Long Beach looks to ban protests within 300 feet of elected officials’ homes

In lockstep with the Los Angeles City Council, the Long Beach City Council approved a motion to draft a law banning protests near the homes of elected officials at its Tuesday, Aug. 14 meeting.

In the past year, protesters have held demonstrations in front of multiple council members’ homes, one of which included life-sized coffins with the names of residents killed by Long Beach police officers. 

The proposed ordinance would prohibit protests within 300 feet of elected officials’ homes. 

During the meeting, many council members conceded that they had “signed up” for protests by choosing to become public officials, but that their neighbors had not.

Councilmember Al Austin opened his remarks by saying that protests outside councilmembers’ homes were an “overreaching tactic” to “intimidate” public officials.

He added that “constitutional rights are not unlimited” and that the ban was brought forth in the interest of safety for elected officials, their neighbors and the protesters.

Council members recalled several examples: moving vans parked in front of their homes before Thanksgiving, protesters brandishing firearms, megaphones and loudspeakers disturbing neighbors. 

“I’m a public official. I knew that this job came with certain responsibilities and vulnerabilities,” Austin said. “At the same time, we have to say enough is enough.”

The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a similar ordinance that bars protesters from coming within 300 feet of targeted residences. Those affected can seek up to $1,000 for each violation. The City of San Jose has had a similar ordinance in place since the 1990s. 

Councilmember Roberto Uranga was the only council member to vehemently oppose the ordinance. 

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said, saying that police had done a “phenomenal job” thus far in managing protests and that an ordinance would restrict their flexibility to respond.

“The people have a right to [protest],” Uranga said. “And we know that when we get into this job, that that is very much a possibility.”

Both Councilmembers Suzie Price and Stacy Mungo agreed but said that the disruption and, at times, intimidation was not fair to their neighbors.

In one instance, a man brandishing a shotgun stood outside Price’s home among protesters, she said. Her neighbors, who have young children, leave their home when they get advance notice of the protest, she said, but they don’t always know when protesters will show up.

“It’s not us, it’s the people around us who don’t really sign up for that,” Price said. “We’re in a time now where things have been stretched to a limit that could potentially be dangerous.” 

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said that, during protest management, the department’s main goal is to make sure that the “community’s voices are heard in the appropriate time, place and manner.” 

He did not elaborate on what protocols the department follows for protest management in residential neighborhoods. City Manager Tom Modica said enforcement was dependent on the size and nature of the protest. 

“We are not calling protesters terrorists, we are not doing that,” Vice Mayor Rex Richardson said. “However, we do want to make sure we are doing what we can to protect the safety of not only our leaders, but our neighbors and anyone who is a target of these activities, which have ramped up over time.”

The motion passed 8-1, with Uranga opposing. The city attorney will return to the council with a draft ordinance at a future meeting. A feasibility study requested by Councilmember Suely Saro is expected to be completed before the ordinance comes to council.

The next Long Beach City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Civic Chambers, 411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802.