February 14, 2012
A Pro-Business Leader
Long Beach Councilmember Gary DeLong is running for Congress, and the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee has endorsed Councilmember DeLong for the newly created 47th Congressional District. DeLong has been recognized by local business leaders, elected officials and many other community leaders as the pro-business candidate for Congress for our region.
That is why the Chamber found it rather unsettling that in several blog posts by current 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske, she is attacking DeLong's credibility as a pro-business leader. Matter of fact, DeLong is the only councilmember currently on the Council to own and operate a successful small business, making him an even more viable candidate to represent business for the 47th Congressional seat. DeLong also remains one of the true business friendly councilmembers for business in Long Beach.
Councilmember Schipske has routinely voted against business in our wonderful city. Schipske continues to be beholden to pro-labor union groups that aim to place business in Long Beach at an economic disadvantage. DeLong has time and time again stood against such groups and seeks ways to bring the business community's voice to the forefront.
The Chamber is pleased to hear that DeLong announced a plan to visit 100 Businesses in 100 Days in order to hear firsthand what he can do for small business in our nation's capital. Furthermore, DeLong's concern for job creation is paramount as the economic futures of tomorrow's workforce seem bleak as current leaders continue to add to the federal deficit and "kick the can down the road," placing the burden of balancing a budget on our children and grandchildren. DeLong's local experience of balancing the budget will go a long way in helping to facilitate this extreme need in Washington.
Here are just a few other words from community leaders about Congressional Candidate Gary DeLong:
"I am confident Gary DeLong will bring his track record of balancing city budgets to Washington and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely." – Former Governor George Deukmejian
"Gary DeLong has earned my support. Gary knows firsthand what it takes to create jobs — that's what he's done for more than 20 years as a small businessman." – Congressman Dan Lungren
"I am pleased to support Gary DeLong for Congress. I know I can count on Gary to support my efforts in growing our economy, supporting our small and medium size businesses so they can create jobs for our citizens, and reigning in government spending." – Congressman Ed Royce
"Gary DeLong shares my belief that government needs to do more to support small businesses and improve our economy. Taxpayers can count on him to stand up and oppose new and higher taxes." – California Board of Equalization Vice-Chair Michelle Steel
"Strong leadership is more essential than ever for our country and Gary DeLong has proven his ability to represent his constituents well. Gary has more than 30 years of experience in the private sector creating jobs and managing budgets. I know he will work hard to get our economy moving again and our people back to work when he gets to Washington, D.C." – Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe
"A small businessman and successful local leader, Gary DeLong is a dedicated fiscal conservative committed to our effort to eliminate government waste and fraud and create jobs with lower taxes and business-friendly economic policies." – Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
"Councilmember DeLong is the right person in the right place at the right time. Our country needs leaders like Gary who can work with people with differing views to build consensus on difficult issues. I'm confident he can bring his business skills and public service experience to improve the fiscal health of Washington." – Long Beach Area Chamber Chairman Joanne Davis
"I'm supporting Gary DeLong for Congress because he is a fellow business owner who knows that in order to grow our economy the private sector must be the ones to create long term jobs. Gary is a pragmatic leader who recognizes that the federal government cannot continue to overspend and increase the debt burden on our children." – John Dameron, President of Dameron Alloy Foundries, a 65 year-old California company.
Schipske has a hard time siding with business in Long Beach. Like the anti-business legislators in Sacramento, Schipske doesn't understand how difficult it is to create and grow businesses in California. We need real people with real solutions to our economic issues and we need a business person, like DeLong, who knows how to sign the front of a paycheck, not just the back of a paycheck...
...and that's Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
February 7, 2012
Union Bullying Not Welcomed In Long Beach
Last week the California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) breakfast committee announced that they would be moving its annual Interfaith/Intercultural Breakfast from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach to the Long Beach Convention Center.
The Hyatt has long been a target of UNITE HERE!, a labor union that has unsuccessfully tried to unionize Hyatt employees through unconscionable tactics. These tactics have included threats of boycotts and pickets, phone calls and visits to Hyatt employee homes demanding unionization in order to further their agenda. The Hyatt stands behind their employees and has even requested a secret-ballot vote, as allowed by federal law, to see if their employees would like to unionize. UNITE HERE! has said no multiple times to this request and refuses to join in a lawful, sanction secret-ballot election.
CCEJ is a fine organization which has done so many good things for the people of Long Beach. The Chamber is indeed disappointed that this organization would be used as a political tool and that the members of UNITE HERE would use bullying tactics to accomplish their political objective. The Hyatt has repeatedly provided high quality services and has met the needs of many organizations and groups looking to host a major event in the city of Long Beach. Furthermore, the Hyatt continues to provide an excellent opportunity for employment and has satisfied its employees as evidenced by an employee opinion survey conducted by the hotel with its employees. Results of this survey were excellent!
UNITE HERE!'s sole motive is to control Hyatt's employees when Hyatt employees have for more than 20 years chosen to remain non-union. If CCEJ breakfast committee's decision to move its event was purely for logistical reasons, all of this would have been a non-issue. However, this is another case of a labor union not following the rules and using its internal influences to dictate political pressure and not allow for free market economics. By moving the event, the labor union has ultimately hurt the very employees the union says it's trying to serve.
