Long Beach Restores Some Services Equipped With Emergency Powers

Long Beach, Calif. has restored some affected services and has emergency authorities at hand to help as it responds to a network security incident discovered last week.

Most systems that were offlined following the Nov. 14 incident remain so, but others are available, the city said this morning:

• Residents can now pay parking citations online, by phone at 562-570-6822 or in person at City Hall. Those paying in person may only use cash, check or money order. Late fees and penalties will be levied.
• The Health and Human Services Department’s resource line is now handling live calls as normal.
• Parks, Recreation and Marine class online registration is now available through LB Rec Connect and residents can pay by credit card.

The city’s main website is still unavailable. In the meantime, departments have been turning to social media, email and phone to provide updates.

The City Prosecutor’s website can now be reached at www.CityProsecutorDougHaubert.com, per today’s announcement. The website for the Economic Development Department’s BizCare team is unavailable but the team is reachable at 562-570-4BIZ or 4biz@longbeach.gov.

As the city grapples with the situation, it has new capabilities to leverage: Last Friday, the City Council voted unanimously 8-0 in favor of ratifying a proclamation of local emergency. The city’s emergency powers will last until Dec. 5, 2023 at which point a request can be made to extend the order.

Other systems and service remain disrupted.

• New inspection requests must be made by phone at 562-570-5223 and customers are encouraged to wait, if possible, until Nov. 27 to submit new requests. Previously scheduled inspections will still be conducted and those needing immediate assistance can expect help, although there may be delay.
• Parks, Recreation and Marine online facility registrations are unavailable, but can be made in person.
• Utility payments are unavailable. As a result, the city has halted billing late fees and shutoffs for nonpayment. Previously scheduled customer service operations may be delayed but will occur.
• Library online services like e-books, public computers, public printers and catalog searches are unavailable. Locations remain open and books can be checked in and out with an offline method.
• Environmental Health operations are delayed but continue. Some records related to permit fees are also currently unavailable.
• The city’s COVID-19 testing clinic at Martin Luther King Jr. Park will only provide rapid testing until the system is restored.
• Public Works permit application approvals will have “minor delays.”
• The Go Long Beach mobile app is operational, but there will be minor delays in service fulfillment.
• Online permitting and licensing are unavailable. Residents can receive drop-in services in person at the Community Development Department Permit Center at City Hall, however. Payments may be possible with credit card, cash or check, depending on the type and size of the transaction; in some cases, payment can be deferred until later.