A Brighter Long Beach
Public Safety
Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of city government. Long Beach residents deserve safe neighborhoods and a police department they trust. That means strengthening community policing: officers walking the beat, riding bicycles, and building real relationships with residents and local businesses. When people feel comfortable reporting crimes and working with law enforcement, neighborhoods become safer for everyone. Rebuilding that trust will be a priority of my administration.
Budget Deficit
Long Beach residents are already paying a high cost to live here, including a 10.5% sales tax (one of the highest in the region). At the same time, the city faces serious financial challenges. Recent reports show Long Beach finished the last fiscal year about $40 million over budget and could face a $60–$80 million deficit by 2027 as revenues decline and costs rise. Before any conversation about raising taxes, we need better financial management, transparency, and clear priorities for how public dollars are spent. Residents deserve to know their money is being used wisely and that city government is focused on delivering real value and essential services.
Traffic Accidents
I love walking, running, and biking throughout Long Beach, especially along the Greenbelt. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many serious traffic accidents and hit-and-runs in recent years. I know firsthand how devastating reckless driving can be. I was personally the victim of a DUI-related accident in the Zaferia. Traffic safety must be a priority for our city. While ideas like road diets have been proposed, many residents feel they have not delivered the improvements they were promised. We should focus on practical, cost-effective solutions such as better lighting, roundabouts, speed control measures, and stronger enforcement against DUI and reckless driving.