Gov. Newsom Sets Date for State Senate District 33 Election
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced primary and runoff special election dates to fill the 33rd State Senate District seat vacated by Ricardo Lara, who is now serving as state insurance commissioner. A primary election is slated for Tuesday, March 26, and a special election in the event of a runoff is set for Tuesday, June 4. Candidates for Lara’s former seat in a district that encompasses much of Long Beach include Long Beach City Councilmembers Lena Gonzalez and Al Austin, as well as councilmembers from the cities of Bell, Lynwood and South Gate, and a boardmember of the Central Basin Municipal Water District. To avoid a runoff, one candidate would have to receive 50% plus one vote.

Mayor Garcia Announces New Initiatives At State Of The City
During his fifth state of the city address last night, Mayor Robert Garcia highlighted the accomplishments of his time in office and announced several new initiatives. “The progress we have made over the last four years has made the state of our city strong,” he told a crowd at the Terrace Theater. Garcia called for the creation of a 2030 strategic plan and set a goal of increasing city financial reserves to $75 million. With homelessness and housing affordability remaining major challenges, the mayor doubled his initial target for new home production to 8,000 new homes by 2024. A tenant assistance policy to provide protections for renters is going before the city council in February, Garcia said. Both property owners and renters are providing input on the proposal, he noted. In addition, the city has reached an agreement to purchase a site for a 125-bed, year-round homeless shelter. Details on the site and agreement are to be announced in February. Click here to watch the full address.

Port Of Los Angeles Breaks Cargo Record For Third Year Running
In 2018, the Port of Los Angeles broke its all-time record for cargo movement, handling about 9.45 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU), a 1.2% increase compared to 2017. The port has bested its all-time record for trade for three years running. “2018 was marked by a robust economy coupled with tariff-induced surges of cargo headed to U.S. retail and manufacturing sectors,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka stated. For example, in December, imports moving through the port increased by 21.6% compared to the same month in 2017. Seroka said that increasing trade volumes highlight the need to maximize supply chain efficiency.

City Agencies And Nonprofit Partner For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Of Service
Leadership Long Beach, the Port of Long Beach and the office of Mayor Robert Garcia are encouraging residents to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service on Monday, January 21. City leaders are speaking at Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd., to kick off the day’s events, which include opportunities to volunteer for 16 community projects. Other event sponsors include Vice Mayor Dee Andrews, Councilmembers Al Austin and Rex Richardson, the Long Beach Firefighters Association and various nonprofits. Click here to learn about these projects and to register as a volunteer.

Sandbags Available To Residents
Areas of Belmont Shore and the Peninsula experienced flooding last night. With another storm on the way tonight, flooding could recur, according to a notice from 3rd District Councilmember Suzie Price. Residents may pick up free sandbags at these locations, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

  • 72nd Lifeguard Station, 7200 E. Ocean Blvd.
  • Lifeguard Headquarters, 2100 E. Ocean Blvd.
  • Fire Station 7, 2295 Elm St.
  • Fire Station 12, 1199 Artesia Blvd.
  • Fire Station 13, 2475 Adriatic Blvd.
  • Fire Station 14, 5200 Eliot St.