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
Are Long Beach’s laws strong enough to repel deportations? Local officials are trying to make sure.
Out of a caution that has spread throughout much of California, the Long Beach City Council will meet in its first quorum of the year at 5 p.m. Tuesday to expand protections under its sanctuary city law, the Long Beach Values Act.
Tuesday’s vote would reaffirm the purpose of the law package established in 2017, shortly after then-President Donald Trump threatened to withhold funds from cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration agents. It would also allocate another $200,000 for the city’s free immigration attorney program and extend standards that would prohibit contractors from sharing city data with federal immigration agents.
Following that discussion, council members will hear a presentation on options for raising wages for concession workers at the Long Beach Airport and Convention Center. This follows the voter-approved Measure RW in March 2024, which raises the minimum wage of hotel workers to $23 per hour. Since the Convention Center is projected to operate at a deficit in fiscal year 2025, any additional costs to increase wages there will fall directly on the city’s operating Tidelands fund.
At their first meeting of the year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will look to approve new food procurement rules meant to lower greenhouse gases by offering healthier, plant-based foods that are distributed to the community. Supervisors are also expected to task staff with compiling a list of qualified projects that can be paid for by the $10 billion voter-approved state bond, Proposition 4.
Business events and information
The Long Beach Public Library system will celebrate the re-opening of the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library on Saturday, Jan. 11. The 6,900 square-foot library, which shuttered in fall 2023, underwent an extensive series of renovations that include new windows, a front entrance ramp and automatic doors, and interior enhancements, including new carpeting throughout the building and updated shelving in the children’s area
“We are thrilled to welcome the community back to the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library,” said Library Director Cathy De Leon. “These renovations not only enhance the library’s functionality and accessibility but also reaffirm our mission to provide spaces that inspire learning, exploration, and connection.”
Saturday morning’s festivities will begin with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m., followed by performances at 10:30 a.m. and storytime at noon. For more information, click here.
What would you like to see in the next city budget? The city of Long Beach is inviting the public to share their priorities for the 2026 Fiscal Budget in a series of upcoming community meetings. Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog and American Sign Language will be provided for all meetings. Advanced registration for the Jan. 27 virtual meeting is required in order to receive the link to the Zoom meeting.
Meetings will be held in person at multiple locations throughout Long Beach, and one in a virtual format, on the following days:
- Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at McBride Community Center (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
- Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
- Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Silverado Park Community Center (1545 W. 31st St.)
- Monday, Jan. 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Webinar)
- Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway)
- Monday, Feb. 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Church (1000 N. Studebaker Rd.)
For more information about the city’s budget process, click here.
Reminder: The West Long Beach market study meeting we told you about last week is coming up on Jan. 11. It’s from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.). RSVP here.
ICYMI — California and national news
- Following a holiday crush of cancellations and delays, one analytics firm compiled the most punctual and tardy airlines in the nation. (L.A. Times)
- There’s a loophole in free trade and apparently, it’s shaped like a potato. (NPR)
- New year, new laws. Some are finally going after those meaningless fees. (CalMatters)