Bringing you the latest local news highlights to kick off the week of Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.
Voting Centers Now Open for March 5 Presidential Primary Election
The Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has released important details for the upcoming Presidential Primary Election on March 5, 2024. All 11-day vote centers are now operational and will facilitate in-person voting from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until March 4 and extend hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters opting for a Vote by Mail ballot have until Feb. 27, 2024, to request one from LA County via online or paper applications. Ballots can be mailed back (postage not required), dropped at Ballot Drop Boxes, or submitted at any Vote Center. It’s crucial for mail-in voters to securely enclose and sign the envelope, with all ballots postmarked by March 5, 2024. The list of drop box locations in Long Beach is available here. To check registration information, request a ballot in a different language, or access more details, voters can visit lavote.gov.
In an effort to encourage voter participation, Long Beach Transit (LBT) is offering complimentary bus rides on all routes throughout Election Day. This inclusive initiative extends to Dial-A-Lift, LBT’s paratransit service for individuals with permanent mobility impairments. Further information and trip planning for voting day are available at ridelbt.com/routes. Learn more here.
LB Health Department Launches Harm Reduction Program to Tackle Opioid Crisis
The Long Beach Health Department has introduced the ‘Harm Reduction Program’ to address the opioid epidemic and enhance community safety. The program provides crucial resources and supplies to Long Beach residents engaged in substance use, aiming to minimize potential serious or deadly outcomes. The program specifically offers access to naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, a vital medication for countering opioid overdoses, and provides test strips for detecting fentanyl and xylazine.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid significantly stronger than heroin, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer increasingly found in the illegal drug supply, contribute to fatal overdoses. Narcan can reverse the effects of fentanyl. However, xylazine, which is life-threatening, does not respond to Narcan. The program addresses this by providing xylazine test strips to detect its presence.
Residents interested in obtaining these resources can submit a request form through the Long Beach Health Department. Community-based organizations can access fentanyl and xylazine strips by submitting requests, while naloxone can be obtained through the California Department of Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project. For more information, click here.
Long Beach Council Grants Historic Designation to Former Fire Station 9
The city council of Long Beach has taken a decisive step towards preserving the legacy of the former Fire Station 9 by granting initial approval for its historic landmark status. The ordinance, which is awaiting a second vote, focuses on safeguarding the building’s distinctive exterior walls and external features, underscoring the city’s commitment to historical preservation.
Constructed in 1938 and closed in 2019 due to water damage and mold issues, Fire Station 9 holds historical significance as a structure rebuilt after the destructive 1933 earthquake, thanks to federal funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). While the interiors will not be designated as historic, the city plans to require the new owners to make “reasonable efforts” to preserve and reuse interior features. Despite the closure in 2019, the city is actively working towards the construction of a new Fire Station 9 at 4101 Long Beach Blvd. A construction contract for the new facility is expected to go before the City Council in the coming months. The city is currently in negotiations to sell the property to Gemmae Bake Shop, a participant in Long Beach’s legacy business program, which has operated in the area since 1993.
The decision to grant historic designation follows a nomination by the Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association and unanimous approval from the Cultural Heritage Commission in November. The commission’s recommendation acknowledged Fire Station 9’s association with significant events in the city’s history. Learn more here.
Long Beach Launches Data Walks and Enhanced Digital Rights Platform
The city of Long Beach, in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach, is introducing a series of mobile community workshops as part of the Long Beach Smart City Initiative. This initiative is aimed at enhancing data privacy, digital rights, and transparency and coincides with the upcoming launch of a new data privacy and digital rights platform this spring.
The new platform will focus on educating residents about their digital rights and will be tested through community data walks. Residents can sign up for data walks at specified library locations or online, and volunteers will receive a $25 Target gift card for their participation. The enhanced platform promises improved usability and accessibility, fostering a dynamic dialogue between technology and the community. The city invites residents to join efforts in informing the public about data privacy, increasing transparency, and engaging in meaningful discussions on emerging civic technologies. Learn more here.
LB Launches ‘Brush, Book, Bed’ Campaign to Promote Child Health and Literacy
The City of Long Beach Health Department has initiated the “Brush, Book, Bed” campaign, a comprehensive effort aimed at instilling good dental health habits, literacy, and bedtime routines in children. Community organizations are invited to integrate the campaign into existing dental hygiene or literacy programs, and interested parties can find more information and assets on the Health Department’s website. The “Brush, Book, Bed” campaign is funded through a grant from the California Public Health Department, and its adoption from the American Academy of Pediatrics invites similar agencies to join the cause. Acting Health and Human Services Director Alison King emphasizes the campaign’s potential for a collective impact approach to positively influence community well-being starting in childhood. Learn more here.
