Bits 'n' Pieces

Groups Awarded Nearly $1 Million in Sponsorships

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved 268 sponsorships totaling $926,150 to local nonprofit groups for upcoming programs. The Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program funds community events and activities that help inform residents about the port. The awards support a diverse variety of community nonprofits centered on the environment, education, social justice, the arts and historic preservation.

This award is the third of three calls of the 2024 fiscal year; half of the applications were first-time requests. This latest round saw a record number of requests. To accommodate increased demand from community organizations, the Harbor Commission approved a significant increase in funds for the third call.

The next open application period for sponsorships will be Sept. 1-30; find out more at www.polb.com/sponsorships.

“We’re proud to support an increased number of organizations through our sponsorship program,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Community groups are what help make Long Beach a thriving place for residents to live and work.”

“Community groups are doing important work, and we’re thrilled to help fund their missions,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “The large increase in first-time sponsorship applications from these groups is inspiring; increasing the sponsorship budget to help fund events and programs in our city was an easy choice.”

Among the events and programs sponsored in this week’s awards are Act Out Theatre Company’s Summer Youth Arts Workshops, Wonder Tech and Innovation Festival and Food Finders Thanksgiving Food Distribution.

The port accepts sponsorship applications three times a year, in January, May and September. More information about the Community Sponsorship Program can be found at www.polb.com/sponsorships.

200 Afib Procedures

The MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center’s electrophysiology team, led by Mark Lee, M.D., medical director of the program, successfully completed its 200th WATCHMAN procedure for patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib), a common heart rhythm disorder affecting millions of Americans. This milestone signifies the program’s standing as one of the most advanced and comprehensive in the south Los Angeles region.

Dr. Lee performed the landmark 200th procedure, showcasing capabilities of treating a great number of patients with the latest in advanced technologies. The institute is comprised of nationally recognized physicians who perform innovative treatments to provide the complete continuum of cardiovascular care.

“Reaching our 200th case demonstrates the hard work and quality care of our electrophysiology program, which is committed to helping patients with atrial fibrillation get their lives back,” says Dr. Lee. “The WATCHMAN device is an excellent option for reducing the risk of stroke without blood thinners in these patients.”

WATCHMAN is a small device implanted in the heart’s left atrial appendage, which is where the vast majority of blood clots form and cause strokes in Afib patients. The device, which is inserted through a minimally invasive procedure, offers an alternative to long-term anticoagulant therapy, providing stroke protection while potentially reducing bleeding risks associated with blood thinner medications.

The device occludes, or closes, the left atrial appendage to prevent clots from forming and entering the bloodstream. Over time, heart tissue grows over the implanted device, making it a permanent part of the body.

“Patients who would benefit from treatment with WATCHMAN include those with Afib who are at high risk for stroke and have an increased risk of bleeding complications from blood thinner medications,” says Lee. “Most patients report a significant improvement in their quality of life as they report less bruising in their arms and legs and not needing to worry about missing their daily dose of blood thinners.”

Offering the latest in advanced technologies, The MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center has a dedicated cardiovascular catheterization lab equipped with the latest technology and staffed by nationally recognized physicians to provide the complete continuum of cardiovascular care. The Heart & Vascular Institute offers a comprehensive range of services for patients with cardiac disorders, including diagnostic testing, device implementation, and follow-up care.

To learn more, visit memorialcare.org/lbheart.

City Seeks Outdoor Amphitheater Proposals

As Long Beach continues to grow and thrive as a destination for music, arts and culture, the City of Long Beach today released a request for proposals (RFP) led by the Economic Development Department (EDD) for the operation and management of its highly-anticipated, first-ever amphitheater to be located adjacent to the iconic Queen Mary along the Downtown waterfront.

“Long Beach is elevating its status as a premier entertainment and tourist destination in Southern California,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The new Long Beach Bowl will be an iconic music venue on our beautiful waterfront that will highlight the spirit and culture of our community and will bring people together for concerts and festivals, further enhancing our landscape and stimulating our local economy.”

The state-of-the-art amphitheater will encompass approximately five to six acres along Queens Highway, between the Queen Mary and Harry Bridges Memorial Park. The proposed venue will have a capacity of up to 12,000 attendees and host a variety of live events, attracting major bands, artists and acts from around the world and thousands of visitors to the city.

The selected firm will be responsible for ensuring the highest industry standards and managing daily operations of the venue, including coordinating bookings and programming top-tier entertainment, marketing and advertising activities, staffing and logistics, and maintaining sound and noise management.

“It’s exciting to get started on our very own amphitheater – something that will be iconic and an amazing destination for both locals and tourists to enjoy,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “Music unites and inspires people, and we look forward to hosting people from all over to share in that spirit.”

