Petition to Recall Mayor Garcia Approved

On July 7 the Beachcomber reported on the first steps being taken to recall Mayor Robert Garcia by LB Strong, a Long Beach-based activist organization led by Franklin Sims, an activist and social media video commentator who has a JD degree from UC Berkeley Boalt Law School.

At that time LB Strong had gathered the necessary number of qualified signatures to file a notice-of-intent-to-recall petition, serve the mayor and advertise in the print edition of a local newspaper as required by election law.

Today, LB Strong announced that the Long Beach City Clerk has approved the petition to recall the mayor. 

The content of the petition-based allegations made by LB Strong to support the recall and the third-person response to those allegations signed by Mayor Garcia can be read in the July 7 Beachcomber story here:

https://beachcomber.news/content/movement-stirring-recall-mayor

In her letter of approval to LB Strong, City Clerk Monique De La Garza informed Sims: “Pursuant to Elections Code Section 11220 (a) (4) a recall petition shall be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk not later than 160 days from July 22, 2020.”

Upon receipt of the city clerk’s approval to move forward Sims said, “So many of us were so heartbroken at the mayor’s immoral leadership following the murder of George Floyd that today feels like the beginning of hope after weeks of struggle, harassment and disappointment.”

Sims continued, “Week after week our supporters struggled peacefully with the forces at City Hall for permission to exercise our constitutional right against Mayor Garcia. Now that we have the city clerk’s blessing, we will fight to end the curse of injustices our mayor has led.”

The city clerk stated, “The number of signatures required to accept the recall petition approved for circulation is 26,503.

Sims' said, “the first day to sign the petition is Sunday July 26th at 1 p.m. at City Hall, “Where we will be celebrating the birthday of ‘Robby’s Recall’.”

A request for comment from the mayor’s office was not returned prior to publication.

Sims said LB Strong requires “a little over 26,000 signatures but, to be safe, we are shooting for 30,000.

District wide petition drive-up stations are in the process of being established in each council district and can be located at https://www.moveourcity.org/copy-of-support-1

Stephen Downing is a resident of Long Beach and a retired LAPD deputy chief of police.

stephen.beachcomber@gmail.com