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The City Wants To Know: What Would You Like To See In The Next City Manager?
The City of Long Beach is seeking input on the selection of the next city manager. Longtime City Manager Pat West stepped down from his position in late September, and the city hired The Hawkins Company to conduct a nationwide search. Assistant City Manager Tom Modica has stepped into the role on an interim basis. The city and The Hawkins Company have put together a six-question survey on the community’s desired attributes in a new city manager. Reponses will be considered as candidates are identified. Click here to take the survey in English, Spanish, Tagalog or Khmer. The deadline to take the survey is October 31. Additionally, the city is hosting two meetings this week to provide the public with more information about the search process and to collect feedback. They take place this Thursday, October 17, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) and this Saturday, October 19, 9-10:30 a.m., Whaley Park (5620 E. Atherton St.). Ultimately, it is up to the Long Beach City Council to select the next city manager, who serves as the chief executive leading the city.
Long Beach Community College Trustee Tapped To Lead State Oil And Gas Division
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Long Beach resident Uduak-Joe Ntuk as the new supervisor of the state’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) within the Department of Conservation. DOGGR regulates the state’s energy wells while prioritizing the protection of the public and the environment, according to the division’s website. Ntuk is currently serving as petroleum administrator for the City of Los Angeles and as an adjunct faculty member in California State University, Long Beach’s chemical engineering department. He also sits on the Long Beach Community College (LBCC) District Board of Trustees representing Area 1, which encompasses Bixby Knolls and Uptown Long Beach.
National Organization Recognizes Port Of Long Beach’s Communication Efforts
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has recognized the Port of Long Beach with four awards, the port announced today. The port’s website for the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project – which provides updates on traffic and construction while highlighting the project’s economic significance – won the organization’s award of excellence in the website category. “Working for Long Beach,” a campaign promoting the results of the port’s recent Economic Impact Study, won the award of distinction for advertising. A port advertisement featured in the Business Journal’s March 2018 edition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Aquarium of the Pacific won the AAPA’s award of merit. Additionally, the port’s PHOTO Program, a collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach, received the award of distinction in the category of community/education outreach. The AAPA’s members include 130 ports in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Downtown Long Beach Alliance Installs 2019-2020 Board
The Downtown Long Beach Alliance installed its new board of directors on October 3. Members of the executive committee include Silvano Merlo of the Courtyard Marriott as the new chair, Alan Pullman of Studio One Eleven as the chair-elect, Allison Kripp of Den Salon as secretary, Debra Fixen of Shoreline Village as treasurer and Long Beach Economic Development Director John Keisler as the city representative, among others. The full board for the nonprofit, which oversees downtown’s business improvement districts, meets on the third Wednesday of even-numbered months, and the executive committee meets on the first Thursday of each month.
Darick Simpson To Lead Miller Foundation
Darick Simpson, a Long Beach resident and 13-year leader of the nonprofit Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP), is departing LBCAP to become the new president of the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization focused on the concept of treating the “whole child,” according to an official announcement. The Miller Foundation’s previous president, Walter M. Florie, Jr., is retiring after serving in the role for 28 years. As executive director of LBCAP, Simpson oversaw the organization’s growth from a staff of 24 to 80 people and a budget of $1.3 million to $10 million. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. Simpson currently serves on the PBS SoCal Advisory Board and the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services Commission.
Grand Prix Foundation Donates To Six Local Charities
The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach announced today that it has awarded funds to six local charities, in addition to seven $1,500 grants given to local students through its Robert E. Leslie Scholarship fund. The funds were raised as part of the Grand Prix Foundation’s Charity Days event, which was held prior to the 2019 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The local benefiting charities include the Long Beach Area Special Olympics, Operation Jump Start, Shortstop, Long Beach Century Club, WomenShelter of Long Beach and Long Beach Ronald McDonald House. In the past 30 years, the Grand Prix Foundation has raised and donated more than $4 million to Long Beach area charities, according to the foundation. The organization donates more than 95% of the money it raises to local area charities.