Recommendation to adopt resolution in support of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association members of the Los Angeles Sparks in their contract fight. Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OH, KATHLEEN ADAMS. WE NEVER KNOW.UM, KATE, I I DID WANNA, I I MENTION ANN BURETTE PASSED AWAY.
SHE'S PART OF CLUE AND SO THIS IS AN HONOR OF HER JUST TO SPEAK UP FOR WOMEN.
UM, WHEN I WAS A KID, I WAS TOTALLY NOT ATHLETIC.
I BUMBLING AROUND TILL NADIA KOMAN, UH, DINNER HER DID HER GOLD MEDALS AND LIKE GIRLFRIENDS INTRODUCED ME THAT WOMEN COULD BE ATHLETIC.
AND SO THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, UM, TO SHOW LITTLE GIRLS AND WOMEN THAT WHAT'S POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT WOMEN CENTER WOMEN.
AND, UH, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I NEVER SAW WOMEN ON TV TILL NAIA.
ALSO, I LEARNED IN MY INTERFAITH WORK THROUGH CLUE JUST GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE THAT WOMEN, UM, WERE HIDDEN TO BE PROTECTED.
THAT WAS A TRADITIONAL THING TO DO.
UM, SO JUST COMING HERE AND SEEING ALL THE WOMEN HERE PARTICIPATING IS A REAL, UM, PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE AS PEOPLE IN OUR CULTURE.
UM, ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH, I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS A KID, WE WOULD SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS WITH A COMPETITION OF IDEAS AND A FOCUS ON ACHIEVEMENT AND OVERCOMING OUR DISAPPOINTMENT TOGETHER.
AND I'M, YOU KNOW, SO SUPPORTING SPORTS, WOMEN IN SPORTS AND, UM, PEOPLE IN JUST ACHIEVING IS SO IMPORTANT.
THIS IS IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO WHOEVER THOUGHT OF IT TO BRING IT UP TODAY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, BY THE WAY.
I DID READ THE LA TIMES FOR, AND LOOK FOR WOMEN IN SPORTS.
THERE WAS ZERO WOMEN IN SPORTS IN THE LA TIMES ON SUNDAY.
UM, BY THE WAY, IN THE LA TIMES, IT SAYS THEY'RE GOING PUBLIC.
SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO INVEST IN LA TIMES AND HELP MAKE CHANGE WITH LA TIMES AND CENTER WOMEN, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THAT.
IN OUR MODERN WORLD, UH, WE, THE PEOPLE, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
AND SO THAT MEANS WE NEED TO CENTER, UH, WOMEN AND GIVE LITTLE GIRLS AND ALL CHILDREN, UH, ROLE MODELS FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE WORLD, TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP OUR TEAMWORK TOGETHER, TO LEARN HOW TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER, TO
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LEARN TO DO STRATEGY TOGETHER, AND TO TAKE OUT ANYTHING WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH AS A TEAM ON THE COURT TOGETHER WITH GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.UH, AND YEAH, AND PEOPLE NEED A TIMEOUT.
IF THEY'RE NOT IN GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, THEY NEED TO LEARN THAT TOO.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO TO GENERAL COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE SIX MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, GREGORY JOHNSON, ANGELICA FRANCO, KAREN RE RESIDE, COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMENT, NM AND TASHA HUNTER, PLEASE GO FOR.
AND DAVE SHUKLA IS ALSO ON THAT LIST.
I DIDN'T SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN.
GREG JOHNSON, ARTS CULTURE AND MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR BASED HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AND, UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THIS, I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, COMMENTER EARLIER ABOUT BLUE ARTS AND WELLNESS GALLERY HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
I'M JUST CARRYING OUT THE WORK OF RHONDA LOVE.
UH, INVITED TO COME AND VISIT US AT ANY TIME OVER ON PINE AVENUE.
THE SECOND THING I JUST WANNA SAY, I'M DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
I'M COMPELLED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO COME AND VISIT YOU ALL BECAUSE I GOT A CALL TODAY THAT THE MLK STATUE, OPEN AIR IN KING PARK WAS, UH, ONCE AGAIN DAMAGED.
I DON'T KNOW, BURGLARIZED VANDALIZED.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY GETTING OUTTA HAND.
