Due to a budget disagreement between Senate Republicans and Democrats, the United States government officially shut down on Wednesday. For the most part, this means nothing for City governments and City-run services in Long Beach.
But if the shutdown lasts over a month, programs that serve vulnerable populations could start to feel the impacts, a spokesperson for the Long Beach Health Department said.
Let’s look at how we got here, what this currently means for Long Beach, and how you can prepare if the shutdown persists.
Why Is The Government Shut Down?
In the United States, the House of Representatives and Senate both create their own budget resolutions for the country, which then must be negotiated and merged into one bill to send to the President for approval. This process is meant to provide checks and balances of power and encourage compromise to create a budget that works for all Americans.
Republicans currently hold more seats in the House of Representatives than Democrats do, at 53-47, respectively. However, in the Senate, they were short of 60 votes needed to pass the current funding bill.
Disagreements over this budget largely comes down to healthcare. Democrats want to extend a tax credit that makes insurance premiums cheaper for people who use Affordable Care Act insurance such as Medi-Cal, and reverse cuts to Medicaid made by President Donald Trump.
Roughly 24 million are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, according to NPR, and if the tax credits are not extended, those people’s monthly insurance premiums will more than double. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 4 million people would lose their health coverage if that happens.
Open enrollment for these programs begins on Nov. 1, which explains why healthcare disputes are the main cause of the shutdown.
What Does This Mean for Long Beach?
For local governments, this shutdown means mostly nothing. On a national level, nearly 750,000 government workers have been ordered to stop working, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents are now working without pay, according to Reuters.
Long Beach residents should still be wary of ICE and Border Patrol agents, as it seems their operations will continue during the shutdown.
The City announced on Wednesday that most City services and offices will remain open, including:
- Police, fire and emergency response services
- Public health
- Refuse and recycling pickup
- Street sweeping and road maintenance
- Public library services
- Permitting, licensing and inspections
- Parks and recreation programming
A Long Beach Health Department representative said if the shutdown continues into November, certain nutrition and housing programs can be affected. This includes the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and housing programs like Section 8 housing vouchers, Veterans Affair Supportive Housing, Shelter Plus Care, the Homeless Assistance Program and certain project-based vouchers.
The Long Beach Health Department is currently in “ongoing coordination” with the State, the spokesperson said.
The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach, which works to connect residents to rental assistance programs and affordable housing, is fully funded by the federal government, and will also be impacted if the shutdown goes into late November.
Services like social security, Medicare and Medicaid will continue operating as of now. The Long Beach airport will remain fully operational, as TSA workers and pilots are considered essential and will work without pay. However, if the shutdown persists into November, the Airport expects increased wait times and minor delays, the City said in a public statement.
Long Beach’s situation may change as the President has begun to use the shutdown as an opportunity to cut funding to certain Democratic-heavy states and projects. Hours into the shutdown, the President announced that he would freeze $8 billion in green energy projects in Democratic-led states, and $18 billion for New York’s transit projects.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump would use the shutdown to cut “agencies and programs that do not align with the Administration’s policies and values,” as reported by USA Today.
What Can You Do?
If you rely on government-funded nutritional and housing programs, now is a great time to connect with community organizations that can fill those gaps.
Local nonprofit Long Beach Community Table has an open pantry four days a week at its office 3311 E. 59th St. Their headquarters also have clothing, hygiene products, pet food and more items for those who need it. Reservations are not required and visitors will receive a custom box of groceries based on their dietary needs or preferences up to once a week.
Those in need of rental assistance should contact nonprofit LiBRE (Long Beach Residents Empowered) and see if they qualify for subsidies. People in need of immediate shelter can contact the Multi-Service Center at 562-570-4500.
