Panama Joes’ application has successfully passed through the Zoning Administrator stage with relatively minor concerns from the City. However, this is not the end of the road. The next step is City Council.

However, the most important action you can take right now is to send an email to the addresses below stating your opposition. This is THE ONLY time period when the City considers dissent via email.

During the Zoning Administrator meeting, several Granada Ave. residents expressed their strong opposition to the parklet. Their concerns centered around Panama Joe's reputation as a problematic neighbor, citing issues such as loud music, poor crowd control, and disruptive behavior from patrons. These residents voiced their dissatisfaction, and it’s clear that the City Councilmembers (and City Manager and Public Works staff) need to hear our collective concerns to influence their decisions at this stage.

To ensure our voices are heard, we urgently need your help. Please send a single email to all of the following addresses no later than August 25, 2024 to express your objection to Panama Joe's parklet (sample at bottom). Your email can be as concise or detailed as you prefer, but it should clearly state your objections to the parklet based on your issues. Keep in mind, THIS is the only measure of opposition used by the City, other than attendance at the City Council meeting (which has not yet been scheduled).

Email Addresses to Contact (please copy all emails below into one email):

• Parklets@longbeach.gov 

• CityClerk@longbeach.gov 

• Jonathan.Iniesta@longbeach.gov

• parkingnotparklets@gmail.com 

• CityManager@longbeach.gov 

• District3@longbeach.gov

• District1@longbeach.gov

• District2@longbeach.gov

• District4@longbeach.gov

• District5@longbeach.gov

• District6@longbeach.gov

• District7@longbeach.gov

• District8@longbeach.gov

• District9@longbeach.gov

• Mayor@longbeach.gov 

Your timely action is crucial to ensure our concerns are fully considered. Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to make your voice heard.

SAMPLE:

Subject: Strong Opposition to Panama Joe's Parklet at 5100 2nd St.

Dear City Council Members,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the parklet proposal submitted by Panama Joe’s.

The corner of 2nd St. and Granada Ave. is already one of the most hazardous areas in Belmont Shore. Panama Joe’s is known for attracting large crowds and the consumption of alcohol. This has resulted in frequent sidewalk congestion, with groups of people blocking pedestrian pathways, standing in lines waiting to get in, and congregating around the bar’s numerous televisions and loud music speakers that are directed toward the sidewalk. Many patrons also stumble through the neighborhood to their cars conducting inappropriate and disgusting behavior, drive drunk, and hit other cars.

Adding a parklet to this already problematic location, and converting two metered public parking spaces into an additional seating and drinking area, would exacerbate these issues significantly. This proposal represents a considerable risk to pedestrian and driver safety at this busy intersection, and would further contribute to the challenging conditions on Granada Ave and in our neighborhood.

For these reasons, I strongly urge you to reject the parklet application for Panama Joe’s.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Full Phone Number]

2 Weeks, 2 Fatalities

Quality of Life living off of Second Street / in Belmont Shore

2 people killed in fights in two weeks in Belmont Shore

During the forum, community members brought up concerns about businesses on 2nd Street over-serving in bars, bar fights, break-ins in the area and homelessness contributing to an atmosphere of violence.

Roughly 100 people packed the parking lot of Sheldrake Coffee Roasting in Belmont Shore Thursday morning where Long Beach city officials and the chief of police addressed concerns about crime after two people were killed in the span of two weeks along Second Street.

During the meeting, community members pointed out over-serving at bars, fights, break-ins, restaurants acting as nightclubs and homelessness as the top concerns contributing to violence and blight. They called for the city to enforce business licensing rules more strictly, add police patrols and address homelessness.

Police say they have increased patrols since that shooting, and Chief Hebeish said there will be inspections at local businesses to ensure things like alcohol are not contributing factors to crime in the area.

"And so what you will be seeing in the next few weeks are inspections at businesses, you'll see a presence of officers up and down 2nd Street, when we have those available resources you will see traffic enforcement, and you will also see volunteers connecting with the businesses, handing out resource information, handing out flyers and providing details on how we can best address crime," Hebeish said.

Bar owners in Belmont Shore will also take proactive measures to procedures, protocols and security measures within their businesses in an effort to address issues affecting public safety, according to Heather Kern, Executive Director of the Belmont Shore Business Association.

Duggan said officials will be reviewing the number of ABC licenses in the area and their conditions, requesting DUI checkpoints and working directly;y with businesses.

A Nightmare on 2nd Street

PERMANENT PARKLETS are in the works and threaten safety, accessibility, and our residential streets

MAP LEGEND:
Red = Hearings process exhausted; heading to City Council for final decision.

Yellow = On applicants list

Purple = Likely or past applicants

Blue = Encroachments of concern

15+ permanent parklets are in the works for 2nd Street. Legends is up first. Residents need to act:

• FEBRUARY 13

City Council hears the FINAL APPEAL for the first 2nd St. permanent parklet, for Legends (two parking spaces). Write city council and show up. 

5 pm, at LBCC, NOT at City Hall. 4901 E. Carson St. Park in Structure 1 off of Clark Ave. (between Lew Davis St. and Carson St.) Go to Building T, Room 1100.

PLEASE WRITE... NOW

Focus your input on Legends specifically. HERE is info about Legends' application, and general parklet issues can be found HERE. 

Click here to start an email to our District 3 councilmember Kristina Duggan, the Mayor and other officials regarding Legends' application.

Send your email ASAP because the February 13 decision is looming and officials need to hear how you feel NOW.

BELMONT SHORE CURB MANAGEMENT STUDY.

Conducted by Long Beach Department of Traffic Engineering, Public Works.
Please note the 15 'existing parklets' on slide 19 (at the link below), and that the study does NOT reflect the loss of those parking spaces and the resulting cars on our residential streets, because the study was done when there were no parklets in place.
These numbers are skewed. CLICK HERE for CURB MANAGEMENT STUDY.