City news and meetings<\/p>\n
One year after a vacancy crisis prompted a voter referendum to dramatically overhaul the city\u2019s hiring process<\/a>, things are moving in the right direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last week, City Manager Tom Modica reported that as of late March, the city\u2019s vacancy rate had fallen from 22% to 16.4% \u2014 the difference of about 368 new workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a stark contrast to just a few years ago, when nearly a quarter of city jobs were empty and new hires took an average of seven months to process (some took as long as two years). The labor shortage left departments hamstrung in their ability to provide services.\u00a0<\/p>\n That meant fewer workers to collect trash \u2014 or compost \u2014 drive street sweepers, inspect businesses or respond to illegal dumping. The city has struggled for years with staffing shortages in law enforcement<\/a>, ambulance operators and traffic engineers<\/a>, among other roles.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city drafted \u2014 and voters approved \u2014 a November 2024 ballot measure that merged two agencies tasked with hiring and prioritizing candidates. The goal was to streamline the process and hire an average worker in 90 business days. As of March, Modica says the average time to hire is 90.29 business days.\u00a0<\/p>\n In an email to city staff recently, Modica hailed the achievement, saying it was a \u201ccritical priority for me as your City Manager, to help get vacant positions filled, provide promotional opportunities to City staff, and bring top talent to Long Beach to provide services to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet there\u2019s a new threat looming before the city is even close to fully staffed: an estimated $61 million budget shortfall<\/a> that Modica has said will almost certainly necessitate cuts.<\/p>\n And with substantially less money saved from positions staying empty, City Council members and staff will be forced to make tough choices this summer, including whether to once again pump the brakes on new hires.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can read more about the city\u2019s hiring gains in this memo<\/a>. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what else you should know about this week:<\/p>\n The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday has a fairly stacked agenda<\/a>. One item of note: whether to approve $14.8 million for repaving on 40 streets and walkways citywide in the next fiscal year. For a full list of the proposed locations, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The City Council\u2019s Housing and Public Health Committee on Thursday will hear a presentation of Long Beach\u2019s policies on evictions. The presentation will explain the city\u2019s current rules on just-cause evictions, relocation assistance and removal through substantial remodel. It will also provide a list of comparable cities. To review the presentation, visit here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Another housing item. The California Coastal Commission is requesting some changes<\/a> to the city\u2019s expanded inclusionary housing ordinance that, if accepted, would allow Long Beach to fully implement it in the city\u2019s coastal neighborhoods. The commission\u2019s changes would, among other examples, add safeguards to ensure future administrations cannot circumvent the baseline rules and reduce the number of affordable units per project. To read our past coverage of the new ordinance, visit here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, the 2026 World Cup is on everyone\u2019s mind, including the City Council on Tuesday. The body will hear out a presentation<\/a> with updates on preparations citywide for the 2028 Olympics, and how the summer soccer tournament will be a testing ground for the Games.\u00a0<\/p>\n Business events and information<\/p>\n Have you filled out your ballot for the June 2 primary yet? It\u2019s a lot, isn\u2019t it? Especially when you\u2019re bombarded with information from political campaigns that you aren\u2019t sure whether to trust. We have an antidote to that. For a couple of months now, our team has worked hard on a nonpartisan, fact-based voter guide. It won\u2019t tell you who to vote for, but it will arm you with the information you need to feel confident in your decision. Bookmark it at LBPost.com\/elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach in April dipped 5.7% from the same month last year, officials reported Friday. Dockworkers handled 390,000 TEUs last month in imports \u2014 a 7.1% decline \u2014 but moved a record 119,000 TEUs in exports, a 26.7% jump from the year before.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday is hosting the IBA State of Trade & Transportation Luncheon at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown (111 E. Ocean Blvd.) The two-hour event starts at 11:30 a.m. and comes with complimentary parking provided by the venue. For more information, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n ICYMI \u2014 Long Beach and California news<\/p>\n One Long Beach fireworks show was blocked by environmental regulators. Why is another bigger than ever? (Long Beach Post<\/a>)<\/p>\n Long Beach, Wonderful Company want a zero-emission truck route between the port and Central Valley (Long Beach Post<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n Free World Cup watch parties in downtown Long Beach: Here\u2019s the schedule (Long Beach Post<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01aug24-budget-2640-215189-6iwmtnji-779095-uj6rbqFH-1024x641.jpg\"\/)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01aug24-budget-2640-215189-6iwmtnji-779095-uj6rbqFH-1024x641.jpg\")
Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica gives a budget briefing. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779107352_70_48a20e50-bc3d-4560-965b-644212f5cb16.png\"\/)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779107352_70_48a20e50-bc3d-4560-965b-644212f5cb16.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779107353_881_0.jpeg\"\/)
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779107353_881_0.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n