District 7 photo
By District 7 Public Affairs
It was a drizzly Saturday morning when Caltrans arrived at Long Beach’s Veterans Park on May 3 stocked with project flyers, kid-sized hard hats, coloring books, and a large stash of Pico Fresca candies.
The team was there to participate in the second annual Long Beach Mariachi Festival — a community celebration hosted by Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga and Councilwoman Mary Zendejas that brought together music, culture and local resources. Families gathered despite the weather, enjoying song and dance by mariachi groups, including a featured set by the Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea.
At the Caltrans booth, staff shared details about the upcoming 16-month full closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge as part of the deck replacement project. Team members engaged with attendees in both English and Spanish, provided project updates, and assisted individuals in signing up for bilingual text alerts.
Participation in this event was part of a broader outreach effort by District 7 to connect with the area’s largely Spanish-speaking community. This includes live interpretation at public meetings and the translation of project materials by Public Information Officer Diana Jimenez, to help ensure residents remain informed and involved.