By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Long Beach rings in New Year with recycling drive
The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, in partnership with Retail Marketing Services (RMS), Inc.’s CRV CONNX community recycling program, will kick off 2026 with a Recycling Drive from 10 am to 2 pm, Friday, Jan. 2 at El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring Street.
Proceeds generated from the recycling drive will be donated to Food Finders Inc. to help support food distribution sites in Long Beach.
“This is a great opportunity for community members to donate those leftover CRV cans and bottles from their holiday celebrations, and in turn, help people who are facing food insecurity in our city,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “We encourage folks to start the new year off right by contributing to the recycling drive and supporting a good cause.”
Community members are encouraged to collect eligible California Redemption Value (CRV) redemption items, such as bottles, cans, boxes and pouches made of aluminum, glass, plastic and bi-metals, and drop off the items. Patrons are welcome to bring their donation items in garbage bags, cardboard boxes or reusable tote bags.
Items collected during the drive will be recycled at a CalRecycle facility, and monies generated will be donated through the CRV CONNX program to Food Finders Inc. to help support local food distribution sites in Long Beach.
During the drive, community members will also have an opportunity to learn from CRV CONNX Recycling Ambassadors about proper recycling habits in effort to enhance recycling compliance, and El Dorado Nature Center staff will offer education-based activities for participants. The recycling drive will take place in the parking lot near the Opossum Patch picnic site. Parking fees will be waived for participants of the recycling drive.
The New Year, New Use Recycling drive supports PRM’s environmental sustainability goals outlined in its Parks Make Long Beach Strategic Plan and is funded by a CalRecycle workforce development grant received by RMS, Inc.
Hochman, Park, Archuleta to address fatal collision charges
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park (D-Brentwood, Del Rey, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Sawtelle, Venice, West Los Angeles, Westchester) and State Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Brea, Downey, Pico Rivera, Whittier, Montebello, La Mirada, Norwalk) today will speak about the updated murder charges against a woman who allegedly struck down and killed an 18-year-old high school student last May in Manhattan Beach.
Jennifer Levi, the mother of 18-year-old Braun Levi, who was killed in a pedestrian-involved collision, will also speak about the charges.
Jenia Resha Belt, 33, was charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended or revoked license, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
The officials have slated a press conference on the matter for 10 am today, Dec. 29, at the Hall of Justice, Media Room, 211 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.
Padilla, 126 Lawmakers Urge DHS to Withdraw Public Charge Proposal
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, last week co-led 126 lawmakers, including 16 other Senators and 110 Representatives, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule.
“Public charge” is a ground of inadmissibility to the United States, under which an immigration officer determines whether an immigrant is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for future assistance.
The Trump Administration’s proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs.
“The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,” wrote the lawmakers.
“The chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following [past public charge restrictions] showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families — including U.S. citizen children — to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development,” continued the lawmakers.
The lawmakers argued that the proposal contradicts Congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments.
The members urged DHS to withdraw the proposal in full and maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.
