McInnis Steps Down As Long Beach President; Bendo Named To 2nd Stint

LONG BEACH, NY — More changes are coming to the Long Beach City Council. President Karen McInnis announced during Tuesday night's regular meeting that she is stepping down.

McInnis was elected to the city council in 2019 and spent a year as president.

She nominated council member John Bendo to take her position.

During the vote council member Roy Lester said, "Karen, you'd be an amazing person this last year. I've seen anyone work as hard."

It's a return for Bendo to council president, a role he had starting in Jan. 2020.

"In the words of that great philosopher, Yogi Berra, 'It's deja vu all over again,'" Bendo said. "Karen was selfless with her time. Many of the accomplishments we have are because of her efforts."

McInnis said in a statement: "The demands of my day job have increased of late, and while I have the utmost confidence in my ability to fulfill my duties as a councilperson, I want to be sure the role of president is given the time it deserves."

She will help launch a search for a new city manager as Donna Gayden stepped down at the council meeting two weeks ago.