Long Beach youth to vote on city projects that benefit young people
During this year's Youth Power Participatory Budgeting, youth will choose how to allocate $550,000 in public money for summer 2025 projects, according to city officials.
Young people in Long Beach will once again have the chance to vote on youth-oriented projects that will benefit them, city officials announced Wednesday.
Now in its third year, Youth Power Participatory Budgeting invites young people in Long Beach to vote on how to spend city money on projects that will benefit them, according to the city's Health Department. This year, youth will vote on allocating $550,000, with individual project awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, officials said.
Voting will take place April 8-23, according to the city. Young people ages 12 to 26 "who live, learn, work and/or play" in Long Beach may participate, according to investinyouthlb.org.
Voting will take place at the following parks, libraries and other offices during normal business hours:
- Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.)
- Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.)
- Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
- McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
- Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
- Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway)
- Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E. Hill St.)
- Dana Neighborhood Library (3680 Atlantic Ave.)
- El Dorado Neighborhood Library (2900 Studebaker Rd)
- Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.)
- Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.)
- Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.)
- The Economic Development Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network Youth Career Services Center (508 W. Williow St.)
- Ron Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.)
- The Youth Movement and Education Center (2217 E. 6th St.)
- Long Beach Unified School District Wellness Centers in all high schools and middle schools
There will also be a voter fair at the Long Beach Civic Center (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. During the event, prospective voters can talk with representatives of various community organizations who have projects on the ballot before they vote. There will also be food, entertainment and other activities, officials said.
Last year, young people voted to prioritize nine of 13 projects listed on the Youth Power ballot, according to city health officials. The projects dealt with community care, housing, health and wellness, planning for the future and transportation, according to the city.
The city launched Youth Power Participatory Budgeting Long Beach in 2023, with funding for the projects coming from Measure US and Racial Reconciliation Funding. It was the first citywide participatory budget pilot process in which young people voted how on how to spend $300,000 in Measure US funds, according to the city.
“Young people are at the heart of our city's future, and their voices deserve to be heard in shaping the programs that impact them,” Mayor Rex Richardson said Wednesday in a statement. "I encourage all youth to take advantage of this opportunity, cast their vote and make their voices count."
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