Community News

City Seeks Budget Input

The City of Long Beach is inviting members of the public to participate in the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget development process by sharing their service priorities at one of the upcoming community budget meetings or by completing the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey, available Jan. 2, 2024.

The community budget meetings will be held in person at multiple locations throughout Long Beach, and one in a virtual format, on the following days:

• Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.), Viva Event Center
• Monday, Jan. 22, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. – Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
• Thursday, Jan. 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Cabrillo High School (2001 Santa Fe Ave.), Small Gymnasium
• Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Recreation Park Community Center (4900 E 7th St.)
• Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Zoom Webinar

Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog and American Sign Language will be provided for all meetings. Advanced registration for the virtual meeting is required in order to receive the link to the Zoom meeting.

More information about the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget development process and registration for the virtual meeting is available at longbeach.gov/fy25.

In addition to the meetings, community members may also submit their budget service priorities by completing the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey, available online beginning Tuesday, Jan. 2. The survey link and more information will be provided once the survey is live.

Public input is an important and valued part of the city’s budget preparation process. The community budget meetings and online survey play an integral part in helping the city understand what community members believe the city’s budget priorities should be. Feedback provided at the community meetings and through the survey will be shared with the Long Beach City Council prior to the development of the Proposed FY 25 Budget.

‘Tis Season to Give Blood

When blood products are fully stocked on hospital shelves, patients don’t have to wait for critical care. Giving blood or platelets with the American Red Cross in December can help those in need make more holiday memories with loved ones.

This is a busy time for many. Holiday gatherings, travel and seasonal illnesses can all impact donor availability, making it hard to collect enough blood and platelets. Unfortunately, trauma patients in the emergency room, those undergoing cancer treatment and new parents in need of lifesaving transfusions can’t take a holiday break. Donors are needed every single day. 

Those who come to give blood, platelets or AB Elite plasma Dec. 18, 2023-Jan. 5, 2024, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. To extend a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood, platelets and plasma during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-31, 2024, National Blood Donor Month, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

Making and keeping appointments throughout the month can help safeguard the national blood supply into the new year. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).