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Public commenters urge eviction moratorium after ICE raids, report vendor harassment and urge voter registration
Summary
During general public comment residents urged the council to act after local ICE activity and proposed an eviction moratorium; other commenters raised street vendor safety and parking concerns near the Aquarium and urged voter registration outreach for older adults.
Several members of the public used the Sept. 16 public comment period to press the City Council on immigration enforcement, housing protections and street‑vendor issues.
Lou Rosen described recent ICE activity in the region and called for the council to consider an emergency eviction moratorium, arguing such a moratorium would allow workers at high‑risk workplaces who fear raids to stay home without losing housing. Rosen also urged the city to pressure a local hotel — identified in his remarks as housing ICE agents — to end that contract. He described the situation as “an emergency” and asked the council to provide financial relief to landlords or small businesses that could demonstrate hardship under a moratorium.
Steven Solo said he and others in the community feel less safe following incidents he described, including immigration enforcement actions near workplaces. Solo asked the council to be “louder” in defending residents and called for more visible municipal support and protections.
Lourdes Dixon spoke about ongoing problems with unpermitted street vendors near the Aquarium of the Pacific and along Queensway Drive, saying vendors sometimes occupy loading zones, block curb access and have caused safety and harassment incidents she reported to police. Dixon asked that the city repaint loading zones and enforce parking/loading restrictions to reduce conflicts; she said she paid $8,000 in insurance and that the situation has affected local businesses for about eight months.
Karen Reeside, president of the Long Beach Grama Panthers, used her time to urge voter registration and turnout, particularly among low‑income older adults who she said sometimes feel disconnected from the process. She thanked staff for prior distributions of emergency preparedness kits to older adults.
Speakers requested specific actions (an eviction moratorium, hotel pressure, repainting of loading zones and more enforcement). The council did not take immediate action on these requests at the meeting; public comments were recorded for council consideration and follow up as appropriate.
