Good morning, Long Beach. It’s Monday, Feb. 9. Here’s what you need to know to start your day. Sign up to get this in your inbox at LBPost.com/newsletters.

City meetings

Facing federal cuts that could devastate health care for thousands of Angelenos, an idea has begun kicking around Los Angeles County to raise the countywide sales tax to replace lost funding.

This new half-cent tax, which could land on the ballot as early as the June primaries if the County Board of Supervisors backs it, could bring in about $750 million annually. 

This one is out of the Long Beach City Council’s hands, but its Intergovernmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to get a briefing on the idea Tuesday at 1 p.m. It’s a good place to tune in if you want an overview. (Some important context if you decide to watch: Long Beach voters have said they are in no mood right now for new taxes.)

If it comes to fruition, this would be the second sales tax increase passed in two years, following the passage of L.A. County Measure A in November 2024 (took effect last April) as a way to fund more homelessness programs across greater Los Angeles. 

The idea has taken on urgency because federal resolution H.R. 1, which takes effect this year, could cause the state to lose billions of dollars a year in funding and result in more than three million Californians losing health coverage. 

This comes as budget woes forced the county to trim $200 million from its homelessness programs. Citing projections of a $2.4 billion gap through 2029, officials say it is paramount to cover the losses. 

Other things to watch for this week:

A 60-foot monopole cell tower is being proposed by Verizon Wireless to be built at the city yard in Marine Stadium. Officials explain this will improve cell reception along Alamitos Bay and the surrounding neighborhoods. This will come up during the Thursday meeting for the Marine Advisory Commission. 

The city Ethics Commission will hear an update on proposed rules around the acceptance of gifts and gratuities by city employees and the appointment of family members to key positions. The item, scheduled for their Wednesday meeting, doesn’t have many details yet, so you’ll have to watch if you’re curious. 

Details are out on the newly formed Los Angeles County Disaster Recovery Rebuild Authority, the local agency meant to oversee the reconstruction of neighborhoods ravaged by the wildfires last year. Estimates of the damage range between $76 billion and $131 billion. 

Budget presentations for county departments in the 2026-27 fiscal year will run Thursday and Friday. Click the links for department-specific information. 

And in Long Beach, the city is set to move forward with a health needs assessment of the more than 50,000 Black residents living here. The study will examine people’s financial standing, mental health, housing stability and general needs. It follows similar studies for the Cambodian community and the LGBTQ2A+ community.

Business events and information

  • The city Community Development Department will host its second forum on local efforts to boost housing production and rezoning projects in Long Beach. It will take place Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Bixby Park Community Center (130 Cherry Ave.) For more information or to pre-register, visit here.
  • The next networking luncheon for the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is set for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Parkers’ Lighthouse (435 Shoreline Dr.) Tickets start at $35 for members; $45 for non-members. For more information, visit here. 
  • Do your press releases suck? Most likely, yes. But it’s okay; the Nonprofit Partnership is hosting an in-person seminar Tuesday on improving your marketing strategy and getting a journalist’s attention. Because we get bored very quickly. The three-hour seminar starts at 9 a.m. at TNP’s headquarters (4900 E. Conant Street, Bldg. O2). For more information, visit here. 

ICYMI — California and national news

  • Long Beach settles employee’s lawsuit over religious exemption for coronavirus testing (Long Beach Post)
  • Long Beach says absentee landowners have ignored citations, let their properties decay. New penalties may change that. (Long Beach Post)
  • Are the Olympics worth the cost? A new report asks LA leaders to consider canceling (LAist)
  • LBUSD may drop a year of math from graduation requirements. Personal finance, ethnic studies will be added. (Long Beach Post)
  • Tesla is no longer No. 1: This is how a Chinese competitor surged past the EV pioneer (Los Angeles Times)