March 17–30, 2020 an edition of the Long Beach Post lbbusinessjournal.com ‘Not your grandpa’s chamber:’ New City expected In This Issue to take chair-elect vows to bring change to $50M hit as coronavirus Long Beach Chamber of Commerce fear spreads By KELLY PUENTE Staff Reporter

Long Beach is estimated to lose more than $50 million for the Irish pub owner discusses months of March and April as the St. Paddy’s Day Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, (Page 8) major conventions and other events have been canceled in the wake of coronavirus concerns. The Grand Prix alone brings in an estimated $32 million to the city. That loss is in addition to another $25 million lost in canceled con- ventions and other events, accord- ing to Steve Goodling, president of the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Goodling said small business Relocated gallery pairs art will be hit especially hard. with pizza, beer “This is a very big impact and (Page 10) we will definitely feel it moving forward,” Goodling said in an in- terview last week. Mayor Robert Garcia and other city officials from the health, police, Mitra Rogers, pictured here at 2ND & PCH shopping center, will start in her role as the new chair of the Long Beach fire and economic development de- Area Chamber of Commerce board on July 1, following her maternity leave. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson) partments were set to meet with hotel operators and other business By ALENA MASCHKE of directors. Together with than the chamber’s tradition- leaders on Friday afternoon. Senior Reporter longtime friend and collab- al core membership in recent In March alone, five major orator Jeremy Harris, who years, Rogers noted. conventions were canceled or Mitra Rogers is no strang- is soon to become the cham- “With Jeremy having been postponed, resulting in thousands Ruth’s Chris Steak House er to the boardroom. ber’s first new CEO in over around for about seven years of hotel room night cancellations. is coming to Downtown The new chair-elect of two decades, Rogers is set now, he’s already started do- All told, about 24,000 room nights (Page 17) the Long Beach Area Cham- to breathe new life into the ing things a little bit differ- have been canceled, not counting ber of Commerce has served Long Beach institution that ently,” she said. “What excit- the future impact of the Grand on the board of governors of can trace its history back to ed me was that opportunity Prix, officials said. the Long Beach Economic the earliest days of the city in to be part of something new, The Grand Prix was expected Development Corporation, 1891. of the next generation of the to draw roughly 185,000 people the board of directors of the “Chambers in general chamber.” to Downtown on April 17-19. The Seal Beach Chamber of Com- have been evolving,” Rogers In addition to attracting a Grand Prix Association of Long merce, and Los Angeles May- said. “People join for dif- new demographic of business Beach in a statement said it is in or Eric Garcetti’s Advisory ferent reasons these days. I owners to the chamber, Rog- conversations with the city and Council on Aerospace. often hear: This is not your ers said policy guidance and various race sanctioning bodies to Despite recently going grandpa’s chamber anymore.” advocacy will be a main pri- “discuss the viability of reschedul- on maternity leave from The Waiting in the wings as ority for her and Harris once ing this event at a later time in the Coronavirus is changing Boeing Company, Rogers has senior vice president, Har- they assume their new roles year.” daily life in Long Beach already set the course for ris has undertaken efforts to on July 1. A report released in 2018 from the beginning of her turn as (Page 15) engage with a more diverse As the chamber’s vice Beacon Economics showed that the chair of the chamber’s board group of business owners (Please Continue to Page 22) (Please Continue to Page 14)

Long Beach Business Journal PRSRT STD We are in the midst of an extraordinary crisis 211 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 400 U.S. POSTAGE By DAVID SOMMERS movement and logistics industry. local communities warranted going Long Beach, CA 90802 PAID www.lbbusinessjournal.com Publisher It’s an industry which, accord- in a different direction. Things are Los Angeles, CA PERMIT NO. 447 ing to a recent analysis by Beacon moving toward a period of great This was supposed to be a very Economics, supported 18,652 jobs, uncertainty in our community. different edition of the Long Beach created $687 million in total labor Cancellation of conventions and Business Journal. Our plan was to income, and generated an estimat- community events, vanishing tour- feature aspects of the event plan- ed $1.8 billion in total economic ists and bans on large gatherings ning industry, which is part of the impact in the city last year. will have a significant impact in the larger hospitality and tourism in- Unfortunately, the rapidly short term for our local economy. dustry—an economic juggernaut evolving impacts of the coronavi- This industry is facing immense in Long Beach, second in econom- rus, known as COVID-19, across challenges; local businesses are un- ic output only to the Port, goods the globe, the nation, the state and (Please Continue to Page 12) IN THE NEWS 2 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Portside: Keeping up with Vol. XXXIX No. 05 • March 17–30, 2020 The Port of Long Beach PUBLISHER The Long Beach Business Journal is a David Sommers publication of Pacific Community Media. The journal premiered in 1987 as the MANAGING EDITOR Long Beach Airport Business Journal. Melissa Evans The Business Journal is published every other Tuesday, except between Dec. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR 25 and mid-January. Distribution is Andrea Estrada approximately 22,000. Reproduction in whole or in part without written DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS permission is strictly prohibited unless Dennis Dean otherwise stated. Opinions expressed by perspective writers and guest columnists SENIOR REPORTER & PHOTOGRAPHER are not necessarily the views of the Long Brandon Richardson Beach Business Journal.

SENIOR REPORTER ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL DEADLINES Alena Maschke Ads: Tuesday prior to publication. Press releases: two weeks prior to GRAPHIC DESIGNER publication. E-mail press releases to KDA Consulting [email protected]. The editorial calendar is available at lbbusinessjournal.com. PUBLISHER EMERITUS George Economides Follow us LONG BEACH BUSINESS JOURNAL @LongBeachBusinessJournal 211 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 400 Long Beach, CA 90802 Follow us @LBBizJourn News tips: (562) 437-5814 Advertising: (562) 912-0161 Editorial: [email protected] Follow us @LBBusinessJournal Advertising: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1 year: 25 issues Standard Bulk: $30 By BRANDON RICHARDSON tificate from a trade school and, for more lbbusinessjournal.com Senior Reporter than 20 years, Socorro has held a master certificate from the National Institute for For nearly half a century, Socorro Automotive Service Excellence. Prior to Gallardo has worked in the maintenance working at the port, Socorro worked as division for the Port of Long Beach. “I’ve a mechanic at multiple truck dealerships MONDAY been a mechanic all my life,” he said. “It’s and a private street sweeping company. a passion that goes back to when I was Fighting back tears, he recalled a late MORNING 13. It was something that came natural to friend who helped stoke his passion as a me.” From standard vehicles such as cars mechanic and a late uncle who inspired COFFEE and and trucks to construction equipment to him to take great pride in his work. He generators to a 30-ton crane, there are also noted his mother’s unyielding sup- BIZBRIEF about 400 pieces of equipment that are port and the first car she bought him maintained by Socorro’s team. He start- when he was 15 – a 1948 Pontiac. So- ed at the port as an entry-level mechan- corro’s favorite car to work on is his late Sign up at lbbusinessjournal.com for MONDAY MORNING COFFEE and BIZBRIEF, FREE email subscriptions about issues, events and meetings for ic but has worked his way up to garage uncle’s 1965 El Camino. “Getting in this the week. Monday Morning Coffee is sent out at 6 a.m., and BizBrief is news of supervisor. Socorro went to high school field, it’s a trade that if you approach it the day, sent out periodically around 4 p.m. weekdays as needed. in Long Beach, where he went through with great passion and commitment, it’s a two-year diesel mechanics course. He very rewarding,” he said. (Photograph by went on to receive a diesel mechanic cer- Brandon Richardson)

LBUSD students can receive two tuition-free years at LBCC. NEWSWATCH NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 3 Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 3

After yearlong delay, work on Toyota’s renewable power plant can resume at LB port

The power plant currently in development for Toyota’s Port of Long Beach facility would produce power, water and hydrogen using directed biogas. (Rendering courtesy of FuelCell Energy)

By ALENA MASCHKE directed biogas to produce power and hydro- Senior Reporter gen, qualifies for the incentive program. This decision’s ramifications go beyond A recent decision by the California Pub- just one project. It will apply to all eligible lic Utilities Commission has cleared the way projects using directed biogas. Previously, for a new type of renewable power plant to investor-owned utilities had argued that di- be built across the state, including at the Port rected biogas did not qualify for incentive of Long Beach where one is expected to fuel pricing. a new line of cleaner vehicles. So what exactly is directed biogas? The The plan has been in the works since term describes biomethane that is collected 2018, when Japanese car manufacturer Toy- from waste plants, dairy farms and other ota teamed up with Connecticut-based tech- facilities that emit methane as a byproduct nology firm FuelCell Energy to build a fuel of their daily operations. From there, it is cell plant at the port, where it would produce fed into the state’s network of gas pipelines. power and hydrogen from natural gas. Plants using directed biogas then draw gas The hydrogen would be used to power a for their power production from that com- growing fleet of near-zero emission trucks at mon gas pipeline. the San Pedro Bay ports, developed by Toy- The investor-owned utilities have argued ota and Kenworth. The transition effort has that because plants using directed biogas received over $40 million in funding from draw from a common pipeline, which in- the California Air Resources Board, and cludes non-renewable natural gas, they can’t aims to reduce air pollution in the region. truly be seen as renewable and shouldn’t According to Toyota, the plant would also qualify for incentive pricing. Accepting turn its Long Beach facility into the compa- them into the program, they said, would put ny’s first fully-renewable operation. an undue burden on ratepayers without ad- Despite receiving a stamp of approval vancing the state’s renewable energy goals. from the Long Beach Harbor Commission Toyota and FuelCell Energy have coun- in August 2018, construction of the plant has tered that facilities like theirs purchase set been halted until now. amounts of renewable biogas to be fed into The plant’s economic feasibility de- the pipeline, increasing the percentage of pends on FuelCell Energy’s ability to sell renewable gas overall, and thereby helping the power it produces under a special tariff the state achieve its ambitious goals for more designed to accelerate the production of re- sustainable energy production. newable energy across the state. With its recent decision, the CPUC sid- Under the BioMAT tariff, inves- ed with Toyota and FuelCell Energy on the tor-owned utilities, such as PG&E and issue, paving the way for the Long Beach Southern California Edison, are required to Port plant and others like it to join the state’s purchase power produced from renewable power grid, and produce hydrogen to power resources at a premium, in an effort to incen- near-zero emission vehicles. tivize this kind of power production. Over “Toyota appreciates the CPUC’s clear the past year, SoCal Edison has questioned direction and support for this important proj- whether the planned facility at the Port of ect,” Craig Scott, director of the Advanced Long Beach qualifies, putting its economic Technologies Group for Toyota Motor North feasibility at risk. America, said in an email. “Now we can be- In late February, the CPUC issued a de- gin work on this groundbreaking project that cision on the matter. In it, the CPUC con- will bring 100% renewable hydrogen and a firmed what Toyota and FuelCell Energy fleet of zero emissions fuel cell electric trucks have long argued: Their project, which uses to the Ports of LA and Long Beach.” NEWSWATCH 4 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Long Beach, L.A. port commissioners approve new truck fee; critics say it’s too low to curb emissions

