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
In 2025, more people died on Long Beach streets from traffic collisions than from homicides — 32 pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders killed versus 29 murders. The city promised Vision Zero by 2026: zero traffic deaths. Instead, we hit the deadliest year in over a decade.
The full picture+
The Problem
The City of Long Beach set a Vision Zero goal in 2016 to eliminate traffic deaths by 2026. That deadline is this year — and instead of reaching zero, 2025 was the deadliest year in over a decade with 53 fatal collisions. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists make up just 14% of collisions but account for 65% of all traffic deaths and serious injuries.
215 pedestrian-involved crashes occurred citywide from July 2024 to July 2025. Five of the people killed in 2025 died along a mile-long stretch of 7th Street near CSULB. Three fatal incidents occurred near Second Street in Bex’s own neighborhood in under two years.
Sources: Long Beach Post (Jan 2026), LAist, City of Long Beach Safe Streets Data, NBC Los Angeles
Homelessness & Compassionate Solutions
3,595 neighbors experiencing homelessness in 2025 — up from 3,376 the year before. The city has spent over $135 million since 2020 and $55 million this year alone. LA County’s numbers are going down. Long Beach’s are going up. 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 faces a $40 million deficit this year — nearly double what was projected. Up to $80 million looms next year. The COVID recovery funds are gone. Oil revenue is disappearing. Every tax dollar should show results.
The full picture+
The Problem
The FY25 general fund deficit hit $40 million — nearly double the original projection. FY26 faces a structural shortfall of $60 to $80 million. The cumulative five-year General Fund shortfall is $60.5 million. COVID Long Beach Recovery Act funds are fully exhausted with no structural replacement.
Oil revenue is projected to decline 54% by 2035, losing $278–$301 million. 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 — libraries are closing due to staffing shortages.
Street spending: $52,527 per mile compared to San Diego at $13,939. A city audit found Long Beach “failed to prove it spent street repair money effectively.” Infrastructure needs total $698.6 million per year — far beyond current capacity.
Sources: 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 projects miss deadlines and stall out. The city spent $170 million on streets and an audit found it couldn’t prove the money was spent effectively. We spend nearly 4x more per road mile than San Diego — with worse results.
The full picture+
The Problem
Long Beach spent $170 million on streets between FY23–FY24 as part of the Elevate ’28 plan. A city audit found it “failed to prove it spent that money effectively.” Cost per mile: Long Beach $52,527 vs. San Diego $13,939 vs. Seal Beach $23,352.
The Pavement Condition Index improved from 56 to 61 out of 100 — still rated “low” by the auditor. Over 50% of streets still need resurfacing, and 20%+ require full reconstruction. Infrastructure needs total $698.6 million per year vs. actual spending far below that. The pothole program alone needs $850,000 in additional funding plus $1.45M one-time for an extra crew to fill 12,000 more potholes per year.
Sources: 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 to the vacancy crisis was a $25,000 pilot for artistic window wraps on empty storefronts. 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.
Want to know more?
Reach out with your questions and concerns about District 3
Join the fight for District 3
Rebecca's listening. She's ready to work. District 3 deserves a Long Beach City Council representative who delivers.