Editor’s Note

You don’t need to see the data to know that Long Beach is in flux. Once neglected neighborhoods like the East Village Arts District are now showing signs of renewed vitality. The mayor is pushing ahead with plans for a futuristic Civic Center meant to cap his vision of Long Beach as the new SoCal version of Silicon Valley.

Housing costs, meanwhile, have skyrocketed, with prices in downtown ballooning almost 250 percent since 2013, while planning authorities are busy drawing up plans to construct thousands of new, mostly middle-income units.

On the flip side of all that “progress” are the many communities now feeling the squeeze of those higher rents, rising housing costs and waves of newcomers eager to carve out a space for themselves in the new Long Beach.

For the first time ever, the city’s Black population is in decline, dipping below 13 percent of all residents. Efforts to bring more business to Cambodia Town have activists there concerned about what that might mean for its long established residents. For these and others, including the over 20 percent of residents living below the poverty line, the question is: “Will we create a sense of place for them or will they be displaced?”

In this latest issue of VoiceWaves we explore the impact gentrification is having on residents and communities across the city. We also take a look at the city’s shrinking Black population and its long legacy of activism.

On the lighter side, we serve up a savory review of Pnomh Penh Noodle Shack, and take you into the world of women’s rugby through the eyes of Long Beach’s Pacific Islander community. We also review LB local Vince Staples-- our latest hip hop gem.

This latest issue of VoiceWaves offers a snapshot of a city in transition and shines a light on some of the city’s hidden cultural gems –in the hopes that they don’t disappear.

EDITOR

Michelle Zenarosa

Advisors

Peter Schurmann

Honora Montano

KHMER LAYOUT & TRANSLATION

Narin Kem

Spanish Translation

Liliger Damaso

Writers

Jonathan Azterbaum

Sam Caparoso

Rudy Cardoso

Noah Jenkins

Thomas Lick

Michael Lozano

Karen Marin

Ben Novotny

Miguel Rivera

Jessica Salgado

Ariana Sawyer Seng So