Long Beach Daily Brief: Budget Warning, Youth Violence Arrests, and a Weekend Shooting

Long Beach heads into March with a mix of big-picture budget pressure and immediate public-safety updates. Here are the local headlines worth knowing today.

1) City Hall: Long-range deficit outlook sharpens

A new financial outlook is raising alarms about Long Beach’s ability to keep services stable in coming years. The report points to a projected deficit that could reach roughly $60 million to $80 million by fiscal year 2027, after the city closed fiscal year 2025 over budget and leaned on reserves and one-time dollars to balance the current budget.

City leaders have pointed to softer revenues, rising costs, and growing pressure on departments. The message for residents: this isn’t an immediate emergency, but 2027 is shaping up as a make-or-break year for cuts, new revenue, or both.

2) Public safety: Attempted-murder arrests in teen shooting case

Police announced arrests of two suspects, ages 14 and 19, tied to a February 22 shooting that left a 14-year-old boy wounded. Investigators say the victim is now in stable condition, and the case was presented to the District Attorney for filing consideration.

In a separate weekend update, police reported a teen driver arrived at a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds after a shooting that investigators believe happened near Atlantic Avenue and Artesia Boulevard early Saturday morning. Detectives are still working to identify a suspect and motive.

3) Traffic safety: DUI checkpoint details for the East Division

• A DUI/driver license checkpoint was scheduled Friday night in the East Division area (6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.).
• Police emphasized impairment isn’t limited to alcohol and can include marijuana or medications.

If you were out this weekend, expect continued enforcement focus in corridors with a history of impaired-driving crashes.

Sources

• https://www.longbeachlocalnews.com/2026/02/28/80m-deficit-raises-tough-questions-for-modica-richardson-at-city-hall/
• https://www.longbeach.gov/police/press-releases/lbpd-arrests-two-suspects-ages-14-and-19-for-attempted-murder-in-recent-shooting/
• https://www.longbeach.gov/police/news/lbpd-blotter-feb-28-2026/
• https://www.longbeach.gov/police/press-releases/long-beach-police-department-holding-duicdl-checkpoint-on-fri.-feb.-27/