🌱 Metro A Line Death On 1st St + Queen Mary Harbor Commission Update

Hello, friends; today is International Reggae Day, which was founded by Andrea Davis of Jamaica Arts Holdings in 1994. I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

A man was struck and killed by a train. Also, the Harbor Commission wants to know what it would get itself into before accepting the Queen Mary transfer. Finally, what’s the deal with the “8 by 28” initiative?

First, today's weather:

Clouds giving way to sun. High: 79 Low: 62.

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• Del Amo Petroleum at 4990 Long Beach Blvd., $5.79
• G&M at 805 E Ocean Blvd., $5.89
• Vons at 1818 Ximeno Ave., $5.95

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💧 Water Crisis Poll! 💧
Residents are limited to watering their landscapes two days per week, before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. What else should the City do to deal with the water crisis? Please let me know your thoughts! So far, 22.2% want to mandate drought-resistant landscaping, 27.8% want to recycle wastewater for irrigation, another 27.8% want to build a desalination plant at the coast, and 22.2% don’t believe residential water use contributes to the water crisis.

Here are the top five stories in Long Beach today:

1. On Wednesday afternoon, the Metro A Line Train fatally struck a man on 1st Street. “First Street from Long Beach Boulevard to Pine Avenue and Pine Avenue from Broadway to Ocean Boulevard” were closed for hours. The ongoing Taste of Downtown event remained open. (LB Post, DLBA)
2. Queen Mary Update: Before deciding on the transfer of the ship’s care from the city to the Harbor Department, the LB Board of Harbor Commissioners wants more information on what they’re getting themselves into. On Monday, they voted “for an extensive assessment of the historic ship.” You may remember that assessments already completed estimated repair costs to be north of $300 million. It is estimated that it will take a year for the report to be put together. (LB Post)
3. What is LB doing to get ready for the Olympics? We learned on Thursday that there is an “8 by 28” initiative that was announced in 2016. They denote “eight major development projects the city is aiming to complete.” Under the completed column are the improvement of the Metro Blue Line and improvements to the Bayshore, Junipero and Granada beach concession stands. Ongoing projects are the Alamitos Beach concession stand, the airport’s terminal improvement, a redesign of Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, replacement of 23 lifeguard towers and upgrades to seating at the LB Arena. A more ambitious goal is building a 30-story hotel at 100 East Ocean Boulevard. The one project that will likely not be done in time is the construction of a new Belmont Pool, which is projected to cost more than $100 million and is currently in its “financing stages.” (LB Business Journal)
4. Port terminal automation is in the news. We learned on Thursday through a union-funded study that it “eliminated 535,848 hours and $41.8 million in wages annually for dockworkers.” In contrast, the Pacific Maritime Association funded a study that says “cargo handling was accelerated, terminal capacity was expanded, and longshore work was generated significantly faster” through automation. Both sides are currently engaged in contract negotiations. (Press-Telegram)
5. Mark your calendars! The Great American Kids’ Bike Parade is happening this 4th of July at 1 Granada Avenue at 10 a.m. Put on by the inimitable Justin Rudd, parade registrants of all ages are welcome. “In lieu of an entry fee, please consider bringing some tuna, pasta noodles, breakfast cereal, or peanut butter that will be donated to agencies serving homeless men and women in our community.” (Justin Rudd)

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See important Reg A Disclosures

Today in Long Beach:

• Certified Farmers' Market at The Streets/North Promenade (10 a.m.)
• Gentle Yoga with Chanda at the Marine Vista Park (10 a.m.)
• Half-Price Admission at the Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m.)
• Classic Car Cruise Night in Redondo Beach (3 p.m.)
• Carlos Mencia performs at the Brea Improv (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Here’s a sneak peek of the Long Beach Airport's new fully automated Checked Baggage Inspection System. The system features a network of conveyor belts that sorts and tracks travelers’ checked luggage, moving it seamlessly. (Long Beach Airport via Instagram)
• Please do not litter! It’s very harmful to our ocean, wildlife and community. If you see overfilled trash bins, litter at our parks, beaches or marinas, report it on the GoLongBeach app. (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• Don't forget to come visit the Historical Society of Long Beach's gallery to see the new "Curator's Corner" revolving display of staff-selected permanent collection items. (Historical Society of Long Beach via Facebook)
• 📢 The Long Beach Public Library is expanding its programming for teens at several branch locations! The summer and after-school programs will add a variety of enrichment activities for youth ages 12 and older. (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• The City's asking the public to help create an original fireworks safety message to be featured on the 405 FWY digital billboard sign this weekend! 💬 Participate by sharing your idea. (Long Beach City via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

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Events:

• Crab Pot -July 3rd 'Big Bang on the Bay' Fireworks Show and BBQ Dinner 2022 (July 3)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (July 8)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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