Rex Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rex Richardson
|
|
|---|---|
Richardson in 2022
|
|
| 29th Mayor of Long Beach | |
| Assumed office December 20, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert Garcia |
| Vice Mayor of Long Beach | |
| In office August 2, 2016 – December 20, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Suja Lowenthal |
| Succeeded by | Cindy Allen |
| Member of the Long Beach City Council from the 9th district |
|
| In office July 15, 2014 – December 20, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Steven Neal |
| Succeeded by | Joni Ricks-Oddie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 18, 1983 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nina |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | North Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Education | California State University, Dominguez Hills |
Rex Richardson (born August 18, 1983) is an American politician. He is currently the mayor of Long Beach, California. He started this job in 2022.
Before becoming mayor, Richardson was a member of the Long Beach City Council. He represented the 9th District from 2014 to 2022. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Politics
Rex Richardson was born on August 18, 1983, in Illinois. His father was in the United States Air Force. His mother worked as a welder on an assembly line for General Motors.
When he was young, his parents divorced. He and his siblings moved with their mother to different states. They lived in Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri. Later, they settled in Alabama before moving to California when Rex was 11.
He went to Covina High School. After high school, he enrolled at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He became the student body president there. However, he left college early to work as a community organizer. He worked for the Service Employees International Union Local 721.
Starting His Political Journey
In 2010, Steve Neal, a member of the Long Beach City Council, hired Richardson. Rex became his chief of staff. This meant he helped Neal manage his office and organize community groups.
In 2014, Neal ran for a different political job. Rex Richardson then ran for Neal's old spot on the city council. He won the election. In 2015, he started the My Brother's Keeper Challenge in Long Beach. This program helps young people succeed.
In 2016, he was elected vice mayor of Long Beach. This is a leadership role on the city council. In 2020, Richardson went back to college online. He earned his bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Becoming Mayor of Long Beach
Running for Mayor
In January 2022, Rex Richardson announced he would run for mayor of Long Beach. The previous mayor, Robert Garcia, was leaving to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Many important people supported Richardson. These included Senator Alex Padilla and Governor Gavin Newsom. The outgoing Mayor Garcia also supported him.
In the first election on June 7, Richardson and another council member, Suzie Price, got the most votes. But neither candidate won more than half the votes. So, they had a second election, called a runoff. Richardson won the runoff election on November 8, 2022. He became the first Black mayor of Long Beach.
Mayor's Role and Key Decisions
Rex Richardson officially became mayor on December 20, 2022. Long Beach uses a "council-manager" system of government. This means the city council makes most of the big decisions. However, the mayor can choose people for certain important positions.
In 2022, Long Beach voters decided to create a new Police Oversight Commission. This group watches over the police department. Mayor Richardson chose Francine Kerridge to be its first commissioner. Her job is to look into issues like police force and overall trends.
Richardson has focused on making sure his appointments are diverse. He has chosen 32 commissioners so far. More than half of them are women. Also, more than half are from different racial minority groups.
Important Plans for Long Beach
Helping with Housing: Long Beach Housing Promise
Mayor Richardson proposed the Long Beach Housing Promise. The City Council approved it in April 2023. This plan aims to create more affordable homes. It especially helps students and their families. It also looks for ways to prevent people from becoming homeless.
Richardson worked with leaders from local colleges and schools on this plan. These included the presidents of California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. He also worked with the superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District.
Growing the Economy: Grow Long Beach Initiative
The Grow Long Beach Initiative is a long-term plan for the city's economy. Its goal is to find new ways for the city to make money. This helps reduce how much the city relies on oil.
The plan focuses on tourism and aerospace industries. But it also explores other areas like healthcare, shipping, education, and the arts. One exciting project from this plan is a new Hard Rock Hotel. Mayor Richardson announced this hotel project in November 2023. He believes it will bring more tourists and make downtown Long Beach a lively entertainment area.
Making Downtown Safer: Roadmap to Downtown Recovery
In November 2023, Richardson shared a plan to improve safety in downtown Long Beach. This plan has three parts. It focuses on public safety issues, especially those related to mental health.
The plan includes creating a Neighborhood Safety Bike Team. It also means more police officers will patrol downtown. And new "Quality of Life officers" will be added to help with various issues.
Investing in West Long Beach: West Side Promise
The West Side Promise was part of Richardson's 2024 budget plan. It's a 10-year investment to improve West Long Beach. The goal is to add more housing and boost the economy. It also aims to make the area more resistant to climate change.
West Long Beach has faced challenges. It lacks basic services like banks and full-service grocery stores. Also, it's close to a major highway and the Port of Long Beach. This can cause health problems for residents. The West Side Promise aims to bring in new investments, create more green spaces, and reduce pollution.
Budget Plans for 2024
Mayor Richardson has worked to change Long Beach's economy through his budget plans. His 2024 proposal includes "Elevate 28." This is a billion-dollar plan to improve the Long Beach area.
The total budget proposal is $3.2 billion. It focuses on helping people experiencing homelessness. It also prepares the city for the 2028 Olympic Games. The final budget started on October 1st. It puts money towards the Olympics, city buildings, and other improvements. The plan also aims to improve people's quality of life. This includes helping homeless people find safe homes. It also supports small local businesses to boost the community and tourism.
The West Side Promise is a key part of this budget. It's a 10-year plan to fight against environmental unfairness in the city. Richardson believes it will be a good investment. The plan includes building a new cultural center and new parks. The goal is to give residents more basic necessities and resources. This program will need money from both private companies and the government to succeed.
Personal Life
Rex Richardson is married to Nina. They have two daughters. The family lives in North Long Beach.
Images for kids
-
Richardson in 2022
