Minimum Wage Debate Continues
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1_LBBJ_December8_LBBJ 12/5/15 9:38 PM Page 1 December 8-21 , 2015 Long Beach’s Newsmagazine www.lbbizjournal.com Minimum Wage Debate Continues Economic Development Commission Mulls Over Direction Of Long Beach Minimum Wage Proposal I By SEAN BELK Staff Writer ollowing two months of ex- The Terrace Theater’s lobby and plaza are in the process of being outfitted with theatrical lighting trusses, LED lights and sound systems to make the spaces turnkey- F tensive public testimony in ready for events. The concept, according to convention center management, is to showcase the theater and plaza, which front Ocean Boulevard, in a similar way to which workers and employers Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) spoke pas- • Westsiders, s i o n a t e l y Restaurateurs Weigh about the Reimagining The Convention & Entertainment Center In On Minimum Wage. p o t e n t i a l • Perspective: Most positive and I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER venues, such as the Pacific Room The overall vision is to create a sound and décor – thereby making Important Economic negative ef- Senior Writer at the Long Beach Arena and ad- venue in which every key space is it more economical, attractive, Decision Ever fects of in- jacent Pacific Gallery and Patio, decked out with assets that con- and, as the CVB’s President and Pages 8-12 creasing the t any given time, the Long to breathe life into even more of vention and meeting clients would CEO Steve Goodling put it, just minimum wage in Long Beach A Beach Convention & En- the convention center’s spaces and normally have to pay extra for – plain cool. through a citywide policy, the tertainment Center may have as expand upon its events potential. features like theatrical lighting, (Please Continue To Page 23) city’s economic development many as five large events occur- commission now has until Janu- ring simultaneously, thanks not Hotel Occupancy Stronger Than Expected In ’15 (Please Continue To Page 10) only to its size, but to creative in- vestments in lighting, furniture I By SEAN BELK according to hotel managers and estimated to have increased by and sound that have transformed Staff Writer hospitality industry experts. 10.9 percent by the end of this Airport To Add many of its previously underuti- The overall occupancy rate for year, is projected to rise by 6.5 lized spaces into contemporary fter experiencing a Long Beach hotels this year is percent in 2016, Baltin said. Nine Airline Slots event venues. A stronger than expected expected to be about 76.8 per- “We kind of think that Long Convention center management year, hotels in Long Beach are cent, according to a recent fore- (Please Continue To Page 25) City Council Has No Choice and the Long Beach Convention projected to see stable occupancy cast by PKF Consulting, a 2nd District If It Wishes To Maintain & Visitors Bureau (CVB) are ex- levels and a slight rise in average hospitality research firm and a Local Control Of Airport panding upon the success of these daily room rates (ADR) in 2016, division of commercial real es- City Council Race: tate company CBRE, Inc. Gray, Pearce Complete I By GEORGE ECONOMIDES Dissension In The Ranks; More City The occupancy rate is just 0.5 Business Journal Publisher percent higher than last year but Questionnaire Workers Seek To Leave IAM Union still exceeds expectations and is or the past 20 years, the the highest the city has seen in F city’s Airport Noise Com- I By GEORGE ECONOMIDES employees, asking for a vote to many years, said Bruce Baltin, patibility Ordinance has success- Publisher leave the union. The three units senior vice president of PKF fully kept the Federal Aviation combined account for more than Consulting. Administration from imposing its T he Business Journal 22 percent of the nearly 3,600 The forecast for next year is that will on Long Beach. learned last week that a City of Long Beach workers rep- occupancy will flatten out, staying It’s been a delicate balancing act third group of city employees pe- resented by IAM. in line with industry trends of See Their Responses for city and elected officials as titioned to be decertified from The story was first reported in business falling off after an odd they have had to fend off those the November 24 edition of the To 25 Questions – Pg 5 the International Association of year. Long Beach’s ADR, which is (Please Continue To Page 6) Machinists & Aerospace Work- Business Journal. As of press ers (IAM). About 100 city work- time, no date has been set for a Management Of Urban Coyotes Complicated By ers from the skilled and general vote. In order to decertify, it supervisors unit joined two other takes 50 percent plus one of the Unpredictability, Lack Of Data And Emotional Politics units, representing nearly 700 (Please Continue To Page 6) Long Beach Business Journal I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Keen, in Glendale in 1981, PRSRT STD 2599 E. 28th Street, Suite 212 U.S. POSTAGE Senior Writer wildlife researchers and govern- Signal Hill, CA 90755-2139 PAID ment agencies have struggled to 562/988-1222 • www.lbbizjournal.com Los Angeles, CA oyotes have become an in- identify urban coyotes’ behavioral PERMIT NO. 447 C creasingly noticeable fix- patterns and a plan to manage ture in Southern California since them. In doing so, these entities the 1970s, when the animals have had to toe an emotionally began moving into neighbor- charged line between upset resi- hoods, running through streets dents concerned with public and backyards gobbling up trash, safety and equally concerned ani- The City of Long Beach recently released a new Coyote Management Plan at the mal rights activists who believe pet food and pets themselves. direction of its city council following a Since a coyote attack resulted in coyotes deserve protection, too. string of recent sightings and pet deaths. the death of a young child, Kelly (Please Continue To Page 15) (Image by Christopher Bruno) 1_LBBJ_December8_LBBJ 12/5/15 9:38 PM Page 2 2 Long Beach Business Journal December 8-21, 2015 This Edition’s Inside This Issue Advertisers 4 Inside City Hall • Why Taking The Breakwater Down Will Break Long Beach . By Former Councilmember Gerrie Schipske Aquarium of the Pacific.....................................34 & 36 5 The Political Scene Beach Cities Investigation & Protective Services.......4 • 2nd District Candidate Questionnaire Answers Big E Pizza ...................................................................15 Boeing...........................................................................7 6 Newswatch Boulevard Cadillac ......................................................12 • City Employee Units Seek Decertification From IAM, from Pg. 1 Brix at the Shore..........................................................11 • Airport To Add Nine Slots For Air Carriers, from Pg. 1 • Minimum Wage: Unskilled Workers To Be Hurt The Most Bustamante, George/Warshauer, Steve/ • Minimum Wage: Restaurateurs Push For ‘Total Compensation’ Jacques, Cameron – CBC BLAIR WESTMAC............12 • Minimum Wage: The Debate Continues, from Pg. 1 Catalina Express.........................................................36 • Minimum Wage: Perspective – Delay The Vote To Get The Facts City of Long Beach, Department of • New Queen Mary Leaseholder Promises Collaboration Financial Management, Purchasing Division..........17 • City Council Okays Further Study On Green TI Freeway Plan Eye Physicians of Long Beach .....................................6 • Dealing With Coyotes, from Pg. 1 Farmers & Merchants Bank.........................................3 Gaut, Roy – CBC BLAIR WESTMAC.............................12 18 Art Matters Gems & Jewels Fine Jewelry......................................15 Presented By The Arts Council For Long Beach Grounds Bakery & Café................................................9 Harbor Breeze Yacht Charters & Cruises ..................35 20 Going Green Hilton Long Beach......................................................25 • Making The Holidays Greener Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport.................................31 • City Passes State Water Mandate Five Consecutive Months Hotel Maya, A Doubletree By Hilton.........................23 Hyatt Regency Long Beach........................................31 23 Hospitality & Tourism Industry International City Bank...............................................13 • Reimagining The Convention & Entertainment Center, from Pg. 1 INCO Commercial.........................................................8 • Hotel Industry Outlook, from Pg. 1 Intellectual Virtues Academy ......................................6 • How The CVB Is Growing Interest In Long Beach As A Destination Kafe Neo.......................................................................9 • Local Tourism Attractions And Companies Report Growth In 2015 Lakewood Self Storage ..............................................15 • Catalina Express To Mark 35 Years Of Service To Island LB Walker Automotive ...............................................15 Lola’s Mexican Cuisine.................................................9 37 In The News Long Beach Airport ....................................................27 • The Social List Named Official Caterer For NBC’s ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center ...24 • Drop Off Toys For Tots At Lakewood Self Storage • Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Receives $250,000 Grant Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau...............26 • Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Celebrates World AIDs Day Long Beach