Meet The Candidates: Posterli For Long Beach City Council

LONG BEACH, NY — A trio of Democratic incumbents in Long Beach face a primary on Tuesday, June 27.

The three city council members will be primaried by James Hodge.

One of those on the ballot is Tina Posterli, who was elected to the Long Beach City Council in Nov. 2021. She was elected to the Long Beach Public Schools Board of Education in 2018, voted in as vice president in 2019 and elected president in 2020.

Why are you seeking another term?

I am dedicated to serving the Long Beach community and have taken on roles to better the lives of our residents for as long as I've lived here (22 years). I want to continue to be a voice for my community and shape policy to strengthen all of our neighborhoods, which is vital in creating an equitable community where all residents and businesses can thrive. I love the City of Long Beach and want to continue to utilize and evolve my skills and experience to make it a better place for us all to live now and into the future.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Curbing future tax increases and making Long Beach financially sound. I intend to continue to work with my fellow Council members and City administration and staff to: Optimize internal systems and processes, generate new revenue streams, and enhance ongoing monitoring and reporting of revenue and expenses throughout the fiscal year. This Council and Administration work hard to promote transparency and include the public in the process. I will ensure we continue that work to ensure budgetary decisions reflect the needs and concerns of the residents, as well as work to develop a long-term financial planning process.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Critical differences include: My professional experience as a movement builder and advocate who has a track record of helping organizations, boards and coalitions work together to advance policies and campaigns that have established healthcare equity for underserved populations, protected drinking water supplies from pollutants regionally, nationally and worldwide, and successfully advocated for legislation that ensures equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities in the United States. I work collaboratively and build relationships with diverse stakeholders and bring people together to foster consensus and drive collective action towards common goals. I also have a strong understanding of community needs from all areas of our City and actively listen to different perspectives. I value diverse opinions and am always seeking to understand alternative viewpoints and find common ground. I am a strong communicator and possess a forward-thinking mindset, allowing me to envision the future needs of our community and develop plans that go beyond short-term fixes.

Continuing to rightsize years of financial mismanagement of previous administrations, focusing on investments in infrastructure to protect our neighborhoods from flooding and future storms, advancing a Comprehensive Plan to guide the vision for the future of Long Beach, building an inclusive, revitalized community, and prioritizing public safety.

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

Secured tens of millions of dollars in grants to bring long-needed flood protection to our north shore, attained over $100 million in grants to reengineer our sewage system that will stop the discharge of millions of gallons of effluent into Reynolds Channel each day, secured more than $1 million in grant funding to rebuild playgrounds at city parks, giving our children fun and safe places to play, secured $4.5 million in grants for revitalization and improvement of the central business district, investing in new law enforcement officers to keep Long Beach one of the top 25 safest cities in the U.S.

School board accomplishments: Worked with District and State and County officials to keep our schools open throughout the pandemic and on a budget process that resulted in a 0% tax levy increase for 2021-2022 along with curriculum enhancements and facilities upgrades.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From my mom, who recently passed away. She always told me to "Embrace change and keep true to myself."

This advice has had a profound impact on me because it shifted my perspective on how I approach challenges and navigate through life's uncertainties. It continues to remind me that change is inevitable and resisting it only hinders personal and professional growth. The combination of embracing change while trusting my inner compass and not letting go of who I am has enabled me to embrace life's many twists and turns rather than fear or resist them. This mindset has allowed me to explore new industries, develop new skills, and broaden my horizons with confidence.

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

In addition to my professional career, I also have a background in the performing arts. I'm committed to the work we do every day to tackle the tough issues facing our city. The investments we are making in infrastructure combined with advancing a plan to guide the vision for the future of Long Beach is laying the groundwork for the future of Long Beach as a cultural arts hub and transit-oriented city where all our residents and businesses can thrive.