A Push for Boeing to Build in Long Beach

A motion was entered Friday directing Long Beach City Manger Patrick West to lobby Boeing to bring its new 737 re-engining project to one of Long Beach’s existing Boeing facilities.

The motion was authored by Long Beach City Council member Robert Garcia — co-sponsoring the motion are Council members Patrick O’Donnell, Gerrie Schipske and Steven Neal.

Boeing has long been a big contributor to the Long Beach economy, and after recently announcing plans to being retooling 737 engines to power the new line of 737MAX planes, which the company expects to build 500 of in the next decade. 

“We have the right facilities and a great, skilled workforce right here in Long Beach that are perfect for this endeavor,” Garcia said in a press release. “Our local economy would greatly benefit from this type of investment in our City.”

Boeing employs about 5,000 workers, most of which are members of the United Auto workers in Long Beach. The new 737MAX already has nearly 500 orders from five airlines, but has yet to choose a production facility. 

The proposed City Council action directs, according to a press release, the “City Manager to advocate for the Long Beach Boeing facility as a possible site for the 737 re-engining project.”