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
Government is keeping things light in Long Beach this week. Many city offices will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be no street sweeping.
At their usual 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council will hear a presentation by the Long Beach Police Department on its protocols when dealing with squatters. They will also consider a three-year contract for graffiti removal and examine grants for conservation efforts along the San Gabriel and lower Los Angeles rivers.
The day after, the city’s Commission for Women and Girls will file a presentation on advocacy against domestic violence by the Jenesse Center. Commissioners will also discuss the needs of women and girls impacted by the Los Angeles fires and identify organizations that are helping them recuperate.
In the wake of the fires that have forced tens of thousands to evacuate countywide, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider eviction protections for tenants who are offering shelter to those displaced.


Business events and information
- The Downtown Long Beach Alliance will host its 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In honor of the civil rights leader, residents are encouraged to volunteer to clean up neighborhoods and plant sustainable flora. For more information, click here.
- This month’s Happy Hour Networking Mixer will happen on Jan. 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. As the first event of the year by the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, the evening will help attendees exchange valuable ideas and support each other’s growth. For more information, click here.
ICYMI — California, national and city news
- Craft supplies retailer Joann declares bankruptcy for the second time in a year (L.A. Times)
- Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson unveiled plans for the city’s newest amphitheater, the Long Beach Bowl (Long Beach Post)
- Tiktok
is offline in the U.S.(just kidding, it’s back) after the Supreme Court upholds ban (NPR)