TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to establish a Rebuild Long Beach Relief Fund to assist Long Beach small businesses with repair and loss recovery from damages sustained during the evening of May 31, 2020; public funding shall be allocated in a way that maximizes benefits paid to businesses, and to partner with private programs.
DISCUSSION
Our community is stronger today because of investments made by small retail business owners,
restaurant owners, and the creativity and culture within the people of Long Beach.
On May 31, 2020, after nearly three months of closures due to COVID-19, the Governor
announced Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, would be allowed to slowly begin
reopening restaurants, hair salons and barber shops, as well as other retail locations with physical
distancing and sanitation protocols in place. Many Long Beach businesses had been preparing
— investing in materials and supplies to support the new COVID-19 business protocols, stocking
up on goods, food and other supplies, and all were looking forward to reconnecting with their
customers and the Long Beach community safely.
Peaceful protests began in Long Beach on May 31 due to the killing of George Floyd and to
address systemic racism and equity. In addition to peaceful protests, Long Beach also
experienced serious vandalism and looting after peaceful protests.
The Rebuild Long Beach Relief Program can be a combination of the following resources to assist
small businesses who were affected by damage from civil unrest:
• Grants: Immediate access to grants to replace lost inventory, make repairs to the interior
of a business, replace lost equipment, repair damaged equipment, pay business interruption insurance deductibles, repair the façade of a storefront, working capital to
continue operations.
• Loans: Access to affordable, low-interest, no-fee loans that provide a grace period before
repayment is required to allow small businesses to restart and rebuild revenues before
having to begin repayment.
• Donations: Create a City portal for to help connect business to in-kind donations from
residents, businesses, and private foundations.
• Deferment of Payments: Identify, advocate for, and create programs at the local, county,
and state government to defer the payment of taxes and fees including sales tax, property
tax, business license, or other permits required for repairs.
• Tax Credits: Identify, advocate for, and create tax credits or deductions at all levels of
government for expenses associated with repair and restart.
• Streamlined Permitting: Create a streamlined application, inspection, and approval
process for repairs or improvements to buildings and equipment damaged on May 31.
• Incentives: Explore the creation of incentive programs for businesses, property owners,
donors and patrons that participate in the restart, repair, or recovery of impacted
businesses.
• Special Events and Promotions: Provide grants to businesses and business support
organizations to engage residents and visitors in special events and promotions that
generate sales and help boost revenues for businesses impacted by the May 31.
The goal is simple, to do everything that we can as a community to help and support our wounded
small businesses quickly restart, reopen, and stay open long after the city has cleaned-up and
has moved-on to the recovery stage of this historic period.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY:
Due to the fast-moving events over the last week since the May 31st protests, this item needs to
be heard at the earliest possible date.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
Financial Management will assess the fiscal impact associated with creating a fund to support
local businesses, and include this information in a report back to the City Council. Due to the
urgency of this item, no review by the department of Financial Management was possible.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA
MARY ZENDEJAS
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILWOMAN, SECOND DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS
VICE MAYOR, SIXTH DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT