Deborah Castro for City Council District 3

06/07/2022

Happy Voting Day! Primary elections are today. Time to let your voice be heard! In case you did not have a mail in ballot, there are plenty of polling locations around Long Beach. Click the link to find a polling place near you as well if you have any questions. Vote anytime between 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Voters in Los Angeles County have the option to cast their ballot in-person at a participating Vote Center in an upcoming election.

06/03/2022

We’re out at Larry Curtis Concert Park at Marine Stadium with “Da Uke Lab” playing tunes and meeting constituents today from 10:30 am-12 noon! Come enjoy Aloha vibes and meet Deborah your 3rd District Council Candidate!

05/30/2022

Happy Memorial Day! I am grateful to those who have sacrificed and served our country. My father was a Captain in the Navy and received a Purple Heart. I join in honoring the families who have lost loved ones.

05/28/2022

Crime is not a one-size-fits-all solution. First, we need to identify “Hot Zones” for crime and look at the types of crimes committed, parts of the day, and frequency to evaluate the impact on both human costs and property lost. The “Neighborhood Walks” program is currently underway and is rotating by district. However, there is a shortage of police due to budget cuts, which stretches resources thin and creates tradeoffs that affect safety across the city and our district. We need to consider a mosaic of solutions, including more funding for community policing, private security guards for high-impact areas, and other visible safety measures to protect people and commerce. I will place public safety as a top priority and look for immediate solutions for now with a vision toward long-term, sustainable safety measures.

05/28/2022

The city has 2,000 homeless individuals. Not only is this a human tragedy, but a safety issue for residents and visitors to our 3rd District and the city as a whole. Mental health and drug addiction are contributors that exacerbate the problem. I recommend expanding the Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) program and redirecting resources to deploy teams to treat, triage and build trust to help people experiencing homelessness, especially those in crisis. The goal is to move these individuals away from the street and de-escalate the problem. The city needs more staffing to receive the calls and respond based on the specific issue. For example, the program is available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with plans to add weekends. Unfortunately, these issues do not always happen between the prescribed hours. A “Crisis Hotline” would be able to respond in real-time to a crisis to defuse the situation. We must redirect the $30 million in Homelessness funds the city receives to these programs and help people get treatment, and I will prioritize this issue as my commitment to public safety.

05/27/2022

An amazing afternoon spent at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation Board. As a board member, I congratulate Marlene Temple on receiving the 2022 Cottonwood Award for Cultural Leadership.

10th Anniversary Rancho Los Alamitos Cottonwood Luncheon, May 26th.

05/21/2022

A good night spent with candidates and business owners to address historical preservation issues to protect the character of our neighborhoods. “Mills Act” was front and center for discussion to help protect our historical properties and keep Long Beach a unique city with incredible historical buildings. I have a long-standing passion for historical preservation and am a member of the Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation Board.

Making YOU first in the 3rd District

Mayoral Debate at Scottish Rite Venue, May 19th.

05/20/2022

Thank you for coming out!

Very excited to work with Natalie Hale again. Natalie and I both have woman-owned businesses headquartered in Long Beach for over 25 years. With Natalie being a UCLA Bruin and me a USC Trojan, our school rivalry has actually led to many collaborations. Both of our values align to set an example of leadership and civic engagement.

Making YOU first in the 3rd District.

05/17/2022

“We have very deep roots”

My family settled here in the 20’s. I’ve been a Long Beach small business owner for 25 years. I am a proud champion of Long Beach, and will the fix issues to set the stage for the future.

“First on the ballet, first for YOU”

Peninsula Neighborhood Association Candidates Forum, May 11th.

05/01/2022

Enjoying a beautiful day at 3rd District Concert with friends Natalie Hale, Michael Okabayashi + family and supporters!

04/22/2022

Happy Earth Day!

Just look at how much we have to recycle..

What will you be recycling?

https://www.longbeach.gov/lbrecycles/news/shred-events-2022/

04/22/2022

Deborah at LBYC 57th Congressional Cup at Veteran’s Memorial Pier for Members and City Officials

Setting the stage for the future of 2028 Summer Olympics in Long Beach!