Meet Suzie Price: Candidate for Long Beach Mayor

LONG BEACH, CA — Suzi Price is a Councilwoman and Senior Assistant District Attorney in Long Beach running for mayor of the city to fill the seat vacated by Robert Garcia who is running for Congress in the 42nd District.

Price has been a councilwoman for eight years and is running against Vice Mayor Rex Richardson to represent Long Beach as Mayor.

Learn more about Price and her goals for Long Beach:

Age (as of Election day)

50

Campaign website

SuziePrice4Mayor.com

Education

I worked my way through CSULB. I earned a BA in 1994, an MPA in 1996 and a JD from Santa Clara Law School in 1999.

Why are you seeking this office?

I love this city. I believe in doing what is right, and that we each have the capacity to make positive change in the world around us. I have been honored to serve as a City Councilmember for the past 8 years, and I want to see the positive continued. We have seen significant change in Long Beach in the past few years, and much of that has been positive. However, there remain difficult challenges before the City that need someone like me to address. I believe we need a Mayor who will make their priority the people of Long Beach.

I believe as we begin leaving the pandemic, a time of increased fear, and anger, and polarization among people, we need a leader who brings people together, not seeks to amplify divisions for short-term political gains. Long Beach deserves leadership that puts the people first, and will prioritize the future of this city and necessary progress, someone who can make the tough choices and stand up for what is right, not what may be politically expedient. We have an opportunity to bring our City back together as one Long Beach and bridge differences to make our city stronger and more community-focused. A City that listens to its people, a city where everyone has a voice, and a city with leaders that focus on the people above all else.

What is the most pressing issue that Long Beach faces in your opinion, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

I believe homelessness is the biggest issue facing Long Beach. As Mayor, I will expand our Homeless outreach efforts and work with our nonprofits to expand our street outreach capacity and Quality of Life teams. Homelessness continues to be the biggest challenge we face as a City. The complexity involved stems from the unique path each person has taken to arrive at being homeless, as well as the different solutions needed to help each individual get out of homelessness long-term.

We cannot continue to claim this is a priority for the City, while committing less than 20 City staff to this responsibility. All of whom are assigned to work on this task during traditional work hours, which is not the hours their services are needed. We need to get people the help they need by getting them into services. Which means we need City staff out in the City every day making those contacts, building relationships and developing the credibility that is necessary for someone suffering from homelessness to commit and accept services that will get them on the right track long-term. While more shelters and meal programs can expand out capacity to provide temporary aid, we need a consistent comprehensive approach that gets people into services and helps ensure they have the best chance possible to succeed.

And this begins with funding our staffing needs appropriately with outreach teams that are out in the community 7 days a week, an MSC that is available not just 9-5 Monday-Friday, it means expanded Quality of Life Officers, and REACH teams in every Council District. It means putting our money where our mouths are and funding essential needs, not depending on County grants, or short-term funding to staff solving the biggest issue we see facing the City every day.

What are the other major issues you intend to address during your campaign?

• Rebuilding our Public Safety priorities. This means a new commitment to trust and transparency in our police department, along with the tools and staffing needed for officers to ensure safety and security throughout our City. The criminal justice system has seen significant changes in recent years compounded by the pandemic, increases in violent crime, prison overcrowding, and changes to laws at the state level. All of this has made the job we ask our officers to do more difficult, and nuanced. Never do you spend less money on something and get a better product. We cannot continue to reduce funding for our police and expect better results. If we want to be a first-class City that protects all of its residents, then we need a police department that is fully staffed and has the tools and support it needs to do the job residents depend on them for.
• Invest in Business development and incentives. Long Beach is and will continue to be a thriving City full of vibrant communities and successful business corridors, but if we are going to be a competitive draw for businesses that continue to build on that sense of place, and create the jobs Long Beach residents need, we will absolutely have to invest in business development. We need a concerted effort to proactively seek out businesses to come to Long Beach. We need staffing dedicated to making plans and executing on developing our business districts to be the backbone of our neighborhoods.

What are the major differences between you and Rex Richardson?

My opponent and I differ on a number of issues and policies, but those differences stem from the differences in how we view politics. The biggest difference between me and my opponent is at the core of our approach to being elected officials. I view elected office as public service. I have been a public servant for 23 years. I view my responsibility as giving of myself to benefit the community and the city I love. Serving as an elected official is not about me, but instead about giving a voice to the community, and being someone who is only interested in the future of the city, and not using elected office as a way to climb a political ladder.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have lived a life of adversity and overcome it by working hard, getting an education and dedicating my life to public service. I have helped hundreds of victims of crime through a very foreign and often scary court system. I have fought for and delivered results for my residents.

I am a mother, a wife, a business owner and Proud member of my community. My path and journey to learn the language and thrive in a new country have prepared me well to take on any challenge and serve my city.

As a councilmember, my accomplishment is the community development work that has led to more engagement from neighborhoods throughout the district in working with the city and being involved in city topics. Through consistent communication and updates to residents, my team has been able to create a more educated, engaged, and active district that is aware of topics facing the city and the district and understands how to be involved in these topics. You’ve improved the level of trust in government by virtue of your willingness to work with and communicate with any and all residents on any topic.

What is the best advice anyone has ever shared with you?

Real leadership is about listening first and seeking to provide service to your community in whatever way it may need.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a woman who freely speaks her mind. I stand up for what I believe, and the best interests of Long Beach residents. People may disagree with me on individual ideas, but I approach every interaction with honesty and integrity.