These tactics and the failure to follow the law and the pressure by UNITE HERE! amounts to nothing more than bullying of CCEJ by forcing them to move from the Hyatt to the convention center. Local union bullying has to stop in Long Beach because it continues to interrupt business and places law abiding companies, such as the Hyatt, into uncompromising positions that impact, disrupt and place in jeopardy the best interest of their employees...
...and that's Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
January 26, 2012
Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project
Long Beach continues to move forward with job creation and positive economic impacts to our local economy.
Earlier this week, the Port of Long Beach (POLB) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) reached an agreement in principle for the long term lease of the Middle Harbor terminal space. This is a win-win for our business community and the POLB. The agreement will ensure permanent jobs and economic growth in and around our great city.
When finalized, the agreement will create the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project which will combine two aging shipping terminals into one modern terminal. This new middle harbor terminal will improve cargo movement efficiency and continue to build upon the current environmental initiatives under way at the POLB. The development will greatly enhance the already technologically advanced profile of the POLB at the same time other Ports are competing to attract international trade business to their respective regions.
Key features, environmental protections and economic benefits of the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project include:
- The 9 year, $1.2 billion project will upgrade wharfs, water access and storage area while reducing traffic impacts through a greatly increased use of on-dock rail.
- In addition to the $1.2 billion the POLB is investing in the project, OOCL is stepping-up and investing $500 million of its own money in terminal improvements/equipment.
- Over the term of the agreement, lease revenue paid by OOCL to the POLB is estimated to be $4.6 billion.
- This agreement signals OOCL's long-term commitment to the Port of Long Beach as their gateway of choice for the North American market.
- The project will cut air pollution, includes plug-in shore power for vessels, electric RMG cranes and cleaner yard equipment while adding thousands of jobs to the economy (an estimated 14,000 permanent jobs in and around Southern California area).
- The project will minimize or eliminate environmental impacts from shipping operations, keeping within the Port's Green Port Policy and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.
- Continuing to improve on air quality and reduce environmental impacts, the project embraces cutting edge, clean technologies for its new facilities including a commitment to construct LEED certified buildings, adoption of solar power for some operations and unparalleled recycling and reuse protocols.
- The project adds over 1,000 construction jobs per year for the 9 year project construction period.
- The construction of the new middle harbor terminal will rank among the largest Port sector projects anywhere in the world.
The Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project is an unparalleled investment in the way our port and business community will be able to remain competitive. This will allow the POLB to attract new business in the international trade market. The Chamber is proud to support such a project that ensures Long Beach will continue to have an advantage over other North American sea terminals for the foreseeable future and ensure the POLB retains jobs associated with being the preferred gateway for goods...
...and that's Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
January 17, 2012
Downtown Plan: Positive Return for Our Community
Last week the Long Beach City Council voted to enhance the value and overall economic potential of our city by supporting the Downtown Plan.
The Downtown Plan is the product of years of hard work, numerous steering committee meetings, community presentations, and input from various local and state agencies. From its inception in 2007, an extensive Downtown Visioning Process began which included many stakeholders in the Downtown. Last Tuesday, all of the dedicated efforts came to fruition as our city will now move forward with the critical blueprint.
The Long Beach Chamber has always been a supporter of thoughtful, expedient and environmentally conscious developments. The Downtown Plan has all of these elements and much, much more. On behalf of The Chamber, we would like to express our sincerest appreciation to the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) and its staff and board of directors for working hard behind the scenes to ensure a successful outcome that will have positive effects in the years to come. Also, thank you to Mayor Bob Foster and the city council members who voted for the Downtown Plan. These city leaders had the forward-thinking vision that will allow our city to continue to remain competitive and attract positive investments in Long Beach.
However, other members of the city council are still trying to hold back the potential of the downtown. Council Members Rae Gabelich and Steven Neal do not see the benefits of a master blue print; they cannot envision the economic prosperity, orderly development and ultimately job creation that the building process will generate. These council members continue to focus on the negative and are unable to see the true benefit of the Downtown Plan, which serves as a zoning document to provide direction for fair, consistent and predictable developmental growth in our urban center.
The Chamber is also closely watching a substitute motion from Council Member Garcia that will instruct city staff to prepare recommendations (in 45 days) to the Council on how to implement local hiring practices, a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) or a right of first refusal for any residents displaced by new developments on a city-wide basis. The Downtown Plan will create many job opportunities for residents of Long Beach and our fellow community members. It is important to note that the Chamber currently does not support PLAs due to multiple studies that have concluded that the presence of this type of an agreement increases a project's final construction costs relative to a project without such requirements.
We will remain in the forefront of the ongoing negotiations as the Downtown Plan evolves and begins to attract new development. Long Beach needs to continue to position itself in investments that will help the city enhance its standing on remaining a safe, stable, and prosperous community. We are confident that the Downtown Plan does just that; it will provide a positive return on investment by the many stakeholders that contribute their tireless efforts to ensure our community continues to succeed in the future...
...and that's Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
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