By ALENA MASCHKE Senior Reporter

Leaders at the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports approved a new entrance fee of $10 per 20-foot equivalent unit for trucks that fail to comply with low emissions standards yet to be set by the state. The proposed fee had been criti- cized by clean air advocacy groups like Breathe LA, who considered the amount too low to effectively curb emissions from drayage trucks trav- eling to and from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. “The trucks and trains serving the ports, the whole goods move- ment system, is a significant portion of the pollution in the region and a major source of the health impacts,” Breathe LA President and CEO Marc Carrel said. “People living in com- munities near the port have higher rates of asthma and other lung dis- eases, and they’ve been suffering for years as the cargo rates have been increasing.” A fee of $10, Carrel argued, wouldn’t act as an incentive for trucking companies and owner-oper- ators to switch to low- or zero-emis- Port staffers said a new fee on trucks that do not conform with yet-to-be-set emission standards will be the only one of its kind in the nation. (Photo- graph by Brandon Richardson) sion trucks, and would fail to create adequate funding to support those “We’re all in support of clean of the proposed fee amount, she said. But technology evolves quick- who do want to purchase less pollut- air, we just don’t want to see a lot of Carrel and others said that bal- ly and the port should be ready to ing trucks. jobs – that are important to the local ance is off. support companies’ transitions once “The staff, in putting forward a economy – go away,” union member “Even though [the port is] a pub- the cleaner trucks become available, $10 rate, seems to be focused more Paul Sanchez said at a joint meeting lic agency, their main concern seems Carrel said. on how [the rate] will impact those of the Long Beach and Los Angeles to be how much cargo they’re mov- “Those zero-emission trucks may shipping the goods than those who harbor commissioners on Monday, ing, and not how much cargo they’re be ready by 2022, and we won’t have are living near the ports,” Carrel March 9. moving while minimizing the impact enough money for the subsidies,” he said. “We can’t make a TV or refrig- Heather Tomley, managing direc- on the community,” he said. said. erator getting to Chicago more im- tor of planning and environmental Breathe LA wanted a $50 fee. Regardless of the current state of portant than the long term health of affairs at the Port of Long Beach, Daniel Miranda, president of the technology, Tomley said that it won’t the kids in our community.” said staff had to find a balance be- ILWU’s Local 94, which represents be the port’s responsibility alone to Meanwhile, members of the Inter- tween environmental and business longshoremen at the San Pedro ports, help companies switch out their die- national Longshore and Warehouse concerns. The impact of a fee on put his union’s position bluntly: sel trucks for less polluting alterna- Union expressed concerns that a cargo movers, and by extension the “We’ll support this fee of $10, but tives. higher fee may drive shippers to oth- port’s position among competitors, not a penny more.” “The ports aren’t in this alone,” er ports, resulting in local job loss. played a role in staff’s determination Truck drivers also expressed con- she said, adding that officials are ad- cerns that the cost of fees would be vocating for state and federal funds passed through to them by their em- to support the transition. ployers, adding to existing economic The fee approved last week will pressure that many said was caused generate “a significant amount of by misclassification of port drivers funds” at a scale that has not been as independent contractors. made available for the drayage in- The fee rate will determine the dustry in this area, she said. size of a pot of subsidies to help com- It will also be up to the state to panies transition to cleaner fleets. decide which trucks will qualify for The availability of low- and ze- low-emissions exceptions from the ro-emission technology was a factor fee, which will be levied only on considered by staff during the pro- trucks that don’t meet still-unde- cess, said Tomley. fined emissions standards. “The zero-emission trucks are As the only ports to implement a really in demonstration mode at this fee structure of this kind, the ports point, they’re not commercialized, of Long Beach and Los Angeles are they’re not available,” she said. The taking a risk in favor of cleaner air, logic: even if a larger pot of money is Tomley said. generated through the fee program, “We don’t have a rate like this, we there won’t be adequate technology don’t know how the market is going to spend it on at this point. to react to it,” she said. NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 5

Through this amazing grant, that barrier RDC’s office in Rogers, Arkansas to fo- is removed.” More than 60% of LBCC cus on the expansion of the firm’s hospi- students work between 10-30 hours per tality and interior design practice across News In Brief week at part-time jobs to help pay for tu- the country. The central location allows By BRANDON RICHARDSON it.” The port finished 2019 with a 5.7% ition, books and materials, according to Thilenius to better collaborate with all Senior Reporter decrease in cargo compared to 2018, the college. RDC offices, including Portland, Wash- with double-digit declines in December. ington, D.C., Shanghai and the Long Cargo declines at Port of Long Beach for Phase one of a trade deal with China was Motorcycle rental store opens in Long Beach headquarters, the company stated. second straight month signed by President Donald Trump in Beach The interiors team works with hospitali- Cargo volumes at the Port of Long January; however, approximately $370 Hertz Ride, owned and operated by ty brands such as Hilton, Equinox, Mar- Beach declined for the second straight billion in Chinese goods remain under franchisee The Hertz Corporation, Hertz riott and Pacifica, as well as corporate month in February, with fewer ship calls increased tariffs. Portugal, opened a location in Long workplaces, including software compa- amid the overseas coronavirus outbreak Beach on Feb. 22. Located at 2125 E. ny Laserfiche in Long Beach. Thilenius and the ongoing effects of the trade war Long Beach City College receives Spring St., this is the third Hertz Ride lo- is a licensed architect with more than 30 with China, the port announced last $650,000 grant to assist students cation in the U.S. and outside of Europe, years of design experience in hospitality week. Terminal operators and dockwork- The Long Beach City College Foun- where it has locations in six countries. and interiors. ers moved 538,428 20-foot equivalent dation and the school’s workforce devel- “We are thrilled to bring Hertz Ride to units last month, down 9.8% compared opment department received a $650,000 Long Beach,” stated Duarte Guedes, Laserfiche named one of top content to February 2019. Imports decreased grant and scholarship endowment to CEO of Hipogest Group and Hertz Por- service platforms of 2020 17.9% to 248,592 units and empty con- assist students placed in unpaid intern- tugal. “Our new location in Long Beach Long Beach-based software compa- tainers sent overseas decreased 12.8% ships, the college recently announced. is the answer to two-wheeled enthusiasts ny Laserfiche was named one of the best to 164,277 units. Conversely, exports “Too often, our students pass up a great willing to discover the scenic routes in content services platforms of 2020 as re- increased 19.3% to 125,559 units. “With internship that might provide valuable sunny Southern California.” The store viewed by customers, the research and ad- the extended factory closures and slow- work experience and networking op- offers high-end motorcycles rentals, in- visory firm Gartner recently announced. down of goods movement in China and portunities in lieu of a part-time job cluding six different BMW models. All “We believe that being recognized as a other Asian countries in February due to simply because they need the money,” bikes are fully equipped with luggage 2020 customers’ choice underscores our Lunar New Year and COVID-19, we are Long Beach Community College Dis- systems. The business also offers profes- commitment to developing technology seeing shipping lines needing to cancel trict Board of Trustees President Vivian sionally guided motorcycle tours, such as that solves our customers’ biggest chal- some sailings,” said Mario Cordero, ex- Malauulu stated. “There are many in- the “Grand California Tour,” which starts lenges,” Laserfiche CEO Chris Wacker ecutive director of the port. “Once the ternships available that would allow stu- and ends in Long Beach, and includes said. “Customer experience is at the fore- virus is contained, we may see a surge dents to perform work in fields relevant the bike, a professional tour leader, 24/7 front of every Laserfiche innovation. For of cargo, and our terminals, labor and to their career aspirations, but they do roadside assistance and accomodations us, high marks from our customers are a supply chain will be ready to handle not pay. That is a hardship for students. in motorcycle-friendly hotels. “We look testament to Laserfiche’s ability to boost forward to becoming a reference for the organizational productivity, scale opera- motorcycle community of Los Angeles tions, visualize data and create a digital, and building our reputation for a premi- future-ready businesses.” Laserfiche was um service among both local riders and a pioneer of paperless business practices Port of Long Beach launches adventurer visitors,” Guedes stated. more than 30 years ago. Today, the firm utilizes cloud, machine learning and AI new branding and website Expanded services for free STD/HIV technology, allowing organizations in screening and treatment more than 80 countries to optimize their The Long Beach AHF Wellness Cen- digital business practices. ter, which offers free, confidential HIV and STD testing and treatment, official- Local multifamily broker closes two ly expanded its services to Mondays, multimillion sales Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. Robert Stepp, principal of Long to 7 p.m. at its facility at 3500 E. Pacific Beach-based Stepp Commercial, repre- Coast Highway. The expanded services sented the sellers in two multi-million were kicked off with an open house event dollar sales of Long Beach apartment on March 10 to allow the community to buildings last month. Stepp represented tour the facility and meet staff. “Routine the seller, Santa Monica-based VMG By BRANDON RICHARDSON represents a 50/50 mix of green and blue screening for HIV and STDs is important Properties, LLC, in the $5.71 million Senior Reporter in honor of the Green Port environmental for anyone who is sexually active,” said sale of a 16-unit building at 445-455 focus and blue as a reference to the Port’s Whitney Engeran-Cordova, senior direc- Rose Ave. near Retro Row. Stepp also The Port of Long Beach recently reputation as a deep water port. The car- tor of AHF’s public health division. “We represented the buyer, a private investor announced the launch of a new website, go container in the new logo doubles as routinely see patients at the wellness cen- from Orange County, in the transaction. including an updated logo and branding: a check mark in supporting consumer, ter that were unaware that they had an “The 4th Street/Retro Row area is one “The Port of Choice.” community, and business choice, support- STD.” From 2017 to 2018, Los Angeles of the most highly sought-after neigh- “The new logo and tagline . . . are a ing a new tagline: “The Port of Choice.” County saw a 5% rise in chlamydia and borhoods to live in Long Beach,” Stepp clear declaration of our focus on inno- Torrance-based Stellar Agency conducted gonorrhea cases, and a 20% rise in syph- said. “It provides residents a highly vation and visionary leadership that we the development of the new brand, as well ilis infections, according to AHF. walkable and amenity-rich community share with our industry,” Executive Di- as the updated website. with dozens of trendy shopping, dining rector Mario Cordero stated. Formerly “The Green Port,” the an- RDC names new senior vice president of and nightlife options.” Built in 1963, the The port describes the new, mo- nouncement emphasized that the port’s hospitality and interiors two-building property was recently ren- bile-friendly website as “dynamic and environmental sustainability policies of Long Beach-based architecture firm ovated and includes four three-bedroom modern.” The rebranding is meant to the past 13 years and its presence in the RDC named Jackson Thilenius its new units, eight two-bedroom units and four reflect the port’s focus on remaining community remain a priority. senior vice president of hospitality and one-bedroom units, as well as 12 parking competitive through collaboration with “Those efforts are, and will continue interiors, the company announced ear- spaces. Stepp also represented the sell- business partners, the community and to be, very significant parts of the Port’s lier this month. “We are very excited er, a private Long Beach resident, in the government agencies, according to a press brand promise,” said Long Beach Harbor about Jackson’s expanded role and what $4.69 million sale of a 14-unit property release. Commission President Bonnie Lowen- it means both for our clients and our de- to a private investor from Santa Monica. Some of the website’s new features thal. “The new logo and website reflect sign practice,” RDC President and CEO Located at 1429 Florida Ave. in Alam- include optimization for tablet and smart- the evolution of the Port of Long Beach’s Brad Williams said in a press release. itos Beach, the 1987 property includes phone users, social media integration, an goals and objectives as a conduit of in- “We are able to offer our clients in- 14 two-bedroom, two-bath units with interactive map, photo galleries, improved ternational commerce, and showcase our creased capabilities in some of the most in-unit washers and dryers. Four of the online forms and calendar, and an en- prowess as an economic engine and a pro- rapidly growing regions in the country units have been fully renovated and the hanced search function. vider of sustainable, responsible and effi- under Jackson’s creative and collabora- property includes 14 subterranean ga- The use of turquoise in the new logo cient services and facilities.” tive leadership.” Thilenius relocated to rage parking spaces. NEWSWATCH 6 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 City enters into negotiations to fill two empty former concessions buildings in El Dorado Park

The City of Long Beach has entered into negotiations to bring concessions back to vacant buildings in El Dorado Park. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova)

