Home » District 1 » News » 2025 Year In Review

2025 Year In Review

Release Date: 2025-12-31

Dear neighbor,

Representing District One has been the greatest service of my life, and I thank you for your continued trust in my leadership. As 2025 comes to a close, I want to reflect on our work together. You can view last year’s (2024) End of Year report here.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the difficult times communities are facing, including our immigrant communities impacted by ICE raids and small businesses facing economic uncertainty due to tariff disruptions. During these times, I believe we must always find strength and inspiration in each other.

The future of District One is bright, despite our challenges. The five-, ten-, and even 15-year outlook will completely transform our streets, skyline, and parks, with a growing residential population to support an economic sector that fuels the entire City of Long Beach.

Some areas I would like to highlight of my work in service to you include:

Council Initiatives: Focusing on Housing & Homelessness, Public Safety & Economic Development.
Continuous Advocacy: Investing in Quality of Life for all Residents.
Building Community Bridges: Prioritizing Community Engagement & Responsiveness.

District One would not be the great district it is without you: the residents and stakeholders. Collaboratively building a bright future, we have plans, blueprints, and developments across our district. In the First District, we will continue to move forward, together as one.

Thank you again for entrusting me to represent you; I am deeply honored and humbled. I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2026.

I am wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year.

1. Council Initiatives: Focusing on Housing & Homelessness, Public Safety & Economic Development

My council initiatives continue to address our most pressing needs related to housing & homelessness, public safety and economic development. As one of nine council members, I am thankful to work alongside colleagues who support my agenda items and engage in meaningful dialogue to set city-wide policy.

This year I authored 31 City Council Letters and supported significant legislation including the items highlighted below:

Housing & Homelessness:
Public Safety
- Budget Wins: $1.3M for Ambulance Unit Peak Load Rescue 2 in Downtown and Central/$1.3M for Police Department High-Crime Focus Team/$1.5M for Helicopter Cameras
- Strengthening Public Safety in Business and Entertainment Corridors
- Paramedic Assessment Unit (PAU) Fire Engine Pilot Program
  
  Enhanced Focus on Downtown Long Beach Update
- Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Program
- Downtown Walkable Corners Funding
- New: Crime Dashboard Tool
Economic Development

In addition to successfully working alongside my colleagues to pass legislation, I have also collaborated with community members on various initiatives. This includes my First District Strategic Plan “Together as One.” This report is the culmination of my work drafting a resident-driven report and I invite you to view it here.

Momentum is on our side in District One, and I look forward to continuing tracking, monitoring and reporting out on initiatives I have led on. Additionally, I will continue to oversee and invite stakeholders to participate in the many large scale planning efforts and Capital Improvement Projects.

Interested in staying up to date on our legislative affairs? Here are two ways you can learn more:

This year I implemented a monthly legislative update. This monthly legislative update is a comprehensive update at my work on city council and news items. You can sign up here.
My weekly newsletter includes a “Council Chronicle” section highlighting key items on the week’s city council agenda. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Planning Efforts Capital Improvement Projects

Downtown Advertisement District
Downtown Design District
Downtown Roadmap to Recovery
Downtown & Shoreline Plan Update
Drake-Chavez Connection & Master Plan
Latino Cultural Center & El Mercado
Senior Center and Crime Lab at 125 Elm
Shoemaker Bridge
Shoreline Realignment

2. Continuous Advocacy: Investing in Quality of Life for All Residents

A good quality of life should not be determined by your zip-code. That is why I have continued to lead on important policies and secure investments so all residents have a good quality of life. My budget priorities and wins reflect this mission.FY ‘26 BUDGET:

District One Specific

$50k for Willmore Historic Lighting
$75K for Gumbiner Park
$200k for private security services in Downtown
$500k for El Mercado

Citywide

$30k to fund field trips for older adults via PRM

$81k for EV Bike Lane Sweeper

$100k for STRONG Beach Safety Strategic Policies

$285k for Safe Passages Program

$300k for Drone Program

$324k for Homeless Encampment Clean-Up Services at city parks

$1M for small business rebound initiative

$1.3M for Ambulance Unit Peak Load Rescue 2 in Downtown and Central

$1.3M for Police Department High-Crime Focus Team

$1.5M for Helicopter Cameras

Investments can also be seen in the Elevate ‘28 Plan:

COMPLETED

14th St. Park Improvements
1st-3rd Pacific Avenue Cycle Track
City Place Garage Mural Restoration
City Place Parking Improvements
Convention Center and Entertainment Center Improvements
Drake Park Community Center Improvements
East Village Lighting Upgrades
Long Beach MUST
Project Homekey Improvements
Queen Mary Improvements
Queensway Bay Area Redevelopment Sidewalk and Curb Ramps / ADA

IN-PROGRESS

1st Pedestrian & Blue Line Rail Car
5th, 6th, 7th, St. Decoupling & Traffic Safety Enhancements
Cesar E. Chavez Park Improvements
Downtown Walkable Corners
Pine Avenue Bicycle Blvd
Pump Stations and Storm Drains Improvements
Residential Street Improvements
Senior Center & Crime Lab at 125 Elm
Seaside Way Dog Park Improvements
Shoemaker Bridge
Shoreline Drive
Tidelands Area Parking Garage Improvements

3. Building Community Bridges: Prioritizing Community Engagement & Responsiveness

My philosophy of building community bridges informs the structure of my office, ensuring your District One Team prioritizes engagement and responsiveness.

In 2025, I maintained my office’s robust Field Operations with a full-time Field Deputy, a Community Engagement Deputy, and a flourishing Community Engagement Internship program in partnership with local universities.

My Field Deputy and Community Engagement Interns participate in “Field Fridays” where they travel the district to respond to concerns that you have shared with our office, as well as address issues they observe like dumped items and graffiti. My Field Deputy also undertakes District Drives to proactively monitor and address some of the chronic issues in our District. In 2025, my team was out in the Field 87 days, reporting over 1,400 total cases.

In 2025, I wanted to deeply invest in our neighborhoods and directed my staff to help revitalize many neighborhood organizations that have been inactive. I am proud to report that my office assisted the Northeast Village Neighborhood Association and the North Pine Neighborhood Association to organize in-person community meetings and canvassed to reach new potential association members. Additionally, my Community Engagement Deputy is currently working closely with community leaders to revitalize West Gateway Neighborhood Association.

Finally, this year I launched a new initiative to inform residents of the work I’ve been completing in their neighborhoods. Every month, I choose a recently completed infrastructure project to highlight and send notices to the residents who live in the surrounding area. This allows me to reach even more of my residents, keeping them informed on all the exciting things happening in District One. Some of the projects I have taken on this year include: