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Strictly Business
| July 23, 2009
Healthy,
Fresh And So Damn Easy
 The
Chamber has always been committed to finding and
promoting willing business partners who seek not only to
sell but to provide to the community they serve.
Today, the City of Long Beach is nearing an agreement
that would bring one such business to downtown Long
Beach, which is desperately in need of an active and
beneficial business partner in the community. The
potential introduction of a new Fresh & Easy
Neighborhood Market will bring downtown Long Beach
residents the convenient, affordable and – most
important of all – healthy shopping option that they
have been lacking for far too long.
There are currently
two Fresh & Easy stores
located in Long Beach that have been doing very well,
and the fact that the company is interested in opening
yet another store in our city is a commitment to Long
Beach that we should embrace. We are fortunate to have
found a new business partner that is providing a needed
service that betters the lives of our citizens.
And there is no better place for Fresh & Easy to spread
its roots that downtown Long Beach. The proposed
location in the City Place shopping center is the heart
of a community that currently has few healthy shopping
options. Many residents must travel long distances to
shop for foods that will benefit both their stomachs and
their wallets. Opening a Fresh & Easy in the City Place
center will introduce a new market of consumers to a
convenient and healthy way of providing for their
families. That option, sad as it may be, simply does not
exist at this time. A new Fresh & Easy will change that
once and for all.
Councilmember Robert Garcia is leading a letter writing
campaign to bring the community into the process of
securing a Fresh and Easy in the Downtown (which happens
to be his district).
Click here to submit your letter
of support.
On the job front, Fresh & Easy has committed to
providing competitive employment that stays local (more
than half its employees live less than four miles from
work). With their other Long Beach locations, the market
has proven their intentions to stick with that
commitment. They are an environmental leader that uses
energy-efficient light bulbs, promotes recycling and
donates proceeds to neighborhood schools. In welcoming
Fresh & Easy, we are not only welcoming a new grocery
store, but a new community partner, neighbor, and
friend…
…and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Picture
of new Henderson, Nevada store courtesy of Fresh & Easy
Neighborhood Market.
Strictly Business
| July 17, 2009
Too Much
Friction, Not Enough Light
Next
Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council will vote on
whether or not to allow the Hotel Sierra to be build Downtown. Just as a hotel would not turn away someone
interested in a room, the City Council should not turn
away someone interested in developing a new hotel
downtown. Approving this project means Long Beach will
gain much needed jobs in this struggling economy.
It is also a troubling time for the hotel industry, but hotel
developer Lodgeworks has years of experience and a
sterling reputation that should put any concerns at
ease. If Lodgeworks see an opportunity in investing
further in the area with a new hotel they should be
supported to take the chance.
The Pike has so much commercial potential that it is
still striving to fulfill. Progress at the Pike has been
slow, which is why the Hotel Sierra may just be the
kick-start that the Pike needs. More importantly, given
the current crisis in our financial markets, Lodgeworks
has already secured the needed financing for the
construction of Hotel Sierra.
So, any friction between the City Council and the
developer needs to be solved before the hotel is back up
for a vote this coming Tuesday night. If the City
Council (except for Councilmember Gary DeLong who
opposed any delays at the last City Council meeting)
tries to delay this project at all, it will solve
nothing but increase construction costs. And, that will
surely kill the project and we will miss yet another
opportunity to improve our local economy.
The bottom-line: this project must be approved this
coming Tuesday at City Council.
Also, in this climate of mass unemployment, the jobs
that will be created by building and operating Hotel
Sierra cannot be overstated. The construction industry
has been crippled by the economic crisis, but a
five-story hotel with 125 rooms will not build itself.
It will provide relief to many construction workers
looking for a project. Once built, the Hotel Sierra will
employ nearly 30 full-time employees who will be
provided with benefits, a 401(k) plan and life
insurance. Lodgeworks boasts an outstanding record of
providing competitive wages, and will provide excellent
career opportunities once up and running.
Then, of course, there’s the effect that the Hotel
Sierra will have on the City itself. Facing a $43
million deficit next year (and possibly as much as $60
million given recent news from our state leaders in
Sacramento), Long Beach is in need of a direct cash
injection. Hotel Sierra will provide an estimated
$650,000 per year in increase tax revenue, not to
mention parking revenue and any additional money that
hotel guests spend in local restaurants and shops.
The Hotel Sierra will be a Long Beach gem, a new
beginning for the Pike, and a benefit for workers and
city funds facing hard times. The project is currently
financed with a short window for a construction start.
So, let’s
fluff up the pillows and turn the light on for them…
…and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
 November
10, 2006
Chamber Responds to DLBA
Report on Downtown Long Beach's Economic Presence
On Tuesday, November 8,
2006 the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) released a report on the
economic impact of downtown Long Beach.
According to the Press Telegram, "proponents of downtown's continued
revitalization hailed the report as justification for the millions of public
dollars that have been invested in the area, while some say it's time to
invest more money in other parts of the city. Others attacked the report's
author as being biased."
Blake Christian, CPA and
Vice-Chair of Economic Development for the Long Beach Chamber releases the
following statement in response to recent community comments on the DLBA's
report:
Apparently the glass is always half empty for some people around town.
While the Chamber is very pleased, and not surprised, with the findings of
the DLBA-commissioned report that the Downtown region is producing
significant positive economic impact for the City of Long Beach, the Chamber
was quite disappointed with the reactions and the inappropriate remarks made
by community activist Ms. Myown in the Press Telegram (“Downtown L.B. a
Benefit to City” 11/8/2006, Page A25)
These negative sound bites from community activists should not make their
way onto the Business page, since these types of divisive comments can
counteract all the hard work of city staff in making Long Beach one the
“Most Business Friendly” cities in Los Angles County.
Ms. Myown’s personal attack of CSULB Professor Joe Magadino’s research and
character was uncalled for and somewhat disturbing. Mr. Magaddino is not
only a well-respected economist, and active community leader, in the 30
years I have been acquainted with Mr. Magaddino (first as a student of his)
he has always handled himself in the most professional and ethical manner.
The Renaissance of Long Beach, beginning in the 1980’s, is an incredible
success story. The fact that the Downtown area, and its committed
entrepreneurs, lead the city’s turn-around should not be viewed as a
negative. For a city the size of Long Beach, the residents, businesses and
city leaders should be ecstatic with the amazing progress the city has made
over the last two decades – despite a general attitude of no-growth or
slow-growth amongst various City Councils during this period. Thankfully we
have been blessed with a city staff and Mayors that have recognized the
importance of a strong local economy to increase the opportunities for
residents in all corners of Long Beach.
While there is still much to do throughout the city in terms of education,
poverty reduction, crime prevention and economic development, Long Beach
clearly has the location, talent and resources to continue its path to
becoming a world-class city, thereby benefiting everyone that lives and
works in Long Beach.
Mr. Magadino’s research and the DLBA report should not be used as a
lightening rod for those in the community that feel that their represented
residents have been somehow “left behind”. Instead, they should take the
time to read the report and learn how their district can benefit from a
similar strategy.
The Chamber is confident that the DLBA Board and Mr. Magadino will gladly
spend some time with these detractors, explaining how their districts might
benefit with a concerted economic development plan, assuming they are
willing to pick up the phone or send an email. The Chamber Board will also
continue to work with all members of the community to continue the momentum.
Mayor Foster, certain council members, and city staff clearly recognize the
need to make sure that residents in every district are also provided with
the similar opportunities.
Now is the time for business leaders and elected officials to get on the
same page and work together to fix the remaining problems, rather than
continue the political sniping.
Click here to view the Press Telegram article
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