AND, UH, I TALKED TO MR. MCLUCAS WHO WAS NEARLY IN TEARS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HER FAMILY WAS, UM, VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN GETTING THAT MONUMENT, UH, ESTABLISHED THERE.
I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A CULTURE KEEPER WHO JOINS WITH COMMUNITY TO DECRY THE, THE REPEATED DAMAGE TO THE MLK STATUE UP THERE IN KING PARK.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE KEEP SEEING THAT THIS DAMAGE IS, WHETHER IT'S STREET POLITICS, WHETHER IT'S RACISM, WHETHER IT'S BURGLARS, WHATEVER HAPPENS, THAT THAT MONUMENT OF JUSTICE IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DAMAGED.
PEOPLE ARE CRYING ON THE PHONE.
PEOPLE ARE REALLY, REALLY VISCERALLY AFFECTED BY THE DAMAGE THAT'S HAPPENING TO, UH, THAT PARTICULAR MONUMENT.
I JUST WANNA REMIND US HERE AS WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TROUBLING THE CITY, THAT ARE FACED WITH THE CITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA HONOR, UH, THE MEMORY OF DR. KING BECAUSE HE IS THE DRUM MAJOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
HE CAN, WE CANNOT TAKE HIM FOR GRANTED.
WE CANNOT JUST CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE FORCES THAT BE OUT THERE, UH, THAT WANT TO DO EVIL, UH, TO DESTROY THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT, UH, UH, UM, UH, STATUE.
UH, I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PERSONAL THING FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ARTIST, UH, OVER CARE.
EVEN WHEN IT'S DAMAGED, WE MAY BE DAMAGING THE ACTUAL WORK BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF IMPROPERLY REPAIRED.
AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE ARTIST ABOUT THIS, UH, AT LENGTH.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND ALSO DO THE WORK THAT IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT IT.
I WENT UP THERE TO TAKE PICTURES FOR MR. STOKES WHO CREATED THAT PIECE OF WORK, AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOMIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE ACTUALLY ENCAMPED AROUND THE BASE OF THE STATUE.
AND THE BROTHER TOLD ME THAT HE WAS STANDING GUARD FOR AGAINST THE VANDALISM THAT IS HAPPENING OUT HERE.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? WHY DOES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN? WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT DR. KING IS NOT JUST FOR US AS BLACK PEOPLE.
HE'S FOR EVERYBODY WITH THIS CITY.
I LOVE THIS CITY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, WE TALK ABOUT INCLUSION, ALL OF THAT.
DR. KING IS THE ICON FOR THAT WORK.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT PRESERVING HIS, UM, HIS LEGACY THROUGH THE CELEBRATIONS, PRESERVING HIS, UH, HIS MONUMENT, HIS REPRESENTATION IN KING PARK.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO WHAT THAT IS.
I JUST WANTED TO COME DOWN AND SHARE WITH YOU THAT THROUGH LOVE AND COMPASSION WE CAN PRESERVE THE MONUMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
SO YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED CONTINUOUSLY ABOUT LOVE, PEACE, AND COMPASSION WITHIN OUR CITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
YEAH, I, I GOT A CALL FROM MS. MCLUCAS AND, YOU KNOW, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE COUNCILWOMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND REC.
UH, THEY RESPONDED, THEY JUMPED RIGHT ON IT.
THERE'S VIDEO, THERE'S INVESTIGATION, SO THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE THESE TIMES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THESE SYMBOLS THAT
[04:10:01]
SHOULD REPRESENT SYMBOLS OF PEACE AND OF UNITY BECOME THE VERY TARGET OF HATE.AND IN THOSE MOMENTS, WE DON'T LET 'EM WIN.
WE CONTINUE TO REBUILD, WE CONTINUE TO REAFFIRM AND, UH, AND WE SHOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO OUT OUTLAST AND OUT RESOURCE THE HATE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND, UM, I FEEL LIKE CASSANDRA TONIGHT,
ONE PERSON DID MENTION OLDER ADULTS AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN PREVENTING CRIME WITHIN AN AREA.
AND I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH SAFETY AMBASSADORS.
I THINK THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
I'M GOING TO FEEL SAFE WALKING HOME TONIGHT KNOWING I CAN CALL THEM TO ESCORT ME IF I NEED TO BE ESCORTED.
