Oscar Cancio Says Long Beach Doesn’t Have a Resource Problem — It Has a Leadership Problem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvehwoeRZfo

Learn more about Oscar Cancio here.

Long Beach mayoral candidate Oscar Cancio says the city’s biggest problems stem not from a lack of resources, but from a lack of execution.

On this episode of The Jackie Rae Show, Cancio explains how long-standing issues around homelessness, public safety and infrastructure pushed him to run for mayor. Cancio, who has lived in Long Beach for 12 years and works in education, said his decision to run was fueled by what he sees as a growing disconnect between City Hall’s messaging and residents’ lived experiences.

“The narrative isn’t matching the experience that I’m having here,” Cancio said.

The Green Party candidate was particularly critical of the city’s handling of homelessness and crime, arguing that officials have “tried” to address these issues but failed to deliver meaningful results. Cancio believes Long Beach should adopt a tiered approach to homelessness, distinguishing between unhoused residents who need temporary financial assistance and those struggling with mental health or addiction.

“We have to get those folks help and off the street,” he said.

On public safety, Cancio said he supports increasing police personnel and community policing efforts, but opposes a heavy expansion of surveillance technology. Instead, he called for officers to spend more time engaging directly with residents outside of emergency situations.

“When was the last time you saw a cop in your neighborhood just walking around, getting to know the neighborhood?” he said.

Cancio also raised concerns about the city’s finances ahead of the 2028 Olympics, warning Long Beach could become overly focused on appearances rather than long-term sustainability for residents.

“I don’t really care what we look like to the rest of the world for a moment if we can’t sustain that after the rest of the world is gone,” he said.

Throughout the interview, Cancio repeatedly emphasized community advocacy, equity and transparency in government. He also spoke candidly about tensions between Black and Latino communities and the need for stronger dialogue and unity in the city.