Memorial Day Closures + A Crisis + An Online Puppy Adoption Scam

It’s another beautiful day in Long Beach, the Aquatic Capital of America!

Welcome to the Long Beach Patch Daily Newsletter, the easiest and most enjoyable way to know what’s happening down the street and around the corner.

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and it’ll look different again this year. We’ll check in on a harassed street vendor and hear from a resident who believes the city is in crisis. In addition, we’ll learn about an online puppy adoption swindle affecting LB.

First Things First: Today’s Weather

Sunny Southern California doesn’t disappoint with May temperatures reaching 71° for the high and 59° for the low. Odds are good it’ll be partly cloudy in keeping with our typical May Gray.

The Five News Headlines That Everyone’s Talking About

1. Memorial Day Closures don’t affect trash collection or parking meter enforcement (unless the meter says, “Exempt on Holidays.” However, there won’t be street sweeping. (LB Telegram)
2. The suspect in a Wednesday shooting at the 100 block of 52nd Street is under arrest. One resident calls the recent number of shootings in the city “a crisis.” (Fox 11)
3. A street vendor was harassed and attacked. He called police and was cited for not having the “proper licenses to operate” a cart. The LB PD later rescinded the citation. (@LBPD)
4. The Queen Mary saga continues. The City Auditor notes that the venue’s former operator, “misrepresented financial information to the city.” A representative for the former operator counters that the firm, “spent a significant amount of money out of pocket, above and beyond the $23M” advanced by LB. (LB Post)
5. An online puppy adoption scam has sent about 20 people to a randomly chosen LB home to pick up a dog. The family that lives there is not involved and has had to tell disappointed would-be dog parents that there is no puppy. The LB PD cannot help the homeowners. (ABC 7)

What’s Happening Today in Long Beach?

• Box of Chocolates plays at the San Pedro Fish Market (3 p.m.)
• The LB Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America meets at LBCC’s PCH campus in Building QQ, Room 122 (10:30 a.m.)
• Downtown LB Farmers’ Market at 4th and Promenade (10:00 a.m.)
• Whale Watching Cruise at Rainbow Harbor, 450 East Shoreline Drive (3 p.m.)

Today’s Long Beach Patch Notebook

It may not fit into news or events, but you sure want to know about it!

• Forest Lawn Memorial Day ceremonies will be virtual. Rather than visiting 1500 East San Antonio Drive, watch live Monday morning at 9:45 a.m. (Facebook)
• The LGBTQ Game Night Group is open to anyone that's L, G, T, Q, or an ally, who loves playing games like Settlers of Catan, Cards Against Humanity, or Risk (MeetUp)
• The Good Seed Youth Homeless Shelter is looking for support. (Join campaign)

That’s it! You’re now in the know and ready to weigh in at the water cooler. Better yet, head out and experience Long Beach! I’ll bring you another serving of tasty news and events morsels tomorrow.

-Sylvia

Sylvia Cochran is a freelance writer who has lived more than 20 years in Long Beach and its various neighborhoods. I love books, dogs, volunteering, and embrace social justice. If you have a juicy tidbit of what’s happening locally, don’t keep it to yourself; reach out by emailing me at longbeach-ca@patch.com!