By JASON RUIZ nity is about further enhancing our park help bring in much-needed revenue to could meet the needs of everyday visi- Staff Reporter visitors’ experience when they come to address a litany of needs at El Dorado. tors, much like the city is trying accom- the regional park,” said Steven Scott, in- She explained that there are bath- plish along the city’s beaches, having an Concessions operations in El Dora- terim director of Parks, Recreation and rooms that need to be repaired, play- events operator on premises could help do Park moved one step closer to reali- Marine. “We want our guests to enjoy grounds that need to be upgraded, grass preserve the park through ensuring that ty on Tuesday, March 10, after the City their visit with us in hopes that they’ll and trees that need to be replanted, large events like family reunions and Council voted unanimously to approve come back for many happy returns in dredging and pump systems that need to holiday celebrations don’t deteriorate two exclusive negotiating agreements the park.” be fixed and concrete around the park’s the park. with The Grand and Little Brass Cafe to The exclusive negotiating window lakes that need to be redone. Mungo, while noting that she’s not operate at the park. will last for 180 days and will allow city With the city now facing the very aware of what uses are being negotiat- The Grand is an events space locat- staff and the two entities to discuss rent real prospect that Measure A, a sales-tax ed, said that having a known commod- ed just south of Long Beach Airport structure, hours of operation and po- measure that has been used to upgrade ity like The Grand to enforce permits and Little Brass Cafe is located in the tential uses. If agreements are reached, parks and other city infrastructure over for large events, administer safety de- airport. While Little Brass could have those would head to the city’s Parks and the past three years, could actually be posits that could result in a cleaner park sights on developing a concessions Recreation Commission before poten- phased out. A ballot measure to extend and even possibly providing catering stand, The Grand could enter into an tially being forwarded back to the City it indefinitely is now failing by several options for film crews that use the park events-based operation at the park. Council for final approval. hundred votes and Mungo said getting could all serve as a benefit. There are currently two vacant for- City officials clarified that Tuesday’s concessions in the park could be help- When news that the city was seek- mer concessions buildings and an empty vote was not an approval of any busi- ful. ing an entity to reimagine the conces- ranger station that could be repurposed ness or proposed use, just an approval “I think that a pilot program could sions stands became public earlier this into concessions or other uses if the city for city staff to move forward in discus- demonstrate its value in being able year residents formed an online petition and either of the entities move forward. sions with Little Brass and The Grand. to reinvest in the beauty of El Dorado to “save” the park from developers but All three buildings are located north of Councilwoman Stacy Mungo, who Park,” Mungo said. “But it could also also to protect the park from any nega- Spring Street in an area that requires represents the portion of East Long demonstrate that it’s not a good fit. Only tive impacts that might be brought by visitors in vehicles to pay to enter. Beach that contains El Dorado Park, time will tell.” concession stands. The petition has gar- “The primary goal of this opportu- said the idea is a creative one that could While having concessions available nered over 15,000 signatures to date. NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 7 LBCC trustees fire president-superintendent By JASON RUIZ after months of tension between Romali and Staff Reporter two members of the board—its president Vivian Malauulu and Uduak Joe-Ntuk. The After months of behind-the-scenes acri- board in November hired an investigator mony, the governing board at Long Beach to look into Romali for possible misuse of City College fired its top executive on public funds, mistreatment of staff and other Wednesday, March 4. matters. The LBCC Board of Trustees voted 4-1 The investigation into Romali was later in closed session to fire Reagan Romali, expanded to include Zia, who sources said who has served as the president-superinten- the board believed was complicit in Roma- dent since 2017. li’s behavior. The announcement was made through Romali, meanwhile, said that the board the board’s legal counsel with no comments members were retaliating against her for fil- from any of the board members. The report ing a 1,000-page whistleblower complaint in noted three votes were taken with Trustee September alleging unethical and self-serv- Sunny Zia opposing two of them, but it did ing dealings by some members of the board. not detail what was being voted on. Romali has been interviewing for jobs Romali said after the meeting that she since last July, when she was named a fi- was not informed why she was fired, just nalist at Miami-Dade College. Romali is that she’d been terminated as a result of the currently a finalist for the top job at North board’s votes. Hennepin Community College in Minne- David Bristol, Romali’s attorney, said sota, which is expected to make its decision Former superintendent-president Reagan Romali was fired at a Board of Trustees meeting on that she would be placed on a short adminis- this week. March 5. (Photograph by Abrielle Lopez/LBCC Viking News) trative leave in accordance with her contract LBCC educates about 25,000 students before her dismissal takes effect. a year at its Liberal Arts and Pacific Coast nounce its decision. touch, some staff hurried out the door while “Right now I’m sad,” Romali said. “I campuses. In that time, the crowd painted Romali voicing their disgust with the vote. used to drive by this campus when I was in The decision to fire Romali was made as someone who was “doing fabulous work” One woman approached Romali outside my 20s and dreamed that some day I would before an unusually crowded boardroom and supporting the needs of students and the boardroom as she stood with her law- be the leader of it. I never dreamed that it where nearly three dozen faculty and staff faculty alike. Many of them stayed behind yer and said, “You made a difference in my would end.” waited patiently as the board deliberated for after the meeting to say goodbye to Romali. daughter’s life,” before walking off into the The decision to fire Romali came days over two hours before reconvening to an- In between hugs and requests to stay in campus parking structure. Future Proposition 13’s days may be numbered if Assemblymember O’Donnell’s bill passes Or did they? O’Donnell thinks that the statewide measure since the 2018 reset. bill’s standing—he’s not ready to admit de- Between confusion of what Prop 13 was feat given the number of outstanding bal- on the ballot for the March 3 primary and a lots—is due more to its numbering, rather ballot initiative process that’s underway to than its content. By being emblazoned with put a revision of the 1978 law on the Nov. 3 “13” O’Donnell’s education bill ran into general election ballot, the cards may have some bad luck considering the 1978 version been stacked against the school bond. of Prop 13 established fiercely protected “I am living the perfect storm,” O’Don- property tax limits. nell said. Members of the public seized the op- So in the coming weeks O’Donnell portunity to link the two propositions with will seek to make sure this kind of situ- countless social media posts claiming that ation does not play out in the future. The a vote for the 2020 Proposition 13 would measure made it to the ballot by passing result in higher property taxes and rental through both the Assembly (98.7 %) and increases. the State Senate (87.5%) with bipartisan California’s system for assigning num- support and O’Donnell said that both Re- bers to ballot measures has changed over publicans and Democrats have approached the decades. The original system numbered him in support of the idea in the past few ballot measures starting at 1 every election days. cycle which led to confusion with back-to- “When voters are confused they vote back election years having the same propo- no,” O’Donnell said. “And there was a lot sition numbers. of confusion.” The state then moved to a system where If the bond does end up missing the proposition numbers were not reused but 50%-plus-one threshold to win once vote Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach used as a starting point for the next elec- totals are certified in early April it would tion. For instance, if there were 14 ballot become the first school bond measure to By JASON RUIZ Proposition 13, authored by Long Beach measures one year, the next year’s ballot fail in a quarter century. However there Staff Reporter Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, would measures would start at the number 15. But could be millions of outstanding ballots authorize a $15 billion bond for school that system led to proposition numbers in to sort through statewide. On Wednesday, California’s lone statewide ballot mea- modernization and construction projects the hundreds. Los Angeles County election officials said sure appears headed for defeat and the bill’s with the bulk of funding ($9 million) going The current system, which started in that it had about 500,000 uncounted ballots. author thinks that its fate rested on its des- toward elementary schools. However, re- 1998, assigns measures starting with the O’Donnell’s legislation to retire the ignated number, one that he hopes the state paying the bill would cost taxpayers about number 1 but resets after 10 years. The 2018 number could be heard as soon as the next legislature will agree to retire after intro- $740 million a year for 35 years. Though Housing Programs and Veterans’ Loans few months. He said there are no plans to ducing legislation to permanently put 13 to votes are still being counted, an estimated Bond was the most recent Proposition 1. hang the number from the ceiling of assem- bed. 55% of voters said no to the proposition. O’Donnell’s proposition was the thirteenth bly chamber if the bill passes. NEWSWATCH 8 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Celebrate the Irish way: With a pint and good conversation of the world. It’s almost endless when it the kitschy shamrocks on the walls and comes to St. Patrick’s Day. I think it’s on-tap Guinness do little to harken back now gotten to the point where, even with to the actual pubs in Ireland, which have our thick skin, we’re like, ‘Enough al- live Irish music going for hours a day, ready.’” feature Irish whiskeys beyond the basic Early roots Jameson and load their menu with pub- The Irish helped create what this fare specialties like bangers and mash. country is, in a time of tragedy. The But unlike this version of the many Great Famine, extending from 1845 to other Irish pubs throughout the South- 1849, was one of Ireland’s most devastat- land, Copley and his crew continually ing times. In the year of 1847 alone, of- return to Ireland to explore its expanding ten dubbed “Black ‘47,” one million Irish food scene, ever-changing spaces and people starved to death, pushing another culture in order to keep the Auld Dub- million to immigrate, most toward the liner simultaneously contemporary and U.S. Somewhere between 20% to 25% of classic. Even better, he brings a handful Ireland’s population was lost in one way of Auld Dub’s patrons with him to learn or another, shifting the country’s politi- about Ireland and the meaning behind a cal, philosophical and population demo- pub. graphics for the next century. “There are lots of Irish bars out there “If they stayed in Ireland, they like- and there’s nothing wrong with a bar if ly would have died,” said Copley, who is you’re going for a bar experience,” said always quick to say, “I would be remiss Copley. “But a pub in Ireland is truly a to not remind people: America saved one pub—it’s a different feel and different million Irish people.” atmosphere the minute you walk in. A Though Copley admits he immigrat- bar is where you get a drink and a pub ed for surfing more than politics or phi- is where you go to socialize. That should losophy, he said he has learned to appre- extend to St. Patrick’s Day as well.” ciate the role immigrants play in creating Given that, one can imagine Copley’s American culture as well as the challeng- frustration with revelers who might be es they have always faced. ignorant to the point of offensiveness. “The awakening for me was when I It wasn’t that long ago that a man came had to get my citizenship,” Copley said. into the pub sporting an Irish Republican “I walked in by myself: no notes, no law- Army shirt, apparently believing it was yer, somewhat jovial about the whole cool. thing. What changed was when I was in “That’s like walking into a Middle that waiting room, looking at hundreds of Eastern restaurant with an Al-Qaeda people. I don’t say this lightly and I really shirt or walking into a Mexican restau- don’t read too much into situations but I rant with a Sinaloa Cartel shirt and think- will say this with all earnestness: I think ing it’s cool,” Copley said. “That’s not it was a matter of life and death for many cool. They terrorized people, is that how people in that room. If they were sent you view my homeland?” back home, they’d likely die.” Copley’s homeland is one that is filled All of which not only led him to a with history—and he often waxes poet- David Copely, co-owner of Auld Dubliner pub in Downtown Long Beach, is trying to debunk the deeper appreciation of his own Irish heri- ic of how the life of a young Irishman stereotype of Irish alcoholism, particularly on St. Patrick’s Day. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova) tage but of the commitment and struggles would revolve around the pub, where one inherent in the American immigrant ex- would watch older, wiser men sit through By BRIAN ADDISON ly-and-community-first celebration that perience as a whole. a dozen pints and hours of conversation, Columnist weaves together the old and new. The pa- “It altered my entire perception of my never slur, and simply stand up and walk rades can range from small to lavish, de- citizenship and my sense of identity,” Co- out the door without the bat of an eye, No matter how big or small, every pending on the city, but there is one thing pley said. “Like St. Paddy’s Day, I now wishing everyone a good night until the single place in Ireland—every city, every for certain: Kids go to pubs because they see the frustration that my wife [from next morning, where surely they would village, every hamlet—has a parade on are family spaces, not watering holes; Mexico] sees when Cinco de Mayo and be drinking again. St. Paddy’s Day. whiskey is meant to be sipped, not shot; other cultural celebrations that mock and It is learning how to drink and incor- That’s how much the holiday is cher- low-alcohol beer like Guinness is served demean an entire culture rather than ac- porate it into socialization rather than the ished in Ireland. It’s family. so you can drink and still converse with tually celebrate it.” seemingly very American ideal of slam- “Grandmothers and parents drag you ease and everyone is very much able to A real Irish pub ming shots to the point of pure black-out to church, first thing in the morning, and remember their day as a whole. “If I am being entirely honest, I’ve status. then you went to watch the local parade,” There’s certainly parades here in lived here longer than I did in Limerick,” “I never had a shot of whiskey until I said David Copley, co-owner of Down- the States when it comes to St. Paddy’s Copley said. “I was 24 when I moved moved to the States,” Copley said, chuck- town Long Beach’s famed Auld Dubliner Day: A parade of drunken foolishness, here—mainly because I really love surf- ling. “And ultimately, that’s OK; that’s pub. “Bands. Soccer teams. Firefighters. all draped in derogatory garb that goes ing—but I still call myself Irish. I am still someone’s choice. But when you attach it Police. Soldiers.” from the subtly offensive—”Kiss me, I’m proud of where I came from. And I want to a culture, it can be demeaning. I am not The Irish have had a rough history, Irish,” a not-so-subtle, eyebrow-raising people to have a true pub experience.” here to tell you to not celebrate. No. Cel- he says: ”It’s been a long, hard time to form of appropriation that lavishes in Most places in America that call ebrate, have a good time—but why not be able to stand up, say you’re Irish, and identifying a culture as inebriated and themselves “Irish pubs” follow a pretty celebrate in line with the culture you’re really feel proud.” therefore less inhibited—to the outright standard recipe: Give it some name with celebrating? And if you don’t know about And, let’s be honest: Irish people love wrong—”Irish Yoga” written under a an “O” or a “Mc,” throw some flat screen the culture you’re celebrating, ask some- to drink. drawing of a man with red hair falling off TVs on the walls, get a menu of fried one who does. Ask me. Have a pint or “But we drink on a different scale than his barstool in pure cockeyed stupidity. foods and make sure there’s a touch of three and we’ll talk. I’ll tell you stories of the people who drink here on St. Patrick’s “In this day and age, all us Irish folk wood paneling to tie the room together. grandmothers in the kitchen, parades in Day. Our lives and our culture and our talk about it—and we’ve got pretty tough They tend to attract customers who small towns. And you’ll remember it and holidays certainly doesn’t revolve solely skin,” Copley said. “I don’t think a lot of prefer to channel the Irish’s perceived love appreciate it.” around drinking.” cultures would put up with the T-shirts of drinking over any of the rich history The Auld Dubliner is located at 71 Copley describes St. Patrick’s Day and the really derogatory things that get and traditions embedded in the country’s S. Pine Ave. For more information, visit as the “Irish 4th of July.” It is a fami- marketed by the Targets and Walmarts public houses. And more often than not, aulddubliner.com NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 9

