Key Issues in the Long Beach Mayor Race: Addressing Deficits, Homelessness, Immigration, and Traffic Safety
Candidates Present Divergent Visions for Long Beach’s Future in Mayoral Primary
As ballots begin arriving in mailboxes, Long Beach’s mayoral primary has attracted close attention in California’s second-largest city. Six candidates, including incumbent Mayor Rex Richardson, are competing against a backdrop of substantial challenges: a projected $60 million budget deficit, rising homelessness, increasing traffic fatalities, and debates surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety.
In conversations with NBCLA, candidates articulated their perspectives on critical issues facing the city. When asked if Long Beach is better off today than it was four years ago, five of the six candidates responded negatively. “Definitely not,” expressed Joshua Rodriguez. Similarly, Terri Rivers stated, “I don’t feel like it’s on the right track,” while Lee Goldin and Oscar Cancio echoed similar sentiments. Chris Sweeney added, “I don’t think it’s gotten better.” In contrast, Mayor Rex Richardson offered a different outlook, claiming, “The job is not finished, and there is much more work to do.”
Homelessness and Accountability
Homelessness persists as a key concern in Long Beach, with Richardson noting progress during his administration. “Street-level homelessness has declined 17% since we got started,” he asserted. However, trends indicate fluctuations, with an uptick in overall homelessness occurring after gaps in data collection due to the pandemic. Critics argue that the city’s current strategies lack accountability. Chris Sweeney criticized the focus on moving individuals to shelters without continued support, emphasizing the need for reformative programs.
Candidates like Rodriguez suggested deploying the National Guard to assist outreach efforts, while the recent audit revealing mismanagement of millions allocated for homelessness programs intensified calls for increased oversight. Cancio questioned, “Where is the accountability?” Yet, Richardson defended his administration’s commitment to accountability, stating, “I have the utmost confidence that we are going to hold every single contractor accountable.”
Traffic Safety
All candidates expressed concern over rising traffic fatalities, with many advocating for increased law enforcement. "Let the officers do their jobs, enforce tickets,” Sweeney urged, while Rodriguez called for clear consequences for unsafe driving. Others pointed to infrastructure improvements as essential, with Richardson noting that the city has already reduced traffic speeds. Goldin humorously suggested, “There’s this old technology called speed bumps.”
Economic Challenges
A $60 million budget shortfall, initially estimated at $80 million, presents further dilemmas. Candidate proposals varied widely. Sweeney advocated for budget trimming, while Goldin called for efficiency without job cuts. Rivers pointed to potential mismanagement, and Cancio suggested that staff reductions might be necessary. Richardson committed to introducing a balanced budget within 60 days, emphasizing that cuts should not burden working families.
Immigration and Federal Cooperation
Immigration enforcement and collaboration with federal authorities like ICE emerged as contentious topics. Mayor Richardson defended the city’s “Values Act” policies, asserting that public safety, not federal enforcement, is the city’s priority. In stark contrast, Rodriguez called for stronger cooperation with ICE, stating, “If someone committed a crime and they’re undocumented, we need to hand them over to ICE.”
The remaining candidates offered a spectrum of perspectives. Cancio advocated for targeted enforcement, while Rivers emphasized the importance of community transparency. Sweeney maintained that “everybody deserves to feel safe” and opposed cooperation with ICE. Goldin took the most aggressive stance, suggesting possible repercussions for businesses working with immigration enforcement.
A Defining Moment for Long Beach
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, this mayoral primary illustrates the stark differences in leadership styles and policy priorities among the candidates. The incoming mayor will be tasked with making immediate decisions that will shape the city’s approach to budget management, homelessness, public safety, and relations with federal immigration authorities. Voters now face the critical question of which vision they believe will best advance Long Beach’s future.
