Worker Shortage + House Histories + Patrick O'Donnell For Mayor?

It’s another beautiful day in Long Beach, the Aquatic Capital of America!

Welcome to the Long Beach Patch Daily Newsletter, the easiest and most enjoyable way to know what’s happening down the street and around the corner.

When the city shut down and the customers went away, restaurants sent employees home. Now, these employees have moved on, moved out, or can’t find daycare. But it’s a problem the industry should have seen coming. Also, if you want to know about the people who owned your house before you did, there’s someone who can help. And, if you have a ghost, she has a friend she can call. Finally, Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell wants Mayor Garcia’s job.

First Things First: Today’s Weather, Weather Alert, Surf Report, and Allergy Outlook

Sunny Southern California doesn’t disappoint, with June temperatures reaching 77° for the high and 62° for the low. It’ll be partly cloudy and warm out here. There’s a weather alert starting today at 6 p.m. and lasting until Friday at 12 a.m. Higher than normal tides may lead to beach corrosion and make rock jetties “deadly.”

Ocean water temperatures are around 56° with surf heights of four to five feet.

Even though it’s oak pollen season, along with sagebrush and chenopods, levels of pollen in the air are increasing slightly but still considered low to medium.

The Five News Headlines That Everyone’s Talking About

1. Restaurants have a tough time finding workers. After laying off staff during the pandemic, the industry now cannot find replacements. However, this problem was already in the making before COVID-19, one restaurant owner suggested. (LB Business Journal)
2. Maureen Neeley runs a business that specializes in telling you your house’s story. HouStories lets you know who lived there before you did, digs up old photos, and might even be able to tie the home into the city’s history. (LB Post)
3. Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell, whose current term ends in December 2022, is eyeing Mayor Robert Garcia’s job. In the past, he was a member of the City Council, where he represented District 4. (LBReport.com)
4. Mayor Garcia issued his last regular COVID-19 update on Saturday. He announced that City Hall staff members are returning to work and the City Council will restart in-person meetings in July. (LB Press Telegram)
5. In the month of May, the Port of Long Beach processed 907,216 cargo containers, which was a record. This puts it just slightly behind the Port of Los Angeles, which processed more than a million containers. (LA Business Journal)

What’s Happening Today in Long Beach?

• Hiring event for construction electricians held at the Marriott LB Airport, 3841 North Lakewood Boulevard. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Labor Community Services holds a LB Food Distribution event at the Boys and Girls Club, 1835 West Willard Street. (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
• People’s Budget Press Conference by BLM LB and other organizations at 411 West Ocean Boulevard. (2 p.m.)
• Circle of Friends Widows’ Group at Cornerstone Church, 1000 North Studebaker Road. (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today’s Long Beach Patch Notebook

It may not fit into news or events, but you sure want to know about it!

• The LB Airport welcomes tour groups with an advanced reservation. Call 562-570-2678!

That’s it! You’re now in the know and ready to weigh in at the water cooler. Better yet, head out and experience Long Beach! I’ll bring you another serving of tasty news and events morsels tomorrow.

-Sylvia

Sylvia Cochran is a freelance writer who has lived more than 20 years in Long Beach and its various neighborhoods. I love books, dogs, volunteering, and embrace social justice. If you have a juicy tidbit of what’s happening locally, don’t keep it to yourself; reach out by emailing me at longbeach-ca@patch.com!