KLBP opens new studio providing ‘soapbox for whoever needs it’ it’s time to work, they almost never since 1976. stop moving. “There really is a lack of another “We’ve been here persevering for place like this in Long Beach, especial- the sake of persevering,” he said. “It’s ly since we lost KJazz,” Lemos said. not part of our ego that we’re here doing “[My hope for this station is for it] to this, it’s just the idea that this should be be thriving with creative programming done.” and perhaps sending one program from Both Fitzpatrick and LBPM Presi- here onto the big time.” dent Ashley Aguirre first took an inter- Lemos is just one of several radio est in helping to launch the radio sta- professionals willing to donate their tion almost five years ago, but a lawsuit time. David Rey, a sound engineer, and some questionable internal actions known as “X-Rey” in the industry, has within LBPM’s board left the project built, wired and color coded a lot of the on shaky ground. equipment for the station. According to Aguirre, after some So, whether staffers are wanting to contentious board meetings more than record a simple interview or a 10-piece two years ago, she was elected presi- band, he’s made it all possible with the dent. consoles he’s built. “When I came into it, there wasn’t “Now that I’m semi-retired I want really a plan, but I knew it would be to be more involved in the [communi- good for Long Beach,” she said. “We ty],” Rey said. The first brick-and-mortar location for Long Beach Public Radio, KLBP, opened with a public had a permit but it wasn’t guaranteed As Long Beach’s newest media hub event last month. The local radio station broadcasts seven days per week on 99.1 FM. (Photo- that we would become a licensed sta- nears its completion, Lemos and the graph by Kat Shuster) tion. So a few of us hit the ground run- board hope it will become a platform ning.” for anyone in Long Beach: aspiring By KAT SHUSTER bar in the same space, but he decided to KLBP’s “rag-tag” team recently podcasters, talk show hosts, musicians Staff Reporter build the two as one. Soon, both the tiki found a new sense of leadership in their and artists. bar, Shannon’s Secret Island, and the interim general manager Danny Lem- “So if you’re wanting to be in a As Rose Lozon traipses around station will operate side-by-side, shar- os, a radio veteran who currently over- public arena—whether you’re basical- Long Beach Public Radio’s (KLBP) ing both a wall and a window. sees 22 West Media as a student media ly a newbie or you’re retired and you new and first ever brick and mortar lo- “I wanted to make the two togeth- coordinator at Cal State Long Beach. want to return to the medium that you cation, she walks with newfound pur- er,” Hodges said. “So you can sit at the He’s been involved with student left—this is a perfect opportunity,” Le- pose. bar and watch the broadcast activities media since 2006 and in the business mos said. Less than a year ago, she was using going on.” every ounce of her mental capacity just The station currently offers local to operate an electric sander—she’d music and an array of talk shows from suffered a traumatic brain injury just many voices in the city. months before. “I just got really enamored with that Lozon was devastated after she was idea of being a pure soapbox for whoev- fired from a Kombucha company after er needs it,” Lozon said. injuring herself on the job last year. But According to Lozon, who oversees her 10-month recovery fed a determi- KLBP’s content as program director, nation to help build a community radio listeners can look forward to an eclec- station from the ground up. tic and local music selection as well as “I think it helped heal me at a way a plethora of new, niche interest shows. faster rate because I had purpose,” Lo- “Artbeat” features seven special zon said. “My voice was completely needs adults and their experiences at taken away, but I was still able to have an art therapy day program. “Amoeba a presence in my community because People” discusses the relationship be- of KLBP.” tween science and music and the hosts KLBP, operated by nonprofit Long of “Shame List” will interview come- Beach Public Media, received its FCC dians who share their guilty pleasures. license and officially hit the airwaves Although the station currently has more in 2018, allowing residents of Long music than talk shows, Lozon said they Beach, San Pedro and Wilmington to aim to offer more space to talk shows tune into 99.1FM to hear pre-recorded that represent the many diverse com- shows produced by Lozon and a host of munities of Long Beach. other Long Beach producers. Lozon was a show host herself be- Now, the station will broadcast live fore her injury and has helped build the from its official home beneath Down- studio’s music library by going to local town gastropub Shannon’s on Pine. The shows in the city and networking with station has two broadcasting rooms musicians. Also, during her recovery, displaying all of the bells and whistles she learned how to build the station’s built in-house by volunteers like Lo- automation system. zon, now the station’s program manag- Volunteers for the station have been er, and with the funding of donors like working tirelessly on any number of Ron Hodges, owner of Shannon’s, who jobs, even if their experience was pre- agreed to donate the studio lease-free viously limited to hosting. two years ago. “We had no budget and no future “They were looking for a place for without ambition,” said Jordan Fitz- the radio station and I jumped on it patrick, vice president of LBPM. “You right away,” Hodges said. “I just think weed out really quickly who is serious it’s great for Long Beach to have the about it and who isn’t by who puts in radio station… it’s an exciting project.” the time.” During that time, Hodges was also Fitzpatrick is part of what he calls planning to build an underground tiki a rag-tag team of volunteers and when NEWSWATCH 10 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 ‘One big unit of weird:’ Dark Art Emporium

Jeremy Schott, co-owner of 4th Horseman, left, and Jeremy Cross, manager of Dark Art Emporium, stand in their new art gallery space inside the 4th Horseman. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova)

By BRIAN ADDISON they were uncertain. The Horseman defi- more appropriate space. trance inside the back hallways of The Columnist nitely needed more space for storage and Schott’s heartfelt dedication and 4th Horseman and, should someone another bathroom in the popular pizzeria Cross’s drive to benefit artists led to a under 21 want to visit the gallery—the Tucked toward the back hall of pizza would be nice. process of trial and error that taught Horseman is 21-and-over—simply call joint The 4th Horseman is a new entry- It was formerly home to a place that them lessons about things that go beyond to be buzzed in at the building’s Fourth way into one of Long Beach’s most dis- sold re-fabbed carpets from China. Once simply selling. It meant learning how to Street entrance between Pine and Pacific tinct art spaces: The Dark Art Empori- the Trump Administration’s massive display the art the proper way, including avenues. um, a space that mixes exhibited works embargos were put in place, the business at what height and the spacing between; Tearing down a wall to create the from some of the world’s most macabre had to close. That’s when the owner of what is largely considered salon-style. It connection, the space will not only act and unearthly artists, paired with its per- the Walker called Schott and told him the meant learning to advertise and market. as a gallery but also be available to host manent collection. space was available. It meant learning the art of selling art— events. The Dark Art Emporium has moved “We walked through and we all and that is not something that comes “There’s a cool factor that was im- from the southeast corner of Third Street thought this would look really cool as an with just having pieces. possible to pass up,” Cross said. “A and Elm Avenue to become a secret gal- art gallery,” Schott said. “The only prob- “The old space we had over on Fourth speakeasy gallery that opens up this way lery space whose main entrance will lem is, there is no street access.” was,” Cross said, taking a pause, “trou- through The 4th Horseman? It’s gonna be connected with the city’s sole hor- Luckily, Schott was a partial owner blesome. We loved the neighborhood, we blow people’s minds.” rorcore-dedicated food space—a mor- of the space in front of it, The 4th Horse- loved the people, but the building…’” When Cross says “contemporary and bidly magnificent match made in hell man, and what better way to connect a There has always been one main authentic,” he means that he and Schott that will continue its tradition of pushing new Dark Art Emporium space than goal—sell art—but that goal has been both share a belief in the art they sell. It spooky, “outsider art.” with a restaurant space that celebrates anchored by an underlying, philosophi- should be on the respect level that cur- For those who have never been, the horror and metal? cal-base: That they elevate this “outsider rent art experiences in spaces like the Dark Art Emporium is a space filled “So we said: ‘Let’s do it. Let’s art,” as Cross puts it, to a level of respect. Museum of Contemporary Art but it with the wonders of mummified mam- tear down a wall and let people walk And they knew it simply wasn’t possible needs to be distinguished away from the mals—lovingly called “Octopig”— through,’” Schott said. if they didn’t get into a space that re- art being peddled to investors at gallery paintings created with human blood and And the new Emporium was official- spects the art as much as their hearts did. spaces across the nation. sculptures of the grotesque. ly birthed. Dubbed “blue chip art,” the sole point And as its popularity grew, it needed From marginalized to contemporary is not to sell art because of what a view- not only a larger room but a cleaner, more The art of selling art “The pairing of Horseman and the er emotes or thinks about it but, rather, forward-thinking gallery space. Seren- “I wanna sell art,” Jeremy Cross, Em- Emporium is so serendipitous,” Schott because it is an investment that will like- dipity happened when a large room, situ- porium’s gallery manager, said. “That’s said. “Ryan [Hughes] and Martin [Svab] ly permit its owner to garner a lot (a lot) ated behind The 4th Horseman, became my number one priority: To sell art to and myself were always looking with of money. Both Schott and Cross firmly available. make artists money, to get them more interest into the space. The moment we believe that art should make you feel or prestige, a wider audience. And in re- found out it was available, we hopped on think about something, that experienc- A speakeasy—but for art turn, they help us grow.” it and immediately wanted it as a gallery ing art is deeply personal, and while they For Schott, along with Horseman As the Emporium’s influence began space—despite not having street access.” can curate a show with their talent and co-owners Ryan Hughes and Martin to grow and more artists desired to end The Emporium’s new space inside authority, a gallery shouldn’t be telling Svab, the large space inside Downtown up on its walls, leading to a general up- the Walker Building will be accessible people what to feel nor should art be rele- Long Beach’s historic Walker Building tick in the quality of art displayed, Schott through two avenues. One that will be gated solely to philosophical statements. had always been a lure. As to what for, and Cross realized they needed a larger, primarily through its speakeasy-like en- “Plexiglass and neon can do some NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 11 moves to larger, darker, pizza-er location

