🌱 CD2’s Allen Chased Downtown + Wally Hebeish Is New Chief Of PD

Good day and Happy Christmas Eve, people of Long Beach! Sylvia here with the latest issue of the Long Beach Daily.

An assailant went after Councilwoman Allen with a knife in downtown LB. Also, we have a new chief of police. Finally, the LB Port receives $52.3 million in grant money to increase rail capacity.

First, today's weather:

A little rain in the morning. High: 62 Low: 53.

Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. On Wednesday afternoon, District 2 Councilwoman Cindy Allen walked Downtown near Ocean and LB Boulevards when she was “chased by a man with a backpack full of knives.” A 22-year-old man was arrested after chasing her and others into the Aqua West tower. The PD arrested him “on suspicion of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a switchblade knife, resisting/obstructing a public officer, and being under the influence of a controlled substance.” (LB Post)
2. The City Manager appointed Assistant Chief Wally Hebeish as the new Chief of Police on Wednesday. The 27-year law enforcement veteran takes over when Chief Robert Luna retires at the end of the year. In the past, he held positions such as “Patrol Bureau Deputy Chief, Support Bureau Deputy Chief, and Chief of Staff.” (City of LB)
3. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is distributing grants to the nation’s ports, and Long Beach will receive $52.3 million, we learned Thursday. The money is earmarked to boost rail capacity at the port, build “a new locomotive facility, 10,000-foot support track, and extensions of five existing tracks to speed up freight movement while cutting down the number of truck trips required to do that.” If all goes according to plan, construction will start 2023 “with the first arrival, departure and storage tracks completed in 2025. Additional tracks would come online in 2030, followed by project completion in 2032.” (KTLA, Spectrum News 1)
4. Officials are keeping an eye on COVID-19 numbers. On Tuesday, the City reported 403 new cases, which is the highest three-day figure since earlier in September. The county’s figures “topped 3,000 for the fifth consecutive day.” (LB Post)
5. Mayor Robert Garcia, tweeting from his personal account, shows plenty of support for his congressional run. Endorsements include Assembly Members Lorena Gonzalez, Lisa Calderon, and Mike Gipson. In addition to a host of other elected officials from a variety of governing bodies, Garcia announced receiving Governor Gavin Newsom’s endorsement on Wednesday. (@RobertGarcia)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Farmers’ Market at 4th and North Promenade (10 AM)
• Photos With Santa at the Lakewood Center Mall (10 AM to 5 PM)
• Family Skate Event at the Pigeon Roller Rink (6 PM)
• Dance Party With DJ Nativity at Mezcalero (9:30 PM)
• Christmas Mass at Saint Cornelius Catholic Church (10 PM, also at 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The City will move COVID-19 vaccine and testing sites to indoors at the Houghton Park Community Center. (Facebook)
• A friendly reminder that street sweeping or enforcement of street sweeping violations will not occur on 12/24 or 12/31 but refuse and recycling will be collected as scheduled. (Facebook)
• Discover the most checked out books from libraries across the country! Find these popular titles in the Long Beach Public Library’s collection. (Facebook)
• Who can help an Addams neighbor needing a painter referral to have a wooden fence and two porches painted? (Nextdoor)
• A Wrigley-Memorial Park neighbor is missing their BLUE parakeet. (Nextdoor)
• Our North Alamitos Beach-NABA neighbor is selling Christmas cacti! - $10 each! (Nextdoor)
• A Grant neighbor is looking for any fruit from your yard you are willing to sell or give away--preferably in North Long Beach. (Nextdoor)
• The neighbor at Bret Harte-NLB is looking for a company to service/clean the chimney. (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for your next 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.