Bad news filtered in from Washington, D.C. yesterday: Long Beach will get no federal funding this year for the long-debated breakwater reconnaissance study—a city-sponsored project already in the works as of this past June.
“I wish we had better news,” said Tom Modica, manager of government affairs for the Office of the City Manager, “but, the [...]

The once-rare brown pelican may stand in the way of any plan to remove the Long Beach breakwater

PHOTO by JENNY STOCKDALE
Last week, after 12 years of talk and a year of delays, city officials voted to study reconfiguring—maybe even partially removing—the Long Beach Breakwater. And they set an aggressive deadline: The city hired Moffatt & [...]

Updates on some of the biggest stories from The District’s first year

PHOTO by JONATHAN NAFARRETE, WINNER OF OUR FIRST-EVER FLICKR PHOTO CONTEST
Bank doors closing for the last time. Roaring factories fallen suddenly silent. The stock market on suicide watch. Evangelical hymns in 10 thousand churches rising to an angry, bearded God. Foreign powers circling, eyeballing [...]

Clean beaches, surfing, a new source of energy—and an expanded port. The world according to Keith Higginbotham

PHOTO by JENNIFER STOCKDALE
The entire solution to Long Beach’s dirty, stagnant coastline fits in the blue cotton hoodie wrapped around the head of Keith Higginbotham.
He has a plan to make waves where there are none, turn muck into clean [...]

Back to where we started…
Happy New Year! Here’s your recap:
In 2005, the city of Long Beach asked for a $100,000 federal appropriation to fund a reconnaissance study that would determine the cost-effectiveness of reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater — that two-mile wall of boulders capping the city’s coast and retaining swirley toilet water courtesy of [...]

The Breakwater Forum
Fourth District City Councilman Patrick O’Donnell interrupted his partying at the Surfrider Foundation’s Breakwater Bash on Thursday night just long enough to announce his own breakwater event.
The Breakwater Forum—probably a little less fun but a lot more informational—will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Honda Theater. It’s free [...]

Sink the Breakwater: Bring back the waves with a benefit for Surfrider Long Beach. There’s music by Mention, The New Fidelity and Kevin Shima, too. $7. 21+.
THE BULL BAR 3316 E Seventh St, Long Beach 90804. 562.433.6282.
Joanna Newsom: The dry-voiced harpist in her proper setting: a concert hall backed by a 28-piece orchestra. 8pm. $30-50.
WALT [...]

Army Corp sends parameters for Recon Study, Coastal Conservancy may be sending money
The parameters for the Long Beach Breakwater Reconnaissance Study have arrived, and the list of federal regulations sent by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers amounts to a job description for a job that’s never been described before.”
Army Corps staff informs us that [...]

Jay-Z: Keeps on coming back, but nobody seems to mind. Now a pricey stop on Sunset to hold you over—possibly, but not probably, the last for awhile. 8pm. $150. 18+.
HOB SUNSET 8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 90069; 323.848.5100; hob.com.
Surfline: The science of swells and waves—and some extra longing for the time when Long Beach had [...]

There’s poop in the water, and soon it’ll taste like ash!
This story in the Downtown Gazette shows that water quality in Alamitos Bay has fallen below “disgusting” to somewhere near “ithinkimgonnabesick.” Water’s a challenge in the best of times: an agreement between Long Beach, LA County and water officials ended Sept. 30, allowing the [...]