Good morning, Long Beach. It’s Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 1. Here’s what you need to know to start your day. Get this in your inbox every week by signing up at LBPost.com/newsletters.

City meetings

The budget season rolls on. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the departments of Public Works; Economic Development; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Library, Arts and Culture; and Technology and Innovation will be the subject of a public hearing on their proposed 2026 spending plans. 

The city is also expected to adopt $7.6 million in contracts with homeless outreach nonprofits and another four-year agreement with Paradies, which manages concessions at the Long Beach Airport. City Council members should also give the final OK on a land exchange between the city and Los Angeles County Flood Control District, as part of the construction for the Pier B On-Dock Rail Facility. 

As part of their comprehensive fiscal review of Long Beach’s programs and departments, the Budget Oversight Committee on Tuesday will hear presentations on the city’s Safe Passage Program and Community Crisis Response Team. 

Without much early information, a presentation will come before the city’s Equity and Human Relations Commission on Wednesday in regard to a proposed Civil and Human Rights Investment Screening. 

The city Utilities Commission is expected to allow a nondisclosure agreement between the City Manager and the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympics, known as LA28. A presentation will accompany, detailing with renderings what some local venues could look like. 

At their Tuesday meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear from the county CEO on how state and federal policy changes may affect the county budget, as well as another update on regional homelessness goals.

Business events and information

  • The city is launching a small grant program for resident-led projects in West Long Beach. The grants, up to $2,500, are for projects that address poor air quality, promote clean air education, improve pedestrian access on streets and sidewalks, or other environmental-minded changes. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 and have a proposal within the 90810 ZIP code. Individuals, businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply by the Sept. 26 deadline.
  • In observance of Labor Day, some city facilities and services will be closed today. Click here to review the schedule and find more information.
  • Voters will weigh in on Nov. 4 to decide the fate of the state’s new congressional map. To check your registration status, click here. Visit this link to read our coverage of the new maps and how they affect Long Beach. (Preview: We’re a very important part of the gerrymander.)
  • Had thoughts on water and how to save it? Too bad, that’s over. If you have ideas on trees, however, and where to plant them, listen up: The city wants your input. Long Beach is running an online survey as it creates an urban forest plan, which will decide how and where it plans to plant trees citywide. The online survey is available through Oct. 31, in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. Those without internet access can do the survey at any open Long Beach Public Library.

ICYMI — California and national news

  • Police are issuing far fewer speeding tickets than in years past, and more people are dying in crashes (Long Beach Post)
  • Jury awards $5 million to man hit by 200-pound falling tree branch in Long Beach park (Long Beach Post)
  • The space race is transforming Southern California’s economy — again (Los Angeles Times)
  • How LA almost created an airport island for the supersonic age (LAist)