Welcome to our City Newsletter!

Greetings!

We hope you are taking advantage of the longer, warmer days now that summer is halfway over. If you're looking for free family-friendly activities, our Parks, Recreation, and Marine department provides plenty of options. There is something for everyone, including free exercise sessions for older adults, outdoor movies, and swimming at the Wibit inflatable water park.

With the intention of developing a more complete neighborhood with a more pedestrian-friendly layout, where residences, businesses, jobs and shopping are close by to one another, on Saturday, July 30, our Development Services department is encouraging residents to drop by MacArthur Park and express their ideas for a project area in Central Long Beach.

ICYMI: This week our Health department shared important information on presumptive monkeypox cases and on getting vaccinated.

Scroll down to get more news, public health resources, events and more!

Southwest Airlines Connects Long Beach to New Orleans with Seasonal Sunday Nonstop Service

Southwest Airlines announced that it will launch weekly nonstop flights from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) on a seasonal basis from January 8 through the end of March 2023, just in time for Mardi Gras season. Tickets are available now at Southwest.com.

City of Long Beach Expands Eligibility for Monkeypox Vaccine

As there have now been a few cases of confirmed monkeypox in Long Beach. the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has expanded eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine. This decision is in alignment with Los Angeles County and done in effort to make the monkeypox vaccine more accessible to the populations at highest risk in the city.

Long Beach Expands LB Resource Line, a City Hotline Connecting Residents with Local Community Resources

The City of Long Beach has expanded its LB Resource Line, an informational hotline that provides free and confidential support to anyone who lives, works, learns or plays in Long Beach and needs assistance finding and accessing local community resources and social services. The LB Resource Line is available by calling 562.570.4246 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Callers who are unable to connect to a Resource Navigator during normal business hours may leave a voicemail and their call will be returned within 24 hours. Residents can also submit an Assistance Request Form online to connect with a Resource Navigator and receive information and assistance in topics such as:

-Housing

-Food access

-Physical and mental health

-Utilities

-Transportation

-Legal Aid

Long Beach Public Library to Temporarily Shift Operations of Alamitos, Brewitt and Dana Neighborhood Libraries to To-Go Service Only

Beginning August 2, 2022, through the end of the year, three Long Beach blic Library (LBPL) locations, Alamitos, Brewitt and Dana Neighborhood Libraries, will temporarily shift operations to a “To-Go” model of service. This will allow LBPL to continue to meet residents’ needs for print and audiovisual materials while navigating staffing shortages brought on by retirements, vacancies and the ongoing pandemic. All other LBPL locations, including Billie Jean King Main Library, will continue normal library services and remain open to the public.

City Partners with CSULB LifeFit Center to Offer Exercise Class Programs for Older Adults

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), in partnership with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) LifeFit Center @ The Beach, is launching a new exercise class program to provide evidence-based physical activity programming for older adults. The exercise class program supports the City’s Age-Friendly Initiative and emphasizes helping seniors maintain their independence and aging well at home.

Long Beach Airport Displays Able ARTS Work Exhibit

An exhibit showcasing talented local artists is on display now at Long Beach Airport, brightening the way for travelers through a collaboration with Able ARTS Work. The diverse exhibit, CORE 2021, contains 14 pieces in a variety of mediums by local artists. The collection is curated by Able ARTS Work, a local nonprofit that provides inclusive services for individuals with developmental disabilities, autism and all people through creative arts therapies and education.

Join the Development Services Department at the Next Zone In: City Core Event!

The City of Long Beach invites residents to MacArthur Park to provide feedback on new zoning regulations that will impact parking, shopping, business corridors and jobs in Central Long Beach. Known as Zone In: City Core, the plan will be developed this year with the goal of creating a more complete community where residents, businesses, jobs and shopping are located near each other with a more pedestrian-friendly design.

Stop by and share your vision for the project area!

Saturday, July 30, 2022, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St.

The City is also welcoming feedback through the Zone In: City Core online survey, which is confidential and available in English, Spanish and Khmer. The survey will remain open through Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. To learn more about  Zone In: City Core, visit longbeach.gov/citycore and see stories and photos on our Facebook page.

Long Beach New Procurement Platform "Long Beach Buys"

The City of Long Beach has launched Long Beach Buys, a new purchasing platform and marketplace that is free for all businesses and organizations seeking to do business with the City. The new procurement software positions the City to more effectively engage with local, diverse and disadvantaged businesses and facilitates the lowering of barriers for prospective businesses to contract with the City.

Long Beach Libraries to Offer Expanded Programming for Teens

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) has expanded its programming for teens at several branch locations. The summer and after-school programs will add a variety of enrichment activities for youth ages 12 and older with a strong focus on wellbeing, creativity, STEAM learning and collaborative interaction. Library branches that will feature expanded teen programming starting this summer include Billie Jean King Main Library, Burnett, Harte, Los Altos, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama. The new programs include the following:

 -Read Beyond the Beaten Path is the LBPL’s Summer Reading Program

  -Seed Steam Community

  -Teen Advisory Groups (TAG)

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