Dear Friend --

To the 275 Long Beach families who won’t have their mom, dad, grandparent or child at the dinner table tomorrow, please know that I am praying for you and have you in my deep thoughts. Loss is hard anytime during the year, but especially this year and in this moment.

For many families, they never had a chance to say goodbye in person—or to hold their mom or dad in their last days or hours. These 275 local families have gone through horrific trauma and loss.

If you are one of these families, please know that you are loved and that we will do everything we can to protect our community and honor their lives.

Across America, over 260,000 families are in mourning—including my own. We must come together in the days and weeks ahead and take care of each other. Be kind. Be compassionate, and keep each other safe.

This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the time I spent with my mom and stepdad—and I’ll always be grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mayor Robert Garcia