Jeremy Cross, manager of Dark Art Emporium, adjusts art on the wall at his gallery’s new location in Downtown Long Beach. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova)

Jeremy Schott, co-owner of 4th Horseman, walks through the new art gallery. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova) amazing things in art but sometimes, $50,000 now will be worth $2 million in A good example is Meimaro, an artist the human aesthetic, it’s because it is so current art being pawned at galleries are five years, it downsizes not just the role from Japan whose work in the U.S. has powerful. And it is so powerful because so removed from emotions,” Cross said. and importance of smaller galleries but largely been driven by the Emporium. though humans differ in what they like, “The only reason we think it’s amaz- also fails to let art speak for itself. This is Her solo work will be the face of the new what disgusts them and what recharges ing is because we’re told it’s amazing, precisely why Emporium has long been Emporium’s inaugural exhibit, which them, fear is a fairly universal feeling no because we’re told it can sell for a huge so accessible: From $60 pieces to pieces opened March 14. one can discount. price point. These blue chip buyers aren’t that stretch into the tens of thousands, Meimaro’s play with the female body, And maybe this gallery is a way to buying pieces because they feel some- Schott and Cross want to not only sell blood, and organs is perfect to open the face them. thing.” art to everyone, they also want to push new space because, if there is something The new Dark Art Emporium is locat- When a gallery has the power to artists that are largely dismissed from to be said about why horror is such an ed through The 4th Horseman at 121 W. tell a buyer that something they buy for mainstream galleries. underrated, underappreciated aspect of Fourth St. in Downtown Long Beach. CORONAVIRUS 12 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Who can be tested for coronavirus? In Long Beach, not everyone

Coronavirus tests remain in short supply in Long Beach, as major events cancel and Long Beach Unified School District announces a five-week shut- down. (File photo)

By JEREMIAH DOBRUCK Now that COVID-19 has arrived in privately run labs come online, according to Extraordinary crisis Staff Reporter Long Beach, Holman said she and a small health officials. (Continued from Page 1) team are working 16-hour days trying to Last week, two commercial labs opened, sure of what’s next, people who rely on this Long Beach has been working to ramp track possible exposures to the virus. effectively doubling or tripling the Los An- industry and these businesses for their pay- up its ability to find new cases of coronavi- “We still are hoping and trying to at least geles County lab’s previous capacity to run checks and livelihood are wondering what rus, but, for now, they’re limiting who can be delay it or at least protect our most vulnera- 50 coronavirus tests a day, Ferrer said. the future holds. screened because of a lack of available tests. ble,” she said. Officials are urging anyone who thinks I don’t know when it will be over—no The restrictions have frustrated some She said officials are depending on res- they’re infected to call a primary care pro- one does—but it will eventually be behind residents who suspect they have the coro- idents to honor the Health Department’s re- vider instead of heading to a hospital unless us, and our city and business leaders will set navirus, but the Long Beach Health Depart- quests even if they haven’t tested positive for they’re experiencing symptoms that rise to a course of action on how to move our com- ment says it’s prioritizing the sickest indi- the coronavirus. the level of an emergency. munity past this moment in time. We will viduals for screening because they could put “It literally would save lives if you’re Most cases of COVID-19 are mild, with recover and prosper again. hospital staff and other patients at risk. willing to take that extra step, miss that day symptoms such as a fever and a cough, but We’ve scaled down our coverage and “We really want to protect our healthcare of work if you can,” she said. authorities have tried to slow the outbreak to the size of this edition to instead focus our workers,” said Emily Holman, a communi- Long Beach is in a somewhat unique po- avoid overburdening the healthcare system attention on the latest developments from cable disease controller for the city. Anyone sition because it has its own health depart- with the severe cases that can include respi- COVID-19 and what it means for local busi- who’s had contact with a confirmed case of ment. Pasadena is the only other city in Los ratory problems like pneumonia. nesses and the economy. We’ve also taken coronavirus or became sick after traveling Angeles County with the same arrangement. Just getting past the current flu season the extraordinary step of declining and re- to one of the countries experiencing an out- However, Long Beach is not alone in would be a boon, freeing up hospital beds turning advertising commitments from our break will also jump to the front of the line, limiting who can get tested. Los Angeles for the sickest coronavirus patients, Ferrer business partners working in the industry she said. County is prioritizing people most likely to said at a March 10 news conference, where for this edition—supporting the resiliency of (As of Thursday, March 12, four people spread the virus, according to Dr. Barbara she announced another case of coronavirus our community matters more than anything in Long Beach tested positive for COVID-19 Ferrer, director of the LA County Depart- had been discovered in Los Angeles County. right now. and about 18 have been tested, with six re- ment of Public Health. Ferrer said she continues to hear con- We will continue to robustly cover the sults pending, and about 70 people being For a test to be administered, a health- cerns about limited access to testing, but she challenges and questions we now face and monitored.) care provider has to determine that it’s clin- discouraged people without symptoms from we look forward to covering the triumphs The city’s lab had been outsourcing ically necessary, she said at a briefing last seeking out screening simply to confirm ahead when our community is on the other the task of testing to Orange County and week. they don’t have the coronavirus. side of this momentary crisis. Los Angeles County while the city waited That’s based on a few criteria including “It doesn’t really tell you anything about For the latest local developments on the for test kits to arrive from state and federal whether the person is showing symptoms for where you’re going to be tomorrow or the coronavirus, please visit the Long Beach authorities. Long Beach didn’t receive test the coronavirus, whether he or she has had next day or the next day,” Ferrer said. Post, our sister publication, where journal- kits immediately because other jurisdictions close contact with a confirmed case and the For more information, visit long- ists are updating a blog with news and in- with confirmed cases were prioritized, ac- severity of the person’s illness. beach.gov/COVID19 or call Long Beach’s formation in real time: lbpost.com/news/ cording to Holman. It should become easier to get testing as COVID-19 hotline at 562-570-4636. coronavirus-updates. CORONAVIRUS Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 13 CSULB, LBCC move to online format for classes

Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College have suspended most in-person classes, moving them online at least until mid-April. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova)

By JASON RUIZ and KELLY PUENTE distancing will be implemented in these “Per District directive, there will be no “Our efforts this week have included Staff Reporters courses. permits until further notice to minimize the increased the sanitizing of high-touch ar- The campus library and Horn Center spread of COVID-19,” the district told local eas with approved antibacterial products, Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach City will remain open for students who need leaders in emails. “The remaining dates reminding families of the need to keep stu- College and Long Beach Unified have taken computers or WiFi. have been canceled and any fees charged dents home if they are demonstrating any the unprecedented step of canceling classes There are currently no cases of corona- will be refunded. We sincerely apologize flu-like symptoms, and reinforcing contin- or moving them online starting this week in virus on the campus, but Conoley, in a note for any inconvenience.” ued use of universal precautions, especially hopes of stemming the spread of coronavi- to students and faculty, said the shift is be- The decision came after state leaders handwashing, to be used by all staff mem- rus. ing done out of an abundance of caution. last week recommended cancelling or post- bers, students and visitors,” Superintendent Cal State Long Beach canceled face- “This action is a proactive step being poning any nonessential gatherings of more Chris Steinhauser said. to-face classes last Thursday to Tuesday, taken because of our commitment to your than 250 people until at least the end of the Custodial staff would work to sanitize March 17. Beginning Wednesday, classes health and safety and supports the concept month. the schools over the weekend too, he said. will move to an online format, campus offi- of ‘social distancing,’” she said. cials said, with regular operations expected The Long Beach Unified School Dis- to resume April 20. trict, meanwhile, announced on Friday LBCC will begin the switch to tem- morning it would cancel classes through porary remote classes on Wednesday. The April 20. campus anticipates resuming normal class- The LBUSD also canceled all large es on April 13, but both LBCC and CSULB school events, Saturday programming (not officials cautioned the situation is fluid including for-credit courses), all district pro- based on recommendations from health au- fessional development that causes staff to thorities. leave their campus and all nonessential dis- USC, Stanford and UC Berkeley took trict wide parent and community meetings. similar steps. The school district will also bar spec- CSULB President Jane Close Conoley tators from attending sporting events, al- noted that the campus is not closing, and of- though the games themselves will continue ficials and buildings will remain open and with only essential staff, the district said. It many operations will continue normally. has also halted the rental of its school spac- Some courses will continue to meet es for use by outside groups to prevent the in person if alternative instruction is not spread of coronavirus. appropriate, such as some laboratory, per- The move includes dozens of churches forming-arts, and physical-education cours- that regularly rent and meet in school audi- es. Accommodations associated with social toriums when students are not on campus. CORONAVIRUS 14 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 Coronavirus and new independent contractor law deliver one-two punch to state’s event industry By ALENA MASCHKE coronavirus have further decimated busi- the spread of coronavirus are exacerbating But many in the event planning indus- Senior Reporter ness opportunities for event professionals the economic pressure he’s facing. “The try, including Louros, have bemoaned the across the state. tour I’m on is getting cancelled,” Louros impact the new law has had on their ability It’s been a tough few months for event “The full impact of the virus is un- said. “And when I get home, I have noth- to attract and retain clients. organizers in California. known and could both affect attendance ing.” “The ENTIRE EVENT & FESTIVAL Earlier this year, several festivals, in- and have longer-reaching consequences While employees qualify for state INDUSTRY is dealing with AB5,” Drew cluding the Lake Tahoe Jazz Festival and that simply cannot be predicted,” the pirate unemployment benefits if laid off, inde- Michael Rivera, a freelance production the Northern California Pirate Festival, festival organizers said in their March 10 pendent contractors, freelancers and gig manager and technical director from Carls- announced the cancellation of this year’s statement announcing this year’s hiatus. workers generally do not. Combatting bad, commented on a post in the Freelanc- festivities as a result of the state’s new inde- The California Department of Public misclassification and opening up benefits ers Against AB 5 Facebook group. pendent contractor law. Health, as well as public health agencies in like unemployment insurance and workers “We are a project based industry and “Due to the ambiguous wording and other states, have advised the cancellation compensation to employees formerly mis- we rely heavily on a contract work force the lack of exemptions given to performing of events with over 250 attendees for the classified as independent contractors was to execute short term work opportunities,” artists and musicians in California Bill 5 month of March, a timeframe that could be the stated intent of the bill. he continued. “No production company (AB5), we have experienced administra- extended if risk-levels increase or persist. Lawyers like Samuel Dordulian, man- could ever afford to hire the 100’s (some- tive and legal hurdles that have proven to Dylan Louros runs his own business aging partner at Dordulian Law Group, times 1000’s) of people it takes to produce be problematic,” a statement released by installing and operating LED-screens at have been able to use the new law to their an event.” the Northern California Pirate Festival or- concerts and festivals, including sever- clients’ advantage. Despite the loss of business he’s experi- ganizers read. al Goldenvoice festivals held aboard the “From my perspective of applying it to enced as a result of the current public health “We simply do not believe we can pro- Queen Mary. Louros said he’s already lost workers comp[ensation], AB 5 has been a crisis – and the financial insecurity that en- duce the festival without taking on a rise in business as clients scramble to adjust their great thing for my clients,” he explained. tails – Louros said his disapproval of the costs that would prove disastrous, until the relationships with independent contractors “As applied to people who otherwise would new regulations has not changed. “If AB 5 law is clarified and amended,” they added. like himself, some opting to cut ties and have no benefits whatsoever when they get didn’t exist, it would be easier for me to find Over the past month, cancellations due rely on existing staff alone. injured at work, they have a fighting chance work,” he argued. “No event companies are to the emergence of the new COVID-19 Now, event cancellations resulting from now.” going to hire employees right now.”

