🌱 17 Firearms Seized + Verbal Assailant Of Tacos Lionydas Speaks Out

Happy National Vinyl Record Day, LB! If you made the news into a song, what would be the melody? We've got firearms, the other side of a story, and VA news, for starters.

• 🚓 A 39-year-old man is under arrest, and 17 firearms are off the streets
• 🌮 The man behind the racial insults on a taco vendor speaks out
• 🏥 The VA medical center gets some much-needed upgrades

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First, today's weather:

🌞 Mostly sunny. High: 86 Low: 69.

🌡️ FYI: Long Beach Cooling Centers are open daily from noon to 6 p.m. You find them at the Houghton, McBride, and Admiral Kidd community centers as well as the Senior Center and El Dorado Park West.

📢 I’m looking for business owners and marketers in Long Beach who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

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⛽ Three Of The Cheapest Gas Stations In Long Beach

• Sinclair at 5588 Long Beach Blvd., $4.69
• Arco at 4235 E Anaheim St., $4.79
• Speedway Express at 998 E Anaheim St., $4.99

🤔 Homelessness Poll!
CNN reports that Los Angeles County has a homeless population of “more than 66,400 people.” The numbers are increasing. Do you think that city governments are doing enough? Are there better solutions? Please let me know your thoughts! So far, 37% favor more infrastructure investment, 22.2% want federal involvement, 3.7% say faith-based groups need to step up, 7.4% want the military to open its bases, and 24.1% ask for justice system involvement.

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1) The LBPD announced on Wednesday that it took 17 firearms off the streets. At the end of July, they responded to a home “in the 4600 block of Lakewood Boulevard” where a 39-year-old man had repeatedly shot at items in his apartment, possibly aiming at his girlfriend. Although he fled, the PD caught up with him. He is now “booked on one count of felony attempted murder (and) bail was set $1,000,000.” (LBPD)

2) Here is the other side of the story. We learned on Tuesday about the Tacos Lionydas owner at Atherton and Clark who was accosted by a “man hurling racial insults,” tossing equipment, and spitting on the food. An activist has tracked the assailant down and learned that the man “has problems with alcohol and drugs” and unloaded on the vendor’s business “because it was on the corner he uses often.” The man said he was sorry for his behavior. (KTLA)

3) The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center is getting a makeover. We learned on Thursday that officials have earmarked $387 million to build a new mental health facility, new inpatient and outpatient centers, and a community living center. While some work had begun in 2019, the new “buildings will be ready to welcome patients by August of next year.” (LB Business Journal)

4) The Long Beach Unified School District has released its mask policy for the new school year. “LBUSD spokesperson Chris Eftychiou confirmed this week that the district will not require masks for students or employees to begin the school year.” However, they will still be “recommended.” Los Angeles County statistics suggest that “79% of school-age children 12-17 years old are vaccinated, but only 35% of children aged 5-11 are.” (Long Beach Post)

5) Mark your calendars! The Plantiitas Market soft opening and Block Party is this Saturday! Head on down to 4003 East 4th Street between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and taste new foods, look at art, listen to music and more! (Plantiitas Market)

Today in Long Beach:

• Downtown Farmers Market at The Streets (10 a.m.)
• Asian Film Series at the Billie Jean King Main Library (2:30 p.m.)
• Black & Gold Vollyeball Scrimmage in the Pyramid (4:30 p.m.)
• Tu B'Av Dinner & Kids' Night Out at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (5:30 p.m.)
• Mandala Design & Wine at Studio Pick (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Beginning Sept. 6, the city of Long Beach will initiate the enforcement of short-term rentals operating in the coastal zone areas of the City. (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• The LBPD wishes a Happy Retirement to K9’s Duke, Andor and AJ! They have been invaluable members of the LBPD and we’re beyond proud of all their excellent work as active-duty police partners. Enjoy the endless belly rubs and doggo treats! (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• The El Dorado Neighborhood Library will remain closed as a result of ongoing maintenance issues. During this closure, El Dorado's phone lines will remain open. We anticipate reopening mid-August. We apologize for the inconvenience. (Long Beach Public Library via Facebook)
• Our kind Artcraft Manor neighbor has a client, Fran, who is turning 100 years old on Aug. 22!! She loves getting cards. If you have some spare time to send her a birthday card and some well-wishes, that would be awesome! (Nextdoor)
• A Los Altos-Britton Drive neighbor needs suggestions for best viewing locations for Perseid meteor showers Friday night/Saturday morning? They previously drove up Hwy 39 and were contemplating driving out to Joshua Tree, but with the full moon . . . (Nextdoor)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com