After three years of service, Long Beach’s Assistant City Manager Linda F. Tatum announced her retirement on Sept. 21.
Before taking up the assistant city manager position in June 2020, Tatum was previously Long Beach’s director of Development Services. She also served in the public sector for cities such as Culver City, Santa Ana and Inglewood.
Tatum’s last day will be in November.
“As Assistant City Manager, Linda has played an integral role in the operational and morale resiliency of our organization,” said City Manager Tom Modica in a public statement. “She has led with compassion, dignity and inclusivity—she is a true public servant and dedicated leader. We are grateful for the influential impact she has made here in Long Beach and we wish her all the best as she begins an exciting new chapter of life in her retirement.”
During her time as Assistant City Manager, Tatum managed Long Beach’s $40 million CARES Act Program, which provided critical funding for communities most impacted by COVID-19. She also led the City’s transition to its new police oversight model after voters approved Measure E, which established an independent Police Oversight Director.
Tatum took the lead in coordinating the 2021 Emergency Intake Shelter, when unaccompanied migrant children were given shelter at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Another project led by Tatum was the Framework for Reconciliation, a plan passed in 2020 to address racial inequalities in tandem with the City Manager’s Office.
Tatum’s time in the Development Services department allowed her to oversee the development along the Downtown waterfront and an update on the Long Beach Land Use Element and Urban Design Elements.
As the director of Development Services, Tatum oversaw the planning, development and permitting of over 1,000 affordable housing units and 5,500 market-rate housing units as well as the new Civic Center.
“Serving the City of Long Beach has been the highlight of my 30-plus-year career in public service. I am proud to have been a part of this organization and the incredible work and accomplishments of the City team, who unfailingly lead with dedication, compassion, and a desire to make life better for those who call Long Beach home,” Tatum said in a public statement.
She also served on the Board of Directors for the California Planning Foundation for over 12 years, eight of which as president.
Long Beach’s Human Resources Department will conduct a recruitment process to permanently fill the position of assistant city manager, hoping to conclude the process by the end of the year.
The City is also searching for a new director of its Health and Human Services Department, as Kelly Colopy announced she is leaving for a similar role in Salt Lake County in October.