But it wasn’t all bad news for businesses. As of 3 p.m on Thursday, it had hit 11,000 ficult to make up for the losses moving for- City to take a hit The Long Beach-based www.freeconfer- signups. ward since most dates are already booked. (Continued from Page 1) encecall.com saw its busiest day last Thurs- Erickson said the company has no call For now, the Convention & Visitors Bu- 2017 Toyota Grand Prix brought in $32.4 day since it was founded 20 years ago, said time limits and can connect up to 1,000 call- reau is planning a “Staycation” marketing million for the Long Beach economy and CEO Dave Erickson. ers in one session. campaign in the hopes that local travel will $63.4 million for Southern California. Erickson said the company has seen a “So in addition to providing peace of pick up in the summertime as people may be The Grand Prix supports 606 year-round major boom in business as a result of many mind to geographically dispersed groups wary of traveling overseas. jobs, with 351 of those in Long Beach, the workers being told to work remotely. It is and supporting remote work to keep the The bureau is also working with local economic impact report found. It also gen- also working closely with hospitals, govern- economy going, we can also deliver some restaurants on a local dining campaign to erates $1.8 million in overall tax revenue, ment entities and healthcare organizations really essential services to those at the front support small businesses, he said. including $700,000 in Long Beach. around the world to share information. lines of handling this global crisis,” he said. “Our next hope is that summer travel The economic impact will also hit The company typically sees about 4,000 Goodling said he expects the conven- will be strong and we believe it will be if the restaurants, vendors and other businesses to 5,000 sign-ups for conference calls a day. tions to return in the fall, but it will be dif- virus can be contained,” he said. who depend on the Grand Prix each year for a boost in sales. Managers at some of the city’s largest hotels say they’re already feeling the brunt. Swietlana Cahill, general manager for the Hilton Long Beach, said the recent drop in visitors has hit all hotels. “We’re staying focused on the positive, but obviously the entire city has been im- pacted,” she said. The impact can also be felt at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as cargo numbers continue to drop due to lack of im- ports from China, where the virus was first discovered. The Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second busiest port, saw cargo volume drop by 9% last month, while the Port of Los An- geles saw a 22.9% decrease compared to last year. The lack of cargo means little available work for longshoreman, rail operators and truck drivers. Elizabeth Ramirez, an office manager for RPM Harbor Services, a trucking com- pany near the Port of Long Beach, said her company has seen about a 70% decrease in the amount of cargo its moving compared to busier times. She said work for independent truck drivers has been especially scarce. “We’re trying to do what we can,” she said. “It’s definitely impacting a lot of people The Long Beach Grand Prix, one of the city’s largest events, was canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. The annual race generates approx- here in the industry.” imately $32 million for the city annually. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson) CORONAVIRUS Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 15 Coronavirus is changing daily life in Long Beach

Long Beach Fire Department’s Mike Harrison answers questions from stakeholders at the COVID-19 Table Top Discussion at the Emergency Communications and Operations Center on March 12. (Pho- tograph by Thomas R. Cordova)

By JEREMIAH DOBRUCK prepare for life under a pandemic. they’ve already taken: ping deep-cleaning work to focus on Staff Reporter As news came down that Long Beach • 911 operators and the Red Cross call continually disinfecting hand rails and was canceling large-scale events to slow centers are asking screening questions elevator buttons. Bill Cruikshank needed advice Thurs- the spread of COVID-19, the city’s disaster for possible COVID-19 exposure before • A representative from St. Mary Medical day afternoon. preparedness director, Reggie Harrison, told deploying to an emergency scene. Center said they’re prepared to call in Cruikshank, who manages Meals on the small crowd they need to think about • Long Beach’s in-house mechanics are backup nurses and doctors if their staff Wheels of Long Beach, said he’s walking a what steps they’re taking as well: sanitizing the steering wheels and door are exposed to COVID-19 fine line in the age of coronavirus. How, he asked, are you protecting your handles of every vehicle that comes into • And Signal Hill police say they have a These days, someone dropping off food workers or volunteers when they interact their shop. They’re also stocking up on contingency plan for officers to essen- and chatting with senior citizens could mean with the public? parts in case of a shortage and are pre- tially move into the station and survive exposing them to a disease that’s potentially Can you make emergency changes to pared to cut back on preventive main- on MREs if staffing shortages demand it. deadly for the elderly or infirm. your budget if your business takes a hit? tenance like oil changes if they need to The plans aren’t being made in pan- But volunteers strapping on intimidating What happens when 30% of your work- focus on only the most serious issues. ic, Heflin said, minimizing the risk of medical masks or avoiding any contact with force calls out sick? • The city’s building department is trying COVID-19 spreading is something every- their charges seemed unthinkable for an or- How will you handle it if one of your to find a way to perform remote inspec- one should have on their mind. ganization whose mission revolves around employees tests positive for COVID-19? tions over FaceTime or Skype. “This is all new,” Harrison said. bringing isolated seniors some social inter- In a worst-case scenario, what are the es- • Port of Los Angeles custodians are skip- action. sential functions your organization needs to But when Long Beach Firefighter Jake perform in order to survive? Heflin answered, he was definitive: As the “These are the decisions that have to be coronavirus disease COVID-19 spreads, the made,” Heflin said. “And I’m going to tell way you do business must change. you, you need to start making contingency “At some point,” he said, “you’re going to plans for that right now.” have to make some decisions and say we’re Long Beach is still fighting to contain going to deliver the meals and put them on the coronavirus, with only four confirmed the front porch and you guys can come out cases in the city, all of which can be traced and get them.” back to a likely point of exposure. But much Heflin’s message wasn’t just for Cruik- like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Harrison said, shank. He was just one of about 75 health- COVID-19 is going to change the way peo- care workers, first-responders, community ple act and think about the world around group leaders and city employees gathered them. in Long Beach’s Emergency Communica- Thursday afternoon, Harrison quizzed tions and Operation Center Thursday after- attendees on how they’re prepping while Stakeholders fill a room at the Emergency Communications and Operations Center for the noon where city officials prodded them to others in the audience volunteered the steps Covid-19 Table Top Discussion on March 12. (Photograph by Thomas R. Cordova) CORONAVIRUS 16 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 Continuing safe business operations in the wake of statewide coronavirus concerns By BRANDON RICHARDSON the administration’s Economic In- according to the National Restaurant ties and protections. Senior Reporter jury Disaster Loan Program, which Association. Despite no evidence • Implement workplace controls. provides working capital loans of up that the virus can spread via food, the • Follow existing OSHA standards. With a constant flow of reports to $2 million to offset temporary loss association has advised owners and The World Health Organization and updates from local, state and of revenue. operators of restaurants to regular- published a list of precautions for federal agencies regarding the nov- On its website, the Small Busi- ly reach out to state and local health businesses to take on its website, as el coronavirus, COVID-19, public ness Administration lays out other departments for the latest adviso- well: concern continues to grow. For local assistance available for businesses, ries and information pertaining to • Make sure your workplaces are businesses – especially small, local as well as tips from the Centers for their locale. The association advises clean and hygienic, including all operations – times like these can be Disease Control and Prevention for restaurants to familiarize themselves surfaces such as desks and tables, difficult, as they attempt to navigate businesses, including: with and implement workplace and objects such as phones and how to continue operations in a safe • Actively encourage sick employ- preparations laid out by the World keyboards. manner with minimal impact to rev- ees to stay home. Health Organization and OSHA, • Promote regular and thorough enue. • Separate sick employees. which is also helpful information for hand washing by employees, con- “Health and government officials • Emphasize respiratory etiquette other business types. tractors and customers by provid- are working together to maintain and hand hygiene by all employ- OSHA released a 35-page guid- ing sanitizer dispensers in prom- the safety, security and health of the ees. ance plan on its website for business- inent places, displaying posters American people,” the U.S. Small • Perform routine environmental es with the following recommenda- and communicating. Business Administration posted on cleaning. tions: • Advise employees and contractors its website. “Small businesses are For some business types, employ- • Develop an infectious disease to consult national travel advice encouraged to do their part to keep ees can work from home, effectively preparedness and response plan. before going on business trips. their employees, customers, and eliminating the risk of spreading the • Prepare to implement basic infec- • Brief employees, contractors and themselves healthy. virus throughout the office. How- tion prevention measures. customers that those with a mild According to the administration, ever, many do not have that luxury, • Develop policies and procedures cough or low-grade fever should it is working directly with state gov- particularly those in the service in- for prompt identification and iso- stay home. ernors to provide low-interest loans dustry, which often require face-to- lation of sick people, if appropri- For more detailed information to small businesses and nonprofits face interaction to operate. ate. about managing your business during that have been severely impacted by Restaurants employ some 15 mil- • Develop, implement and commu- the coronavirus pandemic, visit who. COVID-19. The funds are through lion employees across the country, nicate about workplace flexibili- it, sba.gov, osha.gov and cdc.gov.

