District 3 matters
Rebecca Hinderer listens to what Long Beach families need most and will fight for real solutions in District 3.
What District 3 needs right now
Our Long Beach neighborhoods face real challenges that demand real action. These are the continuous issues keeping District 3 residents up at night, and they deserve a councilmember who delivers.
Public Safety & Community Trust
Three fatal incidents near Second Street in under two years. Thousands of people out at night with no patrol in sight. The Mayor calls it 'growing disorder,' yet residents and businesses are still waiting for a real plan. And in 2025, more people died on Long Beach streets from traffic collisions (32 pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders) than from homicides (31). Long Beach needs a real public safety strategy.
The full picture+
The Problem
Three fatal incidents near Second Street in under two years. In February 2024, Johnny Santos was shot dead on the 5300 block of Second Street. In March 2024, Adrian Hernandez was stabbed at Dave's Hot Chicken on 2nd Street and died at the hospital. In October 2025, Jeremy Spears was shot just off Second Street on La Verne Avenue. The Mayor calls it 'growing disorder,' yet there is still no dedicated walking patrol, no comprehensive safety plan, and no accountability for residents and businesses on one of Long Beach's busiest commercial corridors.
On the roads, 2025 was the deadliest year in over a decade with 53 fatal crashes that killed 54 people. 32 pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders were killed, more than the 31 homicides citywide. Vision Zero promised zero traffic deaths by 2026 — that target year is here, and we're posting the worst toll on record. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists make up just 14% of collisions but account for 65% of all traffic deaths and serious injuries. Five of the 2025 deaths happened along a mile-long stretch of 7th Street near CSULB.
Sources: Long Beach Post (Belmont Shore shooting, Oct 2025), Long Beach Post (Second Street safety), NBC Los Angeles (Belmont Shore safety plan), Long Beach Post (Jan 2026), LAist, City of Long Beach Safe Streets Data, NBC Los Angeles (traffic)
Homelessness & Compassionate Solutions
3,595 neighbors experiencing homelessness in 2025 — up 6.5% from 2024. The city has spent over $135 million since 2020 and $55 million this year alone. While LA County declined for a second straight year, Long Beach's count keeps climbing. The city even returned a $5.6 million shelter grant unspent.
The full picture+
The Problem
The 2025 Point-in-Time Count found 3,595 people experiencing homelessness — a 6.5% increase over 2024. The city attributes 76% of the rise to January wildfire displacements, but even without fires, homelessness rose 1.5%. Meanwhile, LA County reported a second consecutive year of decline.
57.6% of people counted said it was their first time experiencing homelessness. Financial hardship as a cause rose from 37.1% to 41.2%. The city was forced to return a $5.6 million state Homekey grant after spending funds on planning and 33 modular units that sit in storage, never installed. Over 500 federally funded emergency housing vouchers are expected to be lost.
Sources: City of Long Beach 2025 PIT Report, Long Beach Post (July 2025), NBC Los Angeles, Long Beach Local News (Feb 2025)
Fiscal Accountability
Long Beach is staring down a $61.3M budget shortfall, the latest sign that City Hall is not managing taxpayer money responsibly. Tariffs, lower-than-expected tax revenue, and federal funding cuts are squeezing every department. Yet spending continues without measurable results. We need real accountability.
The full picture+
The Problem
The City of Long Beach is facing a $61.3M budget deficit, the latest projection from the City's budget team. The cumulative five-year General Fund shortfall now totals $60.5M. COVID Long Beach Recovery Act funds are fully exhausted with no structural replacement. Tariffs, slower-than-expected sales and property tax revenue, and federal and state funding cuts are squeezing every department.
Oil revenue is projected to decline 54% by 2035, costing the City $278 to $301 million in lost revenue. The Health Department deficit hit $14 million, requiring General Fund coverage. The City has a 22% average vacancy rate across departments, up to 40% in some, with libraries closing due to staffing shortages.
Long Beach spends $52,527 per street mile compared to San Diego's $13,939. A city audit found Long Beach 'failed to prove it spent street repair money effectively.' Total infrastructure needs are $698.6 million per year, far beyond current capacity. Year after year, departments cite the same crises while the deficit keeps growing.
Sources: Long Beach Post ($61.3M deficit, 2026), Long Beach Today (Feb 2026), City Auditor Laura Doud (June 2024), City Manager FY26 transmittal, Long Beach Post (Aug 2025)
Infrastructure & Neighborhood Investment
District 3 has more aging waterfront infrastructure than any council district in Long Beach — and most of it is over budget, behind schedule, or stalled outright. The next councilmember has to keep these projects moving and stop letting D3 be the city's stalled-construction zone.
The full picture+
The Problem
Naples SeawallHalted
Phase 1 was completed in October 2015 along Rivo Alto Canal. Phase 2 was contracted to Reyes Construction in 2019, but reconstruction was halted due to declining oil revenue. Total replacement is now estimated at $125 million. The California Coastal Commission requires that any further work coincide with the $12M Sorrento Trail public walkway. Funding options under discussion: a 30-year bond at $5,100/year per Naples property if spread neighborhood-wide, or roughly $48,000 per property if reduced to seaside residents.
Rebecca will fight to: Find a funding path that doesn't push the full burden onto Naples residents and get Phase 2 back under construction.
Colorado Lagoon Open Channel ProjectBehind Schedule
The 18-acre tidal channel will replace the 900-foot underground tunnel between Colorado Lagoon and Marine Stadium, restoring water flow and adding bike paths, walking paths, two vehicle bridges, and new sports fields. Originally budgeted at $26.3M (2021), the project rose to $32.5M when contracted in November 2022 and is now around $34M, with another $26M committed by the LA Harbor Commissioners. Originally scheduled to finish in 2025, it's been pushed to Summer 2026 — utility relocation took 10 months instead of 4.5, plus weather delays, hazmat abatement, and unmapped third-party utilities. Road closures continue on Colorado Street and Eliot Street.
Rebecca will fight to: Demand transparent timeline reporting and full accountability for every cost overrun.
Marine StadiumUnderinvested
Built for the 1932 Olympic rowing events, Marine Stadium is still used today by clubs and visitors but suffers from poor water circulation because it currently connects to the Colorado Lagoon via the 900-foot underground pipe. Marine Stadium Improvements is part of Elevate '28, the city's $1B+ infrastructure plan funded by Measure A and other sources — but it's at risk of being deprioritized.
Rebecca will fight to: Make sure dock, water-quality, and access work actually gets done at Marine Stadium — not deferred for another decade.
Belmont Beach & Aquatics CenterFinally Moving
The Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool was demolished in 2014 due to seismic safety concerns. After more than a decade of delays, the City Council approved a $105.1 million construction contract on January 20, 2026. Groundbreaking is set for Summer 2026, with completion targeted before the 2028 Olympic Games. The new facility will include a 50-meter outdoor competition pool with a movable bulkhead, plus a recreational pool with zero-depth entry, spray features, and dedicated swim-instruction space.
Rebecca will fight to: Hold the timeline tight so D3 finally gets this back — and so the next decade-long delay doesn't happen.
Belmont Veterans Memorial PierDeteriorating
Years of limited maintenance have left the pier structurally degraded. Spring 2026: under-pier structural repairs are underway. Fall 2026: pier surface and parking-lot rebuild are scheduled. Long-term, a full replacement is under consideration — the most popular community concept is a “rainbow-shaped” pier that pays homage to the original Downtown Rainbow Pier. Estimated cost: $86M+. Target completion: June 2028, ahead of the Olympics.
Rebecca will fight to: Lock in a community-driven design and a timeline the city actually has to honor.
2nd Street / Davies BridgeStructurally Deficient
The John H. Davies Bridge — the lifeline between Belmont Shore and Naples — was rated “Structurally Deficient” by LA County's 2017 Bridge Inspection Report. The proposed update will create a protected multi-use pedestrian/bike path on the outer edge of the bridge to reduce collisions and improve safety.
Rebecca will fight to: Fund and finish the bridge upgrade so District 3's most-used connector isn't a safety risk.
