Critically Speaking
Critically Speaking: It’s measuring up to be a big election
Taxes, charter amendments and an expanded board of supervisors.
Jason Ruiz
Long Beach City College
LBCC’s $990M bond measure could be headed to November ballot
The money would fund construction projects, including a potential housing around a new football stadium, but support for the issue has tempered.
City Council
Proposed changes to city's hiring process, power plant tax could head to November ballot
Long Beach officials say changes to the hiring process could help fill vacancies that have stagnated at about 20% in recent years.
Critically Speaking: Pulling the plug on freeway expansion
Why it’s important to show up for your community.
homelessness
Newsom calls on cities to 'move with urgency' to clear encampments
It is unclear how Long Beach will react to the executive order, which directs state agencies and cities to clear unhoused encampments.
Long Beach Airport
Flight experience at LGB will change as Southwest Airlines says it's ending open seating
The airline is Long Beach Airport's largest tenant and operates 50 of the 58 daily flight slots out of the airport.
Budget
Here's how you can participate in the 2025 Long Beach budget adoption process
Long Beach officials are expected to release the proposed budget in the coming weeks and are scheduled to adopt the new spending plan in early September.
91 Freeway
91 Freeway widening appears dead after community rejects North Long Beach project
The $174 million project would have added an additional eastbound lane from the 710 Freeway to the Atlantic and Cherry Avenue exits.
Long Beach Airport
Long Beach Airport releases commemorative posters celebrating 100 years of history
The series of four posters will be available for free at a public open house July 27 celebrating the re-opening of the historic terminal building.
Long Beach Yacht Club
Planning Commission approves project that could nearly double size of Long Beach Yacht Club
The club is looking to add a two-story, 20,179-square-foot addition to the existing clubhouse, which will also be renovated during the project.
Critically Speaking: How is Long Beach doing?
Not great, according to recent polling data.
belmont shore
Belmont Shore welcome signs months away from completion, parking rates to increase to $2
A city commission is asking the City Council to approve a $420,000 welcome sign project and increase the rate of parking along Second Street to $2 per hour.
Union Pacific Railroad
Quieter and cleaner railroad tracks? Long Beach to talk with Union Pacific about changes
The Long Beach City Council asked city officials to look at creating a 'quiet zone' along the tracks and to work out an agreement allowing city workers access to clean up debris and provide homeless outreach at the tracks.
City Council
Long Beach looking at increasing wages for airport, convention center concession workers
The increases could resemble voter-approved Measure RW, which raised hotel workers’ wages to $23 per hour this month and will increase them to $29.50 per hour by 2028.
Long Beach history
Long Beach commissioners wonder how to honor city's rich surfing history
The city's Marine Advisory Commission is discussing how to memorialize the 1938 National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships held in the city that were recently recognized as a point of historical interest.
Critically Speaking
Critically Speaking: A Jurisdictional Jumble
Just because it’s in Long Beach doesn't mean the city controls it.