Al Austin II was elected in 2012 to the Long Beach City Council, representing the Eighth District, which includes Bixby Knolls, Los Cerritos and North Long Beach.

 

Since taking office, Councilmember Austin has focused on promoting strong and safe neighborhoods and revitalizing the commercial corridors throughout the Eighth District.

 

Councilmember Austin's public safety accomplishments include: passage of the Alcohol Nuisance Abatement and Social Hosting Ordinances, securing funding for the Prohibited Possessor Taskforce coupled with the Long Beach's first ever gun buyback event.  He successfully advocated to restore public hours at Long Beach's North Division Station, which had been closed for 5 years prior to 2013 when Austin secured an agreement with then Chief Jim McDonnell to open the doors.

 

Austin has been under attack lately by his opponent Wesley Turnbow.  Turnbow and his supporters have taken a lot of criticism for sending out racially motivated mailers under the mask of an independent expenditure campaign.  The mailer claims that violent crime is up in Long Beach when in fact; recent crime reports show the 8th District in Long Beach is safer today than it was four years ago. Many of Austin’s city council colleagues also immediately took to social media to dispute these allegations and the mailer calling it hateful and racially motivated.  Third District Councilmember Suzie Price defended Austin who she says has worked hard and has a genuine care for his community.  Councilmember Gonzalez called this mailer and the Turnbow Campaign an act of desperation.  Long Beach residents understand that the challenges for Long Beach require difficult decisions and commitment to the community, two things that drive Al Austin each and every day.

 

Councilmember Austin made it a priority to re-establish and fund police and fire academies, with diverse recruiting classes.  He has also promoted Community Watch groups as a tool to help make neighborhoods safer and involve local residents and community stakeholders.  The Eighth District under Councilmember Austin's leadership has had a zero tolerance approach to graffiti.

 

Councilmember Austin has worked to ensure funding for the Be S.A.F.E. summer youth programs in parks in North Long Beach and citywide, as well as the P.E.A.C.E. (Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation) Basketball League for young adults 18 to 25 year olds. He has held countless community events, including the foster/adoption-centered "Share Your Heart, Share Your Home" event, Back to School events, annual budget town halls, health fairs, tree planting events, seniors forums, PTA gatherings, community clean ups, and many other events that engage the diverse needs of the 8th District communities.

 

Councilmember Austin has worked hard to ensure that businesses in the Eighth District thrive and succeed. He has worked closely with the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association to bring many new businesses to the corridors, played a major role in organizing the businesses in Virginia Village on Long Beach Boulevard, and helped create the new Uptown Business Improvement District along Atlantic Avenue north of Market Street. Councilmember Austin has also helped facilitate the development of three new retail centers in the Eighth District, which will add scores of new employment opportunities, services, and retail options for Uptown Long Beach residents.

 

Councilmember Austin has been steadfast in support of quality of life issues that residents care about most.  Austin initiated a citywide study session to educate the public and council on the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance.  He has voiced strong support for the City's Airport Noise Ordinance and opposes any proposal that would put it at risk. Councilmember Austin also successfully advocated to get the Eighth District represented on the Airport Advisory Commission.

 

It is for these reasons and many more that the Los Angeles Sentinel and The LA Watts Times Proudly Endorse Al Austin for Long Beach City Council.

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