Participating in a street takeover or being a spectator could soon be costly after the Long Beach City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to direct the City Manager and attorney to draft an ordinance that could penalize attendants.
One of the latest examples of a takeover in Long Beach happened on July 9 at the intersection of Bellflower Boulevard and Stearns Street.
In footage played by Councilmember Daryl Supernaw at the meeting, a white pick-up truck can be seen doing doughnuts on the intersection surrounded by a large group of spectators.
The councilmember noted that someone in the crowd allegedly threw a firework in the direction of police officers responding to the takeover, while others allegedly pointed lasers.
The July incident prompted Supernaw to introduce the item, calling the event a “hazardous environment” for bystanders and nearby neighborhoods.
The District 4 councilmember cited ordinances in Anaheim and Santa Ana that gave police more power to handle takeovers after incidents left people injured in those cities.
Anaheim’s ordinance—introduced earlier this year—allows spectators and participants to face a possible misdemeanor charge or an infraction.
Vice Mayor Rex Richardson supported the item but asked for alternative solutions—noting that a majority of people in the video were young and would be negatively impacted by the takeover’s criminalization.
“A lot of times young people, their first experience with the City is with law enforcement,” Richardson said. “And that can have positive effects and can also have negative effects in terms of their development.”
Richardson suggested providing mentoring programs that the City offers as an alternative.
Councilmember Suzie Price also suggested offering a Mothers Against Drunk Driving driver impact panel as a diversion option.
Concerned about the language, councilmember Roberto Uranga asked for a specific definition of street takeovers to avert future impacts on protests.
“I’m hoping that if and when staff comes back with this ordinance that there will be a clear written definition as to what it is so that it’s not misinterpreted,” Uranga said.
The item had one public comment by Audrena Redmond, the Black Lives Matter Long Beach co-founder who voiced concern over criminalizing the youth.
“Your effort to address this issue goes immediately to the notion of policing and criminalizing,” Redmond said, thanking the councilmembers who presented alternatives.
The community organizer asked the council to consider the long-term consequences for those who are criminalized early in life.
“We don’t need new laws that punish people,” Redmond said.
A preliminary draft of the ordinance will be presented to the council at a later date.
