Bits 'n' Pieces

9-1-1 Enhancements

On Aug. 10, the Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications launched a pilot program designed to enhance communications with 9-1-1 callers. This year-long program will provide call confirmation and, when necessary, 9-1-1 Call Update notifications to residents requesting public safety assistance.

These customer service enhancements are intended to improve transparency, keep callers updated on the status of their 9-1-1 call, and proactively provide call information via text. The improvements will preserve critical time for dispatchers to focus on high-priority calls and active emergencies by eliminating the need for callers to make repeat calls.

Callers to 9-1-1 will now receive call confirmation notifications via text message for calls such as noise complaints, parking violations, or requests for a police report. This excludes critical, life-threatening emergency calls, or “Priority 1” calls, which require an immediate public safety response to an imminent threat. Call confirmation notifications will provide assurance to 9-1-1 callers that their request for service was received, reducing concern and uncertainty during stressful situations.

Example of a Call Confirmation text message:

“This is the Long Beach 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center. We are confirming receipt of your call for service at (address). Public Safety personnel will be dispatched as soon as possible. Please call back if the situation changes and reference the incident number (Incident Number).

If the city is experiencing a high call volume or an incident that requires significant resources, public safety personnel may be delayed in responding to calls related to non-life-threatening incidents. In this case, a 9-1-1 call update notification will be proactively sent to inform callers that their request remains active and that public safety personnel are working to send assistance as soon as possible.

Example Message

“This is the Long Beach 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center. We are aware that you are waiting for assistance from public safety personnel, and we are working to dispatch emergency personnel as soon as possible. Please call us back if the situation has changed and reference the incident number (Incident Number).”

These automated customer service enhancements leverage advanced technology and do not require any additional work by dispatchers. These enhancements are available only to cellular callers, who account for approximately 90% of all calls made to the 9-1-1 Communications Center. This yearlong pilot program will be closely monitored and evaluated to determine whether it will become a permanent enhancement. Feedback received from callers and staff will be used to assess effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

LBCC Hall of Fame

Long Beach City College hosted its 54th Annual Hall of Fame Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 10, at The Grand in Long Beach.

The celebration honored five LBCC alumni for their professional achievements and service:

• Lance Kenyon, president of MHP Structural Engineers and an active member of the Rotary Club of Long Beach
• Dr. Regina Cash, a longtime educational leader at Long Beach Unified School District, California State University Los Angeles, Cal Poly Pomona, a commissioner for the City of Long Beach, and community advocate
• Paul Dunning, a Long Beach lifeguard and founder of Project Ecuador whose international training programs have advanced drowning prevention in Ecuador and Cambodia
• Stacy Mungo Flanigan, a civic leader, former Long Beach city councilwoman and executive director of the Los Angeles County Fire Foundation
• Dr. Anthony Culpepper, president of Los Angeles Southwest College and a higher education leader with more than three decades of experience.

LBCC Foundation Board of Governors President Dr. Elizabeth Riley and Foundation CEO Paul Kaminski also presented the 2026 Distinguished Service Awards:

Pools of Hope received the Distinguished Service Award for a community organization in recognition of its partnership with the LBCC Summer Camp, which recently completed its fifth year. The program brings 180 children from underserved communities to LBCC for free swim lessons, STEM education, summer activities and an introduction to the Long Beach College Promise.

Retired Long Beach Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Rick DuRee received the Distinguished Service Award for an individual. DuRee served the Long Beach Fire Department for more than 30 years, taught Fire Science at LBCC and remains active with several community organizations.

Angela Fowlkes received the Distinguished Service Award for a Campus Friend. She created LBCC’s SAGE Scholars Program and serves as the college’s black student success coordinator, advancing student achievement and excellence.

The second annual Blaine Edward Mansfield Student Service Award was presented to Elijah Ezekiel Strong, the LBCC student who accumulated the most service hours during his time at the college. Strong credits LBCC with opening doors for his future and providing a supportive community filled with lasting friendships and meaningful connections.

The evening celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of the honorees while highlighting the strong sense of community and pride shared throughout Long Beach and LBCC.

