Bits 'n' Pieces

Terminal Expansion Gets Underway at Port

International Transportation Service has broken ground on a terminal expansion project at the Port of Long Beach, aimed at developing more space to stack cargo containers and maximizing efficiency.

By filling an unneeded slip in the middle of the Pier G terminal, the $365 million project will create 19 acres of new land. ITS will also build a single, continuous wharf measuring 3,400 feet, allowing it to simultaneously host two of the industry’s largest cargo ships.

“ITS’ commitment to further greening its operations, increasing capacity and strengthening its ties to the Port of Long Beach is even stronger than it was nearly 20 years ago, when it became our first to sign a green lease,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “By ‘building more America now,’ ITS is also building more land for the Port of Long Beach while expanding capacity and driving efficiency on its terminal.”

“This project strengthens America’s supply chain by investing in infrastructure the right way – using local labor and U.S.-made materials,” said ITS Long Beach CEO Kim Holtermand. “We’re not just preparing for the future – we’re building it here, at home. This project positions ITS and the Port of Long Beach to meet global shipping demands while keeping the economic and environmental benefits right here in the U.S.”

Located in the outer harbor, the ITS terminal is nearly divided in half by the south slip, which will be filled with about 2.5 million cubic yards of reused sediment from within the Harbor District in addition to sediments dredged from Newport Harbor at Newport Beach. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Federal Funding Updates and Local Impacts

Recent Executive Orders and policy shifts under the current presidential administration suggest that federal funding for cities across the country will continue to be reduced.

From the federal level, certain funding streams for cities have already been reduced or eliminated, with the possibility of more as time goes by. While the full scope of the impacts locally is not yet known, the city continues to closely monitor the situation as it has done since the start of 2025.

Federal funding plays a critical role in helping the city deliver services and initiatives that benefit the Long Beach community, residents and businesses alike. These dollars often come in the form of grants and special allocations and help pay for a variety of initiatives that support local public safety, public health and youth services and programs, as well as affordable housing programs, infrastructure projects and more. Many of these efforts provided by the city would not be possible without federal funding.

As federal grant programs are reduced or eliminated, the city will need to carefully review each affected program and determine how to continue, or in some cases discontinue, programs. The city’s General Fund cannot absorb all costs associated with these federal grants, especially if cuts are widespread.

Therefore, the city will assess the availability of other funding sources, align with city priorities and determine whether a program can continue. The city continues to communicate with state and federal partners to stay informed, support the community and employees, and advocate against harmful cuts.

“We understand federal funding cuts are concerning for many members of our community as well as some of our dedicated community-serving employees who are funded through federal grants. These cuts have real implications on the lives of real people, especially our residents who are most vulnerable,” said City Manager Tom Modica.

“We are exploring other options in an effort to keep any potentially impacted programs so that we can continue to provide these critical resources for our community. Unfortunately, the reality is that we are facing some tough decisions ahead. We will continue to advocate for these vital funds and will keep our community informed as frequently as we can.”

To keep the community informed on these updates, the city has launched a dedicated webpage with critical information and resources, available at longbeach.gov/fedfundingupdates. The webpage includes an overview of what is happening at the federal administration level, information related to federal funding cuts and their potential impacts locally, as well as information on what the city is doing and what the community can do to help.

Federal funding is a complex topic. To help the community better understand what is happening and how they may be impacted, the webpage also includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

The Federal Funding Updates webpage will be updated regularly with new information as the situation evolves. Residents are also encouraged to stay informed by following the city on social media @LongBeachCity and signing up for the Go Long Beach Newsletter.

School Offers Free Tuition

In a step toward reconciliation and restorative justice, Maple Village Waldorf School announced today the launch of a tuition-free enrollment program for Native American, First Nations and Alaska Native students.

This bold initiative, inspired by the call to action issued by the Lakota Waldorf School and supported by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), aims to address the historic and ongoing barriers Indigenous families face in accessing independent education. Maple Village Waldorf School becomes one of a small but growing number of Waldorf schools in North America to take such a direct, tangible step.

