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Public comments highlight hospital land, hotel housing, Villa Clara demolition and boardwalk maintenance
Summary
Speakers used the council's public comment period to press for action on the vacant hospital site, criticized long‑term hotel housing and abandoned bikes, mourned the demolition of Villa Clara, and praised boardwalk cleaning; staff pledged follow‑ups on maintenance, county sheltering and enforcement matters.
A range of community concerns surfaced during the public comment segment of the Nov. 18 Long Beach City Council meeting.
Multiple residents urged action on the vacant hospital property. James Hodge (self‑identified at the podium) suggested the 1.8‑acre hospital parcel could be used for senior or veteran housing if the current owner (Mount Sinai was referenced by a commenter) will not restore an emergency facility. Hodge asked that community meetings begin soon and said the city's land should be developed with community input.
Linda Giles thanked staff for boardwalk power washing but questioned sidewalk cleaning funding and schedules; staff said sidewalk power washing is levied through taxes and is scheduled twice each summer. She also asked about a bulkhead breach; staff said the project remains on hold pending coordination with FEMA and change‑order resolution with the contractor.
Tim Kramer raised concerns about about 20 abandoned or derelict bicycles clustered near the Long Beach Hotel and flagged what he described as potential long‑term housing of county‑placed shelter guests at a local hotel — he said schoolchildren were boarding buses at that hotel and asked for county and police follow‑up. A county representative said the county places temporary shelter guests in hotels and staff promised to follow up and check bicycles.
Frank McQuade criticized the demolition of the historic Villa Clara mansion, calling the loss avoidable and urging stronger preservation and oversight; council members acknowledged the loss and said they would follow up with building department and counsel.
Other speakers praised beach maintenance and the city’s social media presence. Staff responded to several items by promising targeted follow‑ups: contacting the hospital's maintenance group about litter in a retention area, having sanitation inspectors revisit greasy sidewalks, checking certified mail returns, and following up with the county on hotel housing and bicycle removal.
