Good morning, Long Beach. It’s Monday, Oct. 20. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
City meetings
The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday is expected to give its official support for Proposition 50, a ballot measure that, if approved, would allow the state legislature to redistrict congressional lines statewide in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
In a letter to the council, Mayor Rex Richardson says the measure is a necessary counter to Republican-led efforts in Texas to gerrymander ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Unless California responds proportionally and decisively with Proposition 50, the House of Representatives will shift to a permanent one-party rule, opening the floodgates to sweeping legislative changes that could further undermine healthcare access, climate action, funding for schools, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, and voting rights for generations to come,” he wrote.
Titled the Election Rigging Response Act, the measure is meant to help California Democrats win five more Congressional seats in the 2026 midterms. Democrats control 43 of California’s 53 seats, while Republicans hold a slim 219-212 majority in the House.
New lines would dramatically change Long Beach’s federal representation. Currently divided between the 42nd and 44th Congressional Districts, more of the city would go to the latter, held by Congressman Robert Garcia. But Garcia would also come to represent Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and parts of Newport Beach.
In terms of voter registration, the change would dilute the district’s registered Democrats from 53% to 40%. Republicans would jump from 18% to 30%, and there would be 5% more without a party preference.
Also on the agenda: garbage, literally. Public Works Department officials on Tuesday will give a presentation on the city’s rollout of new green bins for food waste. The program is part of a statewide effort, christened into law by Senate Bill 1383, that asks governments, institutions and businesses to divert waste from landfills.
But the program so far has had its hiccups, according to Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, who says residents in his eastern Long Beach district are frustrated over inconsistent service and delays.
The council is also expected to request the city manager to form a plan that allows electric bikes on all public right-of-ways in the city and along the Los Angeles River. Any agreement would set rules around e-bike usage, including speed, helmet use, age limits and more.
Other items to consider: council members will look at agreeing to pay for a roving art exhibit that documents Long Beach’s hip-hop history; approve a 17-acre lease at the city airport to Sky Harbour; and hear a presentation on parking at Alamitos Beach.
Business events and information
- City officials and the Long Beach Unified School District will host a college and career fair on Oct. 21 at the city convention center (300 E. Ocean Blvd.). Free and open to the public, the expo will offer informational tables on fields in aerospace, engineering, health and medicine, local governance, skilled trades and more. For more information, visit the district website or the expo event page.
- Long Beach’s port saw a dip in cargo volume last month, which officials tie to less consumer demand, stringent trade policies and rising prices. Dockworkers moved more than 797,500 twenty-foot equivalent units, known as TEUs, last month — a 3.9% drop from September 2024. Regardless, the Port has continued to see 6.8% more cargo through the first nine months of the year, despite federal tariffs that have left a veil of uncertainty over global trade.
- Check your mailbox. The Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters has begun mailing ballots to registered voters in Long Beach ahead of the Nov. 4 Special Election. The voter referendum will decide the fate of Proposition 50. For our coverage on the ballot measure, visit here. Ballots can be mailed or returned to any ballot drop box or vote center. Drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. All voters may track their submitted ballots here. A list of in-person voting centers, same-day registration and accessible options can be found here.
ICYMI — California and national news
- Long Beach lobbied for the right to use speed cameras; 2 years later, none are installed (Long Beach Post)
- Jack in the Box sells its stake in Del Taco for $115 million (Los Angeles Times)
- Outdoor dining became a permanent fixture in California. How it will work (LAist)
- Newsom unveils $11 state insulin for Californians: ‘We took matters into our own hands’ (CalMatters)