- ADVERTISEMENT -
The request started with a call from the White House to Mayor Robert Garcia’s office on March 25. It wasn’t until 10 days later that the city officially revealed the idea was under consideration.
City leaders had declined to confirm the news when the Post first reported on April 1 the Convention Center was under consideration instead officials announced the plan four days later on the afternoon of April 5.
In the interim, city staffers had mobilized to coordinate logistics and learn about how a similar plan was working in San Diego. But there was also political maneuvering.
Hours before the plan appeared on a City Council agenda Monday, Garcia, who is close with senior members of the Biden Administration, began rallying supporters. In a private meeting with 25 to 30 community groups, Garcia asked them to speak out in support of the proposal and urge the City Council to approve the idea.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
Garcia said that $15 million of this new money is restricted to be spent at the Long Beach Airport, but the remaining $12 million would add to the large pool of largely unrestricted federal money the city is set to receive as part of the American Rescue Plan.
The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden Thursday.
The mayor announced the new funds during a meeting of the city’s Federal Legislative Committee, the body’s first look at the $151 million Long Beach Recovery Act Garcia unveiled Monday morning. The full council will consider the proposed plan Tuesday and could vote to approve it.