Dear Friend --

I want to close out 2020 with some great news.

We just received news that the California Department of Public Health licensed Community Hospital Long Beach (CHLB) to reopen January 4. This is incredible, and an outcome that we had been working towards all year. With hospitals across our city and state at capacity, this reopening is critical for the safety and care of our community, and couldn't be more needed.

Initially, CHLB will open with 51 beds and space to add additional capacity later in the year. Beds will be used for pre-arranged physician-directed transfers of patients from local hospitals and nursing facilities. Community Hospital will expand services offered, including the opening of the emergency department, in 2021.

The reopening could not be possible without the support of so many in the community and the incredible partners at MWN. I want to personally thank John Molina for leading these efforts and his incredible resolve to opening the facility. I also want to thank all of our state partners including Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, State Senators Lena Gonzalez and Tom Umberg, and Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell. And a huge thank you to our local City Council champion, Daryl Supernaw.

Please continue to stay safe this holiday. We continue to save lives by simply staying home whenever possible.

Thank you. Happy new year and stay safe,

Mayor Robert Garcia