Bits 'n' Pieces

Port Cargo Volumes Steady Through October

The Port of Long Beach is moving cargo ahead of the record-setting pace achieved last year, largely because retailers ordered shipments early and stocked warehouses before tariffs and reciprocal tariffs were implemented in spring.

In a virtual news conference held Friday, Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero and Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba noted that although shifting trade policies have brought uncertainty to consumers and the supply chain, cargo continues to move smoothly at the nation’s second-busiest port.

Looking ahead to the holiday shopping season, Cordero said a robust Black Friday is anticipated, but consumers will likely be cautious with purchases due to rising prices.

“The consumer has not seen significant tariff impacts given that manufacturers, retailers and others have shared in incurring some of these costs and mitigating price escalation to the consumer, but that may change as we approach 2026,” Cordero said during the news conference. “Consumers will likely see price escalation in the coming months as shippers continue to pass along the cost of tariffs on goods and a higher percentage of these costs will be passed on to the consumer.”

“Even in the midst of the nation’s longest government shutdown, cargo continues to move smoothly through our port and across the nation’s supply chain,” Hacegaba said. “We continue to coordinate closely with all of our partners to anticipate and mitigate issues before they arise to keep cargo and our economy moving.”

“Our dedicated workforce and terminal operators are working hard to ensure store shelves are stocked and shoppers are able to purchase gifts for the holidays,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “We plan to continue delivering extraordinary customer service and building for a sustainable future into the new year.”

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 839,671 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo containers last month, down 14.9% from October 2024, which remains as the Port’s strongest month in its 114-year history. Imports declined 17.6% to 401,915 TEUs and exports decreased 11.5% to 99,817 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port were down 12.6% to 337,940 TEUs.

The Port has moved 8,229,916 TEUs through the first 10 months of 2025, up 4.1% from the same period last year.

For complete cargo numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

SMMC Emphasizes Life-Saving Lung Screenings

As November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center (SMMC) is urging its community to prioritize lung health through proactive steps and early detection. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. SMMC is empowering our neighbors with vital information and access to advanced, hospital-based care.

Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. In California, an estimated 16,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2024 (American Cancer Society – ACS). Often diagnosed at advanced stages, early detection through effective screening is critically important for improving outcomes.

“Lung Cancer Awareness Month is a crucial time to spotlight this devastating disease and emphasize the life-saving power of early detection,” said Shyam Rao, M.D., pulmonologist at SMMC. “While smoking is the primary risk factor, it’s essential to remember that anyone can get lung cancer. We are committed to educating the public about all risks and ensuring our community has access to advanced screening and treatment options.”

SMMC provides personalized lung cancer services in Long Beach, integrating specialty care with a deep commitment to humankindness and clinical excellence, including state-of-the-art low-dose CT (LDCT) scans for eligible high-risk individuals to detect abnormalities early, advanced imaging and biopsy techniques that lead to accurate, timely diagnoses and multidisciplinary teams with oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists and surgeons.

Californians can take proactive steps toward a healthier life, such as understanding your risk by discussing your personal and family history with your primary care physician, considering screening, especially if you meet criteria for high-risk screening, and recognizing symptoms like a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

“Early detection dramatically improves outcomes for lung cancer patients,” emphasized Dr. Rao. “We urge everyone between ages 50-80 who have risk factors to be proactive with their lung health, engage in conversations with their doctor, and take advantage of the community education and hospital-based resources SMMC offers.”

Visit dignityhealth.org/socal/cancer to learn more about lung cancer, screening and treatments.

Credit Union Celebrates 90th Anniversary

LBS Financial Credit Union celebrated its 90th anniversary of serving members in the greater Long Beach area on Sept. 13.

Founded in 1935 by employees of Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach City College, the credit union has expanded over the years to serve not only local school staff from various districts and colleges but also employees from select local businesses and cities and counties where members live or work. Starting with just 28 members, the credit union has now grown to over 140,000 members in the local community.

The credit union celebrated this year’s milestone with a combination of branch celebrations, an employee picnic celebration and community giveback efforts within the month of September.

