Addressing Long Beach’s Traffic Fatality Crisis

By Joshua Rodriguez,

Candidate for Mayor of Long Beach

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Traffic deaths have become a devastating problem in our city. Before COVID, Long Beach averaged just 30traffic fatalities per year. Under the current administration, that number has nearly doubled, reaching 53 to 56 deaths in 2025 alone.

I want to also protect all bicyclists from dangerous drivers and stop dangerous e-bikers/ e-motorcycles, before they get hurt. I have successfully implemented a zero tolerance for illegal e-bikes at every middle/ high school, where I work. I personally educated children, their parents, teachers, and administrative staff by providing pamphlets. I explained the law and how to make the e-bikes legal, causing an 80% reduction in incidents in the first two weeks.

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None of these problems are acceptable. Families are losing loved ones on our streets, and we must treat this as the emergency it is.

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My Plan to Make Our Streets Safer:

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• Expand motor officers and dramatically increase targeted traffic enforcement in high-risk areas (only have 4 to 6 for LB, down from 30).

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• Install solar LED lighting on dark streets and intersections to improve visibility and reduce nighttime crashes.

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• Implement traffic calming measures — including speed bumps and lowered speed limits in residential neighborhoods and around schools.

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• Crack down hard on illegal e-bikes and reckless driving with zero tolerance, in Long Beach.

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• Empower Neighborhood Watches by providing them training and direct coordination with police so residents can help identify dangerous drivers and problem locations.

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• Work with the City Attorney and District Attorney to impose harsher penalties on repeat offenders — including meaningful community service, not just fines.

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As a police officer who has responds to too many of these tragic scenes, I know what works. We need visible enforcement, better infrastructure, and real accountability.

Public safety starts with safer streets. If elected Mayor, reducing traffic fatalities will be a top priority with public safety from day one.

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I’m asking for your support to bring real change to Long Beach.