The District Weekly - Latest Comments in COUNCIL’S TAX GIVEAWAYS SHRINK BENEFIT OF NEW BEST BUY, RESIDENCE INN | The District Weekly

Re: COUNCIL’S TAX GIVEAWAYS SHRINK BENEFIT OF NEW BEST BUY, RESIDENCE INN | The District Weekly

LB Resident — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:41:38 -0000

This is a symptom of a larger problem. Long Beach will never bring in the retailers downtown until it abandons the objective of affordable housing. We need to get our average income up. Continual pushes to add affordable housing downtown really hurt. The high end condos along Ocean are great, but we need to see some of that wealth north of third as well.

As for the Best Buy in Marina Pacifica, I agree it doesn't make sense. Seems like given the average income in that area we should be able to get Best Buy to pay full price.

Re: COUNCIL’S TAX GIVEAWAYS SHRINK BENEFIT OF NEW BEST BUY, RESIDENCE INN | The District Weekly

otay90 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:48:11 -0000

I liked the P-T's slam on Lakewood in this morning's paper.

"Lakewood faces fiscal challenges", the headline states. Notably, Lakewood, which doesn't give away tax incentives like Halloween candy, is able to attract substantial new business, however.

Here's a tip: EVERY city is currently facing fiscal challenges. Long Beach's best resources are its money spending populace and vibrant convention business. When you're pouring money into a redev agency that can't make an empty lot fast enough for the stucco-box developers and spending 125K to an agent for some corporate sponsorships of bridges and alleys, it's no wonder LB is behind the budget curve.

Here's a statistic: Pine Street between 3rd and 6th. 7 small businesses closed their doors last year. 0 have reopened. I don't think these two subsidies will help rebuild downtown business at all.

And west Broadway has three nice big empty lots on your way to the 710. Good job.

Re: COUNCIL’S TAX GIVEAWAYS SHRINK BENEFIT OF NEW BEST BUY, RESIDENCE INN | The District Weekly

Gunther — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:05:13 -0000

City officials just don't get it. It's a simple lesson of economics that you could learn from any local crack dealer in the LBC. Your first hit might be free, but from there on out you're hooked and paying. City officials just likes to keep giving it out for free. Come on Long Beach, stand up for your self and sell your crack for full price like every other self respecting city seems to be able to do.

Re: COUNCIL’S TAX GIVEAWAYS SHRINK BENEFIT OF NEW BEST BUY, RESIDENCE INN | The District Weekly

JuanPardell — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:48:04 -0000

Dave. I disagree with Suja's statement. The City of Long Beach, isn't at a point where it has to "incentivize" retail. Its at a point, where elected officials can't seem to set priorities outside of city government. Perhaps, this is why no city councilmember is willing to discuss the upcoming budget.