10-Year Milestone for CD4 Chief of Staff

Congratulations to our Chief of Staff, Isabel Martinez, on her 10-year anniversary with the City of Long Beach. She received a commemorative pin and a certificate of recognition from the city manager. Isabel is a product of the LBUSD (Lee ES [now Herrera], Hill MS & Wilson HS) and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from CSUDH. She previously served as the Chief of Staff for Vice Mayor Dee Andrews. The success of our office is due primarily to our dedicated and talented staff. Not a week goes by that I don’t hear a compliment about Isabel or Slane. As I’ve said before, constituents may be on the fence about the councilman, but everyone likes our newsletter and loves our office staff!

The Red Cross Preparedness Essentials

The City of Long Beach is part of the American Red Cross Greater Long Beach and South Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves nearly 2 million people across 25 cities. The local chapter of the Red Cross offers 24/7 emergency disaster relief, CPR/First Aid training, blood drives, support for military families, and other safety programs. Find a preparedness essentials checklist using this link and the 21 weeks to prepare list here. More information on how to prepare for emergencies is available here. If you are interested in learning more about the Red Cross in your community, visit this link.

LBACS Pet Literacy Program

Available Wed thru Sun | 10 am - 3 pm | 7700 E Spring St. 

Create a connection with the animals at LBACS through the LBACS Pet Literacy Program! This program promotes humane treatment and the socialization of animals through reading out loud. Readers must be 15 years old or older, adults must accompany younger readers. Sign up for the program here and find more information at this link.

LBACS March Adoption Special

Thru March 31st | LBACS hours listed below | 7700 E Spring St. 

LBACS is hosting the Luck of the Paws Adoption Special now through Tuesday, March 31st! Adoption fees are for long-stay animals (30+ days in the shelter) that are still waiting for their forever homes. Cats are $7, and dogs are $17. Your luck could change their life. Visit LBACS and meet your match! LBACS is open Wednesday through Friday, 10 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday/ Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm and closed Mondays/Tuesdays.

CSULB FREE VITA Tax Prep Program

Thru April 8th | Various times | Computer Lab, Room 243 COB 

The CSULB VITA site is available to qualifying taxpayers with an income level of $67,000 or less. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing for federal and state tax returns. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. Don’t put off your taxes! CSULB VITA refunded over 1 million in taxpayer dollars last tax season. Services are in-person, Mon-Thurs 10 am to 8 pm and Fri 9 am to 3 pm. Find more details at this link.

Benley Vietnamese Kitchen

Mon - Sat 11 am - 7:50 pm, Closed Sun | 8191 E Wardlow Rd.

Get a taste of fresh and authentic Vietnamese flavors at Benley! This family-owned business has operated since 2005 and offers Vietnamese family recipes with a twist of French influence. They are known for their pho, pork egg rolls, chicken curry and other great menu items. Visit Benley at 8191 E Wardlow Rd. Find their website and menu here.

Orchid Workshop at EBM Japanese Garden

March 21st | 10 - 11 am | Parking available in Lot G4

Saturday workshops are back at the EBM Japanese Garden! Join the Garden tomorrow, Saturday, March 21st for a special Outdoor Propagation Workshop led by a longtime Friend of the Garden, Joel Soffer. Learn the basics of Propagating orchids, get hands-on experience and enjoy a beautiful morning workshop with fellow plant lovers. Workshop fee is $15 per person, $10 for members. There will be take-home orchids for sale! Find more info and get tickets here.

PRM Spring Fun Days Enrollment

Enrollment starts March 23rd

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer its free youth recreation program, Spring Fun Days, at various parks throughout the city during the upcoming school spring break. Spring Fun Days engage children ages 5 to 12 in fun activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and special events. This is a free drop-in program where registered participants may come and go as they please. The program will run Monday thru Friday, April 6th to 10th from noon to 5 pm each day. Pre-registration is required. Applications may be picked up at participating parks starting Monday, March 23rd. CD4 parks include Stearns Champions Park and Whaley Park. Read the full press release at this link.

LBFD Training Center Live Burns

March 23rd & 30th | 8 am - 6 pm | 2249 Argonne Ave.

The Long Beach Fire Training Center will be conducting live fire trainings on these dates/times that are subject to change:

• Monday (3/23) between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Monday (3/30) between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Live fire training is essential in the development of firefighters and teaches skills needed to perform lifesaving and property-saving operations in the City of Long Beach. Thank you for your continued support of the Long Beach Fire Department!

LBACS Low Cost Vaccine Clinics

March 24th & 27th | 10 am - 2:30 pm | 7700 E Spring St.



Long Beach Animal Care Services and Camp Clinics are hosting low-cost vaccine clinics on Tuesday, March 24th and Friday, March 27th from 10 am to 2:30 pm. No appointment is necessary, but only the first 60 pets will be accepted. For a vaccine price list and important tips to expedite your visit, use this link. Click here for future vaccine clinics at LBACS.

