Traffic fatality memorial sign program would cost city $100K, officials say

Installing memorial signs for the victims killed in traffic accidents on public rights of way throughout Long Beach would cost the city $100,000 to start, city officials said in a memo released Wednesday.

Though Long Beach officials said such a program, which could be modeled on a similar state effort, was feasible, the city's current budget deficit means the program would require either new funding resources or diverting staff from other priorities, Public Works Director Joshua Hickman said in the July 29 memo to City Manager Tom Modica.

"Based on preliminary evaluation, staff estimate that approximately $100,000 would be needed to support the initial development of the program," Hickman wrote. "Given the City's current fiscal outlook and forecasted structural budget deficit, staff would need additional dedicated resources to implement this enhanced permitting and enforcement framework."

Fourth District Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, who asked city staff to study the matter last year, told the Watchdog Wednesday that he’s disappointed in the report and would try to find other options to memorialize victims, even if using public rights of way was no longer an option.

Traffic fatalities in Long Beach have risen in recent years. Two of the leading factors in fatal collisions have proven to be speeding and pedestrians walking in roadways outside of crosswalks, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

There have been 29 traffic fatalities reported by the LBPD so far in 2026. Last year, the department reported 56 traffic-related fatalities from 53 crashes, making it the deadliest year on the road since at least 1990, when the city reported 51 deaths, according to LBPD data from a public records request by the Watchdog.

The LBPD reported 32 traffic fatalities by this time last year.

The starting point in Hickman's analysis was AB 965, a 2002 law authorizing the California Department of Transportation to put up signs on state highways memorializing victims of drunk driving crashes. The program honors the victims as well as heightens awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, according to state officials.

There have long been informal, resident-created memorials and signs posted at the sites of traffic fatalities throughout the city.

At the intersection of Second Street and Redondo Avenue, for instance, there are at least two memorials to Lori Ann Carreon, who was riding a bicycle in February when she was hit by a man apparently speeding, according to the Long Beach police. The driver did not stop after hitting Carreon, who later died of her injuries at the hospital, authorities said.

The memorials to Carreon include a large display with a bicycle painted white and, a few yards away, a smaller memorial with a purple crossing bearing her name, flowers and candles.

There is currently no city municipal code that regulates victim memorial signage, Hickman wrote in his memo. Hickman also noted that since Long Beach lacks a dedicated unit that erects memorial road signs in rights of way, the city would have to create one and hire suitable staff.

Building such memorial signs would also require considerable sensitivity on the part of city staff, according to Hickman. Traffic fatalities are extremely traumatic events for the victims' families, and even issues like sign placement could be triggering.

"Staff managing the program would need to approach each application with empathy and discretion, ensuring communications are timely, and respectful," Hickman wrote.

Since city staff are already addressing traffic fatalities with a variety of initiatives, including installing new speed safety cameras, addressing a backlog of traffic calming requests, updating the Safe Streets Long Beach plan and completing other traffic safety-related capital improvement projects, adding a new memorial sign program "would require either new resources or diverting staff from other City priorities," Hickman wrote.

In addition, processing sign permits, making and installing the sign, performing maintenance and ultimately removing the sign at the end of the permit period would require a fee of at least $3,000, according to Hickman's memo.

As a result, Hickman said his staff "do not recommend" implementing such a program unless "sufficient resources have been identified and appropriated."

Hickman studied the possibility of memorial signs at the behest of Councilmember Supernaw, who asked Modica's office about its feasibility back in August 2025.

Supernaw said he was inspired to look into official city memorials following a traffic fatality in his district back in 2021. He said he worked closely with the family of the victim, and even attended the court hearing when statements from the family were read.

He said he saw memorials like this as part of the healing process for the families of victims.

"I just feel for the victims," he said in a phone interview. "This is something we wanted to do."