He announced that the swimwear brand Speedo will move its North American headquarters from Cypress to Long Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes sense for Long Beach, not just because we\u2019re hosting the Olympics and a number of aquatic events, but because of our aquatic history,\u201d Richardson said, adding the point that four athletes from Long Beach were on the bronze-winning water polo team in the 2024 Paris games.<\/p>\n
Without offering specifics, the Mayor hinted that more companies will be announced during an economic summit in June.<\/p>\n
He welcomed news that L.A.-based chain Marathon Burger, created by Samiel \u201cBlacc Sam\u201d Asghedom (brother of the late musician Nipsey Hussle), will move into the former Johnny Rockets burger shop on Pine Avenue.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-13-26-city-9-755565-tvchtxuz-906828-OHkxSHSo-1024x823.jpg\")
Blacc Sam stands with Cordell Broadus as they announce that Marathon Burger is coming to the city during the State of the City in Long Beach on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n
He also called for $9 million in small business grants and for the creation of what he dubbed the \u201cAnchorLB\u201d initiative, which will incentivize international shippers and firms to relocate their headquarters to downtown Long Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ship through the Port of Long Beach, we want your offices here,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n
Despite what he saw as strong economic gains, Richardson warned of the coming pain of spending cuts in response to lost revenues from oil production and a slowing economy.<\/p>\n
The city faces a $60 million structural shortfall through 2023, meaning it\u2019s expected to face a deficit each consecutive year, including $40 million this year<\/a>. Historically crucial oil revenues are in steady decline, and federal cuts have axed nearly $4 million in health programs in a city where its public health sector is the second-highest employer.<\/p>\n This, combined with an unpredictable flow of money from a federal government that has at times been hostile to Long Beach, has put the city into uncharted budgetary waters recently. Meanwhile, voters\u2019 confidence in local leaders has wavered. A recent poll showed only 36% think Long Beach is on the right track, and there\u2019s rising concern about waste and mismanagement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Richardson framed his push for new industries as a need to adapt, that the city should embrace its tourism industry \u2014 a sector officials say in the past year has outpaced Anaheim and San Diego.<\/p>\n \u201cThe industries that we\u2019ve counted on for a long time are changing,\u201d the mayor said.<\/p>\n Despite looming economic trouble, Richardson offered several crowd-pleasers. During the Olympics, Ireland will host an international team house in Long Beach, the third behind Greece<\/a> and Denmark<\/a> to broker such an agreement.<\/p>\n He highlighted Long Beach\u2019s growing place on the global stage by pointing out delegates from around a dozen countries were in attendance, including those from Belgium, China, Ireland and Denmark.<\/p>\n And he bragged that FIFA will host a World Cup Fan Zone in the city\u2019s downtown when the tournament arrives in the region this summer. Richardson characterized the zone as a \u201clive, two-week activation on Pine Avenue\u201d that will draw thousands of visitors, paid for using a $378,000 grant from Los Angeles Metro.<\/p>\n The Long Beach Baseball Club, an independent league team announced last year, also confirmed its new name will rotate between the \u201cCoast\u201d and \u201cRegulators.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n Teasing the reveal, Richardson perused over a table with three baseball caps\u2014 each with a logo representing a parrot, a regulator and the coast \u2014 and asked the audience which they would pick. A resounding majority cheered for Regulators, while Coast was met with a stunned silence.<\/p>\n Other announcements were moreso updates on old news. The city is set to break ground Wednesday morning on its new, $21 million coastal amphitheater<\/a>, with 25 events already scheduled, starting with an inaugural show on June 6. Richardson noted the venue has already secured $11 million in private sponsorships.<\/p>\n The Belmont Aquatics Center, tabled for months due to rising costs<\/a>, may soon see movement. The City Council next week will decide whether to approve a $105 million spending plan for the long-promised pool. In the agenda item, officials said $76 million can be covered by Tidelands funds, while another $24.5 million may need<\/a> to be paid for using bonds.<\/p>\n Richardson said the city\u2019s journey toward greater prosperity over the last four years mostly ran along a road that he began paving in his first year, with a state of emergency on homelessness.<\/p>\n In years past, Richardson promised the construction of thousands of units of affordable housing, ambitious but vague job programs and major expansions to existing assets like the Queen Mary.<\/p>\n In his eyes, he\u2019s made good on the promises. There are 84% more shelter beds, 5,000 more homes and a speedier hiring of public employees \u2014 within 90 days, they say \u2014 than three years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tent city downtown when we walked into the office,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cThe tents are gone. You don\u2019t see visible tents anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-13-26-city-1-435322-q6eprts6-964563-12unRRtY-1024x546.jpg\")
Anti-ICE protesters disrupt the State of the City and are escorted out in Long Beach on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-13-26-city-94-018525-ymhlisrv-353050-yS21pMbl-1024x817.jpg\")
Mayor Rex Richardson announces a FIFA World Cup Fan Zone in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n