CITY OF LONG BEACH BID OPPORTUNITIES

TITLE BID NUMBER DUE DATE

Long Beach Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements R-7163 03/18/2020

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Ruth’s Chris Steak House is slated to open on the ground floor of the office tower at 180 E. Ocean Blvd. in Downtown Long Beach following a building expansion and renovation. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson)

By BRANDON RICHARDSON vember 2019 and are in plan check, than 150 locations around the world, “We are excited to open our doors Senior Reporter according to city staff. Thrifty Oil including the U.S., Canada, Central to the Long Beach area, and delight could not be reached for comment re- America and Asia. In January, it was locals and visitors with a world- Ruth’s Chris Steak House, one of garding its future plans of the build- named one of the top 10 steakhouse class experience and our sizzling the country’s top steakhouse chains, ing. chains in the U.S. by The Daily Meal. steaks served on 500-degree plates,” is preparing to serve up its sizzling “[We are] very excited to welcome Locally, there are Ruth’s Chris loca- a restaurant spokesperson told the beef dishes on the ground floor of an Ruth’s Chris Steak House to Long tions in Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Ir- Business Journal. office building in Downtown Long Beach and we expect the restaurant vine, Pasadena and Santa Monica. Beach. to be a big hit across the city and for It’s not clear yet when Ruth’s visitors,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. Long Beach’s #1 Multi-Family Team Chris will open, but the restaurant is “We also get to activate a space that part of a full-building renovation and has been underused and [is] an im- expansion planned by Thrifty Oil Co., portant connection to the convention owner of the office tower located at center.” JUST LISTED 180 E. Ocean Blvd. The restaurant’s menu features Call us for The oil company purchased the various cuts of USDA Prime beef, in- a FREE 12-story, nearly 200,000-square-foot cluding ribeye, strip, filet and T-bone. Property building from the Salvation Army in Ruth’s Chris specialty cuts include Analysis August 2018 for $35.8 million. City a 40-ounce tomahawk ribeye, a staff said the expansion will accom- 16-ounce bone-in filet and a 19-ounce CBCBlair.com modate ground-floor retail and mez- bone-in New York strip. The steak- 810 Stanley Avenue zanine amenity spaces in addition to house also serves up specialty sea- • 1978 Construction • Huge Upside in Rents • Parking 6 - Garages • Separately Metered Utilities the Ruth’s Chris restaurant. food dishes, including various crab, • Large Units • Laundry Income Plans for a 2,700-square-foot ex- shrimp, lobster and fish items. Ruth’s George Bustamante Steve Warshauer pansion to the ground floor of the Chris also features around 250 wines Mobile: (714) 856-7017 Mobile: (562) 397-9520 building and landscaping modifica- and more than a dozen signature [email protected] [email protected] tions to Victory Park were approved cocktails. BRE# 01484265 BRE# 00499477 © 2019 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, dba Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates. All rights reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, dba Coldwell Banker Commercial affiliates fully supports the principles of the equal opportunity act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker Commercial and the Coldwell Banker Commercial logo are registered service marks by the zoning administrator in No- The steakhouse chain has more owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, dba Coldwell Banker Commercial affiliates. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Corporate BRE #01330395 REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT 18 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Park Estates home sparkles after $1 million in upgrades

Listing agent Kelsea Mazzocco of First Team said that this home at 1171 Bryant Rd. in Park Estates is reminiscent of the large traditional homes in the Virginia Country Club neighborhood of Long Beach. “It just feels more like that part of town,” she said. (Listing photograph)

Whaley commissioned some big- 2.5-acre lot, the largest in the city. The home was built for Long By TIM GROBATY Columnist name architects to design homes in Whaley set the plot aside for himself Beach State College professor Hen- Park Estates, including Mid-Centu- on Bryant Drive, perhaps the toniest ry Schmann and his wife. When it Despite some overly wealthy res- ry-Modern masters Paul Tay, Richard street in Park Estates and one that was built, it was faced entirely with idents’ propensity to tear houses Neutra and Edward Killingsworth— was named for Susanna Bixby Bry- Ojai fieldstone, which remains intact down to make room for a frequent- the dean of Long Beach architects ant, who, as owner of Rancho Los on the bottom floor. A second level ly gaudier, uglier McMansions, in- who was also joined by such local Cerritos, had owned much of the 205 was added later, making the home a teresting and historical architecture talent as Kenneth Wing, Dick Pop- acres that made up Park Estates. comfortable five-bedroom, four-bath abounds in pockets around this city, er and William Lockett. In fact, of A brisk walk from the Whaley es- residence with 4,134 square-feet of and probably the highest concentra- the three Neutra-designed homes in tate is a home now on the market at living space. tion of works by notable architects Long Beach, all are in Park Estates. 1171 Bryant Road, which, says list- Mazzocco, who sold the home to and builders can be found in Park And, while the area is fairly fa- ing agent Kelsea Mazzocco of First its current owners seven years ago Estates. mous for its mid-modern architec- Team, is more reminiscent of the for just under $1.7 million, said that The neighborhood was developed ture—it’s where people move after large traditional homes in the Vir- the couple sunk about a million dol- as a high-dollar area southwest of the they’ve grown weary of or outgrown ginia Country Club neighborhood of lars worth of improvements into the starter, affordable tracts of Los Al- their Cliff May homes in East Long Long Beach. “It just feels more like home. “A lot of it is things you can’t tos by developer Lloyd Whaley. And Beach—there’s also a nice mix of that part of town,” she said. “It has a immediately see,” said Mazzocco. by high-dollar, you were looking at more traditional forms in the area, formal dining room and large, invit- “All new electric, Lutron windows, homes priced between $20,000 and not the least of which is the former ing grounds.” a new roof, new trim, new lighting.” $30,000 at a time when the Los Altos home of Whaley himself, designed The listing price is $2.475 mil- And some that are pretty noticeable, homes were going for about a third in part by renowned black architect lion, down from its original ask of like a pool, two movie rooms and of that. Paul Revere Williams that sits on a $2.595 million. surround sound in every room. REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 19

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JIM ARIAS BRAD MILES CENTENNIAL ADVISERS T: (562) 498-3395 T: (562) 498-3395 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (562) 269.4844 DRE: 00997795 DRE: 00927860 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 5508 E. Britton Dr. | Long Beach, CA 90815 6621 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 280, Long Beach, CA 90803 | 562.498.3395 | DRE#01359006 CalDRE #01866195 | centennialadvisers.com This information contained herein was obtained from third parties, and has not been independently verified By real estate brokers. Buyers and tenants should have experts of their choice inspect the property and verify all Information. Real Estate Brokers are not qualified to act as or select experts with respect to legal, tax environmental, building construction, soil drainage or other such matters. REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT 20 • Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020

Ebell Club brings elegant history to weddings and other special events

The spacious and airy covered courtyard at the Ebell Club features stenciled ceilings and mosaic flooring. (Photograph courtesy of Alan Dunn)

By TIM GROBATY scores of impressive projects including gym feel to it. Now, it’s very elegant The venue can comfortably ac- Columnist the Art Theater, the Psychic Temple/ and more vibrant and inviting.” commodate 300 guests and parking is American Hotel and Fingerprints/Ber- If you want to use the Ebell for your available across the street on Saturdays Alan Dunn said, “I have a taxider- lin. He repurposed the Ebell as a con- own wedding, you’d better hurry up at the Seventh-Day Adventist church mied peacock in the back of my car dominium/loft space with 11 residen- and get engaged now. Dunn says the parking lot. right now.” tial units, and restored the exterior of space, which handles about 100 to 120 And if you visit the Ebell’s draw- So, it seems somewhat superflu- the building as well as its events space, events per year, is booked on Saturdays ing room, make sure to note the taxi- ous to say that Dunn, who owns one of exposing the wood beams and listing it pretty much all year. dermied peacock looking very much at Long Beach’s more beautiful and his- with the city as a historical building. And, if your wedding is on a tight home. toric buildings, the Ebell Club event “It was a beautiful space. It was budget, you might have to scrimp on A potential challenge for both the space, has a preference for things a bit gorgeous,” said van Dijs, who had the your honeymoon, because the Ebell event space and the residents of the out of the ordinary. The Ebell Club is place booked for weddings on virtually goes for $8,500 on Saturdays, along Ebell’s 11 loft/condominiums is the certainly that. every Saturday of the year. with a $10,000 food and beverage min- fact that they both exist, but both Dunn The Spanish Revival building at Van Dijs’ restoration brought the imum, and you should consider the fact and Realtor Nate Cole, of the archi- 1100 E. Third St. at Cerritos Avenue, building back to its original glory, that nobody wants to go to a minimum tecture-focused brokerage firm Su- is in a fairly quiet neighborhood amid when it was used for music recitals, food-and-beverage wedding. prstructur, who has listed lofts in the single-family homes and small busi- films, stage performances and other If you wish to use your own cater- Ebell on the fairly rare occasion when nesses, where it has stood since it was special events. er, that’s not a problem. Just pay the one comes on the market, agree that it’s completed in 1924. It was the meeting Its builder was Long Beach’s $10,000 buyout fee and Tres LA is out not an issue. place for the now-defunct Ebell Club Charles T. McGrew, a prolific architect/ of your hair. “The lofts were built in such a way of Long Beach, established in 1896 by contractor whose work includes the old For events on other days of the that people in the event spaces rarely philanthropist Adelaide Tichenor and Pacific Coast Club, Downtown’s First week, the rental fee for Ebell is $7,500, hear the residents and the residents 17 other women of note in the city. It Congregational Church and several with a $7,000 food and beverage mini- rarely hear the events,” said Dunn. was a social and charitable force for homes in Los Cerritos. mum, and, again, a $10,000 buyout fee. “There’s a 12-foot firewall between more than a century before declining In 2015, the restored building was It is a stunning space, though, with us and the lofts, so there’s virtually no membership had dwindled to about a purchased by Dunn, who also owns the its covered courtyard featuring sten- noise between the two.” half-dozen women. The club folded in Carondelet House wedding venue in ciled ceilings and mosaic flooring, and Cole also notes that the building is 2017. Los Angeles, and, conveniently, Tres an inviting parlor with vintage fur- a quiet place to live, and its residents Developer/preservationist Jan van LA, a catering company that serves niture, whitewashed brickwork and a appear loath to sell their lofts. Dijs bought the building in the early parties and receptions at both the Caro- wood-burning fireplace. “In the past five years we’ve only 2000s and worked his trademark res- ndelet and the Ebell Club. Chandeliers abound in the Ebell, had five sales,” said Cole. toration skills on it—the Long Beach- “I revitalized the space,” said Dunn. from gold-trimmed crystal orbs to the Among the selling points for the based van Dijs has been involved in “Before, it had a sort of high-school more traditional crystal drops style. Ebell properties is the fact that every REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 21 unit has a bit of a patio, which gives en-suite master bedrooms. larger lofts come with two parking availability, check Cole’s Unique Cali- residents a feeling of having some out- Upper levels are equipped with mo- spaces with optional storage and bike fornia Properties site, or swing by The door space and, on the upper floor, a torized skylights, allowing sea breezes storage available. Whipple Group, which specializes in nice view over the neighborhood. “It’s to circulate through the units, and the To keep an eye on upcoming sales Long Beach area lofts. a rare feature for lofts,” said Cole. “It’s not something you find at the Walker or Kress or any of the other Downtown lofts, where the only outdoor features are the common areas.” In this real-estate era where prac- tically everything above the ground floor is termed a penthouse, the Ebell Lofts is no exception, with more than half of its units getting the penthouse tag—all of the six units on the second story are considered penthouses, said Cole. One upper-level unit that sold for $699,000 in 2018 by the Whipple Group, features soaring, 20-foot-high ceilings and contains some of the build- ing’s original pieces of architecture that were incorporated by van Dijs in the restoration. These include brick walls with projector openings (the Ebell’s theater had to be demolished to make room for the lofts), keyhole windows and original arched window panes. The loftiness of the Ebell residents refers to the upstairs mezzanines, which can be used as a guest bedroom or office. The units in the building, which range from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet, have open kitchens with custom cabin- etry and granite countertops, as well as The Ebell’s grand hall opens to the space’s covered courtyard and a reception area. (Photograph courtesy of Alan Dunn)