Laboratory Tests Lead

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Public Health Laboratory is now offering accredited environmental lead testing services to provide residents, businesses and organizations with a new resource to identify lead hazards in the environment. The Long Beach Public Health Laboratory is the only local public health laboratory in California currently offering environmental lead testing. The laboratory received accreditation earlier this year for environmental lead analysis.

The laboratory can analyze four types of environmental samples:

• Air filters: Evaluate airborne lead generated during renovation, demolition, lead abatement or industrial activities.
• Dust wipes: Identify lead-containing dust on floors, windowsills, window troughs and countertops.
• Paint chips: Determine whether painted surfaces contain lead during hazard assessments, renovations and inspections.
• Soil: Identify lead contamination in residential, commercial and public areas, including playgrounds and gardens.

Environmental lead testing can help identify hazards in homes, workplaces, schools, childcare facilities and other community settings. Lead exposure can have serious health effects, particularly for young children and pregnant people, making timely and reliable testing an important tool for preventing exposure.

Testing services are available to residents, businesses, contractors, government agencies, property owners and environmental professionals throughout the region. Sample submission requirements, testing fees, collection instructions and turnaround times are available from the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory. The cost of testing is $18 per sample for governmental agencies and $30 per sample for private submitters.

“Accurate lead testing is essential to protecting public health, especially for children and families who may be exposed to hidden environmental hazards,” said Alison King, director of Health and Human Services. “This accredited service expands our ability to identify environmental lead hazards and support efforts to create safer, healthier environments across Long Beach and the surrounding region.”

The new testing service complements the DHHS’s broader lead prevention and response efforts. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) provides services to eligible families of children with lead poisoning, including case management and in-home environmental assessments that may include collecting samples for laboratory testing.

The Bureau of Environmental Health’s Lead-Based Paint Program works to prevent childhood lead poisoning through education, investigation and enforcement. The city also administers a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded Lead Hazard Reduction Program that addresses lead-based paint hazards in qualifying pre-1978 affordable housing in targeted high-risk areas of Long Beach.

Residents and organizations interested in Environmental Lead Testing Services, including information about sample submission requirements, testing fees, collection instructions and turnaround times, may contact the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory at (562) 570-4080 or PHL-Inquiries@longbeach.gov. Additional information is available at longbeach.gov/labservices.

Information about the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is available by calling (562) 570-4564 or emailing HE-CLPPP@longbeach.gov. For information about the Environmental Health Lead Hazard Program, call (562) 570-4488.

Airline Service to Seattle

Long Beach Airport (LGB) now offers twice-daily nonstop flight service to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Alaska Airlines, giving travelers even more convenient options for connecting along the West Coast.

The route further strengthens LGB’s growing network, which currently offers service to 21 nonstop destinations and nearly 400 one-stop connections around the world.

Alaska Airlines’ twice-daily service between Long Beach Airport and the Pacific Northwest began Sept. 8 and is scheduled as follows, with tickets available now at lgb.org:

• LGB to SEA: Departs at 7:02 a.m. and arrives at 9:45 a.m.
• LGB to SEA: Departs at 3:34 p.m. and arrives at 6:17 p.m.
• SEA to LGB: Departs at 11:20 a.m. and arrives at 2:10 p.m.
• SEA to LGB: Departs at 6:13 p.m. and arrives at 8:59 p.m.

To mark the first day of service on Sept. 8, passengers on the outbound and inbound flights enjoyed surprise gate celebrations, including a live DJ, a commemorative cake and LGB-themed giveaways.

“We’re excited to see Alaska Airlines expand its service at Long Beach Airport,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “Alaska’s Seattle service builds on our partnership while giving our passengers another convenient destination to explore.”

During the airport’s most recent flight slot allocation process, Alaska Airlines requested two available flight slots, reflecting the airline’s renewed interest in the Long Beach market. Its addition to LGB’s schedule expands travel options for Long Beach area passengers and marks an exciting new chapter for the airline at the Airport.

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines became part of the same airline group in September 2024, when Alaska Air Group, Inc. completed its integration with Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. The two airlines continue to operate under their distinct brands while combining their networks and coming together under a single Atmos Rewards loyalty program to offer travelers more options.