Streets, Pavement & PotholesBehind
Long Beach spent $170 million on streets between FY23 and FY24. A city audit found Long Beach “failed to prove it spent that money effectively.” Cost per street mile: Long Beach $52,527 vs San Diego $13,939 vs Seal Beach $23,352. The Pavement Condition Index improved from 56 to 61 of 100 — still rated “low” by the auditor. Over 50% of streets need resurfacing; 20% require full reconstruction. The pothole program needs an additional $850,000 plus $1.45M one-time for an extra crew.
Rebecca will fight to: Demand transparent before/after metrics on every paving dollar so D3 doesn't pay four times more for streets that don't get fixed.
Storm Drains & FloodingUnder-Addressed
The Peninsula and Belmont Shore flood routinely during storms. Nick's on 2nd, Olympix Fitness, and other businesses have shut down or taken damage. In a February 2025 City Council briefing, city staff confirmed Long Beach's drainage systems were “designed for past land uses.” Aging pipes, debris-clogged drains, and damaged pump stations are the top causes.
Rebecca will fight to: Push for a District 3-specific drainage upgrade plan — not just citywide promises that never reach our streets.
Bluff Park ErosionLong-Term
The bluff face from 20th Place to Paloma Avenue has been actively eroding for decades. A $4.4 million Phase 2 stabilization project (2,500 30-foot anchor rods) began in 2013, but no Phase 3 has been committed. The bluff continues to lose material and threatens park infrastructure above it.
Rebecca will fight to: Keep Bluff Park stabilization on the city's Capital Improvement Plan list and secure the funding for Phase 3.
Sources: City of Long Beach Colorado Lagoon Project, Long Beach Post (Colorado Lagoon delay), Long Beach Post (Aug 2025), City Auditor report, City Manager FY26 transmittal, City FY26 Budget
Local Business & Jobs
Nearly 400 storefronts sit empty across Long Beach. Legacy businesses are closing their doors. Rising rents, break-ins, and homelessness are driving away the small businesses that make our neighborhoods special. Rebecca built a restaurant during COVID with no corporate backing — she knows what it takes.
The full picture+
The Problem
Nearly 400 vacant commercial properties sit empty across Long Beach. The city's response was a $25,000 pilot for artistic window wraps, later folded into the broader Vacancy to Vibrancy Storefront Program — still nowhere near the scale of the problem. Suburban mall vacancy is over 50% in Long Beach, vs. 8% in LA. The Long Beach Restaurant Association president called this "the most trying time financially" for restaurant owners.
Beachwood Brewing closed its flagship Downtown location citing homelessness, crime, and construction impacts. A vintage store prospect canceled a Pine Avenue tour after seeing conditions and went to Orange County instead. Belmont Shore lost legacy businesses including Jones Bicycles (108 years) and Haskell’s Prospector (60 years). The City Council only passed its Small Business Rebound initiative in February 2025.
Sources: Long Beach Business Journal (Aug 2024), Long Beach Business Journal (Feb 2025), Long Beach Business Journal (Dec 2023), City of Long Beach (Dec 2025), City FY26 Budget
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Our District
Your Neighborhood
Questions
Rebecca's positions on the issues that matter most to Long Beach District 3
How will you address housing costs?+
Rebecca supports zoning reform to allow more housing in Long Beach, incentives for affordable units, and enforcement against speculation. She’ll work with developers and community groups to build the homes District 3 needs.
How do you fix our infrastructure?+
Rebecca will prioritize road repairs, upgrade aging utilities, and invest in District 3 parks. She’ll push for state and federal funding while demanding better spending decisions from Long Beach City Hall.
How will transit improve?+
Rebecca will advocate for expanded Long Beach Transit routes, better frequency, and lower fares. She’ll work with transit agencies to make sure buses serve where District 3 residents actually need to go.
What’s your public safety plan?+
Community policing, better training, and accountability matter. Rebecca believes in supporting officers who live in our Long Beach neighborhoods while holding the system accountable to every District 3 resident it serves.
Will you support our schools?+
Yes. Rebecca will fight for increased funding, better teacher pay, and modern facilities for Long Beach schools. District 3’s schools are the foundation of our community’s future.
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Rebecca's listening. She's ready to work. District 3 deserves a Long Beach City Council representative who delivers.