http://districtweekly.disqus.com/News, Arts, Entertainment & More for Long Beach, Huntington Beach, and Costa MesaenThu, 27 Dec 2007 02:01:37 -0000http://thedistrictweekly.com/print/commerce/dept-of-commerce/here-until-the-crane-comes/#comment-1357287"Revitilization"? More like conformation efforts. Without little boutiques and cracked sidewalks, I wouldn't have grown up to love the Long Beach I know. Commercialized fiends have always had the upper hand in America. It's independent businesses like this that kept it alive for me.DyrozaThu, 27 Dec 2007 02:01:37 -0000http://thedistrictweekly.com/print/commerce/dept-of-commerce/here-until-the-crane-comes/#comment-1357291What the city is doing to Shades of Afrika is offensive!<br>Unfortunately it's happening to a lot of small businesses in the downtown area. The battle to save Acres of Books has waged on for some time now, what happens next is anyone's guess.<br>The worst thing about it is that, in the name of economic health, they're removing and destroying the culture and character of this city.<br>Once it's all homogenized why would a bunch of tourists come here, they can certainly find McCities closer to home.<br>As for the benefit to the residents...<br>"Victoria Ballesteros, a Long Beach Redevelopment Agency communications officer, says residents need to look at the big picture when dealing with Long Beach’s changing scenery. Things such as new sidewalks and parks and tearing down blighted property to make way for affordable housing..."<br>I'd like to Ms, Ballesteros exactly where this affordable housing is, because most of the college-educated hard-working people I know can't afford the million dollar condos they've been building downtown.CyndieMon, 24 Dec 2007 23:15:12 -0000