Southwest Airlines Adds Flights At Long Beach Airport
After JetBlue Airways forfeited 10 of its Long Beach Airport (LGB) flight slots earlier this year, Southwest Airlines gained six slots to use on a regular basis starting in October. Southwest, wasting no time getting the word out on its recent windfall, has announced that it is extending its LGB flight schedule for the month of October. Beginning October 1, the airline will offer four daily flights between Long Beach and Oakland, with one additional flight on Saturdays and Sundays; four daily weekday flights and three daily weekend flights to San Jose; four daily weekday flights and three daily weekend flights to Sacramento; and two daily weekend flights to Las Vegas. Southwest is also offering one daily roundtrip to Vegas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and one roundtrip to Denver on Saturdays and Sundays, until October 31.

Councilmember Rex Richardson To
Participate In Conference On Regional Housing Needs
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has asked representatives from six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura) to attend a meeting of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Subcommittee. Long Beach City Councilmember Rex Richardson will join the teleconference, which is open to public comment. The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by state law. The assessment quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods. SCAG is currently in the process of planning for the assessment’s sixth cycle, which will cover the planning period October 2021 through October 2029. It is planned for adoption in October 2020. Communities use the RHNA in land use planning to adequately allocate local resources, and to decide how to address identified existing and future housing needs. Long Beach residents may attend the teleconference on Monday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Long Beach City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.

Teachers Association Endorses Doug Otto And Erik Miller For School Board
Current Long Beach City College Trustee Doug Otto is among the two candidates endorsed by the Teachers Association of Long Beach for the March 2020 Long Beach Unified School Board election. “Filling Jon Meyer’s shoes will be no easy task; however, Mr. Otto has a long history of advocating for our communities. Whether it be his tireless work at Long Beach Community College or the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific,” TALB President Barry Welsch said. “His steady leadership is just what LBUSD needs as we deal with the prospect of hiring a new superintendent and declining enrollment.” Otto said he has also received his predecessor’s endorsement to fill the board’s District 4 seat. He added that he hasn’t yet decided whether to run for re-election to the LBCC Board of Trustees in November 2020.

Erik Miller, executive director of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit PVJOBS, announced his campaign for District 2 this week. “Throughout my career, I have spent countless hours dedicated to helping individuals find their true passion and live a better life. I know firsthand how important gaining a valuable education is from a young age,” Miller, who was also endorsed by TALB, said in a press release. “Education has always been a driving factor for me throughout my life, and I know it’s now time to put that drive to use by securing and protecting the students and teachers here in the city I love.”

Port Of Long Beach Invests $100,000 In Local Students
The Port of Long Beach (POLB) is giving $100,000 in scholarships to 77 local college and high school students. The announcement was made at the port’s annual “Celebrating Education” event on Tuesday. “The Port of Long Beach is committed to investing in tomorrow’s future industry leaders through internships and scholarships that will help support the development of a skilled workforce in international trade and goods movement,” Mario Cordero, executive director of POLB, stated. The port has awarded 541 student scholarships since 1993. This year’s $100,000 was the highest amount awarded in a single year, and the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has increased the scholarship fund to $125,000 for next year.