Bringing you the latest local news highlights to kick off the week of Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
City Offers Free Youth Recreation Programs During Winter Break
The city is set to host a series of free, supervised recreation programs for youngsters known as “The Winger Fun Days Program” during the winter school break. From Dec. 26-29, as well as Jan. 2-5, 2024, these programs, tailored for youth aged 5 through 12, will run from noon to 5 p.m. at various parks across Long Beach. The Winter Fun Days Program, will offer engaging activities including games, crafts, sports tournaments, field trips, and special holiday celebrations.
Youth can drop in and out as they please, with program staff overseeing the events. Onsite registration upon arrival is mandatory for participation. The Winter Fun Days webpage contains detailed information, including contact numbers for each participating location. Those interested can also make inquiries by contacting their preferred park directly. The program will unfold across a wide spectrum of Long Beach parks, including Bixby Park, Cesar E. Chavez Park, El Dorado Park West, Scherer Park, and more. For additional youth programs provided by Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine, individuals can explore LBParks.org. This comprehensive platform offers information about various other engaging activities available for the city’s youth. Learn more here.
Long Beach Receives Grant to Prevent Distracted Driving
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has secured a $215,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to address the issue of distracted driving within the city. The grant, allocated to the Health Department’s GreenlightLB Program, aims to fund a range of educational initiatives and behavioral strategies designed to mitigate distracted driving incidents in Long Beach. The planned activities, occuring through Sept. 30, 2024, encompass several key areas:
- Educational Outreach: Targeting teens and young adults through workshops, campus activities, and social media campaigns to impart traffic safety education.
- Community Engagement: Partnering with local leaders to equip neighborhood organizations with resources to advocate for safer driving practices.
- Health Equity: Expanding partnerships to provide bilingual and bicultural education on distracted driving, reducing health disparities.
- Youth Empowerment: Establishing a peer-to-peer program to enable young individuals to actively promote traffic safety.
- Data Collection: Conducting citywide observations and community surveys to gather local distracted driving data, informing future initiatives like the Long Beach Vision Zero program.
- Capacity Building: Providing training courses for community leaders to effectively educate the public on traffic safety issues.
- Awareness Events: Hosting pop-up events to emphasize responsible driving practices.
Last year’s endeavors under this program reached 1,500 community members through various presentations, workshops, outreach tables, and observational assessments. This marks the fourth consecutive year the Health Department has secured an OTS grant for its distracted driving prevention initiatives, aligning with the city’s broader strategies outlined in its Strategic Plan and Safe Streets Action Plan to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and injuries by 2026. Learn more here.
Long Beach Expands the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Low-income Families
In January, the city of Long Beach will open applications for the expansion of its Long Beach Pledge program, aiming to include an additional 200 households in its guaranteed income pilot. This expansion targets families with children living below the federal poverty level in specific Long Beach zip codes, offering selected households $500 a month for a year. Funded by the city’s local homelessness emergency proclamation, this expansion earmarks $1.2 million to prevent homelessness by bolstering the Long Beach Pledge, initially made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act. The extension received unanimous approval during a city council meeting, aiming to extend contracts with program partners, Fund for Guaranteed Income, and California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation.
The pilot program’s first cohort, which targeted families severely affected by the pandemic-induced recession, saw 2,800 applications, with 250 households from a specific zip code selected. This cohort comprises 937 members, including 583 children, and payments will continue through April 2024. The Department of Economic Development leads the program, collaborating with Fund for Guaranteed Income to manage payments and support services for participants. Additionally, the California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, including a randomized control trial, to gauge the program’s impact on low-income families from both cohorts.
Applicants can access the online application in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. For those lacking computer or smartphone access, Long Beach Public Library locations will provide assistance and access to public computer labs. Eligibility hinges on households having dependent children and earning 100% or less of the federal poverty level, within specified zip codes. Non-qualifying families can explore alternative resources through the Resource Line by calling 562.570.4246. Learn more here.
Long Beach Unveils Vision for New Shoemaker Bridge Project
The Department of Public Works recently hosted a community meeting to introduce the proposed design for the upcoming Shoemaker Bridge replacement, a significant project set to transform the cityscape and prepare Long Beach for the LA2028 Olympic Games. The new Shoemaker Bridge design entails a four-lane, cable-stayed structure linking I-710 to an elevated roundabout connecting Shoemaker Bridge to 7th Street and Shoreline Drive. Notably, it features a protected shared-use path and a pedestrian observation area for accessibility. The bridge will stand around 240 feet above the average high-water level, boasting a span of approximately 765 feet. It is engineered to withstand seismic activities, sea level rise, and climate change effects. The bridge is also eco-conscious, minimizing disruptions to the Los Angeles River’s hydraulic dynamics, promoting wildlife movement, and employing adaptive lighting systems that are bird-friendly and minimize light pollution. This project will replace the 1953 Shoemaker Bridge with updated safety standards, aiming to reduce accidents and improve traffic flow. The Department of Public Works plans to seek approval from the Long Beach City Council to assume responsibility for the current Shoemaker Bridge and initiate permitting and regulatory procedures during an upcoming meeting, inviting community input. For more information or regular updates, residents can visit longbeach.gov/shoemakerbridgeproject. Learn more here.
Second Samoan Congressional Church Damaged in Fire
On Sunday, Dec. 10, the Second Samoan Congressional Church suffered extensive damage in a fire that broke out in its sanctuary. Bishop Rodrigo Romano of Mision Catolica del Divino Nazareno, one of the two congregations using the church, expressed uncertainty about continuing services inside the building due to the fire’s impact. Rev. Misi Pouena Tagaloa, pastor of Second Samoan Congressional Church, echoed these uncertainties, awaiting investigations to determine the extent of the damage and the duration of repairs. Federal and local authorities are conducting investigations, with visible damage evident: the sanctuary covered in ashes, the altar charred, and pews coated in fire-retardant foam. The blaze heavily affected the roof, sanctuary, dome, and attic. The impact on the community is substantial, particularly considering the church’s outreach programs like the food pantry, which may operate in the parking lot if permitted. Learn more here.