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Assemblyman honors 2020 Women of Distinction By BRANDON RICHARDSON nizations. Under her leadership, the and serves on the boards of the Pacif- luck and in need of their services. The Senior Reporter chamber has developed a strong state, ic West Association of Realtors, East love and appreciation she received local and federal legislative advoca- Long Beach Pony Baseball and the from the organization was so deeply Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, cy program that supports businesses, Women’s Leadership Council of Re- appreciated that she has been dedicat- D-Long Beach, will honor 19 women and contributed to the creation of the altors. ing her time as a volunteer for over 28 during his annual 70th District Wom- San Pedro 2020 plan. Swanson is also Yvonne Bogdanovich is a volun- years now. Her story has inspired and en of Distinction event. Originally working with San Pedro stakeholders, teer for the Beacon House, a non-prof- given hope to thousands of clients and scheduled for March 13, the event was including the Port of Los Angeles, to it in San Pedro. She has encouraged, employees to follow in her footsteps postponed due to the coronavirus un- implement a certified Tourism Am- mentored and inspired many men to and treat people with dignity and re- til a later date, which has not yet been bassador Program to position the area pursue better professional and educa- spect. Hernández is truly unstoppable. determined. The ceremony will recog- and the Los Angeles waterfront as a tional opportunities. Bogdanovich’s Kimia Khatami is extremely hard nize women who live, work and volun- unique destination. She is currently a volunteer work and philanthropic ef- working and on track to accomplish teer in the Greater Los Angeles area commissioner on the City of Los An- forts have gone beyond the call of duty many achievements for the rail indus- district who have “gone above and be- geles’ Small Business Commission, and have helped to increase fundrais- try. She is the director of customer ser- yond in service to the community.” vice-chairperson of the South Bay As- ing revenue of the organization. She vice at Pacific Harbor Line and strives “As a father to two young wom- sociation of Chambers of Commerce also serves on the board of directors to create cohesion between external en and a teacher for 22 years, it is and co-chair of BizFed’s Small Busi- for the Boys and Girls Club of San Pe- customers and the internal organiza- an honor to recognize and celebrate ness, Labor & Employment Commit- dro. tion. While at Brigham Young Univer- the amazing women making a differ- tee. She has served on Councilman Severina Britto is a U.S. Women’s sity, Kimia participated in a fellow- ence in the 70th District and in the Joe Buscaino’s San Pedro Task Force Army Corps veteran. For the past four ship in Uganda, where she worked on State of California,” O’Donnell told on Homelessness, was formerly on the years, she has served as a Long Beach projects to help locals obtain access the Business Journal. “Thank you for Gang Alternative Program’s Board of Police Department senior police part- to savings accounts with the goal of your leadership and determination in Directors and was a member of the ner. Britto is passionate about making decreasing wealth disparity – this is making our communities better every Port of Los Angeles Charter High sure all handicapped parking spots where she gained an increased appre- day.” School Board of Trustees. Prior to are used only by those who truly need ciation for the role that infrastructure Elise Swanson, president and CEO joining the chamber, Swanson served them. She is also a lead senior police plays in successful economies. Kha- of the San Pedro Chamber of Com- as district director for then-Congress- partner for Special Olympics of South- tami has executive board leadership merce, was named 2020 Woman of the woman Janice Hahn. ern California, National Night Out, positions on the Harbor Association of Year. Nine community leaders from Parades, Shop-With-A-Cop and Toy Industry and Commerce, the Califor- Long Beach were among the honorees, 2020 Women of Distinction: Patrol. Her senior police partner team nia Short Line Railroad Association including former city councilwoman Barbara Betts is the CEO of, as efforts have resulted in a unit citation, and the Long Beach Chamber Inter- Jan Hall Zolin. The women were nom- well as a broker and Realtor, at the the 2018 Peace Officers Association of national Business Association. Kimia inated by the public and selected by Betts Realty Group, Inc. She special- Los Angeles County Award and rec- Khatami is truly the engine that en- O’Donnell. izes in the sale and purchase of real ognition for donating more than 500 ables the rail industry to run. estate within the Long Beach, Orange volunteer hours in 2018 and 2019. Julie Perlin Lee is a true leader in Woman of the Year: County and South Bay areas. Betts has Pam Dutch-Hughes is passionate the arts. She is the executive director Elise Swanson is president and had her client’s best interest at hand and active in the Signal Hill commu- of the Catalina Island Museum and CEO of the San Pedro Chamber of since she entered the real estate busi- nity and is always willing to step up continues to bring creative and im- Commerce and represents more than ness since 2003. She has a passion for to volunteer for a cause. She currently pactful exhibitions and programming 400 member businesses and orga- giving back to the real estate industry serves as a parks and recreation com- to the island. She recently led the de- missioner and a member of the sus- velopment of the museum’s Catalina tainability commission. She is a trend- Ambassador Program with Avalon too early to start,” she said. setter when it comes to ideas focused School and a partnership with Chap- New LB Chamber of Asked to assess Long Beach’s on improving the community. She also man University. Prior to Catalina, business climate overall, Rogers serves at her Church of Jesus Christ of Lee was the vice president of collec- Commerce Chair opted for a measured response. Latter-day Saints as a Sunday school tions and exhibition development at “There’s always room for improve- teacher, team mom and board member. the Bowers Museum. She has worked (Continued from Page 1) ment. Long Beach has been fan- Dutch-Hughes has been married to Dr. with institutions around the world on chair of public policy and senior tastic about attracting a lot of new Joseph Hughes for 47 years, and has a broad range of exhibitions, including manager of government relations businesses to the area,” she said. been his partner in crime in starting Terra Cotta Warriors. As a professor at Boeing, this kind of work is “You hear great things about, for their podiatry practice together. She at Cal State Fullerton and Irvine Val- right in Rogers’ wheelhouse. Addi- example, the growing aerospace has a pure heart for helping others and ley College, Lee instructed museum tionally, Harris is planning a pub- industry, but then you drive down gives timeless hours back to her com- studies courses for anthropology and lic outreach campaign to span his Second Street and every other day munity. art majors. first 100 days in office, an effort there’s a new store that’s closed. I Sandra Hege exemplifies lead- Kathleen Martin is the chair of to collect community input that is don’t know if it’s Long Beach-spe- ership, dedication and service. She the homelessness committee for the unprecedented in the chamber’s cific, but it is sad to see businesses helped establish the El Dorado Park Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood history, Rogers noted. that have been around for decades Estates Neighborhood Association Council and advocates for those Together, Harris and Rogers go under.” through connecting neighbors and whose voices are rarely heard. On the are planning to revive the cham- As for the chamber, an area continued outreach and advocacy. She third Wednesday of every month, she ber’s foundation. “We’re thinking with potential for improvement has a special talent of bringing neigh- can be found volunteering at the San that the foundation, once it’s back is its relationship with city hall, bors together and building a sense Pedro Mobile Shower Event at San Pe- up and running, will have a very Rogers said. In 2014, the chamber of belonging and community. Hege dro United Methodist Church. When strong workforce development fo- endorsed candidate Damon Dunn, is also heavily involved at Newcomb San Pedro experienced a rash of hate cus,” she told the Business Journal. who wound up losing to Robert Academy in East Long Beach and re- crimes late last year, Martin reached Through the foundation, Rog- Garcia in the mayoral race. mains a very active member on the out to elected officials, gathered state- ers said she hopes to connect with “I don’t think a chamber can PTA. Every Friday, Sandra volunteers ments denouncing hate and created a students, educators and adminis- be successful if we’re not work- her time to help teachers in their class- social media platform as a way to em- trators on several levels of public ing hand-in-hand with the city,” rooms. power the community to stand up in education in Long Beach: high she said, after noting the progress Maria Hernández has accom- the face of these heinous acts. She is school, community college and Harris has already made on that plished more as a volunteer than many an incredible community leader. university. front. “We’re two separate entities, do in their careers. She first came to Cathy Martinez is an active res- “Something I’ve learned in my but we have to be [singing off] the Lutheran Social Services when she ident who volunteers in the office of day job at Boeing is that it’s never same sheet of music, at least.” and her husband were down on their Vice Mayor Dee Andrews and is dedi- WOMEN IN BUSINESS Long Beach Business Journal • March 17–30, 2020 • 23

cated to making our community a great Non-Traditional Employment Roles. as Mama J, is a genuine community leader and Long Beach councilwom- place to live and work. She is a grad- She strives to increase and improve servant, who has made volunteerism an for 12 years. She also was the first uate of the Neighborhood Leadership the social and economic strength of a lifestyle. Every year, Juanita brings woman to be elected as president of Program and strives to improve the women in Los Angeles County. She community members together to col- the Southern California Rapid Transit community through civic engagement. advocates for economic equity in the lect gently used and new jackets for District. Continuing in the transpor- Cathy brings resources to the commu- workplace and equal access to good underserved children in Long Beach. tation field, Zolin went on to serve nity through community clean-ups, paying jobs in the construction and This year, Mama J’s Jacket Drive gave as a board member with Californians art projects and school events. Her building trades industry for women. out nearly 300 jackets. She is also very for Transportation and then became ability to communicate in Spanish and She also makes recommendations to active in the community through the director of the Southern California English allows her to engage with di- advisory boards and committees at the Linden Roosevelt Historic District and Department of Commerce. She was verse residents and encourage them to county, state and national level to en- the Long Beach in Your City News. inducted into the Long Beach Com- participate in a full range of commu- sure all women have a seat at the table. Jan Hall Zolin has been a tireless munity College Hall of Fame in 1984. nity events. As a small business owner Her work around improving training leader for the Long Beach communi- Zolin continues to be involved in local of a screen printing shop, Martinez is for women in low-income communi- ty, Southern California and the State community issues. constantly donating her services back ties and creating project labor agree- of California. She served as a strong to the community. Every city and state ments that are more inclusive of wom- needs a Cathy Martinez—a communi- en makes our community stronger. ty advocate who empowers others to Pastor Lisa Williams is a tena- make a difference in their neighbor- cious and passionate activist for our hood. unhoused community. Under Wil- Suzanne Morales is a dedicated liam’s leadership, the San Pedro Unit- community leader and advocate for all ed Methodist Church is working to Thank you for turning to the of California’s children. She served on create a mixed-use affordable hous- Long Beach Business Journal the boards of Minnie Gant School PTA ing project on church property. She and the Long Beach Junior League. As has also brought to the neighborhood for local news and business a food service director, Morales en- vaccination clinics, mobile showers coverage. For up-to-the-minute sures that schools provide nutritious and the Children’s Christmas Shop- meals and quality nutrition education ping Spree, where more than 450 breaking news visit our sister guidance so that students can make youth choose gifts for the adult(s) in publication the Long Beach Post healthy lifestyle choices and are ready their lives. Pastor Williams is a trust- at lbpost.com to learn and ultimately “earn.” Mo- ee at Toberman Neighborhood Center, rales has served a combined 25 years a member of Rotary San Pedro and in local, state and national capacities serves on the quality of life committee for the School Nutrition Association, for the San Pedro Chamber of Com- including three years as the California merce. legislative chair. She is paving the way Juanita Wilson, fondly known in school nutrition services. Hemlata Momaya is the found- er of Bal Jagat (Jaa got) – Children’s World Inc., an inter-country non-prof- it adoption agency in Long Beach. She has worked tirelessly to unite over 5,000 orphaned children with loving adoptive parents here in the U.S. for over 30 years. With a background in social work, Momaya has also opened a home for children with disabilities to receive physical and occupational therapies. “Auntie Hemlata” is a true hero in every sense of the word. Suzanne Plezia is a hard-work- ing leader committed to the growth of the Port of Long Beach. Suzanne is the first woman to be chief harbor engineer at the port, and her division is responsible for $4 billion worth of capital improvement projects, includ- ing the new Middle Harbor Container Terminal and the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge. She joined the port as an intern fresh out of col- lege and worked her way up. She is a person of integrity and has a straight- forward and collaborative manage- ment style. Dede Rossi served as the exec- utive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association in Long Beach for 10 years. Whether it is at 10 a.m. or 10 p.m., she has been seen out on Second Street making sure that people are safe, and living and working in a clean environment. Rossi also was the assistant athletic director of develop- ment at Long Beach State University for over 20 years. Alexandra Torres is the execu- tive director of WINTER, Women In A Greener Future Testing new technologies, building new infrastructure, funding local environmental projects – the Port of Long Beach’s goal is zero emissions as we remain a powerful economic engine for our region.