Meet Mayor Rex Richardson

As Long Beach's 29th Mayor, Rex Richardson has transformed the city's greatest challenges into unprecedented opportunities, bringing leadership rooted in personal experience with working families' struggles and a proven commitment to expanding opportunity for all residents.

From Adversity to Achievement: The Power of Determination

Mayor Richardson's story reflects the American Dream realized through determination and community support. Raised by a single mother—a union welder at General Motors whose own mother integrated schools in the South—Richardson experienced firsthand the struggles of job instability and housing insecurity that many Long Beach families face today. His father's service in the United States Air Force instilled values of duty and public service that guide his leadership.

With support from public schools and community programs, Richardson became the first in his family to attend college, serving as Student Body President at Cal State Dominguez Hills. After college, he worked as a community organizer with SEIU Local 721, advocating for blue-collar workers. At 25, he became the first person in his family to purchase real estate, buying a home in North Long Beach where he and his family still live today.

Richardson's public service journey began as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Steve Neal, where he built the coalitions among neighborhood, labor, business, and faith leaders that would become his signature approach to governance. In 2014, he won his City Council race with 73% of the vote, making history as Long Beach's youngest-ever councilmember.

During his council tenure, Richardson championed transformative initiatives including bringing President Obama's My Brother's Keeper Initiative to Long Beach and creating the PATH program, which diverts young offenders toward job training and education instead of incarceration.

Solutions in Action: Major Policy Victories

Richardson's leadership philosophy centers on identifying root causes and implementing comprehensive solutions. As mayor, he has delivered transformational results across the city's most pressing challenges.

Revolutionizing Public Safety Through Community Investment

Richardson secured voter approval for Measure A in 2020, which provided funding for 41 new public safety positions, prevented 108 additional cuts, and restored the Long Beach Police Department's South Patrol Division. After years of advocacy, he successfully restored Rescue 12 to Fire Station 12, reducing emergency response times by three minutes in North Long Beach.

Beyond traditional public safety, Richardson created the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion and established the Office of Youth Development through Measure US funding, providing $1 million annually for youth programs that address crime prevention at its source.

Tackling Homelessness: First Decline in Nearly a Decade

Richardson built Long Beach's first municipal homeless shelter, Atlantic Farms Bridge Housing Community, providing 125 beds with plans for 240 additional units. Under his leadership, Long Beach's homeless population declined for the first time in nearly a decade, with more than 100 new shelter beds and 200+ permanent supportive housing units opening since January 2023. His innovative approach includes mobile access centers, mental health clinics, expanded outreach teams, and safe parking sites.

Leading the Space Economy and Innovation

Richardson launched initiatives that positioned Long Beach as a national leader in emerging industries. His Space Beach cluster has experienced remarkable growth with major expansions from JetZero, Rebel Space Technologies, and Rocket Lab, plus successful recruitment of Ampaire, Vast, Orbital Operations, and True Anomaly.

Richardson became the first mayor to launch a Mayor's Space Council, bringing together 30 C-suite executives representing all aerospace and space companies in the city. He also launched the US Mayors & CEOs for Space Leadership, positioning Long Beach at the forefront of national space industry policy.

Major corporate investments like Nikon AM Synergy's $100 million R&D facility demonstrate the confidence corporations have in Long Beach's future under Richardson's leadership.

Economic Transformation and Job Creation

Since taking office, Richardson has attracted over 4,100 new high-paying, high-growth jobs and secured lease signings for more than 1 million square feet of new space for manufacturing, technical, and professional services. His efforts culminated in Long Beach being named the Most Business Friendly City in LA County by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, besting 87 other cities.

The city has seen a resurgence of advanced manufacturing across sectors, with companies like BioGas Engineering choosing Long Beach for expansion, alongside professional services firms including Blue Shield of California, Kimley-Horn, Boos & Associates, Critical Loop, and SLATE.

Richardson championed three successful ballot measures that received overwhelming voter support to make it easier for Long Beach residents to get jobs at the port and with the city, increasing opportunities now and for the next generation for good quality, close-to-home jobs: the Long Beach Jobs Promise (Measure JB) to expand city employment opportunities for residents, Fair Share for Long Beach's Future (Measure LB) to close loopholes to generate $15 million in annual revenue for the city, and Harbor Commission Accountability (Measure HC) to increase transparency in the hiring process at the port.

Environmental Justice and Community Health

Richardson championed Measure US, an oil production tax that generates funding for environmental justice initiatives and community health programs. He led the restoration of the DeForest Park Wetlands, creating 34 acres of public green space with freshwater wetlands, wildlife habitats, and recreational trails in North Long Beach.

Preparing for 2028: Infrastructure and Olympic Readiness

Richardson's "Grow Long Beach Initiative" targets five key growth sectors: Aerospace and Aviation, Health Care, Ports and Logistics, Education, and Arts, Culture, and Tourism. His "Elevate 28" infrastructure plan prepares Long Beach for the 2028 Olympics with strategic investments in bridges, parks, cultural landmarks, and a $50 million Convention Center upgrade.

National and Regional Leadership

Richardson's influence extends beyond Long Beach through his service as an Advisory Board Member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Chair of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, past President of the Southern California Association of Governments, and former Western District Representative on the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

A Family Man with a Proven Vision

Mayor Richardson and his wife, Dr. Nina Richardson, are homeowners in North Long Beach, where they reside with their two daughters. When Richardson speaks about creating "a Long Beach where every family can say, 'Welcome to our home,'" he speaks from experience as both a resident who overcame housing insecurity and a leader who has delivered concrete results.

Richardson's vision for Long Beach has evolved from addressing immediate crises to building a world-class city where innovation and opportunity thrive for all families. Under his leadership, Long Beach isn't just recovering—it's leading the region and setting the standard for what cities can achieve when leadership focuses on solutions rather than politics.