Qualified firms are encouraged to submit proposals electronically through the city’s vendor portal, Long Beach Buys, by 11 a.m. on Sept. 24. City staff will host an optional pre-proposal meeting for prospective contractors at 9 a.m. on Aug. 14. A copy of the RFP is available on the Long Beach Buys website. For questions regarding the RFP, interested parties may email rfppurchasing@longbeach.gov.

“We’re building the next great international city and unleashing the creative economy through music, athletics, tourism and hospitality like never before,” said Economic Development Department Director Bo Martinez. “The new amphitheater will offer a vibrant experience for local visitors and tourists with the spectacular Downtown skyline and waterfront as its backdrop.”

The proposed, modern amphitheater will be temporary in nature, with an initial operating term of five years and the potential for extensions as the city considers the development of a permanent venue in the future. Completion of the amphitheater is anticipated for summer 2025.

City to Study Boosting Housing Production

The City of Long Beach is hosting a series of Housing Policy Forums focused on gathering input and informing the community of numerous housing policy and zoning initiatives currently underway. These initiatives will encourage and grow housing production, increase housing affordability, reduce tenant displacement and attract innovative developments in high-resource areas.

“We want to invite the public into these important conversations, so that they can be a part of the process,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “These innovative policy proposals, introduced in May, will help Long Beach families find stable housing through increased production and enhanced tenant protections. From assisting community members experiencing homelessness with access to housing, to opening up the dream of home ownership to a young family, we can address the multifaceted housing needs of our diverse city.”

The Community Development Department (CDD) continues its crucial policy work designed to help achieve the city’s fair housing goals outlined in the certified 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element. In addition to delivering on the goals of the housing element, CDD continues to meet other state mandates and is striving to ensure the city meets its overall housing needs.

Residents, community partners and stakeholders are invited to learn more and provide valuable input as it relates to the various housing policy initiatives at three upcoming forums listed below:

• Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Houghton Park Community Center, 6301 Myrtle Ave., 90805
• Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Long Beach Energy Resources Auditorium, 2400 Spring St., 90806  
• Thursday, Sept. 12, 6 – 7:30 p.m., McBride Park Community Center, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., 90813 

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and other languages by request. To learn more and RSVP to attend one of the forums, visit the Housing Policies webpage. Feedback garnered at the community forums will help further the development of several housing amendments and policy initiatives currently being evaluated by the city as listed below:  

Inclusionary Housing Policy: Building on the successful inclusionary housing program in downtown and parts of Central Long Beach, staff are proposing to expand the Inclusionary Housing requirement citywide. With this enhancement, all future housing developments with 10 or more units anywhere in the city would be required to include affordable housing units in otherwise market-rate housing developments.

Zone In: This is a citywide effort to update zoning regulations through land use reforms to better meet community needs consistent with recent General Plan updates. More information will be available on the various rezoning efforts happening throughout the city.

Religious Facility Overlay: Many churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship have extra land or underutilized buildings that could be used for housing. The city’s religious facility overlay will build upon state law SB 4 and expand new housing opportunities on religious and institutional sites citywide including in high resource areas.  

Downtown Plan and Downtown Shoreline Plan Updates: Land use regulations are being updated for the city’s downtown and waterfront, where more than 5,000 new housing units have been approved and substantial investment has taken place over the past decade. This update process will sculpt the coming decades of growth and innovation in downtown and will assure access to economic and recreational opportunities for residents across the city.

Just Cause Ordinance Update: The city prohibits landlords from evicting tenants unless the landlord has a reason listed in the law to do so. These proposed policy changes would further strengthen tenant protections and prevent displacement of existing residents, including increasing the relocation assistance amount for all evictions due to no-fault just causes.  

Omnibus Housing Code Update: Batching minor but important amendments to zoning regulations into one Omnibus update better facilitates housing and homeless service uses. This effort implements commitments made in the city’s housing element and adopts lessons learned from the 2023-24 city’s homeless emergency provisions.  

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) Initiative: The city is a leader in ADU production, and this update will facilitate further growth and assure that future ADUs and SB 9 units meet high community standards. This legally mandated update also includes design guidelines that are available to help homeowners design their best possible housing solutions.

Housing Element Mid-Cycle Equity Analysis: This mid-term check in measures the city’s progress on implementing its Housing Element commitments, with a focus on addressing documented fair housing disparities across different areas of the city. The analysis will begin later this year and the results will be presented to the Long Beach City Council, keeping the city on track to meeting its objectives by Fall 2025.  

“Over the years Long Beach has emerged as a leader in new housing production. These policy changes will help the city continue that leadership while assuring that each project benefits the community and serves those in need,” said Christopher Koontz, director of the CDD. “We need to meet the state’s housing goals and most importantly the residents’ needs for housing in Long Beach. Engaging the public in this process is critical to achieving these goals.”

To request more information about these amendments and policy initiatives, email the CDD at CDHousingPolicy@longbeach.gov.