AN INDEPENDENT LOOK AT HUNTINGTON BEACHPUBLIC RECORDS. LOCAL IMPACT.
HBWATCH.About the project
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA Reviewed Oct. 20, 2026 · before council meeting

YOUR CITY, IN PERSPECTIVE

How is
Huntington Beach
really doing?

Beyond the headlines and City Hall talking points. Follow the evidence on the things that make life here better—or harder.

Explore the interactive city map
Publicly sourced Independently assessed
THE CITY AT A GLANCERESEARCH EDITION 01
An illustrated Huntington Beach city dashboardA stylized isometric coastal town with a pier, neighborhoods, civic buildings and green space. Illustration only, not a geographic map.PACIFIC OCEAN City finances Housing Our coastline
ILLUSTRATIVE CITY VIEW · NOT A GEOGRAPHIC MAP Surf City, in focus
THE OVERALL PICTUREProgress in places.
Pressure in others.

Fewer people counted outdoors and good pavement condition are encouraging. Financial pressures and housing accountability deserve closer scrutiny. City outcomes alone do not prove council performance.

See the council’s record
THE CITY, LAYER BY LAYER

Your city. A closer look.

Open the full city map
Getting the city in view.Loading real geography and public records…
Pan, zoom and select a feature to explore.
Agency geometry. No invented hotspots.Reviewed city GIS snapshotSources & layer dates

THE CITY PULSE

Six lenses. One Huntington Beach.

How we assess
Improving

Public safety

350

Reported violent offenses

↓ 28.9% since 2022

Violent and property offense counts both declined. Council-specific causation is not established.

Source: California Department of Justice

Source & limits · Reported annual counts

California DOJ agency reports; counts are not population-adjusted risk. Reporting changes and unreported offenses limit interpretation. No council-specific cause established.

California Department of Justice · Calendar years 2022–2025 · July 2026 vintage California Department of Justice · Revised June 2026

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

2025 · California DOJ annual data
Improving outdoors

Homelessness

143

People counted unsheltered

↓ 17.3% since 2024

The total count also fell to 297. The 2024 shelter classification affects comparisons.

Source: County of Orange

Source & limits · Point-in-time estimate

County snapshot, not everyone who experienced homelessness during a year. Shelter classifications affect comparisons; fewer counted outdoors does not establish permanent housing exits.

County of Orange · January 2026 · released May 18, 2026

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

January 2026 point-in-time count
Under pressure

City finances

$16.08m

Adopted General Fund balance use

Plus $2.7m authorized in September

The budget uses accumulated resources. This is not an audited spending total or a pure structural deficit.

Source: City of Huntington Beach

Source & limits · Adopted authorization

The June budget’s use of accumulated balance is not audited spending or a precise recurring deficit. September’s $2.7m authorization is separate; other amendments may exist.

City of Huntington Beach · FY 2026–27 · adopted June 16, 2026

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

FY 2026–27
Under pressure

Housing & affordability

$2,510

Median monthly gross rent

A snapshot, not a current asking rent

Housing costs are substantial. Zoning, permits and completed homes are separate measures.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Source & limits · Survey estimate

Census ACS 2020–2024 pooled estimate. Not current asking rent. Sampling uncertainty applies; no local affordability improvement or council effect established.

U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS; July 2025 population

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

2020–2024 Census estimates
Good, with obligations

Streets & infrastructure

80.3/ 100

Citywide pavement condition

$55.1m deferred maintenance backlog

The network is in good condition. Sustaining it requires additional investment.

Source: City of Huntington Beach

Source & limits · Technical survey & model

City-commissioned May 2026 pavement report. Network averages hide local differences; funding scenarios are forecasts, not completed repairs.

City of Huntington Beach · 2026 update

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

May 2026 pavement report
Positive result

Beaches & environment

4

Local Honor Roll beach sites

A+ across all measured conditions

Independent monitoring recognizes four locations. Results are site-specific and retrospective.

Source: Heal the Bay

Source & limits · Independent monitoring

Heal the Bay’s annual bacterial grades at four specific sites. Retrospective, not a live advisory or proof that all beaches are safe. Credit is shared.

Heal the Bay · 2025–2026 report

Reviewed . Assessment color is HB Watch’s editorial interpretation.

2025–2026 Beach Report Card

Each measure has its own reporting period. Colors summarize the evidence; they are not a numerical grade for the council. Read the methodology

ZOOM OUT. SEE THE DIRECTION.

A snapshot is useful.
A trend tells you more.

Compare the reviewed counts over time. A positive trajectory does not establish who caused it.

Read the full analysis
350 ↓ 28.9% · 2022–2025
Violent offenses: 2022 492, 2023 416, 2024 394, 2025 350

Reported offenses, not population-adjusted rates. No verified 2026 YTD series.

Source: California Department of Justice · annual counts, 2022–2025

View the underlying counts
YearCount
2022492
2023416
2024394
2025350

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The story behind the numbers

All investigations

SEVEN SEATS. REAL CONSEQUENCES.

The decisions are public.
The accountability should be, too.

Meet your council, examine documented decisions, and see what the evidence can—and cannot—tell us about its performance.

Open the council record

Evidence, within reach.

Every finding links to the underlying records.

Accountability, without a team.

The same standard for every councilmember.

Uncertainty, out in the open.

We show missing data and limits to attribution.

Open our research notebook