🌱 Feline Good Social Club + Renaissance In North Long Beach

Happy Saturday, neighbors, and happy National Blonde Brownie Day! If you're traveling today, the cheapest gas in Long Beach today comes from Noil USA at 1234 West Cowles Street at $4.14 a gallon. Here's what's happening in town today.

There’s a place where you can cuddle with cats, y’all! Also, why is City Council Member Al Austin talking about a renaissance in North Long Beach? Finally, will the City sell bonds to create workforce housing?

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 72 Low: 49.

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. Are you hip to the Feline Good Social Club? Located at 301 Atlantic Avenue, the lounge “is a place where people can relax and cuddle with 25+ adoptable cats.” You can play with the kitties, even if you’re not looking to adopt. From February 11 to February 14, just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Club will host the February Happy Meower. Reserve a space to play with cats, maybe adopt one or two, enjoy complimentary wine and chocolate, and make it a date! (Feline Good Social Club, FB)
2. City Council Member Al Austin of the eighth district (CD8) said Tuesday that there’s a “renaissance happening in North Long Beach.” There’s already the new Uptown Commons that opened at 6600 Atlantic Avenue. At this time, a developer is working on the Uptown Retail Center down the street. The latest development is a residential project of “38 three-story solar-powered townhomes on Long Beach Boulevard, near Del Amo Boulevard.” Located at 5070 Long Beach Boulevard, prices start at around $600,000. (Spectrum News 1)
3. We learned Thursday that the City is considering the sale of tax-exempt bonds to finance the purchase of residential buildings. It then wants to rent the units “at reduced rates to middle-class residents,” which refers to families making $64,000 to $96,000 a year for a family of four. Proponents argue that “workforce housing” is needed since developers are focusing on low-income housing because of government incentives and luxury housing for a quick profit. Critics say that the city will lose money. “Long Beach is projected to lose $8 million over the course of the pilot program, while the county, school districts, and local schools will lose a combined $43 million.” (The Real Deal/paywall)
4. The LBPD arrested 53-year-old Randal Stevens on Wednesday “for one count of possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.” During a search of his home on the 4200 block of East 4th Street, officers collected “multiple items of evidence.” The suspect was “booked at the Long Beach City Jail, where he was held on zero-dollar bail.” He previously worked for the “Huntington Beach Union High School District as a contracted Audio and Visual technician.” (LBPD)
5. Long Beach had three stabbings in three days. On Thursday, a man was stabbed, "allegedly by a relative," on the 2400 block of Cedar Avenue. On Wednesday, a woman allegedly stabbed two people in North LB. On Tuesday, a son allegedly stabbed his mother in the Willmore neighborhood. (LB Post)

Today in Long Beach:

• BEER YOGA at Trademark Brewing (11 AM)
• Rainbow Sunset, Sip and Paint Event at the Hilton Long Beach (11:30 AM)
• The Jade Restaurant presents Crystal Clulee (5 PM to 8 PM)
• The Long Beach Playhouse hosts Improv For Warriors 2 (8 PM)
• DJ Peeta Spinning Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Merengue, Dembow, and Cumbia at the Caliz Sports Bar (9 PM)

From my notebook:

• Our Bixby Knolls-N of Cal Heights neighbor is wondering if anyone has a cocktail pool? If so, who did the build? (Nextdoor)
• An Alamitos Beach neighbor needs moving boxes! Do you have any? (Nextdoor)
• A Greenbelt Heights neighbor wants to know where they can get really good chow mein in the Greenbelt area. They're talking fresh and lots of veggies. Organic if possible. (Nextdoor)
• LB Recycles reminds residents that batteries are fire hazards and should only be disposed of as hazardous household waste – not in the trash or recycling cans. (@lbrecycles)
• LBPD Cmdr. Patrick O'Dowd has been promoted to Deputy Chief! (@LBPD)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. 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.