Amid rising safety concerns in the First District, Long Beach City Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez announced that she is funding the installation of 18 new security cameras in the Washington Neighborhood to help residents feel more at ease in their surroundings.
“My goal is that the 12 security cameras at Seaside Park will help to increase the sense of safety, especially in the evenings, for the families that surround the Washington Neighborhood,” said Councilwoman Gonzalez in a statement. “These may seem like small steps, but they make a huge impact for the residents.”
In addition to 12 cameras being installed at Seaside Park, six cameras will be installed between Pacific Avenue and Chestnut Avenue, near the parks at 14th Street.
“I commend the efforts of Councilwoman Gonzalez in obtaining these security cameras to enhance neighborhood safety,” stated Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna in a statement. “These cameras will serve as a valuable resource to the City of Long Beach and supports our public safety mission.”
Gonzalez said the Washington Neighborhood has seen quite a few shootings over the last six months, including one that happened in broad daylight at the park while kids were present.
“This has been a longtime project for the 1st District,” said Gonzalez, who hopes the safety measures will increase public safety and community involvement.
The security cameras will be monitored by the Long Beach Police Department and will be up “for as long as we need them to be,” Gonzalez said.
In 2013, then-Vice Mayor Robert Garcia helped fund security cameras in Drake Park that are still in place.
This story was updated at 3:20PM with quotes from Gonzalez and more information on security cameras.