Politics
Long Beach Mayor Redirects Public Safety Funds Toward Prevention Programs
Long Beach residents will encounter changes in city service delivery as the mayor directs a larger share of public safety funds toward prevention programs than the models used in Los Angeles and San Diego.
How we reported this
The Long Beach mayor issued an executive order on July 1 directing 28 percent of the public safety portion of the city budget toward community prevention programs, a higher share than the 22 percent set by Los Angeles and the 19 percent adopted in San Diego.
Why the change arrives now
California cities received updated state guidance in June on how local governments may use general fund dollars for public safety, prompting Long Beach officials to revise their allocation formula before the fiscal year begins on July 1. The order applies to all 460,000 residents and covers police, fire and code enforcement accounts.
City documents show the shift moves $14 million from traditional enforcement lines into youth employment and housing navigation services. Long Beach residents who rely on after-school programs or street outreach teams will see expanded hours at five recreation centers and two new mobile units serving the North Long Beach and Westside neighborhoods.
Direct effects on households and services
Families in Long Beach will notice the difference through extended operating hours at the Houghton Park community center and additional case workers assigned to the city's homeless outreach teams. Workers employed by city contractors on prevention grants will receive the same hourly rate as those on enforcement contracts, a detail spelled out in the order.
Policy analysts note that Long Beach's 28 percent target sits between the lower Los Angeles figure and the higher share used by Oakland. The difference means Long Beach will maintain more sworn officers per capita than Oakland while funding more civilian positions than Los Angeles currently supports.
The city clerk's office will post quarterly reports on the city website starting in October, listing exact dollar amounts spent on each prevention category. The next city council review of the allocation is scheduled for the September budget workshop.