WE NEED MORE EYES ON THE STREET, AND OLDER ADULTS CAN BE THIS PART OF THOSE EYES.
UM, PART OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE THE RESTAURANTS IS THEY DON'T WANT OLDER ADULTS IN THE RESTAURANTS.
WHEN I WAS DOING, UM, CLUB SILVER, I WAS WORKING WITH ASTON TO IDENTIFY RESTAURANTS THAT MIGHT WANNA HOST OLDER ADULTS AND DO LIKE A HAPPY HOUR.
OLDER ADULTS BRING $7 MILLION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ALONE.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING ANY RETIREMENT INCOME ALONE TO DOWNTOWN.
AND THEY DON'T WANT US IN THE RESTAURANTS.
THERE'S NO PICTURES OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE ADVERTISING.
I'VE SPOKEN TO AUSTIN ABOUT THIS.
WE ARE EXCLUDED AND THE OLDER ADULTS RECOGNIZE THIS.
I WENT TO GET MY HAIR CUT YESTERDAY AND I WALKED OUT OF THE, UH, SALON BECAUSE I HADN'T MADE AN ONLINE RESERVATION.
SO THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WANT ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR HAIR CUT.
SO, UM, BUT I WANT TO TALK REALLY ABOUT OLDER ADULT HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA COME A MOTION FOR ANOTHER, UM, BUILDING FOR OLDER ADULTS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING, UH, SOME OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN THAT ARE EMPTY AND PUTTING OLDER ADULT HOUSING IN THERE.
I'VE WORKED WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE.
I'VE NEVER HAD A HOMELESS, HOMELESS PERSON TELL ME THAT THEY DON'T WANT HOUSING.
THEY DON'T WANNA FOLLOW RULES THAT ARE PLACED UPON THEM, BUT, UM, THEY DO WANT HOUSING.
AND, UH, OUR CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S, UM, BEEN PROPOSED ALMOST A 200,000 UNIT CUT IN HUD HOUSING, AND THIS IS GONNA BE A CRISIS SITUATION.
SO WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS ON THE TABLE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION TOO.
SO THAT WOULD INSTANTLY CREATE MANY MORE OLDER PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND WE WANNA PREVENT THAT.
UM, I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU GUYS IN THIS MOMENT.
UM, AS THE FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE, THE VENDORS JUSTICE COMMITTEE, UM, WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT QUIET, RIGHT? BUT I GOT A PHONE CALL LAST WEEK, A, A PHONE MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR VENDORS THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR, UM, TWO SUMMERS AGO.
THEY WERE ISSUED A CITATION FOR OPERATING A BUSINESS WITHOUT A A BUSINESS LICENSE.
UH, THE TICKET THAT THEY WERE ISSUED WERE, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THROWN OUT AFTER WE HAD SOME, SOME TALKS BACK AND FORTH.
THE TICKET WAS NEVER THROWN OUT.
AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER HIS FAMILY WAS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED BY A PERSON WITH A GUN, RIGHT? SHOT HIS CAR AND HIS TWO YOUNG SONS, MAYBE EIGHT AND FOUR, MAYBE TEN SIX, RIGHT.
YOUNG BOYS HELPED HIM TO FIGHT OFF THIS GUNMAN FROM TAKING HIS LIFE IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN.
THEY WERE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY THAT I WON'T SAY HERE, THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, RIGHT? BUT IT'S SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED TO HELP HIM, HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE THE TICKET WAS NEVER THROWN OUT.
AND NOW THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF A WARRANT FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR.
AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR EIGHT DAYS AND LEFT HIS PREGNANT WIFE WITH FOUR CHILDREN BY THEMSELVES TO SLEEP IN A CAR.
'CAUSE THEY ARE UNHOUSED OFFER THEM NO SUPPORT.
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RIGHT? AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.THEY'RE WAITING TO BE PUT IN PLACEMENT.
AND I HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE THESE DETAILS TODAY.
AND THEY TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY'D RATHER SLEEP IN THEIR VAN.
THAT'S EASILY IDENTIFIABLE, BUT STILL A, A A, A BULLET, A HOLE IN IT.
THEY RATHER SLEEP IN THEIR CAR TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY FEEL THE MOST SAFE.
IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE'VE, WE, THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF US FAILED THEM.
