The City of Long Beach maintains its stride as a pioneer in digital governance, clinching the title of Top Digital City for the fifth year in a row, as per the Center for Digital Government’s 2025 Digital Cities Survey. This victory is unprecedented, with Long Beach being the first to snag the top spot consecutively in the survey's history. The evaluation, as reported by the City's press release, scrutinizes how cities employ technology in advancing their operations and fostering community engagement.
In a statement to the press, Mayor Rex Richardson celebrated this accomplishment, saying, “This continued success is a testament to our outstanding work in creating a city that uses technology and data-informed solutions to maximize our collective impact, as well as our ability to serve, understand, engage with and meet the needs of our community.” Long Beach's innovative initiatives, such as the newly minted online emergency hub, which soared to relevance amidst the January wildfires, demonstrate its commitment to utilizing technology for resident safety and information dissemination.
Long Beach’s spotlight in the digital realm shines on several key projects, such as TID28, a strategic roadmap paving the way for technological and infrastructural readiness for the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The city takes pride in its multifaceted approach, which includes fostering digital inclusion across its neighborhoods and facilitating critical updates through public webpages about federal funding and immigration resources, as detailed by the City's statement. Furthermore, the introduction of high-impact web pages and the implementation of Pitch Long Beach!, a program inviting tech solutions to city challenges, are reflective of this digital-first agenda.
Lea Eriksen, Technology and Innovation Department Director, expressed her pride in the teamwork that fueled Long Beach's achievements. “Their commitment to innovation and public service continues to make Long Beach a national leader in digital government,” Eriksen told the City's press release. The Digital Cities Survey serves not only to applaud technological advancements but to highlight the tangible impacts on resident services, a point underscored by Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer at CDG, who mentioned the critical role of these innovations in building community trust and addressing social challenges.
Outside the realm of digital accolades, Long Beach, situated on the Southern California coast, home to approximately 466,000 people, is recognized for a robust mix of metropolitan and communal attributes. The City prides itself on fostering diverse and vibrant communities whilst hosting landmarks and facilities like the Queen Mary and the renowned Aquarium of the Pacific.
