🌱New Rules For Shoreline Drive Food Trucks + Convention Center Audit

Hey, Long Beach; today is World Lion Day, which was founded in 2013 by the Big Cat Initiative and National Geographic! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

Shoreline Drive businesses aren’t on board with the large number of food trucks doing business there. Also, the Convention Center’s former finance director alleges financial mismanagement of city money. Finally, there’s an upset at Long Beach State over losing its Executive Director of Athletics.

Now, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 89 Low: 68.

FYI: Long Beach Cooling Centers are open daily from noon to 6 p.m. You find them at the Houghton, McBride, and Admiral Kidd community centers as well as the Senior Center and El Dorado Park West.

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• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $4.79
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Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. Business owners around Shoreline Drive, the Pike and Rainbow Harbor aren’t keen on having up to 20 food trucks parked there on any given day. Diners love the variety. Now, the City Council will get involved. On August 23, a package of updated regulations is coming up for a vote. Critics say that the food trucks are “above LB health inspections, LB business licenses, PBID assessments, CVB and Chamber fees too.” “We do good business here,” operators say. (Press-Telegram)
2. There is scuttlebutt that the Long Beach Convention Center isn’t using public money the way it should. We learned on Tuesday that the City “has frozen a million-dollar convention center fund and is auditing its use in response to allegations by the facility’s former finance director.” This director had been let go and is now suing, alleging “he was fired after complaining that hundreds of thousands of dollars in furniture and other items were being purchased without required approvals from the city.” “The allegations and assertions made in this complaint are absurd. Beyond that, I cannot comment at this time,” the top official of the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau asserted. (LB Post)
3. Long Beach State is losing its executive director of athletics. Announcing his departure after just five short years on Tuesday, we learned that he “is leaving for a position at the University of Washington, where he will become the deputy athletics director and chief of staff for the Huskies.” A contract extension was supposed to maintain his leadership until 2026, but he will leave on August 26 instead. The program is now working out the details of interim leadership. (The562.org)
4. We’re getting a massage parlor in the southeast part of the city. The Now Massage chain will open at 2nd & PCH sometime this winter. The chain is already operating five other locations. The Planning Commission approved the business last Thursday, and the business model includes customers talking “with a therapist prior to the session to identify particular goals for the massage.” (LB Business Journal)
5. Mark your calendars! There is a Special Olympics fundraiser scheduled for September 24 at the Long Beach Airport. It involves pulling an 82-ton Boeing 757 UPS-owned jetliner! “The friendly contest pits 80 teams of 25 people against” the plane. Bragging rights go to the team that can move it the fastest. “Teams each make a $1,500 donation to participate.” There is still room for teams to form and sign up; and, of course, an audience is a must-have. (Press-Telegram)

Today in Long Beach:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct To You at 6695 E Pacific Coast Hwy (9 a.m.)
• Barbara Alpert Singing Circle at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (10:30 a.m.)
• Marina Stadium Farmers Market at Appian Way and Nieto Avenue (3 p.m.)
• Button Making For Teens at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (4 p.m.)
• Small Food Business Meetup at the Long Beach Beer Lab (5 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Please wish the 11 new LBPD Explorer recruits good luck as they embark on a challenging week-long journey at the Orange County Explorer Academy. At the academy they will receive instruction in basic law, report writing, drill and more. (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Wu was recognized for his heroic actions at a significant traffic accident he came across while on vacation in Independence, CA. His action made a significant difference in the life of the patient. (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• Our neighbor in The Plaza is looking for recommendations for a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in this area. They're looking for an MD or NP that offers facial laser resurfacing. (Nextdoor)
• A South of Conant neighbor is wondering what is the deal with the constant alarm near Spring and Los Coyotes? (Nextdoor)
• Our El Dorado Park Estates neighbor needs a good dog walker in the area. (Nextdoor)

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You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com