'CAUSE THERE'S NUMEROUS REASONS WHY HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE.
THEY, UM, I BELIEVE HAD SOMETHING INEQUITABLE HAPPENING WHEN THEY LOST THEIR HOUSING ORIGINALLY.
THERE'S SOME THINGS TO LOOK INTO THERE, RIGHT.
THAN THE TAKE IT NOT BEING THROWN OUT.
BUT THEN EVEN IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS, HE WAS TREATED AS THE PERSON THAT DID THE WRONG THING.
NO ONE WAS SHOT BECAUSE OF HIM.
AND THEN TO MEET HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, I DIDN'T, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE WAS EXPECTING UNTIL I MET HER IN PERSON.
I CRIED BECAUSE I WAS SO EMOTIONAL.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON.
HE'S ONE OF OUR VENDORS, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEIR DAUGHTER'S AN ENTREPRENEUR.
[ 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. ]
UH, NM OKAY, TASHA.COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND COMMUNITY.
AND TODAY I AM NOT HERE ON BEHALF OF ARTS AND CULTURE CULTURE.
I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF ONE 50 OCEAN BOULEVARD, THE OCEAN AIR BUILDING UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF GREYSTAR AND ON BEHALF OF THE OCEAN AIR CONCERN RESIDENCE TASK FORCE.
UM, I WORK FROM HOME QUITE A BIT.
I HAVE AN OFFICE SPACE AT STUDIO ONE 11, BUT I MOVED DOWNTOWN FROM NORTH LONG BEACH, WHERE I RAISED MY CHILDREN UNTIL THEY WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, SO THAT THEY COULD GO TO ST.
AND OUR BUILDING THAT WE LIVE IN, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I CAN DO A LOT OF WALKING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GET IN THE CAR TO DRIVE.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT WE ARE UNSAFE IN OUR BUILDING RESIDENTS AT OCEAN AIR, AND I DON'T WANNA SOUND LIKE A SPOILED PERSON UP HERE, BUT RESIDENTS AT OCEAN AIR ARE PAYING BETWEEN 2000 AND $4,000 A MONTH IN RENT.
AND NOW THEY CHARGE FOR PARKING, GUEST PARKING.
AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING CONDITIONS THAT NO RENTER SHOULD EVER FACE.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A SHOOTING IN THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE AN UNHOUSED ENCAMPMENT.
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ENTERING THE BUILDING.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING HUMAN WASTE AROUND THE COMMON AREAS.
UM, AND WE CAN'T ACCESS OUR AMENITIES THAT WE PAY FOR.
UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WANT THE UNHOUSED TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED, BUT INSIDE OF OUR BUILDING, UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE PROPERTY OWNER.
GREYSTAR MANAGEMENT, FAILING TO PROTECT ANYONE ONSITE, UNHOUSED RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS UNHOUSED.
UM, THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY, AS OF TODAY, OUR MAIL ROOM DOESN'T LOCK.
IT HASN'T LOCKED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
MY SON'S LITTLE CHECK WAS NOT THERE.
AND WE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN MAIL THIEVES.
UM, MY SON'S FIRST CAR WAS STOLEN.
MY CAR HAS BEEN RANSACKED TWICE.
UM, OUR CARS ARE BEING ILLEGALLY TOWED.
UH, THERE'S CONSTANT MANAGEMENT TURNOVER.
UM, AND THE CORPORATE REFUSES TO RESPOND.
CORPORATE OFFICE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CREATE OUR OWN INFORMAL PATROL TO FEEL SAFE.
WE WALK THROUGH THAT BUILDING ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, DOUBLED UP TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO ENCAMPMENTS, THERE'S DRUGS BEING USED IN THERE.
UM, AND WE WANT YOUR HELP ENFOR, OCEAN, AIR, AND GREYSTAR TO PROVIDE 24 HOUR SECURITY.
UM, SECURE OUR BUILDING ACCESS.
THERE'S DOORS THAT YOU CAN JUST WALK IN, UM, TO ENFORCE SANITATION AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
UM, AND TO HAVE CORPORATE RESPOND TO US.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND STABILITY.
THE SAME THINGS EVERY LONG BEACH RESIDENTS DESERVES.
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS, UM, THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN DURING YOUR RECENT VISIT TO OUR BUILDING.
