But these requests, which earned a spot in the budget proposal after being chosen from the city\u2019s 21-item, $39.2 million wishlist, are a possible sign that Congress is growing a bit more amenable to opening its purse; in last year\u2019s budget<\/a>, the city received just over $6 million for eight projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n And in 2025, community project earmarks were removed<\/a> entirely from the final government funding package by the House Republican majority.<\/p>\n Federal earmarks are the provisions in congressional legislation that direct specific funds or tax breaks to specific projects, generally at the request of a member of Congress to benefit their district. Despite their turbulent history, earmarks account for less than half of 1% of total federal spending.<\/p>\n Federal earmarks were banned in 2011<\/a> at the behest of House Republicans and then-President Obama in response to scandals surrounding how lawmakers were using them. Opponents to pet projects say the system rewards influence, nurtures corruption and sidesteps normal procedures.\u00a0<\/p>\n Democrats brought so-called pork barrel spending (renamed as\u00a0 \u201ccommunity project funding\u201d) back in 2021 with reforms meant to prevent abuse, saying these earmarks provide the shortest and most direct route to paying for road, water and other urgent infrastructure needs in their district.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a full list<\/a> of this year\u2019s federal spending earmarks:<\/p>\n North Long Beach Safe Passage & Human Trafficking Deterrence (submitted by Rep. Nanette Barrag\u00e1n) \u2014 $772,700<\/p>\n Athletic Center Upgrades, Billie Jean King Center at Recreation Park (submitted by Rep. Robert Garcia) \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n Atherton Safety Improvements, pedestrian crossing and signal upgrades at Atherton Street and Britton Drive (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $850,000<\/p>\n Bluff Park Historic Lamppost Project (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $850,000<\/p>\n College Estates Park Improvements (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $850,000<\/p>\n Junipero Beach Fitness Zone Improvements (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n Martin Luther King Jr. Park Vision Plan Implementation, including African American Heritage Park features (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $850,000<\/p>\n Pine Avenue Improvements, streetscape enhancements (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $850,000<\/p>\n Promenade Square Park, Fountain and Promenade Beautification (submitted by\u00a0 Garcia) \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n Recreation Park Bandshell Improvements (submitted byGarcia) \u2014 $1.8 million<\/p>\n West Health Safety Improvements, including elevator repairs (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n Willow Springs Trailhead Project, outdoor education site at a former 1906 train depot (submitted by Garcia) \u2014 $1 million<\/p>\n Here are some things to expect this week:<\/p>\n At the Climate Resilient and Sustainable City Commission meeting<\/a> at 4 p.m. Thursday, city officials will walk through their goal to reduce Long Beach\u2019s dependence on imported water through a series of conservation programs, infrastructure projects, expansion of recycled water efforts and increased local rainfall capture. To read through the city\u2019s most recent efforts, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Port of Long Beach will host a virtual community meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday to update the public on the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project. The $1.6 billion facility<\/a>, which began construction in 2024 and should finish in 2032, will send cargo containers to and from marine terminals by train rather than truck \u2014 reducing traffic and emissions. To register for the meeting, visit here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n And here are some updates from last week:<\/p>\n The California Civil Rights Department reached a $93,000 settlement<\/a> with the city of Signal Hill after a job applicant, following several interviews and a conditional offer, was rejected for a water utility position due to their criminal history coming up in a background check. The settlement alleges the city erroneously rescinded the offer based on a years-old conviction; California has strict rules <\/a>about how employers may consider criminal histories in the hiring process. Under the settlement, the city will update its hiring policies, retrain staff and submit annual reports to the state detailing any future job denials tied to criminal history.\u00a0<\/p>\n Long Beach is struggling to reach its affordable housing goals as it approaches the halfway mark of an eight-year planning cycle, according to a memo<\/a> released Thursday by the Community Development Department. The report assessed the city\u2019s 6th Cycle Housing Element (how a municipality plans and zones for housing of residents of all income levels) that runs from 2022 to 2029, in which it has permitted more than 3,600 market-rate units \u2014 about 43% of its allocation \u2014 but only 7% of its very low-income units, 12% of its low-income units and 0% of its moderate-income units. Officials blamed fierce competition for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, declining federal block grant funding and a recent regional construction slowdown as contributing factors. Tariffs on steel and lumber, rising interest rates and global trade disruptions were also cited as headwinds.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s 2028 Olympics infrastructure plan has more than doubled since inception \u2014 from its original $533 million scope to now more than $1 billion \u2014 to cover 180 projects citywide, according to a Public Works memo<\/a> released Wednesday. The memo boasted some successes seen this fiscal year and previewed some matters the department will need to address, including the creation of a new Transportation Services Bureau, Clean Team structural funding and improvements to public service operations and traffic safety infrastructure.<\/p>\n ICYMI \u2014 Los Angeles, California and national news<\/p>\n With police writing far fewer tickets, drivers are running red lights with impunity, residents say (Long Beach Post<\/a>)<\/p>\n Huntington Beach finally adopts housing plan (LAist<\/a>)<\/p>\n A tax on billionaires qualified for the November ballot. 5 things to know about the measure (CalMatters<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782133149_573_48a20e50-bc3d-4560-965b-644212f5cb16.png\"\/)
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