Hawaiian Airlines has a long history at LGB, beginning with nonstop service to Honolulu in 2018 and Maui in 2021. In 2022, Hawaiian further strengthened its commitment to LGB by opening an Airbus 321neo line maintenance base at the airport, creating local jobs and expanding its operations.

Today, Hawaiian Airlines remains an important part of LGB’s service to Hawaii, while the Alaska Airlines network adds new connectivity for Long Beach area travelers.

Safe & Secure Program

The City of Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO) has launched its Safe & Secure Long Beach Grant Program, a new grant initiative designed to help local businesses improve storefront safety through proactive security upgrades.

The program will provide financial assistance for small businesses to install security cameras, floodlighting, alarm systems and other eligible security improvements designed to improve visibility and help protect employees, customers and storefronts. Eligible improvements may also include security fencing on a case-by-case basis, subject to compliance with applicable City codes and permitting requirements.

Businesses with a storefront of up to 1,500 square feet may receive grants of up to $750 for the purchase and installation of essential security upgrades, including cameras, floodlighting, alarm systems and other eligible security improvements.

Applications can be completed online and will be accepted until funds are exhausted. Funding will be provided as a reimbursement after eligible security improvements are installed. Eligible applicants must operate a publicly accessible storefront within Long Beach and hold an active business license with the city. More information about eligibility requirements is available at longbeach.gov/safesecurebiz.

“Local businesses fuel Long Beach’s economy and contribute to the emerging and thriving neighborhood marketplaces throughout our city,” said EDO Director Bo Martinez. “Through the Safe & Secure Program, we will help business owners make proactive strategic investments in safety and security that support business growth, strengthen our commercial corridors and support more vibrant business districts throughout Long Beach.”

The program is funded through a $350,000 allocation from the city’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) as part of the City Council-approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget, along with an additional $50,000 contribution from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, bringing the total program funding to $400,000.

“Our local small businesses are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods, and when business owners feel unsafe, the whole community feels it,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Sometimes better lighting, security cameras or an alarm system can make a real difference. The program is part of the city’s broader effort to support small business resilience and promote safe, vibrant neighborhood business districts.

For assistance and resources for small businesses, those interested can visit longbeach.gov/bizcare, call the city’s BizCare Hotline at (562) 570-4BIZ (4249) or email BizCare@longbeach.gov.

Port’s ‘Best August’

Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba announced the port’s busiest August on record and the fifth-strongest month in the port’s 115-year history. The port moved 919,992 twenty-foot equivalent units last month, up 2% from August 2025.

Imports rose 3.6% to 456,100 TEUs, exports were up 4% to 99,754 TEUs and empty containers dipped 0.39% to 364,138 TEUs. Year-to-date, the Port of Long Beach has moved 6,678,078 TEUs through the first eight months of 2026, up 1.3% compared to the same period last year.

“Our August numbers tell us that shippers continue to adapt to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty and are confident in the Port of Long Beach’s ability to deliver,” Hacegaba said. “The numbers also show that the port is a safe and secure harbor that customers can count on.”

VA Homeless Grants

The Department of Veterans Affairs Monday awarded $209,661,499 in grants to 66 community organizations to help veterans in FY 2027 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in California.

This funding is part of a record-high $1.17 billion in grants awarded to 680 organizations across the country to fight veteran homelessness. The grants follow VA’s success in housing 51,936 homeless veterans in Fiscal Year 2025, the highest number in seven years.

Resource and supportive services grants will be distributed through the agency’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to:

• Prevent the imminent loss of a home.
• Identify new, more suitable housing situations for veterans and families.
• Rapidly re-house veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without assistance.
• Funds for transitional housing and intensive supportive services will be distributed through the agency’s Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program to:
• Fund transitional housing with supportive services or service centers.
• Support transition-in-place housing, where Veterans remain in their current housing unit while receiving services to help them move toward permanent, stable housing.
• Provide special housing designed to better serve women Veterans and those who are chronically mentally ill, frail, or elderly.