🌱 Assault On 16th St + African American Cultural Center Hosts Kwanzaa

Hello again, everybody; today, we celebrate Christmas Day, when it’s perfectly acceptable to eat candy out of socks! It's Sunday in Long Beach, and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town. Today's briefing includes news on:

• 💰 Funding for several projects is coming to Long Beach
• 🚢 The Long Beach Port is no longer #2
• 📍 Trash pickup, yes; street-sweeping, no

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌞 But first, today's weather:

Sunshine; near-record warmth. High: 81 Low: 50.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Long Beach

• Food 4 Less at 6700 Cherry Ave., $3.79
• ARCO at 1001 Redondo Ave., $3.83
• Noil USA, Inc. at 1234 W Cowles St., $3.84

⏰ New Year’s Resolutions Poll! 🎶
According to Forbes, only 8% of people making New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them. Even so, the experts suggest making resolutions because they encourage intentionality, optimism, and a positive effect on others. So, what are your resolutions for 2023? So far, 18.2% intend to meet new people or interact more with current friends. Letting go of negativity is the goal for 13.6%, and 9.1% want to travel or experience something new. Another 36.4% want to live healthier, and the final 22.7% plan to embrace change.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. Someone assaulted an adult male in the 1200 block of West 16th Street on Friday evening just before 11:30 p.m. Reportedly, “he was working on a vehicle when he was approached by two, unknown male adult suspects who abruptly began to batter him with their fists and an unknown metal object.” He managed to run away when he heard shots fired; he was not hit and the suspects fled. (Long Beach Police Department)
2. Long Beach will receive a chunk of the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal omnibus spending bill, thanks to Representative Alan Lowenthal. We learned on Saturday that more than $12.9 million are coming to the City. Some of the money will go to improving Anaheim from Termino to the Anaheim Street Bridge. Other funds will go to Cambodia Town’s Community Medical Wellness Centers, Arts and Services for Disabled, Inc., and the Books & Buckets program – among other projects. (Long Beach Post)
3. After having ships waiting for weeks at a time, the East Coast Port has now overtaken the Long Beach Port regarding cargo volume. Long Beach lost its spot as the second-busiest port in the United States that it had defended for a decade. Port officials expressed optimism that “at least some of this cargo will return.” However, the Port of Los Angeles is still in the number one spot. (Long Beach Business Journal)
4. On Monday, trash pickup will continue as usual. However, there won’t be any street sweeping. Expect to pay at the parking meters unless they have a sign reading “Exempt on Holidays.” (Long Beach Recycles)
5. Join the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach at 4321 Atlantic Avenue for the annual Kwanzaa celebrations. On Tuesday, the organization celebrates Kujichagalia (self-determination) with “a candle-lighting, Baba the Storyteller, an African marketplace, jazz, west African drums and dance, and the Karamu feast.” Come back on Wednesday to celebrate Ujima (collective work and responsibility) with more festivities, including a Nguzo Saba dance class. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. (Press-Telegram)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Sunday Worship Service at Calvary NLB (10:30 AM)
• Christmas Morning Family Service at Bethany Church (10:30 AM)
• Celebrate Christmas Day Brunch with Café Sevilla (11 AM)
• A Killer All-Vinyl 80s DJ Set at The Bamboo Club (8 PM)
• The Good Foot 16th Annual Christmas Party at Alex's Bar (8 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• "Thumbs up all around! 👍 West Division officers loved stopping by Birney Elementary this week. We'd like to wish all Long Beach students a happy and safe winter break! ☃️ 💙" (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "With Christmas Eve rapidly approaching, Bixby looked to hitch a ride back to the North Pole and stumbled up a 'strange-looking sleigh.' Our public safety partners at Long Beach Fire Department met up with Bixby and gave him a tour." (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "📢 Volunteer for our Homeless Count! The 'Count' remains one of the most valuable tools that allows the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local communities the ability to assess homelessness at national and local levels." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "The Long Beach City Council has approved the transition of the Citizen Police Complaint Commission to the new Police Oversight Commission, as outlined in the voter-approved Measure E Charter Amendment. ℹ️ https://bit.ly/3WoeniBm" (Long Beach City via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— 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