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SHUKLA.UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD EVENING.
UH, PEOPLE SPEAK AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, UH, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC COMMENT TO DO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UH, ASSERT THINGS, EXPRESS THEMSELVES, HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, EDUCATE, PROVIDE TESTIMONY, UH, IMPROVE TO DO LOTS OF, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS AS, UH, HUMAN BEINGS.
UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UH, THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO ENTER A DEFINING AND TERMINAL, POTENTIALLY CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
IF YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THERE ALREADY.
UH, NEXT WEEK, THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR, UH, AND LIKELY RULE IN FAVOR OF, UH, TRUMP VERSUS SLAUGHTER.
UH, ONE OF THE FEDERAL REBECCA SLAUGHTER BEING ONE OF THE FEDERAL, UH, TRADE COMMISSIONERS THAT TRUMP HAS, UH, TRIED TO FIRE, UH, ONE FROM 11 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT, UH, FEDERAL AGENCIES, UH, THAT, UH, TRUMP AND THIS KIND OF UNHOLY MARRIAGE WITH THE SUPREME COURT, UH, ARE ASSERTING, UH, BY FIAT, UH, HISTORICALLY THE RIGHT TO FIRE FOR ANY REASON, UH, IF IT'S, UH, A SO-CALLED MAJOR QUESTION.
UM, SO I, I MEAN IT'S REALLY, I I'VE REWRITTEN THIS THING ON THIS AGENDA FOUR OR FIVE TIMES BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO OVER, EXCUSE ME, I'M GONNA CHOKE ON THIS.
UM, IT'S REALLY HARD TO OVERSTATE, UH, HOW NOT ONLY LIKE SIGNIFICANT THIS IS, BUT, BUT, UH, WHAT ITS PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR, UH, NOT ONLY YOUR JOBS, UH, AND YOUR DAY TO DAY, BUT THE IDEA OF GOVERNANCE IS, UM, UH, I MEAN, FORGET ABOUT THE ARTICLE ONE OF THE CONSTITUTION.
UH, FORGET ABOUT HAVING A FUNCTIONAL, UH, CONGRESSIONAL, UH, LEG OF THE TRIPOD OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THIS COUNTRY AND CENTURIES OF TRADITION OF CONGRESSIONAL, UH, AUTHORITY OVER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
UM, FORGET ABOUT THE, THE NORTH AMERICAN, THE LONG CENTURIES OF NORTH AMERICAN, UH, D TRADITIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND, UH, A REGULATORY STATE AND, UH, RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE.
I MEAN, JUST, JUST FORGET ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, UH, ANYTHING THAT, UH, I MEAN, IT'S THE IDEA OF THE AMERICAN PROJECT.
THE IDEA THAT YOU, THAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN GOVERN THEMSELVES AND THAT CAN BE ENOUGH, THAT CAN BE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH ANY PROBLEM, UH, THAT OTHER PEOPLE CREATE OR THAT WE OURSELVES CREATE, OR THAT IS BEFALLING US.
OR THAT BY CHANCE COULD BEFALL US.
I MEAN, THE VERY IDEA THAT HUMAN BEINGS HAVE AGENCY ULTIMATELY, UH, SAVE, UH, UH, IN SUPPORT OF, UH, THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING, I MEAN, FORGET ABOUT 26 AND 28.
UH, FORGET ABOUT THE ELECTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP THAT WILL NO DOUBT UNDOUBTEDLY, UH, BE, UH, BE ASSERTED THROUGH FIAT OR THROUGH CHANCE, OR THROUGH THUGGERY.
UH, THAT, UH, CAN ONLY GO ONE WAY.
UH, WHAT'S BEING ASSERTED AND WHAT CALIFORNIA, PARTICULARLY THE ADMINISTRATION OF IT HAS ANY, ANY, ANY HOPE FOR, FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY HAS TO DO, IS TO OPPOSE THIS SO-CALLED ASSERTION OF A UNITARY EXECUTIVE.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANKS FOR HANGING OUT TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO I'M GONNA, UM, UH, MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS IN ADJOURNMENT.
I'M GONNA CLOSE, UH, TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING AND MEMORY OF EMILIANO ORANGA.
UH, AND THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY PERSONAL FOR MANY OF US.
