By way of context, as a Councilman (2009-2014), Garcia voted for budgets that erased the largest number of police officers in the more than 100 year history of the City of Long Beach. (Other cities didn't weather the "Great Recession" by eliminating 20% of their police strength.) As Mayor, by which time he said the local economy was "booming," Garcia recommended budgets that failed to restore over 80% of the officers he voted to erase. To date, incumbent LB Councilmembers have restored budgeting for 22 officers of 208 erased while the Mayor has selectively quoted LB crime stats to tell the public "crime is down."

[Scroll down for further.] .

America with all of our diversity has a dark and long history with race- and Long Beach has not been exempt from this. Over the last several days and after nearly three months of battling COVID19 as a nation, we are seeing civil unrest and protests. We hear you and are listening.

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) May 31, 2020

Long Beach prides ourselves in our diversity and our long march towards justice. We can do better- and we will.

We will be communicating directly with you in the days to come. Thank you and stay safe.

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) May 31, 2020

America with all of our diversity has a dark and long history with race- and Long Beach has not been exempt from this. Over the last several days and after nearly three months of battling COVID19 as a nation, we are seeing civil unrest and protests. We hear you and are listening.

— Mayor Robert Garcia (@LongBeachMayor) May 31, 2020

Long Beach prides ourselves in our diversity and our long march towards justice. We can do better- and we will.

We will be communicating directly with you in the days to come. Thank you and stay safe.

— Mayor Robert Garcia (@LongBeachMayor) May 31, 2020

A little over four hours later, Mayor Garcia acknowledged the obvious: that those doing the looting weren't "protesters." They were looters.

Mayor Garcia's record, and that the City Council that left LB neighborhoods especially vulnerable, speaks for itself and is the subject of a separate perspective here.

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