Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $500, offset by the First Council District One-time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to support the Long Beach Blues Society, Blues for All Event; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $500 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.
And so I will do my best. We are going to come back to the budget. We are going to go ahead and do items 21, 22, 27 and 29. All the funds transfers as one item. Madam Clerk. Communication from councilman's into his recommendation to increase appropriations in the City Manager Department by 500 to support the Long Beach Blues Society. Blues for All Event. Item 22 Communication from Councilwoman Zendejas recommendation to increased appropriations in the City Manager Department by 10,000 to provide a contribution to social and environmental entrepreneurs to support their youth, sports and mentoring program. Books and buckets. Not to mention Haas. Mayor. Would you like me to add the other two items? I thought you had read all of them. No, we. Don't. The other two items are. Item 29 and 27. Item 27 Communication from Councilwoman Price Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents necessary to accept and expend grant funding from the Port of Long Beach and Item 29 Communication from Councilwoman Sorrell, Councilwoman Zendejas, Councilmember Your Unger recommendation to increase appropriations in the City Manager Department by 3586 to support the Rigley Village BLOCK Party. Compromise in the House. Thank you, Mayor. It takes a strong community to build a strong community. Individuals stepping up, willing to put in the work and willing to work together to create solutions and address the issues they've met and they may see in their community as they live in this community. That is why I am proud and a strong supporter of our new books and Buckets program, a youth program that is very much needed in our Washington neighborhood. And I am excited to continue supporting this program. I would now like to give my remaining time to David so he can speak a little bit more about the program if David is here. I don't see. Thank you. I'm Truman Price. It's support this item. Councilman Ciro. I just wanted to speak to item 29 around the village block party that, you know, that's the first in-person event I was able to host since I've been in office. And I thought that it was a great kick off to doing more in-person event, particularly bringing resources to community and bringing residents together to to connect, but also to activate the small businesses in the Wrigley Village area. And looking forward to continuing the work and the celebration in our Wrigley Village area and throughout the other parts of the districts. Thank you. Thank you. There's a motion any second by consumers and they have some price. Members, please cast your votes. There is public comment on item 22. I'm sorry about that. Please. Please come to the comment is your public comment. And I can say, please come to the podium. And then can can someone from the clerk's office send me the public comment? I don't have any up here. Okay. Snake in Faith District six. RESIDENT I'm just coming today in support of books and buckets. I think it's an amazing opportunity. Youth led organization in the Washington district that's really speaking to the needs of the community. And I want to say much respect. To Councilwoman Zendaya for ushering locals in her neighborhood, in her district, and an opportunity to lead the. Youth towards positivity. I, as a person that runs a bookstore, would love to support by donating books. Big fan of David. And everything that him and his associates are doing and, you know, feeling very generous. Ms.. And they are so, you know, I don't know if there's. Anybody here from the organization, but I would. Love to give some money as well, because it is important that private individuals also step up to support the youth and not just the city. So thank you. I also wanted to say thank you to Councilwoman Soros. Amazing blog. Point. I didn't know if it was you know I liability issue that's why I don't want to say anything. But it was a great. Block party. I grew up in Wrigleyville. I was born in Pacific Hospital. So it was great to see so many people on Pacific. Avenue and lots of children and pinatas. And it was a great opportunity to see everyone out. And thank you again, Councilwoman. Mayor. I think we may have a video to see that. Do you guys have the books and buckets video? Well, cue that up right now. Thank you. It isn't your typical youth sports program. I'm Christian Longo in Long Beach, where I'll introduce you to the founder who is from this neighborhood and is now back on the courts he grew up in hoping to bring others up with him along the way. Ever heard the saying the ball is life? It's definitely a way of life for 12 year old Stephen Sheppard. I was playing since I was like three when my grandpa. We were playing in this court right here. Since then, he's spent almost every day here dribbling, passing and shooting with his neighborhood friends or as part of a summer program called Books and Buckets. Outside, all as a great program. With lots of responsibility. Because you also have to practice, but also keep your book and read about it. So then you can educate your mind about what's happening. And motivate yourself in life. The program was started by another kid from the neighborhood, David McGill Soriano, who used to spend all his free time with friends on this very court. I came when I was growing up right here in the Washington neighborhood. There was no youth program, there was no youth center. And I wanted to be a part of something. David would take an hour long bus ride out of the Washington neighborhood every week, all to join a youth program he says helped his physical and mental development. When I got older, I was thinking like, Man, what if what if our neighborhood had that? You know, what if I had take the bus ride when I had to do all that? And so when he got older. He did just that, bringing others who grew up in the area back with him. The camp brings an academic side with group discussions, readings and guest speakers and mixes it all together with. Well, I think you can guess what. The part that really, really that meant is the basketball part, the basketball academy. But more so than just developing for their future, it's a means to keep them safe in the present. This neighborhood wraps with its share of gang violence. Kids as young as Stephen have already experienced it. So basically there's there's a lot of gang violence and they want to influence you to do bad things. And it's things like this that motivated David to keep. His camp going. Our youth know them as well. I know them, but they go to school with them. So if this program wasn't here, they might be a part of that. By being here, they gain more than just basketball knowledge. They gain community. You know. We'll passing the ball and they take the shot. And the day we give them the tools and they can help solve the problems in the neighborhood. Locals coming back to their hometown and putting the ball back in. Kids like. Stephen's for. Thank you for that. Thank you. With the motion in a second, please cast your votes. Motion carries. Thank you. And just a note for the clerk. I don't have any public comments up here, so I just want to make sure that. Currently there is. Okay, great. Thank you. Next up is we're going to do item 19. Actually, I'm sorry. Let's do the the the four open public comments because. If you want to call those for the podium.