“While land acknowledgements are important, we also need to show action,” said Lisa McCarthy, head of school at Maple Village. “It is time to walk the walk.”

The new policy waives full tuition for eligible Indigenous students, while maintaining the school’s standard admissions process to ensure that Waldorf education is a good fit. Eligibility is open to students with a tribal ID from any federally or state-recognized tribe, and the school also welcomes oral histories verified by tribal elders or community leaders for families from non-recognized nations.

“We have been working on this program for a while, after the Lakota Waldorf School put out the plea and a few other Waldorf Schools in North America paved the way,” McCarthy continued. “While we focus on DEIJ and have been adapting our curriculum to be culturally relevant for years, we also need to increase inclusivity by making it possible for Native American students to access our education.”

Maple Village Waldorf School, founded in 2007, is known for its holistic, arts-integrated approach to education, rooted in respect for the developmental stages of childhood and a deep connection to nature and community. Located in Long Beach, the school acknowledges it operates on the ancestral land of the Gabrielino-Tongva people.

As part of its deepening commitment to Indigenous partnership and cultural recognition, Maple Village has also received approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Long Beach Planning Department and is working with the Tongva nation to begin painting a mural along the school entitled “Plantcestors & Celestial Guardians.” The mural will tell the Tongva story of the Seven Sisters / Pleiades constellation rising into the skies as protectors and portray the ancestor plants who are the foundation of the land the school inhabits.

The school is actively seeking community partnerships, donor support and grant funding to sustain and expand this initiative. Interested families and supporters are encouraged to visit www.maplevillageschool.org or contact the school for more information.

Quality Drinking Water

The Long Beach Utilities Department (LBUD) reports that local tap water continues to meet all drinking water standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

“Every year, the Long Beach Board of Utilities Commissioners is proud to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring our community has access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water,” says President Gina Rushing Maguire, Board of Utilities Commissioners. “This report transparently demonstrates the ongoing effort our city makes to ensure this precious resource is not taken for granted.”

Released on July 1, the LBUD Consumer Confidence Report provides information and data on Long Beach drinking water sources, treatment methods and results from drinking water tests performed from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 1, 2024; the Safe Drinking Water Act requires all public water systems to publish Consumer Confidence Reports annually. The report highlights LBUD’s data from over 60,000 drinking water tests to demonstrate to its customers that Long Beach drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state water quality regulations.

“As the department continues preparing for a climate-resilient future, this report shows in detail, the intensive water treatment activities we conduct annually to ensure we’re delivering safe, clean and reliable drinking water to the Long Beach community. We value the community’s trust and invest heavily into our drinking water system to maintain it,” says Anatole Falagán, general manager of the LBUD.

In 2024, 60 percent of Long Beach’s potable water needs were met by local groundwater supplies. The remaining 40 percent was met by purchased imported surface water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).

Long Beach’s groundwater is sourced from the Central Basin groundwater aquifer and treated to state and federal drinking water standards at the Long Beach Groundwater Treatment Plant. After the groundwater is treated to state and federal standards, it is mixed with imported water and distributed to 90,000 water homes and businesses throughout the city. The treatment plant operates 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

A team of accredited staff monitors and treats 32 million gallons of locally pumped groundwater each day. The treatment plant hosts four California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation laboratories as a Certified Water Quality Laboratory; each is dedicated to testing water quality throughout the year.

To learn more about the 2024 drinking water quality results, the 2024 CCR is now online and available in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at LBUtilities.org/waterquality. Customers that would prefer to receive a hard copy of the CCR report, may contact the LBUD laboratory services manager at (562) 570-2479.

Port Cargo Slows in June

Cargo moving through the Port of Long Beach slowed in June, but a pause on tariffs could drive a rebound for trade in July.

Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 704,403 twenty-foot equivalent units in June, down 16.4% from the same month last year. Imports declined 16.9% to 348,681 TEUs and exports dropped 10.9% to 87,627 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port decreased 17.4% to 268,095 TEUs.