UH, MANY OF US KNOW AND HAVE SEEN EMILIANO GROW UP.
SO IT WAS WITH PROFOUND SORROW THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS RECENT PASSING.
THIS IS THE SON OF VICE MAYOR ROBERTO YANGA AND FORMER COUNCILWOMAN TONY REYES YANGA, UH, WHO ARE, UH, DEAR FRIENDS AND LEADERS, LONGTIME LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND, AND EMILIANO HAS BEEN A REAL FRIEND, A BELOVED FRIEND TO MANY OF US HERE IN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY WHO HELPED RAISE HIM.
UH, EMILIANO WAS DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HE WAS A TORO LIKE ME AT CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS, UH, WHERE HE WAS ENGAGED IN, UH, LABOR STUDIES, A PROGRAM I HELPED TO START AT THAT CAMPUS.
UH, HE'S AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN CIVIC AND POLITICAL LIFE LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
HE WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, PROUDLY SUPPORTED PUBLIC SERVICE OF HIS PARENTS AND FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.
IN MANY WAYS, EMILIANO WAS KNOWN FOR HIS VIBRANT SPIRIT, HIS LOVE OF MUSIC AND SPORTS, HIS
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SKILLS ON THE DANCE FLOOR, AND THE JOY HE BROUGHT AS A FATHER TO HIS TWO CHILDREN, MACY AND MATEO.WE SEND OUR HEARTFELT PRAYERS TO HIS PARENTS, HIS SISTER ROSALINDA, UH, HIS CHILDREN, ALL WHO KNEW AND LOVED HIM.
AND AS WE ENTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, LET'S HOLD ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, UH, A LITTLE BIT CLOSER IN EM, MILANO'S MEMORY.
I ALSO WANT TO OFFER MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, UH, WHO RECENTLY ON THE PASSING OF HER MOTHER, AND TO BOTH OF OUR, OUR LEADERS HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WE WISH YOU BOTH, UH, HEALING, UM, AND, AND THE VERY BEST AS YOU, AS YOU COPE AND GRIEVE, UH, THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVED ONES.
SO, UM, SO WE CERTAINLY WANNA JUST LIFT UP, UH, OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE NOW GONNA, UH, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
I TOO WANNA OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO BOTH COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN AND OUR VICE MAYOR ORGA AND HIS WIFE.
THAT'S THE MOMENT BY THE LOOSE QUORUM, MR. YEAH, BUT WE ONLY HAVE FIVE HERE, SO JUST HANG TIGHT.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN AND TO OUR VICE MAYOR ANG AND HIS WIFE TOYA.
UM, FORMER COUNCILWOMAN AS WELL.
UM, IT'S BEEN A HEAVY, HEAVY COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UH, ALSO WANNA OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO, UH, MAYOR BOB FOSTER'S WIFE NANCY AND THEIR FAMILY, UM, AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL OF YOU IN OUR HEARTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE, UM, EVERYONE TO OUR NORTH VILLAGE ASSOCIATION CLEANUP THIS, UH, SATURDAY DECEMBER 6TH AT 9:00 AM AND THE ANNUAL WINTER IN WILMORE HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE DECEMBER 7TH, STARTING AT 4:00 PM AND OUR DISTRICT ONE HOLIDAY GATHERING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH.
THIS WEEK I INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL CAL HEIGHTS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH AT 4:30 PM COMPLETE WITH REAL SNOW SANTA VISITS AND OTHER FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES.
THEN ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, I ENCOURAGE ALL TO VISIT BIXBY KNOWLES FOR THE MONTHLY FIRST FRIDAY'S ART WALK FROM SIX TO NINE, SPEND SOME TIME CELEBRATING THE COMING HOLIDAYS IN THE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS, WHILE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL ARTIST, RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
UH, YOU CAN CONSIDER A PET ADOPTION THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH.
AND LASTLY, I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS WHILE GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT THIS WEEKEND AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE SHOWS AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE ON THE CLARK AND CARSON STREET CAMPUS.
UH, DECEMBER 6TH, HEAR THE VIKING CORRAL, VIKING SINGERS, BRASS ENSEMBLE, HOLIDAY CAROLERS AND OTHERS PERFORMING, SEEING GENERATIONS OF PEACE AND JOY.
