Community News

Republican Women

Greater Long Beach Republican Women will hold their monthly meeting on Saturday, Jan. 10, at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St. Registration 9 a.m. followed by a buffet breakfast at 9:30 a.m.

Guest speaker is Susan Shelley, columnist, SoCal News Group, VP of Communications: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and host of the Howard Jarvis Radio Show on 790KABC. Her topic: The California Reset: Could the 2026 Election Change Everything?

Cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members. For a reservation, call Sandy Dubrowskij (562) 310-4283 or email glbrw2024@gmail.com.

State of the City Address

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson will deliver the 2026 State of the City Address at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in the Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. This year’s theme, “A Future Built by All of Us,” will celebrate and honor the people, culture and creativity that define Long Beach.

During the address, Mayor Richardson will highlight progress on key city priorities, including advancements in housing affordability, homelessness prevention, neighborhood safety, infrastructure, city services and more. He will also share continued momentum through the city’s Grow Long Beach initiative, including new jobs, major investments, expanded opportunities for small businesses and local youth and residents, and special announcements in workforce and emerging industries.

The presentation will also look ahead to Long Beach’s role as a global destination for arts, culture and major events, with updates on city planning efforts leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and exciting developments in live entertainment and local sports, cultural programming and community spaces. Reflecting this year’s theme, the program will feature live music, guest performances, local youth and community voices and exclusive previews of upcoming attractions that highlight Long Beach as a vibrant, inclusive and opportunity-rich city.

The State of the City is free and open to the public. Community members are invited to attend in person or watch the livestream on the following city social pages:

• City of Long Beach Facebook and X pages @LongBeachCity and on YouTube @LongBeachCityCA.
• The Office of Mayor Rex Richardson Facebook page @LongBeachMayor.
• Long Beach Television at LBTV3.com.

Those attending in person must RSVP. Food and beverages will be available for purchase before and after the address inside the Terrace Theater Lobby and outside on the plaza. Doors to the theater lobby will open at 4:30 p.m. Free parking for cars will be available in the Convention Center parking lots (400 Seaside Way).

Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog and American Sign Language will be provided for those attending in person. Closed captioning will be provided at the event and on the livestreams.

MLK Parade, Celebration

The City of Long Beach and Office of Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro proudly present the 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration, a family-friendly event honoring the life, legacy and values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 17.

“Each year, we come together to celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his enduring call for justice, service and unity,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This event is an opportunity for people from every part of our city to stand side by side, celebrate our diversity and recommit ourselves to building a stronger, more connected Long Beach.”

The 2026 festivities will begin with the parade kickoff at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street, followed by the park celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1950 Lemon Ave.). The park celebration will include a main stage with live entertainment, a kid zone, food and merchandise vendors, and more.

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration is a longstanding tradition that celebrates the diverse community of Central Long Beach. This festival serves to honor and keep alive the ideals of Dr. King through arts, remembrance and meaningful perspectives.

“The Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration reminds us that we must continue to rise up and stand up for Dr. King’s vision for a just society – one rooted in shared purpose, hope and values,” said Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro. “As we gather in 2026, we will once again honor that vision by celebrating the voices, cultures and partnerships that make Long Beach special. This event is a testament to our commitment to ensuring every resident feels seen, valued and supported.”

Local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community groups interested in participating in the parade may submit a parade application now through Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Participants are encouraged to incorporate appropriate elements that honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, such as quotes, photos, banners or flags.

The city is also seeking friendly, eager and enthusiastic volunteers to support the parade and park celebration. Volunteers must be ages 18 years or older, and responsibilities will include standing at barricades to ensure the safety and enjoyment of parade participants and spectators, staffing the information booth, trash collection and general assistance with event set up and break down. Residents, local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community groups interested in volunteering at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration can find more information and sign up for volunteer shifts via the online registration link.

Additionally, community members are invited to nominate grand marshals for this year’s parade and celebration. The city is seeking people whose work embodies the legacy of Dr. King and those who have made a lasting impact in areas such as civic engagement and service; social justice advocacy; philanthropy; youth recognition; arts, sports and culture; and community achievement.

More information about the parade and celebration will be available at a later date at longbeach.gov/mlkparade/.

2027 City Budget

The City of Long Beach is inviting members of the public to participate in the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) 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.

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:

• Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cal Rec Community Center at Ernest McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
• Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Silverado Park Community Center (1545 W. 31st St.)
• Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Recreation Park Community Center (4900 E. 7th St.)
• Thursday, Jan. 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Webinar)
• Monday, Feb. 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
• Thursday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway)

Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog and American Sign Language will be provided for all meetings. Advanced registration for the Jan. 29 virtual meeting is required in order to receive the link to the Zoom meeting.

In addition to the meetings, community members may also submit their budget service priorities by completing the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey, available online at longbeach.gov/FY27 now through Friday, Feb. 6. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may visit a public computer lab available at any open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey.

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 27 Budget.

More information about the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget development process and registration for the virtual meeting is available at longbeach.gov/FY27.

Compost and Recycling

The City of Long Beach’s Energy and Environmental Services Department will continue to host its seven-week Compost and Recycling Ambassador (CRA) Program for spring 2026. The CRA program, offered at no cost to residents, combines lectures, hands-on experiences and collaboration to teach community members about waste reduction strategies, recycling history, systems and practices. It also provides training on two primary methods of home composting: vermicomposting and backyard composting. In addition, residents will learn about the city’s Organics Collection program, which helps households separate yard trimmings and food scraps that are not suitable for home composting.

The city, with funding from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, is partnering with Puente Latino Association to offer the program in Spanish, supporting the city’s language access goals and expanding outreach to more residents.

The spring 2026 CRA program will be held in-person at the Department of Energy and Environmental Services offices (2929 E. Willow St.) from 9 a.m. to noon on the following dates:

English course: Thursdays, Feb. 19 through March 26. The seventh session, which will also serve as a graduation class, is set for Thursday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Spanish course: Saturdays, Feb. 21 through March 28. The seventh session, which will also serve as a graduation class, is set for Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Community members who complete the program by attending at least six of the seven required in-person classes and completing 25 volunteer hours will be certified as Compost and Recycling Ambassadors. As a CRA, residents will bridge the gap between awareness and action by motivating friends, families, co-workers, peers and community members; demonstrate sustainable behaviors; and enhance the city’s ability to reach more people through a network of passionate community members and educators.

Registration for spring courses opens Monday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. and will close when the class and waitlist are full. Residents ages 18 and older may register for the upcoming sessions at lbcity.info/CRA. All experience levels are welcome. Space is limited, and preregistration is required.

The city will also host CRA sessions this fall, and the schedule will be announced at a later date. Visit lbcity.info/CRA to stay updated.