Long Beach Social Security office closes

Long Beach City Council members are decrying the Social Security Administration’s decision to close its Long Beach office — and say they hope they can negotiate opening a satellite location in the city in the future.

The Social Security office at 25-27 E. Park Ave. officially closed at noon today. Councilman Len Torres said the 21,000 beneficiaries who frequent that office will be seriously inconvenienced by the closure — especially those who are disabled or who don’t have their own transportation.

The Long Beach office will merge with the Freeport office, which will absorb most of the staff. The Long Beach office employs eight people, none of whom will lose their jobs, said Social Security Administration spokesman John Shallman.

Torres said the previous administration had been alerted that this closure was coming, but the new administration that took office on Jan. 1 only found out a few weeks ago.

“We took the position immediately that this disenfranchises so many seniors,” Torres said.

“The 21,000 who use the facility in Long Beach will now have to figure out a way to go to the Freeport center” and many of them no longer drive, he said.

Above: Long Beach City Hall