City Refuses to Be Boring

At the 2026 halfway point, events in Long Beach represented tragedy, change, progress or more of the same. Here are some instances.

Business As Unusual

On January 1, Long Beach’s most beloved watering hole and oldest business open to the public, after over 100 years of continuous operation from 1924, Joe Jost’s at 2803 E. Anaheim Street has new ownership. Past employee Jon Sweeney took over the taps from Joe Jost’s grandson Ken Buck, who simply retired. A schooner, a Joe’s Special, pretzels and a pickled egg were included. Plans are also underway to convert the neighboring storefront, best known for selling fishing gear, into a Joe Jost's merchandise shop.

A few blocks to the east, a decision to close the popular Casa Sanchez at 3948 E. Anaheim Street after a November 2025 fire meant yet another Starbucks Coffee location.

On January 6, the Long Beach City Council voted a five-year pact not to exceed $170,000 to VIP Records on Pacific Coast Highway for use of their historic sign, throwing in $235,000 for transport, refurbishment and installation of the sign. No such honors for historic, now-shuttered punk venue, Zed Records, which operated a few miles away.

Traffic Tragedies

On February 21, a southbound 2008 Honda hit the concrete center divider of the Lakewood Avenue tunnel killing the four young occupants. This may be the city's most troubling ongoing story. Long Beach has continued to experience an unusually high number of fatal crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Space Beach vs. Vibe City

On March 13, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson posted “great to see Long Beach’s Space Beach ecosystem continuing to grow. Voyager Technologies has announced a 140,000-square-foot aerospace and defense facility near Long Beach Airport.” The city also unveiled "Vibe City," an ambitious initiative whose purpose remains unclear but whose logo reportedly tested extremely well with consultants.

On March 16, patrons and visitors noticed a fence erected at the Billie Jean King Main Library to prevent homeless from using the front door patio as a bedroom. The resulting dispute was characterized as "the most passionate public discussion about fencing since medieval Europe."

Grand Prix Passing

On March 21, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO and one of the founding staff members of the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Jim Michaelian, died at age 83.

On April 17 through 19, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach attracted roughly 170,000 spectators, remaining Long Beach's biggest annual event and one of the world's premier street races, with only one lead change during the main event.

Easter Eggs Etc.

On April 5, as youngsters searched for hidden DeForest Park Easter eggsthey found a partially buried human skull instead. Opinion was that the skull might have belonged to a very young person.

Fireworks vs. Drones

On April 15, Big Bang on the Bay, the July 3 fireworks show over Alamitos Bay was voted down by the California Coastal Commission, which suggested a drone show. That approach was shot down by pro-fireworks organizer John Morris.

Pride Fair Canceled

On May 16 and 17, the Pride Month Festival was canceled amid disputes over permits and organization with the city.

Elections and Invasions

In the June 2 statewide primary election, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson won a second term with 57.4 percent of the vote and 42^nd Congressional District incumbent Robert Garcia won the primary with 73.63 percent of the vote. As ranking member of the Oversight Committee, Garcia has made frequent appearances, mainly on MS Now, criticizing the Trump administration over the Epstein investigation, attempts to influence upcoming elections and investigated unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).

On June 4-5, U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment invaded the abandoned grounds of the Golden Sails Hotel with low-flying helicopters, flashbangs and rooftop insertions between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. As the operation caused significant distress and a flood of calls from nearby residents, the Long Beach mayor and city manager sent a letter to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command demanding better communication and advance notice for any future liberation of the city.

Vibe City Fun and Games

On June 6. the long-awaited F&M Bank Amphitheater opened with hometown legend Snoop Dogg receiving the Key to the City. Described by the L.A. Times as “a few bleachers, a stage and a lot of fencing,” two tickets for an upcoming hip-hop concert ranged from $99 to $1,855, with a pair of front row tickets at $6,257. Unknown if parking included.

On June 9, the Long Beach City Council approved a three-year extension of its agreement with Visit Long Beach (dba Meet Long Beach) at $4,608,676 to market Long Beach for conventions, tourism, entertainment, sports, and small-business promotion and decorating the Long Beach Arena with “Vibe City” in big letters.

On July 1, Spain’s World Cup team, headquartered at the Westin Long Beach at 333 E. Ocean Blvd, was kept under wraps though they arrived in a bus emblazoned with “Spain” on its side. Much closer than the Tijuana quarters for Iran, Spain remained at the Westin during its matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as it defeated Austria, Belgium, Portugal prior to moving on to Dallas to defeat France to qualify for the finals against Argentina.