OR ON SUNDAY ATTEND THE LBCC WIND ENSEMBLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERTS.
UM, AND I TOO EXPRESSED MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, AND TO OUR COMMUNITY ON SUCH, UM, HEAVY LOSSES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO AS YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT THIS WEEK, AS THE MAYOR SAID, HOLD EACH OTHER A LITTLE CLOSER.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, CLOSING THE MEETING IN HONOR OF, UH, THE MANY THAT WE HAVE LOST, UM, OVER THE LAST, UH, INTERVENING WEEKS.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PARTY.
UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, FROM THREE TO 6:00 PM COME JOIN THE NORTH LONG BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NEIGHBORS FOR A COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION.
BRING A WRAPPED ORNAMENT AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HISTORIC LONG BEACH DAIRY AND CREAMERY, 1 6 7 EAST SOUTH STREET, UH, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 9 0 8 0 5.UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH POOLS OF HOPE'S TOY AND FOOD GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM JOIN US FOR A FESTIVE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WHERE FAMILIES CAN DISTRIBUTE OR RECEIVE FREE TOYS, FREE FOOD, AND FREE ASTHMA SCREENINGS PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE POOLS OF HOPE FACILITY, LOCATED AT 6 8 0 1 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV.
AND FINALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER THRA.
I'D LIKE TO SEND MY DEEPEST CON CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHIES TO NANCY FOSTER AND THE ENTIRE FOSTER FAMILY.
UH, MAYOR BOB WILL BE MISSED TO VICE
[04:30:01]
MAYOR AND TO THE HONORABLE, UH, TONY REYES YANGA ON THE LOSS OF THEIR BELOVED SON EMILIANO.AND TO COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN ON THE HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF HER MOTHER.
UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY COLLEAGUES KNEW THAT THEY WERE, UH, ON MY HEART AND, UM, SENDING THOSE SYMPATHIES.
HAPPY GIVING TUESDAY TO EVERYONE.
I HOPE YOU HAD A RESTFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES.
AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE HELPED OTHER LONG BEACH FAMILIES.
I'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT DAIRY MARKET BY BREEZY FOR ORGANIZING THEIR FIRST ANNUAL TURKEY DRIVE.
UM, NOT ONLY DID THEY DESERVE DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS BRUNCH, BUT THEY WERE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE LASTING IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THOSE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANNA THANK LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR JANICE HAN, ALONG WITH MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND TRUSTEE INTU FOR HOSTING A FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 20 FIRST, WHERE OVER 4,000 FAMILIES WERE FED IN PREPARATION FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO VOLUNTEER THERE ALONG WITH, UH, MY STAFF AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LONG BEACH FAMILIES HAD THANKSGIVING MEALS FOR THE HOLIDAY.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO DECEMBER, I INVITE YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE, UH, MEMBER OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY WITH SEVERAL EVENTS COMING UP SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 6TH, OUR SUDOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WILL BE HOSTING A MEETING FROM 9:00 AM TO 10:00 AM PLEASE JOIN THIS CONVERSATION LATER FROM 12 TO 4:00 PM CENTRAL CHA IS HOSTING A COMMUNITY EVENT AT SHEAR PARK.
THERE'LL BE ART ACTIVITIES, MEDIATION SESSIONS, CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, AND HEALING CIRCLES.
AS WE CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PUT FORTH TODAY BY LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR JANICE HAN AND LINDSEY HORVATH.
TODAY, OUR COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTED TO PROHIBIT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS WHILE ON DUTY IN LA COUNTY.
THIS ACTION TAKEN BY OUR COUNTY SUPERVISORS IS A STEP IN THE ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, REQUIRING IDENTIFICATION FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING BACK TRUST AND COMMUNITIES.
ICE IS IN OUR CITY, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR COMMUNITIES.
I WANNA THANK MY TEAM FOR BEING THERE TO THE LONG BEACH RAPID RISK RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK, INCLUDING ORLE ORLE FOR BEING PRESIDENT AT PRESENT AT THIS MORNING'S VOTE.
AND THANK YOU TO CENTRAL CHA, THE UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY OF LONG BEACH AND THE FILIPINO MIGRANT CENTER FOR THEIR CONTINUED ADVOCACY ON THIS MATTER.
ALRIGHT, THANKS A LOT EVERYONE.