Dear Friend --

Earlier this week, the Center for Digital Government announced that Long Beach has been recognized as a Top Digital City, ranking #1 for cities of our size. This is the eleventh year in a row that Long Beach has been recognized as a Top 10 Digital City and I want to thank our entire city team for all they do to keep us ahead of the pack. This award demonstrates how investing in technology is foundational to creating a resilient, responsive and smart city.

Specifically, Long Beach was recognized this year for our efforts to develop responsive and community-centric technology services. These innovative services help to streamline the delivery of some of our most essential government services, enhance cybersecurity, better prepare for disaster response and recovery efforts and address digital equity initiatives to improve access to technology.

Since I first ran for mayor, making Long Beach a technology-focused, smart city has been one of my top priorities. Over the years our team has:

• Advanced digital equity and advocacy through the adoption of the Smart City Initiative and the Digital Inclusion Roadmap;
• Enhanced the Go Long Beach app for resident reporting, available in all four primary languages spoken in Long Beach;
• Implemented the online vaccination and information portal, VaxLB, which contributes to the high vaccination rate in Long Beach;
• Embraced data and key performance indicators to support critical City restoration efforts, such as identifying neighborhoods most impacted by the pandemic and hosting BizCare pop-up events in those neighborhoods to advance economic development in underserved areas;
• Established Community Learning Hubs in select City parks, which provided students access to much-needed free WiFi to promote remote student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• And Created the Tech-To-Go lending program in partnership with the Long Beach Library Department in 11 of the City’s libraries.

We are honored to be recognized for this important work that helps us better serve our community and we are committed to doing even more in the years ahead. 

Thank you and Go Long Beach,

Mayor Robert Garcia