Local Briefs: LB Safe Overnight Parking Program Extended, McOsker Calls For Comprehensive Evaluation of Vincent Thomas Bridge Project Impacts

Long Beach Extends Overnight Safe Parking Program Through 2023

LONG BEACH — The city’s safe parking program provides a safe, dignified environment for people currently sheltering in their vehicles to park overnight while receiving access to basic needs and being connected to services.

To accommodate the extension of the program in the area just south of Downtown, the city relocated the original temporary safe parking site to the SouthShore Launch Ramp parking lot, a nearby vacant lot just north on Queensway. The South Shore Lot has capacity for 26 vehicles, which is in line with current demand and could expand if needed. The city intends to operate a safe parking program in this general area throughout 2023, either at SouthShore Launch Ramp or in the previous location off of Queensway depending on capacity needs, scheduled activities and accommodation of the many uses that operate in that area.

People interested in participating in the program must first receive a referral from the Multi-Service Center, located at 1301 W. 12th St., Long Beach

Details: https://tinyurl.com/ms2yr4wv 

Vincent Thomas Bridge Update

WILMINGTON — Wilmington suffers an undue burden of truck traffic and other goods movement related issues. With the closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge for the deck replacement, the situation will only get worse. Caltrans’ proposed detour route options will not only affect the drivers who take these streets to work every day, but it will affect their health cumulatively, as well as the health of the entire community.

Some of the projects, like the Alameda Street widening project and the Anaheim Street widening project that are along the detour have been 20 years in the making. Last month, councilman Tim McOsker introduced a motion for a comprehensive evaluation of how public projects may be impacted by the Vincent Thomas Bridge project and to make every effort to mitigate these effects.