Good morning and welcome to Monday Morning Coffee! Grab your cup and let’s get to your weekly briefing of what’s on the agenda for local government and business leaders. Get this in your inbox every Monday by signing up at lbpost.com/newsletters.

City meetings

Local government meetings are shuttered this week. ’Tis the season. 

For those who demand to see or use public faculties this week, please know that some departments are remaining open on a limited basis. 

There will be no scheduled street sweeping, recycling, trash or towing on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Please read your parking meter: some violations will be enforced throughout the holidays. 

City Hall offices and services will be closed on Christmas, including permits, cashiers, utility customer services, billing and collection and parking citations. All city libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve. 

In a release, officials advised the public to use their online portal if they desperately need to pay a bill or apply for a building permit. 

For a full list of closures, click here. 

Business events and information

  • Councilmember Roberto Uranga, who represents Long Beach’s 7th District, is the new vice mayor. The decision to pick the long-serving councilman came from outgoing Vice Mayor and 2nd District Councilwoman Cindy Allen. The vote was unanimous, with Councilmember Daryl Supernaw absent. While largely ceremonial, the position is a leadership role, given to those chosen among their peers and may require that Uranga lead meetings in Mayor Rex Richardson’s absence. In a brief speech, Uranga thanked his colleagues and staff. “We have a greater purpose now in the city to serve all of Long Beach, which is what I intend to do. And with the help of my colleagues, I will definitely do that. It has been a great honor these past 12 years to serve as the councilmember of the seventh district.”
  • Own a historic building? It may qualify for tax relief. The city is opening its application window for the Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program, which offers tax relief to those who own property in the city’s historic districts and landmarks. Those interested in applying must RSVP and attend a workshop on Jan. 25, to determine eligibility. For more information, click here.
  • The California Department of Transportation will hold its third in-person Traffic Management Plan Task Force meeting for the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement project on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. The two-hour meeting at Billie Jean King Main Library at 200 W. Broadway will gather input from stakeholders, residents and motorists on the detour routes caused by the bridge’s 16-month closure planned for late next year or early 2026. For more information about the project, visit here. 

ICYMI — California and national news

  • The San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant is here to stay, at least for another 49 years following a new lease that includes plans to rebuild the portside staple. (LA Times)
  • The party is over. Party City announced last week it will close its stores nationwide. (NPR)
  • With no shortage of hard news, folks at the LAist compiled the top So-Cal tunes of 2024. (LAist)