Dear Friend --

If there was a silver lining during the pandemic, it was the amazing outdoor dining scene that sprung up because of our Open Streets initiative. We’ve heard from hundreds of restaurants and community members — outdoor dining and parklets have no doubt helped businesses survive the last year.

Food and culture are so important for any city, and Long Beach has some of the very best. Our restaurants and all of the unique parklets throughout our city add such incredible character and warmth to Long Beach.

Last night, the City Council extended our Open Streets program to October and are working to make many of them permanently. I look forward to seeing these spaces continue to thrive. We also plan to work with businesses to build quality parklets across the city.

Sometimes out of crisis comes great opportunities for change. This program can help businesses increase their ability to serve guests by increasing their total square footage. And it will also spur our recovery while allowing us all to enjoy our favorite restaurants outdoors.

Thank you and Go Long Beach,

Mayor Robert Garcia