Toddlertime at Los Altos Library

March 24th | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | 5614 E Britton Dr.



Have fun with your little one as you build early literacy skills together! Toddlertime focuses on singing, talking and movement which are key ways young children learn language. Through songs, rhymes and movement, children will explore colors, counting, sounds and more in ways that keep them engaged. To support movement, scarves and bubbles will be included. This program is designed for children under 2 1/2 years old and is suitable for young children who can sit up on their own, are crawling or are just beginning to walk. No registration is required, but space is limited.

CORE Strategy Council Agenda Item



On Tuesday, a very important council agenda item is being brought forth by Councilmembers Kristina Duggan, Cindy Allen and myself involving CORE strategies. CORE stands for Compassionate Outreach, Response, Enforcement Strategy. It is a severity-based approach when responding to threatening or unsafe behavior in public spaces. We wanted to provide more space for the item outside of the “Next on the City Council Agenda” article below, so we are linking to Councilmember Duggan’s press release here.

Next on the City Council Agenda

March 24th | 5 pm | 411 W Ocean Blvd.

The City Council meeting will start at 5:00 pm in the Civic Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall, located at 411 W. Ocean Blvd. City council meetings are broadcast live online at: LBTV3.com and on Channel 3 for Charter Comments can be submitted by email to: CityClerk@longbeach.gov. Items on Tuesday's meeting agenda include:

• H-26: Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, review and determine that the proposed Zoning Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and 15311 (Accessory Structures) (CE-25-143); Declare ordinance approving a Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA25-002), and adopt the proposed findings related thereto, to amend Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Chapters 21.15, 21.32, 21.33, 21.35, 21.45, 21.51, 21.52, and 21.53 of Title 21 (Zoning) related to the definition of mobile food facilities (i.e. mobile food trucks) and their operation on private property to support proposed changes to Title 5 (Regulations of Businesses, Trades and Professions and Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the LBMC, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading; Office or Department: Community Development
• R-30: Recommendation to request City Manager, in coordination with City Attorney, City Prosecutor, Police Department, Fire Department, Health and Human Services Department, and Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, to draft and return to the City Council within 90 days with the CORE Strategy (Compassionate Outreach, Response, and Enforcement). Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District; Cindy Allen, Councilwoman, Second District; Daryl Supernaw, Councilman, Fourth District
• R-31: Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. R-7216 and award contracts to Addison-Miller, Inc., of Orange, CA, Bitech Construction Co., Inc., of Buena Park, CA, and EBS General Engineering, Inc., of Corona, CA, for as-needed curb ramp and related improvements, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary amendments; Office or Department: Public Works

The entire agenda can be found here under Meeting Title, City Council, March 24th, 2026. 

Dive Into Parenting at El Dorado Library

March 25th | 3 - 4 pm | 2900 N Studebaker Rd.

Learn the techniques to help your child bloom at their own pace. The Workshop Series is brought to you by the California Department of Health Care Services, as part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. To sign up for Dive Into Learning, the library's early learning program, visit the Beanstack page at this link, download the Beanstack Tracker app to your mobile device, or visit any library location.

Filming in the Fourth

March 26th | 7 am - 8 pm | El Dorado Park East, Areas II & III

Filming will take place on Thursday, March 26th at El Dorado Park East, Areas II and III. Production will have a 60-member cast and crew. Production has been advised to not interfere with/impede park programming, construction zones, permits to gather, and/or Maintenance operations at any time.

VA Vietnam Veteran Welcome Home Event

March 27th | 8:30 am - 1:30 pm | 5901 E 7th St.



Join the VA on Friday, March 27th at the Veterans Social Connection to welcome our Vietnam Veterans. The event will begin at 8:30 am with breakfast. Enjoy band music and visit information tables during the event. All Veterans and their families are welcome! Food and drinks will be provided.

CD4 March Community Meeting

March 31st | 5:30 - 6:45 pm | 5614 E Britton Dr.

We are hosting our monthly Council District 4 community meeting at the Los Altos Library on Tuesday, March 31st, from 5:30 to 6:45 pm. All CD4 residents are invited to attend. Please join us for an informative meeting on the latest happenings in our district.

LBFD Recruits Feel the Heat

Next week, the Long Beach Fire Department Recruit Class 2026A continues their live fire training drills. Live fire training is a critical part of the instruction and certification process for recruit firefighters. During training for Recruit Class 2022A, LBFD posted a video of a live fire training drill on Facebook that you can check out at this link. The video reminded me of a Verizon commercial (video link attached) shot at the LBFD training center in 2013. What looks like Hollywood special effects in the Verizon video is actually what our fire recruits experience in training. They must effectively use their training to solve the unique problems encountered during a fire while maintaining their own safety as well as that of their fellow firefighters and civilians involved in the incident.