DISQUS

This matter is rather simple. If the lobbyists don't like it, there has to be a reason. Why doesn't Mike Murchison, or Carl Kemp, provide a written piece as to why they oppose having to register with the city as a lobbyist?

This opinion piece is precisely why Long Beach needs to have lobbyist registration: http://longbeachtaxpayers.org/tools/qp.dwp?task...

Why not move the library to The Pike? There's still plenty of vacant space. Better yet, why not have a floating library on the Queen Mary?

I believe if registered lobbyist measure is put forward, that it be written by someone who can provide legislation that leaves no loopholes. I suggest getting someone like Harvey Rosenfeld. You can easily provide a legal definition of a lobbyist. However, how can their activities be monitored? What will be the enforced system of checks & balances? Let's hope Long Beach receives a well written description piece, before they enact a loosely contrived lobbyist measure.

Why not shut down the aquarium for a few days out of the week? Oh! I forgot! The aquarium has debt service that's obligated by taxpayer dollars. Its hard to make those payments when there is no business.

John B. If there is a tax revenue shortfall from the residents within CFD, who will be paying the difference in order to make the bond payments?

lbresident... You live in an alley?

In response to lbresident:

Juan, there is a difference between value of real estate (your 90802 example) and high incomes (like in 90803). Real estate can’t buy things but incomes can.

1.Yes, but one can surmise that high property values equates high income levels. Then again, many speculatores were purchasing downtown LB property during the hot real estate market.


I didn’t say Neiman Marcus. Obviously that is too big for the site. But how about Brooks Brothers or smaller high end boutiques?

2.Perhaps. However, who will shop their stores on a regular basis? How can these store be convinced that they can achieve a positive return on investment? Its plausible, but they will expect at sometime to be profitable.


And people drive to Cerritos because they can’t drive to LB because there is nothing to drive to.

3.Long Beach blew the opportunity when the downtown mall closed. What could have served as a distinct opportunity to positively provide better retail for your city, was squashed by the Walmart anchored Cityplace project. That particular concept, added no value to the surrounding area, and did not give many Long Beach shoppers the alternative they were hoping for.


And yes you do have the right to exercise your freedom of speech. I said as much. I guess I just wonder why you don’t do it on issues in your own town. Since you don’t have to deal with the crappy infrastructure, lack of high end retail, etc. that we all do on a daily basis, it’s a bit disingenuous to encourage people to vote against anything that might actually make some positive changes.

4. The project will produce a positive change if its done correctly. Frankly, that's a frequent, opposite occurance in Long Beach.

Naples Resident has it right. The naysayers never have anything constructive to say. They just try to kill everything and anything.

5. Naples Resident won't be too happy if what starts out as a high-end hotel project ends up becoming a Best Western or Motel 6.

I haven't stated that Long Beach shouldn't support this project. However, you only need to examine the most recent development history, in the city, to conclude that most of these proposals never satisfy what was originally presented. I agree, a nice upscale hotel would do wonders for that property. Whether this group can deliver it, will be the question.

If the Belmont Shore Business Association wants the improvements bad enough, why don't they leverage their assets and pay for them? After all, they're the ones who will benefit the most. Taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize their enterprises.

Perhaps its just my enthusiasm for wanting to exercise my first amendement right to freedom of speech. Whatever the case, I am a former Long Beach resident, and I've seen how poor decisions have ruined a city with probably more potential than any other in our state.
First, let's examine the realities of development projects in Long Beach. Chronologically, you don't have to do much research. What was perceived for downtown, has not materialized. Yet, the 90802 zip code had one of the highest appreciable real estate perimeters in the nation. Did that make Cityplace of The Pike more successful? Purporting a similar argument, for what you hope will transpire at 2nd & PCH, is not realistic. Not when you have Cerritos Mall right up the 605, and better shopping opportunities in Orange County. If this project comes to fruition, you may get a couple of small boutique store. However, don't hold your breath for Neiman Marcus.

lbresident ----50,000 est.? That is nowhere near enough of a population base to convince an upscale retailer to consider a location. The Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills/San Pedro area has a larger population with far higher estimated income levels than what you mentioned. Yet, that wasn't able to sustain a Saks Fifth Ave. at the PV Mall. The reality is Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, etc., will factor in the entire demographics of a community much larger than 50,000. However, nice try on your part.

lbresident ---- If you believe this project proposal will attract retail similar to South Coast Plaza, I have another bridge to sell you.

Sorry, no can do the mayor thing. I'm no longer a Long Beach resident.

Yes, Mr. York made a business decision. However, it doesn't erase the cloud of suspicion as to why Washington Mutual would grant preferential treatment for Richardson. Have they given the same courtesy to others that they've foreclosed on? Its worth looking into.

John B ....... I've never stated, that police officers in Long Beach do not do a difficult job, nor they shouldn't be compensated accordingly for their work. However, I do not know of any correspondence that supports any contention that a mass exodus from the Long Beach Police Department has occurred. Have officers left for other agencies? Of course. I'm sure many law enforcement agencies suffer from defections.
Your contentions of Long Beach not being a safe city, because of a police officer shortage, is telling only half the story. You can turn Long Beach into a police state and still have crime. Factor in the rampant poverty levels, minimal private sector investment, high rates of social services, illegal immigration, etc., and you can fill in the blocks of why your city has so many safety concerns. I don't believe employers won't come to Long Beach simply because of public safety concerns. There are many other issues aside from that one factor.

What compels a person to give a police officer the bird? Did anyone provoke that? She initiated a response. If she was uncooperative, the police were more than justified. FYI, if anyone believes this was a racial incident, perhaps this link will show you what will most likely happen when an individual, regardless of ethnicity, decided to pull the same foolish stunt: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-wWeGlfF9mA

Duke. Just a quick response to your baseball analogy: The reason the Angels/Red Sox/Yankees, can afford to pay extremely high salaries, is because they have very deep pockets. That's what differentiates them from the Royals/Pirates, etc.

Duke..........Perhaps we should take this argument globally. Then we can purport to make a comparative analysis of a municipal employee's salary from Long Beach with, oh shall we say, Jakarta, Indonesia? Why don't you comprise for readers of this blog, a specific five year report, which details how many Long Beach city employees left for other agencies? Perhaps, we can have some concrete evidence as to why this phenomena exists?

Duke.... Dick Ray pretty much said it best. All I can add is that Long Beach, and many other municipal governments, should cease with the Fortune 500 mentality and pay employees what is amenable according to their own budgetary standard.