It’s Wall Street vs. Main Street right here in Long Beach, The City of Long Beach is in the process of adopting a Downtown Community Plan (DTCP) that will provide enormous financial benefits to property developers.  However, despite the plan’s title, the process driving its development has so far ignored and excluded the voices and the needs of the community as a whole.  As a simple matter of justice, those voices should be heard.

The DTCP will have citywide significance and rippling impacts throughout the city, as local residents and businesses are displaced from this 719-acre area.  Nevertheless, no accommodation has been made for the approximately 25,000 low-income residents who may find themselves without affordable housing and thus subject to all the disruptions that a forced move imposes on every member of those families, no matter what their ages.  In addition, small businesses may be forced to close their doors forever.  Also to date, appeals of Long Beach workers for local hiring regulations for the development projects have been ignored.

On March 17, at 5:30 PM, the Long Beach Planning Commission held a study session in the City Council Chamber of City Hall. Many members from UUCLB Attended.  Some spoke.

Downtown is everyone’s downtown, Contact Sandy Kroll to get on the e-mail list to be alerted to future actions.