All seven branches organized a celebration for their members, complete with refreshments, giveaways and a drawing. The first 50 members to arrive at each branch received a limited-edition cooler featuring our 90th anniversary logo.

Additionally, all members who visited the credit union’s branches from Monday, September 8th to Friday, Sept. 12 had the chance to enter a $90 drawing. Ten winners were awarded from each branch, and 10 members were randomly selected from all those who logged into Online or Mobile during this week-long celebration to also win $90.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, LBS Financial Credit Union hosted a company-wide picnic at El Dorado Park in Long Beach to express gratitude to its employees, board of directors and supervisory committee for their contributions to the organization’s success over the past 90 years. Families were welcome to join in the celebration, which featured catered BBQ food, music and various games and activities suited for both children and adults.

To kick-off the school year, the credit union donated a total of $90,000 to nine foundations and non-profit organizations focused on education and educational programs that were instrumental to the credit union’s growth over the years. Those groups included the Long Beach Education Foundation, ABC Education Foundation, Cerritos College Foundation, Long Beach City College Foundation, CSULB 49er Foundation, Bellflower USD Foundation, Assistance League of Long Beach, Operation School Bell, Young Horizons and Child Lane (formerly Comprehensive Child Development).

“LBS Financial takes enormous pride in serving the local area for the past 90 years,” said LBS Financial President and CEO, Sean Hardeman. “Our collective effort of putting members first, building trust and creating meaningful connections is what sets us apart and has sustained us through the years.”

PUC Welcomes Austin

On Oct. 16, former Long Beach City Council Member Al Austin II joined the Long Beach Board of Public Utilities Commissioners succeeding former Utilities Commissioner Naomi Rainey.

“We enthusiastically welcome Al Austin to join us as Commissioner,” said Board President Kevin Scott. “Mr. Austin brings decades of public and private sector leadership experience as well as a strong commitment to our community. We look forward to having his perspective on the board.”

As established by the Long Beach City Charter, the five-member Board of Public Utilities Commissioners provides regulatory direction and financial oversight for the city’s sourcing, procuring and maintenance of water, sewer and natural gas services.

Austin’s career spans both public and private sectors. He began his professional journey as an aerospace worker at McDonnell Douglas (now known as Boeing), served as a district field representative for former State Senator Kevin Murray, lead as campaign director for Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, worked in various leadership roles for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) with most recently serving as the political and legislative director of AFSCME Council 57. Mr. Austin represented the 8th Council District on the Long Beach City Council from 2012 to 2024.

Austin has also held leadership roles on several regional and statewide bodies, including the board of directors for the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the League of California Cities. Austin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. Austin was appointed to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners by Mayor Rex Richardson on Sept. 2 and confirmed by the Long Beach City Council on Sept. 16.

His appointment signals a continued commitment to experienced, community-driven leadership on the board. Commissioner Austin succeeds Commissioner Rainey, who was first appointed to the Board of Water Commissioners by former Mayor Robert Garcia on Oct. 19, 2020. Austin’s first day on the board was Oct. 16.

Board of Utilities Commission meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of every month at the Long Beach Utilities Administration Building, 1800 E. Wardlow Road. Commission meetings begin at 9 a.m. and agenda items can be found online LBUtilities.org.

Reserve Moving Trucks at Islands Beauty Supply

U-Haul Co. of California announced that Islands Beauty Supply signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Long Beach community. Located at 1735 E. Anaheim St., Islands will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks and moving supplies.

Normal business hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday-Monday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling (562) 999-3947 or visiting https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-Long-Beach-CA-90813/0... today.

Islands Beauty Supply owner Micah Kirton is proud to team with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Los Angeles County.

U-Haul has teamed with independent dealers to offer rental equipment to do-it-yourself movers since 1945. During these challenging times for small businesses, more than 21,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are generating supplemental income through their U-Haul affiliation. When customers rent from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community.

Because no financial investment is required to be a dealer, these local affiliates are not U-Haul franchises. They are simply small businesses that have committed a portion of their lot space for U-Haul equipment, and a portion of their time to help meet the mobility needs of their neighbors.

Learn more about the dealer program and how to join by visiting uhaul.com/dealer.