“We’re anticipating a cargo surge in July as retailers stock up on goods ordered during the 90-day pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “The Port of Long Beach is prepared to handle the influx by tracking trade moving through the harbor with the Supply Chain Information Highway, our digital solution to maximize visibility and efficiency in cargo movement.”

“No matter the economic situation, our facilities, dockworkers and marine terminal operators continue to make this the premier gateway for trans-Pacific goods movement,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “Over the long term, we’re investing in infrastructure projects to keep cargo moving efficiently and sustainably to preserve our status as the Port of Choice.”

The port has moved 4,746,631 TEUs through the first half of 2025, up 10.6% from the same period in 2024.

For complete numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

Aid for Immigrant Families

Mayor Rex Richardson, joined by local leaders, labor advocates and community partners, has announced a united effort to protect immigrant families through the launch of the Long Beach Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Fund. The initiative will provide critical resources to residents impacted by immigration enforcement actions and rising fear within local communities.

“Right now, many of our neighbors are living in fear – afraid to leave their homes or take their children to school,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We will not stand by while families suffer. I am asking every resident and business in Long Beach to step up: check on your neighbors, speak out against fear and donate to the Long Beach Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Fund to help provide legal aid, emergency relief and safety for immigrant families. Together, we can show that Long Beach stands united.”

The announcement followed a closed session of the Long Beach City Council, where city leaders decided to join an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration led by the American Civil Liberties Union and supported by the State of California. The City Council also explored supporting proposed state and federal legislation to safeguard immigrant communities.

As part of this initiative, Mayor Richardson and partners are calling on the community to join in supporting immigrant families through the Long Beach Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Fund, established in partnership with the California Community Foundation (CCF). The fund will help provide legal assistance, emergency support and resources for families in need.

“At the California Community Foundation, we believe that strong communities are built on compassion and unity. The Long Beach Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Fund answers a critical need, ensuring immigrant families in Long Beach have the support they deserve in times of uncertainty,” said Monae Dale, community investment and engagement officer. “We are proud to stand with Mayor Richardson in this effort and invite everyone – neighbors, businesses and partners – to join us in protecting the dignity and safety of all families who call this city home.”

The California Community Foundation announced a $100,000 lead contribution to the fund, underscoring the importance of collaboration in this moment of crisis.

Residents and businesses can donate to the Long Beach Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Fund by visiting pledge.to/lbneighbors or texting LBNEIGHBORS to 707070.

PRM Director Retires

The City of Long Beach announced the retirement of its Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Brent Dennis, who has served as director since July 2020. Dennis holds a 47-year career in public service, beginning as an entry-level landscape architect, followed by several decades-long leadership roles in parks and recreation and community services spanning multiple cities and states.

As Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), Dennis oversaw activities related to community recreation programs and services citywide, including more than 2,800 recreational and educational classes offered annually, as well as operations for Long Beach Animal Care Services supporting Long Beach and communities of Los Alamitos, Cerritos and Signal Hill.

His team is responsible for the upkeep of 166 parks, 26 community centers, two historic sites (Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos), two major tennis centers, one of the busiest municipal golf systems in the country with five courses, and the largest municipally operated marina system in the nation and six miles of beaches.

During his tenure, Dennis championed park beautification and the importance of a healthy urban forest, encouraged positive activation of parks, and brought genuine collaborations throughout the community. He oversaw several impactful PRM initiatives, including new vision plans for Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Scherer Park, a citywide pickleball master plan, and feasibility studies for skateparks and a North Long Beach pool.

Under his leadership, PRM also introduced the Park Ambassador Program and the creative and sustainable approach to illuminating the popular holiday trees in Alamitos Bay with solar-powered LED lighting.

Dennis’ last day in active service as Director is Aug. 8, 2025, with his formal retirement on Sept. 7. Stephen Scott, deputy director, will serve as acting director while the city conducts a national recruitment to permanently fill the position, which is anticipated to be concluded before the end of the year.