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Residents press council on MLK Center eviction, planning board and infrastructure concerns during public comment
Summary
During public comment Long Beach residents urged the council to remove the MLK Center from eviction court, supported establishment of a planning board and raised sewer, airplane‑noise and overtime concerns; the council scheduled planning and zoning hearings for Jan. 21.
A range of residents and community representatives spoke during public comment at the Long Beach City Council meeting on Dec. 17, pressing officials on an ongoing eviction court matter involving the MLK Center, supporting a new planning board and asking for updates on sewer construction, airport noise and municipal overtime.
James Hodge, identifying himself as a resident at East Fulton Street, urged the council to remove the MLK Center from eviction court, saying the small nonprofit has served the community since 1968 and is accruing legal expenses it cannot afford. “They’ve been there since 1981… It’s an organization that has helped thousands,” Hodge said, and he asked the city to resolve a remaining sticking point in negotiations so the center is not further burdened by eviction proceedings.
Several speakers praised the council’s decision to publish legislation to establish a planning board and noted the board should review defined sites in the civic area. Mike Deloria, speaking for the West Home and Walks Group, thanked the council and listed candidate sites for review, including Grand Boulevard, West Broadway and the former Hebrew Academy property, and cautioned that development on those sites could strain aging water and sewer infrastructure.
Residents also raised technical and safety questions about sewer reconstruction work on Heron Street and adjacent canals. Russell of public works said the project is a full reconstruction — new roads, sewer and water mains and bulkhead repairs — with an estimated completion around April; he said contractor marks would be repaired and that highway crew would inspect a reported hazardous hole at the head of a canal.
Other commenters urged continued pursuit of grant funding and expressed concern about municipal overtime levels. Ron Paganini criticized historically high overtime totals and urged the council to reduce overtime spending to relieve pressure on property taxes.
Council members voted to publish the planning‑board charter amendment and a zoning ordinance for public hearings on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.; the zoning item requires extra advertising time because of its land‑use implications.
