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CalMatters •

How sports arenas became the poster child of California’s housing crisis

Anaheim, San Diego and Oakland are all hoping to give their sports arenas a boost by giving the surrounding real estate a makeover. In high-gloss renderings, developers promise walkable, transit-friendly cityscapes featuring housing, hotels, shops and restaurants with plenty of inviting green space. To borrow from “Field of Dreams,” if you build it they will come. And these cities are wagering the improvements will be enough to get professional sports teams to stay. There’s just one problem on

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CalMatters •

What’s the role of unions in the 21st century?

Unions have historically formed to ensure fair wages, benefits and better working conditions for their members. They negotiate with businesses and governments on behalf of employees, who either work a particular type of job or in a particular industry. They’re a powerful force in California politics, pushing for a statewide $15 minimum wage, increased paid sick time and greater workplace safety in the COVID era. But membership, particularly in the private sector that makes up 84% of the labor f
DIG MAG •

Life Lessons from a 30-Year-Old Undergrad

As a kid, I remember believing that I would never “get old.” Imagining myself as an adult made me laugh. I couldn’t even wrap my head around the idea that I would turn 30 someday. Yet, here I am. Thirty years old, finally finishing my undergrad degree, surrounded by a life I never imagined for myself. I suppose that’s kind of how it goes for everyone. All of a sudden, we’re older than we realize and wonder what the heck happened. But the nice thing about growing up is being able to look back at
CalMatters •

How sports arenas became the poster child of California’s housing crisis

Anaheim, San Diego and Oakland are all hoping to give their sports arenas a boost by giving the surrounding real estate a makeover. In high-gloss renderings, developers promise walkable, transit-friendly cityscapes featuring housing, hotels, shops and restaurants with plenty of inviting green space. To borrow from “Field of Dreams,” if you build it they will come. And these cities are wagering the improvements will be enough to get professional sports teams to stay. There’s just one problem on
CalMatters •

Payday loans dropped during pandemic, but Californians are ‘not out of the woods’

Pandemic government assistance may have helped some Californians avoid using expensive payday loans last year, but some experts say it might be too early to celebrate. A new report found that in 2020, California saw a 40% decline in payday loans taken out compared to 2019, a drop equivalent to $1.1 billion. Almost half a million fewer people didn’t rely on payday loans, a 30% drop compared to 2019. Despite the unprecedented job loss triggered by the pandemic last year, government-funded financ
CalMatters •

For 3.5 million California families, jobs don’t cover high cost of living

A new cost-of-living study reveals a hard truth that millions of Californians now face: In many parts of the Golden State, having a job is far from enough to ensure financial stability. The report from United Ways of California, an antipoverty advocacy organization, shows that the rising costs of housing and child care have outstripped growth in wages so much that 3.5 million working households don’t make enough to meet their most basic necessities. Peter Manzo, president and CEO of United Way
CalMatters •

California may move to regulate booming debt settlement industry

Before the pandemic, Graciela Gomez relied on two jobs to keep up with her expenses. After losing her part-time job at Macy’s in March 2020, she had to choose between paying off her credit cards or paying her rent. She chose the latter. “I didn’t know who to talk to, who to contact. I was embarrassed,” Gomez said. An ad for a debt settlement company appeared on her social media feed promising to lower her debt. After following up, she says what she got was a lawsuit from one of her credit card
Erika Paz •

PHOTO ESSAY: The Shoreline Spirit

Perhaps the most compelling element of the Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path is its power to attract all kinds of visitors. Following the crowds on weekends, vendors flock towards the beach. Some, like the vendor pictured on the right, chose to walk on the sand instead of the paved pedestrian path. The top of the image shows the variety of ships that make their way through Long Beach, including fishing boats, cruise ships and cargo ships. Because of the large number of ships that travel the area,
Daily Forty-Niner •

CSULB explores alternatives after losing 'Broadway Block' housing project

After losing two potential affordable housing projects in the Downtown Long Beach area, Long Beach State officials continue their search for student housing. While the search has slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, other obstacles like funding, seismic regulations and disgruntled neighbors haven’t made it any easier. “I remain committed to finding affordable housing for our students,” President Jane Close Conoley said. “That’s one reason why we’re building this new complex that will be open
DIG MAG •

You Belong Here. Stop Thinking Otherwise.

So what exactly are we talking about here? To start off, the official term is impostor phenomenon, but it is also known as impostorism, or impostor experience. “It’s the belief, often unconscious, that deep down, we’re really not as intelligent, capable, competent, talented as other people think we are,” Young said. “We have these feelings despite evidence of the contrary, evidence of our accomplishments and abilities.” She continued to say that self-believed impostors diminish or dismiss thei
DIG MAG •

Your Guide to Dealing With Burnout

Anyone else feeling tired? What about overwhelmed? Or maybe you’ve noticed that you can’t keep your space organized. Have you noticed if your mood changes quickly throughout the day? Yeah, me too. I’m feeling so “over it,” that the little things that cheer me up feel like too much of a chore. Another way of describing it— that Monday feeling, but all day every day. And the feeling has been cranked up to max volume. Turns out, it might be burnout. I kept hearing the word, but I didn’t know exactl
Daily Forty-Niner •

How CSULB lost an affordable housing opportunity in Downtown Long Beach

Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley was eager to expand the university into downtown with the Broadway Block, a project designed to provide 24 affordable student housing units and classroom “flex” space. However, those plans were squashed in June 2020. “For a couple of years, I had a styrofoam model on my desk about what this is going to look like,” Conoley said. “So I was very excited about walking through the courtyard and being able to see our students.” According to university of
DIG MAG •

Summer 2021 Issue - DIG MAG

DIG MAG is the insider’s guide to Long Beach for the LBSU community, inspiring readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through in-the-know stories about the latest in food, arts, entertainment and culture; in-depth features about people and trends on campus and in the city; poetry, fiction and literary journalism written by students; and beautiful photography and design. Published by the Department of Journalism & Public Relations at LBSU, it is produced entirely by students.
DIG MAG •

From Caged Bird to Emerging Artist

Gabby Vivar was about 11 when she first saw the Airstream Empress. Of course, that wasn’t her real name, but Vivar never actually learned her name. From afar, she only learned the Empress’ style, energy, and most importantly— her confidence. Vivar and her family had gone on a camping trip. The details of that trip escape her, but it doesn’t matter. That camping trip is when Vivar saw her for the first time. She was the campground host, and she was living in an Airstream. From that first moment,
DIG MAG •

Spring 2021 Issue - DIG MAG

DIG MAG is the insider’s guide to Long Beach for the LBSU community, inspiring readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through in-the-know stories about the latest in food, arts, entertainment and culture; in-depth features about people and trends on campus and in the city; poetry, fiction and literary journalism written by students; and beautiful photography and design. Published by the Department of Journalism & Public Relations at LBSU, it is produced entirely by students.
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