Good morning, Long Beach. It’s Monday, March 2. Here’s what you need to know to start your day. To get this email newsletter each week, sign up at LBPost.com/newsletters.

City meetings

Long Beach is failing at its goal to lower the number of people killed while walking, biking and driving on its streets. Now, some elected officials are feeling the pressure to get things moving faster.

Residents are fed up with how slowly the city evaluates the safety of its streets and implements even small-scale improvements like new crosswalks, stop signs or traffic signals.

It’s a frustration we’ve seen up close at the Long Beach Post and Business Journal. Reporter Jacob Sisneros and I have been reporting for months on delays in the city’s speed camera program, lack of progress toward its pledge to eliminate all traffic deaths and a persistent drop in the number of speeding tickets issued. Locals have consistently told us they feel like their pleas for new safety measures are disregarded.

Now, three City Council members say they’ve heard the same message from their constituents: Cindy Allen, Megan Kerr and Mary Zendejas on Tuesday are expected to ask the city manager to explore contracting options to finish city traffic safety projects more quickly.

The recommendation would also establish a six-month review standard on traffic evaluations, set deadlines for traffic studies and require city staff to give updates to the council on minor projects on a quarterly basis. 

Allen, who authored the item, said in a newsletter last week that residents feel the current system is “outdated,” “slow, not transparent, not proactive, and not preventative enough.” Tuesday’s item is a slightly watered-down version of one she posted online last week, which explicitly asked the city to start hiring third-party contractors to expedite projects instead of just exploring the idea.

One reason for that could be funding. The city is headed toward leaner years. Nevertheless, Allen’s item asks the city manager to make traffic safety and speed studies a “top priority” as he’s crafting next year’s spending plan.

There’s a need for urgency, she argues. The city had 53 fatal crashes in 2025, the highest in more than a decade, even as the city has spent that same time period trying to engineer its way to zero traffic deaths.

“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Allen said, and a lack of transparency from the city is only adding to the problem.

She cites a city memo from Dec. 30 that reported out of 220 locations where residents asked for suggested traffic calming measures, only 17 were approved for quick intervention. Those that are denied, she said, must come with reasoning that is communicated to the public in a reasonable amount of time. “Whatever the reason may be, the community needs to know,” she said.  

Other things to watch for this week:

  • City survey data shows that surfaces in Alamitos Bay, Naples, downtown Long Beach Civic Center and the offshore oil islands saw minor elevation rises and drops between November 2024 and 2025. Experts tie the changes to tidal cycles, drought, temperature, tectonic activity and gas injections to boost oil production. To read the report, visit here. 
  • In response to increased demand, the city wants to lease 133 parking spaces at the courthouse garage at 101 Magnolia Ave. More city employees have returned to in-office hours, forcing some to park at the Pike Garage after the city lot hit capacity. The three-year contract is worth about $455,000, based on $90 per space per month, which will rise to $100 per space by the third year. 
  • The city is recommending the council reverse a pandemic-era policy that bars third-party delivery companies from charging restaurants too much in fees. Officials recommend they replace the policy, which bars delivery fees exceeding 15% of the total price, with a “total fee, commission, or charge not to exceed 15 percent of the purchase price of the original order without requiring the purchase of additional services.”
  • A final reading is expected Tuesday for an ordinance targeting spectators at street races, sideshows and “reckless driving exhibitions.”
  • At their Tuesday meeting, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors will review plans for the eventual closure of Men’s Central Jail, vote on their ceremonial opposition to federal cuts to housing funds for mixed-status families, and look to approve up to $9.5 million for construction costs in the rehabilitation of the El Dorado Pump Station. 

Business events and information

  • The Port of Long Beach will host a town hall on March 31 to share plans for demolishing ramps accessing the Shoemaker Bridge as part of the seaport’s rail-yard project. The two-hour forum will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Jenny Oropeza Community Center (401 Golden Ave.). For more information, visit here. 
  • Grant applications are reopening to small businesses in West Long Beach as part of the continued “Love Your Block Program.” Grants run up to $2,500, meant for additions that improve air quality, pedestrian safety and overall public health. Conditions for applying can be found here. 
  • The city is hosting a “Doing Business with the City Expo” on April 2, starting at 1 p.m. at Wardlow Park Social Hall (3457 Stanbridge Ave.). The event will focus on businesses and vendors interested in selling their products and services to Long Beach, as well as getting their businesses involved in planning ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games. For more information, RSVP here. 
  • The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting a speed networking event on Thursday at Halbert Hargrove (111 W. Ocean Floor 23) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets start at $15. For more information, visit here. 

ICYMI — California and national news

  • When will the traffic headache arrive? 2nd Street Bridge construction could be delayed (Long Beach Post)
  • A new delivery bot is coming to L.A., built stronger to survive in these streets (L.A. Times)
  • Following CalMatters investigation, Congress finds data brokers cost consumers tens of billions of dollars (CalMatters)
  • Tariffs aren’t slowing down a soaring Long Beach Port, but consumers and businesses feel the pinch (LAist)